Expectations of the First Day of School

Today we started our first day of school for the 2013-2014 school year.  This is the first year I've actually started when the public schools have started.  I think in the past I started late just because I enjoy being rebellious.  But since Brody was starting classes at the Votech Center I decided it was only fair to start Seth when he started.

So here is what my plan was, emotionally, physically and educationally...

• Get up @ 5:00 am
• Get Scott's breakfast and lunch packed
• Unload/reload the dishwasher
• Wake Scott up by 5:30
• While Scott is in the shower straighten the 1st floor
• Get Brody up by 6:30 to leave by 7:00
• Exercise/shower
• Get Seth up by 8:00 and have breakfast
• Me and Seth straighten 2nd floor and basement--gather garbage and laundry (Seth feed pets and shower)
• School 9-11
• lunch and clean-up--run dishwasher if needed
• Motivated Moms schedule--try to finish by 1:00
• Use rest of the day for crafts, hobbies, deep cleaning/organization, play dates, run errands, projects, blogging.

What really happened...

• Get up @ 5:00 am
• Get Scott's breakfast and lunch packed
• Unload/reload the dishwasher  I got it unloaded but still haven't reloaded it yet and it 12:30
• Wake Scott up by 5:30
• While Scott is in the shower straighten the 1st floor  Didn't even think about it actually.  Brody got up early and I chatted with him while Scott was in the shower.
• Get Brody up by 6:30 to leave by 7:00  He was already up.
• Exercise/shower Seriously!  What was I thinking.  I did put on a sports bra around 10:30, does that count?  And I haven't showered yet.  I'll get to it before Scott gets home.
• Get Seth up by 8:00 and have breakfast  Since I went back to bed until 10:00, yes you read that correctly, Seth didn't get up until 10:30.
• Me and Seth straighten 2nd floor and basement--gather garbage and laundry (Seth feed pets and shower)  We'll get to it when we get it.
• School 9-11  We did have school!  
• lunch and clean-up--run dishwasher if needed  We did eat lunch!  Still haven't 
• Motivated Moms schedule--try to finish by 1:00  I still have time.  At this point it is almost 1:00.
• Use rest of the day for crafts, hobbies, deep cleaning/organization, play dates, run errands, projects, blogging.  I'll get here eventually.

Seth wasn't super excited for school like I had envisioned but Brody came home excited and actually wanted to do Math.  We did almost a whole chapter in Geometry.  A subject that I never did understand and math is something that Brody has always hated.  We both understood the content!  Oh well.  All in all, we had a good first day of school.  I am not going to beat myself up because things didn't go as written.  It's more about the quality of the day.

Bloggers Choice

I wasn't really sure what I wanted to post for bloggers choice so I am giving you a list.  I love lists.  I'm not really sure what to label my list because it is just some random thoughts about homeschooling.

Here it goes:

• You don't have to conform to someone else's schedule.  You don't have to make sure kids are up every day to catch the bus or to be at school on time.  And you don't have to be home to meet the bus or pick them up from school.
• When they are younger you can control what they learn.  You can teach sex ed when you feel they are ready to hear it.  You don't have to focus on evolution.  You can weed out what you don't believe and teach according to your convictions.
• The relationship that develops between you and your kids is like no other.  You will become a friend and know stuff about them and their friends that you may not want to know but it is better to know these things.  You will actually miss them when they are gone instead of trying to get of them.
• You can make your school whatever you want it to be.  Remember this isn't public school, this is home school.  You don't need to do it the same way and it won't look the same.  Have fun.  School doesn't have to be book work every day all the time.  It can be as simple as walk in the park.  There is a learning experience everywhere.
• Your house will always need cleaned up.  They are home all day, every day.  They have stuff and it is gets taken out all day, every day.  No biggie.  Teach them to clean up after themselves.  It's okay if things are a little out of sorts on some days.  Give yourself a break.  You are not June Cleaver and this isn't Hollywood.
• You always have God to call on when you are struggling.  Use Him daily.  He wouldn't ask you do this and then leave the room.  He is always available.  ALWAYS!
• You don't have to spend $1000's to have a good curriculum.  You may be surprised what you can teach by just using the library and encyclopedias.  Don't underestimate yourself.
• DO NOT beat yourself up just because your child can't read or write or grasp a concept at the age that other children seem to be getting it.  Kids learn at a different pace.  They are dumb and you aren't failing.  Don't give up.  Just lay it aside for a while and pick it up later.  I had one that struggled with reading for years.  He was probably 9 or 10 before could really read much at all.  He does fine now. 
• Remember, you are the parent, you know what is best for your child.  Not your parents.  Not your friends.  Not the cashier at Walmart.
• and lastly and firstly: PRAY, PRAY, PRAY about everything.

Don't forget, about the homeschool Q&A at Trinity Assembly of God this Saturday from 10-12.

Check out what these other ladies are posting.

Lorrie @ Life and Lessons Learned, Selena @ Glen Campbell Clan, Kathleen @ Positive Adoption,

Audrey @ Everything Beautiful, Charli @ WV Urban Hippie, Tracey @ Building My House 

and Maria @ The Joyfully Frugal Home

Jessica @ Redeeming the Home

How do I Feel about Socialization

I'm not going to get into the politics of socialization or any of that.  I'm just going to flat out say this:

Why would anyone want their child to discuss important life issues with a peer?  Shouldn't life changing decisions be made by discussing them with your parents or grandparents or some other adult who cares.

So what if they don't get to go to the prom.  I remember what I did at my proms and why would I want my boys to do the same?  And really, they have went to public school dances.  It's not like they are locked in a room in our house and not aloud to speak to anyone in the "outside" world.

One thing you find with most homeschooled kids it that they will socialize with anyone of any age.  They can entertain younger kids when they are around and have conversations with people at a nursing home and stay engaged.

Short and sweet.

Find out what these ladies have to say.




                           

Lorrie @ Life and Lessons Learned, Selena @ Glen Campbell Clan, Kathleen @ Positive Adoption,

Audrey @ Everything Beautiful, Charli @ WV Urban Hippie, Tracey @ Building My House 

and Maria @ The Joyfully Frugal Home

Jessica @ Redeeming the Home

My Biggest Frustration

My biggest frustration is myself...

I feel like I could publish this post now and you would understand, but I won't because I don't want you to fall into the same traps that I have and I want to you recognize things in yourself, should they try to creep up on you.

I realize how selfish I am.  Yes, sometimes I do resent homeschooling.  I would love to have coffee at Starbucks with friends and have a gym membership and shop without having to take my posse with me.  Not to mention how clean my house would be if they weren't home all the time.  And just think of all the me time I  have missed out on.  This is me some days.  But not so much anymore.  I think it hit me when we went to the beach and I overhead some mothers that were playing mini golf complaining that summer had just started and they already couldn't wait to get their kids back to school.  And they started talking about all the things they could be doing.  I realized at that moment that I loved having my kids with me all the time.  My house could only be so clean.  If I had a gym membership, I wouldn't use it because I don't really like to leave my house that much.  I can be such a tightwad that going to Starbucks on a regular basis was out of the question.  My boys are old enough to stay home alone but I still bribe one of them to go shopping with me.  People think I'm weird if I talk to myself the whole time I'm at Walmart.  And me time...well, I'll have more than enough of that once they leave home.  And I get whatever me time I want anyway.  Scott is more than willing to take care of the boys and always has been.

I am the queen of comparing.  I think I've always been that way.  I didn't like being different when I was younger and I don't like being different now.  I will compare the way I look, dress, eat, sleep, teach, clean, schedule, pray, read, cook, parent, wife...wow, just listing those things is wearing me out.  I don't know how much time and money I have spent trying to do what someone else is doing.  I am getting better.  (I think).  The key for me is finding confidence from God that what He has made me to be is perfect to Him.  It is hard sometimes, but as long as I am obedient and let Him guide me down the path He has me on, then it really doesn't matter what anyone else has or is doing or looks like or...He loves me, for me!  I will no longer doubt my ability to create an amazing school year for my kids.  It may be different from yours but it will be great.  I quit telling people what curriculum I use because I don't want someone to fall into the trap that thinks mine is perfect.  I eat what I want.  And it will look different than what you eat.  Who really cares.

Didn't even know this one until recently, but boy am I controlling.  Especially when it comes to my kids.  It's really hard to cut those apron strings.  When someone is with you all day, everyday, it's hard to let them make their own choices and find their own way.  Especially if those choices aren't what you think are the best.  I had this "plan" when they were young.  I don't know how realistic of a plan it was but everyone else was on the same boat so I got on (see paragraph above).  This is what it looked like...My boys will all grow up and become missionaries and not date until they are finished with college and never break the law and always fit the mold that every other homeschool child fits into and never ever have a rebellious bone in their body because if they do/don't do any of those things then I have failed as a parent.  An amazing lie straight from the pit of Hell, if you ask me.  Flash forward to present day...not all of things have happened.  After a certain age they start wanting to fit into a mold they have created for themselves.  It doesn't look like the mold I made.  They don't think like I think anymore.  They want to dress different and date.  And being a missionary is not, well, what they are called to do.  Letting go is the hardest thing I've ever done to this point.

My biggest frustration may be myself but my biggest encouragement is that I have three wonderful sons that I have had the privilege of homeschooling and one day they will find their way in this big world.  For whatever reason, God thought that I would be the best mother for them.  I am standing on this promise--

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Hope I haven't scared you away.  This is just my frustration.  Maybe you don't/wouldn't have the same issues I have.  God is finished with me yet.

Find out what frustrates these ladies.



                             Clockwise:

Lorrie @ Life and Lessons Learned, Selena @ Glen Campbell Clan, Kathleen @ Positive Adoption,

Audrey @ Everything Beautiful, Charli @ WV Urban Hippie, Tracey @ Building My House 

and Maria @ The Joyfully Frugal Home

Jessica @ Redeeming the Home

What didn't Work for Me

When I first started homeschooling I didn't know very many people that did it.  We belonged to a small homeschool co-op of maybe 5 families.  It was really nice to have such a small group to begin with because I  think all of us were fairly new to the homeschool scene.  We would sit around and chat and compare what we were using.  I didn't even have Internet then.  Sounds crazy to say that but we didn't need it, so we didn't have it.  So not having any way to research, I bought what everyone else was using.  Really, everything.  I think for the first 3 years I spent thousands of dollars on things that didn't work.  I was buying 2 or 3 complete curriculums a year just to find the right one or maybe it was to fit in, after all, these women had a few years on me in homeschooling so they must be experts, right?

I can't say what curriculum is the best or worst.  The thing to remember is to get what works for your family. Attend conferences so you can look at the different things out there.  Ask friends if you can look at their stuff.  Research online.  You can find anything on here.  There are also some free curriculums that are put together right on the Internet that are very good.  You know what will work best for your child and your family.  

Find out what these moms have to say.

Clockwise:

Lorrie @ Life and Lessons Learned, Selena @ Glen Campbell Clan, Kathleen @ Positive Adoption,

Audrey @ Everything Beautiful, Charli @ WV Urban Hippie, Tracey @ Building My House 

and Maria @ The Joyfully Frugal Home

Jessica @ Redeeming the Home

Homeschooling Style/Curriculum Choices

I hope you're enjoying this blog hop.  Remember, if you know someone who may be interested in homeschooling send them on over to read.  With the topics being covered, I think there are answers to a lot of questions.  If you have any questions, here is a facebook page you can go to and ask.  And if you are local, we are going to actually have a "mini conference". (More info to come).

So today's topic...

I would say I am an eclectic, Charlotte Mason kind of homeschooler.  Let me define.

• eclectic--this is a catch-all designation for families that borrow useful elements from several different approaches. Eclectic homeschoolers choose what seems appropriate for each child, and what fits best with a particular child's interests and abilities.
• Charlotte Mason--using "living" books, not textbooks, and drawing heavily on nature.

The information above came from homeschooling.about.com

I love the nature part of Charlotte Mason and where we live and having boys that love the outdoors, we just fell into that style.  Most of my homeschooling friends are more literature based and history based so at first I thought we were doing something wrong because we were more science/nature based.  I wish I would have know about Charlotte when my older two were younger.  

I say eclectic because I am not solidly Charlotte Mason.  I don't use one set curriculum or one style.  And I think that I am a pretty eclectic person.

The one thing about CM is that you will not feel like you are having school because you don't use worksheets for anything other than math.  Most of it all hands on and fun.

The stuff that I use comes from Queen Homeschool.  She has curriculum that caters to the Charlotte Mason style of schooling and is very approachable if you have any questions.

Check out what these moms have to say.

Clockwise:

Lorrie @ Life and Lessons Learned, Selena @ Glen Campbell Clan, Kathleen @ Positive Adoption,

Audrey @ Everything Beautiful, Charli @ WV Urban Hippie, Tracey @ Building My House 

and Maria @ The Joyfully Frugal Home

Jessica @ Redeeming the Home

Why or How I Started

Where I grew up I knew of one family that homeschooled.  It was my high school biology teacher.  And like some biology teacher, he was a little odd.  He didn't shave and seemed a little "tree huggerish".  I never thought about homeschooling then.

Flash forward several years...I graduated from college and already had one child and a very new marriage and dreams of working for the FBI in the accounting division.  I really didn't care if I had any more kids or not because they were going to spend most of their time in day care any way.

Flash forward about 5 more years...I now have 2 boys and an awesome job doing bookkeeping for my church.  One night at a moms prayer meeting during prayer, I heard "the call".  Honestly, I really thought that God was speaking out loud to the woman beside me and I thought to myself, "Wow, I feel really sorry for her.  I would never want to do that.  How could I give up my dreams to stay home with my kids and be that weird person that homeschools?  Aren't homeschool families really strange?  Glad it's not me".

Guess what?  It was me and I was pretty mad about it.  I didn't think that Scott would agree to it, so I casually brought it up.  I thought maybe God was crazy and didn't know who was messing with.  After all, this is my life, why would He want to mess it up.

Obviously you know what happened or I wouldn't be writing on a homeschool blog hop.  Actually, God really knew what He was talking about, go figure.  It is a decision I would never change.  He started planting the desire for it.  I just couldn't let my oldest go to school yet.  He was just a baby.  Scott and I agreed to do this until 3rd grade.  Don't know why that was the magic grade but it was.  Here I am now with one graduated, one on his was to graduation and a 6th grader.  And our favorite subject is biology (I do shave and I haven't hugged a tree lately).

No, I'm not someone special that has a massive amount of patience and intelligence.  I'm just a country girl that God called to do something that I never thought I would do. The key to success is prayer, first and foremost but also a network of friends that homeschool or that support your decision and are willing to help out when you need encouragement.

Check out what these other ladies have to say.

Clockwise:

Lorrie @ Life and Lessons Learned, Selena @ Glen Campbell Clan, Kathleen @ Positive Adoption,

Audrey @ Everything Beautiful, Charli @ WV Urban Hippie, Tracey @ Building My House 

and Maria @ The Joyfully Frugal Home
Jessica @ Redeeming the Home

How do I organize my Day?

It's hard to say how I organize my day.  I have a beautiful schedule that is typed up and printed out so neatly.  Do I follow that schedule?  Hardly ever.  Do I wish I had the discipline to follow that schedule?  You better believe it.

Organization.  I am the queen of organizing stuff, but time, that's another story.  I used to write down times that things needed to start but without fail, I would go over or finish early and I figured out I am an all or nothing kinda gal.  So, after talking to a friend a few years ago, I now just do what needs to be done in the order it needs to be done in.  So my day is organized by a to do list. And that list looks something like this.

• Alarm goes off at 4:45 am.  I hit the snooze button until 5:00.
• Fix Scott's breakfast and pack his lunch.  Have my first cup of coffee.  Let the dogs out and feed the cats.
• I usually go back to bed after he leaves.  I shouldn't, but I don't go to bed until sometimes after 1:00 am.  I don't know why, I have always been that way.  But I don't function so well on 4 hours of sleep.  There are some days where I have an exceptional amount of energy and I get my day started early.  I love those days.
• I get back up around 9:00 and my day really begins.
• I usually take a tour around the house straightening up things.  I make my bed, get the laundry to the basement, and the dirty dishes loaded.  Usually I am on the phone while doing this.  So I guess I am multitasking. 
• Seth usually rolls down the stairs around 10:00 and I fix his breakfast and we get started with his day.
• I like to have school done with him before I get to involved in my "chores" because I hate to stop cleaning right in the middle of a good run and cleaning can wait if school runs over.
• Brody does his school on his own.  He may get it started right away but usually he is "working" in the garage on his bike.  He is getting geared up for race season.
• After school, I will work on the Motivated Moms schedule and do as much of it as I can in one day.  Sometimes I can whip out the whole week in one day, which means all the cleaning is done and I now can do whatever I want.
• I try to be in the shower, no matter what, by 2:30 because Scott gets home from work by 3:30.
• I try to also make sure I do a load of laundry every day because I hate marathon laundry days.
• I also try not to run a whole lot during the week because I feel like I should be at home.  I have things that I need to get done here and running keeps me from my "job".  Don't get me wrong.  I have said before that I love a play date.  But that never keeps me from what I am supposed to be doing.
• We don't have a school room.  We use the dining room table and the living room couch.  I do have a shelf under the bar that I keep the school books that we are working on in. 

If you were to ask me what one thing helped me to keep my days organized.  I would say there are four things.

1. Motivated Moms  
2. A daily planner of some sort.  I use these.
3. The book, Large Family Logistics.  I don't have a large family, but she has some really good ideas.
4. Menu Planning. Emeals works for me because they also give you the grocery list.

So that is how my day is organized.

Don't forget to check out these other ladies.

Clockwise:

Lorrie @ Life and Lessons Learned, Selena @ Glen Campbell Clan, Kathleen @ Positive Adoption,

Audrey @ Everything Beautiful, Charli @ WV Urban Hippie, Tracey @ Building My House 

and Maria @ The Joyfully Frugal Home

A Day in the Life

My days are pretty boring compared to some, if you ask me.

I like to think I am a "fly by the whim of the day" kinda person.  If the sun is out and hasn't been for a few weeks, we will take the day off and enjoy it.  We don't have snow days, we have sun days.  I love "play dates".  Not only are they a great way to socialize but another excuse to take the day off.  Don't get me wrong, I love homeschooling but I also love my friends and fun.  And the important thing here is to find balance in play and work.

I am a neat freak and can't stand clutter or even small messes.  All I can think about is cleaning up the mess.  So sadly, most of my day, most days is spent cleaning.  I'm not sure why I'm like that.  Scott doesn't require it and growing up, my mom wasn't that way.  I guess it's just how I'm wired.  It's easier now that the boys are older, their stuff doesn't take up as much space.

We have school Monday-Thursday and Co-op on Friday.  I don't school on Friday because I don't feel like I can get everything done before we leave and I like for it all to be done so when I get home I can enjoy my husband.  Since Brody is older he does most of school on his own with very little help from me.  Tyler has already graduated so all I really school is Seth.  He loves school so it is pretty easy.  The other two didn't really like school so much.  But I think I am a better teacher now than I was when they were younger.  It took a lot of prayer but I don't yell anymore or expect them to be rocket scientist.  When the pressure is gone from me then it is taken off my boys.  Anyway, school could take anywhere from 1 hour to 2 1/2 hours.  It just depends on the day and the mood.  If I don't have Seth's full attention, there is no need to cover heavy material.

I do "visit" a lot with my older boys when they are home.  And sometimes their friends come over and I will visit with them.  They have been coming around long enough that they are considered family.

I don't try to do everything, every day anymore.  It's just too hard and with that kind of pressure on yourself, you are miserable.  I guess my days are pretty laid back and enjoyable for the most part.

Don't forget to read the posts by the other bloggers listed below.

Clockwise:

Lorrie @ Life and Lessons Learned, Selena @ Glen Campbell Clan, Kathleen @ Positive Adoption,

Audrey @ Everything Beautiful, Charli @ WV Urban Hippie, Tracey @ Building My House 

and Maria @ The Joyfully Frugal Home

April Homeschool Blog Hop

I am pretty excited about this.  Me and some of my blog buddies are doing a blog hop for the month of April about homeschooling.   If you are interested or know someone who is interested in homeschooling send them our way, we would love to have them.  This is all starting on April 2 and will be posted on Tuesday and Thursday for the month.

Topics include:
1. A day in the life
2. How do you organize your day?
3. Why or how did you get started?
4. Homeschooling styles and/or curriculum choices
5. What didn't work for you?
6. My biggest frustration.....
7. How do I feel about socialization?
8. Blogger's choice

These will be written from different perspectives because our personalities are different and our teaching styles are different, not to mention the size and age of our children.  I would suggest you tune in, but I would say that, I am one of the writers.