When to quit?

Oh holy crap.  I've been so stressed out lately.  Seriously - I honestly don't know how much more I can take.  I love my son dearly.  I want to do what's best for him.  But I don't know how well homeschooling is working out.  I'm so tired all the time.  I'm basically a yelling fool most of the time - sometimes over big things (not listening is huge on our list right now!), but usually over small things.  I thought the break over Christmas would help calm me down, but I don't think it has.  Do I think I'm giving him a good education?  Yes.  I guess when he takes his test at the end of the year we will know for sure though.  So, I've been thisclose to putting him back in "regular" school - but the same problem still exists...I have no faith in the public school system here and private school is (financially) out of the question.  Then, today we were at Walmart and this older lady asks where he goes to school.  He says (proudly, as usual) I'm homeschooled.  She just got this look on her face like he said we worshipped satan or something.  Anyway then she says "ooo I hope that works out for you.".  See, it's people like that who make me want to go on.  I know we can do it.  I'm hoping it's just something that all homeschoolers go through at some point (especially the first year).  Whew!  I feel better now.  

So, have any of you heard about this new lead law?  Honestly, I hadn't until I read about it on a forum group that I belong to.  It's very confusing to me - but one of my fellow forum members has graciously allowed me to link her blog post on the subject.  It's well worth the read.  At the end is a well thought out letter you can send to your representative.  I would check it though - you may have to tweak it to fit your family.  I could say more but seriously - just click the link and see for yourself.  Thoughts on new lead law.  Honestly, in today's economy I don't see how people will survive with this in place.  Take the time to send the letter.  Seriously.

Can anyone tell me how to put a garage sale together?  We have so much stuff we need to get rid of I thought it would be a good way to try and get some of it out of here and then we can donate what's left to the Airmen's Attic or Goodwill (if we are allowed to that anymore!).  Seems like it shouldn't be hard but I guess I'm not sure about prices and stuff.  Feedback would be greatly appreciated!

Comments

  1. I'm so sorry to hear that you're feeling stressed out, Kris.

    I wish I could offer you some words of wisdom, but I don't have any. But I can do my best to encourage you: Keep it up! Perhaps you should reconsider the tools you are using, or your schedule, or something. You can relax a bit [smile].

    But, I'm not really the one to talk. Hopefully someone else can give you some specifics and tips.

    Speaking of tips: I'll try to get my wife--and expert garage saler--to come give you some tips on that [smile].

    Hang in there!

    ~Luke

    ReplyDelete
  2. Would it help to tell you that your concerns are common to many homeschool moms I talk with?! Even after 14+ years of homeschooling I have days/weeks when I feel just as you describe.

    So here are a couple of suggestions that I hope will be helpful ...
    First ... set aside an evening after your son is tucked into bed, grab a cup of your favorite flavored coffee (or tea), and spend some time listening to a teleconference that I recorded a while back with a couple of good friends. It is most appropriately titled Has Your Homeschool Dream Become a Nightmare? I hope that you will find some encouragement in the thoughts, tips and humor we shared that afternoon. It's not quite an hour long.

    You might also find some value in a recent post I made to my blog titled Homeschool Resolutions. Hopefully it will provide an objective measure of what constitutes "enough" in a homeschooling day. Perhaps you're trying for too much, or setting your expectations too high? We homeschool moms wants our kids to aim high, but sometimes in the process we frustrate both ourselves and our students!

    Finally, let me encourage to examine the reasons you're homeschooling (narrow it down to 4-5) ... and jot them down on a 3x5 card. Put that card somewhere where you'll see it often (front of your 'fridge?). On those days when you wonder why it is you're doing this thing called homeschooling, take a moment and review your list. The exercise may convince you that you really aren't supposed to be homeschooling. But most often it brings our focus back where it belongs and helps us eliminate the unnecessary.

    And remember ... you are the very best teacher your child has ... because God gave him to *you* and you love him as no one else can!

    Keep on keeping on!
    ~Judy

    ReplyDelete
  3. Would it help to tell you that your concerns are common to many homeschool moms I talk with?! Even after 14+ years of homeschooling I have days/weeks when I feel just as you describe.

    So here are a couple of suggestions that I hope will be helpful ...
    First ... set aside an evening after your son is tucked into bed, grab a cup of your favorite flavored coffee (or tea), and spend some time listening to a teleconference that I recorded a while back with a couple of good friends. It is most appropriately titled Has Your Homeschool Dream Become a Nightmare? I hope that you will find some encouragement in the thoughts, tips and humor we shared that afternoon. It's not quite an hour long.

    You might also find some value in a recent post I made to my blog titled Homeschool Resolutions. Hopefully it will provide an objective measure of what constitutes "enough" in a homeschooling day. Perhaps you're trying for too much, or setting your expectations too high? We homeschool moms wants our kids to aim high, but sometimes in the process we frustrate both ourselves and our students!

    Finally, let me encourage to examine the reasons you're homeschooling (narrow it down to 4-5) ... and jot them down on a 3x5 card. Put that card somewhere where you'll see it often (front of your 'fridge?). On those days when you wonder why it is you're doing this thing called homeschooling, take a moment and review your list. The exercise may convince you that you really aren't supposed to be homeschooling. But most often it brings our focus back where it belongs and helps us eliminate the unnecessary.

    And remember ... you are the very best teacher your child has ... because God gave him to *you* and you love him as no one else can!

    Keep on keeping on!
    ~Judy

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

I love your comments and I read them all. I'm not very good at replying to them though. It's one of my many downfalls. I hope you'll leave some anyway!

Popular posts from this blog

Tuesday Phone Link Up

What's on My Phone Dec 21

It's Tuesday!!