tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28047874.post5662049248016336928..comments2023-10-23T13:19:56.830-04:00Comments on Little Blue School: Anyone Else Feeling a Bit Tired?Lydia Netzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11448861273955788158noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28047874.post-33336357938955670352008-10-22T17:34:00.000-04:002008-10-22T17:34:00.000-04:00Okay, so that last comment did not inspire me. I'm...Okay, so that last comment did not inspire me. I'm in a similar boat -- eight-year old, four-year old, and six-year old in the middle, and suddenly homeschooling takes all day. I'm considering housekeeping help (assuming DH makes it through the layoffs on Friday). And I'll be easing up for NaNoWriMo. And I'm hoping that my MIL will take the boys on lots of Fridays, like she did last year. But let us know if you find the answer!Alisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04484831369587940762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28047874.post-82611587293158279982008-09-29T12:06:00.000-04:002008-09-29T12:06:00.000-04:00Please consider this your friendly kick in the hea...Please consider this your friendly kick in the head. :-)<BR/><BR/>This only gets worse, love, as they get older. Sometimes I feel that I am stretched so thin with everyone's social, academic, emotional, nutritional, and misc. needs that I am going to RIP INTO A THOUSAND PIECES. This is, apparently, quite normal.<BR/><BR/>May I suggest a regular moms-night-out or date night with your husband? I go crazy without those two things. CRAZY, I tell you. If you ever see me wandering around in my night gown with a bottle of Vodka, it's because I missed date night.<BR/><BR/>I also highly recommend random vacation weeks. While unschooling may not be your "thing," taking a week off, for no reason other than that you need it, could be fun for everyone. Drive to DC and go to museums. Go camping. Let the kids play with dirty socks while you read a good book.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28047874.post-56163445525479389852008-09-26T17:42:00.000-04:002008-09-26T17:42:00.000-04:00Whenever I read your blog I always marvel at all y...Whenever I read your blog I always marvel at all you do. You seem to be a high achiever with equally bright children. Maybe the hardest thing for you to do is - relax? :)<BR/><BR/>I totally hear what you are saying though. I hit a wall from time to time, and I tackle the exhausting times two different ways. One: I get busier. It sounds crazy to take on another task when overwhelmed, but sometimes a short-term goal that is unrelated to the things stressing me out, revs me up again - like an adrenaline rush snapping me back into perspective. Or...<BR/><BR/>Two: Cyclical homeschooling. I 'get' unschooling and see how it works, but personally I don't like to unschool all the time. (All based on my personality here, not philosophy. I like some control and structure.) There are benefits to both ways of educating. So I embrace both. I typically do an eclectic structured curriculum, BUT reserve the right to switch to unschooling when life dictates. <BR/><BR/>Since I set yearly, monthly, even weekly goals - I can keep an eye on whether or not we are 'on track'. Certain activities are best experienced through unschooling and self discovery, others through structure, coaching, etc. This way they get the perks from both methods, and so do I.<BR/><BR/>Oh, I forgot one other thing... sometimes it all just feels better after consecutive nights of good sleep! :) Okay, done taking over your blog now.candynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12904539285373868227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28047874.post-20238184960610989422008-09-26T10:21:00.000-04:002008-09-26T10:21:00.000-04:00Tracy, thanks. I think I'm coming to an understand...Tracy, thanks. I think I'm coming to an understanding that this is just a bigger adjustment than I thought it would be, and I need to think about it more. <BR/><BR/>Tasha, I will definitely look into this program. It certainly sounds valuable and interesting. I also appreciate your kind words -- and you're right -- the upside is that I get to spend time with my kids, which is a glorious luxury, most of the time. Like 95% of the time. Hehehe.Lydia Netzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11448861273955788158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28047874.post-81627166838813817822008-09-26T09:21:00.000-04:002008-09-26T09:21:00.000-04:00I forgot to mention. My son just turned four, he a...I forgot to mention. My son just turned four, he also loves trains and my DD is now 13. One keeps me up and the other wakes me up. I'm grateful for being able to be with both of them while I can.Tashahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13988698300681619282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28047874.post-44385025341038613602008-09-26T09:19:00.000-04:002008-09-26T09:19:00.000-04:00I have the link for "Connect the Thoughts" www.con...I have the link for "Connect the Thoughts" www.connectthethoughts.net and for "1st Step" courses http://www.my1ststep.com/home.php<BR/>I am not affiliated with the program, just fond of the way he supports homeschooling in a way that truly supports the child learning and thinking on their own. I thought I had posted earlier, but I was a little bleary eyed from sleep issues. It may seem strange to tell you about these programs. I read some of your blog and I was really impressed. I liked your line of thinking and I thought that you might appreciate knowing about this program now. I wish I had paid better attention and checked it out years ago. If I had I'm sure my DD would be more autonomous now and would already have the thinking tools to pursue whatever she wants. <BR/><BR/>There is also a yahoo group for us. The author asked which programs we would like to see on sale and he did it.<BR/><BR/>In his open letter to parents, his fifth reason for creating the curriculum is this quote "The world's a mess. It's the mess our children will inherit. I want them as prepared as possible. I want them to do far more than survive the mess we will leave them...I want them able to fix it." <BR/>Steven Horwich<BR/>Connect The Thoughts™<BR/>1st Step™<BR/><BR/>That is a powerful thought. I love the idea of unschooling too, but I would certainly read a bit about this. I wish I had done it sooner. I know you are tired, overworked and under appreciated, but you are doing a great thing for people you know, for people you don't know and the consequences of your willingness to try could be an incredible gift to our world. Thanks for sharing your true feelings.Tashahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13988698300681619282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28047874.post-17592177543448967632008-09-26T00:30:00.000-04:002008-09-26T00:30:00.000-04:00You ain't just whistlin' dixie, sister.It does get...You ain't just whistlin' dixie, sister.<BR/><BR/>It does get easier.<BR/><BR/>Unschooling can be fun and easy.<BR/><BR/>Kids do wind up able to work on their own, even kids with challenges.<BR/><BR/>And my mom's famous last words are "this too, shall pass."<BR/><BR/>I am trying to remember that as my marriage falls apart. You can do this. It will get better. This too shall pass. <BR/><BR/>Remember potty training and how that seemed awful? And before that, getting them to sleep through the night?<BR/><BR/>Yeah, I remember too. This too shall pass.Peanutga11ery1https://www.blogger.com/profile/14657440520690866531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28047874.post-28123116429040028772008-09-25T19:19:00.000-04:002008-09-25T19:19:00.000-04:00Anonymous #1: Yes, I knew I got it from somewhere....Anonymous #1: Yes, I knew I got it from somewhere. ;D<BR/><BR/>Anonymous #2: Wow, thanks for your supportive words. The link you provided did not work, and the news sources you cite are propaganda drips. <BR/><BR/>Anonymous #3: Maybe I will try that for a while! :) That sounds like a good solution actually.Lydia Netzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11448861273955788158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28047874.post-20688264787693582622008-09-25T18:47:00.000-04:002008-09-25T18:47:00.000-04:00From a relatively new "unschooler" - it sounds to ...From a relatively new "unschooler" - it sounds to me like you should follow your kids lead. Your daughter seems to love the lessons, so do them with her. Your son seems to have lots of other stuff on his mind, so let him follow whatever that may be and just be there to encourage and gather resources when needed. Kids learn differently, which seems very obvious in your case and one of the wonderful things about homeschooling is that we can let them learn in their own way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28047874.post-13596584459754118922008-09-25T17:51:00.000-04:002008-09-25T17:51:00.000-04:00Do you realize that the one you support, Obama, is...Do you realize that the one you support, Obama, is against a parent's right to homeschool?<BR/>www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrclD=32368 found on www.afa.netAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28047874.post-50271149377946112062008-09-25T13:57:00.000-04:002008-09-25T13:57:00.000-04:00You're starting to echo my life motto which is, "O...You're starting to echo my life motto which is, "Often desperate, never bored." ;DAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com