Combining children who have been separate

[mom23]

I'm investigating the idea of combining my middle two children and could really use some advice on how that might work. The older of the two boys is 8, turning 9 this summer. He has been with HOD beginning in LHFHG and now about to complete Beyond. He's very well placed and ready for Bigger. The younger of the boys is in LHFHG right now for Kindergarten at 6 yo. He's doing TRL for phonics, and nearly done with the Earlybird Math books. He's doing ARFH for writing and the R&S books for Fine Motor Skills. He's about halfway through this guide and I had planned to finish it during his 1st grade year.

I've been feeling overwhelmed and not successful at getting everything done-the main reason my 6 yo is only halfway through his guide! Over the past few days, I've been tossing around the idea of trying to combine my 2 boys for my own sanity reasons. I've also got a daughter finishing up Preparing soon, and a toddler in the house. The oldest 2 children are not suited to combining (I tried that when we first came to HOD and lasted a whole 2 months!) The 6 yo boy will not ever be able to do the same guide as the up and coming toddler, as the youngest is only 2 right now. So, if combining is possible in our home it will have to be the 6 and 8 yr olds. Personality-wise they would work very well together. The big brother is easily discouraged if he's behind, or something is too difficult and then gives up-onereason he could not work with big sis. As the more advanced of the group he's a great encourager. The younger brother loves to do everything just like the older one, and they work well together, I think-challenging and competing in healthy ways. They both say they want to do school together (not that I'm leaving the decision up to them, but I wanted to know their thoughts on the matter.)

So, my question: if I decide that I need to combine them, how do I make it work at this point? The older brother cannot drop back to LHFHG. I could run LHFHG through the summer, and nearly finish it. However, I don't like the idea of re-running big brother through Beyond next school year when he's just completed it very successfully. Do I need to come up with something else for big brother next year, while little guy does Beyond (after LHFHG during the summer) and then place them both in Bigger the following year? I briefly considered having the younger tag along in Bigger, but don't really feel this would be the greatest option. I know I'd have to tweak it too much, and then he'd not be ready for Preparing. I'd be forever tweaking and cutting things out for him.

I do want to add that I'm not making a final decision on this right now-we're moving in 2 weeks and I feel we need to settle into the new house/new routine before I make permanent changes (or see if they are even necessary!) I know when the oldest is in CTC there should be more of my time freed up-is it going to be enough that I can manage the 3 guides, and eventually 4?? I really don't know.

[farmfamily]

I am a big fan of combining (with kids close in age) because it worked so well in our family, but I have to sat that in your case, I think it is probably best just to keep your two boys separate for all the reasons you've already said. I think you could make life more sane for yourself by just by slowing down your LHFHG child to half-speed, so that he finishes LHFHG by the end of first grade. You could continue with the right side of the plans full-speed, or as you have time (I often set a timer for things like math and just stop there and pick it up the next day). Then once he finishes the LHFHG Storytime you could combine him for storytime with his brother in Bigger. If he gets beyond the 3Rs in LHFHG, you can borrow from Beyond. You would have to do those 3Rs separately whether you combine or not, and adding half-speed left side of LHFHG is not that much.

I am discovering this year how nice it is to have a child on the older side of the guide. There is much less hand-holding, and so it is less time-consuming. You could plan next year on focusing on your Bigger child and getting him as independent as possible (I think there is a post on that somewhere). Then by Preparing he would hopefully be more independent and you could start focusing your energies on that next child in line.

I forward my opinion tentatively, since I have pretty limited experience and don't know your situation that well...

I do hear you on the feeling overwhelmed part! I can't imagine a move on top of everything else we're doing and you have a toddler in the mix. Give yourself some grace in this trying time. I am saying a prayer for you today.