The Roses: Homeschool update.

Well, we've got our first few weeks of school under our belts.

What a crazy, humbling few weeks its been.

Its been tough, and rewarding, with lots of learning…. on my part.

HA!

(Well, I am hopeful that they've learned as well)

I've had this post a brewin' for a bit now, but I am glad I decided to wait to finish it. I don't think it would have been a very heart warming post. ;)

I now feel like we've got a somewhat "normal" routine down, but it was a rough first couple weeks. Everyone getting used to this big change…. me getting used to the big change. That has been hardest, and I've had some pretty down days! Poor Nat, I've sent him some pretty sad text message, but being the good man that he is, he is always encouraging!

Overwhelming would be a pretty perfect way to put it. No matter how much I planned (and I spent many many late nights planning, preparing and planning and preparing) Nothing can prepare you quite like just being thrown into it.

Y'all have to remember I was the person who would never homeschool her kids. I needed me time to stay sane! Life can be chaotic with 3 little ones, and I would be lyin' if I didn't relish in the thought of one day being alone as my kids were in school (what mom doesn't think of this?!?)

I now find myself relishing in the thought of getting to spend each day teaching my kids, reading books with my kids, playing outside with my kids, doing crafts with my kids, and mostly, I get to know what the ears of my children are hearing, I get to be fully aware of what fills my children's minds on a daily basis.

My dad told me this: (sorry dad, I'm sure I will misquote you ;))

'you're pouring everything into your kids now, so that you won't have to do it later.'

Don't get me wrong, its not all hunky dory, and I will never expect it to be! We still have rough days. Sometimes I want to pull my hair out. Sometimes tears are shed, some days we stop. Some mornings I turn off the alarm clock and fall back asleep, some days I get up early, work out, shower and have breakfast ready for everyone. I am finding that I LOVE that part of homeschooling. We just get to do what works best for us! I have come to realize that I don't like my life being dictated by anyone but us!

Is that bad??

I always cringed a little when something was "mandatory" when it came to school.

It has been the single most rewarding thing I have ever done. I've often (and I still do at times) struggled with feeling like I wasn't "doing my part" in life. Nat has always been fully supportive of my decision to stay home with the kids, but sometimes I just felt like I should do more.

Lately, my "do more" cup has been full.

The thing that I have had to make a big adjustment to (besides everything…) is all of my household responsibilities. I would dare to say that I have a "job" now… when I say job, I mean I have something that takes up a great part of my day… the part of my day that I used to do housework, laundry etc. I've had to let my house go at times (another learning lesson on my part.)

I am a clean freak. I do not handle messes well. Clutter gives me anxiety. Too much laundry gives me anxiety. So, I've had to learn to do both things… successfully… and let me just say, I sleep well at night!

Sometimes with laundry done, and sometimes its not. ;)

I have also learned that homeschool moms rock at multi tasking. I have surprised myself at the amount of things I do at one time.

Ha!

So, heres a little clippet of our days these days:

Payton has started back at ballet!

I had a good laugh at this. Good 'ol Texas issues.

Madelynn and Stetson started gymnastics and they're loving it!

these are our days

Nice little afternoon nap. This has been common for this (non napping) girl. She gets pretty exhausted these days!

A little "saving grace" has been able to send the little 2 out to do something else read: entertain themselves. I am so glad that I can concentrate on Madelynn most days as they're not ready for a whole lot of book work right now. I put a sheet down for them to read a book on… they ended up like this. They still somehow successfully read an I Spy book like this. They had entirely too much fun for it to be "school" ;)

this was one morning when we got up.. and mom didn't wanna do school. So, I let them lay in my bed and watch a movie!

Madelynn has done fantastic learning cursive! She is pretty proud of herself (as are we) she wanted me to take a picture to send to daddy.

Another one of those "moments." I was cooking supper, she needed to get in her reading for the day, so she laid in the kitchen floor and read to me as I cooked supper!

This was quite special to me.

Madelynn and I write notes back and forth on her little board. This was her note to me the other day. It was pretty exciting for me! I was a little anxious about homeschooling her, this has been a a reassurance .