To Add or not to Add?

Wowwee!  There are lots and lots of things to choose from in the realm of curriculum!  It is a beautiful, amazing world, full of possibilites.....but can also be COMPLETELY overwhelming to a homeschool newbie like myself. 

When I strode into my first homeschool bookfair, I thought there'd be about 10 things to choose from.  I'd buy the best of the ten choices and be on my way.  Little did I know, I'd manage to find my way to the door hours later with a pounding headache and little to no idea of what I'd like to use!  It's important to know that you absolutely do not have to buy anything when you go to these bookfairs - they are all on-line and appreciate your business either way.

I spent time looking over all of the literature, reading on-line reviews, and praying over my decision.  I ended up choosing a very good curriculum for our family and still wander from it from time to time, just for fun.

So now, I keep adding things and moving things around and massaging every detail.  Day to day doesn't look too different from last week, but sometimes it is.  I am adding a keyboarding program for Sophie, who really hates writing.  I know that she will have to write sometimes in life.....or will she???  I am changing up math for the 3rd time.  Math has been difficult for me to get a bead on, but I think this new program is going to be IT (I always think that!).

All of my changes are relative to the things I am learning about my children.  As I learn more, I change things up to suit them and we keep on a-movin!  After all, isn't that exactly the reason why I began homeschooling in the first place?  I wanted to zoom in on their special-ness and nuture it.  I wanted to make sure that they didn't have to put up with the frustration that goes with a teacher who goes too slow or too fast for their taste.  All-in-all, they are better for it.  I am still adding and taking away and massaging, but I am also learning.  I am learning all about the special gifts that God has given my girls, and the special gifts He has given me by allowing us the time to do this......

From Sydney -

Homeschooling is the best!  If you want to try it, you should!  My name is Sydney and I am 11 years old. I love to play with my yellow lab, Kota, having fun with my family, and I love nature! One thing I love about homechooling is that we go on field trips.

From Sophie -

Homeschooling is awesome! we get to do lots of fun stuff like making clay, reading stories,and even narrating stories with stuffed animals. Homeschooling is better than public school and its faster. Its about 4 hours a day! And I have fun doing it!

Dictator or Sergeant....well that depends.

WHY is my parent/child relationship changing in real time as we are learning to homeschool?  I knew we would have some adjusting time.  I knew that there would be hard days and bad days and awesome days and happy days.  I was ready for that.  What I wasn't ready for was the shift in relationship that we are experiencing.  Several, several times, when asked why we are doing something or in what order will we proceed for the day, I have replied, "Who is the Sergeant and who are the Privates?"  They each reply in their devastated little voices, "you are the Sergeant......".  I get into a place where I don't want them to question me; I know they wouldn't have done that when they were in public school!  So, I take one step too far sometimes and turn into the Dictator.  It's all about what I am saying to do - they are not allowed to comment, ask or decline, just do as I say!  What??!!  That doesn't even sound like me!  Remember me?  The fun homeschool momma who just wants to go to museums and learn about bugs and run around the town in a Mary Poppins kind of way????  What happened to her?  I think somewhere along the line, real life happened.  Not only do we not have the time to run around the town, studying random things as we run into them, but there is something called "curriculum" that keeps free spirited homeschool mommas under a certain amount of accountability.  It's a GOOD thing.  Once I get this curriculum stuff all figured out and become much more comfortable with it, I think that fun homeschool momma will be able to come out and play every now and then.......my battle-weary kids look forward to that day.

Watching the schoolbuses go by......

So, here we are in our second week of homeschool EVER!  Yes, my kiddos are in 4th and 6th grades and I decided to start homeschooling this year. I thought it would be fun to blog about our experiences, but also (and mostly) to let THEM blog about what our days look like.  Mostly right now, I am trying to get used to the new (and awesome) curriculum we are using, while also trying to maintain our home.  I keep wondering how many times I can serve "breakfast for dinner" until the kids catch on that I just really need to hit the store???!!??  Well, so now is the time that I usually go and begin the waking up process.  I do it like one of those progressive alarm clocks - I go in, shake them a little, talk to them, leave, come back 30 mins later, same thing, except noisier, you get the idea.  Sophie has to wake up slowly or else she doesn't enjoy her morning much......

I'll get the chickens to write a little later......