Homeshool Update

We have official finished, recorded, and packed up all homeschool stuff for the Sep. 2010-July 2011 year. Yipee! We can have a real break until we begin school again in mid Sept. The boys do read daily, but they enjoy that, so it doesn't really count as work.

-Becky

p.s. of course break means that I am planning next year's lessons, paperwork, and daily/weekly schedules, and reading up on homeschooling (I can always learn new ideas) but I love doing that stuff so no big deal.

Play dough fun

Will they ever get too old to play with play dough? I hope not. I know I still enjoy playing with it, especially a new pack that has never been opened. So far Joshua still likes to create with play dough too.

Matching

On the first day of VBS last week Jason and Kaiden showed up at VBS in these outfits. We did not plan this or even know they had matching outfits. Too cute! Kaiden's shirt says, "Wild Child" and that is him to a t. He is very active. But no matter what he really loves his cousins Jason and Josh.

Fitting it all in

There are so many things I want to fit into our weekly homeschooling schedule this fall. Field trips, co-op, guitar lessons for Josh, and horseback riding for Jason. Plus we have a standing weekly doctor's appointment we have to schedule in. And I want at least one no drive day a week. But I have to have limits or actual school will not get done.

Right now our tentative schedule is:

Mon. 10-2 school / 3-6 homeschool co-op
Tues. 10-2 school / 2-10 me work
Wed. 10-2 school / 2-10 me work and church 6-8
Thur. 10-2 school / 2-10 me work
Fri. 8-4 me work / Jason writing class at 1:00-2:30 / Joshua guitar lessons at 2
Sat. 8-4/4-10 work (two separate jobs)
Sun. 9-1 Sunday school and church / either dinner with extended family or church activities

My work is in home childcare, so I have flexibility to take daycare child(ren) on field trips and to church (except Sat. night.)

Tues. or Thur. will be our no drive day and the other day will be horseback riding and weekly doctor's appointment after 2.

Right now I have to decide will we do Mon. co-op or not? I also have the opportunity to work Mon. afternoons (without my kids) and I want a field trip day built in every week. So Monday is still up in the air.

I have to start praying as I want to ultimately do His will, not mine.

-Becky

Special Needs Children

I know many of us out here in blogashpere have kids with special needs. However in my real day to day life I don't have many friends who have kids with special needs, and those I do have younger kids, so they are not where I am yet.

The thing is the special needs my kids have are not visible. You could not tell they are any different from any other child by looking at them, but this is real. My boys have symptoms of:

-ADHD
-ODD
-Sensory Issues
-Learning Disabilities

Usually the people in my life or those around us think:

-my kids are brats
-I am babying them
-they could use a good spanking
-they are spoiled

Most people have no idea about many of the special needs that exist, including the things my boys have.

I remember a few years ago I used to leave church early to go get my son from the church childcare. I did that because once other parents and noise started he would cry, but if I got there first he was still ok (the fact that he would even stay in there was actually such a blessing.) Yet I had a few church members tell me that it was rude to leave church early to get my son. Would it be rude if my child was diabetic and needed insulin at that exact time? Sensory issues are no less real than diabetes. However the "treatment" of behavior modification (for parents as well as child), prevention, and realizing the limitations of your child and not going too much beyond those limitations seem unacceptable.

Let's all be honest, parenting is hard. Harder than everyone will ever tell you and harder than you will believe even if they try.

Parenting as a single parent even harder, and throwing in some special needs makes the job seem impossible. Actually it is impossible.

I could not be doing any of this without God. But I also need my friends, family, and fellow Christians to help me and love me, not judge me and blame me.

I love my kids, I want what is best for them. God gave them to me, special needs and all, so I am trying to do what I think He wants me to do. I fail daily, and I make many many mistakes! I know I can use help and advice, but I need that to come in love.

I wish that when people look at my kids they do so in love and when they want to say what they are thinking regarding to the reason behind my kids behavior or what I should be doing according to them that they would pray first and then speak to me in LOVE. And even if they are speaking to me in love, doing so during a particular episode of either child will also not be helpful.

Now I also want to add I know that I am too easy on my kids at times and I know that they do manipulate me and get away with it at times. I know that I am not perfect or any where near in my parenting, but I also know that these boys were born with some of their issues. I have been working with kids since before I had mine; I have an AA in Education; and over 100 hours in continuing education classes. Also I have been parenting these boys for over 13 years. I have taken them to specialists, and second and third opinions; I have worked with child study teams. I have read more books on special needs than I ever would have cared too. I also worked in an office that treated children with special needs and delays (so thankful to God He put me there, that was the best education regarding my own boys.) I do know some about children and children with special needs (but I can always learn more.)

I pray that when I see another parent struggling I will not be quick to judge or assume or anything. I pray I would lift them up in prayer (in my mind at that moment) and offer to help them in a way that would bless them (i.e. taking other child or children for a walk, so they can give full attention to child needing it, etc.) And I pray that those around me would do the same for me.

-Becky

Homeschooling and reading

I am itching to get some time to do some Sept. lesson plans. I am eager to talk to the family we co-op with about next year's schedule. I have a new Bible study I can't wait to start with the boys as well.

Jason finally (like last hour stuff) completed his schoolwork for the year. All his Math, Language Arts, History, Science, and his Reading. It is all done. Praise the Lord!!!

One thing I also want to do is create more refined goals than finish the book, or get at least 75% on all tests.

I also want to start reading aloud to both boys about four times a week. I used to read aloud to Jason all the time and still read aloud to Josh at night, but I think their is still value in reading to the kids at any age. We are going to read the Chronicles of Narnia as a family. I have already read through them twice with Jason, but never with Joshua.

I love reading and I love to read with my boys. I also want them to love reading on their own all of their lives!

So for Sept. we will read one chapter daily (Mon.-Thur. at least) of the Chronicles of Narnia, and they also still read their Bibles daily, as well as reading for school, and reading for pleasure daily.

Joshua
15 min. read aloud by me
15 min. read Bible
15 min. read for school (book I assign)
15 min. read for pleasure (book he chooses)

60 min. daily

Jason
15 min. read aloud by me
30 min. read Bible
25 min. read for school (book I assign)
20 min. read for pleasure (book he chooses)

90 min. daily

Me
15 min. read aloud to kids
30 min. read Bible daily
30 min. read for learning
30 min. read for pleasure

105 min. daily

What are your reading goals? Do you like to read? Do your kids enjoy reading?

-Becky

Vacation Bible School

We are on day 4 of VBS and I am exhausted. I am teaching the pre k/k class and have about 22 kids daily. I love them, they are so sweet at this age. Yesterday a boy in my class told me, "You look beautiful." Then today another boy said, "Your breath stinks." They are an honest bunch too (I had just eaten egg salad in the snack room.)

Tonight was our parents night for VBS and it was a great turn out. The kids all put on a great show for their families.

Tomorrow will be our last day.

In addition to VBS I have house guests (who came from Maine to go to our VBS. The family used to go to our church,) and am still doing childcare, (the kids I watch come to VBS each day with me) so it has been a hectic and exhausting week.

Sunday after church I am going to rest all day (oh and get my house back in order for Monday.)

-Becky