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onemoretracy
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| Posted: Oct 30 2008 at 11:25am | IP Logged
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I wasn't sure where this belonged...
Our baby is due Dec. 22. I am planning to have school-y stuff wrapped up by the end of the first week of Dec. and then to just have Advent and other homey/crafty things around to do (probably need another post to ask for suggestions on this?  ) and then we plan on enjoying Christmas for awhile, but I know I can't take too much time off bc the older kids will get very bored.
I am looking any and all suggestions, personal experience stories, whatever...! I really am not sure what to expect. This is the first new baby in our home since starting homeschool and also our first Christmas baby.
Oh and another question, this is our first newborn since returning to the Church. How soon do you take a newborn to Mass? Do you just split up for awhile? How long? I plan on nursing so how does that work?
I know this is no. 6 and I should be like an old hat at this, but in many ways I feel as if I am a newbie!  Bear with me, 
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Tracy
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Oct 30 2008 at 12:05pm | IP Logged
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When you're nursing the baby.. just consider you and the baby one.. where mama goes.. so goes the baby. Especially, in the newborn period, babies need to eat more often and they don't go by the clock.. oh I know the recommendation are for things like at least every 2 hrs.. but I find my babies vary.. one time it might be 1 hour from start of a feeding to the next.. and another time it might be 1:45min. or even at night 4 hrs. So until they get good and settled it can be hard to leave them even for a short while.
Consider in winter the higher liklihood of illness at Mass and the cold.
I wear my babies.. so they're close to me and much less likely to get people in their face (well or not).
I also tuck them inside my jacket or cape to keep them nice and cozy in winter. So we do fine somewhere around 2 weeks.. we've both usually recovered about then.
I tend to nurse in Mass. I can't imagine that the crowds around Jesus didn't have nursing babies when they were there for hours, all day events. I'm discrete and I'm often alone with the kids and I can't imagine anything more disruptive than trying to get us all to leave But cry rooms are good options for nursing.
OH and it was having the infant in arms that finally got me to recieve on the tongue (it wasn't encouraged by the RCIA I went through).. my hands are often full between holding infants and directing toddlers etc. (we don't leave anyone sitting even if they didn't do the whole blessing thing for those not recieving, my kids would go with me) and it's just so much easier once you get used to it than fumbling around trying to recieve reverently with just one hand free. Now I don't know what to do with my hands when they're not holding someone because my older kids are starting to want to get to carry the baby with them or help the toddler..
I also do essentially the same thing for things at home. Baby stays with mama even at home.. now that can mean an older child holding them nearby or a bassinet or cradle close by.. but that will let you get their cues before they get real fussy about it. You can have the older kids come to you for help if you're sitting with the baby.. you can read outloud while sitting with the baby (nursing or not) get an older child to hold the book or do the reading if you can't get a hand free.
As far as the older kids getting bored.. you can just add in the things that seem to work well for you. Many find reading while snuggling a newborn works very well.. let's mom keep down and resting.. it's tempting to do to much but you'll heal so much better if you can stay down. You older kids are old enough to be able to do simple things (pb&j?) for lunches and a good bit of the chores. Let them. Don't worry that things aren't the way mom would get them done.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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-Sir Walter Scott
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ALmom
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| Posted: Oct 30 2008 at 12:09pm | IP Logged
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Personally, I think it is easier to school with a newborn than with a 6 month old, so plan accordingly. Our babies didn't sleep past the newborn stage so maybe that colored it. Anyways, with mom being tired and slow to get moving, my children brought materials to wherever I was. We did our read alouds from my bed or from the sofa. The hardest things for me to do were the crafty type stuff - too much mom supervision needed and too much clean-up unless there was an older child who would assume supervisory responsibility. Although we did take advantage and do some of these things during the long newborn sleeps - though maybe mom would have had less of a 6 month crash if I'd done a bit more resting with the baby. I think I'd plan more independent stuff that just needs your review now and again - and lots of books. We found studies on sight, hearing, etc. tied in with our wonder at the baby and included lots of oogle time.
I'm not sure I can help much once the 6 month hits. That is when I (mom) crashed at our house - and then the baby got fussy, wouldn't sleep,gets more mobile and grabby so it is hard to look over work without someones treasure getting grabbed and put in the mouth, had to be held non-stop, etc. The little fusses were no longer cute to the rest of the children and they were beginning to get stressed with the noise. I do remember taking school outside - but in December, that isn't likely to help you. It has been a while and I just don't remember how we coped at that point. I do know we did have to accept a little less accomplished for a while - somewhere. It helps if everyone is already trained to chip in and help. It also helps if you have meals planned and ready for some time. If you prepare and freeze meals ahead of time, be sure to accept the early offers of meals and save your frozen ones for the 6 month crash. Oh and minimizing car time really goes a long way to restoring my energy, so we thought long and hard before allowing outside stuff for a while. We did have one child that really needed the outside relief now and again - our child who was highly social, very much a learner by doing and relating with others- and we did have to juggle to accomodate both the older child and the baby. It does take a bit of time to find a new rhythm that works. So be patient with yourself and everyone else. Don't plan elaborate things, but provide materials for the children to lead their own hands on investigations - as long as they are able to do their own clean up. Don't put a lot of pressure on yourself. It might be a time to find out where the children would like to go - and use that time as a little delight-led learning break.
Anything that becomes very self-teaching is a boon.
Edited to add: There was a lot of learning that took place with the baby in toe, it just wasn't always what would be typically labeled as academic. It would certainly have qualified as a home-ec, health, home management, child care course. Had I had a few more creative juices flowing at the time, I may even have noticed that they were writing stories, and some other things. Do not feel guilty when your youngers start fixing breakfast or helping more with the toddlers. My 11 yo loves to cook and he began cooking breakfast (scrambled eggs) around 8 when one of the other babies were born. He just didn't want to wait until I finished nursing and was able to get to it. He is a great cook to this day and loves it. Some of my girls became great toddler entertainers - and created elaborate games complete with written stories for the littler ones. They learned to lead without bossing. There were plenty of skills in terms of thoughtfulness, consideration, self-control, patience. I had babies who never slept and just came up for air, so like Jodielyn - where I went, baby went. My problem was that my babies were also motion sensitive so they really got fussy if I tried to do things while they were nursing. I just had to sit on the sofa and nurse. Folks had to come to where I was with the baby. We didn't eliminate cookie baking at holidays or other traditions, but I had to expect those things to be lots messier and take way more time than usual. I also had to rely on older children to help. I learned to delegate a lot more. My husband did the grocery shopping for a while which was a huge blessing - one he still typically does for me even though the youngest is 5, though now we sometimes make it a shopping date .
I'm sure the moms with more recent experience will chip in.
Janet
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Lisbet
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| Posted: Oct 30 2008 at 12:16pm | IP Logged
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Homeschooling with a newborn is cake compared to homeschooling with toddlers!!
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juststartn
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| Posted: Oct 31 2008 at 3:37pm | IP Logged
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Well, I didn't take the boys to mass til they were at least 6 wks old (other than for their baptism at 3 wks, privately)...of course, I was doing it alone(DH deployed the day after the baptism), with preemie twins, and three older dc (then 7,5, and 3). We also didn't go very often during the winter, once flu season hit, esp for the "big" holidays, because they *were* preemies, and much more susceptible to 'everything'...
No advice, otherwise. Other than prayers.....that'll go a long way.
GL!
Rachel
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Nov 01 2008 at 9:58pm | IP Logged
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I agree...it's soooo much easier to homeschool with a newborn.
Maybe just consider lightening your routine a little, Tracy. The baby will come along during such a joyful time - allow for a little extra time to enjoy the season of Christmas and your babymoon. Then, ease back into work. I find it almost a comfort to return to routine as soon as possible. The older children really need it. It is helpful to set a slow, steady, gentle rhythm those first few weeks - one with a little give that allows us all some time to enjoy the baby and become comfortable with life in the afterglow but still provides the rudder we all need.
I think you'll do great!
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onemoretracy
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| Posted: Nov 03 2008 at 8:05am | IP Logged
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Thanks so much ladies
We are all looking forward to this little one so much. This is the first pregnancy that the kids have been old enough to experience. I can watch them absorbing everything (morning sickness, mom's growing tummy, baby movements etc..) and I know they are learning what being 'pro-life' means in a very, very real sense.
Jennifer, your words about not waiting too long to return to a slow steady rhythm hit a chord. I want to us to enjoy Christmas and a babymoon, but not slip into chaos!
That seems to be default mode when I haven't prepared properly. I have been an all or nothing kind of homemaker and teacher. During this pregancy I have developed a bit, but I am still working on it. 
I know a newborn will be easier in many ways than a toddler, I have done the hs w/toddler thing and that is a life lesson for me right there
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Tracy
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Martha
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| Posted: Nov 03 2008 at 8:33am | IP Logged
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mine latest arrival is due Dec 23rd
I figure all the christmas stuff will keep them from being too bored. We plan on reading lots of baby and christmas themed books after the end of November.
We go to mass as often as we can. For the last MONTH there has been sickness in the house. The kind that takes a week or more to recover from slowly going through various members of the house. 
We figure by the time mid-January rolls around, we'll have settled into things some and start back to homeschooling a bit.
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Erin
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Tracey
I have a newborn in my arms as I type he is 5 weeks already, too fast. RE: Mass, I take mine immediately, Ignatius was there at 3 days, if they cry I feed them discretely. As Jodie so well put Jesus wants them there.
Re Schooling: I'd forgotten how much time babies take, Ignatius is a very good baby but he does enjoy being nursed, so you get used to holding a baby and explaining a maths question. It is an adjustment, you need to allow yourself time to get used to the change. But as the ladies have so well put toddlers are more of a challenge. Work out what your basic requirements are, and make them basic  then anything else is a bonus. Lots of read alouds are good as you'll be sitting and nursing alot. I gave myself two weeks off after Ignatius was born (actually he was born in our school holidays, very clever me ) then I eased back in on the third week but I have changed our approach so as they say that's as good as a holiday.
I notice you have twins, anything has to be easier, right?
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helene
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I also bring my babies to Mass with me. I would feel too nervous to leave him behind for that long with someone who is unable to nurse him.
Give yourself as much time as you need to adjust to baby after birth before beginning real "schooly" stuff in earnest again. Read alouds and a math page here and there would be sufficient for that first week back when you do decide to start again. Easy does it, you don't want burnout or any disasters stemming from hormonal upheavals. And if those things DO happen anyway, it is not your fault. You are doing heroic work. You are called to be faithful about it, not perfect.
Much happiness to you on the impending birth of your new baby!
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teachingmyown
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As the mom of 4 December babies, I can tell you a few things about the timing. First, get your shopping done NOW, if it isn't already! My December babies forced me to be way more organized for Advent and Christmas.
It is actually a great time to have a baby, because, as someone else mentioned, the older kids are preoccupied with new toys and books (some videos in our home). You have time to sit and snuggle and recover without having to think about getting back into the school routine for at least a couple of weeks. Even as you get back to work, the winter months just beg for cozy reading and staying home. Spring and summer babies end up getting dragged around to activities much sooner.
The hardest part about schooling is the almost constant diaper changing and nursing. It would always seem like I had just gotten baby settled and would starting to work with an older child and we'd have a diaper blow out or a big spit up!
I take my newborns to Mass, also. I wear the baby in a sling and wear nursing clothes, so I can nurse freely. For a brand new baby, I often use the cry room. Or you could get one of those nice nursing covers that allows you to see the baby while you get him latched on without exposing yourself! A friend just got one called Concordia nursing cover.
Good luck!
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4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: Tips for homeschooling w/ a newborn
