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abcmommy
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| Posted: March 21 2006 at 1:31pm | IP Logged
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Our family is getting ready to sell our home and move to New Jersey and I am struggling to keep it together, let alone school my children kindly and lovingly. My husband is many good things but cant handle stressors or times of stress constructively. this is very hard on my kids and me.
What sort of activities can I implement to make sure we are learning, having fun, loving each other and being kind while trying to keep the house spotless for showings and while trying to pack everything we won't need for the next few months. I also have a 16 month old to contend with.
What sort of activities would you plan that are not messy, dont take hours, but are enriching and educational?
should I pare down my curriculum to just the workbooks (math, phonics, and handwriting? Is that enough? I hate to admit it but that is all we are doing, aside from pouring over our usborne history book. So much for Sonlight's wonderful comprehensive IG. LOL
My children havent been well incorporated into the chores of getting the house ready. I struggle with "get out of my way and let me work" which isnt the best attitude to encourage them to help. but let's face it, its faster and time is of the essence here.
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Sarah
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| Posted: March 21 2006 at 1:58pm | IP Logged
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[QUOTE=abcmommy]
should I pare down my curriculum to just the workbooks (math, phonics, and handwriting? Is that enough? I hate to admit it but that is all we are doing, aside from pouring over our usborne history book. So much for Sonlight's wonderful comprehensive IG. LOL
[QUOTE]
We're moving next week, too.
I've pared down to WB's only and a few read alouds. We couldn't handle big creative projects right now.
I worried just today that we won't really have a good quality school time for weeks, since Easter will be up on us soon.
You're not alone. At least WB's are SOMETHING right now. And don't forget the learning experience of moving.
I wouldn't worry about letting kids help with cleaning. There's time for that later. They can help in the new house.
I also went to Barnes & Noble and bought some new books they could read and revive themselves with, since the others were packed. They had some nice Easter ones, too.
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Six boys ages 16, 14, 11, 7, 5, 2 and one girl age 9
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JSchaaf
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| Posted: March 21 2006 at 2:20pm | IP Logged
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We sort of went through this a few months back-living in temporary housing with no belongings. We just read books. Lots of library books. We would go to the park to play and have lunch and then read more books. I found even workbooks to be stressful-because they reminded me of all the things we didn't have and all the things we couldn't do. When I had things I needed to do we would work in 30 min increments-play or read for 30 minutes, then the girls would entertain themselves for 30 minutes while I worked.
So I guess my advice for right now is to let go of school and just learn while you live. This, too, shall pass!!
Jennifer
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abcmommy
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| Posted: March 21 2006 at 3:18pm | IP Logged
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JSchaaf wrote:
When I had things I needed to do we would work in 30 min increments-play or read for 30 minutes, then the girls would entertain themselves for 30 minutes while I worked.
So I guess my advice for right now is to let go of school and just learn while you live. This, too, shall pass!!
Jennifer |
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I am going to try this tomorrow. I am often tempted to sit by myself/ read for me/ play computer in my time off (introvert) and I am going to make time for that too.
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Cheryl
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| Posted: March 21 2006 at 3:43pm | IP Logged
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Right now my kids are in their bathing suits listening to ocean wave music and pretending to surf on their pillows. Only the music was my idea. We're going on 3 weeks of no "school" now. We had a baby 2 weeks ago and are selling our house. Someone asked to see the house today and I said no way. (I need my dh's help to get it ready.) I just bribed my kids to pick up their rooms with a cookie.
House showings are stressful. I've seen my dh get stressed right before them and he is a very laid back person. I can identify with your "get out of my way" feelings. When we get ready for a house showing I feel like that. Sometimes we get a babysitter. Sometimes we put them in the van with the portable dvd player to do some last minute straightening up.
I keep telling myself it's only temporary. After we move I'm going to pack the dvd player away and we'll listen to books on tape and read aloud and play outside, etc... Today I feel like if I read aloud I'll fall asleep.
Things that are not messy....going on the computer, coloring, drawing, watching movies, going to a park or anywhere for that matter, visiting friends...
Sometimes they take baths, the mess is contained to the bathtub (for one or two of the kids)
Packing up as much as you can will help. We stored a lot of stuff at my dh's office so there's not as much for the kids to take out. But it's hard still. I'm sure the surfers downstairs have moved around furniture and dumped toy bins by now, but I'm not worried about it now because our next showing isn't until Thursday.
Thanks for posting, I look forward to seeing other ideas.
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Cheryl
Wife to Bob ('97)
Mom to Matthew 13, Joseph 11, Sarah 10, Rachel 6, Hannah almost 4 and Mary 1
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JennGM
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| Posted: March 21 2006 at 4:00pm | IP Logged
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Our family went through a year of selling and looking for a house. We moved in August. The whole process was exhausting, and I have only one son.
Just wanted to give a few "imageries" for when you get that call that someone is coming in 15 minutes and you have to run around the house. You have to have fun or you'll go crazy.
Have you and your children seen "Mary Poppins"? That's one image that would pop in my mind...before the cannon would be fired from next door, the yell would come "Posts, everyone!!" and they would hold down and catch all the breakable objects that would move after the cannon.
And the other image: Dh and I would run around making the sound like the submarine's Dive alarm in the movies, saying "This is not a test...I repeat, this is not a test!!" 
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Family in Feast and Feria
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JennGM
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| Posted: March 21 2006 at 4:02pm | IP Logged
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Oh, and Elizabeth gave some great advice awhile back. When you get the call, use laundry baskets, gather loose items up and put them in the car, and drive away!
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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Leonie
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| Posted: March 21 2006 at 5:11pm | IP Logged
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jenngm67 wrote:
| Oh, and Elizabeth gave some great advice awhile back. When you get the call, use laundry baskets, gather loose items up and put them in the car, and drive away! |
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Yes - we used to do this. Go to the park while the house was shown. Or - pop the laundry basket(s) in the car and take kids outside to the patio for read alouds while people look through the house.
We have moved lots and sold homes and rented homes. Living books have been the mainstay - they make mne feel we are "achieving" something and learning; they helps us stay connected; they help us learn about the new area perhaps or commiserate woth children facing similar changes in the story.
Books on CD or read alouds are my recommendation!
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Leonie in Sydney
Living Without School
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Meredith
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| Posted: March 21 2006 at 5:54pm | IP Logged
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We will be doing this in 3 weeks and I'm right there with everyone else, books, books, books, and as much outside time as possible (despite our snow  ) Hang in there, they will be fine, try not to be so hard on yourself, remember, this is all part of the *real learning* 
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Meredith
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Sweetness and Light
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momwise
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| Posted: March 21 2006 at 7:41pm | IP Logged
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I was 8 mos. pregnant the last time we moved. In the 4 mos. prior to selling our home, we had 2 contracts fall apart.
I've got to admit, by the 3rd time around I barely moved when I got a call for a showing. We went out and sat on the porch swing in the back yard. St. Joseph totally sold our house .
I love the laundry basket idea. Why not do projects, water play, etc. at the kitchen sink in a dry dishpan and just throw everything in there when it's time to leave.
Get a roll of nickels and offer a "bounty" when it's time to pick up. .05 per item in a 2 min. time limit and then go down to the corner and count the money when the realtor shows up.
I second the library idea. You could live there for a while. Hey......that sounds kinda fun.
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Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
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Mary G
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| Posted: March 22 2006 at 6:23am | IP Logged
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My dh and I were just talking aobut this the other night. Maybe SC real estate laws are different or something -- they want us to be home. We're able to answer the questions of the potential buyers and the home is lived in. When we bought this house EVERYONE showed up for the closing -- sellers, us, their agent, our agent, loan people, lawyers.....everyone! It was a party.
I've also been places wehre agents DON'T want you home and noone shows for a closing....
We're right in the thick of this too -- but we have the additional paroblem of siting through stuff to see what goes in long term storage (at my in-laws 45 minutes away or to my BIL 2.5 hours away!), what goes with friends to use and what will go to Austria.
In the idst of all this -- schooling gets pushed aside a bit but the kids are doing "real learning in the heart of the home" -- they're learning that these things don't just "happen", tht we have too much stuff that CAN be parted with, and that all works in God's time, not ours......
Don't worry -- this too shall pass..... 
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MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: making time for learning during hard time
