That Week that was Post-Surgery {week 22}

Monday  Monday was declared an ice/snow day by the local ISD, so we didn't have CC.  I'm not sure I would have gone to CC anyway since I was just 3 days removed from surgery.  I felt fine, but CC is such a long day anyway, I think it would have exhausted me.

So the kids and I ended up doing a modified day of school at home(to give them and me something to do).

Tuesday  Tuesday started well.  We instituted a new behavior chart similar to one seen in public school classrooms.  The kids have a clothes pin that they clip on to whatever color/behavior they are currently exhibiting. 

The laminated behavior chart has helped the kids realize where they are at behavior-wise and what is expected of them.  We had one kiddo slip down to "warning" on Tuesday.  But a little while later they were able to get control of themselves and step back up to "ready to learn".  And if the kids want to retain TV/electronics privileges for the day, they have to end the day (or have spent the majority of the day) on "ready to learn" or "awesome".

I have to brag on Cade a little bit.  He did an AWESOME job Tuesday of synthesizing some information from two books to create an outline that he's going to use for a research paper for CC.  He started out slow on Monday, but by Tuesday, he understood what to do and was able to do it all by himself.  I was so thrilled. And he was incredibly proud of himself and saw the value of doing hard work.

Wednesday  After a quick errand, we got started a little late, but got to work quickly.  I was really proud of one kiddo that lost control of their emotions but then promptly got themselves back under control.  Again, the behavior chart came into play (they got moved down to "warning" for losing control and crying when words would have sufficed; they then got moved back up to "ready to learn" once they had recovered and used words to voice their frustration).

Thursday  We got started off really well on Thursday.  Including doing some math drills.  Upside down.

Since we got started this week on Monday (because we didn't have CC), we pretty much finished up most of our work by Thursday.  Which was a wonderful feeling.  Kind of wish every week was like that.  But I'm not going to open that can of worms (Is CC worth it?).

Friday Basically we had just math and spelling tests to do on Friday.  So early start to spring break!  YEEHAW!

General Thoughts  I feel like we've really hit a groove recently.  Behavior has been a lot better.  Kids know what is expected of them and they (tend to) do it.  Homeschooling, while draining and still a sacrifice, has become more enjoyable.  I no longer think with dread about next school year and all the fun things I could be doing with my time.  But wait.  Don't get me wrong.  I still, from time to time, think about all the things I could be doing with my time if I weren't homeschooling.  And I still wish sometimes that I got to send my kids out of the house early in the morning to catch the bus and not see them for 8 whole hours five days a week.  I'm human.  Sue me.  But I don't think about those things much.  I am actually starting to enjoy spending large amounts of time with my kids.

*gasp*

Does that mean that I didn't enjoy my kids before I started homeschooling?  Of course not.  But spending seemingly endless hours of time with them was not high on my list of fav things to do.  Because we now spend so much time together, certain behaviors and characteristics in them (and me) needed to be addressed to make this homeschooling thing doable.  And because these behaviors have been addressed during school time, the kids are (typically, not always) better behaved for non-school time, too.  It makes home life and motherhood more enjoyable, peaceful, and joyful.  Talk about your win-win-win (h/t to Michael Scott).

Next week is Spring Break (can I get an hallelujah!?!).  Scott and I are dropping the kids off at Scott's parents in Missouri and heading over to Eureka Springs to stay in a tree house for a few days.  "A TREE HOUSE?" you shout/ask.  Yes a tree house.  That looks like this.

 Soooo excited.  Hopefully I'll have some good pics to share when we get back.