1st day of school pictures (a little late)

Oh, and here are 1st day of school pictures.  Three weeks late.  Humph.

 Claire, 7 years old, 2nd grade

Cade, 11 years old, 6th grade

Jack, 9 years old, 4th grade

That Week that had Labor Day {week 3}

Sorry.  No by-the-day account this week.  This week has already been a blur. And not in a good way.  And it's only Wednesday.

I have noticed a disturbing thing (couldn't think of a better word) about myself.  When the homeschool day gets started off on the wrong foot... when kids start crying... when the day goes south... I tend to be done.  Done with the kids.  Done with homeschooling.  At least for that day. 

I find it difficult to get back on track and resume the homeschool day. We are off-schedule, which I think adds to the difficulty.  So not only am I exhausted from dealing with crying kids (crying from either frustration with a sibling, frustration with their work, or because they are now grounded because they woke up late), but now we're off schedule.  And I'm a schedule/routine person.  Which really isn't great, because once we get off the schedule, then I feel like the whole day is not redeemable.  I let the schedule rule me.

Instead, I need to take a break (and allow myself a chance to collect myself after calming kids) and then start back at schooling.  Anywhere.  Any subject.  Even if it's not where we are supposed to be according to the schedule.  At least that would be redeeming the rest of the day.

Ahhh homeschooling.  The ongoing process of self improvement and making-me-more-like-Jesus.