Getting Ready to Start up again

[Samuel'sMommy]

We are starting Preparing on Aug 10th. I'm so excited!

[LynnH]

I think we are starting on August 13th, but I'm not sure due to my dad having a total knee replacement in another city so I will need to see how his recovery is going by then. Since I knew my dad had the surgery coming up I have gotten everything completely ready to go.

My goal for this year is to do our best to enjoy the journey since we only have 3 years left together. It is easy for me to stress out about what he can or can't do and what his future will hold. I don't want to do that because it impacts him greatly. As long as he is giving his top effort I am going to be happy. I am also going to try hard not to compare him to other dc that are doing the same guide. He is exactly who God made him to be and I need to rejoice in that. I am also going to try and be very sensitive to if he is reaching his breaking point and be willing to lessen expectations a little if it looks like I truly am asking too much.

I have spent a lot of time reading the material in the WH guide and I think it is fantastic and I am excited for him to read the books.

[rumkimom]

I was planning on starting up on Aug 3....and we were excited about it. Last night I flipped the calendar and realized that we have an ENT appointment on Tues morning, 2 orthodontist appointments on Thursday morning (each of which are almost an hour's drive away....so there goes our morning) and a friend is starting up a once a month co-op that I am interested in (we dropped the one we have been going to for the past 6 years for a year's break from it)...the meeting for that is Monday morning. <sigh> Should I just wait until Aug 10 or go ahead and do the days next week that we can? I think I could get in 3 days (MWF).....I could always continue what we are doing now and start the new book on Aug 10.

[Mumkins]

I'd wait. I like an uninterrupted first week.

[Gwenny]

I wasn't planning on starting until Aug. 26th, but this has made me think a little bit more. I think I will look at starting the 10th with a couple of them, the youngest two. The other 3 can't start yet so I didn't even think of getting going with the others. That would help ease everyone in to things, kind of like going 1/2 speed helps.
I am SO excited about this year. I never thought I would do this because I lived under the idea that I should be able to do it all for my children, house, etc. If I'm a "really good Christian home school mom"--then I should do it--if it seems like I can't, I need to work harder, get up earlier, schedule better, etc etc etc. Well, FREEDOM has been my word for the past year. I didn't realized what fear and wrong thinking I was living under--things that I thought God expected of me that isn't true. Long story short.

Our long time piano teacher and family friend, who is now 28, is coming to my house 2 times a week for 4 hours a day to tutor my 2 oldest girls and do the things with them from the guide they are working on that are not independent!! One of those days she will also teach them their piano lessons after the 4 hours. Last year was horrible, with us doing school into the dinner hour (but there was no dinner being prepared) and mama rarely happy because we had to "do school"!! I've been home schooling for 22 years and I've never done something like this. I knew something had to change for this year. I couldn't figure out what was wrong because it wasn't like I hadn't schooled 4 or more children at a time before. Friends helped me to see that there are way more things going on in my life now than there was when my 1st 4 were young. It's amazing how much time goes into my children that don't even live in my house anymore, and my grandson. That's not a complaint, just a reality! I love it, but there is only so much time in a day. Also, these children still at home having some learning issues (they are all adopted) and that changes things also. My girls who will work with the tutor are so excited because they love her. I know they will love the one on one time and all of the attention. I am so excited to be able to give more attention to my 3 youngest as well.

Anyway, I just wanted to share! This group is so encouraging and I love HOD!!

[rumkimom]

Nancy - I am starting my younger 2 first and then adding the older ones in later. 2 of my 4 also have learning issues...and another one switched languages one year ago (so kind of a learning issue as well).....so 3 of 4 might have learning issues. Makes life interesting.

Mumkins - Thanks. I think I will wait to start Beyond with them then. I have been doing LHFHG during the summer to help them prep for getting used to doing schoolwork again. If my little guy (age 7) can't handle Beyond I can switch him back....he is doing great with it right now, but I think he can do more and I would really like to keep them together for awhile.

[Jennymommy]

Nancy, thanks for sharing. I recently was told by the doctor that my adrenal glands are just about shut down, and that is bad news if we can't get them restored. I am having to rethink priorities, and the thought that I can't "do it all" is really weighing on me. God is gracious though, and this month I have been able to see what He really wants me to focus on. That means for me, getting housecleaning help (when I have always been the housecleaning help ), having kids or husband wash the big dishes (I'm not strong enough, when I used to be so strong), resting when I want to be hiking/biking; all this so I can be available to my husband and kids, do the schooling, cooking, other house care, and also be available when God leads me (as he does so often) to someone needing encouragement and His words. I'm looking forward to walking in Him, and through His strength getting done what is necessary Oh, and school starts for us on the 17th, God willing

[queenireneof3]

This is a fun thread to read through!

We are going to start next Monday, Aug 3rd! I have a baby due Aug 31st, so I am hoping we can get 4 good weeks of school (probably not units!) in before baby gets here so that after we take some time off for baby in September, it will be easier to jump back into the work.

Daneale...I am also on my last week of trying to plan lunches, breakfasts, and freezer meals! Hoping to get my mom-in-law to help me make some good freezer meals once or twice before baby gets here so I can learn how to do it and so we can have a stockpile of food for after baby arrives. Our breakfasts have usually rotated between yogurt and homemade toast, oatmeal (crock pot preferred by me!), and eggs and toast. Eggs require me to make them at this point, so not sure if I should rotate something else in or save them for lunch. Have great recipes for freezer waffles, muffins, that I might try in work in. Those all require advanced preparation though, which will probably be harder once baby gets here. Last year lunches rotated between eggs, rice pudding or soup, quesadillas and kefir, tuna (either sandwiches, melts, sushi, or with noodles), bean burritos, and picnic style finger foods (fruit, cheese, deli meat, crackers, olives). I've found many recipes online that I am hoping to incorporate this year. Looking especially for meals that kids can be a significant part in helping to put the table.

It is interesting that piano got brought up in this thread, because my children have been taking piano for several months now and it is one of our harder subjects... So much so that I am wondering about dropping it. Their beginners' level require me to sit with them for every practice and it is so hard to muster up the energy to do that after schooling all day. I wish I could send them to practice themselves, but alas, I don't see that happening soon. Need to talk to our piano tutor.

Really looking forward to starting next week and incorporating some regular structure back into our days! We have been so busy with summer activities, it will be nice to settle down again. We've been on break since May. My husband works at a camp and June-July are too busy and irregular to try to school.

[StephanieU]

FINALLY got going again. We stopped mid-June for a week and a half trip, and I had planned on picking back up when we got back. Then life happened, and we just did math and sometimes LA a few times a week. Today we got a half day of Bigger done plus the 3Rs for my 5yo. Tomorrow I am hoping to get closer to a full day, assuming my husband will work a full day (he often doesn't on Fridays). Hopefully next week we can do all full days!

[MelInKansas]

We never quite doing school but I think the official 2015-16 school year kick off is August 17 for us! We have done some this week, and we are on vacation next week, and we will do some more the week of the 10th but I also plan on working on potty learning with my 3 year old the week of August 10th, so I am not going to implement a full blown school schedule at the same time because I'm not completely insane! Just partially.

I am totally with you Daneale, making food is one of the harder things to work in. I also have my kids taking one day a week, trading off weeks, so each one does a meal every other week. They plan it, give me the grocery list, and mostly prepare it (I have to slice and dice and do some of the work with the oven). My oldest said "Now that I've browned hamburger I have learned a lot and I can see what the hamburger was like before you browned it." This was tonight, we had tacos for dinner but she had made a taco casserole last week so she had to brown hamburger for that.

I too want to start my days with the kids earlier, which means I will have to figure out another time than first thing in the morning to do some of my work for church, or get up earlier. I'm also starting a new exercise program right after we get back... wow. I will be busy. But I pray as we all get into the routine of our school days we will look to the Lord daily and glorify Him in our hearts and attitudes. That all the tools will lead us to worship Him more!

Blessings on all of you guys starting school up soon, and those who are waiting until later.

[Nealewill]

I am always amazed at how there are so many needs for each of us and how God pulls us through.

Lynn - prayers for your dad's surgery and prayers that all goes well if you need to go be with him for a period of time after the surgery. I also love how you mentioned that you only have 3 years left on your journey. What a great reminder to us all - our kids won't be here forever. I know I needed this and need to remember to spend time savoring each year with my kids. Even when it is hard! They won't be here forever.

Gwenny - I am so encouraged by your story. I love that you are using the piano teacher to help. There were several times when my kids were younger that I had a mother's helper. And because I work from home a lot at times, there were times I hired college students and high school student to come over for a period of time to help read lessons to my kids because I just didn't have time. I also use my husband to listen to the kids read in the evening to help take that off of my plate. It is hard juggling school at times and I commend your seeking the help as it seems like your life is very right now.

Rumkimom - I go 50 / 50 on whether or not I would start next week. For me, I am starting for 1 full week so that I can introduce my kids the guide. We won't get 1 full week done next week but my younger 2 are starting a new guide and I wanted to expose them to the boxes. We are also only completing a half day next week. Then we are off for vacation for a full week! I can't wait! So I guess if you looked at it from that perspective, doing MWF and looking at it more like a teaching them what is to come, it might not be frustrating that you take two days off. But I also do agree with Mumkins, I do like having a whole week to do it. Either way, it will all work itself out.

Jennymommy - praying for you too! I can't even imagine what you are going through. I am also a very active person and I think this infliction would be so difficult as you are moving from active to exhausted. I am praying for healing for you and for help to come when you need it. I am also praying for you kids to have good attitudes and to be as helpful as possible without complaint. And I am praying for your husband to have the strength to pick up the extra stuff that always needs done in a family. I guess I am just trying to wrap your whole family and house up in prayer.

Queenireneof3 - I am surprised at how much work the piano lessons are for your kids. My kids can practice on their own. They have been taking lessons for 2 years now. If I had to sit with them, I would have dropped piano after 2 months! I am not sure what all your piano teacher has them do but my kids have a notebook where the teacher writes their lessons in. They usually have some type of scale or activity they are working on. They learn one or two new songs. And then they practice old songs. My younger two practice 15 minutes a day. My oldest practices 30+ minutes a day but that is because she loves piano. She is moving a lot faster through her book now too because of this. She has formal scales, she has started teaching herself new songs - encouraged by the piano teacher - and she is learning how to see a piece and play it without practicing it first. I know that sounds weird but basically - if you play the piano and you get good - you need to learn how to read music and play it well enough the first time. This is the first step to this. It is kind of cool. But my piano teacher does a great job of introducing things to my kids when they are ready. My younger two kids are working through My First Piano adventures while my oldest is completing the higher level series along with a hodge podge of materials. Yes, I would talk to the teacher about their lessons and get a plan for them gaining independence.

Melissa - I will pray that you can get the kids up and moving earlier if you pray the same for me LOL. I struggle with getting them up because I love the peace and quiet in the morning. Once they are up - that means I need to be ready for them. It is such a double edged sword wanting to start earlier . It means I want to get done earlier but it definitely has a cost to my routine. We will see how it goes.

[Jennymommy]

Thank you so much, Daneale. You are such an encouragement here I pray for you this year for strength and no burnout as you carry a heavy load.

[quiverfull]

I really want to be done in May next year, so I started this week (July 27th) with my kids who are doing CTC, Bigger (week 21) and LHTH (week 11). My 4 year old is doing some Rod and Staff workbooks. He really likes that he has "his own school" this year We had a really good week, but I did have 3 whole days a way to plan/prepare. Yes, it was wonderful! It's not something I've ever been able to do in the past, it just worked out for me to go with my husband on a business trip. I used the week to pray, plan, make goals for myself and each child etc. It was SO beneficial and productive! I would encourage you to get away if you can. Just to think through the coming year. You'll be amazed at how much clearer things look when you are not constantly being interrupted etc. No matter how blessed those interruptions are

My older two, will be starting in a few weeks. They have other things they are doing that need to be finished up first. By then, I hope to be in a good groove with the others, so adding them in won't be a big deal. They are mostly on independent anyway.

Have a great year, Ladies!

[TrueGRIT]

I keep coming back and reading this thread.
Things have really been up in the air about school time lately. Due to many different things. Reading this help me formulate some ideas & my husband got his job schedule figured out (for now), so we were able to finally talk & make a plan.

We will start school half-days on August 12th. We have to leave town on the 21st for just over a week. Combo ailing family/vacation. We will start up full-speed on September 1st.

Thank you, Ladies for sharing on here. Hope you have a blessed year.

[rumkimom]

I decided to go ahead and start up yesterday and due to the meeting I had yesterday and the ENT appointment my son had today we completed 1 day between the 2 days. Overall it went well. Tomorrow will be a full day and we will see how it goes. My older son did ask for a notebooking type activity to do, so I might add something like that in for him if he wants it tomorrow. Maybe I can copy a map of the world and let him label the continents and oceans.