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folklaur
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| Posted: Jan 31 2006 at 11:37am | IP Logged
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Hi,
Just a quick question, or two...
How often do you go out and meet up with other homeschoolers at activities, etc? Once a week, twice, etc?
How often do you go somewhere without other hs-ers?
Also -- how often do you actually stay home all day? ( I don't mean like going to the neighborhood park or whatever, more like not driving or "going somewhere")
Thanks for the help,
~Laura in AZ
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Molly Smith
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| Posted: Jan 31 2006 at 12:16pm | IP Logged
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Hi Laura,
My children are 10, 7, 6, 3 and 1. My ds7 is in a homeschool CCD class on Tuesdays, dd10 is in the Junior Legion of Mary that meets every Thursday (they all happen to be homeschooled), we're in a secular field trip group that meets two Fridays a month and our Catholic homeschoolers meet every First Friday. We're home on Mondays and Wednesdays. The older three take piano lessons on Thursdays, but that's in our home and taught by two homeschooled teenage neighbors.
We don't have any non-homeschool activities. We're looking into 4-H Bunny Club, but coincidentally, they're all homeschoolers  . There are so many homeschoolers in our area that we'd have to try pretty hard to go outside of it!
Oh, we're not into organized sports--yet, anyway--so that's one area where we'd have to leave the homeschool circle.
Are you trying to stay home more, or less? I love our "home" days.
__________________
Molly Smith in VA
Mom to seven beautiful children, ages 1-14
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Rachel May
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| Posted: Jan 31 2006 at 12:35pm | IP Logged
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Before we moved here, we went out for my Bible study once a week and for grocery shopping once a week.
We went to mass any day that it was available and convenient, and CCD before Mass on Sunday.
The boys played soccer so that was one practice and one game per week (they were on one team), and the boys and Maria took ballet on the same morning as the soccer game which was too crazy.
We also had once a week piano lessons at the house of another homeschooler.
The only homeschool group events we went to were plays or symphanies that were organized by our TORCH group, usually once a month or even less often.
In addition, we would "get out" to do something different maybe once or twice a week. My husband was gone all year, and I was getting stir crazy!
I was so exhausted by the time we moved here and then got morning sickness, I was grateful to have no friends locally, no committments, and nowhere to go.
Now we go out to a park (none close by so we have to make it an excursion) or the library or something else low key maybe once a week. We no longer play sports or go to CCD. I do my Bible study by email with a friend who is in Guam. My husband grocery shops and takes the boys to piano. We try to go into DC for a field trip as a family once a month. It is a blessed peaceful life now, and I will only grudgingly give up the peace we've gained.
That said, we do plan to look into some kind of organized sport again soon (swimming lessons), and I would like to do plays or something like that with the local homeschool group occasionally. The kids are starting to miss having friends, and I feel ready to take on a little more, but I firmly am resisting the need to overcommit.
After reading Elizabeth's book again a few weeks ago, I realized that I've been burned out for the past 3 years because I have been to committed outside the home.
__________________
Rachel
Thomas and Anthony (10), Maria (8), Charles (6), Cecilia (5), James (3), and Joseph (1)
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TracyQ
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| Posted: Jan 31 2006 at 12:50pm | IP Logged
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Let's see........we try to balance it out pretty much.
We go weekly to a gym/swim program (every Thursday afternoon). I get to talk to other homeschooling moms, and the kids see their friends there once a week.
We do a few sporadic things here and there with two different homeschool groups. We pick and choose what works best for us for that year. I coordinate a Little Flowers group for one of my homeschooling groups. We meet one Tuesday evening per month.
We have a HUGE extended family, so we visit with family, and have family things often. We get together with my dh's family every Sunday evening for dessert. What a blessing! My kids' best friends are their cousins (of which they have over 50, most in this area).
We stay home probably 3-4 nights per week, sometimes more. I try to make sure we have family time, and that Sundays are the Lord's Day, very family oriented.
The boys play in organized sports in the Fall (flag football with the homeschool group), and our oldest in baseball in Spring through the summer, so we're busier during those times. I purposely don't allow them to be in organized sports in winter (I need the break)!
Our oldest goes with his dad to play pickup basketball every Monday or Tuesday night. So that's very helpful. And we do our *own* things sporadically too, like me going to homeschool meetings, etc.
Not sure if this helps, but I'd say I work very hard to balance it all out! I love my *home* days the most too! 
__________________
Blessings and Peace,
Tracy Q.
wife of Marty for 20 years, mom of 3 wonderful children (1 homeschool graduate, 1 12th grader, and a 9th grader),
 homeschooling in 15th year in Buffalo, NY
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ALmom
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| Posted: Jan 31 2006 at 1:13pm | IP Logged
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Things work best for me and younger dc if we stay home the majority of the time. For the oldest 2 girls that doesn't work so we try to balance that out. Our oldest got into way too much and when she did - so did the younger boys and we were all stressed. Now the oldest drives to all her music lessons and I(or dh) only drive to evening activities (Monday night orchestra and Wednessday night accompanying job). One of us stays at home with the other dc. The boys (3 - 11) much prefer to stay home and our 11 yo becomes extremely stressed by unexpected outside the home activities.
I do a once per month homeschool Oral Presentation group that includes all ages (the 3 yo comes and watches) and we do a craft club for the 14 yo girl that allows her to interact with some of her homeschool friends - and trade books, etc. We are all so spread out as far as Catholic homeschoolers in the area that these 2 involve significant driving - the home location is rotated among members, but it can be a 45 min. plus drive. It is worth it for the older dc and because it is an activity that meets social, spiritual and academic needs, we do regularly attend these monthly functions.
I am hoping to make a daily Mass - we were hoping for everyday but may have to start out slow and begin with one additional day per week. This is all related to an effort on our family's part to also have a more consistent schedule of rising and sleeping. I see this as becoming much easier as our oldest moves on to college because she often has late night concerts, etc. that we all try to attend and as my health problems are addressed.
Janet
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Bookswithtea
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| Posted: Jan 31 2006 at 3:04pm | IP Logged
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We go out one day a week. Ds has classes all day at coops and all but one class are "fun stuff." My two younger school aged children have a get together for that morning only with other Catholic hsed girls. All but ds are home by noon.
I'm looking for another activity for ds...probably boy scouts. I don't think my other children need more than one activity a week.
We do try to get together with other families now and again for play dates.
I don't usually grocery shop during the week.
Wow...I guess we don't go out all that much. How come I'm still overwhelmed on a regular basis??? 
~Books
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Cay Gibson
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| Posted: Jan 31 2006 at 3:28pm | IP Logged
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Our co-op group use to meet every Tuesday, and sometimes on Fridays.
Now our co-op meets once a month! 
At our last co-op, a friend walked up to me and asked, "How on earth did we do this every week?!"
I just shook my head. Who knows. It was great for the formation of our hs group. It's a great group and we all have fun together.
Sometimes we simply call one another up and meet somewheres. Our dc get together for playdates, etc as well.
But, basically, we're at home most of the time.
Tuesdays are my busy days. I just got home from the bank, title company, golf course pick-up, UPS, library, and getting a money order. I'm taking a break before CCD and dance classes this evening. I cook every day but Tuesdays.
I just wrote about my cherished Monday Mornings at my .blog
__________________
Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
mom to 5
Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
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folklaur
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| Posted: Jan 31 2006 at 3:50pm | IP Logged
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Thank you for the responses!
OKay -- 'nother question.
Especially for those who *do* spend a lot of time at home, do your children play with neighborhood kids?
Or spend a lot of time outside in the backyard?
What do you do when the weather is severe? (For us, living in the desert southwest, we don't have too much of a snow problem, but the summers are terribly hot.)
I really appreciate all the replies
~Laura in AZ
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teachingmom
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| Posted: Jan 31 2006 at 4:49pm | IP Logged
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cactus mouse wrote:
Especially for those who *do* spend a lot of time at home, do your children play with neighborhood kids?
Or spend a lot of time outside in the backyard?
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We are running somewhere for something almost every day of the week. Most of our activities are less than 10 minutes from home. We have no long days away from home--only hour to hour and a half long activities. Most of them are for all the girls or all but the 3yo. Sometimes it feels like I've let too much creep into our schedule, but it doesn't tax us too much. We still have family dinners together each night--even if it's at 7:30 or 8pm.
That said, we still have opportunities almost every day for the kids to play in the neighborhood. The girls mostly play with our close friends next door--a good Catholic family whose kids go to public school. There is another nice Christian family a few doors down who have a boy and girl who go to the public school and play with the girls regularly as well.
They play in our postage stamp-sized yards (sharks and seals is played almost every nice day), go bike riding or scootering around our circular street, or walk down to the two ponds nearby.
If it's really cold, my girls are happy to stay inside and sometimes play with the same two families at our house or next door.
__________________
~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
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Rachel May
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| Posted: Jan 31 2006 at 4:58pm | IP Logged
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There are no neighborhood kids, but lots of nice cars.  So mine play together, weather permitting in the backyard during the time that other kids in school. If I'm feeling up to it, I watch them out front in the afternoons. That isn't very often though.  We have a big unfinished basement with outside toys in it. Lately the kids have been jumping rope there. I can spend about 1/2 down there before the smell gets to me.
__________________
Rachel
Thomas and Anthony (10), Maria (8), Charles (6), Cecilia (5), James (3), and Joseph (1)
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Bookswithtea
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| Posted: Jan 31 2006 at 5:59pm | IP Logged
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cactus mouse wrote:
Especially for those who *do* spend a lot of time at home, do your children play with neighborhood kids?
Or spend a lot of time outside in the backyard?
What do you do when the weather is severe?
~Laura in AZ |
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We've never lived in a neighborhood with other children to play with, and we still don't now. My girls play with each other. My boy is lonely.  I've always worked overtime to get him into activities or to have play dates. Some years its better than others. I think sometimes he blames God for not having a brother close in age (I had two miscarriages between 1 and 2). Honestly, I don't know what else to do about it though. He also happens to dislike competitive sports intensely, so that leaves out the activities most boys congregate at. For awhile he thought he wanted to go to ps, but when he realized how much loss of freedom he would have, he quickly changed his mind. He's a borderline introvert...needs some socializing and "boyish stuff" weekly, or he starts to pick on his sisters for entertainment but he also freaks out if he doesn't have enough free time to pursue his passions (currently guitar).
~Books
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Kelly
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| Posted: Jan 31 2006 at 7:32pm | IP Logged
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Books,
I know this sounds kooky, but your mention of your ds disliking competative sports rang a familiar bell with my teenaged ds. After much probing around, I discovered his interests were much more with individual competative sports (and only as competative as you make them...eg we had a fencing tournament this weekend and chose not to go). He really responded to fencing, running and tennis, he's also quite a decent rider. The former two sports are definitely boy-dominated, lots of guy interaction! Anyway, just a thought.
We spend 'way too much time on the road, not with the abovementioned sports, but with various miscellany, alas. Our coop meets once a week, fencing & music lessons are taught by a neighbor and a student who come to the house here---thank goodness!!!--- tennis (for everyone) meets two to three times a week, and we ride up to five times a week. It's crazy and counterproductive, even though most of the children go to the barn and we do have a study area there. It's just not the same. Time to rachet back.
Someone once said at a hs conference that the best way to improve your hs-ing is to let the air out of your tires! Here here!
Kelly in FL
PS We don't really have any neighbors for the younger children to play with. Coop and tennis are big social highlights for the littles. The older children have buddies up the street who are also Catholic hs-ers Our weather is pretty pleasant, only in the summers do we have to adjust our shedule to playtime in the morning because of the heat---or swimming. In the summer, we usually join a summer swim team.
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tracym
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| Posted: Jan 31 2006 at 7:50pm | IP Logged
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At the beginning of the school year we were on the road practically everyday-between play practice, field trips, coops, etc. My family was breaking down. My oldest(8) could not handle it. We have reevaluated since Christmas and are definitely home more so far. Of course this week we've already been to see a play and the Air and Space Museum today-both hs group activities. Also they just joined a hs bowling league. They are involved in Little Flowers, Blue Knights,Boy and girl Scouts. Soccer will start up soon.We do a lot but are staying home more(so far). I am going to try to be careful to balance because my 6 yr. dd loves to be with people while my oldest does not. So since we do have a fairly open schedule right now I need to try not to fill it up! My 4 and 11 mt. are fine home.
Yes my kids play with neighborhood kids. Sometimes a good thing, sometime not. My youngers kids like to be outside. My 8 yr. old prefers the computer games. So he needs to be encouraged to go out.
Tracy M. mom to ds(8), dd(6), ds(4) ds (11 months)
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lapazfarm
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We don't have any kids in the neighborhood to play with, as we live in a very rural area. Ds does have a long-time friend from his ps days that he sees at least once a week and they go and do stuff together. Plus there is scouts, which is pretty hit-or-miss right now. Other than that we are pretty much homebodies. My kids play well together and we ride our horses alot- not as much as we'd like due to yucky weather. Ds sometimes visits at the barn of the college age young lady across the way who gives him free riding lessons.All the kids used to be in team sports, but dh and I have decided we don't care for the competitive nature of the games or the tying up of family time with all the evening practices and games every weekend. Much prefer individual sports such as riding, kayaking, and swimming.
__________________
Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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cathhomeschool
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Texas Bluebonnets
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We try not to pursue too many outside activities here. We get out for violin every Tuesday, and have 4 hours of (homeschool) ice hockey/skating lessons and practice almost every Wednesday. We take a field trip with a co-op group once a month and participate in a Family RE class once a month. That's it for now, other than very occasional additional field trips/play dates. In May, swimming will start up again and we'll be at the pool every day, so I'm trying to enjoy the downtime.
Side note: My oldest didn't seem to like sports either until we put him in swimming. He complained at first, but now loves it. He would love to swim year round, but I'm still debating whether or not I can make that commitment: practice 4-5 times a week during the fall and winter.
Our kids play with neighborhood kids maybe once a week. They do see several homeschooled friends at ice hockey, though, and have plenty of free time to skate and talk while siblings are having their skate lessons. We play a lot in the backyard and inside with legos. I'm afraid that I don't play with them much, though I'd really like to change that!
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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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ALmom
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We live in a suburban area with lots of neighbors. Our neighbors are rarely home, although dc do play some when they are available - which is very, very rarely. I think some of it is that ours are boys and like exploring the woods, etc and hated the brief foray into organized sports and the neighbors are more concerned about snakes in the yard or dc getting hurt or dirty and we don't want our little ones going inside to watch videos or play video games at someone else's house.
I guess the days of kick the can down the street and other informal active games are gone. Most people seem overwhelmed with activities and rushing to all kinds of structured activities (lessons, organized sports, extra language classes, academic teams, etc, etc.) We rarely see our neighbors even though we could probably peek in each other's windows.
So our dc mostly play with each other and an occassional play date with other homeschooled dc. They don't mind the craft club for the dd 2 because all the brothers and sisters show up and the littlers end up with a play date outside while olders are crafting. We tend to invite individual families over for dinner or lunch (on the weekend). As these families are other large families that tend to involve all ages, everyone has a great time with dark tag or other games.
I think that interaction with other dc is overrated especially in the younger years. It is more pressing as they get into the pre-teen and teen years (imho) but by then we have some clue as to interests etc.
Just my 2 cents.
Janet
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Bookswithtea
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ALmom wrote:
| I guess the days of kick the can down the street and other informal active games are gone. Most people seem overwhelmed with activities and rushing to all kinds of structured activities (lessons, organized sports, extra language classes, academic teams, etc, etc.) |
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I have a friend and she and I bemoan this fact all the time. We think its better for kids to have lazy days playing casually than to be rushing to activities all the time. But it seems like every time we invite someone they are too busy with speech, dance, chess club, basketball, you-name-it to just come over and play with any kind of regularity. Makes me sad.
I told my preteen last week that if he wants to have friends, he is going to have to get over his dislike of organized activities because NOBODY does this anymore.
~Books
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Topic: How often?
