How can someone so cute possibly be an interruption?
I have lost my joy in homeschooling and just being with my kids and I need to get it back! I am overwhelmed with life on a daily basis and feel like I'm getting farther and farther behind (even though I accomplish a lot in a day -- this is just how I FEEL -- like there's always a job that has to be done hanging over my head and I don't have ANY down time to do anything for myself just for pleasure - read, scrapbook, etc.)
We've been getting toys down from the playroom in an effort to provide different things for Carys to do so that she's able to entertain herself better. It hasn't worked!
This weekend we revamped our schedule for the second time since starting 10 weeks ago! I have someone assigned to Carys all the time - usually it's me. Chase has a couple of times and Landon does, too. For some reason, Gerren didn't get any assigned time. We'll see how that all works out.
Carys LOVES her sister and calls her by name (neither of the brothers get this honor, yet). Carys calls Chase "Yasey". I got these cute matching shirts for $3 each at the Children's Place outlet at the outlet mall in Arizona.
I'm really praying that something will click and things will get better this week. I've added in a several field trips. We haven't done many at all since Carys was born, and I think a change of routine might help. I know that the 2-3x a week trip to Ocala for church-related functions isn't helping. This is a 2-hr round trip and takes away time that I could be using for other things. If this rearrangement of our schedule doesn't help, I guess I'm going to have to start cutting stuff like this.
Carys has this thing about playing with Chase's hair when she's sitting on the floor watching TV!
Well, my daughter just came running in to get me saying "Dad really needs you right now." I knew what she was calling about because I heard it happen. I went out the door and sure enough he didn't pull the van far enough into the garage. When he shut the garage door it put a big scrape in the paint and broke the frame of the license plate area. We just bought this big conversion van a few weeks ago from a friend. We've loved it with all the driving we do! It's a tight squeeze in the garage, though, and he didn't pull in far enough. Sigh! I just looked at it and said, "Fix it, Greg." What else is there to say? This is all I need. He has so much work to do around here that he sure doesn't need to add to the list. He never gets anything done during the week. He's gone basically from 6-6 at work. Monday nights are Civil Air Patrol with Landon and Wednesday nights we meet him in Ocala for church. Friday nights are Family Fun Night. That leaves Tuesdays and Thursdays, but nothing manages to get done those evenings. Saturday evenings we go to church. When I'm singing or playing the keyboard, we have to leave here between 1:30 and 2:00. That doesn't leave much time for big projects. On those weekends we also have to be a church on Sundays. Twice a month we have small group on Sunday evenings. So, maybe one Sunday a month we have the whole day off. There are just too many big projects to do to accomplish them in one day a month. Some of these are things that have never been finished on this house (we moved in FIVE years ago on the 22nd of this month!) I'm getting frustrated!
7 comments:
((((HUGS)))))
I sure know what you're going through. My dh is gone all week... barely home about 48 hours each weekend which doesn't leave very much time for getting projects done around here either. We also play on the worship team at our church and we also have a long communte. We used to attend a small group... etc.... Probably not what you wanted to hear, but we had to cut out everything... this year we've cut out youth group, last year we cut out our home group, etc. I don't do any women's events, etc. The only thing we do is weekend worship 2 weeks on/2 weeks off and homeschool co-op, and tend to our business (since we're self employed). I rarely have any time for anything myself so I know how you feel. Our youngest is 4 so he's old enough now to occupy himself most of the time, but it's still hard to get everyone's stuff done....
This week is the first week that I started to feel like I'm getting on top of things.. .but we did *NOTHING* outside the home.. it made for a really boring week, but our school work is done, the house is clean, and we're ready for co-op tomorrow... barely, but we are.
Hope you find a schedule that will work for you.
Maybe that car time can be productive for the older kids, watching DVDs, listening to books on tape for school, doing workbooks or reading?
Linda, praying for you that you clearly see God's direction for your hs.
I love the girls' matching shirts!
I've done this before with my minivan. I'm so oblivious. The garage door kept bouncing back up, and I'd hit the switch again. And again. Finally it dawned on me that it might be hitting SOMETHING.
This is just a season, four kids at home, all needing you on different levels. You will find the balance, if not by working something out with your schedule, then as the kids' change even over the next few months, year.
Linda,
I do so empathise with the feeling behind with everything and no time for personal recreation. {sniff!} We have quite a few field trips in the schedule too, which makes things trickier.
I have to say, though I enjoy being busy MORE than being bored!
(((Linda))) You DO have your hands full. I'm in the same boat even with one less child than you. I did have to adjust my commitments at church. I've eliminated ladies Bible study, and some Saturday church events, even though I really wanted to be there. I just couldn't do everything (well, I could've but I was grumpy in the process). The hard part for me was feeling like I was letting others down by backing out of some commitments. Oh, sensitive me! You really need to read Living Life on Purpose. I bought this book specifically to deal with some of the issues that you are going through.
I used to plan a whole school year's calendar at the start of the year, but I find that it is less overwhelming if I do three months at a time, then re-evaluate.
Linda,
I remember those burnout months where you just feel like giving up. Just take it one subject. . one hour . . one day at a time. Ask the Lord to reinstill that first love that you had for homeschooling. I understand how hard it is not having your dh around a lot. Carlos is gone many nights a week and things get so behind around here. A few weekends ago we were all finally home for the whole weekend. We decided to catch up on some "house maintenance" and boy was it needed. I will keep you in my prayers!
I sure hear your frustration! I think those of us with big kids and little ones should get some kind of award.LOL It's hard to juggle the two sets but I've decided to concentrate on my little ones, they need me most right now and the big kids will just need to do their work on their own. I'll be praying for you, in addition to the rest of us with little ones.
Oh Linda!!
I will be praying for you. I know everyone says "I know how you feel!" That probably makes you want to scream, too, but it sure is the truth!
Dan leaves the house every night at 9:30 and arrives home somewhere the next day at 11 am while I'm trying to get school work done! Then he's just hanging around until he goes to sleep for the day to do it all again. Gotta love him, but he's a pretty big distraction during the school day. The kids want to hang out with Dad instead of doing their schoolwork and this backs us up so bad we're still working at 5pm. I totally understand the feeling that there's something always not getting done and hanging over my head. I put it on the schedule so it MUST get done!! It's really hard for me to just take it off the schedule without feeling like a big quitter! Church, small groups, AWANA, youth group, school, family, soccer, piano, Art classes, 4H, chores, shopping, cleaning, cleaning, CLEANING!!AAUGH!
I feel the toughest part of it all cutting things out. We know when "something's gotta go". It's so hard to decide because we love all our activities but no one knows better than Mom when our head is going to explode.
I'll be praying that God will speak to you directly and guide you in that cutting back process and that it wouldn't be too painful. But mostly that you will find that joy again and that you will find the time you need for yourself, for your peace of mind and the strength to get through every crazy day...we love you!
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