The Accidental Pastor's Wife

I hate these kinds of projects, too, that kind of expect you to fill in the blanks.

An idea for the yarn wigs... we've just done the same kind of thing and instead of sewing across a line of yarn we've tied another piece of yarn around all the wraps (in the middle) and just used them as wigs that sat on top of our heads and hung down the sides. (no hair in back, unless you spread it out that way, which can be done)... just an idea. (If that confuses you, let me know, or just forget I said anything! :wink: )

Oh, I am so right there with you! I used to think that I needed to do a hands on project for everything, but in my family, it just doesn't work! I've learned to let it go. And honestly, I don't think its necessary for real learning. These days, our projects are more about doing real-life things...like my ds making pumpkin cake yesterday which I actually needed him to do, and we actually ate! I avoid textbooks too, but I have found that sharing real living books result in just as much authentic learing as building some complex model. I've also decided that we are no longer doing projects that my kids can't authentically do on their own...eg. NOT Mom doing all the work while kids grow bored...kids start fighting...kids find trouble...Mom blows a fuse! You are not a bad homeschooling mom! You are being realistic and making this lifestyle work for you and your family!

OH, I feel your pain. Even though I don't homeschool (mostly because I think I would suck at it) I totally understand not being the family that has it all together. Press on. I'm sure you are doing great and your kids will remember how much you loved them- you were willing to TRY, no matter how much the project flopped! I guess we all need PARENTING for dummies sometimes!

Tara-I homeschool AND suck at it. I'm not trying to sound the martyr about it, but some days are just so bad and it's only November! I feel like I need to find my homeschool identity or something, you know?

Shawna-Miss your blog, but glad you're able to focus on home stuff more. I'd love to see you plot out an average day in your homeschool sometime, with four kiddos.

Sweet Mummy-thanks for such encouragement! I wish we could meet for coffee someday (or burritos!). I'll try that before I go bed tonight. Maybe we'll have some crazy long haired Frankish chieftans at the breakfast table.

Hey come over here, our school year is almost finished in November!

Craft is sucky, whenever I try stuff like that I end up in a mess, and if I'm using glue, I end up with it all over my hands, and then it gets dirty and rubs off onto whatever I'm trying to make (hate craft with paddle pop sticks ice cream sticks)).

I don't do projects. I gave up about 10 years ago with science experiments for my kindergartener that never worked out.
The only crafty thing we've done in the last 3 years was visit a Willow tree every season for a year and the kids drew, with colored pencils and I bought them throw-away cameras to record the seasonal cycle. it was fun and not to taxing.
I know I'm not crafty so I don't go there. And it hasn't heard their ability to learn.
Give yourself a break - you're kids are learning TONS! Take a day off of "scheduled school" and just have fun outside, or build forts inside, or go to a science center, or rent some cool movies or.... homeschooling takes many shapes and forms. Be patient to find your own.

Ah, crafts...I hate them. You should not feel bad that they don't come "naturally." You have so many other gifts. I agree with "i was just thinking." You kids will remember mother's love and sacrifice and PRESENCE in their lives so much more than some stupid craft project. How many homeschooled kids have a real live speech and debate expert in the house (and yours' have two!) I can't speak to homeschooling frustrations since I've never tried it, but I would not be the mom doing the complicated craft things. Especially with boys. Maybe girls like that stuff, but I can't imagine my boys at 7 or 8 being willing to sit down at a table and do crafts.

I'm thinking it's that book!

I am very confident that you will find the right active learning curriculum to keep everyone engaged.

I think kids in public/private school get bored too, don't think you can much change that sometimes school is not a party!

Coffee and Burritos sound great! We'll do it sometime FOR SURE!!

Hi Julie,

I am sorry, but I couldn't help but giggle when I read all of this. Bless you, you are doing a super job with your little ones. You know they will long remember the yarn all over that chair!

Hang in there, you WILL find your groove. I am certain that your kids learned a whole lot more than you realize.

Now, all I want to know is if I can lift these stories and write them into a real life homeschool mom drama? :)

Julie,

I feel so badly that I haven't e-mailed you back yet, any encouragement about homeschooling. Unfortunately, my past three weeks have totally stunk, so I haven't had anything encouraging to say.

First off, it's probably that book. I've heard that about Story of the World -- that it's kinda complicated.

Second, have you tried a unit study approach? It's really great for boys, it ties it all in together, and it makes my life so much simpler. When reading is about history, and writing is sentences from your Bible, it seems so . . . compact!! And so much less of a struggle, b/c your kids are getting two subjects done at once.

Anyway, I love homeschooling, and I have young boys. So, I'd love to encourage you. E-mail me and maybe we could set up an IM or something.

Dana (myhandsfull from PW Forum)