Another I-CU

 

“This week we want to…”

play at the park with a friend, continue in our math workbooks, look at what we might want to learn this year.

“The kids are…”

playing outdoors more as the weather is a little cooler.  I am kicking them out more often too, because before we know it summer will be gone!  I am seeing signs of fall everywhere!

“I am learning….”

about unschooling.  I am reading “The Unschooling Handbook”.  It has sat on my shelf for a couple of years now.  I am finally embracing the idea that my kids can learn with me being their facilitator / guide.

“I am struggling with…”

finding a balance with the amount of helping out the kids do and the amount of time they spend playing, watching TV / computer.  Sometimes it feels like they work all day long.  Other days I am doing all the work.

“This week is the first time….”

Wyatt went to DVBS.  He is loving that he is a “big kid” now and can go to the same activities the older girls go to.

“I am grateful…”

that my dh is on board with my minimizing of our belongings! I have thrown out SOOOO much stuff in the last couple of weeks.  Even the kids are on board for the most part.  I can feel that our house is getting lighter already.  It’s already easier to get “company ready”.

“One thing that I’ve changed in the last year is…”

my expectations of the children.  I would assign pages of math or this or that and have deadlines or that.  This year I’d like to not do that.  I just want to see them working on stuff that together we’ve decided they need to learn.

 

Click on the button at the top of the post to see others involved in this meme.

 

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

I-CU– August 10, 2011

“This week we want to…”  The plan for the week includes: A trip to a pond, community ag fair, a birthday party for our baby, maybe DVBS (it’s at a bad time of day for us, so we’re not sure how it’s going to work yet).  I have berry picking planned next Wednesday with a family friend, but the kids will not be going with me.

“The kids are…” so excited about the fair and the parade.  They’ve been asked to be on a float but they don’t like to do so because they don’t get any candy.  Currently, they have pulled out some math manipulatives and are exploring balance, clocks and peg boards.  One child has a Draw Write Now book out and has asked for the rest of the series.

“I am learning….” to say yes more often when the children want to do things or go places.

“I am struggling with…” to make time for me, again. I need time to read, to walk and to recharge. I don’t have to be alone necessarily but I need quiet to think and process. I am thinking about re-instituting a nap / rest time every afternoon. It’s hard because there are so many things that we could do in the afternoon. I guess I am learning to organize and plan our days better so we get everything done.

“This week is the first time….” in a long time that I said, ‘skip the chores, we are going to the park for as long as you want to play’. We stayed until we got hungry, because I forgot to take food with us!

“I am grateful…” for free items!  And friends willing to let me use their vehicles to let me transport said free items. :) I have been using an old dining room table as our Wii and TV table; it took up a lot of space in our living room.  I posted on Facebook that I was looking for a TV stand that fit in a corner.  I got a couple of offers of stands and an offer of a ride to get it.  Right now I don’t have a vehicle, so I was unable to get myself there.  Now my Wii corner looks tidy and compact!  I love it.

“A fun thing I’ve done recently is…” take my kids to the park!  It was a new park that we’d never been to before.  It had SAND!  The kids and the dog played soooo well.  I got to read my book without interruption.  I got burnt and everyone came home tired but happy!

 

Have a happy Wednesday!

 

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

I-CU

“This week we want to…”

Keep caught up on the laundry.  Get the dishes and kitchen cleaned up again.  Start more “sit-down” work.  Go to the park.  Visit with friends.

“The kids are…”

Playing in the pool daily.  Jumping on the trampoline all the time.  They are being retrained in home economics. ;) 

“I am learning….”

To say yes more often when the children ask to do something.

“I am struggling with…”

Anger.  Disappointment.  Sadness.  Control issues.  Motivation.  Wow, I guess I’m not in a very good place right now.   Hmmm.

“This week is the first time….”

We ever owned a trampoline!!!  Our neighbors moved and gave us their old trampoline.

“I am grateful…”

That my husband is well-liked at work, that he has a new job (in a month or so) that allows him to be closer to home, that he is willing to help our friends build a porch on their trailer.  I am thankful for my husband!

Hey, don’t head off just yet, we have a new thought for you to ponder this week.

What is the worst thing you ever forgot to do?

There have been so many things I’ve forgotten.  It’s hard to name a “worst thing”.

I’ve missed paying bills.  LOTS!

I left our baby in the car – forgetting she was even there.  I realized it about 10 steps from the car, and went back, but I still forgot her.  I was a new, tired mom.

This is a new meme, that I’ve decided to do, at least from time to time.  You can read more about it here.

 

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,