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Family Matters:  any other homeschoolers?  |
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NatureNymph
True Blue Farmgirl
73 Posts
Tracy
Barrie
Ontario
Canada
73 Posts |
 Posted - Oct 06 2008 : 3:35:55 PM
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We homeschool as well. This is our second year. My dd is in 3rd Grade and my ds is in kindergarten.
I love Charlotte Mason but I also use some not so charlotte Mason-y things like Saxon Math and others we've kind of meshed together.
I love hs'ing but there are days when I wish we didn't. I like solitude and find it hard to get time to myself to think and contemplate things...my kids love being around me and I like being around them it's just some days I need to be left alone with my thoughts. I started meditating and walking as a way to get my own quiet time. I hope it helps.
I'm glad there are others on here who understand the unique needs of the homeschooling family.
"Everybody likes to go their own way--to choose their own time and manner of devotion." Jane Austen, Mansfield Park |
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Homespun Livin
True Blue Farmgirl
409 Posts
Brenda
Louisiana
USA
409 Posts |
Posted - Oct 06 2008 : 8:34:49 PM
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Tara,
You are doing an AWESOME thing for your children. They may not understand or even appreciate it right now, but they will eventually come to thank you for your hard work and time that you are devoting to them. The beauty of homeschooling is that each child can learn at his/her own pace. Do you have a support group near you? That could be both helpful to you, your hubby and the kids. Do not give up!! The first year is tough, but it does get better. :) We are all here for you to support you and help in any way we can. Do not hesitate to ask for anything. I will keep your family in my prayers. :)
"Love one another." |
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FannyMay
Farmgirl in Training
25 Posts
Tara
Rosston
Arkansas
USA
25 Posts |
Posted - Oct 07 2008 : 9:40:40 PM
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Brenda, and Ruth thank you for your support and your prayers. I am desperate for them. This is in some ways harder and easier than what I expected. I was so worried about curriculum and schedule when we started and that has not been the trouble at all YET! I have just put together our own curriculum of different things and the schedule has kinda worked it's own self out. It is just the beating from others and the DD's rebelling and I am also feeling a little cabin feverish also. We are down to one vehicle and my husband has my truck to go to work in and so there fore I can not go any where. Iknow I can't anyway because of the homeschooling, but it is just taking some readjustments to get used to it. I know that all of this is worth it and I am at peace with our decision. I know that this is the right thing for our family. I just wish others could understand. I have lost my best friend over this and I am mourning the loss of that also, but my family comes first. Please remember me and my family in your prayers.
There is no other life for me, but farm life. |
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MissDana
True Blue Farmgirl
348 Posts
Dana
Carrollton
Georgia
USA
348 Posts |
Posted - Oct 08 2008 : 06:49:50 AM
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Hey Tara! I think most of us have felt like you one time or another. I know there is always a little flutter in the pit of my stomach and I have been doing this for 13 years! Someone once told me when first home schooling to allow your child to detox from public school one month for every year they were in school. When we pulled ours out of school, I had a 7th grader and a 2nd grader. We let Danny have 7 months - basically the first year home - with no schedule or "curriculum" except he had to read a book a week and other reading during the day. He had equated learning with school and HATED it! I didn't care if he read comic books, just read. I had a shelf of books for him to choose from that covered most genre's. He went at it begrudgingly but one day found Edgar Allen Poe and was hooked! My 2nd grader was happy to have workbooks for awhile as a transition. We did not allow computer games or TV except after dark and that helped. He eventually started a lawn care business that year and bought a $2000 bike. My point is to relax. The homeschooling police won't come and get you. : ) As for others... my mother was a constant negative voice and my husband initially worried. But as we moved forward into homeschooling we found the right curriculum for each and all is well. Danny is 26 owns a condo in the city and is a commercial photographer (shoots Paula Deen food, etc.) My daughter Eva is a junior in college and is in the top of her class. Who knew I could do that???? I didn't of course, they did! Now my 14 year old daughter is in her 4th year of homesdchooling. I felt we waited too long to pull her out, but a happy child learns and she is happy! I worry that I am too relaxed with this one but we'll see. Since college looms my worry level increases, but the other 2 found the best way for them and Ivey will also.
PS. I'm stuck at home with cabin fever as well due to the living on one income! Thank goodness for internet and MJF!!!
Dana
Proud Farmgirl Sister # 267
www.schultztroupe.wordpress.com |
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FannyMay
Farmgirl in Training
25 Posts
Tara
Rosston
Arkansas
USA
25 Posts |
Posted - Oct 08 2008 : 07:41:35 AM
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Thank you Dana for the encouragment. I can use all that I can get. I had never heard of the "for every month that they were in public school let them have a month off". It makes since to me! They don't think that learning is at all fun and balk at it actualy. I have not pushed them very hard yet. My 11 year old is so far behind that it is going to take some time to get him caught up, so far we have just been working on basics and not really any set curriculum. It was so sad that on the first day we started working, I gave him some basic subtraction problems to do and he had to regroup them. He sat there crying with big alligator tears saying he was just stupid, stupid, stupid. My heart literaly broke into that morning for my son. So, we have just been doing the basics getting him caught up and having more confidence in himself.
There is no other life for me, but farm life. |
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MissDana
True Blue Farmgirl
348 Posts
Dana
Carrollton
Georgia
USA
348 Posts |
Posted - Oct 08 2008 : 09:41:07 AM
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Tara, the beautiful thing about homeschooling is your dear son will realize that you all love and care for him so much that you chose home schooling. How great is that? His mom and dad would pull him out of a bad situation and trust that he can thrive in his own way and in his own time! Maybe just allowing him to be helpful at home during the day and feeling valuable will give him the foundation to then tackle the "hard" stuff and not feel like a victim. Isn't it a shame that school can be so harmful to so many kids? Where I live, we have the best schools in the state and the best test scores in the nation and yet I didn't think my youngest would survive a high school with 3,500 students! She was bullied by girls in 4th grade about being a geek and 5th grade never really recovered. She is a science and math wiz but was physically bullied by these kids! I couldn't put her in a middle school with 1,600 kids! She was so relieved when we made the decision to home school. It was a right decision for her, I'm just sorry I didn't listen to my gut back in 4th grade!
Proud Farmgirl Sister # 267
www.schultztroupe.wordpress.com |
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homemom
True Blue Farmgirl
1593 Posts
Ruth
Warwick
RI
USA
1593 Posts |
Posted - Oct 08 2008 : 12:54:30 PM
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Tara,
I agree with Dana. Your son will see how important he is to you. It will take some time but you will work through these difficult steps. As you work with him and show him that you have confidence in him he will begin to see it to. He just needs some good love and encouragement. I 'm sure that will be any easy recipe to fill.
Blessings,
Ruth
Living the farm life in my heart.
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Ruth
http://farmgirlinmyheart.blogspot.com/ |
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FannyMay
Farmgirl in Training
25 Posts
Tara
Rosston
Arkansas
USA
25 Posts |
Posted - Oct 08 2008 : 8:31:52 PM
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Thank you Dana and Ruth for the encouragment. Now tell me how I can handle a 13 year olds raging hormones!LOL. I don't remember being this bad when I was younger. She can be happy one minute and about to bite my head off another. Sometimes I look at her and think who is this child this is not the same child I brought home from the hospital who just loved everyone and always wanted a hug. She does not even want me coming anywhere near here mutch less God forbid HUG her.She does not want to do ANYTHING lately. She just wants to do nothing at all and I can not stand it.
There is no other life for me, but farm life. |
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MissDana
True Blue Farmgirl
348 Posts
Dana
Carrollton
Georgia
USA
348 Posts |
Posted - Oct 09 2008 : 05:58:48 AM
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Ah yes, it all sound familiar! My poor husband has raging hormones surrounding him - 14 and 51 year olds! I'll tell you what I do. I give her an arsenal of vitamins! Omega 3,6,9 as well as calcium with magnesium and zinc. Then there is the multi vitamin and 2 St. John's Wort. She doesn't like taking them, but notices the difference and so does it anyway! My vitamin selection is even bigger with Ginkgo biloba, biotin and my blood pressure meds! I do think my sons hormonal awakening was far worse! How did my poor house survive his stomping and slamming of doors! We didn't let any of our kids get their drivers license until 18. That way the hormonal rages did not include jumping into a car and speeding off. In our house it was jumping on the mountain bike and speeding off!! Ah, good times. ; ) Glad I'm down to just one at home now!
Dana
Proud Farmgirl Sister # 267
www.schultztroupe.wordpress.com |
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FannyMay
Farmgirl in Training
25 Posts
Tara
Rosston
Arkansas
USA
25 Posts |
Posted - Oct 09 2008 : 9:29:00 PM
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VITAMINS! I have never heard of vitamins helping with the hormonal problems. I could use some help in that department myself. What does each one supposed to do? Is the omega 3, 6,9 three seperate pills? We have never been one to take a lot of medicines so I have never given a lot of vitamins. We have been fortunate to be very healthy. My 11 year old son got his first ear infection yearbefore last and it had been several years before that since he had been. We did though get the flu last year, but by the time I figured out what it was is was to late to get any medicine. We just had to ride it out. We are going to get the Flu shot this year though. I do not plan to repeat that from last year. I thought I was going to die. I have never been so sick. I amost died after my son was born and that was not as bad as that stuff we had last year. The test came back that it was not the flu, if we did not have the flu then I sure would die if i got it.LOL The Good Lord has blessed our family with good health so far.Well I am just getting started with all of this. We are crazy for even thinking of having another baby. I would love to have another one, but everyone says NO NO NO. We still have not made up our mind. Thanks for the advice!
There is no other life for me, but farm life. |
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MissDana
True Blue Farmgirl
348 Posts
Dana
Carrollton
Georgia
USA
348 Posts |
Posted - Oct 10 2008 : 06:28:16 AM
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Tara, I feel vitamins support the body while hormones surge! The Omega's I find at Walmart combined. I think it's called Flax,Fish and Borage Oil. the capsule is the size of a small car! We take one. The calcium, also at Walmart, is called Cal Mag Zinc. A multi and the St. John's Wort, also at Walmart. The calcium and omegas were recommended to me to steady my active girl. It also aids in sleep. The St. John's Wort is a herbal mood lifter. My older daughter's pediatrician suggested she start St. John's Wort when she was stressing and being dramatic over EVERYTHING! It takes a week or so before noticeable difference can be seen, but she and my 14 year old felt the difference sooner. I take it as well! It's our happy pill! There is info on the web and I just know it works for us. My husband will make a trip to the store if we run out....self preservation!! I also keep meat out of our diet during the hormone phase or use organic. I don't think adding hormones through our diet is helpful! I can say I lived through my son's teenage years (homeschooling and all!) and more importantly HE lived through his teen years! : ) His big rebellion was eating meat. He hated eating vegetarian and would sneak off to Subway and buy an all meat sub! I secretly didn't care but he needed something to rebel against...it might as well be vegetarianism! Of course he is 26, on his own and eats a meatless diet! He is too cheap to buy it!!
Proud Farmgirl Sister # 267
www.schultztroupe.wordpress.com |
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MissDana
True Blue Farmgirl
348 Posts
Dana
Carrollton
Georgia
USA
348 Posts |
Posted - Oct 15 2008 : 4:23:44 PM
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Hens at Home henhouse is up and ready for hens on the Sisterhood site!
If you are already a Sisterhood member, email me your Sisterhood number and screen name and I'll let Sunny know and you'll get an email to join! Or you can email Sunny directly at sunny@maryjanesfarm.org and ask to join Hens at Home.
I hope to have wacky monthly info and ideas to celebrate, books for schooling and personal escape, virtual field trips with our own "Flat Stanley's", teacher appreciation days, recipes for play and table and anything else you can think of to do.
Come on over and join me!
Dana
Proud Farmgirl Sister # 267
www.schultztroupe.wordpress.com |
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Family Matters: any other homeschoolers? |
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any other homeschoolers?
