I've been pretty quiet online lately and it's mainly been due to the fact that we seem to have so much going on over here! We have been searching for a bigger house that walks that fine line between bigger, but not too big, and bigger but not crazy expensive. Since we live in a lake town it's extremely hard to find houses that are a bit bigger but NOT on a lake. It seems that if someone can afford something bigger they forego it to spend the money on getting on the lake. While my family would LOVE to be on the lake, that price point is so high I don't even feel comfortable DREAMING about it! Over the past 5 years we have been looking and searching. We have found a few houses that would work, put in offers on them, but ultimately always lose them since we have a home to sell. About 6 months ago we decided to just give up the search, and about a month ago a house came on the market that's been off and on for 4 years and we finally just decided to check it out. Well, we check it out, liked the size and price and offered on it after walking through it for about a half hour. We have never done that! It felt completely uncomfortable and spontaneous.
That being said, we also needed to get our house market ready, all cleaned up and ready! Let me tell you, it's only been on the market for about a month and I AM SICK of it! Keeping it clean and ready for people to look at has been exhausting. It seems that people always want to come look right in the middle of the day and so our homeschool day just isn't happening. Thus, these past few weeks the kids have been doing something that I personally don't love. They have been using online school. They actually love Time4learning and have been using that for the past few weeks so that we are at least getting the basics done. We have also been reading more together. This week we started Matilda! Z and B ADORE it!
I don't talk about it much online, but since this summer we have also been working with a natural health practitioner on our health. Jason and I have had many chronic health issues and it just seems like we haven't been getting the help we feel we need. Jason has a rare type of arthritis and a myriad of other health issues. I have been dealing with gall bladder and IBS type symptoms since I've been young. I also have battled depression from a very young age, from around the age of 10, and since Nova has been born, extreme anxiety and panic attacks.
This just to say that working a natural angle of trying to get well isn't just taking a pill and hoping it'll work. It's overhauling your whole lifestyle. What you eat, every product you use around and on your body, examining your air quality everywhere you go, examining your water quality everywhere you go. Through this journey we have found out that both Jason and I have quite a few genetic mutations that are playing a huge part in our health and the issues we face every day. Detoxing our life is taking a large part of our time right now. The good part is that we can see the positive health changes in our kids, the bad part is that it's so darn hard and time consuming and these changes aren't something that we can see overnight.
Why do I mention it here? Because everywhere we go, everything we do I have to be prepared with snacks, water, packed lunches or suppers. Twice a week we head an hour and a half south to bring Z to gymnastics and I need to make sure to pack suppers for all five of us (and then we drive the hour and a half home). This, too, has been taking up my time.
So, that's been our past few weeks. Nothing really fun to report about. No great projects, fun insightful thoughts or inspiration. We've just been trying to get the basics covered. I've been trying to keep the house spotless, and been spending my time camping out in the kitchen.
Good news is...we got an offer on the house today! I can't decide if I'm excited or heartbroken. I am excited that I can stop trying to keep everything absolutely perfect. I am also excited that the kids and I can get back to full days of homeschool and that art is back in the rotation! The kids would like to keep Time4Learning in the rotation though as they really do love the fun lessons. I think a bit of fun computer lesson time may be alright to keep in as long as I limit their computer time. :)
A look into our life of homeschooling, natural living, Paleo-ish cooking, and love.
Sunday, February 19, 2017
Monday, January 30, 2017
Homeschool Mission Statement?
This week finally feels as though it's starting off right! Honestly, this whole year has just had so many ups and downs I just don't know what's going on!! Bman is excited about his math, Spanish, and typing. Z seems like she's able to sit down for a period of time and work on something. She's getting excited about science and history, two subjects she's never cared about before. And Nova has, all of a sudden, a great interest in books! This is good for us because trying to read around here is like trying to eat ice in the desert. Meltdown and after meltdown, a sad unsuccessful attempt, anger all around, and then I'm left with everyone unhappy and a wet shirt (baby tears and snot). Not sure if that's the best comparison, but it's what I have at the time.
Lately I've also been looking at my contributions to our homeschool and what I may be doing wrong or what I could do better. While there is always room for improvement in any endeavor, I find that I am always great at the "planning" but not so great at the follow through. I am also not the best at being able to reassess our situation and decide where to go with it. Our days just DON'T fit into the little boxes that I want it to and our one year old can make something that's supposed to take 30 minutes last 2 hours if she really wants to be difficult.
Thus, this has me looking at what I want to really accomplish and what's important in our homeschool. I recently came across this article My Kids Are Straight-A Students And They Know Nothing and it really spoke to me not as a mother, but as the student I once was. I homeschool my children for many reasons, but among them is the way my husband and I feel the system failed us. He and I are very, very different learners, and had very different experiences in school, but both failed us greatly. Growing up I could pass any test, ace any worksheet or project, and all the while I fell asleep in class because I was SO BORED! And once the information was tested on, it seemed as though I shed it all and was left with an empty shell ready to once again absorb for the next test. Unfortunately, this left me not really enjoying much in school. I liked academics just fine, because I was great at it, but nothing spoke to me. I didn't know who I was or what I enjoyed. I just kept playing the game. At the end of it all I went to college and found myself completely lost. I earned a degree in something I found mildly amusing but I did it in the same way--holding on to the information until I didn't "need" it any longer and then moving on. After leaving school, living life, and becoming a life-long learner that actively seeks out information on things I find incredibly interesting, I know NOW what I should have gone to school for, what I would like my life passion to be. Imagine though, IMAGINE, if my kids could have the freedom to learn things they are truly PASSIONATE about and that they can't wait to learn more about!
My husband spent most of his school career hating it all as it was pounded into his brain and he was punished mildly for being an average student and could never truly see what he was gifted at. Now the subject he absolutely hated most (math) he truly excels in and it's the most favorite part of his job (accounting).
With this thought process front and center I took a look at what I was doing in my homeschool. WHY oh WHY was I still stuck in this model with my children that they NEEDED to get certain things done just because that's how it is in public school?!? My son hated math, which he's truly gifted in. My daughter begged me to learn typing, cooking, sewing, play math games. And yet, here I was, convinced that it's all wrong. But it isn't wrong. I WAS WRONG. I AM WRONG. And this is why our year isn't working. It just isn't. I can't unschool, I can't classically school, I need to school for my children and they are so, so drastically different that it's going to take something different than I've been doing.
I've read of others making a homeschool mission statement. Why am I homeschooling? What's important to me about our homeschool? What do I want to accomplish. Laying it out gave me new perspective on what I need to do to help these little people that I spend all these hours with.
Here is my current mission. I'm not sure if it'll stay the same or if it'll drastically change as we go forth, but here it is for now. I encourage anyone that's homeschooling to sit down and write one. It gives a concrete purpose to who you are as a homeschooling parent, what you'd like to achieve, and what drives you and your homeschool. Is this too long? Maybe? Is this not really what a mission statement is? I don't know and I don't care.
To provide quality education for my children without the social stressors and rigid structural guidelines of public school, allowing them to explore individual interests and develop strong self-confidence and self knowledge.
--To know public school basics but not be chained to them.
--To be able to gain knowledge in special areas not covered by public school
--To gain mastery in an area of their choosing, if they desire
--To head off to college or into adulthood with a basic knowledge of their true interests, chosen by them and pursued by them.
--To leave home with a real-world approach, understanding academics, time and money management, family and home dynamics, having a strong emotional and mental constitution and capable of living on their own.
It may seem like I have the intention of covering so much that I'm going a bit crazy. But really, I'm trying to convey that while the basics are somewhat important, so is passions. That is something that I, personally, need to remember. I also want my kids to be functional members of society someday that are able to leave home knowing how to do laundry, how to feed themselves, and how to basically budget so that they can live their lives. These are also important to me, as many children leave home completely lost when they need to be on their own.
Do you have a mission? What drives your homeschool?
Lately I've also been looking at my contributions to our homeschool and what I may be doing wrong or what I could do better. While there is always room for improvement in any endeavor, I find that I am always great at the "planning" but not so great at the follow through. I am also not the best at being able to reassess our situation and decide where to go with it. Our days just DON'T fit into the little boxes that I want it to and our one year old can make something that's supposed to take 30 minutes last 2 hours if she really wants to be difficult.
Thus, this has me looking at what I want to really accomplish and what's important in our homeschool. I recently came across this article My Kids Are Straight-A Students And They Know Nothing and it really spoke to me not as a mother, but as the student I once was. I homeschool my children for many reasons, but among them is the way my husband and I feel the system failed us. He and I are very, very different learners, and had very different experiences in school, but both failed us greatly. Growing up I could pass any test, ace any worksheet or project, and all the while I fell asleep in class because I was SO BORED! And once the information was tested on, it seemed as though I shed it all and was left with an empty shell ready to once again absorb for the next test. Unfortunately, this left me not really enjoying much in school. I liked academics just fine, because I was great at it, but nothing spoke to me. I didn't know who I was or what I enjoyed. I just kept playing the game. At the end of it all I went to college and found myself completely lost. I earned a degree in something I found mildly amusing but I did it in the same way--holding on to the information until I didn't "need" it any longer and then moving on. After leaving school, living life, and becoming a life-long learner that actively seeks out information on things I find incredibly interesting, I know NOW what I should have gone to school for, what I would like my life passion to be. Imagine though, IMAGINE, if my kids could have the freedom to learn things they are truly PASSIONATE about and that they can't wait to learn more about!
My husband spent most of his school career hating it all as it was pounded into his brain and he was punished mildly for being an average student and could never truly see what he was gifted at. Now the subject he absolutely hated most (math) he truly excels in and it's the most favorite part of his job (accounting).
With this thought process front and center I took a look at what I was doing in my homeschool. WHY oh WHY was I still stuck in this model with my children that they NEEDED to get certain things done just because that's how it is in public school?!? My son hated math, which he's truly gifted in. My daughter begged me to learn typing, cooking, sewing, play math games. And yet, here I was, convinced that it's all wrong. But it isn't wrong. I WAS WRONG. I AM WRONG. And this is why our year isn't working. It just isn't. I can't unschool, I can't classically school, I need to school for my children and they are so, so drastically different that it's going to take something different than I've been doing.
I've read of others making a homeschool mission statement. Why am I homeschooling? What's important to me about our homeschool? What do I want to accomplish. Laying it out gave me new perspective on what I need to do to help these little people that I spend all these hours with.
Here is my current mission. I'm not sure if it'll stay the same or if it'll drastically change as we go forth, but here it is for now. I encourage anyone that's homeschooling to sit down and write one. It gives a concrete purpose to who you are as a homeschooling parent, what you'd like to achieve, and what drives you and your homeschool. Is this too long? Maybe? Is this not really what a mission statement is? I don't know and I don't care.
To provide quality education for my children without the social stressors and rigid structural guidelines of public school, allowing them to explore individual interests and develop strong self-confidence and self knowledge.
--To know public school basics but not be chained to them.
--To be able to gain knowledge in special areas not covered by public school
--To gain mastery in an area of their choosing, if they desire
--To head off to college or into adulthood with a basic knowledge of their true interests, chosen by them and pursued by them.
--To leave home with a real-world approach, understanding academics, time and money management, family and home dynamics, having a strong emotional and mental constitution and capable of living on their own.
It may seem like I have the intention of covering so much that I'm going a bit crazy. But really, I'm trying to convey that while the basics are somewhat important, so is passions. That is something that I, personally, need to remember. I also want my kids to be functional members of society someday that are able to leave home knowing how to do laundry, how to feed themselves, and how to basically budget so that they can live their lives. These are also important to me, as many children leave home completely lost when they need to be on their own.
Do you have a mission? What drives your homeschool?
Saturday, January 28, 2017
Here's what's wrong
While there is so much turmoil and disagreement happening in our country right now, I am choosing to stay in the moment, to focus on raising intelligent children capable of researching the issues, listening instead of yelling, and trying to take a step back from it all. Today we were lucky enough to head to regionals for Bman's swim meet. It was only an hour away and we had a great day.
Here's the problem, as I was sitting on the sidelines waiting to watch my child swim, I heard an interaction that hit me as one of the issues we have as a country today. I do not know who the people were as there were schools from all over the area participating in the meet. However, I have heard situations like this many other times and I am guilty of it also.
Child walking up to mom on bleachers
"Mooomm, I waaant a sour ring pop!"
"Didn't Jamie's daddy just buy you a ring pop sweetie?"
"Yeaahhh, but that was a regular one and I waaannt a sour one."
"Ok sweetie. Wait till [your sibling] swims and we can go get one!"
"But I just reeallly want a sour one! Jamie's daddy just got me a regular one and I want a sour one!"
(Child stomping)
"Ok hun, just a sec."
Child stares expectantly.
"Pleeeaase mom!"
"Maybe we should just be thankful we have one?"
"No, I really want a sour one."
Mom digs in pocket and pulls out money
"Ok, ok. Go get one. I'll be there in a minute."
First of all there have and always will be spoiled children and this child probably or maybe just had this one incident of whining to get something they wanted. My kids whine to get things too. The problem here is that we are raising greedy, greedy children and all the while second guessing our own advice, showing our children we don't need to be listened to.
Giving in to the demands was only the mother's first mistake. And again, I do this too. So I am not condemning her because who is perfect? Giving in every once in a while isn't going to totally spoil our children. However, what happens when that becomes a habit? The second mistake in this interaction was the mom suggesting thankfulness that the child received the candy as a gift from another parent but suggesting it as a question. As if she was unsure of the answer. Then after hearing her child's "No" she proceeded to not only give in, but not even stand by her original instruction to wait until the very next swim was over.
I recently recognized this behavior in my household when we started to change our eating habits. I found that the foods I wouldn't put in my body, I was giving in on and giving them to my children simply because "They are kids and what does a candy bar hurt?" If it hurts me and my body, what does it do to them? I found that while my first answer was often, "No hun, but we can have some cashews and raisins, or ants on a log," after two or three more whiney requests, I often gave in!!!
What is this teaching our children? To keep whining? That our parental authority doesn't mean much? That healthy food or whatever we are saying no to doesn't apply to them? In the example above what does it say to the child that the gift from another was just taken for granted and it wasn't "good enough"? What does originally saying "wait" and then not following through with teaching them patience give them in the long run? In a world of instant gratification, a bit of waiting for a reward, in order to support a sibling in their endeavors, is a good thing.
I have recently been trying to foster thankfulness, patience, and a deep respect for and taking care of our amazing bodies in my children. Recently I was very proud of my Z with the way she handled a situation with a generous older gentleman. While we were heading to the library and older man stopped us and said he heard my delightful children getting out of our van and he had something for them. He opened his car door and had a big tote full off brand new stuffed animals. While that seems a bit creepy his wife was slowly making her way across the street with her walker and explained he enjoys giving them out as gifts to children and other delightful folk he meets. He proceeded to pick out an animal for each child but when he got to Z he didn't quite know which one he felt was for her. He picked out two and asked her to decide which one she liked. I could see that she had her eye on something else but quickly came to the present moment and told him his first choice, a small fuzzy orange/brown bear was perfect. My children thanked the man many times over and as we walked inside I asked Z what she was doing when she hesitated.
"I saw one of those colorful stuffies with the great big eyes in the tote Mom. You know one of those that I really, really like. I was going to ask him for that one, but then I realized that he carefully picked out this first bear just for me and his choice just for me was much, much better."
I was proud of her in that moment. She realized that when someone gives you a gift it needs to be met with gratitude. This is a long way from the child that once cried when she didn't get one thing or another during Christmas or an already fun filled event.
Rest assured we also talked about not letting anyone, of any age, lure them to their car with promises of gifts, candy, etc. But I was with them, we were in a parking lot with other people going in and out and since they were in the handicapped spot we were very, very visible. I felt a bit sad during that conversation though because I remember the days of older people carrying butterscotch or peppermint in their pockets and giving it to me as a child simply because they enjoyed seeing a child happy.
Ps: Please, please excuse my typos. This was composed mobile and my silly phone won't let me edit right now. My typos are driving me crazy!!
Here's the problem, as I was sitting on the sidelines waiting to watch my child swim, I heard an interaction that hit me as one of the issues we have as a country today. I do not know who the people were as there were schools from all over the area participating in the meet. However, I have heard situations like this many other times and I am guilty of it also.
Child walking up to mom on bleachers
"Mooomm, I waaant a sour ring pop!"
"Didn't Jamie's daddy just buy you a ring pop sweetie?"
"Yeaahhh, but that was a regular one and I waaannt a sour one."
"Ok sweetie. Wait till [your sibling] swims and we can go get one!"
"But I just reeallly want a sour one! Jamie's daddy just got me a regular one and I want a sour one!"
(Child stomping)
"Ok hun, just a sec."
Child stares expectantly.
"Pleeeaase mom!"
"Maybe we should just be thankful we have one?"
"No, I really want a sour one."
Mom digs in pocket and pulls out money
"Ok, ok. Go get one. I'll be there in a minute."
First of all there have and always will be spoiled children and this child probably or maybe just had this one incident of whining to get something they wanted. My kids whine to get things too. The problem here is that we are raising greedy, greedy children and all the while second guessing our own advice, showing our children we don't need to be listened to.
Giving in to the demands was only the mother's first mistake. And again, I do this too. So I am not condemning her because who is perfect? Giving in every once in a while isn't going to totally spoil our children. However, what happens when that becomes a habit? The second mistake in this interaction was the mom suggesting thankfulness that the child received the candy as a gift from another parent but suggesting it as a question. As if she was unsure of the answer. Then after hearing her child's "No" she proceeded to not only give in, but not even stand by her original instruction to wait until the very next swim was over.
I recently recognized this behavior in my household when we started to change our eating habits. I found that the foods I wouldn't put in my body, I was giving in on and giving them to my children simply because "They are kids and what does a candy bar hurt?" If it hurts me and my body, what does it do to them? I found that while my first answer was often, "No hun, but we can have some cashews and raisins, or ants on a log," after two or three more whiney requests, I often gave in!!!
What is this teaching our children? To keep whining? That our parental authority doesn't mean much? That healthy food or whatever we are saying no to doesn't apply to them? In the example above what does it say to the child that the gift from another was just taken for granted and it wasn't "good enough"? What does originally saying "wait" and then not following through with teaching them patience give them in the long run? In a world of instant gratification, a bit of waiting for a reward, in order to support a sibling in their endeavors, is a good thing.
I have recently been trying to foster thankfulness, patience, and a deep respect for and taking care of our amazing bodies in my children. Recently I was very proud of my Z with the way she handled a situation with a generous older gentleman. While we were heading to the library and older man stopped us and said he heard my delightful children getting out of our van and he had something for them. He opened his car door and had a big tote full off brand new stuffed animals. While that seems a bit creepy his wife was slowly making her way across the street with her walker and explained he enjoys giving them out as gifts to children and other delightful folk he meets. He proceeded to pick out an animal for each child but when he got to Z he didn't quite know which one he felt was for her. He picked out two and asked her to decide which one she liked. I could see that she had her eye on something else but quickly came to the present moment and told him his first choice, a small fuzzy orange/brown bear was perfect. My children thanked the man many times over and as we walked inside I asked Z what she was doing when she hesitated.
"I saw one of those colorful stuffies with the great big eyes in the tote Mom. You know one of those that I really, really like. I was going to ask him for that one, but then I realized that he carefully picked out this first bear just for me and his choice just for me was much, much better."
I was proud of her in that moment. She realized that when someone gives you a gift it needs to be met with gratitude. This is a long way from the child that once cried when she didn't get one thing or another during Christmas or an already fun filled event.
Rest assured we also talked about not letting anyone, of any age, lure them to their car with promises of gifts, candy, etc. But I was with them, we were in a parking lot with other people going in and out and since they were in the handicapped spot we were very, very visible. I felt a bit sad during that conversation though because I remember the days of older people carrying butterscotch or peppermint in their pockets and giving it to me as a child simply because they enjoyed seeing a child happy.
Ps: Please, please excuse my typos. This was composed mobile and my silly phone won't let me edit right now. My typos are driving me crazy!!
Thursday, January 5, 2017
Restarting after the New Year...
It's been a rough couple weeks around here due to the holidays. We had 4 different Christmas celebrations, food poisoning, a swim meet, a gymnastics meet, travels to other states, and an all around upset to our general routine.
Now that we are into the New Year, the whole family is really having a hard time getting back on track. Our hybrid method is being met with lethargy and an all around bad attitude. Thus, it's time to revamp yet again. I am finding that this year is just so darn hard to find a good routine that works for us! Other years abiding by a loose schedule fit us just fine. The kids were happy, I was happy, work was done, things were learned. This year everyone seems a bit grumpy, learning seems as though it's taking longer and is met with more resistance, and no matter what we just don't seem to accomplish all that we want to.
The kids have agreed that while they like the free unschooling method, they feel a bit lost. Z in particular has a real hard time with it. I think B is doing ok. He usually chooses to spend his time working with his snap circuits, reading books, doing puzzles, art, Legos, K'nex, and occasionally typing and adding to his book, playing math games, doing cursive. But Z is cranky, can't figure out what she wants to do, wants to play games but I'm busy with the baby at that exact moment and B is busy doing his own things, etc.
This week I let them continue to use their new kits and such they received at Christmas. B has been addicted to his Snap Circuits and his new K'nex motor. Z has built a birdhouse with nails and painted it, and has completed fun glow in the dark experiments and slime experiments. We also received a cool little microscope with slides and experiments. We have started with the slides, we've checked out cheek cells, and we are hoping to start the rest of the experiments next week. Zahra has also been eager to get back to her math and her reading. B has been getting his math and reading with his kits this week and so I've let him go, making sure he knows next week it's back to the grind.
I have decided to schedule our days fully again, perhaps at some point maybe including elective fun things they can do on the weekends as "homework". They have both stated that they'd like to fit in more art and fun projects and often forget all the items we have hanging out in the house. For example, B received a gold digging kit and he's super excited to do it. However, he'd like to wait until spring so he can really get into it outside and I know he'll forget all about it. I figure things like that I can remind him about for the weekends but we can study a bit about the history of it during our week.
Here's our plan for next week. We'll see how it goes having a full schedule again. The kids used to whine about it, but after having freedom for a month and a half, it seems they are craving structure. Obviously, we don't live and die by our schedule. So if something needs more time or a kid isn't digging how it's going, we'll adjust...again...
(Click photo to view larger)
The exercise component is more for me than it is for them, but they actually enjoy doing many of my exercises along with me in the mornings. Z adores her gymnastics conditioning so squats and lunges and hopping from place to place is right up her alley and she often asks if she can join me.
So...after all that, how was the holiday season for you? We actually had a great time.
Right before we had our first Christmas celebration Z had her first gymnastics meet! She did great! She got first place for her age group on the floor routine. I was so darn proud of her. She remembered her routines and held herself with a confidence I didn't know she even had. It was AMAZING, I mean really AMAZING to watch her in that competitive element.
Nova spent much of the time during our crazy holidays skipping naps (not by choice), and trying to be a trooper through it all since she really does not enjoy strangers.
Our New Year's celebration was great! We stayed with family and had a great night! The two older kids didn't go to bed until almost 2 AM!!!!
B received Pie Face for Christmas and so of course we had to try it out on New Years! It was fun. The kids had a blast. They also had a great time playing with their younger cousin all night long.
Lastly, here's a bit of what B has been working on lately. He really is loving the Snap Circuits. Each project is explained in the book along with a diagram of what to put where. The description talks about what each project is, why it works, and any other info about it. Some projects specifically are made to "not work" to show examples of wrong circuits. B has made so many things so far but he just can't get enough.
How are you restarting after the holiday break? Did your kids receive anything that they just can't get enough of so far?
Now that we are into the New Year, the whole family is really having a hard time getting back on track. Our hybrid method is being met with lethargy and an all around bad attitude. Thus, it's time to revamp yet again. I am finding that this year is just so darn hard to find a good routine that works for us! Other years abiding by a loose schedule fit us just fine. The kids were happy, I was happy, work was done, things were learned. This year everyone seems a bit grumpy, learning seems as though it's taking longer and is met with more resistance, and no matter what we just don't seem to accomplish all that we want to.
The kids have agreed that while they like the free unschooling method, they feel a bit lost. Z in particular has a real hard time with it. I think B is doing ok. He usually chooses to spend his time working with his snap circuits, reading books, doing puzzles, art, Legos, K'nex, and occasionally typing and adding to his book, playing math games, doing cursive. But Z is cranky, can't figure out what she wants to do, wants to play games but I'm busy with the baby at that exact moment and B is busy doing his own things, etc.
This week I let them continue to use their new kits and such they received at Christmas. B has been addicted to his Snap Circuits and his new K'nex motor. Z has built a birdhouse with nails and painted it, and has completed fun glow in the dark experiments and slime experiments. We also received a cool little microscope with slides and experiments. We have started with the slides, we've checked out cheek cells, and we are hoping to start the rest of the experiments next week. Zahra has also been eager to get back to her math and her reading. B has been getting his math and reading with his kits this week and so I've let him go, making sure he knows next week it's back to the grind.
I have decided to schedule our days fully again, perhaps at some point maybe including elective fun things they can do on the weekends as "homework". They have both stated that they'd like to fit in more art and fun projects and often forget all the items we have hanging out in the house. For example, B received a gold digging kit and he's super excited to do it. However, he'd like to wait until spring so he can really get into it outside and I know he'll forget all about it. I figure things like that I can remind him about for the weekends but we can study a bit about the history of it during our week.
Here's our plan for next week. We'll see how it goes having a full schedule again. The kids used to whine about it, but after having freedom for a month and a half, it seems they are craving structure. Obviously, we don't live and die by our schedule. So if something needs more time or a kid isn't digging how it's going, we'll adjust...again...
(Click photo to view larger)
The exercise component is more for me than it is for them, but they actually enjoy doing many of my exercises along with me in the mornings. Z adores her gymnastics conditioning so squats and lunges and hopping from place to place is right up her alley and she often asks if she can join me.
So...after all that, how was the holiday season for you? We actually had a great time.
Right before we had our first Christmas celebration Z had her first gymnastics meet! She did great! She got first place for her age group on the floor routine. I was so darn proud of her. She remembered her routines and held herself with a confidence I didn't know she even had. It was AMAZING, I mean really AMAZING to watch her in that competitive element.
B received Pie Face for Christmas and so of course we had to try it out on New Years! It was fun. The kids had a blast. They also had a great time playing with their younger cousin all night long.
Lastly, here's a bit of what B has been working on lately. He really is loving the Snap Circuits. Each project is explained in the book along with a diagram of what to put where. The description talks about what each project is, why it works, and any other info about it. Some projects specifically are made to "not work" to show examples of wrong circuits. B has made so many things so far but he just can't get enough.
His first project, a light switch. Zahra is also working on a blanket kit she received. She's not the best at tying so it's a fun project for her because she can work on a skill she is lacking while making something amazing.
How are you restarting after the holiday break? Did your kids receive anything that they just can't get enough of so far?
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