It never goes as planned, and other ramblings...

Well, we started back to school last week without any major setbacks. As a matter of fact, the new "schedule" and buddy-system we started worked wonderfully! Almost too well I should say...maybe I'm dreaming? Seems Kevin has really taken to his best-buddy Jessica. Not that they weren't already close, but he has really enjoyed learning his new chores! And even though Jennifer and Julie clash sometimes, they have seemed to enjoy working together on Julie learning her new duties as well. They both can be so bull-headed, and yes, I can blame their father once again!

I tested a few ideas that I had for workbox type activites as well, but have decided that I'm not going to re-arrange the entire way I have the toys and activities stored. I created a pre-school daily activity chart so I'll just modify that to include the new ideas. Anyway, it worked really well to have that list of ideas for the littles to work on while trying to get other school done with the big girls.

This week did not go as well. For some reason I can NEVER have two weeks in a row that go the same! On Tue. I helped my father-in-law change out my dryer...and of course it didn't go as planned. On top of that we had piano lessons, Girl Scouts, Awana, and Girl Scouts again. But as I sat and steamed yesterday over us not being able to accomplish "school", I was divinely reminded that my children have learned life skills that will carry them throughout the rest of their life.

They are developing solid relationships with their siblings, the older kids are learning to be leaders and the younger kids are learning to listen and help. They learned what happens when a dryer goes out and the power cord isn't the same as the old one, and realized that no matter how well you plan a day, things can change sometimes! And that it is ok. Something I've had a hard time dealing with myself!

I am still studying the Charlotte Mason method of homeschooling and find it more and more appealing. I want my children to benefit from being a self-learner and having the determination to learn. I feel this could be the thing they need. We have followed along with boxed curriculum and it just seems like public school. That was not my intention when I started homeschooling Jessica when she was in 2nd grade. I want so much more than "curriculums" can offer. The one thing that strikes me the most about my recent studies of CM, is that she suggests that learning is a spiritual thing. I had never thought about it that way, but it makes so much sense. Children are not taught to talk, or walk. They basically do it on their own...I mean I never sat down with my kids and moved their mouth for them to learn how to eat or talk. They were doing it from the day they were born!!! Learning is a God given gift and I believe we have gotten a million miles away from that these day.

Well I have rambled too long. Have a great weekend!

Jonie