Homeschool Diaries: Our Latest Adventures

It's October.

 

We've officially been at it for roughly seven weeks.

 

Our math books say 5 1/2 weeks.

 

Grant's reading book says 4 and 1/2 weeks.

 

But, we're trucking along.

 

This year I've been better at protecting our school time, which means being creative at times with when and where we do it.

 

Sometimes that means school is in a doctor's office.

 

But hey, that's a perk of homeschooling...the flexibility. The goal is to "get 'er done." And sometimes that also means doing so while wearing silly outfits.

 

It seems I have more of those pictures than any other kind. Should we be embarrassed?

 

Nah, a sense of humor makes some homeschooling days survivable.

 

Speaking of humor, Hannah got a real kick out of her reading vocabulary one week. We often talk about "dancing a jig" so when we came upon "jig" in Little Bear, well, she couldn't stop laughing. And we won't even get into goblin. Way to go, Little Bear, in keeping my otherwise uninterested daughter, engaged.

 

 

While Hannah is writing definitions of goblins and jigs, Grant has made great progress in writing his letters, and his name.

 

 

If anyone has followed this blog for any length of time you may remember our trials with Grant holding his pencil correctly. I am so proud of the progress he's made over the past month. His handwriting and pencil grip has improved leaps and bounds.

 

 

Someone who apparently does not share Grant's pencil grip issues is Kate.

 

 

However, what they do share is exhaustion after a full day at Classical Conversations on Tuesdays.

 

 

 When you have awesome tutors who incorporate Nerf guns with learning about Richard the Lionhearted, well, who wouldn't get worn out from all of that excitement.

 

 

 

Officially teaching two kids this year has had it's kinks to work out. And we're still working them out but I think in a way having two "school aged" kids is a bit easier. When Hannah sees that Grant is working too, she's more apt to dig in. And it provides more structure. Some ask what Kate does during "school." Well, she plays. Thankfully she's very imaginative and enjoys cooking in her kitchen while we work or she'll play with the dollhouse or with her growing collection of baby dolls. Or, like today, she'll have a Dora marathon. Just being honest.

 

My issues still include being patient. Lots of moms tell me they wouldn't have the patience to homeschool. Well, I don't either. I fail. A LOT. So, I pray, A LOT and I need to pray even more. I had a very bad day with Hannah last week where my patience was gone and my ugliness came out. It's a humbling place to have to repent to your daughter several times during a day/week. I told her I want her to enjoy homeschooling and I know I make it hard for her to do so sometimes.

 

By God's grace she said, "I do enjoy it."

 

Bless her.

 

The Lord teaches me a lot through my kids...one way in particular. They are quick to forgive and slow to hold grudges. I could be a monster and in a few short minutes it's as if nothing has happened. May I be quick to forgive and slow to hold grudges. I'm thankful our Lord is slow to anger and abounding in mercy. 

 

So, in a nutshell, we have our good days, we have our bad days. And the Lord is reminding me that homeschooling my kids is so much more than "hitting the books." It's in those moments when we spend ANOTHER week on the same spelling words because Hannah can't quite get them that the Lord is teaching me about my heart and how to encourage and love her's, even if it means we spend four weeks on one spelling list. This is so much bigger than an education. I pray I would slow down to see that and take the time to invest in my kids' hearts even moreso than their education.