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Woodland Mist Academy

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Posts posted by Woodland Mist Academy

  1. Procrastination is a strange phenomenon... 

     

    My daughter started doing random household chores I've asked her to do for ages, but she somehow never gets around to. When she suddenly started doing them with lots of energy,  I was  :huh:. 

    She explained it was that or studying. I admit to being torn on which she should do...  :blush:

     

    (Before you become envious...it only lasted about 10 minutes before she remembered she'd rather study than do the chores... ;)  Am I going to do the chores that were left undone? Um...does it look like I'm doing them? Where's the ice cream.....)

     

    ETA: One of the chores she was doing is trying to sort all the drawings that cover her desk. I soooo understand about the drawing. Then she told me drawing counts because it builds up the muscles she needs to write the essays... :glare:

    • Like 4
  2. Joker, I hope your son is feeling better!

     

    JeanM, please keep us posted. Hopefully once the exam started he was able to get into the testing mindset. 

     

    Quark, hope The Office helped with destressing! Speaking of office...We've joked about the movie Office Space during the past few days in an effort to blow off steam. Laughing is so important during these stressful days!

     

    Dicentra, thinking of your daughter as well!

     

    (If I missed anyone, it wasn't on purpose!)

     

    :grouphug:  ,  chocolate, and laughter to everyone!!

    • Like 4
  3. Good luck to your daughter for all her exams and tests!!!

     

    Thanks!

     

    Even my workaholic older isn't interested in retaking the ACT anytime soon. He would be off to summer camp in mid June.

     

    Camp is in July for her.   ;)

     

    My kids are going for the AP test taking experience but if my older does sufficiently well, we'll look at dual enrollment possibilities.

     

    Good luck to them both!

    • Like 1
  4. After the APs, my oldest has sat subject tests so we won't be celebrating until after the June 3rd exam.

     

    Mid-June for celebrating here...

     

    APs (May), SAT Subject Tests (May & June), and ACT (June)

     

    ETA: Finals in May as well. 

     

    I wasn't stressed until I typed it all out.  :svengo:

     

    ;)

    • Like 7
  5. However, we do APs so he has challenge and a bar to work for. If he gets credit or they help in admissions, that's a bonus.

     

    This is our approach as well. Our goal has already been met for AP classes this year. She's enjoyed her classes and has learned so much. Everything from here on out is just bonus. 

    Is there stress? Yes. Keeping everything in perspective helps.

    • Like 9
  6. Another thought...

     

    Stress can provide a window into our inner selves:  What kind of stress motivates us? What kind slows us down? What is the right about of stress? Where is the edge -- any more is too much, any less is not enough...

     

    Contemplating these questions can provide information that may help in answering the big questions high school students are faced with when choosing majors, colleges, and careers. Not everyone has the same level of stress tolerance. Not every stress-reducing strategy will be effective for every student. 

     

    Nurture can only work with what nature has provided. Being honest with ourselves and with our students as they deal with stress during these years will not only help in the present, but it can potentially save some undue stress later on.

    • Like 2
  7. In my opinion, learning to accept that sometimes one's best isn't going to be good enough is a fact of life.  It again sounds trite. 

     

    I have had to learn that as an adult.  When you are able to say "I have done everything I can do in the time allotted. I did my best.  But it wasn't good enough,"  It's maturity.  That isn't failure. 

     

    Striving for excellence is a stress that provides motivation. I don't think that lowering the standard is the answer, but accepting that the work they do is their best work even if an "A" wasn't given. One can have high standards and miss the mark.  they  can choose not to care, they can choose to overanalyze and over compensate or they can choose to admit their best wasn't good enough and figure out how to  make their best better.

     

    Well said.

     

    Effective time management that reduces stress involves more than just planning what to do and when to do it. Beyond prioritizing and scheduling, effective time management also includes delegating, downgrading, deleting and debriefing.  Can someone else do this instead of me? Is this as important as I originally thought it was? Is this truly necessary? Looking back, did I make the best decisions given the situation? What should I do in a similar situation in the future? 

     

    The first time my teen told me of school assignments she'd purposefully skipped or projects she'd turned down at the lab, I was stunned and dismayed. In the end, I was glad to see she had at least consciously made the decisions and was processing the outcomes. Learning to deal with both the expectations she has for herself and for the expectations others have for her is more important than any grade or score.

    • Like 2
  8. Ironic that the stress topic follows the rest topic.

    Time management really helps with both rest and stress.  My son has worked for the last 3 years and sometimes his start time interfered with accomplishing his schoolwork BEFORE he went to work.  He has a really good sense of what he can handle therefore I do defer to him, while not allowing him to wimp out. 

     

    I also believe that stress can be eliminated with fun and exercise. 

     

    When my husband was in the army they had mandatory fun days.  I used to think that was the stupidest thing.  What an oxymoron.  Now having been through extreme stress, I am a firm believer in mandatory fun. 

     

    When things are stressful you have to take a break and have fun.  when you work from rest and rest from work the priorities and goals you are working towards become effortless. 

     

    When we try to push through a situation (for the kids testing and papers due and for us providing the time for them complete their work, scheduling, grading, cleaning etc.), it creates that feeling of stress inside and the path to our goals and priorities become difficult giving the feeling of walking through mud.  That is where the time management comes in to play. 

     

    If one plans their work and works their plan, plans their rest and works from that place rest that intense level of stress can be minimized..

     

    My teen implemented something similar to a fun day for herself this year. At first I just thought she was slacking; I knew there was so much work to be done --  for her classes, for work, and for her other responsibilities. Eventually she explained what she was doing. She knew she had an incredible amount of work to do, but she also knew she couldn't just work non-stop all day, everyday. I've come to respect it as a sort of Sabbath. (A topic I hope to explore further in a future thread.)

     

    10th grade has been a turning point in time management for her. She's still learning strategies, and time management doesn't completely eliminate the stress, but it definitely helps reduce and control it. 

    • Like 2
  9. How are everyone's teens holding up now that exams and end-of-the-year papers and projects are looming? What do you do to help them (and you!) cope with acute stress?

     

    The basics I'm working on here are sleeping, eating well, staying hydrated, and exercising. In addition, recognizing that there is value in making time for creative outlets such as drawing, writing, journaling, and spending time in nature, even in especially in times of stress.

     

    In reality, not all of these happen every day and some days it seems almost none of them happen. I don't want to add to the stress by looking for perfection in every meal or expecting a daily hour-long communion with nature. I also don't want to give in to chaos. Balance, balance, balance.

     

    How are things looking in your worlds?

    • Like 2
  10. I do know that a student gave me a case (yes, a case) of Cadbury Creme Eggs. One a day won't hurt, right? It's an egg afterall. I can count it as a protein. Or cut them in half and call them Deviled Eggs. Or chop them up and put them on sliced GF french bread with banana slices and call it an Egg Salad sandwich.

     

    :laugh:   Sounds reasonable to me! 

    • Like 3
  11. 10th grade was the most stressful so far for older dd. It did get better once we dropped the bad Chemistry teacher and just did it at home at our own pace instead. But she also outsourced a World History class that had a huge project attached to it and that took a lot of time.

     

    11th has been better since we've focused on finishing up a lot of required things and am looking forward to Senior year for a lot of classes that follow her interests. 

     

    She's also decided on a gap year which will give her some extra time to work on math skills before applying for college. That's helped a lot with stress on both our sides.

     

    Your post has lots of good reminders:

     

    1. Don't be afraid to switch directions.

    2. Although many timelines in high school are etched in stone, not all are. The trick is realizing what things are and aren't on such a timeline. 

    Need extra time to cement math? Take it. Need to back off a bit to let body, mind, and spirit heal? Do it.

    3. Don't forget to make time for student interests! These years are precious --- recognize them for the gift they are.

    • Like 5
  12.  It will be a pantry & freezer week. Nothing too bad food wise, but nothing new and exciting either. 

     

    I take that back. Forced creativity may actually lead to some new favorites. I didn't realize what gems were lurking in the depths of the pantry...   

     

    Cardio, strength, and yoga -- done. I may do more later today, but it was a good start. 

    • Like 3
  13. :grouphug:

     

    Flexibility is one of homeschooling strengths. It seems that now, more than ever, flexibility is what's needed. DE would probably be last on my list because of the lasting repercussions of a stumble. Upping the ante during a health crisis is not the same as upping the ante during a time of relative equilibrium. Part of the reason we up the ante is to teach the student to learn to cope with stress and increased expectations. It seems like she might be doing a lot of that already. Upping the ante on the school front might be too, too much -- both mentally and physically. 

     

    Part of the stress of 9th grade here was an unexpected health situation that occurred at the same time the ante was upped. Bad, bad combo. Not something I would recommend if you have the choice. Mental and physical health first --- always. 

     

    In other words, remember the words of Count Rugen...If you haven't got your health...

     

     

    • Like 6
  14. Yes, and along with lots of ECs, varsity sports, academic competitions, etc... I don't know how these kids are doing it!

     

     

    Some of them are not sleeping, some are taking excessive amounts of caffeine or are abusing prescription medication, some are resorting to self-harm in desperation in order to cope.....  

     

    Not all students, of course.  Some take it all in stride and have 8 credits, 10-15 hours volunteering per week,  sports, and other extra-curriculars to boot.  

    For other students, though, doing all these things and being happy, healthy, and authentic are mutually exclusive. 

     

    Know thy student.

    • Like 3
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