I am burnt out. Completely. On what? you ask.... Home schooling.
Awwwww.....not this again??!
Yep. Every time I try to deal with some issue, or even just to try to get a schedule in place for the day, it's like my brain just wants to shut down. It's at the point of just doing busy-work in the work books to make it "look" like we're accomplishing something, and so that I "feel" like I did something "school" that day. In reality I'd like to toss in the towel for this year and call it done. Kaput. Fin. But then I feel guilty and tell myself that the schools around here (public and private alike) all go until the end of May, and so should we. But right now I'm trying to finish this week and cannot see how we'll make it that far!!
I need a WHOLE new focus for next year. I think I still want them home, believe it or not. We just need new curriculum, more of a schedule and more clearly defined expectations of what should be accomplished in a day, a month, a semester, etc.. I'm NO good at drafting our own plan. I have proved that without a shadow of a doubt. MOM needs the structure as much (more!?) than the kiddos!
Anyway, I just needed to say that.
Carry on with your day!....lol!
Showing posts with label Managing the Home. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Managing the Home. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
Homeschool.....*ugh*
So today is definitely one of "those" days....It's funny, moms with kids in school usually say they can't wait for vacation weeks to be over. I, on the other hand, can't wait for them to begin!!! Because that means I get a break from teaching!!
This year has really been about de-schooling. It's April and we're still trying to find our groove! Yikes. Well, the workbooks are nearing the end so I know at least they've been doing something. I need to regroup and come up with a different plan for next year.
I am actually going to tour a local Christian school tomorrow. No commitments, just to go see and talk with someone. They are very affordable as private schools go, but since DH and I work in ministry, the paychecks are modest and it will really be all about the "bottom line." Right now I can see my youngest being interested in going there. I was hoping maybe the middle son as well, but we'll see about that. Oldest is making noise about the nearby public school. Since our zoned school district is very bad in every way, shape and form, we can petition to go to the next one over. It's a very small district and is only comprised of an elementary school and a combined middle/high school. I think the grades have an average of only 30-40 kids each! That's grades, not classrooms. I'm not into public [read: government-run] schools at ALL right now. Neither is hubby. But, oldest son will be 14 and in 8th grade next year and I feel it deserves a family discussion at the very least. He would never, ever go for the private school option, so I'm not even exploring that.
But! If youngest and oldest go off to a school next year, then that leaves me with just middle son, who I think might actually benefit from some real one-on-one mom/dad time. So often that middle kid sort of gets lost in the fray, y'know? He's the quiet type, too, so you never really know what's going through his head (that was me as a child so I can totally relate!).
At any rate, I do know that who ever is here for home school next year, we need a much more organized curriculum....I love the idea of "natural" learning but my kids just aren't catching on to it and we end up either arguing or doing not much of anything (outside of the workbooks for math and language arts).
It it something that will be getting lots of prayer!
This year has really been about de-schooling. It's April and we're still trying to find our groove! Yikes. Well, the workbooks are nearing the end so I know at least they've been doing something. I need to regroup and come up with a different plan for next year.
I am actually going to tour a local Christian school tomorrow. No commitments, just to go see and talk with someone. They are very affordable as private schools go, but since DH and I work in ministry, the paychecks are modest and it will really be all about the "bottom line." Right now I can see my youngest being interested in going there. I was hoping maybe the middle son as well, but we'll see about that. Oldest is making noise about the nearby public school. Since our zoned school district is very bad in every way, shape and form, we can petition to go to the next one over. It's a very small district and is only comprised of an elementary school and a combined middle/high school. I think the grades have an average of only 30-40 kids each! That's grades, not classrooms. I'm not into public [read: government-run] schools at ALL right now. Neither is hubby. But, oldest son will be 14 and in 8th grade next year and I feel it deserves a family discussion at the very least. He would never, ever go for the private school option, so I'm not even exploring that.
But! If youngest and oldest go off to a school next year, then that leaves me with just middle son, who I think might actually benefit from some real one-on-one mom/dad time. So often that middle kid sort of gets lost in the fray, y'know? He's the quiet type, too, so you never really know what's going through his head (that was me as a child so I can totally relate!).
At any rate, I do know that who ever is here for home school next year, we need a much more organized curriculum....I love the idea of "natural" learning but my kids just aren't catching on to it and we end up either arguing or doing not much of anything (outside of the workbooks for math and language arts).
It it something that will be getting lots of prayer!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Food "shortage"
So, I'm wondering, are they making lasagna noodles shorter than they used to?? I've been making lasagna for years. I buy different brands of noodles depending on price, but it's a product that is fairly consistent regardless.
Over the last few months (and including before we moved so I can't blame it on the South!...lol!) I have noticed that when I'm putting the noodles into my 9x13 pan, they no longer run the full length....Instead, the come up about an inch shy of the edge!
Remember when you could make a meal in the ol' 9x13 pan and really feel like you made something hearty?! Now I feel cheated. I guess I'll have to start cooking an extra noodle to lay the short way and fill in that gap! ;)
On a similar note, anyone notice that a "half gallon" of ice cream is really only 1.75 quarts?! (except for Publix own brand - woo hoo a real half gallon!!)
Over the last few months (and including before we moved so I can't blame it on the South!...lol!) I have noticed that when I'm putting the noodles into my 9x13 pan, they no longer run the full length....Instead, the come up about an inch shy of the edge!
Remember when you could make a meal in the ol' 9x13 pan and really feel like you made something hearty?! Now I feel cheated. I guess I'll have to start cooking an extra noodle to lay the short way and fill in that gap! ;)
On a similar note, anyone notice that a "half gallon" of ice cream is really only 1.75 quarts?! (except for Publix own brand - woo hoo a real half gallon!!)
Monday, May 18, 2009
Life without TV
We don't currently have the TV hooked up at our house. Since DH doesn't have a steady job/income yet, we are really pinching pennies and honestly, TV is a "luxury" and nothing more. I suppose if we hooked up some rabbit ears or some foil and an old wire coat hanger, we might still pull in a few local stations, but can't do that after June 12th anyway, so it's a mute point. But as for cable or satellite, we can't justify spending that money right now.
Had you asked me 6 months ago to give up TV entirely, I would have balked at it and probably laughed outright! But, living without it now by necessity, I find I am not missing it like I thought I would. The biggest "gap" for me is not having news to watch while I'm in the kitchen getting dinner ready. I especially like to keep up with the weather that way. What surprises me the most is that the kids are not complaining about having no TV!!! Now there's a shocker!! lol!
Actually, we all find that - surprise! - there are actually a lot of other neat things to do! DH and I have been reading a lot more. The kids are playing outside more (admittedly helped by the nice Florida weather) and using Legos and drawing and such. We still have our collection of videos and DVDs, and will pop those in once in a while, but everything we own is wholesome and family-friendly, too!
Now, ask me to give up my Internet....That's a whole other story! ;)
Had you asked me 6 months ago to give up TV entirely, I would have balked at it and probably laughed outright! But, living without it now by necessity, I find I am not missing it like I thought I would. The biggest "gap" for me is not having news to watch while I'm in the kitchen getting dinner ready. I especially like to keep up with the weather that way. What surprises me the most is that the kids are not complaining about having no TV!!! Now there's a shocker!! lol!
Actually, we all find that - surprise! - there are actually a lot of other neat things to do! DH and I have been reading a lot more. The kids are playing outside more (admittedly helped by the nice Florida weather) and using Legos and drawing and such. We still have our collection of videos and DVDs, and will pop those in once in a while, but everything we own is wholesome and family-friendly, too!
Now, ask me to give up my Internet....That's a whole other story! ;)
Thursday, March 12, 2009
The View From My Beach Chair: Raising Godly Children in an Ungodly World - Book Review & Book Giveaway!!
The View From My Beach Chair: Raising Godly Children in an Ungodly World - Book Review & Book Giveaway!!
My friend Mikki (Under the Florida Sun) over at "The View From My Beach Chair" (what a great blog title!!) is hosting a great book give-away!... Raising Godly Children in an Ungodly World by Ken Ham and Steve Ham She has the first chapter posted over there so be sure to stop by and take a peek! These are trying times simply to be living in as adults, never mind having the responsibility of bringing up our children in the ways of the Lord. Personally, I find that Godly insight and guidance is always helpful!
My friend Mikki (Under the Florida Sun) over at "The View From My Beach Chair" (what a great blog title!!) is hosting a great book give-away!... Raising Godly Children in an Ungodly World by Ken Ham and Steve Ham She has the first chapter posted over there so be sure to stop by and take a peek! These are trying times simply to be living in as adults, never mind having the responsibility of bringing up our children in the ways of the Lord. Personally, I find that Godly insight and guidance is always helpful!
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Clutter, clutter everywhere....
Ugh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hate clutter. I think most people do, but we just have such a habit of collecting it that it often seems out of control and then you get to the point of not wanting to tackle it, so you put it off and put it off and it snowballs and....
...well, you get the point!
We have lived in this house for six years now. I am amazed - amazed!! - at how much "stuff" a person can accumulate in that span of time. I am starting to look at our house and our stuff in terms of having to pack it up and move it somewhere, which puts a whole new spin on it. A high cupboard, a dark closet corner, and my all-time favorite ~the kitchen junk drawer~! I wish I knew where we were going as I begin this monumental task, but basically I'm looking at the task with the view of down-sizing. I will assume that we will not have as much room as we do now. It is also a 100% certainty that in Florida, we will not have a basement.
Oh my basement, how I love thee.... What manner of treasures forgotten do you hold safely against your strong concrete walls...faithfully protecting against moth and rust...always at the ready when a need calls.
It's also freezing cold down there right now and it does not beckon me to spend time weeding junk out of boxes!
I am dreading the purging of the kids' toys most of all. Too. Much. Stuff. And they tend to be pack-rats. I may buy each boy a large plastic storage bin. If you can fit it in there, you can bring it along. Consider carefully and make some choices!
Oh this is going to be an adventure in itself, this purging & decluttering...
I hate clutter. I think most people do, but we just have such a habit of collecting it that it often seems out of control and then you get to the point of not wanting to tackle it, so you put it off and put it off and it snowballs and....
...well, you get the point!
We have lived in this house for six years now. I am amazed - amazed!! - at how much "stuff" a person can accumulate in that span of time. I am starting to look at our house and our stuff in terms of having to pack it up and move it somewhere, which puts a whole new spin on it. A high cupboard, a dark closet corner, and my all-time favorite ~the kitchen junk drawer~! I wish I knew where we were going as I begin this monumental task, but basically I'm looking at the task with the view of down-sizing. I will assume that we will not have as much room as we do now. It is also a 100% certainty that in Florida, we will not have a basement.
Oh my basement, how I love thee.... What manner of treasures forgotten do you hold safely against your strong concrete walls...faithfully protecting against moth and rust...always at the ready when a need calls.
It's also freezing cold down there right now and it does not beckon me to spend time weeding junk out of boxes!
I am dreading the purging of the kids' toys most of all. Too. Much. Stuff. And they tend to be pack-rats. I may buy each boy a large plastic storage bin. If you can fit it in there, you can bring it along. Consider carefully and make some choices!
Oh this is going to be an adventure in itself, this purging & decluttering...
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