Win-fail, fail-win, win, win, fail, win.

I keep thinking that there is going to be a spectacular event where I sit down at the computer for a period of eight plus minutes in order to, you know, actually string thoughts together, but that time has just not presented itself as of recent.  Which means that tonight I blow my new Taking Back Bedtime streak because I miss my blog.  (Note: In recent weeks I have decided it against my better judgment to blow the reasonable bedtime hour streak for cleaning bathrooms, dusting my family room, folding laundry and trimming my up-late-anyway son's hair, all of which are neglected something awful as well.  But you're worth my precious hours of sleep, Internet.) (At least that's how I am calling it tonight.) 

After we came home from our trip I had grand visions of discussing homeschool on the road, and now we've been home for three weeks and I believe that ship has sailed.  I think I've cooked up seven more homeschool posts since then, because hey, this is really cool! and I'd like to document it!  And yet the very process of which I am so hoping to capture is what keeps me from writing anything at all. 

What I am saying is that we've picked apples at the orchard, fed goats from our hands, attended gobs of free library programs, blazed through three quarters of the first grade math book in the first month of school and can sing multiple cheesy songs about the vowels, but my downstairs bathroom's not been swept in three weeks and I can't seem to find time to blaawwwwg.  I (think) I've got my priorities straight, but I must admit that had no idea what I was signing up for when I took on this new little jobbie. 

Also since I was last around, my sister Sant & Leslie set a commitment ceremony date (which we supporters of human rights, gay and otherwise, like to call a wedding date,) we walked the Chicago Breast Cancer 5K for my Aunt Kathy, both Jackson and myself survived the swine flu and succeeded at not gifting it to anyone else in the house (win!) and Kevin and I got to meet Wayne Dyer for the second time this year.  Also, I painted our downstairs office the colors of the seashore.  These days and weeks are most definitely busy ones.

My seven-year-old's rendition of Mount Rushmore, in one of our biggest homeschool projects yet. 

In the initial phases of this book project, I feared that it might go on until next year's vacation, with my older child's disdain for writing and the massive quantity of experiences to be documented, but I learned over the course of two weeks that some things simply take more time than others (gold!) and in the end I hold two precious thirty-page books authored and illustrated by fun-loving little boys who had a fine trip.

And now my three-year-old has not only memorized the vowels, but he also recognizes Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Obrahand Lincoln, for the love of Pete.  And here I thought this first year of homeschool was going to benefit his older brother the most.

Youngest offspring desperately waves for attention from down below in Baby Bjorn, or attempts to twist and pull, twist and pull her own red delicious from the branch above.

Homeschool is everything I had hoped and many things I hadn't thought of all at once.  Now that we've settled into some sort of rhythm and have found our pace by subject, I've finally been released from worries about time wasting and who's learning what and if it's on time or too fast or slow.  There are two students in this class (and one small monkey who steals fallen crayons and scraps of paper) and our days move as they will, quickly as we read about squirrel nests and beaver dams, and slowly when it comes to practicing penmanship.  I am shocked at how well Jack has taken to learning letters and sounds when just six months ago-- three months ago, he had almost no interest whatsoever.  To be honest, I hadn't planned to formally do much at all with him this year, though through his insistence I find myself running in circles to stay on top of his interests just as I do his brother's.  ...Which means I am quickly learning how parents can spend heaps upon tons of money on home education with only my handful of teacher's store trips in six little weeks of classes. 

Watin' on the old school bus apple picking tractor. 

The one thing about the last six weeks that has not failed to blow me away time and time again is my freedom to mother on a whole new level.  So silly to think that many of the art projects and song singing, extra reading times throughout the day and board games were put off in so many instances before now, and I don't even have a solid reason why it was that way.  I was too busy with too many household chores, I thought, or it would make a big mess or require too much time or energy, or whatever was my reasoning in sometimes moments past.  Which of course does not at all infer that I commonly ignored my children's requests for attention or play, but now aware that I am mom and school and teacher alike, I have a million new reasons to read extra books and bring out the paints, scissors and hole punchers just because that's what we are home to do.  It has been fun, a whole lot of fun, to shower my kids with hours upon hours of extra activities (see dirty bathroom scenario above) and be exactly the type of parent that I really want to be.

We've done fall leaf rubbings and played with math dice for Hershey Kiss prizes.  We've written lots of stories with capital letters and punctuation and illustrations, and taken turns reading books to each other.  Our enjoyable day-trips have taken on new meaning as now more than ever I find myself keeping eyes open for teachable moments about the world and God and whatever else I might not have been able to explain while they were away at school.  And they're young enough to be so open to all of it (okay, most of it, if not the damn penmanship) as long as I can peacefully hook their attention each morning.

 
Child breaks it down pencil-microphone style in the kitchen

Because I am forever the short and long-term planning type, I can't help but wonder, often, how long we can do this for.  I mean, in the world of best case scenarios I could see myself homeschooling all three, four, six or seven of our children all the way through middle school.  It works now, very well with a first grader and a preschooler around baby naps while I appear fairly fun in their eyes, still.  But I shudder to think how I might present seventh grade history lessons at the same time as shapes, letters and punctuation (again!) to smaller children.  (Thankfully, I taught middle school Algebra and Science my first year out of college, so those don't scare me.)  I wonder how messy I will have to allow my house to get in order to be fully present for all of those lessons with all of those children (and what if I can't even find some of the children some days to educate, lost beneath piles of clean and dirty laundry, and dust?) and when exactly I will steal time to do things for myself, like blog if those still exist, and eventually earn my Master's degree. 

I suppose I didn't worry about how I would teach KJ his colors while he was learning to crawl (okay, FINE, I DID) so I should probably let this go too, and let life have it's own way with whatever should happen down the road.

Now is good.

Comments

[Frema]

I love hearing about everything you do for KJ and Jack for school! It would be hard for me, too, not to think about how long it will last and how I would allow time for other parts of my life like blawwwwging. Good luck on taking life as it comes! If you learn the secret, be sure to share it with us.

So exciting about Sant and Leslie!

Lastly, I hope this doesn't make me a bad friend, but I was secretly happy to read about your less-than-spotless bathroom. Misery loves company.

[AJU5's Mom]

Well, as they get bigger they can help with either the chores OR the teaching of the little ones. Now, I wouldn't stack their plates full of these tasks, but 30 minutes a day of that type stuff wouldn't be unreasonable! And, who knows - they may become independent in some of their learning. History can be taught through literature if they like to read for example...

[C @ Kid Things]

Sounds like you have your hands full in a very good way.

[SJ]

Congratulations to Sant and Leslie!

You always impress me Molly with your motivation! It's always fun to hear about your family's adventures, you make it interesting and exciting, it's no wonder your kiddos just eat it all up. You are an inspiration for sure.

I'm sorry that you and Jack caught the swine flu. How bad was it?

[Jen L.]

How wonderful! It sounds like this is working out perfectly for you guys. You are so creative. I am super impressed. I also AM scared by middle school Algebra. Perhaps when my child is ready for it, he can call you? He likes to unload the dishwasher so maybe he could help you out!

By the way, I think my Dean has a crush on Marin. He kept coming over here pointing to her picture in your flicker thingy on the side going "Guuuuuuuuuull" (we're not sure why he says "girl" with a British accent).

[Becky]

I just have to say... I think you are a awesome mom... I am wishing I was more like you. Honestly!

My advice... get a cleaning lady to come in once a week or once every two weeks... seriously.. it is one thing I do for myself.. I have enough trouble keeping up with laundry, dishes, dirty floors, working full time and PARENTING... not to mention school work and sports etc that scrubbing the bathrooms just is not on my schedule.

You are working full time x2 right now.. being a teacher and a stay at home mom... its more important to spend your time on those two jobs than to scrub the bathroom.

Seriously check it out.. once you get someone to come in on a regular basis you will be amazed at how much easier it makes your life and how much it is sooo worth it.

I try to make sure the clutter is put away and the toys picked up then I leave for work with a messy house and come home to a sparkling clean house.. it's AWESOME!! ☺