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barrymissy
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| Posted: Feb 23 2010 at 6:56am | IP Logged
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I'll lay all my excuses on the table to begin: I'm nursing, pregnant, have a cold, have a hard time in the last weeks of winter with my moods... and I am struggling to do ANY school with the kids right now. This was my biggest fear when I started homeschooling. but up to this point, i have been able to push through any problem with ease and put homeschooling the kids as the absolute first priority, to the detriment of my house, but that was ok. i have a 4th grader, 2nd grader and K student (and then a 3 year old and 8 month old). My second grader plows through her whole weeks worth of school on monday. but the K student has mostly mom directed work (one of the most time consuming is: teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons). my 4th grader sees how little time the 2nd grader spends on work and gets frustrated. she is stuck on long division and is almost a week behind in math. we already pushed math back so much that we will barely finish her math if we ever finish school.
we started out using MODG, but i found it to be a bit too much of a culture shock going from public school to classical. so we switched a bunch of subjects to CHC, seton, left some MODG. next year dh wants us to enroll in seton.
anyway, i didn't mean my first official post to be of me complaining. i really do love homeschooling, but right now i am having a really rough time of it. I'm hoping some of you have some words of wisdom to help me push through this... 
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Teachin'Mine2
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| Posted: Feb 23 2010 at 9:04am | IP Logged
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I feel for you. I'm not thrilled with winter either - especially by February. Spring is around the corner!
Does your 2nd grader read well? Maybe she could work with the K student on reading. Also, to help get other subjects done with your 4th grader, maybe your husband could work with her on the math in the evening. I would think that other subjects she's doing - like history and science - could involve the 2nd grader as well. That might help her perception that she's the only one working hard on school work. Just some thoughts.
Praying for you to recover quickly from your cold. It's hard to teach when you're under the weather. 
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Martha
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| Posted: Feb 23 2010 at 10:37am | IP Logged
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Honestly?
I am in all seriousness planning on taking next February off.
It is not just you.
It's a universal truth that it is burn out season.
So. Can you just call a time out until Easter?
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Martha
mama to 7 boys & 4 girls
Yes, they're all ours!
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Lorelei
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| Posted: Feb 23 2010 at 11:27am | IP Logged
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BarryMissy,
We have all been there...I've been homeschooling for 12 years now, and still get the Feb tensions. When things get overwhelming, you must step back and see the big picture. Look at your life, not at the curriculum. Don't focus on the "what I have NOT accomplished"...instead really focus on the family you have raised. The love, the laughter, the snuggles, the knowledge that your kids will ALWAYS know that mom is there for them. You have been teaching these precious much more than math. You have been teaching them life. How to get along with each other, chores, loving the lovliness of God's creation, soooo much more to school than "school".
Give yourself the precious time to get back on your tired feet. You've got to be exausted!!! I find that if I just can't do anything else, we snuggle with a cup of hot cocoa and read aloud. It includes a multitude of subjects, Language arts, grammar, imagination, and the LOVE of reading. Many fond memories of these times. We didn't do any formal school, just be together when times were really hard, and do some giggling together.
You're doing a good job. You need to remember that the "big school" doesn't finish text books, nor do they don't have the luxury of slowing down to aid the student. You are so totally blessed!!!
You're in my prayers and know that God is in charge of everything!!
In His Love,
Lorelei
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Angel
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| Posted: Feb 23 2010 at 11:27am | IP Logged
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You know, even the public schools around here (upstate NY) take a winter break in February. That's what I'd planned to do... but looks as if we'll really need to push ahead for various reasons. If you can't take a week off (or a vacation in the Bahamas  ) I find that I keep repeating to myself, "It's only February. It's just because it's February..." Over and over again. 
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Angela
Mom to 9, 7 boys and 2 girls
Three Plus Two
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SuzanneG
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| Posted: Feb 23 2010 at 11:31am | IP Logged
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SarahM had a Blog Fair a month ago about this. There are some great posts! Loveliness Fair: Short-Circuiting Winter Burnout
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Suzanne in ID
Wife to Pete
Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
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kristacecilia
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| Posted: Feb 23 2010 at 2:59pm | IP Logged
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It took me three years to realize that my overwhelming desire to research, plan, and organize next year's curriculum in Jan/Feb instead of actually HOMESCHOOLING my kids right now is actually my version of February blahs. So I just made it an official part of my homeschooling, since I am the boss and I can do that if I want to.
Every year henceforth I plan to take several weeks off in January/February to browse online and begin planning for next year. After a few weeks I find it makes me excited to restart what we are doing *now*.
ETA: I think I will make it the weeks between Christmas and Lent... I always feel motivated to get back on track for Lent.
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Kristie 4
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| Posted: Feb 23 2010 at 8:44pm | IP Logged
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I am going for 'good enough' right now. Are we done by lunch? -no. Are we reading heaps of living books- no. Lots of science experiments- no. BUT are we praying- yes. Getting to math and a basic or two plus the music practice- yes. Good enough is good enough for us for the blah months! I am also on a mainly blogfast- helps as well!
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Kristie in Canada
Mom to 3 boys and one spunky princess!!
A Walk in the Woods
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barrymissy
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| Posted: Feb 24 2010 at 5:54am | IP Logged
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Thank you all so much for the ideas and thoughts!! As bad as it sounds, it makes me feel a lot better that I am not alone in my struggle. My husband is currently trying to get his masters degree, so he is gone on tues and weds from 6am-10pm. we also are possibly going to experience a paycut soon, so we are trying to move. i guess when i stand back and look at it all no wonder i am overwhelmed!
i really like that blog! and the thought of having the 4th grader do math with dh (on nights he is home, including weekends) to free up a LOT more 'school' time that she could work on other things and possibly get done at early enough of a time for some free time. and have the 2nd grader help the K student with some of the work. i did try the reading the other day that way, and it went ok, but with all the other stuff she would definitely be able to help!
i have been told to just read to the kids before, stop all school work and read. snuggle up with a good book. i have never tried it before, maybe i should!
i also like the idea of setting a specific amount of time to do x and then if they don't get it done, less recess or free time.
so many good things! thank you for sharing them!!
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: February blahs- how do i overcome them?
