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SeaStar
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| Posted: June 15 2007 at 7:36pm | IP Logged
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I am so drawn to the Montessori methods and materials, yet I feel like I will never get a handle on it because my time is so limited. My children don't nap at all, and at 4 and 2 years they need pretty constant attention through the day. At night I am tired, and that is my only time to educate myself and try to make materials... but then again, that is normally my only time with dh.
I feel like I can't do it all. Buying the materials would free up a lot of time, but that gets costly. Spending time with dh is important, but then there is no time to read and learn. How can I achieve some balance here?
Maybe I should sign up for the on-line class- that would give me educational time three times a week, and still leave other nights for time with dh (or it will when we are both in the same state again).
Sometimes I feel like a race car stuck in the mud, you know? Spinning my wheels...
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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Meredith
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| Posted: June 15 2007 at 8:57pm | IP Logged
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Oh Melinda, honey...I can totally relate!! Deep breath and step back  It's so easy to get stuck in the trap of wanting to *do it all* and *do it all right now!!* I have been there and done that so do not be too hard on yourself. My dh has just returned after being away for two weeks and he will be out of town again every week (home on weekends) until we relocate again. It's very hard on me and the dc, but we're making it work. With Montessori, a little at a time is how we've been doing it and until just recently we have committed to a more full-on approach, but I would never give up my REal Learning lifestyle/environment for full Montessori as it just wouldn't work for us here with the ages, etc. Do what's right for your little people, that's what will be the best!
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Meredith
Mom of 4 Sweeties
Sweetness and Light
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AndreaG
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| Posted: June 15 2007 at 9:27pm | IP Logged
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I often feel that way too- my solution is to make time in the evenings and some saturdays during the summer when I am not "officially" homeschooling to make materials and research. The nice thing about the online class is that it slows it down for you- you just get a few presentations a week, starting with practical life. So if you just focus on what you are getting in class it might feel more manageable. That was my experience anyway. And of course your children can have a wonderful and fruitful homeschool experience without a single montessori material.
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Andrea
GrayFamilyCircus
Read Through the Catechism in a Year- For Moms!
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Donna Marie
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| Posted: June 15 2007 at 10:08pm | IP Logged
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I do it in little bits and pieces. I read or make materials in the little lulls in the day. Like in the morning I start the dishwasher and the washing machine get a few chores done and create while the kids work on something next to me. I do my printing at night and keep in a folder till I am ready to cut and laminate. I might laminate the next night after the kids go to bed. I can even cut and organize as the kids read aloud to me...I DON'T stress about it at all! I figure if it needs to be done, God will inspire me with the idea and the time. Oh yes, one other thing. I try to keep myself organized and keep a written record of what I am doing so I don't get frustrated. I also try to store things up high right away so my work does not get undone. I also try to only put out a few things at a time so the toddler factor does not but an abrupt halt on my plans
Yesterday my sil came over with her new baby and took a walk with most of my kids through the neighborhood. I was making things from the Do Touch book and large craft sticks for a few hours and felt soo wonderful! School stuff is my hobby...it makes me feel good inside. It refreshes me to get the other nitty gritty of life accomplished.
If I can't get things made the way I like, I just stick to lots of book reading, notebooking and whatever gets us through. I don't even follow an album all the way through. I follow a text like Jeanne Fulbright's Exploring Creaton with Astronomy book and I make presentations and prepare Astronomy Notebooking pages from that. I make sure I have a smattering of materials made the summer before the formal school year begins and I organize them in binders or zip lock bags on top of my school shelves in big baskets.
I throw in Usborne books and library things where I can too. I do what ever comes naturally along in a busy homeschooling mom's day. I find it works best when I keep on praying about it. If I slow down in my prayers, I am sunk! 
God love you!
Donna Marie from NJ
hs momma to 7dc 
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Donna Marie from NJ
hs momma to 9dc!!
Finding Elegant Simplicity
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SeaStar
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| Posted: June 16 2007 at 6:15am | IP Logged
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Thank you all so much for your encouraging words. Broken down into little steps, I see that I can do a lot. I guess I am just getting nervous, too, as I look towards fall and realize that this year I can no longer "play" at homeschooling- it has to count! Even though ds would not start kindergarten here for another year, since he has a late birthday, I still want to be committed this year to a regular schedule- to get a real feel for what will work best for us.
Meredith- it sounds like we are in much the same boat. My dh just returned last night from two weeks in India. He is here on the weekends and gone during the week. It is hard but workable- although trying to keep the house ultra clean for showings with two little children is wearing me down after 4 months.
Anyway- I am such a whiner. I know many of you must be thinking: sheesh! If I only had two I'd think I was on vacation all the time.
Many thinks for all the encouraging words.
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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AndreaG
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| Posted: June 16 2007 at 9:55am | IP Logged
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No, you aren't a whiner, I remember feeling totally overwhelmed when I was facing my first year of homeschooling, and I had two at the time. Throw in selling a house/moving and dh being gone and yikes! Homeschooling is like anything else, as you get going with it it gets easier and then you feel like you can add in more things. I could not do as much montessori as I do now when my oldest was preschool age. It was just too much! Now 4 years later it feels more manageable. Hang in there!
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Andrea
GrayFamilyCircus
Read Through the Catechism in a Year- For Moms!
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Donna Marie
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| Posted: June 16 2007 at 10:25am | IP Logged
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Nope Melinda, I don't think that at all. You have it harder than me. When my twins were 4 and my ds was 2 I was always tired. Now I can delegate Before that it was just disaster control...
Do what you can and don't worry about the rest. And you still can "play" at homeschooling..they are still young. Most of my dc really didn't jump into learning until they were 8...they just weren't ready...those that were ready loved it and just jumped in with both feet. Whatever you do, snuggle them and read to them lots...look for teachable moments! and Explore! I treasure those days of long ago and some of our best memories were sharing books together of all types and kinds.
HTH!
God love you!
Donna Marie from NJ
hs momma to 7dc
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God love you!
Donna Marie from NJ
hs momma to 9dc!!
Finding Elegant Simplicity
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Mackfam
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| Posted: June 16 2007 at 10:47am | IP Logged
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Melinda,
You're doing great! Keep your vocation right in your heart! You're a wonderful mommy looking for beautiful things for your dc to dwell on. God will surely reward your efforts! He has given you much to keep up with right now, and the stress of having your dh away is enough to send me running for a big box of chocolates and the kleenex!
The more I relax and let God lead, the more at peace I feel (go figure) and the more my dc respond. Go to the Giver of Time and He will help you prioritize. I have to agree with Donna Marie - if I neglect that daily prayer, life spirals out of control quickly.
We're all in this together, and I feel very comforted by that!!!!
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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SeaStar
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| Posted: June 16 2007 at 5:22pm | IP Logged
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= School stuff is my hobby...it makes me feel good inside. It refreshes me to get the other nitty gritty of life accomplished.
I also love looking at and planning school stuff- I was so grateful to see you post this, Donna Marie. That is part of the beauty of homeschooling to me- it is work that feeds my soul as well as the kids.
And I have to add that thinking Montessori and researching different sites has been about all that has kept me from going batty this week worrying about my son's colonoscopy on Monday. We started the prep for it yesterday (taking Miralax twice a day), and he has not complained. But tomorrow we go without food and then have to do an enema in the pm and on Monday morning  . Tomorrow is going to be tough.
PS: my oldest sister is also named Donna Marie!
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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Donna Marie
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| Posted: June 16 2007 at 6:35pm | IP Logged
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SeaStar wrote:
And I have to add that thinking Montessori and researching different sites has been about all that has kept me from going batty this week worrying about my son's colonoscopy on Monday. We started the prep for it yesterday (taking Miralax twice a day), and he has not complained. But tomorrow we go without food and then have to do an enema in the pm and on Monday morning . Tomorrow is going to be tough.
PS: my oldest sister is also named Donna Marie! |
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I am sorry to hear about your son's troubles! We all will certainly keep him in our prayers! Let us know how he is doing!!
LOL...my sister-in-law is named Melinda!
I am the eldest in my family too. Funny thing..no one wants to listen to me...instead they want to learn the hard way! Must be that they think I am being a bossy older sister thingy...not that I EVER do that...he he.. but I do share what works after I hit my head on the wall a few dozen times....but then they come over and say..."oh what is that Montessori thingy or that homeschooling thingy you are doing? I have tried and tried and I think that is what I need..."  Doncha love it! Better late than never!
God love you!
Donna Marie from NJ
hs momma to 7dc
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God love you!
Donna Marie from NJ
hs momma to 9dc!!
Finding Elegant Simplicity
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4Real Forums : Nurturing the Years of Wonder
Topic: How do you find the time?
