We have started back to “school” this week and it has proved really interesting and challenging as a week to do this.
- In my life this week… Sam (almost 15 year old lab) collapsed on the floor on Sunday night and didn’t move for half an hour. I was pretty sure this wasn’t a good omen for the week, but she finally got herself up, and we got her moving again. Some medication adjustments, and she’s still with us. I? Have some new grey hairs. P is traveling this week, so I’ve been flying solo. This has been an interesting week to do this (P left the number for a vet who does house calls in the event that Sam didn’t bounce back, so yeah) with most of the kids’ activities starting back up, too. Wheee!
- In our homeschool this week… we debuted the new and improved homeschool plan. Ben still fights a bit, but not as much as before and he’s really happy with some of the things that we’ve been doing. We’ve adopted a more Reggio/Waldorf/classical kind of outlook (yes, I know so opposed, and yet so right for our house). We ran the first trial of Ben’s science fair project experiment. He was a little surprised by the results, but still thinks he’s proving his hypothesis. We’ll see what further trials tell us. We’ve picked back up with some of our regular school stuff and continue plugging along in Life of Fred: Farming. Ben constantly shocks himself by what he knows and what he doesn’t realize he knows. I think this is a good thing.
- Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share… Run, do not walk, to amazon and pick up a copy of Lori Pickert’s Project-Based Homeschooling (available in paper and in Kindle format). It will really help you help your kids take ownership of their learning.
- I am inspired by… Liz at Goddess in Progress. She picked up a really cool cross stitch project for 2013, and now I am doing it, too. Big surprise. Over the last year-ish, every quilt book I’ve purchased has been at her influence.
- Places we’re going and people we’re seeing… It’s a busy week here in adjunctmom-land. We’ve seen Nana and Gramps and Grandma for visits (to make up for the plague-prevented Christmas). Ben had zoo school on Monday where he learned about the Florida black bear. We went to dance classes for both kids at Judy’s Dance Academy (if you live in my area and are reading this — best, most supportive dance school I have ever been in). We went to “The Gathering” at Holy Innocents’ on Wednesday evening. The kids get to hang out with their friends and I get to talk to people who speak and read above a second grade level. Woohooo!
- My favorite thing this week was…laughing with Arlene and Audrey during “The Gathering.” The are both such infectious spirits (in the good way) and I really enjoyed getting to spend some time with them.
- What’s working/not working for us…
- Questions/thoughts I have…
- Things I’m working on…
- I’m reading…
- I’m cooking…
- I’m grateful for…
- I’m praying for…
- A photo, video, link, or quote to share…
Working: Our modified school plan really seems to work for us. We get more done with less fuss and we’re all a bit more relaxed and calmer. For Katie? Reading Raven. No question. She is READING because of this app. Not Working: the level of disorganization still rampant in the house. I threw out three full bags of trash, two full recycling bins, and a full bin of yard waste and I feel like I haven’t made any progress whatsoever.
Strong-willed children? How does one keep ones sanity while trying not to kill their spirits and yet have them at least respect that you have rights too?
Figuring out my 2013 project life plan of attack. I loved doing this last year and I want to do it again, but I want to do it differently. Stay tuned. There will be a report on what I’ve decided . . . soon.
Mind Organization for Moms by April Perry. You can find out more about it here: Power of Moms. I know I need help and this seems to be what I need.
Bake Your Day’s Cinnamon Roll Granola. I add more coconut and I don’t make the drizzle for it, but I adore it and it works so well in yogurt. Yum.
Perspective. I realize that we are blessed to be in the positions that we’re in and that we should be so very grateful for the opportunities that we’ve been given. I’m grateful that both kids are feeling better, and that Sam is hanging in there. I’m also grateful for my gratitude journal which I have restarted. Go me.
My extended family as they go through the difficult passages with my beloved uncle. P and I have been down this road with his father and it is so hard. My heart bleeds for all of them.
I think everyone can benefit from checking out Lori Pickert: Project-Based Homeschooling: Camp Creek Blog.
You can read about what’s happening in other homeschools this week by visiting: Homeschool Mother’s Journal Link-Up
Adjunctmom's Blog 
thank you so much for your kind words about PBH! made my day. 🙂
re: strong-willed children, that’s my first son. i don’t know WHERE he got it from. (yes i do.) i wrote a bit about it here: http://project-based-homeschooling.com/camp-creek-blog/projects-and-intractable-child
he is 16 now and still very strong-willed and i have seen how it makes him *strong* around his friends, his peers, and people who would like to sway him with their opinions. i am so proud of him. and, yes, glad (now) (ha) that he is so strong-willed. 🙂