Please check my thinking on this….

Hi Kim,

I have not looked at LBC, nor the Genesis guide from this site. So, taking what I have to say with a grain of salt, it would concern me to try to run on two paths at once. It seems like you may want to choose one and go with it. Since you already have the LBC guide, would it make sense to beef it up for your older ones with some heavier reading versus trying to satisfy the goals of another guide?

Could you just choose some older student resources from SCM that correlate to the LBC guide? Is it that the questions in the LBC guide seem too easy for your older ones? Remember that the only difference between a hard question and an easy question is the way it’s asked (well, not always, but I’m sure you know what I mean). Am I asking too many questions???? 😉

This next is just a couple of thoughts that may or may not be helpful. Forgive me if this does not apply (though if you have never struggled with this I want your autograph!!! 🙂 🙂 )I believe that many of us could claim the “Queenship” for trying to do it all. I know for myself that I have gotten caught in the trap of wanting to do one thing, seeing another that I am attracted to and trying to mesh both (or more). In the end, I am burned out, the children have not had consistent schooling, and I am tempted to toss it all out for something else. God showed me that I was homeschooling in fear. It is overwhelming; the homeschool market has exploded with providers and we moms take the hit for trying to do the very best for our children.

I think one thing I would recommend is Sonya’s planning book. It is as close to anything I have seen that encourages us to really take a look at where our children are and where they are going. Coupled with prayer and your husband’s counsel, I think you will have victory and peace.

It is so encouraging to see how you are wanting the very, very best for your children. It will help spur the rest of us to pursue excellence like you are!

Blessings,

Cindy

Kim, you are so tenderhearted. Are you schooling now or trying to plan for next year? You identified a spot to start…a schedule. Don’t feel guilty about the tv. That is the last thing you should do at this point. Do you have heavy requirements for record keeping? (We do, so I can empathize with anyone else that may.)

You are where I have been. It’s so easy to get caught up in the planning and never get to the ‘doing.’ For me it was a sign of guilt, as you say, but also discontent…”If I can do thus and such, things will be easier…” So, back to my comment about the schedule, if I may be so bold. God calls us to redeem the time. If you had a schedule that included routines and chores and you worked that for the next month, I think a lot of this other stuff would dissipate (sp?). What thinkest thou?

Cindy

Hi Kim,

I hope you don’t mind me adding by two cents in here. First off I have to say that as I read your posts, I can so relate. You have a new baby in the house, right? No wonder your stressed, overwhelmed and feel unorganized (if you don’t mind me being so bold)- you’re still adjusting! I may be stepping out on a limb here- but have you thought of just setting everything aside for a time (maybe the summer) and just relax and enjoy your darling children? I know this is easier said than done when you just want to figure out “what to do”. As Cindy mentioned above a daily routine is a great place to start. When our baby was about 3 months old, I felt like everything was falling apart – I had absolutely no routine to our day – the kids were cranky, I was cranky. I was trying to plan, plan, plan and I only became more “un” organized. Does that make sense? So…… I set EVERYTHING aside – just to set up a general schedule for our day such as…

breakfast/cleanup

pray/cuddle/read

chores

Play outdoors together

Lunch/cleanup

Kids free time – mom down time

More cuddle, read or play (as long as we were “together”)

Afternoon chores

Help with Dinner

Family time with Dad

Though that was just an example – it is literally like something we did for nearly two months without homeschool or trying to plan for it. When I came back to the plate, I was so refreshed and renewed – not to mention the relationship I built with my boys and my new baby. I’m sure as you take some time to rest, pray and put God first – everything else will fall into place. Matthew 6:33 “Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and EVERYTHING else will be added unto you” I have a feeling that you are just trying to “survive” right now – as I too have been there but God wants to cause you to “thrive” as well as your darling children. For “He has given you EVERYTHING pertaining to Life and Godliness”. Wish I could give you a big hug!

Heather

P.S. Have you heard of the Maxwells- Managers of their homes? Their ministry is to large homeschooling families. The website is http://www.titus2.com – in case you’re interested.

Kim,

I know the quandry of needing to hit the pause button, but having a little one that wants so much to read (and feels like they should have been reading ‘years’ ago). I would say, if God has this son on your heart, that you could just work on that as you also work on your routines. As we moms pray for direction, God lets us see clearly the needs of our children. Could it be that God has brought you to this point just so that you could see a need in your child that is waving its hand, saying, “Over here! Over here!!”?

Heather is so right, enjoy your new little one. I don’t need to tell you how quickly it passes. God sees your heart and all will be worked out in his timing. He has a plan for your children and, thankfully, we cannot thwart that as long as we are pointing them to the One who holds their future.

AND TAKE SOME TIME TO GET WELL!!!

Praying for you,

Cindy

Hi Kim,

Cindy beat me to it ;). I should have clarified that during our scheduled reading time, I too worked with my ds on his reading. He was (and still is) in the process of learning to read and I knew that we couldn’t take time off from this. Also my oldest son had to keep working on his math. Like you, I changed math curriculums so much with him in the early years that it ended up putting him behind. He usually worked on it right after lunch. We also continued to do readalouds together in the afternoons and before bed with dh. That was pretty much it as far as school goes during that “time-off”. I hope that makes sense.

I have to tell you also that I thought of you and prayed for you yesterday. I was outside with my 3 boys and 4 more children came over to visit. As I sat there watching them, I counted 1..2..3..4..5..6..7.. ( all between the ages of 9 months and 13) and I thought of Kim 🙂 I thanked the Lord for her 7 blessings and prayed that He would give her peace, rest and trust in Him. I also thought to myself that I am in no way suited to try to give advice to someone who is blessed with 7. 🙂 LOL

I will pray for you, though, and pray that the Lord restores you to health and that you prosper in spirit, soul and body.

May your children rise and call YOU blessed.

Humbly,

Heather