In my life this week… Life has been such a whirlwind! We’ve had all sorts of celebrations in our family and church. Therapeutic riding ended for the year, and school work is in full swing. Harvest season would be in full swing, too, if we had time for it. And Miss 10 got glasses, so now we all have them.
In our homeschool this week… We started and it was so engrossing for Miss 12 that she wanted to keep on going and going. Eventually I had to forbid any more school work for fear that she would wear herself out. The other children also have really enjoyed it, so far.
Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share… As Charlotte Mason says, it’s important to lay out a feast of ideas for your children.
Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…
Church family, friends, church picnic, birthday celebrations, bridal shower, optometrist, doctor, dentist, beach, as well as the usual.
Some of my favorite things these weeks were…
- Starting school
- Warm weather in September
- All the outings and celebrations
Questions/thoughts I have… Even after only two weeks I’ve forgotten so much of what we’ve been doing! Keeping a weekly journal is not only for relatives to read; it’s also for us to remember. Journal-keeping has also become a weekly assignment for the kids and they, too, often forget what has happened in the past week even though I only ask them to write about three different things.
It promises to be a very busy and intense school year. Sometimes it seems impossible to manage the work, especially now that it’s harvest season, but when I get overwhelmed by the amount of work I need to do, I force myself to waste some time. It’s a great stress reliever and it seems to put everything else in perspective. Counter-intuitive, maybe, but it works for me.
Among the top ingredients of a harmonious home and homeschool are cheerfulness and consideration. That’s why everyone needs to sleep enough.
Things I’ve been working on…
- Organizing for school
- Starting school
- Keeping up with the garden
We’re watching… Mr. 17 is enjoying the British series Yes Minister, with my husband’s approval. I’ve never seen it and want to watch it with him, but Miss 14 has found another Dickens she begged to watch: Our Mutual Friend. Since there’s only one of me, I had to make a choice, but that’s it for Dickens this year! The Little Misses watched Hill of Fire about a volcano that came up in a farmer’s field and found it boring, but I liked it. And everyone loved and enjoyed The Sound of Music.
I’m reading… Leviticus. I finished The Empty House by Pilcher and 10 Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child by Anthony Esolen, and have begun Omnibus 2 and 4. Even if I can’t keep up with all the readings my children do, I do read all the essays and discussions in the Omnibus books themselves. I’m also reading Roger Lancelyn Green’s Tales of Ancient Egypt as well as Ancient Mesopotamia along with Miss 12. There are so many idols in the Old Testament times, and it is good to know some of the stories about them…but not too many.
With the kids, we are reading Genesis. We are also enjoying The Home Ranch. When Mr. 17 is off at his before-school babysitting job, the girls and I read Famous Men of Greece from Greenleaf Press.
When my husband is home for meals, we’re reading Lamentations.
I’m grateful for … Sleep.
Quote to share… From under a blanket on the couch, Miss 12 chortled to her little sister, “My math is so much more fun than your math!”
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This post is linked to The Homeschool Mother’s Journal and to Weekly Wrap Up at Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers.
Sounds like you’ve had a great busy two weeks. Glad things are going so well for you and the kids with schooling, that is always a blessing.