Week 1 of he...I mean school is done!
As unbelievable as this is to me, I've just realized that this is my 8th year homeschooling. This past week was my 8th first week of school. Eight years doesn't compare to some of my friends who have children married and graduated from college. Still, 8 years is a lot to me. It's the most I've ever done. =) I can say unequivocally that of all first weeks we've had, this has been the most difficult. I thought the year that Charlotte decided to walk on Tommy's first day of school was tough. I thought the year that I had to actually undertake formal education for two children at different levels at the same time was even more difficult. This year though....this year has reduced me to tears already. TEARS. It's been one. week.
The last month has not gone the way I'd intended. Instead of spending my last few weeks of summer preparing for my oldest to begin 7th grade Challenge with Classical Conversations like I'd planned, I had to basically throw that goal out the window to instead figure out tutoring. I'd agreed to be a CC tutor, and that was an entirely different level of commitment that I needed to prepare for. Then my husband had to work in Charleston for the week, and we needed to go with him. That took away an entire week of prep. Then there was the tire that needed to be replaced. Then everyone got sick. Then another tire had to be replaced. Then the windshield got hit with a rock and started to crack requiring that to be replaced. Then we started our first week of CC with me tutoring on Monday and my oldest going to his first Challenge class on Tuesday. Then Mr. Inc had to work in Charleston again so we followed. Again. Then another tire blew so our drive home turned into just over 6 hours of slow going and repeated bathroom stops. We got home at 10:20pm on Sunday night. After putting the kids to bed, I did laundry, half packed lunches, finished the rest of my tutor prep, took a shower, and went to bed. The shower was a waste of time because I was so tired that I forgot to actually wash my hair. So I had to take another shower 5 hours later when I got up to get ready for our second week of CC. By the way, that's 5 interrupted hours of sleep because my husband had to leave around 4:??AM.
Or there was the zip file that beautifully broke down all of Mr. L's work into daily assignments. The beautiful zip file that I could NOT open. So I had to attempt to do it myself. I did it badly. And Mr. L isn't used to this kind of workload and schedule. AND he's taking Latin. Because...you know...let's just torture the poor kid some more. In the meantime, my typical middle child was interrupting every thought with "When will I get to do more school?!?! Why does he always get to do all of the work?!?!"
Really??? Really.
My 4 year old just ran around, ate Goldfish crackers because frankly, mommy didn't care anymore, and sang his little skip counting song or history song. I love that kid. I mean, I love them all. But if kid number 3 turns out badly, I'm going to feel terrible about it. I'll feel terrible if any of them turn out badly, but kid #3 is my extra sweet one that just loves me without judgement in his eyes. I don't have favorites. Really. That would be wrong. He's just extra easy, and easy goes a long way right now.
BUT (Yes, there's a but). We made it through the week!!! We got up this morning! I took a shower (again) and remembered to actually use shampoo! I was at CC on time! My friend brought me coffee (that a kid knocked over and spilled all over the floor, but it's the thought that counts). I even finished my class on time while completing fun, educational review games with my class!!! The kids all gave me big smiles at lunch while yelling "HI MISS MINDY!!!" One girl even gave me a picture she'd drawn of me teaching her class. I got the blown tire replaced. I took two separate 10 minute naps that actually helped. I went to my parent meeting for American Heritage Girls. I went to the grocery store for a few things! I got the kids to go to bed! My oldest finished his SCIENCE essay! I ate my kids' leftovers while watching Battlestar Galactica! Okay, that's probably not such a win. He's going to be mad about that tomorrow. Still...I was hungry. But we made it. One. week. down.
I have promised myself that even though I knew the beginning would be rough, it will be worth it. It also shouldn't be so hard once we actually know what we're doing and have a routine. God, please let it not be sooo hard all year. PLEASE.
So there you go. That was my 8th first week of homeschooling along with the plot twists that lead up to it. Tomorrow, I'm probably doing nothing of tangible value. And I'm okay with that.
The last month has not gone the way I'd intended. Instead of spending my last few weeks of summer preparing for my oldest to begin 7th grade Challenge with Classical Conversations like I'd planned, I had to basically throw that goal out the window to instead figure out tutoring. I'd agreed to be a CC tutor, and that was an entirely different level of commitment that I needed to prepare for. Then my husband had to work in Charleston for the week, and we needed to go with him. That took away an entire week of prep. Then there was the tire that needed to be replaced. Then everyone got sick. Then another tire had to be replaced. Then the windshield got hit with a rock and started to crack requiring that to be replaced. Then we started our first week of CC with me tutoring on Monday and my oldest going to his first Challenge class on Tuesday. Then Mr. Inc had to work in Charleston again so we followed. Again. Then another tire blew so our drive home turned into just over 6 hours of slow going and repeated bathroom stops. We got home at 10:20pm on Sunday night. After putting the kids to bed, I did laundry, half packed lunches, finished the rest of my tutor prep, took a shower, and went to bed. The shower was a waste of time because I was so tired that I forgot to actually wash my hair. So I had to take another shower 5 hours later when I got up to get ready for our second week of CC. By the way, that's 5 interrupted hours of sleep because my husband had to leave around 4:??AM.
Or there was the zip file that beautifully broke down all of Mr. L's work into daily assignments. The beautiful zip file that I could NOT open. So I had to attempt to do it myself. I did it badly. And Mr. L isn't used to this kind of workload and schedule. AND he's taking Latin. Because...you know...let's just torture the poor kid some more. In the meantime, my typical middle child was interrupting every thought with "When will I get to do more school?!?! Why does he always get to do all of the work?!?!"
Really??? Really.
My 4 year old just ran around, ate Goldfish crackers because frankly, mommy didn't care anymore, and sang his little skip counting song or history song. I love that kid. I mean, I love them all. But if kid number 3 turns out badly, I'm going to feel terrible about it. I'll feel terrible if any of them turn out badly, but kid #3 is my extra sweet one that just loves me without judgement in his eyes. I don't have favorites. Really. That would be wrong. He's just extra easy, and easy goes a long way right now.
BUT (Yes, there's a but). We made it through the week!!! We got up this morning! I took a shower (again) and remembered to actually use shampoo! I was at CC on time! My friend brought me coffee (that a kid knocked over and spilled all over the floor, but it's the thought that counts). I even finished my class on time while completing fun, educational review games with my class!!! The kids all gave me big smiles at lunch while yelling "HI MISS MINDY!!!" One girl even gave me a picture she'd drawn of me teaching her class. I got the blown tire replaced. I took two separate 10 minute naps that actually helped. I went to my parent meeting for American Heritage Girls. I went to the grocery store for a few things! I got the kids to go to bed! My oldest finished his SCIENCE essay! I ate my kids' leftovers while watching Battlestar Galactica! Okay, that's probably not such a win. He's going to be mad about that tomorrow. Still...I was hungry. But we made it. One. week. down.
I have promised myself that even though I knew the beginning would be rough, it will be worth it. It also shouldn't be so hard once we actually know what we're doing and have a routine. God, please let it not be sooo hard all year. PLEASE.
So there you go. That was my 8th first week of homeschooling along with the plot twists that lead up to it. Tomorrow, I'm probably doing nothing of tangible value. And I'm okay with that.
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