Back to School 2013

 We started school yesterday, and we  I survived.

How did it go?

Well, I had the schedule planned out where

I meet with each school child for 1 hour,

and then there was rotating with who was watching Little Red.

Sounds good in theory.

By lunch time, Little Red 

missed his mama so much

and I just knew it had to be changed

There has to be time for snuggles and hugs and kisses 

and book reading.

OK, so I was dressed and this was more the way I felt today!

It is fun to get up around the time the school bus is coming to pick up the neighbors!

(I wake the kids at 7am)

 We were blessed to have a homeschool kick-off Mass

 out on a fellow homeschool family's farm

It was such a wonderful way to end our day!

 I was following the stragglers...he loved her so much, it was adorable!

There were like 4 or 5 little 1-2 year olds there, just fun to see!!
(go ahead, click on the picture for up close cuteness)

 Jedi--8th grade!

 Rosie--6th grade

 Mary Hannah--3rd grade

 Colette--2nd grade, showing off her map here

 Sweetie Pie--pre school, which we actually started today

Did you think I'd start her out on the same day as the others?

I'm not that crazy.

 Little Red--Focusing on Trouble, with a capital T!

 My tips for any new homeschooling year?

Number 1

Buy these easy pre-made dough cookies, 

you just put them on a cookie sheet and bake!!

I will never have time on the first day to bake homemade cookies

and am not really usually feeling like the 

happy- baker- mommy that day.

(Jedi taking his shift watching littles)

 Number 2 tip:

Buy Play Dough.

Don't make it, buy it.

It's cheap

And it occupies them for at least an hour.

The 2nd day went much better.

I taught the older kids first, 

they actually take less, 

I don't need to read everything to them

and I can do things like, oh, change poopy diapers 

and hold littles while teaching them.

I then did the younger ones later, like right before lunch 

and finished after lunch and during Little Red's nap.

Hey, we were done by 3 pm

How many days til Summer? 

No, I'm kidding (kind of)

I really believe people who homeschool are called to do it

I believe God wants this for our family.

This year, I have a really positive attitude and am promising myself

I am not going to yell, 

"You are all going to public school!!!"

Promise.  

I'm not.

Funny thing is, 

I do not want anything else for my kids,

This is what we choose

and I do love it, I love the positives 

so much more than the negatives.

Seriously, though, 

how many days til next summer? 

The Preposition Rap

This is what we are doing today!

Back to School is So Good!

 OK, we actually went back to school 2 weeks ago.

But

It is sooooo good!

I  have to say this is the first year, we  I am not in tears, 

yelling by the end of the first week, 

"That's it, you are all going to public school!!"

The only difference this year, is we started early, but I think the biggest difference

is I didn't set super high expectations for the first week, or even the first day.

I stuck with what I know works.

I did the easy happy mama cookies (the refrigerated kind)

I didn't do special prizes for starting school

 and

 I didn't feel guilty for not doing those special prizes!!

(You schultute people, it's a great idea, I'm just not doing it)

(you can read my excited comment though from 3 years ago....

oh how much I've learned about myself, since I've turned 40!)

(no offense please, I'm just kidding everyone!!)

It's good for the kiddos to be back on schedule.

Too much free time is...well....too much free time.

Don't get me wrong, I think that is what summer is meant for,

It's just that, 

now there is less fighting,

the kids seem happier and busier and just more confident!

Good-bye lazy summer!

Hello planned meals, 

scheduled days & busy schedules, 

hello learning new things and growing together in our minds and hearts.

 Hello Kindergarten!!

 And First Grade.....

 And Fourth Grade.....

 And Sixth Grade!!!

Orange you glad school is back in session?

"Orange You Glad" orange floats...

Some of the kiddos said, 

"Orange  you glad school has started?"

And some said,

"Orange you glad we only have 8 1/2 more months of school left til summer vacation?"

Homeschool Torture

My mind is racing a million miles an hour, it has been since August 1st. 

That's when us homeschool moms start to torture ourselves with millions of thoughts.

Thoughts of all we have to get done by the end of the month, if not sooner.

Many of us like to start earlier, it adds to the torture.

Thoughts of curriculum, old and new.  did we make the right choices for the right children?

Thoughts of organizing and cleaning out rooms everything.

Ambitious thoughts invisioning in our mind of the perfect first day.

You know, the day where everyone is happy to get up early and be on a schedule and do school work 

instead of playing outside.  Where they all love being told what to do and how to do it all morning.

(Can't you hear it now...."Do I have to do a time test?")

Where you bake wonderful homemade cookies because you have so much time and the kids are so very happy that you are their teacher.

Ha Ha!!

I know, that will never happen.

At least not on the first day back to school.

SO, why do we torture ourselves with wanting to be perfect?

Why do we torture ourselves with trying to fit into a schedule, 

after a summer of sleeping in and having no particular place to be at any particular time?

Why do we torture ourselves by thinking all the other homeschool moms have it all together and their 

first days of school are going to be perfect?

We torture ourselves because we want what is best for our children.

That means praying, planning, preparing, organizing, overthinking everything.

God is helping us with our vocation.

It may not feel like it, but He is there.

He's already there on the first day, waiting for us to come to Him.

Whether you are the happy cookie mama or not.  

He will meet you where you are, with all your ambitious dreams for your children and their school year.

For as imperfect as we are, we are made perfect for our children.  

We are who God wants us to be at this moment for our children.

He knows we will continue to torture ourselves wanting and striving for the best we can 

give our children.

Because He knows that is what makes us the best for our children.

God bless you and all your planning for the upcoming school year!

Don't forget to visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

He will take away the torturous feelings!

How's School Going?

Oh, little baby doesn't like mama sitting at all.

These are my legs that she's crying by.

This is where she is every day, except when...

Jedi holds her or I hold her or

Ballerina Rosie holds her or Mary Hannah holds her.
My first 2 days were great. Then the next 2 days were "I'm sending you kids to public school!" days.


One of those "I wish I had time with my younger ones" day.
One of those "I'd get everything done, like laundry, shopping, playing with the littles, giving them the attention they need" days
One of those "I'd be a happy mama when they'd come home from school" days
One of those "It would be better than teaching them at home and being a crabby mama" days
One of those "you wouldn't cry or complain like that to a teacher in a school" days.
One of those "you'd be gone and I'd be happy" days.
Yes.
I did say that outloud.
I was feeling sorry for myself.

You know, if I did send them off to school, I still would not be happy.
I know that.
I know I'm called to homeschool.
I know this.
It doesn't make it easier.
When we choose to homeschool,
our laundry does not get done (OK, you organized people stay out of this pity party)
Our cleaning does not get done,
the shopping does not get done,
without the kiddos there right with us.
without a million interruptions.
(like I "fluffed" a load in the dryer at least 4 times yesterday before finally getting it folded)
When we choose to homeschool, we never get a break,
the kiddos are right there all the time.
See?
I'm feeling sorry for myself.

I had all I could take and ran to Jesus at our Adoration Chapel.
I cried, I begged for help, then, I did that thing where you open the bible and pray it is what God wants you to read and I read this verse:

Blessed be the Lord,
who has heard the sound of my pleading.
The Lord is my strength and my shield,
in whom my heart trusted and found help.
So my heart rejoices;
with my song, I praise God.
Lord, you are the strength of your people,
the saving refuge of your anointed king.
Psalm 28: 6-8

And I was able to go home and accept my crosses.
Accept my blessings.
Because I know having these beautiful children and being able to choose to
homeschool is a blessing.
It is a blessing and I'm thankful.



I'm thankful for beautiful prayers like this one
and a loving God who loves me despite all my imperfections and failings.
I am thankful for Confession and the graces and forgiveness I receive from this holy Sacrament.


Our Lady of Sorrows, Pray for us.
(See what we did last year and the year before)
Brownies might tempt me too much, but we DO plan to bake them today and celebrate....after piano lessons!
And before I paint another coat of paint on that play room!