Journal ~ Textbooks and Lots of Praise!!!

Hello Sisters!

I have to confess, I've been getting the lazies about blogging. In the last few weeks I've had 2 big changes, so I have a valid excuse.

With 6 children things can sometimes be a little crazy around here, to say the least, so sticking to my Managers of Their Home schedule is vital to accomplishing anything. My older 2 children have been asking me for their "own" books and schedule because they do not want to do "school" with the youngers anymore. I don't blame them. Between dirty diapers, child training, spilled juice, and dog poop on shoes, they were really wasting a lot of time just "waiting" for Mom.

Since I so much enjoyed Teri's book MOTH and Homeschooling with a Meek and Quiet Spirit, I thought I'd give her book MOTHomeschool a try. Well, her experience with unit studies and other methods of hsing sounds just like mine. Her family finally gave it up at went to text books, and like I said I am a die-hard eclectic hsing fan, but I have in the last 2 weeks switched the older 3 to texts and guess what??? THEY LOVE IT!!!!! They love doing things on their own without having to wait for Mom and they actually press themselves to dig deeper into their studies because they "want to."

The younger 2 (8 yog and 5 yob) have their little "learning bags" with their MUS (math-u-see) book, and a blank notebook where we practice handwriting, and they also keep their other reading books in there that we read during afternoon snuggle/book time. The 1 yog just comes along for the ride! :)

Another big change came about when I read something (now I can't remember where I read it), but anyway it was talking about children's behavior. It said if you are having dificulty with a child, DON'T FOCUS ON HIS ATTITUDE OR BEHAVIOR, FOCUS IN STEAD ON YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. Bad behavior has been meet by me with snuggles, kisses, smiles, words of encouragement and praise. I HAVE SEEN SUCH A BEAUTIFUL BLOOMING IN MY CHILDREN, ALL OF THEM, just in the last few weeks, that I don't want to go back to my old self. My 5 yob can blurt out to his 14 yob, "you never play with me, I hate you." Instead of me getting upset with him, I'm looking at why he said that. Hmmm, he is right, they need a structured time to play daily, not just "when we have time." And, it would help if I'd cut them some apples and maybe make a nice sandwhich and tell them to have a picinic....I've been doing this by the way, and my 5 yob will AUTOMATICALLY CORRECT HIMSELF (not every time yet) but most of the time he will.

I try to offer praise and encouragement MUCH, MUCH more than I did. I compliment them when I can and when correction is needed, we talk about it and by talking about it 9.9 times out of 10, they self-correct themselves. To me, it is like my relationship with Jesus. He shows me where I am missing it, and because He is so gentle and encouraging, I usually (9.9 times out of 10 ) self-correct myself. Just by SPENDING TIME with my Father I can self-correct. He is showing me how my children look to me (and how I respond to them) as a picture of how I look to Him and how He responds to me. Pretty awesome huh? We have an awesome Father!!! It's all about Him!!!!

Blessings,
Shannon

Journal ~ Organizing......with a little fun in between!

Wedding we attended a few weeks ago



Hello Sisters!

It has been about a month since I've been here! I've been trying to organize my life a little better, in many different ways.

I'm working on a new Managers of Their Homes schedule which incorporates the older 2 children (16 yog and 14 yob) learning on their own. For the last few years they have asked for a "set guide line" as far as schooling goes, but I'm a stubborn die hard eclectic hs mom (which means I unschool to unit studies...BUT NOT TEXT BOOKS!) Well, they pretty much said, "stop it Mom, give us text books, we don't want to work the younger ones any more."

After not being able to find any text books that let the imagination grow, I re-discovered Oak Meadow curriculum and have ordered science and history for them. I have about 2,000 books in our home library, so I will have the older ones delve into the areas they are interested in with Christian material to supplement their science and history.

I ordered the Charlotte Mason Pack A from Queenhomeschool.com and will use it with the 5 yob and 8 yog since they enjoy to learn together.

So, you could say I am trying to be more diligent about their studies, which I am.

I am also reading Senior-High Form+u+la by Shelton, which is wonderful because she always brings the reader back to the reason we started hsing in the first place, to spend time with our children, to watch them grow, to laugh with them, learn with them, and have FUN with them...and growing WITH our children into a deeper relationship with the Lord.

Which is why.......we are going to spend a good part of the day at the beach tomorrow! Both grandpas are coming along and are treating us to breakfast burritos and coffee. My father takes awesome pictures, so I will share those pic's with you next time I write. :)

Blessings,
Shannon