Giving Myself Grace

So we got through our first week!! I learned quite a few things in the process but the most important thing came as quite a surprise (NOT)! I figured out that I CAN'T do it all!?

I have had to give myself grace and let a few things go. I tend to think that I CAN do it all and I should. This belief usually brings me a lot of anxiety and that does not go well with teaching children. To help eliminate some of that anxiety I have decided to just focus on the important things.... school, meals, work, and sleep. :)

Molly learned something as well.... mom's attention is not all hers. However we are adjusting. She and Joshua have a great time together while I am helping Olivia and luckily she still naps. This is the best time to get our reading in and help Joshua with his more difficult assignments.

She loves to color "Melmo" (Elmo).

Other than balancing time with Molly and letting a few things go there is just one other little issue we are working on.

Joshua seriously does NOT like to write.... and sometimes just really doesn't want to read aloud either!?

Big part of school for a second grader right? This second week seems to be getting a bit better but still easily distracted and lots of whining!

Working on some new ideas to motivate.

Discovered one very awesome idea today.... will take pictures and fill you in later! :)

Turning over a New Leaf... or two!

Well... let's just forget the fact that it has been over a YEAR since I last updated this blog!! I have a renewed motivation for keeping this blog up to date. I would love to have a record of this new journey we are about to begin... tomorrow will be DAY 1 of homeschooling in the Marler house! I am excited and anxious and nervous and overwhelmed all at the same time!

I am thankful that Joshua is not yet feeling like he is "missing out" on going to school. He seems to be quite content to be at home in "his world" here. I am looking forward to the fact that he won't be forced to sit still and focus for hours on end as this is just not his personality or his maturity level right now. We are using a curriculum called "Sonlight" that teaches History and Literature with a Biblical focus; not to mention lots of good reading time together. And the other really neat thing about this is that Olivia will be able to follow the same curriculum on her level. I have to say that right now I am most excited about the reading... I love to read and I pray that my kids learn that love as well.

I am also planning to begin teaching Olivia early reading and writing skills using "My Father's World" curriculum. This is a creation based curriculum that introduces these skills through different topics with a scriptural emphasis as well as more really great children's books on each topic. She would not technically be ready for kindergarten until next year but she wants so badly to "do school" too and she seems to catch on to things so quickly. If it takes us 2 years to get through kindergarten that is fine with me. I just decided it would be good to have something of her own for us to do together.

My biggest concern is balancing all of this with my sweetest little learner, Molly. She is so curious and active right now; I'm not really sure how this is all going to play out but I will surely keep you posted! :)