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Maddie
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| Posted: Jan 22 2007 at 6:08pm | IP Logged
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I am so weary. I need to revamp school, the house, put Christmas decorations away, rethink preschool activities, prepare for Lent, clean up the yard after a major ice storm, get through the first trimester, wean the toddler, read aloud to my dear little guys, stock up again on groceries (which means leaving my house, I hate doing that), do several house projects....and the list goes on.
I feel so stretched with the wide range of children in my house. I can't do the "teen things" with my older guys all day as we have little ones all the way down to 2. I can't do the "little guys things" all day because I have the teens and preteens. Housework and meals are never ending, so time is limited due to responsibilities. Time goes by so fast and I mourn not being "there" for everyone as I used to be able to do when I only had 3 or 4. (We're expecting #8) Now I'm suffering Post-Christmas Chaos. Revamping feels like
Groundhog Day
How do you all do it? I feel so silly asking as I should know by now, but I keep finding myself back at square one revamping, reorganizing, making new chore charts, new meal schedules, new daily schedules, etc. Then, how do find time for everyone? I hate to think of children getting lost in the daily shuffle, but there are days that go by and my little guys just go off and play dolls all day long and I don't see them but at meal times. 
I can't seem to keep all my balls in the air at once. So I guess all this jumbled post is asking is: How do you manage the different age groups? How do you snap yourself back into reality and get that Homeschool Newbie zealousy? When I first started hs, I read every book, listened to every tape, etc. Now, I try to pick one up, but it doesn't have that zing. What motivates you mid-homeschooling journey?
Help?
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~Maddie~
Wife to my dh and Momma of 9 dear ones
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Bridget
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| Posted: Jan 22 2007 at 6:29pm | IP Logged
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Poor Maddie. Making a simple phone call can be daunting in the first trimester.
Pick a few mornings a week that you dedicate to the little ones and a few afternoons you dedicate to the bigger kids. Don't try to take care of everybody at the same time. Have really small goals. Like read two books and do a puzzle with the three year old.
Plan a day to do the shopping leaving the olders to babysit and don't try to get anything else done that day.
Have the older kids clean up the yard. Rest with your littlest one while directing the Christmas clean up. Promise money if you have to.
Just shoot for one ball in the air at a time. You'll get your energy up again soon, take it easy on yourself until then. 
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God Bless,
Bridget, happily married to Kevin, mom to 8 on earth and a small army in heaven
Our Magnum Opus
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Cheryl M.
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| Posted: Jan 22 2007 at 6:40pm | IP Logged
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I say shut school down for one week....then pay your older boys to work for you - make a list and assign chores - there will be pay and rewards and bonus bucks if they work together without fussing. Stock up on groceries...I wish I could come help you. Prayers for you and a return of homeschooling zeal.
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Time-Really-Does-Fly
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Jan 22 2007 at 6:46pm | IP Logged
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For me it needs to be both doing more and doing less..
do more: stop letting things slide, make sure some things happen when they should but
do less: plan fewer things, slow down on the things you do (give them more time)..
like when I get impatient with reading outloud I hurry.. but the kids pay less attention and we get less.. but if I slow down and remember to put expression into my voice.. everyone pays more attention and we enjoy it.
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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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Marybeth
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| Posted: Jan 22 2007 at 7:27pm | IP Logged
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Maddie,
I spent many a day playing with my dolls and seeing my Mom only at mealtimes. Really..if they need you they will get you. They are content and loved!!
I have one ds age 6 and our tree is still up! We need to shovel and my desk is a mess! I am a total slacker next to you.  
My Mom wisely states to me all the time...when kids need you they find you...be home so they can find you!
Why don't you join us in the 54 day rosary novena which starts 1/24. If not for anything else than just God's peace for your heart.
I am motivated by making a list with dh of the number one thing(s) which are bothering me the most. Then we make a plan on how to alleviate or change what can be done. Example: tree and all Christmas boxes put away this week, ds working on time and taking a big math quiz to assess his needs for 1st grade and writing Christmas thank you notes.
I am struggling with being ill with some "mono" like illness since December so I feel very behind and disorganized. Keeping you in my prayers!
God bless,
Marybeth
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Marybeth (Mb)
http://held-together.blogspot.com
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juststartn
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| Posted: Jan 23 2007 at 5:58am | IP Logged
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With older dc, I'd be putting them to work for you. Anything that they CAN do, get their help on. I've only got three and a half at the moment (#4 is only half-"baked", so isn't much trouble, lol). I had my dds (6.5 and 4.5) help me take the ornaments off of the tree. My oldest helped with some of the lights. If it helps you to have the olders outside cleaning the yard mess up while you read a story to the littles, you are getting two "jobs" done at the same time. Depending on how big the job is, I'd spread it out over a few days, if need be. But if you have a set plan "ok, we'll get all of the broken limbs and such up and over here by 'X' today, then tomorrow, it's on to getting this broken 'y' trashed, etc".
As my Army NCO DH would say, it's all in the delegation. This is family maintenance, and the family needs to be involved.
Pull out your roaster or your crockpot, throw something easy in there (chicken and veggies, whatever floats your family's boat food wise). Then you've got dinner done.
((HUGS))
Having just left the first trimester behind a little while ago, I know how draining it can be. Blech. I had the hardest time yet this time, and not cause of the m/s. The unremitting fatigue was enough to take out a small elephant.
(((HUGS)))
Rachel
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