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ABAng
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| Posted: March 23 2011 at 11:12am | IP Logged
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I think I am burnt out, it hasn't happened in the 4 years of home schooling, however I think I am in the midst of it.
I just don't have much ambition and I can envision what I want our days to be, but just can't seem to get there.
We follow a September to May type schedule with summers packed full of Science and Nature Study. I find that right now I just want to overhaul everything, dive more deeply into a C.M. style, get more narrations going, purge our school room, etc. Yet I hold myself back to what I previously planned telling myself that we only have 2 months left, stay the course then go for the overhaul.
Yet that just isn't sitting right with me, which is perhaps why I am feeling burnt out?
Reading this I know my advice to someone would be to:
A) Stop everything and pray
B) Pick a chore that will have immediate satisfaction
C) Get the kids to the Library to choose what interests them and let them go at it for the week.
D) Slowly get back into things
So why do I keep going in circles? Why can't I follow my own advice? Oh I'm so silly!
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mom2mpr
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| Posted: March 23 2011 at 11:27am | IP Logged
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Because you are burnt out 
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Anne, married to dh 16 years!, ds,(97), Little One (02), and dd (02).
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JennGM
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| Posted: March 23 2011 at 2:59pm | IP Logged
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I have similar feelings. I think coming out of the winter season, getting over the doldrums and cabin fever makes me see the end in sight and want to refresh and renew, start all over again. It's spring and Lenten fever.
Your introduction mentioned that you have a CM-type approach, without even realizing it.
Here's what I'm doing. I'm not liking what happened to our school year, at all. I'm taking some time to rewrite up our plans, to nail them down and have some finality. If I don't "finish" this year then this makes me even more discouraged.
But I'm making notes for what I want to do next school year, how I want to approach this summer.
To get some shots in your arm to motivate, what you listed are good ideas that work for me. Pick a few seasonal topics -- seeds, gardening are what we're doing -- check out a few books. Go outside, dig in the dirt, plant some seeds. We started some seeds indoors, and are planning the gardens. I'll just say sending everyone outside (including me), getting dirt under the fingernail, is a major cure for so much!
We also do more meals and studying outside on our porch when the day is nice. That is so refreshing!
Also, look to the liturgical season. Make some plans or a project for Holy Week (special menu, special display, craft) and some reading and ideas for Easter.
These ideas for me don't interrupt what we're doing, so I can have the sense of completion, but a little excitement for what we're doing.
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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kristinannie
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| Posted: March 23 2011 at 6:24pm | IP Logged
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Have you read the chapter in Elizabeth Foss' book about burnout? I haven't suffered from that yet (since I have not even begun homeschooling), but I plan on rereading that whenever burnout crops up.
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John Paul 8.5
Meredith Rose 7
Dominic Michael 4.5
Katherine Elizabeth 8 months
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ABAng
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| Posted: March 23 2011 at 6:59pm | IP Logged
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kristinannie wrote:
| Have you read the chapter in Elizabeth Foss' book about burnout? |
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No I have not read any of Elizabeth Foss' books....perhaps I should add them to my list!
I know one reason is that I rarely get time away and the last time my Hubby and I got to go on a date was about 2 years ago  I need to find childcare and make a point of taking him out to a movie maybe?
I also do the best I can to take "mini retreats" here at home and make a point to savour a quiet cup of tea.
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Angel
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| Posted: March 23 2011 at 7:27pm | IP Logged
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I see you're in Canada. Is it still snowy winter where you are? (I realize this will not apply if you live in BC!) I ask because I used to live in upstate NY. March and the beginning of April were always HARD for me because winter had been going on so long. The kids were cranky, I was cranky, and we all just wanted to go outside without having to put on 200 lbs of gear.
I think your advice to yourself is good. What helped me most was to take a spring break. We actually went away, but I think if you just tell everyone to put away their math books for a few days and build a giant Lego city instead, you may be able to hang on for a little longer. (I find I have the most trouble with burnout when *I'm* not having fun, and by that I mean, I'm the engine pushing everyone through a same-old same-old checklist of work. Sometimes I have to stop and do something different, imaginative, and creative with everyone just so *I* can get interested in learning again!)
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Angela
Mom to 9, 7 boys and 2 girls
Three Plus Two
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SeaStar
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| Posted: March 23 2011 at 7:38pm | IP Logged
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If you feel like overhauling and purging, I would say go ahead! Only two months left of school. so why not make the most of them? The last two months do not have to follow the same lines as all the rest. It could be that your children also are ready for a bit of a change.
I often find that purging and overhauling give me new perspective and help recharge my batteries. Often I find books that I forgot I had or forgot that I wanted to use, and then I pull them out and use them, and it gives everything a fresher feel.
Two things that I have added recently to our school day are the Holy Heroes Lenten Adventure (three times a week, free, and the kids love it) and daily reading from Living Faith Kids. Both have added a new zing to our mornings.
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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kristinannie
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| Posted: March 23 2011 at 9:28pm | IP Logged
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I wish I lived close to you and we could trade babysitting!!!! Hang in there. Make a date with your husband and stick to it. Even if you just sit out on the front porch after the kids go to bed holding hands and stargazing. 
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John Paul 8.5
Meredith Rose 7
Dominic Michael 4.5
Katherine Elizabeth 8 months
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Angie Mc
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| Posted: March 24 2011 at 2:03pm | IP Logged
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Sometimes reminding ourselves of our highest priorities and/or why we starting homeschooling in the first place helps. Here's a past topic that discusses Principles of Happy Moms who Home Educate.
Praying we can all finish this year's race strong .
Love,
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Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
About Me
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ABAng
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| Posted: March 24 2011 at 11:01pm | IP Logged
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Yes we have just had a bunch of snow again, and I am sure that is playing into my burn out. I have taken the last couple of days and decided that nothing will bother me. I don't want to take a full "spring break" (I use the word spring very loosely. ), but I have decided that the kids will be fine plugging away with 2 subjects only....then they can read, draw, build a snow fort, etc.
By lightening the school load I hope that it will just help refresh everyone and then we can get to the organizing/planning.
Thank you Angie for the link to the past thread on this topic. It helped to read it!!
Thank you everyone for your ideas...this forum is so valuable! Oh and Kristin Anne thank you so much for your offer and hugs! I'm going to ask a neighbour to help out next week...cross your fingers that it works out and I can treat my hubby to a night out!
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Topic: I Think I'm Burnt out
