I keep hearing "I don't have patience to homeschool". Which is the funniest thing, I have no patience yet I homeschool!
Maybe I should let you all in on the big secret...my day isn't all cooperative kids or ingenious ways to get them to cooperate.
In fact this whole week my daughter has been a royal PIA. Seriously, between forgetting how to write double digit numbers (81 and 18 are not the same) and ignoring work entirely, I am not sure one productive activity has occurred without punishment in days!
Right now I am escaping dealing with her sitting on the floor talking instead of sweeping. My first response would be yell, then punish, along with a lot more yelling. I have no patience for this sort of thing, I figure the simple concept work first then play aught to do the trick, but nope we have to have a battle over cleaning up the food she dropped. (and that is why I am online ignoring it till I work up the strength to speak with her sans yelling)
But, 'this too shall pass'. Last week GMC was the one not working. Kids take turns so far as I can tell. Not that GMC isn't driving me batty right now, he seems to have forgotten how to divide this week. Something he has been doing for eons.
Again 'this too shall pass'. He learned then forgot then relearned how to subtract with borrowing (I was so surprised at how easily his sister picked that one up!)
And UE simply will not memorize his alphabet...I know he is young yet, but really after all this time, I am a bit bored repeating it! Not to mention he STILL pees when asleep (nap or night).
I think 'this too shall pass', I know it took JC forever to learn her alphabet (they all knew the letters long before the order) On the PTing.... well I have heard some boys bladders take awhile o mature?
Little El, on the other hand is adorably content, patient, and gives me a perfect excuse not to yell, mainly that she is nursing right now 
. Unfortunately....'this too shall pass'!
So please don't tell me you have no patience, all parents have enough, relax, type a blog post or something, then go back to the repetitive life that is the job of raising kids.
"This too shall pass.....I hope"
Maybe we should talk about problems more
November 20th, 2008 at 04:04 pm
November 20th, 2008 at 04:34 pm 1227198846
This is really funny - and relevant, because DH and I have decided to homeschool our kids next school year. I am a planner and rather than set myself up for failure and ruin the academics for this year, we will start the next academic year. I will have a 6th grader, 5th grader (who is bright and bored) and a 2nd grader (who has a significant speech impairment and is having a difficult time learning to read). And there are two smaller ones as well. I was really confident and excited yesterday, but today I had the "am I crazy" pit in the stomach feeling. I have the name of another homeschool family from our parish, and I've talked to admissions at the parochial high school, etc. DH did forward me a list of Pros and Cons and one of them is "You will be with your children all the time". So what advice do you have for me?
November 20th, 2008 at 05:11 pm 1227201067
November 20th, 2008 at 05:15 pm 1227201356
T H A N K S
Before I read your blog, I always thought learning could only take place in an "orderly" and "structured" environment... you've shared so many great tips/stories/experiences... I'm sure there are tons of stuff that Ale has learned that she wouldn't have if YOU hadn't helped me realize that my preconception was wrong!!
(oh, and, just so you know, you'r "infectious"... a couple of friends have seen me take advantage of "teachable moments" and commented on it, so now they're starting to do that, too!)
November 20th, 2008 at 05:44 pm 1227203052
Mom-sense, best advice I can give is "Relax!"..that and start early..meaning I wouldn't wait for next year, but at the least start thinking of how to learn NOW, and start reading to them/with them visiting neat places, and most important start learning yourself!
Honestly it takes time for kids to get used to being home (for one thing they will be around to push your buttons, all day and you theirs) so giving yourself time to adjust to the idea of how to get alone time (mine is nap time, older ones read) and how to incorporate learning into chores (from singing the alphabet while mopping to figuring out how many towels could be folded in an hour based on what you just completed together in 15)
This stuff doesn't happen overnight, you need to practice it, adapt it, and keep what works for you.
When all goes wrong (and there will be days like that), remember your worst day is better than a good day at school...really. At least better than an average day.
November 20th, 2008 at 05:45 pm 1227203125
November 20th, 2008 at 05:48 pm 1227203288
November 20th, 2008 at 10:07 pm 1227218845
This made me laugh! Fortunately Daisy has had no need for file clerking.
November 21st, 2008 at 01:25 am 1227230700
I appreciate all perspectives on homeschooling and JoA made some good points. I already see that following that "rigid linear route" to reading and spelling isn't working with my little guy who has a significant phonological impairment. He has the best success at this point with rhyming words (loves Dr Suess) and at this point I don't want his self esteem to hinge on the fact that he can't spell "doesn't".
Thanks, PP, for the "Relax" statement. I can chill; it will all work out. I am considering the time until I start as my own education.
November 21st, 2008 at 02:04 pm 1227276242
November 21st, 2008 at 02:07 pm 1227276465
November 22nd, 2008 at 05:25 pm 1227374723