We just had a Yreka moment!! J2 really resents schoolwork intruding in his playtime, legotime, whatever. So, I set the timer for 30 mins and we worked hard….then he got a 5-10 min break. He loved beating the timer on his geography worksheet – he finished 2 sec before the timer went off.
So, just as I do tasks I’d rather not to a timer (it’s a wonder how much you can clean in 15 mins!) – we are finding it helps with our seatwork time too! Hope this helps someone else!
Hey Fellow Homeschoolers – I’d love to hear what games (card, dice, domino, board, etc) you use to help with math! We need some fresh ideas!
I’m asking some other areas too – so if I get any good ones that don’t end up in my comments, I’ll post them here later!
Today I’ve been struggling. I’ve been thinking that DH didn’t want me to homeschool the boys – grudgling agreeing to let me continue HSing J2 because of his need to go slower than a classroom would allow him. Our oldest is in DH’s classroom – and loves it – and we are having so many clashes that Dh and I felt that it was best for him to be under his dad’s mentorship more right now. Anyway, I assumed he wanted J3 to go to the school’s kindergarten and I was being quiet and trying to be submissive …. but really I was just pouting.
But last night I mentioned to him how I feel disconnected from our local HS group because I don’t have his support. To say he was shocked was an understatement. I was assuming something that he hadn’t said and he was thinking this is what I wanted. And, it gave me pause. Do I want to HS J3? Do I feel I can do it? Will I be faithful? Will I be able to manage two children? Anyway, I just generally have been freaking out this morning and trying to get my head and heart lined up.
Then I recalled an exchange I had with my mom this morning. She sent me this email (Ozzie is Oswald Chambers):
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might. Ecclesiastes 9:10 …and Ozzie says, “We have no right to have preconceived notions as to what God is fitting us for. Wherever He puts us, our great aim is to pour out a whole hearted devotion to Him in that particular work.
Which made me think of a favorite verse, so I replied:
And, we can take comfort in the fact that He will equip us – “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezk 36:26)
But I was not applying it to my day! About 5 mins ago I realized how this applied to my recent troubled mind! What a dolt I can be!! So, if you are a friend of mine, I would definitely appreciate your prayers for me – I need a new heart. I need to remember why HS is a joy and that this time with my boys can be enjoyed! Thanking GOD I don’t have to walk this path alone!!
After our wonderful experience with Butterflies last year I thought a frog habitat would be a better experience for my guys. So I dutifully order the habitat and sent off for the tadpoles. (fine print? I don’t need to read no stinking fine print!!)
So, we shelve the frog habitat and wait for our tadpoles to arrive! And, finally, last Friday they arrived while I was visiting my sister. DH bravely (lol) set up the habitat and introduced the tadpoles to their new home.
We’ve been watching, feeding, watching and recording all their little movements – in fact, today we saw nubs where their legs or arms will soon appear. The freaky thing is that our tadpoles seem bound and determined to commit suicide! They keep jumping out of the water – I’ve become obsessed with keeping these tadpoles IN the water! I do NOT have time for this!!!
Today I decide that I’d better actually read the fine print about these frogs. I guess we’d better name them cause I just read they are going to live for 5 years!!! I naively thought we could just let them go after they became frogs – maybe we’d keep them until next Spring when it would be warmer out – but that was the extent of my charity! Well, it seems they are not equipped to live outside, by themselves. AND, I have to buy and feed them LIVE crickets! Ugh, ugh, ugh!
So, be warned – if you think tadpoles might be a fun little adventure – be sure to read the fine print!!!!
PS J2 just named them – We are pleased (?!?!) to announce the addition of two new pets – Puddles and Friend. I need an aspirin!
Today J2 started formal studies again (we homeschool him) – if you want to read it, check out my Homeschool Blog “Day By Day”.
J1 will start school on Wednesdays – 3 1/2 days is it. J3 will start preschool on August 29 – I’m not sure I’m ready for that!! Well, I’m off to do laundry and some knitting!
