Jump to content

Menu

Do you ever wish one of these seasoned homeschoolers....


stephanie
 Share

Recommended Posts

could just come over your house for about a week just to watch you do your school thing? This is our 5th year of hs'ing, but I still doubt myself. Well, I don't really doubt myself, but that I am giving what they need academically. We spend 4-5 hours per day schooling, and I feel like we cover everything, but sometimes it seems to flow too smoothly? I know that sounds crazy complaining about that, but we do school for 4 kids in that amount of time. We also combine history, science, latin, geography, music and art so that cuts down on time. I guess I just equate thorough academics with a long day! I just sometimes wish I could have someone watch me and say, "Yeah, that's just what I do," or "You are really messing up!" Kwim?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I started homeschooling Andrew in 1st grade. He's a senior now, and I *still* think that I'm doing it all wrong sometimes.

 

There are days when the kids do great and all goes smoothly and I think "ack! clearly I'm not doing enough! This should take more effort on their part!!" Other days I pat them (and me) on the back and say "Good job! Let's watch a movie!"

 

I remember working so hard on schoolwork that my brain hurt -- not a headache; my brain felt like it was bleeding. But honestly? Those days were few and far between. The classes that came easily to me were always a breeze; math was something to be endured. Most of my angst was memory work: trying to memorize bits of info in order to pass a test. Everything else was a matter of taking notes or discussing a topic or simply being interested.

 

Relax. You're doing fine. You're a good mom. :grouphug:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I started homeschooling Andrew in 1st grade. He's a senior now, and I *still* think that I'm doing it all wrong sometimes.

 

There are days when the kids do great and all goes smoothly and I think "ack! clearly I'm not doing enough! This should take more effort on their part!!" Other days I pat them (and me) on the back and say "Good job! Let's watch a movie!"

 

I remember working so hard on schoolwork that my brain hurt -- not a headache; my brain felt like it was bleeding. But honestly? Those days were few and far between. The classes that came easily to me were always a breeze; math was something to be endured. Most of my angst was memory work: trying to memorize bits of info in order to pass a test. Everything else was a matter of taking notes or discussing a topic or simply being interested.

 

Relax. You're doing fine. You're a good mom. :grouphug:

 

12 years, Mrs. O!!! YOU are the one who I need to come over...come on...pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease! We can even have a girls night out. We can go eat and go to The Homeschool store, and then go for a snack after that!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 years, Mrs. O!!! YOU are the one who I need to come over...come on...pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease! We can even have a girls night out. We can go eat and go to The Homeschool store, and then go for a snack after that!

 

Mrs. B, if Texas weren't so dang far from Jersey, I'd be there!!! :auto:

 

Funny, I live closer to your Mr. B than you do! :lol:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Actually, YES!!!! I am jealous!! I'd love to have George & Laura as neighbors!! From what I understand, Laura just loves barbeque. :D

 

Last year me, dh and my fil were out to eat at Morton's Steak House in Houston and in walks George and Barb Bush with the rest of the family! Of course Little George and Laura weren't with them, but we went over to their table to talk to them and encourage them. They were as sweet as could be and George's brother was asking me all kinds of questions about my family. They were just like any other family I would be around. We were even able to give them some Shields of Strength that our family makes. It was neat!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Last year me, dh and my fil were out to eat at Morton's Steak House in Houston and in walks George and Barb Bush with the rest of the family! Of course Little George and Laura weren't with them, but we went over to their table to talk to them and encourage them. They were as sweet as could be and George's brother was asking me all kinds of questions about my family. They were just like any other family I would be around. We were even able to give them some Shields of Strength that our family makes. It was neat!

 

I am downright GREEN with envy!!! I just love them! He's such a sweet, gentle man, and she is a riot!

 

What are these Shields of Strength of which you speak?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am downright GREEN with envy!!! I just love them! He's such a sweet, gentle man, and she is a riot!

 

What are these Shields of Strength of which you speak?

 

They are inspirational dog tags started way before all these tags became popular by my bil. They have now been distributed all over the world and mostly to our troops. Pres. Bush even talked about them in a conference. They have opened doors for our family to spread the Gospel. My dh and bil have spoken at the Pentagon and been invited to speak with many troops. I can send you some if you'd like. You can also go to Athletes for Christ and read up on their beginning. My bil has written a book called Trials to Trophies...it's awesome!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 years, Mrs. O!!! YOU are the one who I need to come over...come on...pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease! We can even have a girls night out. We can go eat and go to The Homeschool store, and then go for a snack after that!

 

You can stop on the way and pick me up. I need a girls night! :auto:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

They are inspirational dog tags started way before all these tags became popular by my bil. They have now been distributed all over the world and mostly to our troops. Pres. Bush even talked about them in a conference. They have opened doors for our family to spread the Gospel. My dh and bil have spoken at the Pentagon and been invited to speak with many troops. I can send you some if you'd like. You can also go to Athletes for Christ and read up on their beginning. My bil has written a book called Trials to Trophies...it's awesome!

 

Oh I would love some!!! I found the website, and I think they're fantastic. What a great thing to do!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Steph,

 

Hmmmm.... not sure if I want to butt in here to address your original question, since this post seems to be heading in the direction of "We really just need face time with each other in order to scratch those itches." :001_smile:

 

But to address your original question, "Yes!" I often wish that someone who knew what they were doing could come over to my house and offer up some advice. Sometimes this project seems so manageable; then I start to wonder, "Hmmmmm..... there MUST be something wrong here. This is too easy." And then there are those days where I KNOW that we are striking out; I "Hmmmm..." quite a bit on those days too. Let's not dwell there, eh? :001_smile:

 

My desire to obtain the approval of some "expert" never seems to go away. It fades in and out depending on my mood and my self-confidence.

 

But then I've rejected the opinions of most of the "experts" in my life in order to even attempt this. So THAT term "expert" has to be defined too. :001_smile:

 

So I guess that's why I continue to hang out here so much. Among the many - is enrollment up in the *gasp* THOUSANDS - among the many, many voices on these boards, I have found voices that I resonate with - people that I trust. Do I wish that those gals could sit in a corner of my home for a week and offer me a leg up? OH MY! YES!!! YES!!!! YES!!!!! But alas, they can not. They can only offer me guidance via the net. And unfortunately they can only offer advice based on MY assessment - not theirs. I really wish that it wasn't so. Because they can only see MY world through MY eyes.

 

So that's what I LONG for - a set of trusted eyes other than my own.

It doesn't exist for me.

But I long for it. :001_smile:

AND I long for them to affirm me in EVERY way! :lol::lol:

Oh well.... definitely wouldn't happen .... but as long as we're blue skyin', one can wish. :001_smile:

 

I hope you find your answers - your plateau of peace!

Janice

 

Enjoy your little people

Enjoy your journey

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You married the oldest right? What a resource to have!

 

Yup! MIL pulled dh and BIL out of school during junior high and has been homeschooling ever since. The youngest four are still at home, ages 6-almost 16. Too bad they always take a break when we come to visit...

Edited by Lisa in the UP of MI
Link to comment
Share on other sites

could just come over your house for about a week just to watch you do your school thing?

 

ummmm,

 

NO

 

Good grief, NO!

 

The one thing I have learned, is that homeschooling is very individualized.

 

I've also learned that as long as I've been doing this, I could go to bed every night and find something that I did wrong or could have done better that day.

 

My nerves just wouldn't be able to handle another homeschooler coming in to give me their two cents. (Other people, non-homeschoolers, I could "brush-off". . .)

 

Now, I love to be able to chat to other homeschoolers, either on-line or in person, and get their view-points. I appreciate a sounding board to think things through, and to get various experiences shared. I especially love the variety of thought amongst "our" community.

 

And don't diss the "newbies"! They bring a "freshness" and "creative thought" that sometimes "old-timers" lack.

 

Oh, and one other thing. Were I to bring another homeschooler into my home for a week, I'd feel the need to clean / and be on my best behavior ALL. THE. TIME. There is no-way one could come into your home and have an honest feel for "normal" (at least not mine).

 

--------posted without reading the other replies first (sheepish grin)-------

Edited by Christine
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Steph,

 

Hmmmm.... not sure if I want to butt in here to address your original question, since this post seems to be heading in the direction of "We really just need face time with each other in order to scratch those itches." :001_smile:

 

But to address your original question, "Yes!" I often wish that someone who knew what they were doing could come over to my house and offer up some advice. Sometimes this project seems so manageable; then I start to wonder, "Hmmmmm..... there MUST be something wrong here. This is too easy." And then there are those days where I KNOW that we are striking out; I "Hmmmm..." quite a bit on those days too. Let's not dwell there, eh? :001_smile:

 

My desire to obtain the approval of some "expert" never seems to go away. It fades in and out depending on my mood and my self-confidence.

 

But then I've rejected the opinions of most of the "experts" in my life in order to even attempt this. So THAT term "expert" has to be defined too. :001_smile:

 

So I guess that's why I continue to hang out here so much. Among the many - is enrollment up in the *gasp* THOUSANDS - among the many, many voices on these boards, I have found voices that I resonate with - people that I trust. Do I wish that those gals could sit in a corner of my home for a week and offer me a leg up? OH MY! YES!!! YES!!!! YES!!!!! But alas, they can not. They can only offer me guidance via the net. And unfortunately they can only offer advice based on MY assessment - not theirs. I really wish that it wasn't so. Because they can only see MY world through MY eyes.

 

So that's what I LONG for - a set of trusted eyes other than my own.

It doesn't exist for me.

But I long for it. :001_smile:

AND I long for them to affirm me in EVERY way! :lol::lol:

Oh well.... definitely wouldn't happen .... but as long as we're blue skyin', one can wish. :001_smile:

 

I hope you find your answers - your plateau of peace!

Janice

 

Enjoy your little people

Enjoy your journey

 

Nicely said, Janice!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think that if you are worried about whether your children are getting enough, refer to "Home Learning Year by Year" by Rebecca Rupp. I use that as a reference when I get those feelings of "Am I doing enough?" or "How do my kids compare to others kids their ages?" I know we shouldn't compare, but deep down inside, I always want to know how they rate compared to others kids.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Steph,

 

Hmmmm.... not sure if I want to butt in here to address your original question, since this post seems to be heading in the direction of "We really just need face time with each other in order to scratch those itches." :001_smile:

 

But to address your original question, "Yes!" I often wish that someone who knew what they were doing could come over to my house and offer up some advice. Sometimes this project seems so manageable; then I start to wonder, "Hmmmmm..... there MUST be something wrong here. This is too easy." And then there are those days where I KNOW that we are striking out; I "Hmmmm..." quite a bit on those days too. Let's not dwell there, eh? :001_smile:

 

My desire to obtain the approval of some "expert" never seems to go away. It fades in and out depending on my mood and my self-confidence.

 

But then I've rejected the opinions of most of the "experts" in my life in order to even attempt this. So THAT term "expert" has to be defined too. :001_smile:

 

So I guess that's why I continue to hang out here so much. Among the many - is enrollment up in the *gasp* THOUSANDS - among the many, many voices on these boards, I have found voices that I resonate with - people that I trust. Do I wish that those gals could sit in a corner of my home for a week and offer me a leg up? OH MY! YES!!! YES!!!! YES!!!!! But alas, they can not. They can only offer me guidance via the net. And unfortunately they can only offer advice based on MY assessment - not theirs. I really wish that it wasn't so. Because they can only see MY world through MY eyes.

 

So that's what I LONG for - a set of trusted eyes other than my own.

It doesn't exist for me.

But I long for it. :001_smile:

AND I long for them to affirm me in EVERY way! :lol::lol:

Oh well.... definitely wouldn't happen .... but as long as we're blue skyin', one can wish. :001_smile:

 

I hope you find your answers - your plateau of peace!

Janice

 

Enjoy your little people

Enjoy your journey

 

Thank you, Janice, as always. Where is your blog??

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...