Little Changes

Other than the illness at the beginning of the year, this year hasn't been too bad overall.  I keep making little tweaks to the day but the main thing I have done is relax.  I have given myself permission to let go of some things, I have realized that I can't be or do everything and I have to be okay with that.  And I am.  Yes, sometimes I look around the house and think, "OMG this house is a wreck and I must get it cleaned right NOW!!"  Then I look at the kids and they are happily playing or happily involved in a project and I decide, "Nope, this time with them is more important" and I let it go.  I have also let go of trying to win the "Best homeschooling Mom in the world" award.  I don't even know who awards it.  But to my kids I am already the best mom and they tell me that every night now.  But even hearing that isn't what is keeping me motivated - it is the joy that I am seeing in the kids when they are learning.  There is no more fighting about doing school, there is no more complaining about doing schoolwork.

Today, we finished up our thank you notes.  It took us about an hour but that entire time no one complained, no one screamed; I didn't have to beg or threaten or take anything away.  They all practiced their handwriting, Cairn learned some new punctuation rules, Skylar learned to spell some new words by sounding them out and Andrew learned why we write thank you notes.

Tonight, Cairn had to complete her 3 math lessons for the day (long story for why she has to do 3) but she did it without complaining and she totally got it.  She wasn't resistant and when Dad gave her a couple helpful hints she didn't fight him.  I so remember fighting with my Dad when he was trying to teach me math - Sorry Dad!!  But it was so wonderful to see Cairn not fight with her Dad about math.

We finished reading Robin Hood today so I need to go find another book to read but in the meantime we still have our Bible story book to read.

This afternoon, we went to a curriculum swap with our homeschool group.  I didn't take anything because I didn't see anyone with young kids going and that's all I have to pass along right now.  I save everything that Cairn uses for the younger ones.  We did pick up some free books and a game while we were there.  It was just nice to sit and talk with our friends.  But it was also a reminder that we all homeschool differently and what works for one family won't work for another.  Yes, I aspire to be like my friend Liese and go out everyday to some wonderful learning opportunity but my kids would go insane.  They like to go out sometimes but they also need their down time - some more then others.  That's okay.  What we are doing works for us.