Struggling
I want to be an eclectic homeschooling mom. That is what I am drawn to. Reality is life makes me tired some days. Trying to fit the normal meals in, playing with the kids sometimes just seems so much, and that is all before adding in all the subjects of homeschooling.
I struggle because I am not organized. Oh I want to be. I SOOOO want to be. I am right now looking between 5 different online planning setups because I’m trying to find something that will work for our style of schooling. What is that? Eclectic. But not in the complete way I want. I want to write everything out in a planner and do everything that I “say”. The reality is that doesn’t happen. And the control part of me feels like I’ve failed if I have to cross something off and try to move it to another day. You can only erase so many times before you rip a hole in the paper.
We are eclectic because some days we can get it all done, the read-aloud, the spelling, reading, math and a little social studies or brief science built in because of the read aloud or questions the girls have asked for the day.
Other days, sigh…
I want to plan unit studies, but I get caught up in the planning the feeling like we can’t start if I don’t have it all planned out. And sometimes that paralyzes me. I’m trying to be better about that.
So yeah. Tonight I’m struggling. I will say the Imperfect Homeschool Blog Hop made me feel a lot better.
On my desk is Miss Rumphius since I pulled that out and decided we would start reading it to go with our FIAR studies. The Giant Science Resource that I have to pull pages out of to do a little something on plants in connection with the book. The lapbook from homeschool share is open on my computer and I’m trying to decide what we will do. Sigh…
And I need to go to bed. It’s 11pm. (Not sure what time the post will say – still have to figure out how fix that.)
What about you? Do you struggle sometimes? Do you use an online planner? Any suggestions besides leaving aside the mommy teacher guilt? My head knows that. I’m trying to work on that one.
Hi Becky
I found you on Simple Stories, and I want to encourage you. I home schooled my son through til he graduated…although honestly in high school, he schooled himself. I too was a frustrated perfectionist…never measuring up to the ideal in my head. But you know what…even better than the education is the relationship I have with my son. He considers me to be one of his friends as well as his mom. He asks me my opinion and listens to it. He doesn’t mind spending time with me. He honors and respects me. He tells me how happy he is that he was educated at home with a teacher who truly had his best interest at heart. So chin up and know you are really doing the best for your children regardless of how “Eclectic” you feel.
Thank you so much for your kind words. I am praying that my girls and I have a good relationship as they age. There are days right now that I wonder how the puberty years will hit (especially with three girls) but I’m hoping and praying it won’t be a bad relationship but one that blesses them and they remember fondly as they, and I, grow older.
Very nice! My husband has told me several times (as I sit and lament over not having it all together or not having the resource I need) never let perfection get in the way of progress! Probably somebody’s quote but not sure who! Good work!
Thank you Sarah! If you ever find the quote let me know, it sounds like I need to put it up across my computer monitor! LOL