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MarilynW
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...or are there other moms with new babies out there who are having a hard time starting their learning routines this year?
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Marilyn
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Elizabeth
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Yes. I have advice: sit on the couch and read all day until everyone feels much better. Give them something to do with their hands while you read: draw, color, model clay or beeswax, build with legos, etc. As long as your literature is good, that is a good day. If you add math, it's a very good day. And if you go outside, well, then, you are super-mom.
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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CKwasniewski
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Marilyn,
I do not have a new baby at the moment...but I know what it is like! There are 2 things I'd say you should do...
1. Relax!
2. You and the kids should enjoy the baby! This is a PRECIOUS time for you all to cuddle, rest and get to know each other. This is a time for them to learn how to take care of mom and new brother!
Do not pass Go, DO NOT collect workbooks, Go to bed! Go directly to bed! And stay there for at least 4-6 weeks! 
Sounds to me like you are doing great. Reading on the couch is just what you all need.
Imo, you should just put "school" on hold for 4-6 weeks, and if you're really stressed about "finishing" it, make it up in the summer. If there are days when you can do something, great. If not, do not worry or beat yourself up! Ease back into it, when YOU are ready!
Be 4real!
Hugs and prayers,
ck
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joann10
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I have been sick on and off for the last 6 years, and in and out of the hospital. I also had babies number 9 and 10 during this time.
If all you do is read aloud, and have the children read to you, and throw in a little math now and then, your children will be just fine. I know this from experience.
6 years ago, after baby number 8 I was in the hospital and not expected to live, my husband and 8 kids (including the newborn) moved in with my mom. They put the kids in a very nice, small, rural public school. My kids were so far ahead of the public school kids (for their ages) the school wanted to move all of them up a grade. This was following a year of a very difficult pregnancy, bedrest, and virtually no real "school". They stayed in this "school" for a year, and it was time totally wasted. I think they went backward, because we weren't reading, reading, reading.
I now know that as long as we are doing "Real Learning" by reading books and sharing the ideas together we are successfully teaching our children.
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Erin
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Marilyn
Take care and don't rush, you have been given good advice.
Joann
Thank you for sharing your experience, you have really helped me with these words. Thank you  
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Erin
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Ruth
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Marilyn, you're in my prayers. I'm so sorry you've had such a tough time. Get some rest and I'll talk to you soon.
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Ruth
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Mary G
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Elizabeth wrote:
| Yes. I have advice: sit on the couch and read all day until everyone feels much better. Give them something to do with their hands while you read: draw, color, model clay or beeswax, build with legos, etc. As long as your literature is good, that is a good day. If you add math, it's a very good day. And if you go outside, well, then, you are super-mom. |
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This is great advice for anytime the weather is really yucky, or someone (or the whole house  ) is down with the flu, or you're just feeling  ! My 8yos is so excited when he wakes up and it's a yucky day -- he knows much of what he'll do that day is listen, quiet activity and love learning!
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Angel
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Marilyn... we're in the same boat, pretty much. I have a 4 week old and everyone has been sick for most of the past 2 weeks. I was just at the doctor this afternoon, actually, for pink eye... *my* pink eye, not one of the kids.
I planned not to start anything schoolish for the first 6 weeks, but I think we will be trying to start up on Monday. It's not that I really feel up to it or think it is going to work out especially well... I'm just trying to find a way to stop my 4 yo and twin 2 yos from killing each other.  Reading on the couch is not working for us this time around; seems like someone is always trying to beat someone else over the head for taking his tractors -- or whatever. (Actually, I can't even really sit on the couch with the baby because my 2 yos are instantly all over me and him.) So I guess the little ones need something to do, and my older kids seem bored as well; they just express it in different ways. Unfortunately, *I* am still in need of a break, and feel totally unprepared to start requiring people to do things that don't come naturally, like math and grammar.
No advice here unfortunately, just sympathy...
--Angela
Three Plus Two
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MarilynW
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Thanks to all for your great advice. Elizabeth has some lovely quotes from Donna Simmons on her blog too - which have helped me get things in perspective. I am trying to focus on getting rhythm and beauty and peace to our days - and having everyone return to health. I dislke it when I am constantly on edge and evening comes too quickly.
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Marilyn
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MarilynW
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Angel wrote:
Marilyn... we're in the same boat, pretty much. I have a 4 week old and everyone has been sick for most of the past 2 weeks. I was just at the doctor this afternoon, actually, for pink eye... *my* pink eye, not one of the kids.
I planned not to start anything schoolish for the first 6 weeks, but I think we will be trying to start up on Monday. It's not that I really feel up to it or think it is going to work out especially well... I'm just trying to find a way to stop my 4 yo and twin 2 yos from killing each other. Reading on the couch is not working for us this time around; seems like someone is always trying to beat someone else over the head for taking his tractors -- or whatever. (Actually, I can't even really sit on the couch with the baby because my 2 yos are instantly all over me and him.) So I guess the little ones need something to do, and my older kids seem bored as well; they just express it in different ways. Unfortunately, *I* am still in need of a break, and feel totally unprepared to start requiring people to do things that don't come naturally, like math and grammar.
No advice here unfortunately, just sympathy...
--Angela
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Angela - I am praying for you.
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Marilyn
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momwise
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MarilynW wrote:
| ...or are there other moms with new babies out there who are having a hard time starting their learning routines this year? |
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I'm sorry Marilyn I don't mean to laugh so much but I'm 3 years postpartum and we're just getting our learning routines started again. The biggest problem is I think I sleepwalked through my dd's first 3 years of high school but I'll be saving that for another post. I'd go with Elizabeth's advice and certainly relax and don't worry; we're doing fine...really.
ETA: I mean you're doing fine...but we are too. Ck and Joann have some more great advice. Hours and hours in a classroom don't necessarily translate to reallearning.
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Tina P.
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Marilyn:
This is the first year I'm feeling somewhat in my groove and "on time" with what we're studying because my "baby" at present just turned two! I have to ditto everything Elizabeth said so well. I have science textbooks that someone loaned me for the year and am realizing how much we learned just by winging it with science (except for the chemistry and physics part ).
Take it easy and God bless,
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Tina, wife to one and mom to 9 + 3 in heaven
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Right there with you, Sister. I told everyone last week..."Okay, Lily is home from the hospital...no more TV all day...no more computer...that's it..we are starting SCHOOL!! We are done eating hot dogs every day, I'm infusing some beauty into this tired house," and I started decorating with my very small but beloved Autumn decorations. Guess what happened... my 14 ds broke his finger this weekend...in a surgeon's office today..surgery with pin placement Friday. Today...shot...Yesterday...shot..with evals for Lily for therapies...BUT..I am glad I put a few decorations out for Fall, my fav time of year. AND..I'm really eating up all of the conversations on Real Learning sections...and trying to stay calm through my sleep deprivation. We are still eating hot dogs, "school" is going to be "trach care and airway management 101", which since this is our second baby with a trach and g-tube, I should be counting this as an upper level course ...and I am going to do exactly like those who have spoken before--I'm going to read, read,read to the boys and Lily. We are going to wean off of the TV.....enjoy simple things like crafts, etc..and I am going to knit (which I LOVE and believe is mandatory for my personal well being).
Now, if that isn't the most disjointed piece I have ever written....at least you are sounding coherent in your writing, Marilyn!!! , aren't you glad you called me out by name?!?
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MarilynW
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4 lads mom wrote:
Right there with you, Sister. I told everyone last week..."Okay, Lily is home from the hospital...no more TV all day...no more computer...that's it..we are starting SCHOOL!! We are done eating hot dogs every day, I'm infusing some beauty into this tired house," and I started decorating with my very small but beloved Autumn decorations. Guess what happened... my 14 ds broke his finger this weekend...in a surgeon's office today..surgery with pin placement Friday. Today...shot...Yesterday...shot..with evals for Lily for therapies...BUT..I am glad I put a few decorations out for Fall, my fav time of year. AND..I'm really eating up all of the conversations on Real Learning sections...and trying to stay calm through my sleep deprivation. We are still eating hot dogs, "school" is going to be "trach care and airway management 101", which since this is our second baby with a trach and g-tube, I should be counting this as an upper level course ...and I am going to do exactly like those who have spoken before--I'm going to read, read,read to the boys and Lily. We are going to wean off of the TV.....enjoy simple things like crafts, etc..and I am going to knit (which I LOVE and believe is mandatory for my personal well being).
Now, if that isn't the most disjointed piece I have ever written....at least you are sounding coherent in your writing, Marilyn!!! , aren't you glad you called me out by name?!? |
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Have I told you that you are one of my favorite people!! We are praying for Lily every day. And I do not have half the challenge you have - yet you are one of the most positive people I know!! We are eating healthily - not that you would know it from all the sickness pervading our house!! Did I tell you I have 4 lads too - but my little lady is the oldest.
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Marilyn
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Mackfam
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Marilyn,
This thread has been such a blessing for me. I'm not dealing with a newborn, but a 16 week pregnancy and just coming out of a really rough first trimester. I too am trying to wean off the tv, junk food, and way too much time spent just blobbing on the couch.
I loved Elizabeth's advice, and it was affirming for me. I'm under some legal constraints here in our state, so I had to document *something* to count as a school day. I'm only just starting to have something that resembles a "put-together" day. I started one subject at a time - reading on the couch came first, and added a subject as my strength returned. Catholic Mosaic books have been awesome, I made use of (way too much  ) Animal Planet and Discovery Channel type nature shows, and there have been tons of great read-alouds. I'm only slowly jumping from there. Like Angela, I'm motivated by the two year old who needs some kind of productive activity to channel his energy! I'm using sculpey clay a lot, and shiny new crayons are a draw (pun intended ) right now. I'm also seriously considering some survival purchases for our learning room. These play silks seem to offer some neat open ended play possibilities for my little guy.
Many prayers for you. Sorry there's not much great wisdom here - but lots of sympathy.
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Lisbet
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I needed to resurrect this thread, I am so glad I read through it carefully. I am 9 weeks pp right now and it has been one thing or another around here lately.
What I am struggling with is inconsisitentcy. We have a good couple of days, then it seems like we do nothing for the next few days. I have a down day, and we barely get food on the table. Then we have a stellar learning day, only for the following day to be consumed with phone calls, appointments, and errands to run. Any suggestions for this?
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Tina P.
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Lisbet:
We place ourselves under so much pressure! My best advice for you at this point in your life is to roll with the tide. Don't let it get you frustrated if you can't have complete school days. Sneak in school when you can. Have great days whenever possible. School in summer if you have to.
Our family situation is such that either I was pregnant or had just had a baby (they're all no more than 21 months apart) and/or we were moving (with the military, we moved at least every three years, many times more often). Therefore, we carried a full load this summer ~ usually we concentrate on individual ideas ... Shakespeare, for instance OR we do a fun, but time-consuming unit study. My kids didn't like it very much but we accomplished sooooo much!
A friend of mine told me that she was feeling really good right now (youngest is 3, no health issues, etc.). She said she'd better get busy with her kids now because if she would start expecting, she'd be on the couch for three months. I'm feeling the same way now, so I'd better follow her example. This is the first year I'm actually formally introducing art appreciation to my kids and my oldest is 13! Before this, it was catch-as-catch can with all types of art/music. But if you don't feel you can do it all, just do what you can and offer up the rest. You'd be surprised at what your children learn just from living with you.
I don't remember the ages of your kids, but young kids can thrive scholastically on one subject a day (except math and spelling ... those subjects need more practice).
Hope this helps! God bless,
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Tina, wife to one and mom to 9 + 3 in heaven
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Willa
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4 lads mom wrote:
| We are still eating hot dogs, "school" is going to be "trach care and airway management 101", which since this is our second baby with a trach and g-tube, I should be counting this as an upper level course ... |
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Honestly, I put something very like this on my oldest son's transcript when he was applying to college. He knew how to run a feeding machine, check oxygen saturations, administer help in a seizure, and I didn't know any of that stuff till I was almost forty -- why shouldn't I count it? Plus he was an immense help with Aidan's speech and feeding therapy, too. (and he did get into the college of his choice and is doing well there, even though his high school years were a blur on the medical rollercoaster with his little brother)
Sorry it diverges a bit off the topic but I couldn't help commenting -- and I think it does relate because most young'uns don't get to really experience the addition of a new baby in the family -- my fourth was born when my oldest was in first grade at Catholic school, and he was so isolated from the new baby brother he had asked God for nightly -- that was one thing that convinced me to start homeschooling.
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Willa
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Sarah
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This thread is pretty much about waht you are saying.
I feel the same way. Today, we're all sick with a different virus from what is mentioned in this thread.
thread
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