I'm not getting everything done!!

[momofjka]

I am feeling a little overwhelmed in trying to get everything done for both my children (along with everything that needs to get done that's NOT school related) this first year with them home. The guides are easy to follow, but I still feel like I am not getting everything done. We just are not completing every single box (mostly it is things like the art projects, sometimes dramatic play, and in DITHOR, my ds is only doing the readings and student workbooks, not the guide). I feel like I'm failing at homeschooling when I see/hear other moms (some of whom have many more children than me), who are completing everything in the guides, including all these great projects & making homeschooling fun, exciting... and well, amazing. One of my friends just made a medieval dinner complete with a boar's head shaped out of meatloaf... and I can barely get my laundry done. Will I get better at this? Are my children going to miss out if we miss some of the boxes in the guide this first year? I should also say that we do always get the basics of reading, writing, math, spelling, language and those things done. I also think I would have thrown in the towel in if it weren't for HOD. The guides are so well done, that I have not had to add lesson planning on top of everything. Thanks for letting me stress for a moment. I know they will turn out fine, I guess I just need reassurance that if I need to let a box go undone or that if I am not super project mom (right now anyway), that it's ok.

[MomtoJGJE]

Why don't you drop back to half speed for a while? Do one side one day and the next side the next day. That way you'll be able to do more with your time until you get the rhythm going. Then when you feel like it's going well at half speed, then you could move one of them to full speed while keeping the other half speed until that feels like it's going well. Then have both of them going full speed.

[mamas4bugs]

It will get easier. You will find your feet. And, nobody will be scarred for life if you occasionally miss a box.

We didn't get the shield made in week, um, 5 (I think) of RTR. We skipped the wharf activity in Bigger last week because my boys have done this for real at the lake with my dad.

Most days, we get it all done. Sometimes, life happens. And that's OK. This is our 10th year homeschooling, and even now, the laundry doesn't always get done. I can live with that. Clean socks are overrated. Really, it's all about balance. Can you take an extra day to "catch up" on boxes if you feel behind? Can the kids help with the housework? (I know yours are little.) The guides being written out for me makes it all so much easier, and makes it more likely that it will get done because I don't have to spend time planning it all out (Thank you, Carrie!), and I have learned that the skills build on each other in each of the guides, so be careful that you aren't skipping one particular box all the time. Having said that, though, remember that YOU are the teacher. All curricula, even that as wonderful as HOD, is your tool to educate your children. You don't have to feel that you are a slave to the curriculum.

Maybe others will have more practical advice to help you figure out how to accomplish that.

ETA: Like the half speed idea.

[MomtoJGJE]

By the way, my older dd is responsible for laundry a few times a week (we do laundry daily) and my second and third are responsible for starting a load a couple of times a week. All three can unload and reload the dishwasher. All four of mine routinely wipe SOMETHING down (table, floor, windows, appliances, sink) and they are responsible for cleaning up any toys and other things they use throughout the day. My oldest also is responsible once a month for changing sheets on the bunkbeds. Not to mention other random chores.

I think it's very important for them to have big chores that really are what runs the home. None of their jobs take them more than 10 minutes at a time. This helps me not get overwhelmed because in general I stink at housework. It also helps prepare them for when they have their own home.

[annaz]

Don't feel too bad. I only have one dd and I can't finish nor complete all my household chores.

I do agree it's a rhythm you get. If you look in your guides you'll see that the week has a certain schedule daily, that repeats itself weekly. When I notice that it was a huge help for me since we have two short days due to karate. I know that a certain box I can do "tomorrow" because we won't have that short day. I also had done a large chore calendar for "me". So I do no laundry on days I have to go out, but know I have to do at least two on the days I'm home. One day is bathrooms, one is dusting, etc. Before school I do breakfast, dishes and laundry starting. I always give myself our karate days for school ONLY so I don't get bogged down and stressed out with too much to do, since I go grocery shopping on that day as well.

But again, we still don't finish. I use our 5th day to finish our 4-day week. And sometimes I can't do that either. With ONE!!!! Then you have the super mom's who can blog as well, while I'm trying to figure out why they're even awake!

[pjdobro]

Oh yes, the super mom who gets it all done plagues me sometimes as well. Why do we fall into that comparison trap? I think we've all be there and done that. I do think you will find your groove along the way. I was going to say it gets easier, but I don't know if that is the case. Maybe we just learn how to accept things better. My house is still more of a mess than I would like and there are many projects that I want to do with my dc that I don't get done, but it's ok. I've been learning to accept what God has for me to do each day and try not to expect more of myself than that. We've finally found our groove with HOD and manage to get that done on a daily basis. I do think that gets easier each year because you, as the teacher, get more familiar with the layout and so do the dc. Also as they get older, they take over more of the tasks in the guide so your teacher time gets less and less. All of these things lead to more time to try to catch up on other tasks that you need to do. One thing that I'm loving this year is the 4 day week. It has been a wonderful way to do those other things that need to be done and that we want to do. I keep thinking how I should have been doing this all along. So that is a thought for you. Consider going to a 4 day week. Four days a week do your guide and on the fifth day catch-up with anything that you may have missed and do all of those extra things you want to do or maybe even just do an extra load of laundry. This will stretch out the guides with a 5 day schedule by about 9 weeks, but I think that it really is worth it for that extra day each week. I do just want to say, "Hang in there!" My first year homeschooling, I was so burnt out by the first of the year that we didn't accomplish much at all the second half of the year. Homeschooling is a big adjustment. Give yourself time and grace to adjust.

[lmercon]

We almost NEVER get everything done in one day. Just pick up where you left off. At first, I was worried that it would hinder the flow, but it really doesn't. I have units that run from Wed. to the following Thurs., etc. It really doesn't affect the program at all. Giving myself permission to do as much as I can in one day, and then just picking up from there the next day has completely released the stress from me. My ds is severely dyslexic and needs so much help from me. In addition, he has his own reading program that takes a long time.
hth,
Laura

[countrymom]

The first year of homeschooling it is not going to come together all at once (unfortunately ), so definitely allow yourself this year to get a system and flow figured out. I find it is important for me to really take a good look at the guides and come up with an order for the boxes. Then after actually doing a unit or two, I tweak the order if I need to. If you haven't studied the "share our schedules" thread, that may help a little too. (viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2093) Here are a few things that I have found helpful as I have fined-tuned our homeschooling:
1. Even though I like to do the activity box below history right after the history box, if it is an art project or science experiment that involves getting things out or moving to a different room, I leave it until last. I know that sounds like it would be even more easier to skip it, but actually it lets me relax and enjoy the activity because I know all of the other boxes are done. When I used to do it right away I would get nervous thinking about all of the other boxes I had to do yet.
2. I throw a load of laundry in right before we start school, change it somewhere along the way and pull it out somewhere along the way. Then I have one pile on the bed for the boys to fold when they are done. That is five loads of laundry a week accounted for, which if you are like our house is not enough, but at least keeps you on top of things.
3. I always start a guide at 1/2 speed to give me time to make adjustments as needed.
4. Copywork and handwriting are last because they can be somewhat to totally independent and I can start doing something else while overseeing that.
5. Extracurricular activities are kept to a minimum. We have found that it is just plain easier to be home and stick to our schedule. We do extra things, but I really watch this area.
6. My house is what it is and until my children are grown that is the way it will be. Once I came to that conclusion a big burden was lifted. My sons help with chores and my going on 7 yr old is even doing the vacuuming and does a great job!
7. I can't do a detailed schedule that has times for everything, but I do have a schedule that states the order of things from time we get up until schoolwork is done. I make sure I am up by a set time and the boys have to be up by another time.
Hang in there. It will get better.

[tnahid]

We definitely could not get it all done each day, so I cut back to doing the "basics" of math, language, and reading (DITHOR) every day and history and science 2 days a week. I just combine 2 days of the guide into one and do day 5 on Fridays. I do rotate science every other day and history on the other days (Tues. and Thurs) This has helped me A LOT! Even with doing that I still don't always get it all done. I do the same with my daughter in LHFHG. Bible lesson is daily though.

Use the curriculum and mold it in the way that is best for you. You've got to try various things to see what works, so don't be afraid to do that. Take it easy this first year home and don't try to push it and get burnt out. I feel that if you are covering the 3 R's this year, everything else is a bonus! Mainly you are in a re-bonding process with your children, and that is the most important thing.

Some days you will question WHY you are doing this...I am having one of those days today, but when I hear my oldest son tell me freely that he loves me and gives me a hug, or gets up and cooks breakfast for everyone so I can sleep in a bit later, I feel confirmed once again that this way is truly best, no matter how difficult or how inadequate I may feel or may be. It is GOD'S will, not mine, that is most important.

Bless you today.