Haven't posted in a while...

[3sweeties]

...and your prayers and advice are appreciated! We found out around the beginning of December that we are expecting a FOURTH little surprise blessing sometime around August 11! We thought we were "done" with our family, but God had other plans! I am 12 weeks today and finally felt like posting about it now that I am farther along. It's been a rough haul the past few months, maybe b/c I am a bit "older" this time around (turned 37 in October)?!? I am thankful for no complications or problems so far and am praying for a healthy pregnancy and baby.

Anyway, I would just appreciate all of you sweet ladies' prayers right now. We have continued to get school done (just with DS7), which is a praise, in spite of my exhaustion and morning sickness, but when I think about next year and homeschooling TWO with a toddler/preschooler and newborn, I get panicky and overwhelmed. I know many of you do it with 4 or more and I am trying to trust that God will give me the strength and grace I need when I get there. I would love to hear tips and ideas of how to transition back into school next year after the new baby is here, just so I can start slowly wrapping my mind around it. I am not planning on starting until at least after Labor Day (assuming baby will be here around due date and we normally start around first to second week in August) and maybe just easing in? I didn't do that when I had my DD (DS7 was just in K then) and I really regret it.

DS(7) will be 8.5 by then and finishing up Bigger (we've been going at it 4 days/week this year) for the first 6 weeks or so. DS(4) will be 5.5 and starting K. I am thinking of starting him in LHFHG. DD(2) will be almost 3 and I was thinking of doing a little bit of LHTH to at least give her some special time with Mommy somewhere in there. Whew! That wears me out just writing it down! I think I've been a bit spoiled just officially homeschooling one for the past 3 years!

Thank you so much for reading this far and I really appreciate any ideas, suggestions, BTDT stories and encouragement!

[Mom2Monkeys]

Let me just say I am now where you will be then. Did that make sense? LOL. My kids are 8.5, 6, 3 and newborn. It's tough and until I posted here for tips from all these great ladies, I was getting depressed and feeling so lost! You might check my recent posts for great tips from all those that have replied. I know more will post here to you as well, but it might give you a little start Many hugs!! I'm sure you'll be fine, but DO ease into it and plan some time off. And if you aren't ready to start again at the planned time, then just give it a bit more. Our kids are still young and I'm sure they'll be fine. I ended up having to not school most of my pregnancy and now baby is 2.5 months old and we still haven't started back! It will work out and God is in control! I love this board and I know God has used the ladies here to help me through this transition time.

[mamayi]

Congratulations on your new "gift"! Like Mom2Monkeys, I am now where you will be in a few months. We just had our fourth on Sept. 8.
Just like you I wondered how I would handle everything that would be on my plate at that time. I'll share what we did and what we learned through the past six months.
First, we started school six weeks before my due date and the goal was to accomplish four weeks worth of school in that time. My ds (who had just turned 7) started Beyond and my dd (5) just started TRL and Singapore math and joined in with Beyond when able. I simply had reading and playtime with my other dd (3). That phase went well and I felt like I was ahead of the game.
Then the baby was born and thank the Lord everything went fine and after two weeks I thought I'd might as well get started back with school. WRONG! I had prepared some miscellaneous workbook assignment for my ds to do during those initial two weeks after the baby was born but "mommy guilt" set in and I thought I'd better "get back to normal." The next few weeks were nothing but tears and frustration (from me, not the children! ). I physically and emotionally was not ready and was trying to do too much. It wasn't until about seven weeks post-partum that my head was clear and my body was semi-normal and I was back to mostly my old self. THEN we started back up slowly and things went much smoother.
I even wrote a note to myself in case I am ever blessed with more children that I need to take at least two months to just let life adjust and not try and do too much. Let all members of the family adjust to the new routine that a baby brings and enjoy that season because as we all know it passes by way too quickly!
By December we were schooling full swing and now January has been our best month this year.
I know that you can do it! With a little planning and scheduling and keeping life very simple for a few months you will be in the swing of a new routine in no time.
My prayers are with you and I know for sure that God will sustain you and bless your family as you follow His calling to homeschool. I take great comfort in knowing that our Creator has each day planned out for each of my children much better that I can plan it!
Blessings to you,
Andrea

[Samuel'sMommy]

Congratulations on your new blessing!

[3sweeties]

Thanks so much for the encouragement and congrats, ladies! The past few days I have been feeling slightly better about everything and not feeling so overwhelmed.

Tamara, I read the replies on your post and there are SO many great ideas there! Thanks!

Andrea, I like the idea of starting school about 6 weeks before my due date, just to get some in before baby comes -- I think that may help me not feel so pressured to start too soon after baby. Thank you!

[my3sons]

Congrats, and I know what you mean about feeling more tired during a pregnancy you are older with! I could hardly do the stairs my last pregnancy . (They are those old very steep stairs since our house is 100 yo, but STILL, I felt very out of shape. ) Anyway, getting a month of school under your belt before baby arrives is a great idea, and will do wonders to make you not feel behind when you do need to take the time off. I would spend real time helping your oldest get used to using the Bigger Hearts guide independently by having him read his plans from there and check off his boxes as he does them. He can get used to grabbing the appropriate books and setting out the needed materials for a box. I'm in the process of teaching my almost 7 to do this already. I have him call me when he's got his things ready for the next box. It seems like a little thing, but it saves a lot of time. I also would have him doing the boxes he is meant to do quite independently, independently. It's easy with just 1 to do more for them, but in preparation of having less time, I'd spend this next while really training your oldest to do as much on his own as possible, while still retaining your teaching time. Other than your teaching time, he can be responsible for the rest - materials, books, getting things out, putting things away, checking off completed boxes, turning in completed assignments - all of this can easily be done without your supervision, which will free up a LOT of time for you later.

After baby arrives and you've taken some time off for that, and after you've started Bigger Hearts back up with your oldest for a week or 2, I'd start 5.5 yo half-speed in LHFHG, with daily phonics. Blend him into your schedule and get a routine down with those two. For your almost 3 yo, I'd just read her some books before nap and bedtime first. Maybe pick an anthology to read slowly out loud to her, do a few fingerplays like Patty-cake, This Little Pig Went to Market, etc., but maybe wait to add LHTH for a month or so, until your older 2 are in a good routine already. Then, you can start LHTH half-speed with your 3 yo.

If this is overwhelming, just skip reading this next part! But, I had a schedule for baby, son doing LHFHG, and son doing Bigger Hearts I'll share here. It was very detailed as I needed that back then! Here goes:


Don't worry - you can completely do this! Easing into it and stagger starting are 2 of my best plans when I've been pregnant or just had a baby. One small piece of advice, move forward, even if it is in bite-sized increments, and then pick up speed when you are able. You'll be very glad you did and though the pace may be slow at first, it is better than completely stopping for a longer period of time, as it just becomes harder to start back up, and then you begin to feel further behind. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

[Kathleen]

Congratulations, Jessica! August is going to be a busy month for new little HOD babies. I'm due with our 4th, 2 weeks after you. I'll be praying for your pregnancy.

I have no plans for what we're going to do in the fall, yet. I'm still in the mode of making it all the way through school every day so that I can go take a nap. (And not having to run out of the room in the middle of reading to puke is always a bonus, too. ) I'll have to come get ideas here when I'm ready. But, I just wanted to encourage you that you can do it! I know something I've learned in recent years is that I have the time to accomplish everything that God wants me to accomplish in a day. NOT everything I might think I need to accomplish. So, surrender your days to Him, and be willing to do what He asks of you and relax in His easy yoke. His strength can be made perfect in our weakness!

Kathleen

[Carrie]

Jessica,

I just wanted to let you know that I am praying for you and for the many moms on the HOD board who are pregnant right now as well. I know the Lord will make a way for you to accomplish His will in the day-to-day, just as He does for me. I just wanted to encourage you that we're all here for you, and we will be when the baby is born too. The board is a wonderful place to turn to for help, advice, and encouragement as there are always people here walking a similar path.

Blessings,
Carrie

[3sweeties]

Thanks again for the input and encouragement, ladies! Sorry I haven't replied in so long...we have been battling the flu around here for the past week and a half. Everyone seems to be better now, though!

I also would have him doing the boxes he is meant to do quite independently, independently. It's easy with just 1 to do more for them, but in preparation of having less time, I'd spend this next while really training your oldest to do as much on his own as possible, while still retaining your teaching time. Other than your teaching time, he can be responsible for the rest - materials, books, getting things out, putting things away, checking off completed boxes, turning in completed assignments - all of this can easily be done without your supervision, which will free up a LOT of time for you later.

Julie, I was wondering what is probably a silly question: which boxes in Bigger would you consider independent for an almost 8 yo? I have to at least get him started on most stuff (either teach the concept, give directions, etc.), but can usually leave him to do his work on his own with math, cursive, copywork, and some notebooking. Is there anything I am missing that in your experience he can start doing more independently? I try really hard not to "hover", but I am probably guilty of it at times! Anyway, I just wanted your input on this b/c I thought there may be some areas I can begin to have him start more independently now so that when we start after summer break it won't be too much at once.


Thanks so much!

[3sweeties]

Also, Kathleen, congratulations on your little blessing! It will be fun to have someone here also experiencing their fourth while homeschooling at the same time! So good to know I'm not alone on those days where I'm sure I will feel like I'm going insane! I'll be praying you have a healthy and happy pregnancy!

[my3sons]

Julie, I was wondering what is probably a silly question: which boxes in Bigger would you consider independent for an almost 8 yo? I have to at least get him started on most stuff (either teach the concept, give directions, etc.), but can usually leave him to do his work on his own with math, cursive, copywork, and some notebooking. Is there anything I am missing that in your experience he can start doing more independently? I try really hard not to "hover", but I am probably guilty of it at times! Anyway, I just wanted your input on this b/c I thought there may be some areas I can begin to have him start more independently now so that when we start after summer break it won't be too much at once. Thanks so much!

You are right - in Bigger Hearts the areas you mentioned are intended to be the most independent. Once my ds was halfway through Bigger Hearts, I also had him get everything out, and basically prepare for the box and have him call me when he was ready for my part. So for example, if the Bible study box called for him to look up a word in a dictionary and a verse in the Bible, he would have all of that open and ready to go before he called me. He'd also practice his verse until he knew it well, and then I'd just come for the calisthenics/discussion part. Same with the art day - he'd set out everything he'd need, read through the entire box, and then call me and briefly explain what he was going to do, making sure it was right. While he was doing the actual painting, etc. , he would do that independently and I'd go work with one of his brothers.

On science experiment days, he'd set out all of the supplies. Read through the box and if it was a day he was doing a lab sheet, he'd copy the question, make his guess, and then call me to briefly explain what he was going to do for his experiment. He did the experiment on his own then, and knew to draw the procedure and write the conclusion, leaving it out for me to check later on the counter. For history vocabulary, he'd do that pretty much completely independently, other than I'd have him find each word within the history book and read it to me, make his guesses about what each of them meant, and then he'd find the words in the dictionary, copy the meaning, use it in a sentence, make and color the picture independently. He'd call me to come check them, and then he'd alphabetize them. Same kind of thing for notebooking - read the box, get the needed materials, call me and explain what he was going to do, then do it independently. For history activities, he'd do whatever he could on his own, i.e. get the globe, write the continents on index cards, practice putting them where he thought they might go, and then call me for the discussion/active part of the box so we could do that together. He did the timeline totally on his own.

Toward the end of the year (as I had 2 other dc and 1 very refluxing baby crying quite often ), he read the science on his own and did that box quite independently as well. These seem like small things, but they add up to a lot of time saved on our part as teachers. HTH! I know you'll continue to do just great with BHFHG, even with a new baby, but you are wise to work on independence prior to your little blessing's arrival.

In Christ,
Julie