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SeaStar
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| Posted: March 21 2011 at 11:42am | IP Logged
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Well, burn out is a serious thing, so maybe I should say: what is your biggest challenge in schooling?
I did a big purge of my learning room this weekend, putting aside two large stacks of books and workbooks (many of them given to me) to give away.
I rearranged all the books we use on a regular basis on one shelf, and that is when it hit me that my biggest stumbling block is/was: disorganization.
In preparing for school each day, I would frequently have to spend time hunting just for one book lost in a stack or one item that I needed but couldn't find. That was wearing me out on a daily basis- sifting through stuff.
Last night, as I prepared for school today, I was amazed how much easier it was. Who'd have thought?
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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Erin
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| Posted: March 21 2011 at 3:03pm | IP Logged
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SeaStar wrote:
| so maybe I should say: what is your biggest challenge in schooling? |
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Juggling such a wide age spread; 17yrs - 2yrs (soon newborn), oh and wondering if I am extending my oldest enough.
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Erin
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12stars
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| Posted: March 21 2011 at 4:18pm | IP Logged
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Whining and crying burns me out. I am trying to really hard to get these habits out, especially from the youngers. Not very succesful as of yet, and I am turning more and more emotional at times. I am just so tired, plus it is the last few weeks of pregnancy...that I feel burned out.
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Claudia in Southern California
Wife to George,
Mom to DD 14, DD 10, DD 7, DS 4, DS 2, 1 in heaven, and now due 5/11.
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Angie Mc
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| Posted: March 21 2011 at 7:24pm | IP Logged
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...being scrutinized by outside sources.
It's such a strange and unreasonable expectation that my kids perform above average across the board academically at all times.
It's just as strange that so much of who they are "doesn't count"...such as character, athleticism, faith...because they aren't academic subjects.
It drives me CRAZY how narrow this thinking is...and how I let it get to me from time to time  .
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)
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kristacecilia
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| Posted: March 21 2011 at 7:33pm | IP Logged
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Trying to wade through the daily needs of the household and the toddler and baby burn me out. It seems like every time I sit down to read to the kids or work with the older two, someone interrupts me because they have wet their pants or made mess that needs immediate attention or the baby is crying or getting into something that she shouldn't be.
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God bless,
Krista
Wife to a great guy, mom to two boys ('04, '06) and three girls ('08, '10, '12!)
I blog at http://kristacecilia.wordpress.com/
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: March 21 2011 at 7:35pm | IP Logged
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When I get overwhelmed I want to just "shut down".. but what does that changes day by day.. the same level of activity and noise on one day I might be able to take in stride and it all goes well and the next one it seems like I'm "tripping" over everything.. there's too much noise and too much else going on and I'm spending as much time trying to just shut everything out as I am getting anything accomplished.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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mom2mpr
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| Posted: March 21 2011 at 8:24pm | IP Logged
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Pulling EVERYONE through EVERYTHING contributes to my current state of burnout.
What would make my day easier is for them to get up, get teeth and hair done, dressed, eat, clean up their mess  , and sit at the table with a smiley, shiney face gleefully anticipating their assignments for the day.  And working on math without meltdowns.
Yeah, that would make it easier.
Oh, and no guilt...about anything related to homeschooling.....
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Anne, married to dh 16 years!, ds,(97), Little One (02), and dd (02).
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SeaStar
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| Posted: March 21 2011 at 9:06pm | IP Logged
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How about the days when the dog barks continuously at nothing so that everyone has to run to the windows and see what *might* be out there, and then just after you sit down again, the phone rings....
and even though you let the answering machine get it, every ear is strained to hear the message. Then someone has to use the bathroom
Interruptions, anyone?
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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Kristie 4
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| Posted: March 22 2011 at 8:42am | IP Logged
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I am with Erin- I don't have a toddler or newborn, but the range of ages I find very difficult. Also, the daily grind- the day to day to day to day to day after 11 years of homeschooling!
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Kristie in Canada
Mom to 3 boys and one spunky princess!!
A Walk in the Woods
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Kathryn
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| Posted: March 22 2011 at 8:29pm | IP Logged
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Attempting to meet everyone's different needs AT THE SAME TIME and feeling like nothing is ever done just right. Attempting to review math with a hard-to-focus boy when I finally get his attn only to have his older sister suddenly have a question only to have his 3 yr old sister decide she wants ice cream RIGHT NOW and all the while I'd like to just lay on the floor and watch the new baby explore her toys with her sweet, precious hands. 
Today it was asking the 2 big kids to PLEASE work quietly (at least 4 times) for a little bit as I desperately tried to put the baby down for a nap as she was so fussy and so jumpy every time they talked out.
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Kathryn in TX
(dd 16, ds 15, dd 8, dd 5)
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mom2mpr
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| Posted: March 22 2011 at 8:44pm | IP Logged
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Kathryn wrote:
Attempting to review math with a hard-to-focus boy when I finally get his attn only to have his older sister suddenly have a question only to have his 3 yr old sister decide she wants ice cream RIGHT NOW and all the while I'd like to just lay on the floor and watch the new baby explore her toys with her sweet, precious hands.
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If you have time, and need a good laugh, some of the Duggar family TV shows are on You Tube and the one about homeschooling made me feel so much better. I watched it when I had the flu a few weeks ago.
If you google duggar family and you-tube and homeschooling it comes up, there are 3 sections to watch.
I just loved seeing her with the littler kids and all the chaos and she just kept on working and trying to get each one focused. It was so my life homeschooling and I felt like, YES, that IS how it is supposed to look.
I always want mine sitting pretty and paying attention in neat rows, but it's never happened
..and I think it is normal....how they learn so much is beyond me
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Anne, married to dh 16 years!, ds,(97), Little One (02), and dd (02).
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Marcia
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| Posted: March 22 2011 at 8:58pm | IP Logged
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Ah. This is such a breath of fresh air to hear that other families are just a parade of interruptions. My husband asks me "how do you school?". And I am not sure myself most days.
In my recent despair I took my preschooler to a "screening" this week. I feel like poor child #4 is getting the short end of the stick. Alas. She knows all they would teach her in preschool. So perhaps interruptions are THE schooling? hmm.
Thanks for sharing the realness of homeschooling.
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Marcia
Mom to six and wife to one
Homeschooling 10th, 7th, 5th, 2nd, PreK and a toddler in tow.
I wonder why
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atara
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| Posted: March 31 2011 at 4:56am | IP Logged
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kristacecilia wrote:
| Trying to wade through the daily needs of the household and the toddler and baby burn me out. It seems like every time I sit down to read to the kids or work with the older two, someone interrupts me because they have wet their pants or made mess that needs immediate attention or the baby is crying or getting into something that she shouldn't be. |
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Krista, somewhere I read that Motherhood is the apostalate (spell?) of interruptions. 
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Pilgrim
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| Posted: March 31 2011 at 7:25am | IP Logged
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SeaStar wrote:
How about the days when the dog barks continuously at nothing so that everyone has to run to the windows and see what *might* be out there, and then just after you sit down again, the phone rings....
and even though you let the answering machine get it, every ear is strained to hear the message. Then someone has to use the bathroom
Interruptions, anyone? |
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Yes! The interuptions! The dog barking and phone ringing rings so true here. And what is it about the announcement that it's time to do studies/work that brings on the sudden need to use the bathroom?!
Being the oldest so much older than the other Littles dd feels the urge to "mother" them all day, so I almost constantly have to keep on top of that and redirect her back to her studies. We can't have her study in another room independently, she has too many areas she needs help/supervision in, and I can't go into another room with her to alleviate distractions because those little distactors need constant supervision to keep from them injuring themselves, the house, or each other(little ones are so curious! ).
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mamaslearning
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kristacecilia wrote:
| Trying to wade through the daily needs of the household and the toddler and baby burn me out. It seems like every time I sit down to read to the kids or work with the older two, someone interrupts me because they have wet their pants or made mess that needs immediate attention or the baby is crying or getting into something that she shouldn't be. |
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What she said! Some days are just so hard even without the homeschooling.
The constant mess also grates on me. Just when we pick up, the toddler blows through like a hurricane leaving a trail of stuff (toys, pillows, blankets, tupperware, anything). He can undo all my child proof latches!  I'm seriously considering hanging everything from the ceiling.
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Lara
DD 11, DS 8, DS 6, DS 4
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Kathryn
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atara wrote:
| I read that Motherhood is the apostalate (spell?) of interruptions. |
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I went and watched one of those Duggar you-tube videos about them doing homeschooling. And the mom I think at one point mentioned the interruptions and corrected herself and said distractions. I think there is a difference in how we view it, huh? I think that's why I love that show so much because the mom has such a sense of calmness about her...whether it's God-given or earned or developed. I need 3 scoops of that calmness, please.
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Kathryn in TX
(dd 16, ds 15, dd 8, dd 5)
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Kathryn
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| Posted: March 31 2011 at 11:20am | IP Logged
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Pilgrim wrote:
| And what is it about the announcement that it's time to do studies/work that brings on the sudden need to use the bathroom?! |
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I don't know but my son can go potty about 4 times during a 20 minutes math lesson!!! SERIOUSLY! Ok...we all know he's prob. not REALLY going potty 4x esp. at age 10! Obviously he doesn't really need to go but I mention that he's either going to damage his bladder by not fully emptying it the FIRST TIME (just in case he really is rushing) or he can wait and go AFTER we finish this lesson.
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Kathryn in TX
(dd 16, ds 15, dd 8, dd 5)
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Pilgrim
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| Posted: April 01 2011 at 8:16am | IP Logged
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Yes, the constant mess is a biggie that can wear one out!! Kids , especially little ones can undo a clean house so fast! You get to wondering why even clean it up, but then you do it all again anyway.
A great thought from one of Kimerly Hahn's books that helped me (I think it was Graced and Gifted) was if we change our thought process, like instead of thinking "I can't stand to do this same task over and over again, how many years will this go on?" to a positive thought like lovinglky doing each task because through it you serve and love your family, you have so much more strength to carry on and serve your family with cheerfulness. Of course this was a big-time paraphrase, but it's the general idea.
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: What burns you out?
