The Februaries...what did you do?

[prairiewindmomma]

I usually have a bad case of the Februaries each year. This year is no different. I pulled both girls from public school.

One was making insufficient academic progress because of the amount of teacher time spent on disciplinary issues. After waiting two years and having numerous discussions with various teachers (they all agreed it was the “worst behaved class they had seen in twenty years” ), I decided to pull my daughter from that cohort of kids. 

My other daughter was completely stressed out by how chaotic her classroom had become.  A kid with developmental delays and severe behaviors was added to the class somewhat recently and it was her breaking point. 

I am grateful for their time in public school, as it allowed me to deal with some major health issues, but I am grateful to have them home again. 

Have you made any 180s, 360s or 90 degree life turn changes this month?

[JustEm]

I had another baby. That rotates things some amount of degrees. Too tired to decide how much though

[BarbecueMom]

This is my seventh year of homeschooling and the worst February yet.  So far this month, I have:

1) Decided to stop cooking anything but the same seven meals every week,
2) Considered telling DH to pack up because we're listing the stupid house and moving to I-don't-care-where,
3) Investigated the nearest Catholic private school even though we're not religious, and
4) Searched out the nearest women's ice hockey beer league to see if they'd take 36yo beginners who really need to relieve stress by hitting a piece of vulcanized rubber.

I have followed through with exactly none of these threats, but it's only the 26th.  I have time.

[RootAnn]

I know how February is, so I purposefully scheduled a week off school. In December in a fit of efficiency or insanity, I proceeded to load it up with doctor/dentist/eye appointments. Except, Friday was free, so what did I do at the last minute? I volunteered to bring all my kids up to visit my mother.

Now, we all need a vacation from last week's vacation.

[ScoutTN]

Daydream about being in south Florida?!

Planning!

Watch movies - Star Trek NG, Jimmy Stewart, Westerns - choose a theme and make it a party. 

Make soup and homemade bread.

Go to the indoor pool for an afternoon. Or staycation in a hotel with one.

Planetarium FT

Plan my garden and kids summer activities.

Go to bed early and sleep as late as possible.

Edited February 27, 2020 by ScoutTN

[Mbelle]

We need a Feb support group meeting at a tropical all iinclusive getaway!  

I finally got over the lingering effects of the stupid flu. One positive!

Only 3.5 more weeks until spring break and vacation!  

No matter how I try to manage it Feb always bites.

[Arcadia]

5 hours ago, BarbecueMom said:

4) Searched out the nearest women's ice hockey beer league to see if they'd take 36yo beginners who really need to relieve stress by hitting a piece of vulcanized rubber.

Billards/Pool/Snooker might work 

Went for routine oncologist visits and Herceptin infusions

Took three classes concurrently because I am too bored.

[Chris in VA]

Feb here is super gray and rainy.  I got depressed last year and cried my way thru. This year has sucked, too, starting in September, but there have been bright spots! I have to go home next week bc one of my besties has brain cancer, but...I get to go home next week. So, good and bad. (I woud rather stay here and have her well, of course.)

[BlsdMama]

14 hours ago, prairiewindmomma said:

I usually have a bad case of the Februaries each year. This year is no different. I pulled both girls from public school.

One was making insufficient academic progress because of the amount of teacher time spent on disciplinary issues. After waiting two years and having numerous discussions with various teachers (they all agreed it was the “worst behaved class they had seen in twenty years” ), I decided to pull my daughter from that cohort of kids. 

My other daughter was completely stressed out by how chaotic her classroom had become.  A kid with developmental delays and severe behaviors was added to the class somewhat recently and it was her breaking point. 

I am grateful for their time in public school, as it allowed me to deal with some major health issues, but I am grateful to have them home again. 

Have you made any 180s, 360s or 90 degree life turn changes this month?

It has historically been my month to buy new curriculum, lol.  Once I recognized the trend, I was able to talk myself down.  However, I'll admit that was probably a good 15 years into my homeschool journey.

[ScoutTN]

Oh, and any sunny day, I make sure we are all outside for a good bit, temperature permitting. 

[Emba]

I switched science curriculum. I stand by that decision, it needed to happen.

I started looking into joining a gym and though I haven’t pulled the trigger on that I made several visits to different places to try them out, and took a yoga class, which is something I’ve been interested in for awhile.

[MysteryJen]

dd2 decided not to swim for the high school season. That actually did make February better. 

A lot better.

My last homeschooled kid actually works- so I didn't go into panic- "Dear God will this kid make it in college" mode.

I planned a senior trip with dd2- so I have something to look forward to.

Mostly- we are all just trying to hang on until better weather, fewer PT appointments, and no more snow on the ground.

[Guest]

Subscribed to Disney+. I need some nostalgic twaddle in my life. 

[Random]

In October I scheduled a tropical family vacation for the first week of February.  Best. Decision. Ever. 

I typically have a horrible case of the Februaries and do so many 90s, 180s and 360s that it's not only bad for me, but for everyone around me.  I'm proud of myself for acting preemptively.  It only took 18 years to figure it out!

 

[*Jessica*]

46 minutes ago, dmmetler said:

Subscribed to Disney+. I need some nostalgic twaddle in my life. 

I was thinking that for the first time I can remember I’ve not had the Februaries, but your post reminded me that we did subscribe to Disney+ impulsively!  😁 Usually I rearrange the furniture and over-buy homeschool stuff for the next school year. 

[Emba]

It’s funny, since beginning homeschooling I’ve definitely realized that I get the Februaries, but it’s only this year that I realized it isn’t just me and isn’t just a homeschooling related phenomenon. I think homeschooling just amplifies it for me, but my public schooled boy is also definitely having the Februaries, and the “being twelves” at the same time. 😡

[OH_Homeschooler]

I set up a true home office for days when I have to work from home...which is very often as my youngest daughter has had two stomach viruses AND tested positive for Influenza B this February, hence needing to stay home from school.

And my oldest daughter also caught Influenza B (we assume, she was tested for strep and it was negative so Influenza B is the most likely explanation for her days-long fever. No point testing her for Influenza B).

We didn't all get the flu shot this year, but it doesn't seem to matter much. The oldest DD didn't get the shot but youngest DD did. Those of us who have stayed well have a similar mix. Flu shot seems hardly better than chance this year. 

[Laurel-in-CA]

Involuntary major change here....dh was let go from his job of over 9 years. He and I are switching back and forth between computers as he job hunts and I try to keep up with other things. But a blessing to go with the challenge. Unexpectedly got in touch with an old work friend....just to check in because this was *before* dh go his news....and he has hired me to do freelance writing for him on his projects -- at a very generous rate. This helps alleviate the anxiety I feel when talking to health care insurance people and looking at the huge deductibles (I'm insulin-dependent diabetic, so lots of costs out of pocket) and figuring out what to do about our 20-somethings who were on our insurance. We're hoping to stick it out here until May and maybe dh can find a job locally. Once my youngest finishes her DE class at the community college we're going to consider selling the house, but hopefully by then dh's possibilities will be clearer.

Oh, and our area just logged its first coronavirus case, so there's that. Another reason to stay safely at home, LOL.

Prayers appreciated.

[theelfqueen]

I gave in.

I let myself read Gatto and Holt (oh no, what have I done!)  and DS had two-three weeks of lightened load and lots of free reading (which for him includes things like Michio Kaku. So not a total waste)  and tinkering with his computer/electronics projects, which has been a good match for a demanding robotics build season... and we started a new weekly volunteer job. I think we have a new plan for the rest of the semester in place. Should be good.