Homeschooling: A 3-Week Review

We wrapped up our 3rd week of homeschooling today and I gratefully sent my three oldest off with my parents to spend a few hours at Lake Johnson Pool. They were in the driveway waiting when my parents pulled up...I think they were excited. Perhaps we all needed a little break from this monumental life change and its huge learning curve.

Homeschool thus far has been a bit of a roller coaster...some breathtaking highs combined with some serious lows. The "what am I doing?" and "WHY am I doing this???" kind of lows that make you feel like - just for a moment - that you've made a huge mistake. But, all that's to be expected as you try to figure out HOW this homeschool thing is going to work best for your family, as you all adjust to a school that happens in your office in spurts throughout the day with kids of all ages and babies who occasionally throw balls at you while you work, and as you try to figure out a new balance between school, family time, extracurricular activities, and playtime with friends. We're adjusting, we're figuring it out...it just takes time. And some serious growing pains sometimes.

So three weeks in, here's what's hard and what's awesome about our homeschool.

WHAT'S HARD

• Planning math, science, social studies, reading, writing, grammar, handwriting, reading comprehension, and bible studies every week for 1st and 3rd grade, plus preschool lessons for Finn. We did not purchase traditional curriculum so I spend several hours putting together lessons on the weekends.
• Attitudes that flare up, usually when they don't want to do something...attitudes I know they would have never given their teachers at Rand Road.
• Groans of "this is sooooo boring!" when you've worked really hard to try to make the lesson fun and interesting. Yes, as a former teacher I realize that this happens in every classroom in America on occasion, but it still stings a little.
• Trying to make sure they have plenty of opportunities to play with old friends or make new ones...this is especially hard since we have two babies that nap in the afternoons and many of our homeschool friends prefer to meet up after lunch.
• Being OK with my house being dirty...and messy. I had every intention of incorporating chore time into our daily routine, but so far it has not happened. The kids are still helping with chores, but instead of getting them done during the week we're tackling them on the weekends.
• Being more exhausted than I can remember being in a long time...and keep in mind I just finished breastfeeding a baby for a year who woke in the night to nurse for about 10 months.

WHAT'S AWESOME

• Hearing my 3-year-old recite the definition for our character trait, "Attentive." ("Attentive means listening with your whole being...hands still, mouths quiet, ears listening, eyes watching, heart calm.")
• Hearing lots of little voices sing the "Star Spangled Banner" and say the "Pledge of Allegiance."
• Learning new bible verses as a family.
• Seeing them get energized and excited as we read the bible together every morning.
• Watching them get something new...going from "this is SO hard!" to "I get it! This is easy!"
• Seeing Finn excel at preschool skills like cutting and writing practice...and even some basic addition!
• Perfect scores this week for everyone with their spelling lists on SpellingCity.com. Finn spelled everyone's name in our family. :)
• Seeing in their eyes and hearing in their voices their genuine desire to please me, make me proud, and live up to my expectations.
• The tenderhearted and meek way they ask forgiveness and try with all try with all their might to make things right when they know they have behaved inappropriately.
• The time we have for long heart-to-heart talks, snuggling, and reading just for fun...the way they still yearn to be held in my arms.
• The patience and helpfulness they show to their younger siblings.
• The way they are getting along better even though we are together ALL THE TIME!
• Getting to see them grow and mature in a very intimate way.
• Going to school in our PJs...sometimes. :)
• Being more relaxed than I can remember being in a long time.

It's Friday night so I'm all burned out from the week...I just want to get in my bed and sleep until Sunday. But taking the time to make this list reminds me of all the good that's happening amongst the rough patches every day. It IS good. And it's going to get to be great!