No Longer A Hectic Homeschooler

I wonder if everyone goes through this:

Right now I just want to scream. I am sick of accepting changes from people. I am sick of sucking up to people whom I'm not really sure even like me. There have been so many things I have wanted to say, but know to keep my mouth shut. Over the past few months, I have closed many different chapters in my life. I've had to pick up the pieces and move on.

And when it rains, it can't just rain in my life. It just has to FLOOD.

I wanted to blog the morning of June 5th. That was one of the many days I cried. I don't even talk about most of the times I cry. Over the past year, I have cried myself to sleep more than I have "passed out" from exhaustion. June 5th was a little different form all of them.

I closed our last report cards at Explorer Academy. We actually spent four years at one school. Even though it wasn't really a school as anybody would normally think of it, I spent four years working with teachers and homeschooling my kids. I had Explorer Academy as a resource for the years I didn't have the cash for our own curriculum.

Giving up homeschooling was not something I wanted to do. I feel forced to by my new situation as a single mom. After five years at home, attempting to domesticate myself, this is the hardest challenge in my life. I spent five years at home with my kids, trying to support my husband. May of last year, he announced to me his intention to divorce.

I felt I was making progress in homeschooling. I was connecting with my kids in a way I had never been able to before. I was teaching and learning with them in a way I wish I had been able to as a kid. Closing report cards this year was a huge step for me. One of the doors in my life was now closed. Maybe someday, when Bogfoot and Beadgorl have kids of their own, they can reopen the door to the joys of homeschooling.

One of My Many Joys of Homeschooling

Bringing homeschooling into my life has been quite the emotional experience. Its had it ups and downs. I shed, probably more than my share of, tears. I've also had plenty of moments when I thank God, He allowed homeschooling into my life.

Today, I've had the privilege of enjoying one of the more joyful moments. Beadgirl, out of her own initiative, made breakfast for us. Without being told, she asked permission to cook. In just a few minutes, she had whipped up and cooked cheese omelets for everyone. Yum, was breakfast good.



I'll get another morning off breakfast tomorrow as well. Beadgirl wants to cook, and Bigboy is taking the day off. Together, they've planned out breakfast for tomorrow. All I have to do is shop tonight for tomorrow. I'll have the perfect opportunity while Bigboy is in the Scottish Rite. Bigboy has already planned on waking the kids up early and letting me sleep. I will definitely be spoiled for the day.

This is one of those moments treasured by homeschoolers. We are blessed by God for the right and privilege to educate our children in the way we choose. Homeschooling gives us the opportunity to teach our children self-initiative. They may not always choose to complete their schoolwork, but the desire to do something for family at personal will is fantastic. Each day my children undertake a project on their own, with their own desire at the root, I remind myself that this is why we homeschool.

Family Update Time

Ah, children are doing schoolwork, the dog is quiet, socks are in the washer. Am I feeling okay? Besides the fact that I have a nicely stuffed up sinus and I'm sneezing constantly, I may be ill. These conditions are not normal in my house. I'm taking the time to update on our lives.

I didn't get the job with Alpine Access. I wasn't turned down due to lack of qualifications. Virtual customer service is a very competitive market. I have my applications out there with several other companies. I just have to make a few phone calls for voice samples. I'm hoping to get over this cold thing soon. I don't like the idea of submitting a voice audition with a stuffed up nose.

In the mean time, I quit working with ASI. I feel very misled by these people. I thought I was being hired for a position working with discount health care. Since I live in Washington, and the company's health care savings program is blocked from being sold in my state, I could work as a Human Resource Agent. I have a background involved with interviewing and hiring people. This should have been sufficient for our needs. ASI quoted me $200 per week minimum working in human resources. Funny how in three months, I came out with no more than $22. I was not told at any time that HR Agents work on strictly on commission. Over the course of three months, I found out that not only was human resources paid only on commission, but this company is moving into multi-level marketing methods. In no way am I opposed to multi-level marketing or private franchising programs. We operate one already. I took this "job" to supplement our immediate income, and provide for the needed overhead we incur each year. Form the ASI standpoint, things started feeling unnerving beginning the first of the year. Now I know why.

Beadgirl got her new bed, along with new bedding, the matching curtain rod, and curtain. I'm waiting until after her birthday for the paint. She's getting something from my mom for her "new" room. I'd like all the colors to work together, so paint will have to wait, a whopping four months.

Bigfoot has not yet grown into another shoe size, much to the surprise of his parents. We bought him his first pair of size twelve shoes last September. Shockingly, we replaced them in December with size twelves. Just to let you know, he's twelve years old. From his ninth birthday, we've replaced shoes with the next size up every three months. Foot growth of this rate is not easy to afford. Making it even harder is the presence of his very flat feet. His flat feet have gotten to be a problem. I'm not sure, but I think his ankles may be dislocating from his legs.

We took him to the local Shriner's hospital evaluation day this last November. We are expecting to have an appointment sometime in June at the Portland Hospital. I was hoping for an initial visit sooner, but June works just fine for us. We'll have time to finish the k12 school year before we head down.

Our school work is progressing, unfortunately, not as well as it should be. For some reason, I have a Beadgirl who decided it would be a good idea to spend six weeks reading Charlotte's Web. I wish I knew what made her tick, and why she messes around as much as she does. Bigfoot has decided he doesn't like being under grade level. I'm not sure why, but k12 placed him very below grade level in math and language. My hunch is he may have been messing around with his placement tests. I'm hoping both of them will be up to grade level before the beginning of next year.

Bigboy is fairing well. the fishing trip yesterday faired well. I keep waiting for the fish tales to come home when the fish tails don't. He did come home with supplies for our worm farm. For having the day off due to the celebration of the Presidents of the United States, he kept himself quite busy. Not only did he go fishing, he finished raising up Beadgirl's bed, built a worm farm, found dozens of gardening education websites, moved fishing poles from one location to another. Bigboy decided I need the laundry room for planting more than he needs the wall in there for hanging fishing poles. I'll figure out what he's thinking with that eventually.

On the gardening note,. I started my herbs this weekend. I should be able to pot them outside in a few weeks. Produce gardening is something I've been pondering starting for the past few years. I'm tired of hearing about this food or that toy being recalled. The best way I can overcome our commercial farming issues in America is to begin raising my own produce. We've come to learn our property has much work to be done, leaving most of this year's planting season lost. There is some good news of that situation. Now we know what we want to do, how we want to do it, and what we need to do to get it done. I'm excited about this endeavor. I've never seen Bigboy so enthusiastic about anything as he is about vegetable gardening.

Will someone please pinch me. I think I'm dreaming.

Can I leave the computer now?

I know no one ever said carrying a job while homeschooling two kids, decorating a Blue lodge, running around with the Shriners, teaching Sunday school, and supporting an at-risk group of hyperactive Cub Scouts was easy. Oh by the way, I sew, knit, embroidery, and coming soon: quilting and crochet as well as everything I mentioned before. Somewhere in all that, I do manage to find time to wash laundry, cook, and clean up after everyone.

Earlier this month, I took a job working from home as a Human Resource Representative. My job is to interview, hire, and arrange training sessions for applicants. I really do like this job. I wasn't exactly ready for the work load I've had in the last few days. My "working" days try to run from 6 to 9 am here in my time zone. Most of the applicants I interview are in other parts of the country where daylight is occurring. After nine, I try to limit everything to pre-set appointments. Lately, I've been working non-stop until noon or later.

Now that I'm back down to five hours of sleep or less, I am beginning to remember how exhausting working in the early morning hours can be. Before I became a homeschooling parent, I had a job in food service. My day started at 3 am on a regular basis, and eventually dropped to 1 am before my company lost the contract I worked under. The only part of that gig I miss is the customer base I serviced every day. I don't miss corporate flack, extremely early hours, or falling asleep while driving.

I enjoy being able to converse with a wide variety of people in my new job. Enjoy the fact that I can leave the desk to grab coffee, food, obnoxious kids, whatever. I can let the dog out between phone calls, let him back in between calls, make lunch, do laundry, clean the bathroom, whatever.

As far a homeschooling while I work, I'd die without www.k12.com and the virtual lesson planning, guidance, and personalized pace program. I have never liked having to write out lesson plans or schedules. Mostly because I always ended up off track and never quite sure of where to get back on. Blame it on my ADHD. My kids respond very well to the k12 program. This is a major step up for us from the struggles we've been through in the past. I've never been one to want to fight over schoolwork. eventually, I'll be able to get them to do an entire day in one day.

Is this my imagination?

Shhh, it's quiet today. My kids are actually doing schoolwork today. If I take a picture, I may just curse the schoolwork. Therefore, I won't take or post any pictures. The quiet doing of schoolwork is a Kodak moment in itself.

Normally, we are in a much more boisterous school environment that looks much more like:

Two children are sitting on a unabashedly orange sectional sofa produced in the age of hippies and flower children. No, not sitting, laying because no one child can handle sitting. Sitting would mean minding your manners and we can't have that. Mom might just like the idea of us minding our manners. Voices are color coded; as if you can't tell who is who.

"Keep your feet off me."

The feet of Bigfoot stay on sister.

"Bigfoot, keep your feet off your sister."

"I SAID, Keep Your Feet Off Me."

"BIGFOOT, Keep your feet OFF your sister!"

The feet of Bigfoot come up off of sister and slap down on sister.

"OWWW! I SAID, KEEP YOUR FEET OFF ME!"

"I didn't have my feet on my sister. I'm trying to do my schoolwork, and BEADGIRL won't let me."

"So, keep your feet off your sister and do your schoolwork."

"I am keeping my feet off her. I am doing my schoolwork and I'M THINKING!"

"Then there shouldn't be an issue. Thank you."

"Mom, I need help with..." the phone rings.

It's the husband needing something for someone. Yes I can send an email off to whoever. What do you want to say. Type email. "This is what is says read email to him. Okay, anything else?" Sign email as "Terri speaking and typing for dh."All email is signed this way. Everything from masonic related email, to writing to his parents. "Yes, I can call this person. What do you need?" take notes because I can't remember everything he wants all at once. "Yes, I can take the car into have it looked at. Okay. What boat will you be on?" As I think, I'd get the car in if you'd give me the time to catch up to everything else I have to do. You'd think homeschooling means being at the complete disposal of everyone all the time.

In the mean time, the TV has now been turned on. There is more sniveling and nagging. Now for the:

"Mom, I'm hungry." You'd think I starve Bigfoot. At basically twelve years old now and entering a size THIRTEEN shoe, I must starve him. All he has done for three years now is grow.

"Can I do this first for your dad? Let me send this email off, then I can feed you."

During the email typing, "Mom, I'm hungry."

"Yes, I know. Do your school work and I can feed you. I can't feed you if you continuously tell me you're hungry."

"OKAY. I'm doing my schoolwork."

Wow, Blessed are we who have a quiet day of schoolwork. I do like this. I never knew I could get as much done as I have today if they can quietly do their own schoolwork.