The one where...

Marie tells everyone how lost she is feeling...

Last year, for a variety of reasons, I started homeschooling my three older children. Ivan, my first grader had the most amazing teacher, and so I left him in his class.

It made for a crazy year, having kids going to different schools with different schedules etc, but I knew it was right. I let Ivan know that he would be at home with me for 2nd grade, and I have been content with that decision...until recently.

Ivan is autistic. He is very mild. But it doesn't necessarily mean that life is all sunshine and roses.

As the summer has progressed, and Ivan's lack of schedule has continued...he has become very...difficult to deal with.

Today while at Barnes and Noble, he threw a HUGE fit. Complete meltdown. Running away, hiding, crying, screaming...Something I haven't dealt with in such.a.long.time. It was frustrating. For him and for me.

I feel lost with what he knows/understands vs. just trying to get away with things. I feel lost when he screams and cries and won't talk. I feel lost when he shuts down. I feel lost with how to help him.

I am starting to feel very lost in whether or not I will be able to teach him. Will I be able to get through to him? Would someone else be better for him? Can I teach him when lately I can't even get him to get dressed without a fight?

School starts next Wednesday. I don't feel ready...

Spring Fever

One of the nice things about homeschooling is, when the weather is perfect outside, we don't have to spend our day inside!!

Now that state testing is over, spring fever has hit our family big time!! So instead of sitting at the kitchen table doing worksheets, we headed out to visit the Santa Barbara Mission. Fourth graders in CA, learn about their state history and make their own missions. It was the perfect chance to get out of the house.

It was a beautiful day and the mission was very pretty. Beautiful gardens, spanish architecture, fountains, statues, murals....

I loved that my kids were so quiet and reverent as we walked through. There was a woman praying in the chapel and so they made sure to be respectful of her. Thus there are no pictures from inside the chapel.

Later the kids sat in the grass and sketched a picture. They are now working on making their own!

Oops

It's been a long time since I blogged! I hadn't realized because life has been a touch crazy around here.

There is a LOT going on. Big changes. Big, HUGE changes.

 My husband is leaving for deployment next week. 6 months on my own. So.not.ready!! You would think I would get used to this but I haven't. Since he joined 10 years ago, he has been gone quite a bit. From being gone for a month all the way up to 8.5 months. And what is sad, is that a lot of people have it worse off than me!

Because one big change isn't enough, we decided to throw in another! (:

I am nervous & excited. So here it is, the big news... As of next week, I will be HOMESCHOOLING two of my children!! What the heck! Me a homeschooler? I know, I know. I have always said I couldn't handle it and now I find myself being pulled in this direction.

I have actually been thinking/talking/praying about homeschooling for around 2 years now. I have talked myself in and out of it a lot! But there are a lot of reasons, why I have been feeling now is the right time.

The two kids who are starting this year are Harmony & Connor. We have found a charter school, Bridges, that offers a home school/independent study program. We are given a teacher who helps me set up a curriculum, helps me with lesson plans and basically is just there to help me. Two days a week, they will attend "enrichment classes". They are problem solving, music, language arts, pe, yoga & Connor's favorite: LEGO'S!! Yes there is a Lego class! They are also allowed to go on all field trips, participate in science fairs and anything else that they have going on at the school.

Ethan "hero worships" his current teacher. It is also his last year at the school. Because of that, we have decided to leave him where he is. Ivan was another concern because of his therapies & IEP through his current school. But they can give him the exact same services there. However, changing his routine & schedule is not easy on him. So we have also decided to leave him where he is. Next year, Ethan & Ivan will join us at home.

Am I crazy? Probably. But you know what? I know it is right for our family right now. Maybe it won't always be. Or maybe it will. Only time will tell. We meet with the teacher tomorrow to figure out our curriculum!