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  • Nina
    Participant

    I am so overwhelmed right now.  I have our year planned out.  A schedule somewhat worked out.  We started school on Monday and it has just flopped.  My children have been terrible.  All of them, even the toddler and baby.  I have 3 older ones (11, 9, 7).  We have done a little each day and I am thankful for that but it has just been like pulling teeth. 

    I want to be able to have time off school sometimes for a month or so at a time.  But it is so hard to get everyone back into the groove that it is really not worth it.  I just don’t know how to figure this all out.  It is so hard to be consistent.

    I want to instill in my children things now, while they are young that I was never taught or witnessed in a persons life at all growing up.  But it is so hard to try to do that when I keep messing up.  I’m learning those things myself now and trying to really implement them but seem to fall so short.

    I know it will be worth it all in the end as long as I don’t give up.  But sometimes the grass on the other side looks so much sweeter.

    Tanya
    Participant

    Nina, I don’t really have any great advice for you.  I just know that sometimes in the midst of things, it is easy to be really hard on yourself.  I just want to encourage you and let you know that we have all had bad days (or weeks!) but your devotion and determination will bear fruit in the end.  Your kids are fortunate to have a mom who cares so much about their education and their character!  Smile

    briedell
    Member

    Nina,

    Is this your first year hsing?  1st year with CM?  I just wanted to reach out and give you a tight squeeze, MOM to MOM!  I have been hsing for going on 8 yrs, and there are still days, weeks, etc…that feel like a flop.  It seems those first weeks of the “school year” are the hardest too, esp. if you’re trying to do too much.  It sounds like you’re taking things slowly though.  Do your children perhaps have this attitude about doing school when others are NOT?  This is our first year doing school in the summer, and I’m loving it; but there are days when not only the kids, but I feel like we deserve to have the summer off too! Undecided

    I will say that in those years when I have a baby around, we really just try to focus on the necessaries; i.e. Bible, Writing, Reading, Math; and anything extra is gravy.  So, don’t be too hard on yourself mom.

    Here are some suggestions that came to mind.  Take whatever nuggets you need, and disregard everything else sweetie.

    Do “something” with the youngers, esp. toddler before starting with the olders.  This makes a huge difference in how the morning flows.  Somehow, they feel as though their tank has been filled by mom; at least for awhile.

    Perhaps do a lot of outdoor studies.  Nature study would be wonderful right now, and perhaps ignite a fire in all of them.  Learning about the outdoors, drawing, painting, etc…  You could do Art Study outdoors too, esp. if you do an artist like Claude Monet.  You could do an insect or plant study outside also.

    Make sure the lessons are short.  Perhaps allow the olders to work with the toddler and baby from time to time so that you can have some one on one with say your 7 yr old.

    Above all, start your day with prayer; makes a huge difference; and be patient with yourself and the kids.  It will come.  Eventually that yellow bus won’t look so tempting:))))) HUGS.

    Nina
    Participant

    Thank you to both ladies who responded to my whine.  🙂  This is not our first year hs’ing it is actually our 5th.  Sad, huh?  It is our first full year of CM though.  We started out last year at the very end of the year with only maybe a month to go.  So we got our feet wet.  We all are loving the style.  Just the kids are acting out in ridiculous ways this week.  I don’t understand alot of it, it is so out of their character to do and say some of the things they are.  But we are all human/flesh. (shoulders shrug 😉 

    I have been forgetting to do something with the littles first thing.  I know to do that, I don’t know why when making my schedule I didn’t prioritize that a little better.  Thank you so much for the reminder.  She is finally acting 2, if you know what I mean.  She has been getting into everything!  She actually stuck a fork in the toaster and pushed the button down.  Thank God it wasn’t plugged in!  Every time I turn my back she is into something.  I actually yelled at her, really meanly, for the first time I think in her life today.  I REALLY dislike yelling.  It always makes me feel like such a bad mom.

    Anyway here I am rambling again.  Thanks again for the shoulder to whine on and the tips.  🙂

     

    missceegee
    Participant

    Nina,

    I’ve been thinking about Joshua 1:9 which says:

    Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.

    This is our 5th year hsing, too and the 2nd year (that I remember) that the first week has been tough. We school year round and last year, dd came down w/ chicken pox on the 2nd day and it was a doozy of a case! This year dd reacted to a medication and had to have Benadryl which knocked her out on the 2nd day. My normally compliant and cheerful 6yo son has been ornery for whatever reason, my husband is out of town for the week, and etc, etc, etc. None of this stuff is major and I am simply refusing to be discouraged or dismayed. I know that Satan is happy to use these things against us, but I am choosing not to let him and just resting the Lord. I choose year round school so that when these things happen, it’s not a big deal, so I’m choosing not to make a mountain out of a mole hill!

    My 3yo dd is my challenging one. When she was about 20months, I stopped all CM studies, ordered R&S workbooks and handed them to my older dd, b/c that was all I could manage for about 6-8 weeks. I spent those weeks FOCUSED on training the little one and then we were able to return to our regularly scheduled program of CM studies. All that to say, there are seasons when we must settle for less than what our “ideal” homeschool would look like and that’s ok. Keep your long-term goals in mind and simply do what you can each day. I’ve now added a new ds to the mix, but at this point oldest dd can do a lot on her own, so that helps, but I’m well aware that as he approaches toddlerhood, we may have to scale back a bit once again. This time, however, we should be able to keep going w/ our CM studies, just at a slower pace, if need be.

    Also, I know what you mean about yelling. I, too, dislike yelling, but this past week, I did so on more than one occasion which prompted apologies from me to the kiddos and a reminder that I, too, must keep watch over the doors of my lips. We all sin and fall short on occasions, but  those are often great teachable moments.

    Be of good cheer, you are not alone!Smile

    Blessings,

    Christie

    suzukimom
    Participant

    Hm – just wanted to add that it sounds like your young one (with the fork in the toaster) could end up being a real scientist…. look at the whole “hm, what happens when I do this?” – of course, you will probably get a bit tired out watching that she stays safe!

    First week can definately be hard….. and is different each year.  Hang in there!

    donnarolle
    Member

    Hi Nina,

    I am new to this forum and some of CM approach, but I have been homeschooling for 17 years.  I just wanted to encourage you to take it one day at a time! 🙂  Every one of us who have been homeschooling for any length of time realize that there are going to be days and weeks when we think we have made a terrible mistake and must be harming our kids because it is so bad!  BUT, there are also good days that make it all worth it.  Hang in there and make daily changes as needed to fit your family needs.  God has blessed you with these children, and He will equip you too.  Don’t try to take on too much at a time.  If this is somewhat new to you, allow yourself some time to adjust to the way things work.  The kids are learning.  I am sure you are doing a great job! 🙂  Just keep on assessing, planning, and praying for wisdom to make the right choices about your family needs. 

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