End of the day

My day started at 7:45am , now it is 9:00pm.  This was one of those days I did not have any time to refuel.

 

At 7:45, we pray outside as I finish my run and kiss my husband good-bye.  Bobo is often outside to get a quick bike or skateboard ride in before we head inside. 

Thus starts my day.  I try to get a couple tasks done quickly as Cambria is usually in a good place and one of the kiddos will watch her.  This mornings tasks were fewer....strip a wet bed, get a baby ready, take a shower, and get breakfast on for everyone. 

 

I try to get us all downstairs in a timely manner...not always easy.  Always a task or a distraction.  We descend, everyone carrying something.  A smoothie, a water, books that made their way up, always my planner, phone, and my glasses....and the baby.

 

Open up the sliding doors, say hello to another day.  My favorite part of our school day.  It is cool, there is hope of a wonderful day ahead--a fresh start. 

There is nothing better than coming out after putting
Cambria down for a nap, than to find Dev reading to Bobo.

 

Never before have I so appreciated the fresh start of a day before as I do now a stay at home homeschooling mama of 3.

 

Circle time.  A Bible story- working through the Proverbs right now.  Inspiration sparks as I think what further ways can we incorporate such wisdom for life- want my kids to ingest this way of life that will protect them, guard them from harm.

 

Prayers.  Go over memorization from Proverbs.  Then. "Get out your reading books Bobo."

 

The earlier we start, the better. This time with Bobo involves reading through two stacks of sight word cards, writing 10 new spelling words and reading them, writing a sentence, reading from his primer, and practicing the phonograms--usually 6 or so.  This time can go smoothly but often feels very pressured and telling Bobo repeatedly to stay on task.  I often will tell him we cannot talking about anything while doing sight word cards as we could have a conversation between each word.  Many promises are made about what we can talk about when we complete reading.

 

The hope is to be able to dive into Math before I need to put Cambria down for a nap.  This hasn't happened the last two mornings.  We try to take on Math next.  In and around this I am trying to help Dev with her Writing.  Reviewing what she has completed and explaining the next sections she will be working on. 

 

Cambria is asleep.  I run upstairs for my coffee.  Back in for "together" work.  We have been working through a Science book and combining it with Nature.  We go outside and sit at our picnic table.  Love being outside, don't love fighting for Bobo's attention as he wants to swing and use his repelling harness and ropes while I try to explain what an invertebrate is.  This week we have tried some group work, a poster on invertebrates.  This has been a learning experience for Bobo who has not had much experience with group work.  His idea of collaboration is: "this is what I want to do, I want to draw a lighthouse."  Wanting to encourage his creativity and ideas, we include the lighthouse but there is much conflict resolution in wanting to protect Dev's care as she follows the assignment to completion and Bobo is now asking about a Life Guard station. 

There is a teachable moment truly around every corner.

He was excited to show me his castle built from Legos...
after we had studied castles.  he also kept giving me
an Lego knight to use in my teaching.

 

 

Now we try to push through to see if we can get in Literature.  Cambria may be getting up at this point.  I can feel a pull to want to spend time with her but wanting to press through with the older two because inevitably at this point I am feeling we have not completed enough work.

What do ropes, limes, books, and babies all have in common....School!

Today, I had to sit my students on the couch to let them know I need to get through the Science lesson, Bobo must not play and we review bees and butterfly's.  I am learning so much.

Then I want to keep our momentum but I have lost him again.  I feel a bit weary of trying to pull such an active, curious, "swing to his own drum" boy back into book work.  My frustration shows.  I begin to work with Dev.  We are trying to get through our books so we can begin summer break soon.

 

We head upstairs.  Bobo pulls a not so funny joke.  Consequences administered.  The best part of the consequence is while Bobo is cleaning up the classroom, he is singing "He is Worthy of it All" and "Oceans".  He is usually quick to move on and now he is worshiping. :)

Dev makes lunch on this day.  Work is carried upstairs.  Bobo plays so well with Cambria.  We try to finish what we can.  But I feel a bit defeated on this day.  It takes so much energy--I keep wondering am I doing all I can.  Am I doing the right things?  Is it my stress that is producing these outcomes of frustration??

He rigged up these ropes.

 

...all from this rope tied around the dinning room table.

Lunch.  Literature.  History.  Art.  Hawaiian History.  Response Journals. 

They all try to squeeze their way in throughout the week.  Some days more successfully than others.  By early afternoon we are all feeling a little weary and the sun begins to heat up our little schoolroom.  We may come upstairs to eat and do some work in a new space.  Then we may move into quiet time, do more work, or it may be time to head to one of their classes or lessons away from home.

 

On this day I chat with Bobo about school.  Honestly, there are days I just feel my back is against the wall.  I don't want to "threaten" school but I want to be realistic in what is working and what is not.  But I don't want my belief in homeschooling to be only as deep as his attitude.  I can handle inattentiveness and distraction.  But what is difficult is the not listening or the bad attitude on certain days when things don't go his way.  "I love teaching you Bobo."  I tell him.

Our funny poses...he surprised me with flowers picked from
our garden...

I want to love our days.  Oh I do.  I don't know if this is just a season.  If I am not doing something right?  If this is just hard. 

 

I will keep thinking through it.  My part, his part, their part.  I am determined.  I don't give up easily.  I want to feel success and enjoyment and not just in glimmers.

Side note...As I complete this post, I look at these pics and they are not ones of frustration...I must examine and look at the ways I am bringing this to our days--my stress or feelings of pressure--My kiddos are not perfect and they contribute but I must be willing to look at me also.