Today is Friday, August 29th
The kids finished up their school work just a little while ago, for the day and week.
I think the week went pretty well. We had a day of struggle, but it turned out to be a really good week of learning.
We made a few changes in our school this year. Instead of doing their school work at the dinning room table, we cleared out the small bedroom, and turned it into a school room/office. This has proven to be a WONDERFUL thing. Last year there were a lot of distractions. Two of them being the little boys. Having them in a separate room, where we can close the door, to close off the noise and distractions caused by two very active and normal toddlers. The work was completed a lot faster, and with less frustration. We also put together some new rules for our classroom, some are very similar to what normal rules would be for a school classroom. One of the new rules, and a pretty hard one, is for the completion of school work. The school day is done at 3pm. It doesn't matter what isn't complete, school is done at 3pm! IF they haven't finished their work by that time, it becomes home work (Just like a regular school). The home work is due the next day. If it isn't completed and turned in, there will be a check mark put on the white board in the room. 3 or more check marks in one week, will result in complete black out (Thank you Dr. Ray), until ALL school work is caught up and turned in. NO EXCEPTIONS! My hope is, this will stop the kids from getting too terribly behind, due to laziness, and lack of concentration while doing their daily work.
We had to implement this on Tuesday (I think) this week. The older kids were really dragging their feet on Tuesday, so I told them, if school work isn't complete and turned in by Wednesday, they were on black out. Well, they didn't get everything complete, so Wednesday they were on black out until all their work was turned into me. They didn't get to go outside and play with the neighbors, or anything thing else until the work was done. GUESS WHAT?!?!? The work was completed and turned into me on Wednesday afternoon!!! YAY!!! It worked!!!
Faith is LOVING school! She is so far ahead of where she should be right now! According to our curriculum, she is on week 6 of her handwriting, and at least a week ahead on everything else! She is like a sponge. I am using this momentum to my advantage, and keeping her busy. Last Saturday, she brought me some of her school books, and asked to do some work, because she was bored.....really?!?! So, we worked on some of her school work :)
Justin: Completed all of his school work as asked, and got 100% on his first spelling and vocabulary tests!! He's working hard on his math, and other subjects.
Libby: She has a lot of English work to get through this year, because we bumped her back a grade in English last year, so she would have a good foundation of English, and Language Arts. This will be a difficult year for her in this subject, but she proved this week she is up to the challenge! So proud of her and her efforts!
Patrick and Nick: They seemed to enjoy the time with just me this week while the kids were in the room working on their work. While I do have things I should be doing, I did enjoy some quality time with the two little boys this week.
Quiet Time (aka nap time) is a heaven send! After lunch we do a quick clean up of the living and dinning rooms, clear the table and sweep. I rock Nick to sleep, and Patrick watches a little Netflix ( his current favorite show is "Justin Time". It's a cute little cartoon, and has lessons for the young boy in it. I like that!
After Nick is asleep and in bed, and while Patrick is laying on the couch, I start Faith on her work, and do dishes in between helping her out. I also try to get dinner figured out during this time. I usually have a pretty good idea of what we will have for the week, but keep it pretty flexible. Nick usually sleeps for an hour or two, and Patrick is content to watch "Justin Time" while I am getting that stuff done. Some of her school work is pretty hands on for both of us, so on those subjects, if I can't get to them before dinner, we complete them after dinner, and dinner clean up is done.
It feels like we are really starting to get into a good routine.
Last year was a bit more of a struggle, and I think that was because of having a new born, and a young toddler, who required a lot of my time and energy. Some how we managed, it didn't feel like we really got into a good routine though. I have hopes of a smoother year this year. Don't get me wrong, I know we will have our challenges, and we will hit our brick walls, but for now, I have hope!
Well, it's Friday afternoon, and we are going into a 3 day weekend. I think I will finish this up, and go spend some much needed down time with my family.
Have a great Labor Day weekend.
Blessings and love to all!
Friday, August 29, 2014
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Wisdom
It's been a while since I have posted anything. After the last few weeks, and a new perspective, I feel I would share.
I'm going to warn you, I probably won't use correct punctuation, or be 100% correct with following grammar rules and such. So, if this kind of thing drives you nuts.....you might want to skip this post, as I have 5 kiddos, which includes 1 newly walking toddler, along with a impish 2 year old. Chances are at some point and most likely several times in writing this post I will have to go rescue someone or something from the little ones :)
I was talking to a friend today, the last few weeks I have been incredibly frustrated with the lack of cooperation from the kids in certain things. They don't seem to be terribly motivated in cleaning their room, or finishing the last few things for school. Yes, I said for school. We are still working on some of our school stuff from this past year. We decided to take the month of December off, so we could prepare and enjoy the birth of Jesus as we should, and in the right spirit. We also took 3 weeks of over Easter for the same reason. That is one of the many joys of homeschooling, it is very flexible, and we can decide when we are going to take our "breaks" or "vacations".
Sorry, I tend to get side tracked sometimes, okay... a lot! I have been having a hard time getting the kids motivated to do their work. I'm frustrated with our house, and things constantly breaking (I know, it's a nearly 100 year old home, what do we expect?). The problem is, it isn't just one minor thing here or there that breaks. It's SEVERAL minor things or something major that needs repaired or replaced. We would LOVE to move, but that isn't financially feasible right now. The market in our area is still struggling, and there are bunch of homes that have been for sale, for the longest time.
What does all of this have to do with anything, you ask? Well, I'm going to get to that. If you know me at all, you know I am NOT a person who is a constant victim. I'm more the pull yourself up by the boot strings and kick butt, take names later, type person. I am not one prone to depression, or feeling sorry for myself. I do however get overwhelmed and incredibly frustrated when I am trying to put out so many fires. Such as keeping up with the house when 6 of us are home all the time. It's a struggle, I'm not going to lie. The house is NEVER perfectly clean, it's usually cluttered, and most days has plenty of toys on the floor, sometimes even piles of laundry.....gasp!
In expressing my feelings of frustration to a friend. This friend pointed out, this is exactly what the devil wants!!! He WANTS me to give up!!! He WANTS me frustrated and overwhelmed. IF I dwell on and pay attention to these feelings, he wins!! Plain and simple. He doesn't want our kids to have a good faith based education, he doesn't want our kids to be obedient to us. I know this, I really do. Sometimes, however when you are knee deep in the chaos, and you're not sure where to turn, or how to motivate your children to do what they should, he sneaks in....he plants the seed of doubt. It's so subtle you don't see it.
Thankfully, I have good friends who are there to remind us, we ARE doing what is right, we ARE doing as we should as a family of faith, and it is driving the devil NUTS!!! He is going to do everything in his power to stop us, because that is 5 more souls he doesn't have to fight for, or worse...fight against. He doesn't want our children to be children of faith. He doesn't want them to have strong work ethics, or a good moral code.
This friend I talked to, reassured me, we ARE doing what is right, even if society doesn't think so. Raising "your" children to have faith. To realize it isn't all about them, or centered around them, is tough. To raise kids now, you have to fight material possessions, horribly immodest fashions, and a whole host of other "issues" out there. For the most part we live pretty simply. We don't have cable T.V., we choose Netflix instead (which we still have to monitor). We don't watch a lot of regular T.V. even, there are too many "T.V. shows" that are not family friendly. So, yes, we are that weird family. We don't go along with what is considered "normal". We don't put up with "normal teenager" behavior out of our older two kids. We will not put up with them being disrespectful, to anyone. We don't put up with "attitude" or "sass" from our kids. They do hear "no" and they hear it a lot! No, it isn't a popular answer, and yes, there are times tears are involved. Mostly, they understand our reasons for saying "no", even if they don't agree with us.
I have found myself falling for his lies. Getting frustrated and yelling at the kids, or giving intense lectures because of their lack of cooperation. I did so just today. I went into the bathroom, found a towel on the door knob instead of being hung up on the towel rack. I got mad and "yelled" at them " I am tired of the laziness!!" I forget the devil doesn't want me to succeed, he also doesn't want the kids to succeed either. I plan on talking with the kids tonight, and bring this up. Please, don't get me wrong, we have amazing kids. The have such sweet and giving hearts. Usually they will do just about anything for someone who they know is struggling. Even if it means just giving that person a hug. Our kids love with all of their hearts, they do their best to live their faith.
This past weekend, I was having a conversation with someone, we were talking about faith, and some of the struggles we have made it though. One of them being loosing Catherine. This person said something to me: " You seem to lean on your faith a lot, can you imagine where you would be if you didn't have your faith?" That comment along with the conversation I had today, has made me realize, how important our faith is to us. It doesn't seem like it sometimes, and boy are there times when I want to give up, but something pushes me to keep going, or to try just one .....more..... time...... . While there are times, I agree it would be SO much easier to put our kids back in school, and go back to work. That isn't where I can do the most good. Here at home is where I belong, with these 5 amazing kids. It's not easy, but it is so very worth it. Every minute, every struggle, and sometimes every tear. The trade off is the hugs, kisses, giggles, and yes, sometimes the craziness too.
I was told by my friend today I needed to read about St. John Vianney, and all the things he went through.
In Libby's religion book it says " God knows we are weak, and that there is a constant struggle, but we must persevere and keep up the struggle! St. Peter wrote in his letters to the people in the different churches that life is like a race. We need to keep running, keep jumping over the hurdles or obstacles. We need to persevere and keep at it. The prize is eternal life." Wise words for sure. Ones I need to remember a little more often!
Blessings and love to all :)
I'm going to warn you, I probably won't use correct punctuation, or be 100% correct with following grammar rules and such. So, if this kind of thing drives you nuts.....you might want to skip this post, as I have 5 kiddos, which includes 1 newly walking toddler, along with a impish 2 year old. Chances are at some point and most likely several times in writing this post I will have to go rescue someone or something from the little ones :)
I was talking to a friend today, the last few weeks I have been incredibly frustrated with the lack of cooperation from the kids in certain things. They don't seem to be terribly motivated in cleaning their room, or finishing the last few things for school. Yes, I said for school. We are still working on some of our school stuff from this past year. We decided to take the month of December off, so we could prepare and enjoy the birth of Jesus as we should, and in the right spirit. We also took 3 weeks of over Easter for the same reason. That is one of the many joys of homeschooling, it is very flexible, and we can decide when we are going to take our "breaks" or "vacations".
Sorry, I tend to get side tracked sometimes, okay... a lot! I have been having a hard time getting the kids motivated to do their work. I'm frustrated with our house, and things constantly breaking (I know, it's a nearly 100 year old home, what do we expect?). The problem is, it isn't just one minor thing here or there that breaks. It's SEVERAL minor things or something major that needs repaired or replaced. We would LOVE to move, but that isn't financially feasible right now. The market in our area is still struggling, and there are bunch of homes that have been for sale, for the longest time.
What does all of this have to do with anything, you ask? Well, I'm going to get to that. If you know me at all, you know I am NOT a person who is a constant victim. I'm more the pull yourself up by the boot strings and kick butt, take names later, type person. I am not one prone to depression, or feeling sorry for myself. I do however get overwhelmed and incredibly frustrated when I am trying to put out so many fires. Such as keeping up with the house when 6 of us are home all the time. It's a struggle, I'm not going to lie. The house is NEVER perfectly clean, it's usually cluttered, and most days has plenty of toys on the floor, sometimes even piles of laundry.....gasp!
In expressing my feelings of frustration to a friend. This friend pointed out, this is exactly what the devil wants!!! He WANTS me to give up!!! He WANTS me frustrated and overwhelmed. IF I dwell on and pay attention to these feelings, he wins!! Plain and simple. He doesn't want our kids to have a good faith based education, he doesn't want our kids to be obedient to us. I know this, I really do. Sometimes, however when you are knee deep in the chaos, and you're not sure where to turn, or how to motivate your children to do what they should, he sneaks in....he plants the seed of doubt. It's so subtle you don't see it.
Thankfully, I have good friends who are there to remind us, we ARE doing what is right, we ARE doing as we should as a family of faith, and it is driving the devil NUTS!!! He is going to do everything in his power to stop us, because that is 5 more souls he doesn't have to fight for, or worse...fight against. He doesn't want our children to be children of faith. He doesn't want them to have strong work ethics, or a good moral code.
This friend I talked to, reassured me, we ARE doing what is right, even if society doesn't think so. Raising "your" children to have faith. To realize it isn't all about them, or centered around them, is tough. To raise kids now, you have to fight material possessions, horribly immodest fashions, and a whole host of other "issues" out there. For the most part we live pretty simply. We don't have cable T.V., we choose Netflix instead (which we still have to monitor). We don't watch a lot of regular T.V. even, there are too many "T.V. shows" that are not family friendly. So, yes, we are that weird family. We don't go along with what is considered "normal". We don't put up with "normal teenager" behavior out of our older two kids. We will not put up with them being disrespectful, to anyone. We don't put up with "attitude" or "sass" from our kids. They do hear "no" and they hear it a lot! No, it isn't a popular answer, and yes, there are times tears are involved. Mostly, they understand our reasons for saying "no", even if they don't agree with us.
I have found myself falling for his lies. Getting frustrated and yelling at the kids, or giving intense lectures because of their lack of cooperation. I did so just today. I went into the bathroom, found a towel on the door knob instead of being hung up on the towel rack. I got mad and "yelled" at them " I am tired of the laziness!!" I forget the devil doesn't want me to succeed, he also doesn't want the kids to succeed either. I plan on talking with the kids tonight, and bring this up. Please, don't get me wrong, we have amazing kids. The have such sweet and giving hearts. Usually they will do just about anything for someone who they know is struggling. Even if it means just giving that person a hug. Our kids love with all of their hearts, they do their best to live their faith.
This past weekend, I was having a conversation with someone, we were talking about faith, and some of the struggles we have made it though. One of them being loosing Catherine. This person said something to me: " You seem to lean on your faith a lot, can you imagine where you would be if you didn't have your faith?" That comment along with the conversation I had today, has made me realize, how important our faith is to us. It doesn't seem like it sometimes, and boy are there times when I want to give up, but something pushes me to keep going, or to try just one .....more..... time...... . While there are times, I agree it would be SO much easier to put our kids back in school, and go back to work. That isn't where I can do the most good. Here at home is where I belong, with these 5 amazing kids. It's not easy, but it is so very worth it. Every minute, every struggle, and sometimes every tear. The trade off is the hugs, kisses, giggles, and yes, sometimes the craziness too.
I was told by my friend today I needed to read about St. John Vianney, and all the things he went through.
In Libby's religion book it says " God knows we are weak, and that there is a constant struggle, but we must persevere and keep up the struggle! St. Peter wrote in his letters to the people in the different churches that life is like a race. We need to keep running, keep jumping over the hurdles or obstacles. We need to persevere and keep at it. The prize is eternal life." Wise words for sure. Ones I need to remember a little more often!
Blessings and love to all :)
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