June 08, 2010
Mid Year Blues?
Curriculum l Home l Meal Planner l Homeschool Planner l Articles
Welcome to the June 2010 edition of A Living Education E-zine!
Goodness, can you believe we are half way through 2010? This year has been my most challenging yet as I juggle the needs for my children who now span the schooling spectrum. Before now I was getting by on keeping the bulk of the reading aloud on one level, now I am split into 3 levels.
While this could have caused a big meltdown as our school days became much longer, I know that through prayer God has clearly directed my path and helped me balance my time.
While I am half way through my school year, I am also aware that homeschoolers in the USA are coming to the end of their school year and are looking forward to a long summer holiday.
It is also a time for moms to plan their next year’s curriculum and purchase their programs. Do remember to visit my recommended homeschool curriculum pages.
Charlotte Mason
I realized the other day that I would be in my 50’s when my youngest leaves the homeschooling nest. In the last 15 years of homeschooling my children I have had many ups and downs, but wouldn't change these past years for anything.
It would be a lie to say that these years have been always been wonderful and I must admit that I find myself suspicious when other homeschooling moms say that “they have never an unhappy moment” or “that things are always going well.”
There are definitely times when I have been an overwhelmed mom and have had to take time to regroup! I have found the middle of the year to be one of these times.
Perhaps it is because it is winter here during June, or because so much of the year has already passed and yet there is still so much more of it to come…but whatever the reason I find I have to refresh my vision and my hope and then pick myself up, dust myself off and carry on.
I believe that this is one of the reasons Charlotte Mason recommends time out for moms, not just homeschool moms, all moms.
I do not however feel that it is realistic for these time-outs to be without my children, nor do I want to, as Miss Mason recommends.
This year we have made it a habit to take a break every six weeks away from home in a remote spot where we can just sleep late, take walks and bike rides, watch the stars at night or sit around a fire and play cards and games.
As city dwellers we do have to leave the city for this, but for those in rural parts, you can find other ways of achieving time out as a family.
Family Fun
Card games like hearts, canasta, bridge and rummy are a great way to pass an evening with a bit of family fun. Turn off the TV, make some snacks and get out the cards!
Organizational Tips
Are you buying more curriculum this year? Before you do that make sure to spring clean your homeschool room.
Your marriage
In the years that I have been at homeschool conventions to display my products, there have always been spouses who have not been in agreement when it comes to homeschooling.
In some cases it is just a curriculum preference, in others one of the spouses do not believe that homeschooling is the best route to take and in others there is just blatant parenting differences.
If you are in one of these situations, then I recommend that the first thing you do is to take it to the Lord in prayer before you do or say anything. Ask Him to give you the timing for approaching your spouse with a humble non confrontational attitude.
Lay your requests/preference before them and then leave them to chew it over. Starting an argument, by being aggressive with your opinion, is like shooting yourself in the foot. Each time you bring it up your spouse will remember the aggression and not be able to see the facts.
Ask your spouse to think over your idea/opinion or choice and get back to you within a defined time period with their concerns or questions.
It is a sad situation when a spouse pressurizes the other into homeschooling and it fails as there is no agreement between the two. Don’t let this be you, wait on the Lord, He will make the way.
Quote
"If mothers could learn to do for themselves what they do for their children when these are overdone, we should have happier households. Let the mother go out to play! If she would have the courage to let everything go when life becomes too tense, and just take a day, or half a day, out in the fields, or with a favourite book, or in a picture gallery looking long and well at just two or three pictures, or in bed, without the children, life would go on far more happily for both children and parents. The mother would then be able to hold herself in "wise passiveness’ and would not fret her children by continual interference even of hand or eye - she would let them be." Charlotte Mason
Living books
Seeing that we are focusing on the mother and taking time out for yourself, can I suggest a book for you, Mom?
At a recent book fair I picked up Karen Andreola’s Lessons at Blackberry Inn which is her sequel to Pocketful of Pinecones
Will this book grip you like her A Charlotte Mason Companion? No, but I think it is a wonderful read for a quiet afternoon and is full of her gentle way of writing a story full of learning opportunities for moms.
Other updates to Homeschool Curriculum for Life
Exciting news is that I have added two new reader contribution pages to my website.
The first is designed to help you, and the other page is to help others!
Homeschool Curriculum Reviews allows you to submit your own homeschool curriculum review of any program that you have found to be useful in your home.
Homeschool Questions and Answers is for anyone who has a valid homeschooling question. Whether you are a new homeschooler, just starting out on your journey, a more experienced one with a problem or simply just needing a little direction or encouragement...please visit this page and ask your question.
Perhaps other readers would like to go and offer their comments on either page, which you can also do.
As a way to launch this new feature on my site, I will be offering the first 10 people who submit to either section a free electronic copy of my Homeschool Mom’s Planner Don’t delay, there are over 3000 subscribers to this ezine...be sure to be in the first ten!
Take care until next time,
God’s richest blessings to you as you homeschool,
Wendy
PS Please pay it forward by sending this E-zine on to other homeschooling moms who will benefit from my thoughts. If you received this from a friend, sign up here