I knew moving across country would be a difficult transitions for the whole family. However my heart breaks at how difficult it has been on Ironhide aka The Student. He said it best four months ago "Mom I have to leave everything I have known my whole life." That feeling has really starting to sink in now that school has started and he has joined his first official co-op with real homework, yet another change. He misses the constant of flow of friends into our home and the sense of security of knowing his environment. Even his parents are changing because Dad has a new job, mom is still dealing with trying to make this house feel like home and learn her way around.
So many changes in so little time for my little guy, new church, new house, new city, new climate, new doctors, new friends and it never stops. Oh and now glasses on top of everything else. Every day it is something new. I try to wrap it in the theme of an adventure but even the best thrill seeker wants to get off the ride. Even I want to say stop sometimes because I just cannot handle one more new thing. Prayer is constant during this time because we know that God is our true home, but he is only six and it is hard.
We have had a couple not so stellar weeks of behavior issues. Most can be attributed to being six and the rest I think are move related. I need prayer because I am stressed and this is just breaking my heart to discipline him almost hourly. I do mean hourly and things I have never known him to do. Last night I spent the night in prayer and reading because I am at a loss. He is a great child who is going to be a wonderfully blessed human being but how do I get him there?
As a mother of an only child I have those moments of "maybe he should go to school to met people." But as I put it in prayer I have not been shown that path. It would not solve problems but just add more confusion to the mix.
I have never shared this much before but I think this may help someone else because this is not an easy path, but it is our path.
Be Blessed
National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
Details to follow later this week.
We have been gluten free here at the Sandbox for about 18 months. In that time we have all experience a drastic improvement in our overall health most directly with our yearly allergies. We have gone from almost daily doctor visits during high allergy times to monitored check-ups. It has truly been a blessing.
Now the journey has not always been a tasty treat. One incident with gluten free croissants has become a cautionary tale in our home. We have tasted some incredible food and learned to appreciate cooking from scratch. But there is a lot to be said for time saving good gluten free food. This is where Betty Crocker comes in…..
In the past I would buy three types of flour and mix my own cake flour to avoid that grainy taste you can get from a lot of off the self gluten free cake mixes. This was time consuming but well worth the effort. Then imagine my surprise when we found Betty Crocker Gluten Free Cake Mixes at Super Target. It was not organic but very few birthday cakes are these days. So we decided to give it a try. Everyone LOVED them. Of course we did alter the directions rice milk instead of water and little bit more vanilla extract.
TS did all the measuring and read the directions too. He says now he wants to be like Alton Brown. LOL
This is "School Room" week at Life with My 3 Boybarians . Darcy will be doing a four week Not Back to School blog hop. This gave me a personal goal to have our room put together in time to share it. We have officially been in our new home here a little over two months. Yes, there are still boxes unpacked and pictures are not on the wall but we are working slowing toward normal.
First let's start with my homeschooler planner. All the sections were pulled from Donna Young's Free Homeschool Planner as well as organization charts from Sue Patrick's Workbox System.
Each month is colored to match the files in our Five In A Row planning box.
I have printed out all the lapbook material for each book. This works because I can load up the workbox system without a marathon night before printing session. Kendall from FIAR Forums shared this great planning system last year.
We downsized with this move which has been a blessing and adjustment. You will be amazed how simple life can be with less stuff. TS desk is the right fit and can grow with him. Next to his desk are the workboxes waiting for work. We were also gifted a digital microscope that will be using on the kitchen table.
Our world map is going up this weekend in this cozy spot with the easel and library and coloring books.
We have been so incredibly blessed with this move and look forward to an exciting year of learning.
(This photo is especially for my THL sister KK !)
After much prayer and review here is our official plan of record for the 2009-2010 school year. I wanted share this with the great folks at The Homeschool Lounge who have been a source of inspiration and support during our homeschool journey. Please click over to find the one of the best homeschool resources on the web.
Also note that while technically TS is a first grader we will included some activities that are designated for 2nd grade and above during this school year.
Core Curriculum
Read Alouds
Phonics
Grammar
Handwriting
Math
Art
Music
Bible and Character Development
Science & Nature
History
PE
Fine Motor Skills
This week was originally meant to be my homeschooling planning and printing week. Last year I had a comfortable chair, a desk, headphones and time to listen to the homeschool conference as I printed out material for the next year. It was a peaceful beginning to a rather peace first half of our school year. This time things are different…much different.
I have been in whirlwind all week trying to find the right planner and to pull together the "right" curriculum because this year it counts. TS is first grade and with new state laws he will be tested at the end of the year. In my mind I had to cover it all, not miss a thing because this year is the beginning of "real school". But I have found myself tied up in knots and can't seem to make even the simplest decisions.
Homeschool planner: Should I buy it or custom make it? Should I do online? Should it be bond or spiral?
Homeschool curriculum: Should we stick to what was working and add in elements or go totally with a boxed curriculum? I printed out the school curriculum how am I going to teach all of this with my current curriculum? How do I fit co-op into our day? How we going to fit lunch into our day?
Homeschool location: Since we have moved we no longer have a homeschool classroom. 
Old Classroom
I have spent hours blog hopping looking for answers and making list. You should see my bookmark list from this week alone…..89 entries for just planners. I felt so helpless and swamped I actually considered public school. I think public school is great if it fits your child. It does not fit our child and I know he would be miserable after the social aspect wore off.
So last night after a marathon of printing and planning I went to bed praying for guidance and this morning I got this in my email from Alpha Omega:
"If you're starting your new school year depending on your own abilities, be careful. Only the Lord can show you those things that will make your homeschooling truly successful. As you depend on the Holy Spirit, you will not only discover wisdom to teach, but you'll also have your eyes opened to see all that God desires for your family. "Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God" (Psalm 123:1-2a). Lord, forgive me for my foolish pride that fails to acknowledge You as Lord. Open my eyes to see Your plans for our family this homeschool year and teach me to constantly depend on You. In Jesus' name, Amen."
Last year I was blessed to have won a free ticket to attend the Heart of The Matter Online Homeschool Conference. It made the first year of homeschooling a lot easier because I had a "real view" of homeschooling. I did it all from the comfort of home.
Come on by to learn, laugh and share the Homeschool LOVE!
Now what to wear hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
