The older the kids get the busier my life becomes. It's easier but it's busier. It's easier because my older three can be counted on to do more things a) on their own b) to help around the house c) without being asked (sometimes). It's busier because the demands of schooling also get bigger with each passing school year. I have a 6th, 5th, 3rd grader and a "repeat" kindergartner. We're only repeating kindergarten because he has a late birthday, to our school district he is in kindergarten.
My 6th grader is in Confirmation class this year. We moved to a parish close to our home where Confirmation is in sixth grade. I am so thankful for this. He is ready and he's excited and I truly believe the pouring of the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit at his age will be so beneficial. The program they are using this year is wonderful - Virtues in Practice - by the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia, with Faith and Life for textbooks. I normally patch together my own Religion program at home (on top of what the Parish School of Religion/CCD requires) but this year I've decided to really get deep with Virtues in Practice at home so they will be prepared when they show up for CCD classes each Sunday.
The 5th grader is playing volleyball for our neighborhood parish school (not the parish we belong to). Since our (new) parish does not have a school she was eligible to play at this other parish provided that our pastor signed her "permission" slip to verify that she is an active Catholic. They've been practicing for a little over a month now, every one has been so kind to her even if she doesn't go to that school or that parish. We're very happy and most importantly she's very happy. She's always excited to go to practice and comes home beaming. This is the girl who we envisioned as the one who would never play sports because she's buried in her books or her novel-writing.
It's a lecture-heavy school year over here. Our mornings are spent with me teaching Religion, History/Geography/Government, Science and Latin. My husband normally reviews/follows up on all these lessons. I've also commissioned him to teach Art. Their independent work or one-on-one with me are Spelling/Vocabulary/Language Arts/Creative Writing and Math. In the afternoon we have read-aloud's where I read to them our book of the month (Phantom Tollbooth for September). I have also assigned them books for independent reading. My oldest will be reading Pope John Paul II's Gift and Mystery. Yay!
As much as I ramble on about these things in seeming discontent, I do love our life together and I have no complaints. It is a lot of work but it's rewarding work both in the temporal and hopefully, the eternal. I am not a good teacher of other people but I can proudly say, my kids will not have a better teacher in their parents. But even that will have to be seen in the light of eternity.
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| this is an old picture from last year when we made a lapbook on the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit |
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| trying on her new volleyball team uniform, see how happy she looks? |
now this is what I'm talking about...because a girl can dream...
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| (source) |
You made one for me...you're so sweet. ;-)
ReplyDeleteYou know we're due for one!
DeleteEven when you write that you are feeling weary or burdened, your devotion to your family truly shines through your words, and they offer such hope to the rest of us! Wanted to share that out of the blue today, "The Boy" has been begging me to homeschool him. It's something I've been contemplating since last year, but avoiding or talking myself out of because I don't feel cut out for it. I'm impatient by nature. But, I've been praying about it and putting my doubts in God's hands. I think he just handed me the answer in the most direct way--straight from my son's mouth/heart. He is in Kindergarten this year (just 3 days a week at ATC Academy) since he has that late birthday and his size comes into play. But, he's so bright! Anyway, I was worried about where to send him next year, and "homeschool him!" has been chiming in the back of my mind. And then, his request today was so out of the blue, but he seems so happy that it could actually happen. Pray for me, friend! That's all I can say. Give me some hope that I might be able to homeschool my kids, too. :)
ReplyDeleteOh Autumn, I will be praying. Homeschooling is not (always) a bed of roses, anyone who tells you otherwise is lying! But if it's God's will for your family He will provide the necessary graces (and they overflow!). We have a lot of fun together, we also have a lot of tears together (I normally hide mine hahaha). There are so many resources available nowadays for homeschooling so it can be very intimidating. You know where to find me if you need help in sorting these out!
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