You have to go read this thread...

[PeterPan]

 

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90004 discussing the spring, have I failed my kid, funk. Go read it now! It's very encouraging! :)

[Alana in Canada]

Really?

I started reading it this morning and got epressed! I guess the tone picked up through out the day. :001_smile:

[PeterPan]

Well the first post so fully caught what I've been feeling the last couple days, that's what I was identifying with. Does no one else feel the spring funk? I've just been feeling really stressed the last couple days with thoughts of history, lit, writing, am I messing things up. It was just nice to hear somebody else say the same thing! And after I took her advice and started pondering all the things we HAVE accomplished this year, in spite of a new baby or in addition to the new addition, I felt MUCH better! Dd has:

 

-turned into a lady

-is someone people find interesting and want to be with

-finished a math book and started another

-finished a science book

-zoomed through a reading book and read things I didn't anticipate (much above level)

-done some book reports

-willingly done her work (hurray!)

-learned a ton about how to care for a baby

-shown love for her new sibling and gotten over any tendency to rivalry (may it stay that way)

 

So we have accomplished more in the realm of what is important, even if I've been feeling like an utter flop and overwhelmed lately. That's what I took from the thread and why I recommended it. Sorry if I was over-exuberant. :)

[shanvan]

a couple of years ago that I began keeping a list of what was accomplished daily, every day for quite some time. During that time I kept zero 'to do' lists (so as not to feel pressure). I was amazed at what was getting done. I had been feeling bad because I couldn't complete a ridiculous amount of tasks that no human could ever complete! It made me feel so much better.

 

But, wonder of wonders...I forgot about this technique. Yes, I feel the the 'spring funk'. Think I'll start an 'accomplishment' list!

 

Thanks for reminding me!

 

Shannon

[HappyGrace]

In the spring funk, I mean. I'm not feeling too bad, just feeling like there is never enough time to do all that needs to be done school-wise: our days are full and I'm thinking, "Agghhh, how can I fit in typing practice-she really needs to learn to type! And write to that missionary for AWANA, etc., etc." And feeling like I have gaps and feeling like things have degraded into just teaching "subjects" rather than nice meaty studies that blend together, etc. And then already wondering how to improve on it for next year. And all that without a new baby in the house like you have!

 

I'm going to sit down and write out our growth areas over this past year, because we've had a great year and I think I just need to meditate on how far we've come.

 

Anyway, thanks for the encouraging thread-it was great!

[PeterPan]

You're onto something Shannon with those to-do lists... They've definitely been pushing me over the top lately. Hadn't thought about just not making 'em, haha

 

Happy, you're right that it's thinking about next year that dissettles our thoughts of the present (am I doing enough, etc.) And coming to the end of some of the curricula series, that's shaking me up. It was so easy when we could just do the next thing (next book of math, next book of grammar), but this coming year looks like it will be the last of that, ack! Then I have to start all over with new choices!

 

And btw, remember how we talked about LL7? I'm looking at the BJU lit 7, which means LL7 wouldn't be so far-fetched. I'm liking parts of what I see in the BJU lit 7, but I'm going back and forth on it. It has plenty of writing, the christian perspective, an easier set-up for discussion (talking points rather than scripted dialogue), but it covers a LOT of works. I don't know if that's a good thing or bad. I think I could use it as a springboard, buying the complete work for her to read where they use a selection, that sort of thing, but I don't know if that could backfire on me. I've also been wondering about the audience. It seems like school stuff is written for haters, people who don't want to be there and are checking off time. What do you do when you DON'T have a hater but rather someone who WANTS to read?? There's a LOT of writing in the BJU lit 7, and they actually consider it enough for the complete LA for the semester, at least from what someone told me. So they alternate their english/grammar book one semester with lit the other. Or you do both half pace. Or maybe I'm misunderstanding it?? That was 2nd hand information. So anyways, I just thought it was funny that after me telling you LL7 was way to old for our girls, now I see it totally differently, haha. She's had a growth spurt, and I can just see it coming.

[Rhondabee]

Well the first post so fully caught what I've been feeling the last couple days, that's what I was identifying with. Does no one else feel the spring funk? :)

 

Yep, I realized when I read Nan's comment:

 

"The end of each academic year is always a time of facing broken dreams..."

 

that's it! That's what this vague "blah" is - the broken dreams of working so hard to make plans that will be "the perfect fit" my dc and my hopes for them, only to tweak them into oblivion. And, then panic hits as I realize it's too late - we can't go back and re-do it all now - LOL! And, even though I also realize that we did the best we could, and we did learn a lot, there is still that feeling of loss.

 

I think just acknowledging that my daily winter reality often doesn't jibe with my summer plans of a perfect life, and that's ok, helps. Knowing that I'm not alone in that is priceless!

 

(ps - you know, my favorite part of WTM is *still* the part where it says "the house will get messy". Everyday I look around and think, "Yep...it sure will!")

[PeterPan]

Rhonda, I missed that line in WTM! Thanks for the encouraging words! You expressed it exactly, when I didn't know why I was feeling what I was feeling. :)

[shanvan]

And btw, remember how we talked about LL7? I'm looking at the BJU lit 7, which means LL7 wouldn't be so far-fetched. I'm liking parts of what I see in the BJU lit 7, but I'm going back and forth on it.

 

I sent you a pm about LL7 & BJU Lit 7. I used both with my 10 year old DS this year. He is advanced in this area, but even with a child who is more or less on grade level I think most would be able to adapt LL7 to fit. I don't think the same could be said for BJU Lit 7.

 

Shannon