#2 UPDATE: Not how I planned to start my new year...

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Mom2Monkeys
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Joined: Thu Sep 25, 2008 6:31 pm
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Re: UPDATE: Not how I planned to start my new year...

Post by Mom2Monkeys » Thu Jan 13, 2011 4:36 pm

I'm embarassed to even post this, but the morning after my last post, the kids were showing curiosity about what it would be like to go to school...and DH decided we should enroll them for just this semester and reassess in the fall and most likely bring them home then. :( So, they started last week and did their homeschool-to-public school assessments monday, went to class until friday, and then have been out for snow until today!

They use new math which is crazy different so I was concerned DD9 in 4th wouldnt' get placed into 4th grade even though she reads well above grade level just b/c of math placement. We use an asian math program very similar to Singapore. We finished Singapore 2A/B and midway through 4th grade we've finished about half of Math Mammoth 3 (THREE!). These two are very similar so I speak to the method of math Carrie has chosen for her guides...it WORKS! The assorssor for math was incredibly please with DD's number sense and ability to apply new, more advanced topics so quickly, by using the asian math methods of breaking the numbers apart. She had many more positive things to say about DD's math sense. I was so pleased! Here I was thinking we were behind!

DS has had a very gentle K and 1st grade year at home and still placed right where he should according to their assessments. THough, the spelling tests are horrid b/c we were cementing phonics before doing spelling lists. I am happy they use better methods these days for practicing the word lists though. Not as many chances to write the wrong spelling, no pre-tests, copywork, usign rubber stamps to stamp them then trace them, etc.

I can't wait to bring them home in the fall! I'll have this semester to love on my little two a little more, do some preschool and fun learning time with the 4yo, take a nap!! and get some good habits going with my routine, house keeping, and sleep (for me and sleepless baby). I think this will help make for a smoother year that will be more pleasing to DH come fall. I'm making the best of it as best as I can. My house has been more peaceful, though I can't say the trade off has been worth it. We will pick back up with PHFHG for DD who will be 10/5th grade, and I assume Beyond for DS7 who will be in 2nd. Not sure about DS4 since he will be 5 in Sept, but missed the cutoff in AR so will only be K4. He's ready for a little more, but we may just do LHTH or perhaps do LHFHG over K4 and K when he's 5 and 6.

Oh ladies...I'm so...I don't even know! :? :x :cry: :roll: :?:
~~Tamara~~
Enjoying HOD since 2008

DD15 long-time HODie finding her own new path
DS12 PHFHG {dysgraphia, APD, SID}
DS9 PHFHG
DS6 LHFHG
DD new nursling

Sue G in PA
Posts: 246
Joined: Sun Apr 19, 2009 9:09 pm

Re: #2 UPDATE: Not how I planned to start my new year...

Post by Sue G in PA » Thu Jan 13, 2011 6:27 pm

Tamera, I am just getting around to reading this. Your head must still be spinning with all the changes! It's so tough to respect our husband's decisions sometimes and you are really an inspiration in this area! I'm not sure I'd be quite so, um, "agreeable". :) The positives are many here as you have mentioned: more time with the littles, less "chaos" at home, more time with dh, less stress for him (?) and you (?), etc. AND, the most important thing, one semester in public school will not permanently harm your dc. :) Seriously...for various reasons, we sent our 3 oldest to public school last year. All 3 did very, very well and although it wasn't a big challenge, they did have a great year. Does your dh work from home such that he is home during school hours? I couldn't get from your posts WHY he wants them in school except the stress. I was just curious as it seems that you do most of the teaching/child care? Anyway, I will pray for you and your dc and hopefully, dh will agree to bring them home for next Fall. It's tough to let go.

Mom2Monkeys
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Joined: Thu Sep 25, 2008 6:31 pm
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Re: #2 UPDATE: Not how I planned to start my new year...

Post by Mom2Monkeys » Thu Jan 13, 2011 8:40 pm

Sue G in PA wrote:Tamera, I am just getting around to reading this. Your head must still be spinning with all the changes! It's so tough to respect our husband's decisions sometimes and you are really an inspiration in this area! I'm not sure I'd be quite so, um, "agreeable". :) The positives are many here as you have mentioned: more time with the littles, less "chaos" at home, more time with dh, less stress for him (?) and you (?), etc. AND, the most important thing, one semester in public school will not permanently harm your dc. :) Seriously...for various reasons, we sent our 3 oldest to public school last year. All 3 did very, very well and although it wasn't a big challenge, they did have a great year. Does your dh work from home such that he is home during school hours? I couldn't get from your posts WHY he wants them in school except the stress. I was just curious as it seems that you do most of the teaching/child care? Anyway, I will pray for you and your dc and hopefully, dh will agree to bring them home for next Fall. It's tough to let go.
I can't say I was too agreeable :lol: I fought it as well as I could and tried, tried, tried to stay calm about it. Lots of tears and tongue biting.
He doesn't work from home. He will be working night shift as an RN starting in a couple months. He had been in school and working nights when he could already and we learned just how hard it is to 1) Keep everyone quiet enough for daddy to sleep during the day 2) stay on track with dad at home. Maybe that's part of it ??? Also, He has been gone SO SO much with school that I'm sure there's some guilt involved since he hasn't been able to help or be involved with the kids and he has seen me suffering from lack of sleep and practically being a single mom of 4, etc. partly due to his being gone. I think he thinks he's helping me. I can live with it for one semester....he's been bringing it up several times over the last few years while he's been in school. So, this should take care of that...I hope.
~~Tamara~~
Enjoying HOD since 2008

DD15 long-time HODie finding her own new path
DS12 PHFHG {dysgraphia, APD, SID}
DS9 PHFHG
DS6 LHFHG
DD new nursling

Tansy
Posts: 1029
Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2007 9:11 am
Location: Texas

Re: #2 UPDATE: Not how I planned to start my new year...

Post by Tansy » Thu Jan 13, 2011 10:07 pm

You know My sister get a lot of flack from my mom but her hubby works from home 3 days a week and has this loooong commute the other 2 days.
So what she did was shifted the schedule. Her kids don't get up till 10 am (Dad has now had 2 hours of peace and quiet to make important calls etc.)
they eat lunch at 2, and dinner around 8. They go to bed at 10-11 pm. This is because of the long commute Daddy isn't home till 7:30 ish Her an Hubby stay up till midnight having tea and cookies. Sometimes he has to do Maintenance on the systems at 1 or 2 am so the quiet morning really help.

The house is quiet when he needs quiet and they get to see Daddy and play with him. If they follow a P/s routine these kids would be up at 6am rushing out for the bus at 7am and going to bed when he gets home.

She is not alone in this Madeline L'Engle (author) made the hospital cut out her baby's 8 am feeding because her husband was an actor. The 3 am feeding was not a problem as they were up anyway.

So if he goes on Nights permanently its something to thing about.
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Mom2Monkeys
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Joined: Thu Sep 25, 2008 6:31 pm
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Re: #2 UPDATE: Not how I planned to start my new year...

Post by Mom2Monkeys » Fri Jan 14, 2011 8:44 am

Tansy, If I could get the 1yo to cooperate with that, I'd do it! I've actually mentioned shifting our schedule to DH, but he's not into it. It's going to be 2-3 months before he's all night shift, and then it will be 3-4 days per week and usually not in a row. Will make it difficult! But we'll have the whole summerto adjust and fine tune. I'll be bringing up this idea again later though :wink:
~~Tamara~~
Enjoying HOD since 2008

DD15 long-time HODie finding her own new path
DS12 PHFHG {dysgraphia, APD, SID}
DS9 PHFHG
DS6 LHFHG
DD new nursling

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