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kristacecilia
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| Posted: Oct 05 2011 at 9:00am | IP Logged
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Homeschooling has become a major struggle for me. I am pregnant and tired and my three older children (7 and 5 year old sons, 3 year old daughter) have all decided to take advantage of that and stop obeying, argue back, fist fight, break house rules on a regular basis, etc.
My youngest, a toddler, has always been a very active child who requires almost constant and complete supervision. By far the most difficult in the toddler years of all four of them so far.
The only one whom I really want to make sure we're doing some lessons everyday for is the 7 year old. The 5 year old does have some lose plans in place but if we don't complete them I don't worry too much. The 7 year old is developing bad habits and trying to get out of any work. I don't ask a ton of work, but I do ask him to do his best and not argue or refuse to do it.
Honestly, he is being so bad that I just scrap school most days because I am dreading the work of PUSHING him through every. single. thing.
So when do you say, this isn't working, I can't do this?
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Krista
Wife to a great guy, mom to two boys ('04, '06) and three girls ('08, '10, '12!)
I blog at http://kristacecilia.wordpress.com/
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kristacecilia
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| Posted: Oct 05 2011 at 9:03am | IP Logged
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Sorry, I wanted to say more but I have to go help the boys scrub mud off the neighbor's house... because that's what they did yesterday when I wasn't watching. :/
And the 3 year old is being disobedient.
And the toddler is trying to escape.
And I just want to sleep. And cry. And drink coffee, which is made but I can't take a minute to get it.
Sorry for the pity party.
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God bless,
Krista
Wife to a great guy, mom to two boys ('04, '06) and three girls ('08, '10, '12!)
I blog at http://kristacecilia.wordpress.com/
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: Oct 05 2011 at 9:22am | IP Logged
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Well, early pregnancy is PRIME for pity parties, ime. PRIME 
So, I'd give myself at least 3 more months before calling it quits 
Seriously, these days are SO hard 
I must go avert some crises myself, but I did want to offer some hugs and commiseration. 
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
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[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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jawgee
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5 and 3 are tough ages.
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JennGM
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| Posted: Oct 05 2011 at 9:33am | IP Logged
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Aw, Krista. I think the season change is a big factor in this stress, too.
How much time do you expect schoolwork to take at home? At age 7, I presume 2nd grade, the work should really be less than 2 hours. I'm not sure what kind of work, but use a stopwatch for some of his work -- 10 minutes of handwriting, for example.
And during crisis mode, you need to do a shift. Is the weather good enough and do you have enough energy to just shift to outside? Find a park, bring some books to read. This is prime time nature, so delve into some nature study.
I find with my boys 1) their behavior reflects my stress and (over)reactions. If I can be calm, not react, reach out and love them even when they misbehave, they start calming down.
2) getting outside and physical exercise and time for observation really helps. Turn off any screen time use only in emergency, and only calming shows like Mr. Rogers, Signing Time, old Thomas the Tank Engine or some from EWTN.
I would also pull some picture books from the library, themes like autumn, pumpkins, apples, wildflowers, trees. And then the liturgical year -- read some saints stories aloud (preparing them for All Saints Day). Yesterday was St. Francis, and there are TONS of books to read about him.
And I would really just take a few days off from official work and do some things with the family together.
One other thought -- it is a good reminder to me when a child acts up, to remember he is not directing it at you. It's not a reflection of you. And even some of the behaviour isn't "naughty" but a mere exploration of the child. It extends our limits, but my spiritual director is always reminding me to remember to look at things with a sense of humor. When you step back and look, it is HILARIOUS -- God has such a perfect sense of humor.
My sons threw mud on our house, too. I didn't discover until it was dried. Sorry you have to do that!
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Jennifer G. Miller
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JodieLyn
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Also consider the alternative.. you call it quits and what? send two of them two school? one likely for only half the day.. You still get the worst of their day because they'll be good at school and you'll get all the transition grief and the tired kids from being at school. you'll still have a disobedient 3 yr old and the houdini toddler to deal with.. plus you'll ahve to get them up and ready for school and all their school supplies and their homework.. cause don't you know to make sure parents are involved the kids are given homework that the parents have to do with them.. and get lunches ready unless you're doing school lunches and even then they'll come home starving and needing snacks AND they'll still not obey, argue back, fist fight, and break house rules on a regular basis.
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kristacecilia
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| Posted: Oct 05 2011 at 10:19am | IP Logged
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This is typically what we do:
- Morning prayers/morning basket time on the couch: covers religion, poetry, manners/morals, and nature study.
- "together" subjects at the table: 5 mins of copywork (my 5 year old LOVES this so I let him do it, too), 15 minutes of math
- "separate" subjects at the table/other kids play: 5-10 mins of language arts/phonics, history.
That is about all I can get through without wanting to scream so usually after that I let them go outside.
Then lunch, quiet time.
After quiet time we're supposed to do more together subjects: science/nature study, art. I would rather get it all done in the morning but I don't know if I can do that without losing my mind. Honestly, we rarely do the afternoon subjects because I can't muster up the energy to do it. It is just so much easier not to.
Today we made it through our poetry morning reading and then I just told them to go away because I was about to lose it on them. They kept running away and refusing to come back, interrupting, hurting each other, arguing with me, whining, etc.
So I just stopped. I had run out of patience.
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Krista
Wife to a great guy, mom to two boys ('04, '06) and three girls ('08, '10, '12!)
I blog at http://kristacecilia.wordpress.com/
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kristacecilia
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JodieLyn wrote:
Also consider the alternative.. you call it quits and what? send two of them two school? one likely for only half the day.. You still get the worst of their day because they'll be good at school and you'll get all the transition grief and the tired kids from being at school. you'll still have a disobedient 3 yr old and the houdini toddler to deal with.. plus you'll ahve to get them up and ready for school and all their school supplies and their homework.. cause don't you know to make sure parents are involved the kids are given homework that the parents have to do with them.. and get lunches ready unless you're doing school lunches and even then they'll come home starving and needing snacks AND they'll still not obey, argue back, fist fight, and break house rules on a regular basis.
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I keep telling myself this!! But that big yellow bus is sooooo tempting. So tempting.
:)
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Krista
Wife to a great guy, mom to two boys ('04, '06) and three girls ('08, '10, '12!)
I blog at http://kristacecilia.wordpress.com/
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Mackfam
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I just have a few minutes, Krista, but wanted to drop by and offer a big and tell you how NOT ALONE you are!!! You have described my early pregnancies to a "T"!!!!
Drop your schoolday expectations WAY back. I'll share something else with you....my early pregnancies are crisis times here, and there is NO school. None. Zip. Zilch. It's about containment and safety for a few months and THAT IS IT!!! This job is especially difficult when there are only littles, and no biggers to help. I look at this time as realistically as I can, and consider my main job to stay as healthy as I can and to be completely gentle on myself when I can be! God granted me this season, and He extended it to our entire family. It necessitates a shift in how we live so that we can live out His plan with as much sanity as possible. I wanted to share with you some brainstorming I shared on another thread a couple of years ago:
Mackfam wrote:
Angel wrote:
| how do you continue to provide for more than the basic needs of your little ones when you are down (ill, pregnant, new baby, etc.) for more than just a few days? When it becomes hard to plan activities? When "just reading aloud" and "letting them play" doesn't provide their brains and hands enough to keep them occupied, and it starts to show up in their behavior? |
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I'm going to take a stab at this, Angela. I'll say up front that when I'm down - I'm TOTALLY DOWN. So, my ideas are borne from the extreme sickness I experience, but I'm going to brainstorm with you hoping you can take something here. I'll say up front that I DON'T attempt to provide more than the basic needs of the little ones when I'm sick, but I do put a lot of effort into maintaining a sense of routine so that there is something for them to do that is constructive and supervised by older children. This time is temporary. I'll be able to slowly do more and more as a pregnancy progresses, but in the beginning, it's about survival. I'm not sure where you are on this scale - so take it with a grain of salt, and do what you can.
The other ladies have offered many of the suggestions I would have. I brainstorm this to the nth degree with my husband and older children before/as soon as I get pregnant. Some of the things we have learned:
** Expectations get scaled WAY back...DRAMATICALLY so!! Montessori work is not in my vocabulary for the first 6 months of my pregnancy. Period. Our goal is survival. That means: food, clean clothes, and consistent discipline - no matter how hard it is to carry this out - this is the one thing I save my energy for. That's it. I do not do any formal school during the first part of my pregnancy. At all. That's because all older children are drafted into service. If you are somewhat functional, I could see attempting a very simple form of school - reading, catechism, coloring/art, more reading, done. Add in some narrations and a bit of copywork which can both be done from your throne - the couch - and you have yourself a really great day!
** Toys/small parts/toy weapons/noisemaking gizmos are severely and quickly purged to locked closets or the garage for supervised "daddy play". Other toys are organized by the older children to rotate in and out - collections are kept together and offered one at a time.
** Big kids are in charge of breakfast and lunch, washing 1-2 loads of laundry a day, 1 quick tidy, gathering picture books for the reading basket and read alouds, movie selection time, the toys set out for play and rotation.
** Daddy is in charge of grocery shopping, dinners, supervision of laundry (picking up any slack at night), meeting with big kids in the evening to see what is needed to make days smoother.
** I am in charge of reading to the littles, maintaining basic discipline during the day (this is extremely important for littles who will self destruct without consistent and firm but gentle guidance. This need is magnified when Mommy, normally energetic and attentive, is now very sick.) I also sometimes help brainstorm, but when I'm very sick, my brain cells are SUPER LOW FUNCTIONING, so the family knows they're on their own. We do as much preparing and practicing and rehearsing ahead of time - we treat it much like a coach would train his team before a big game.
** We go to great pains to find one room - usually my bedroom - to keep the entire family self-contained during the day. A small toy area is set up. Tv with DVD player, small table for eating, book basket, napping palettes. My big kids "freshen" the toy area every couple of days. The toys there are quite limited - usually only 2 or 3 collections kept on a small shelf. It keeps the mess limited and interest piqued as the offerings are kept fresh.
Here is a typical day during pregnancy survival:
** Wake up - big kids get simple breakfast together. We do make use of convenience foods when I'm pregnant. I don't like it, but I accept that it's what we have to do. Big kids wipe up littles and escort them to bedroom - shut door. They do dishes, clean kitchen, do morning chores, get little people dressed.
** Morning movie time - I nap, littles watch movie, biggers read or color in art/coloring books - we're all together in the same room. I make use of netflix nature docs and favorite movies. I DO NOT cave on my tv rules during this time - in other words, they don't get to watch something I wouldn't normally allow. But, they do watch A LOT of tv. I don't like it. But, it allows me to survive. And it's temporary.
** Short play time with big kids supervising. Quick tidy. A short PBS show is sometimes allowed so the big kids can grab lunch and bring it back to the little table. One year, we just used a big vinyl tablecloth and ate picnic style (well, they ate, I  ) - after lunch the kids would take the tablecloth outside, shake it out, roll it up, and it would await our next meal.
** Lunch - We always make use of paper plates during this time. Big kids do cleanup while I read aloud on the bed to the littles.
** Naptime - Big kids settle the littles on their napping palettes or in my bed. Big kids are allowed to read, color, or play quietly in an adjoining room.
** Playtime - Big kids supervise.
** Daddy gets home, checks on laundry status, starts simple dinner (sometimes I have meals frozen, sometimes we make use of Costco convenience meals, sometimes he brings home pizza for the clan - it's a lot of convenience food ick.) He checks on kitchen status and chores status.
** Dinner in the kitchen. I sleep more.
** Evening prayers - everyone piles onto the bed with me.
** Daddy and older children discuss the next day's plan -
:: check toys (are they boring? rotate)
:: book basket (freshen with new picture books)
:: meal plan (Rob discusses with the big kids EXACTLY what they're supposed to make for breakfast and lunch)
Now, I don't have as many children as you, Angela, or the challenge of twins, but I know you can do this! Drop your expectations WAY back for a while. Be gentle on yourself. Review in your mind what your basic rules of the house are - DON'T STOP ENFORCING THOSE! Spend some time considering if you can find a "common room" or even a "common area" that allows all of you to stay collected during the day. And, DELEGATE to those big kids! They can do a lot. Remember, this is temporary. Brainstorm ways to be more effective so that the little men will have constructive things before them in a contained environment and DELEGATE!!!!!! Restrict what the little men have access to - even if you have to grab stuff and toss it into the garage - get it out of their accessible space. Limit their opportunities to get into dangerous spots!
to you, Angela. I know how tough it is to do ANYTHING during this time. I'm saying a prayer that you and your husband and big kids can come up with some kind of temporary plan that gets you through the winter!!! I hope there's something here you can use to help. |
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Two big differences -- I have big kids that help me a lot!!!! But, to balance that, it doesn't sound like you're TOTALLY DOWN for the count like I am. I wanted to point out the differences, but hopefully there are a few ideas that stand out at least in HOW we brainstorm these challenges. The BIGGEST GOAL: I SAVE ALL MY ENERGY -- ALL OF IT -- TO TAKE CARE OF BASIC DISCIPLINE!!!. That's where my focus and energy goes for a bit. Everything else takes a back seat.
Having briefly read through what you're doing and how your feeling, can we pretend we're sitting down together...you've got a cup of tea...I'm folding laundry...and the kids are all running around screaming together outside. First, big ...now...my advice, and as soon as I walk out of this digital door you are encouraged to take only what makes sense for your family and completely ignore all the rest!!! Ok?
** No more school for the rest of this week. None. Zip. Done. Your job: take a deep breath, and relax a bit, and get some paper and a pencil and scribble some notes for you and your husband to discuss this weekend. NO VENTING OR CONFIDING ON YOUR NOTES!!! (more on the *confiding* part in a minute!)
** ON YOUR NOTES: use bullet points, no complete sentences, and just list your biggest challenges. Be brief. Just name them. It might look like this:** keeping toddler contained and safe
** basic obedience from the 3 yo
** providing something purposeful for 5 and 7 yo
** want to ease back into some formal schoolwork...need help being realistic on this expectation
** getting food on table
** etc!!!!!!! ** Ask your hubby to sit down and confide everything to him. Let him know you need to confide and blow off a little steam so that this weekend you can BRAINSTORM!
** This weekend, your big goal should be coming up with a short term plan that you and your dh revisit frequently to work on TOGETHER!!! You've already confided all your angst and the problems you've been having, so stay focused!!! This is time to be positive and goal-oriented. What CAN you do? THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX!!!!! Do NOT be afraid to completely ditch formal school for a while!!!! Have a picture book basket and read to them a few times a day - and THAT IS IT!!!! And trust me!!!! It will be perfectly fine if you spend a few months doing this!!!!
** As you live out your little plan next week, share areas that still need work in the evenings! Husbands are GREAT at cutting through emotion and our angst and getting solution focused! Let him do what he does best and he will be a HUGE HELP TO YOU RIGHT NOW!!!!!
** Cry lots in the shower! Seriously! This is a huge emotional release for me and lets me be a little fresher and gentler with my kiddos at a time when I'm an emotional-strung-out-mess!
This time is SOOOOOOO not easy. But, it is workable. And it is temporary!!!!! I'm praying for you, dearest Krista!!!
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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Grace&Chaos
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It is so tempting Simplify, simplify and just get through some basics (if you must) until you feel better. The kids are still very young and honestly if they just give you some time to read a few minutes of nice books a day, they'll be just fine. Combine your afternoon subjects with your morning basket to just one subject per day even if it means a rotation of only getting it every other week. Short lessons for copywork and math sound perfect. Don't stress over anything in the afternoon, plenty of outside time sounds like what they need right now. Have things handy for them to just grab and explore: magnifying glasses, specimen containers, field guides, nature journals and just see what they come up with.
As for the behaviour maybe implement some systems to motivate and involve dad. For example desserts after dinner, some t.v./computer time, early bed times, removing toys or favorite items until things improve and reinstating as you see good effort.
It would be so nice to have absolute quiet during our readings but it doesn't always happen. There is always a yelling one year old or a disruptive three year old around here (and a five & six year old who are tempted towards the same  ). It is hard to stay sane, I so sympathize. Sometimes I'll have small toys, other books, crayons/paper or a snack out for them so they can let us get on with our readings. I have also been known to just send them to their room while we read. I think I've become immune to the distraction and so have the older kids, we just continue or we would never get it done. Those two still nap for me so if it is really bad I will table our readings for later during their nap time.
You got some great advice from others these are just some thoughts. Please know you are not alone and we've all been there; we understand. Sending lots of  and
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Jenny
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SallyT
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I wouldn't feel badly about not doing the afternoon activities. Those are things we typically unschool around here, beyond readings during our read-aloud time -- being out in the yard playing *is* nature study, in my book. They don't have to be directed by you to be studying nature. And for art, just leave supplies within reach and have a safe place set up, if you can, where independent art projects can take place without your having to worry too much about mess.
Of course, I have found my boys far less likely to do art spontaneously than my girls, and if it's that way at your house, don't sweat it. Maybe pull in a book like Knights of Art from the Baldwin Project for some morning reading every other week or so (that's how often I open that one), so you can learn about Italian Renaissance artists; or if you want to try to spark some creativity, but you don't want to think up projects yourself, you might schedule in some little art videos from Head of the Class. We don't actually *do* the projects, but my kids like to watch the videos from time to time, and the more artistically inclined might try out some of the techniques.
But as Jen very wisely says, your main issue is discipline (and boy do I know! I have so been there . . . ), and you might want just to isolate that as a thing to work on and let everything else slide, beyond perhaps a small, simple core of non-negotiable schoolwork. As Jodie points out, school will not solve your discipline problems -- what she describes, a child being good in school all day and a horror show at home, is pretty much what we experienced during the four years our oldest daughter was at school. Not that school is never the answer, but it truly does not make life easier. You just trade one set of challenges for another (plus you get to keep some of the original challenges -- bonus, right?)
My now-9yo son is a child whom I have to fight with over getting things done -- he wants to turn every direction from me into an argument -- and I know how tiring that gets (fwiw, I'm realizing that menopause is a lot like a first trimester that apparently never ends . . . sigh . . . ). Keeping my cool and not backing down are a constant chore for me, but I have to be firm. I'm not a super-authoritarian kind of parent, but the idea of being beaten by a 9yo does kind of motivate me to hang in there with him. One thing that does help me is to realize that even though he's a bright kid, sometimes he's balking out of frustration, even if the supposed difficulty of the work is all manufactured in his own mind. Rather than setting a timer for a short lesson, when he's like this I might say, "All right, do four math problems -- but get them right. No rushing through." Or, "All right, do two lines of your copywork -- but take your time and do your best."
He seems to respond better to amounts of work that he can visualize, rather than the abstraction of time, and the idea of quality rather than quantity appeals to me as a reasonable compromise with him. In other words, I am getting what I want from him, ie cooperation, and he is seeing that while I'm not going to declare a playday, I will work with him on his frustration. I also cover *much* of our "coursework" through read-alouds which include both the 9- and 7yos -- you can see our reading schedule here. Even when I'm feeling really wiped out, I can manage reading time on the couch, and that's one thing I never have to fight with anyone about, either.
I really do sympathize. I'm sick today with a rotten cold/sore throat, which knocked out the read-alouds which are always the core of our day. I had an Audible.com credit for the new month, so I downloaded an audiobook to occupy the morning for my 9- and 7yos; we said the Rosary, they did a short review lesson in math and a brief spell of copywork, and then while they listened to the audiobook (The Saturdays, by Elizabeth Enright, if anyone's interested -- quite good!), I printed them out some American Revolution and Ancient Greek paper dolls from Paperdali.com, so that they could color and cut while they listened. We're doing strands of both ancient Greek and U.S. History right now, and reading Johnny Tremain at bedtime, so that all tied in rather nicely. We had lunch, and now they've dispersed to play for a while, but if people get restless, the audiobook will go back on. So that's our survival mode today. I don't have toddlers and preschoolers any more, but for my elementary-aged children, this kind of routine keeps people reasonably gainfully occupied as I need them to be, and I don't feel as though we're completely slacking off school.
Prayers for you -- I'll offer up my yucky cold. Nice to know it's good for something!
Sally
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kristacecilia
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Okay, we scrapped school for the rest of the week. No guilt. No tons of TV time, either. The boys initiated a game with letter tiles just between the two of them. The baby ate a donut. The 3 year old likes to watch me type so she's chilling next to me. She thinks the smiley faces are shaped like the donut holes her grandfather brought over.
I have a cup of tea. I am calm. I am reading your suggestions.
Jen, I am no where NEAR as bad off as it sounds like you are when you are in the first trimester! I am just very tired and overwhelmed with the discipline issues, which- as you correctly pointed out- are my biggest problem! I am reading over your suggestions again and thinking of ways to tailor it for my family. I am going to bring this up with DH tonight.
Jenny,
I am going to address the discipline issues with Dh tonight, too, and see if we can get a working plan to really get these straightened out. Your ideas for consequences sound like they really might work here.
Sally,
I love your art suggestions and will probably try something more unschooly like that. I bought such great resources that I'd hate not to use them! Especially because they actually seemed to be working! The boys LOVE BFSU for science. They have such a great time! But I am so behind in the prep and reading.... maybe- like you and Jenny said- I just need to do that in my morning basket once or twice a week instead of our other nature readings. Maybe DH would help me with some prep the nigh t before so it doesn't see like so much (it's really not that much, I am just a big baby!)
Most of all, thank you for your prayers, ladies. And just the reminder that I am not alone!! It is so comforting to hear that you all have been here and know exactly what I am talking about. Off to think/regroup/brainstorm with my cup of tea!
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God bless,
Krista
Wife to a great guy, mom to two boys ('04, '06) and three girls ('08, '10, '12!)
I blog at http://kristacecilia.wordpress.com/
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Claire F
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You've already gotten such wonderful advice, I don't have anything meaningful to add there. But I couldn't help but stop and post my best wishes and prayers for you.
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Claire
Mom to DS 12/04, DS 5/07, DD 8/09
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Kristie 4
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Oh I feel for you!! I remember those days!!
How about just doing one of your 3 sort of areas a day: couch time one day, table time the next, and anything else another day. Honestly, at those young ages if you are reading to them here and there (doesn't have to be everyday) and they are doing a little here and there (again, only as much as you can handle) that is plenty!
Whatever works for you to feel relaxed and at ease with what you are doing (everyone is so different) is helpful until you feel more at rest...for some folks this is snuggly read-alouds- for some those snuggly read-alouds make them go crazy!!
My best wishes also for you...
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Kristie in Canada
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MichelleW
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| Posted: Oct 05 2011 at 5:11pm | IP Logged
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I haven't read all the replies, but I wanted to mention something. I had a hysterectomy 6 years ago, my kids were in 1st and 2nd grades. That year very little school happened. The months leading up to the surgery I was exhausted and a complete mess, the recovery was long and slow. I was so worried that I was short changing my kids.
Here we are 6 years later, and seriously everyone is fine. Everyone is functioning at grade level or above. It didn't harm them one little bit. I wish I hadn't stressed out about it so much back then and just accepted where I was and where we were and just loved them and myself.
My most precious moments during that year were just snuggling up with them and reading or listening to them read.
I remember reading a Martha Stewart article on gardening years ago and I think about it a lot. They had experimented with a summer blooming flower (can't remember which one, I think it was sunflowers), planting some in the spring and some in the summer. By August, all the flowers planted had grown and were in full bloom. They were all the same height, displayed the same vigor and they bloomed at the same time with the same spectacular results. Seven year olds can easily catch up if they miss a few months of school. Not necessarily by doing all they missed, but because their brains will continue to develop even without schoolwork to do (!). When you get back to it, they will understand more faster. All will be well.
Blessings.
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Michelle
Mom to 3 (dd 14, ds 15, and ds 16)
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wifemommy
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| Posted: Oct 05 2011 at 5:12pm | IP Logged
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Lots of great advice and just in case you are worried about the long term. When my oldest dd was learning to read I was pregnant and working so we would sit down on the couch to practice and I would promptly fall asleep. Yes her start was slower but by 6th grade she was reading college level books. So remember the big picture Hope you feel better soon Annie
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kristacecilia
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| Posted: Oct 05 2011 at 8:18pm | IP Logged
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Thanks for all the words of support. It is hard not to worry about the long term when all my kids are still sort of little. I know they will continue to learn even if we aren't doing formal lessons and I know they are at or above grade level right now so I don't have to worry about that really. And they are little. It was very comforting to hear that some of you have needed to take time off around this age and it hasn't had any long term affects.
Still working on brainstorming my 'survival' guide. :)
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God bless,
Krista
Wife to a great guy, mom to two boys ('04, '06) and three girls ('08, '10, '12!)
I blog at http://kristacecilia.wordpress.com/
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Oct 05 2011 at 8:37pm | IP Logged
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I'm not doing the survival end of the kids with this pregnancy. But honestly.. my kids will likely have a "break" until I'm home.. that's a good 2 months plus because I won't be able to jump right into it when I get home either.. so sure.. 3 extra months off.. we'll just have to be more diligent the rest of the year. And my kids aren't all just little.. but there are just some things that are more important as much as people try and convince you otherwise.. book education can be gained all your life but what they learn from the hard times can't be replaced. My kids are learning a great deal right now about the value of an unborn baby, not to mention how to help out the family during a crisis.
And my dh is getting to know his children in a way that is very different from having mom there all the time.
In the long run, we'll all gain more than we would have from keeping to the schedule with the books.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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kristacecilia
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| Posted: Oct 06 2011 at 6:56am | IP Logged
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Jodie,
That is very, very true. Prayers for you and your baby. And your whole family!
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God bless,
Krista
Wife to a great guy, mom to two boys ('04, '06) and three girls ('08, '10, '12!)
I blog at http://kristacecilia.wordpress.com/
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kristacecilia
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| Posted: Oct 07 2011 at 6:49am | IP Logged
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** UPDATE **
I went to my doctor on Tuesday and found out I am very low on stored iron. I already have another genetic mutation type of anemia, so now I guess I am the proud owner of two types of anemia? LOL. They put me on iron and hopefully we'll see in improvement in my fatigue soon. Maybe to normal first trimester levels!
We've taken the last three days off and it's been a huge stress reliever. The kids have watched SOME TV but mostly they have occupied themselves very constructively- tanagrams, making potholders, reading books, building with Lego, etc, have been among their choices. We've also been concentrating on consistent discipline with consistent consequences for those unsavory habits.
DH and I are working on a temporary plan of attack until I am feeling better.
Thanks, Ladies!
__________________
God bless,
Krista
Wife to a great guy, mom to two boys ('04, '06) and three girls ('08, '10, '12!)
I blog at http://kristacecilia.wordpress.com/
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4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: At what point do you call it quits?? ****
