Homeschooling~How do they do it?

I used to wonder how they did it as well, and now that I’m homeschooling I’m met with a lot of positivity, always followed with a remark like “I just don’t think I could do that.” Or, “I don’t think I was made for that sort of thing.” Or, “My kids would hate to have to deal with me all day.”
I’ve thought the very same things.
When I was a youngster I thought homeschoolers were weird, but as an adult I see that it’s come a long, long way. We have the internet that makes a world of difference, connecting us to each other, to different curriculum and reviewer websites, and even school online.
Still, it can be very overwhelming to take your child’s learning into your own hands.
I was petrified.
It took me months to decide on what curriculum would work with my son who hates to write anything down on paper and has a very short attention span for anything not having to do with dragons.
It didn’t start off well at all. Each day was a battle. He had to get over his hatred for learning and I had to gain patience and better relationship with my son. I had to learn how to balance my younger children’s needs with his. I have a 2 year old and a 5 year old home with me as well.
I had to surrender to the fact that my home would have fewer days of cleanliness. I still work on that. I still wake up some mornings and think of all that I could accomplish and then remember that my son needs my time, some structure, and the discipline it takes for him to memorize his times tables and overcome his spelling difficulties.
But the wonderful and glorious part of homeschooling is that it’s my call! Yesterday we worked really hard. We had our noses in books for four hours. But today? Today started out with piano, and then we decided we needed to bake. I was making a pie for my husband’s fire fighting crew and Coby found a recipe in a book he was reading.
I told him he was entirely in charge of it. I would not be helping unless he asked. He felt pretty cool. “Mom,” he said, “do guys really need to know how to cook?”
“Oh yes,” I replied. “It’s very cool for guys to know how to cook.”
We loaded up the van and headed to the grocery store, with me quizzing him on his bane, multiplication tables. (He WILL have them memorized someday!)
I just watched my son make his first “Quick After-Battle Chocolate Cake.” I’m bursting with love for him…but of course I can’t tell him that because he’ll just roll his eyes and get embarrassed. (He read this over my shoulder and did indeed incorporate an eye roll.)



I guess my point is, I think the way we manage, the way I manage is to take it one day at a time; to make big plans and schedules but to know when to back off.
To try and be happy that my house is lived in, and remember that my children are becoming more helpful and self-sufficient by the day and I won’t always feel like I’m here in the trenches.
Aren’t they worth it?

thirties, flirty, and fun

I remember when I first saw the movie 13 going on 30, when Jennifer Gardner's character couldn't wait to turn 30, where her life would obviously be fabulous, and at a very low point of her 13th birthday she ran into her closet and wished herself to be thirty, chanting the words "30, flirty, and fun! 30, flirty, and fun."
Why did she pick 30? I wondered. Was it just because it rhymed with the word 'flirty'?
That movie came out 6 years ago. I was 28, and I wasn't excited to be in my thirties.
Now I'm four years into them, and during a conversation with some friends over brunch the other morning, we all agreed that we were so happy when our thirties came around, so happy our roaring twenties were over.
There's been a shift in my home, I don't know if the kids realize it's happened. I don't know if my husband can put his thumb on it. I don't know if I can chalk it up to being in my thirties or being done with my child birthing stage.
Maybe it's everything all at once.
It's weird because we are still not financially stable, my husband is still in the process of changing career's. There are many unknowns.
Also where I thought at this time in my life I would have 2 full time public school students which meant more ME time, instead I find myself homeschooling my oldest son. After a rough couple of months (and that's putting it lightly) we've hit our stride and I can honestly say that it is one of the most rewarding decisions I've ever made.
There is a certain peace I feel inside, a comfortableness in my skin, a calmness about things that would have once driven me crazy.
I would chalk it up to being a late bloomer but as I said before, most women have concurred with me on the subject.
There's just something strange and wonderful about this time in my life, and I'm trying to enjoy every day of it.

Never say Never

It's so the drama here.

My little sis is going through a divorce. Ouch. I've been there and it sucks.
I haven't been attentive. I suck.

My sons teacher wants me to meet with her, The Principle, The School Psychiatrist, The School Nurse, to discuss him and his needs and health problems.

My son has special needs alright. He needs an enthusiastic teacher. He needs kids to stop bullying him and saying unkind things.

What he has is two parents who have his back. We're ready. My husband is SO ready. I have to say that when I first received the e-mail I had a stomach ache for two days. Here we go again. They're going to tell me that there is something wrong with my son. They're going to tell me that I should medicate him. They're going to tell me they don't know what to do with him.
As a mother it's such a helpless feeling.
But I'm kind of excited to see my husband in action. Another reason why I count my blessings for such a supportive mate. He has an agenda. He's ready to go to battle for our boy.
He's a good kid, our oldest boy. He's sensitive, and kind to his siblings. He's got an artistic spirit like his Grandpa Keith. I love him so much. I want to wrap his sturdy body back under my wing and keep him there.

So lately I've been thinking of alternatives. I've never wanted to homeschool. Never. I didn't want it to take away from MY time. But I want to now. I want my son to feel joy in learning. I want to endless stream of worksheets to end. I want him to be able to delve into a good book and read until he's had his fill. I want him to feel safe in his learning environment.

It's definitely an option I'm going to stay open to. And yet again I learn never to say never.