Monday, September 11, 2006

Monkey (M):Did not want to do much this morning but finally got into the swing of things.  Has a very difficult time adjusting to Daddy going back to work on Mondays.

Did some more color work and line work.

MrMagoo (MM): Rose fairly happy and got ready quickly again.  He enjoys school enough to not put up such a fuss.

The day went well for him.  Gram and Gramps picked him up from school as we were out with my MIL for Minnie and Monkey for a wedding she is in and we'll be at on Saturday!

Upon picking him up though the meltdowns began.  These continued on into the evening until story time.

Minniemee (MME): Our day began smoothly.  This is a catch up day for us.

Monday mornings we will have etiquette lessons in practice and coffee/tea with my neighbor and best friend.  We will also have sewing lessons for hand sewing until it is mastered.

All morning we prepared for this until 10:15.

10:15-11:30 Etiquette.  Visiting.  Sewing postponed until next week.

11:30-12:00 clean up from morning.

12:00 Off for errands.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Monkey (M): Helpful and sweet today.

MrMagoo (MM): Got up and was sleepy but ready to go.  Got ready quickly and obediently.

His day seemed to be good and he had a lot of papers to share.  We went directly from p/u from school to swim lessons and then directly to a fitting for his tux for Sat. wedding and then directly home and ready for bed!

Busy day but he did very well!

Minniemee (MME): 

8:45-9:15 Bible reading. Psalm 91. Copywork vs 8-9.

9:15-9:30 Prayer

9:30-10:00 Study Black Bears of Wisconsin.  Used internet and 1950's Ency. and a little fact book we have.  Filled out a worksheet on bears characteristics, diet, lifespan, enemies, habitat etc.  Drew picture of a black bear and a paw print.

10:00-10:15 Discussed biblical principles of good manners and how it helps to prevent esteeming yourself higher than others.  Read Philippians 2:3-5 and Proverebs 18:13.

10:15-10:45 Drew a beautiful and impressive illustration of a English Brindle Bulldog.

10:45-11:00 Snack

11:00-11:15 free time

11:15-12:00 Lunch

12:00-2:00 M nap

12:00-12:30 MME read ch 4 Great Horn Spoon

12:30-12:45 free time

12:45-1:30 MME read ch 1 and 2 in Louis Pasteur biography.

1:30-2:30 chores and free time

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Monkey (M): Woke happy.  Got ready easily.  Was happy when he kissed his Daddy good bye this am.

Been into a bit today but good natured.

MrMagoo (MM):  Had a good morning other than not wanting to get up.  He wanted to "sleep and sleep then go to school later"!

Although we had a few minor meltdowns this evening the ratio was definitely lowered as well as the frequency. He had one sheet of homework and he got it out and immediately accomplished it without one word from me.

Minnimee (MME):  Also wanted to sleep this am and did NOT want to start school...tried to bribe me by saying if she got a day off then so did I!!!!

Since I wanted to get this log done this morning I did let her have some of it off.  She has played with her brother, watched a bit of TV, listened to radio, read some doll catalogs and has read ch 2 of her etiquette book.

at 11:45 she is doing her copywork in Psalm 91 vs 10-11.

Read ch. 3 in LHBW.

Questions to ch. 3 answered.

Discussed being under the umbrella of authority of God and Parents.  Why being disobedient causes them, as children, to move out of that protective umbrella and leaves us unable to keep them from harm.  Will discuss and read more tomorrow on it.

Wrote out her 25 spelling words 3x each.

Shared with her Great-Grandparents all work to date from her portfolio.

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Monkey (M): Having a fairly good morning once again with him.  The reason seems to be that his big brother (of whom he loves...in fact just this morning they were sitting together on the sofa and M spontaneously said, "MM, I luhh yew", and MM responded with, "M, I love you too."  Not in the typical manner of responding but with a matter of fact tone of voice.  Inside I was bursting with love and could have shed a few tears over that...they typically are fighting and bickering and it has caused a great deal of upheaval. ) is not here during the day. This brings me a great deal of sadness on many many levels; Since my oldest son is not present with us during the day our days go better...?!  How can that be?  It's wrenching my heart.  Yet.  It is truth.

M did just have a meltdown over being disciplined for playing with scissors on my retro office chair which already has enough issues without M adding to it.  He also was disciplined yesterday for it and so today's was a bit more severe.  He did not cope with it.  Then, I told him he had to say "Sorry Mama" and he would not, so more discipline and then he really collapsed.

Herein lies a major struggle for parents of Sensory Kids...how and when do we discipline and how far do we take it?  This conumdrum applies to each and every time discipline is required...I must consider where is he sensory wise at that moment, have we had an overall good day, where am I and can I control myself and be firm but not overboard, has he struggled and had a lot of discipline already today, do we have a lot more to be accomplished  in the day and will this blow our entire day and was the offense one that I can let go without the other two realizing that he is getting away with something they would not?  All of this must take me only a millisecond or the moment is lost.

MrMaggo (MM):  Woke up happy and willing to get ready again.  We did struggle over him being so very very focused on his "show and tell" item that he would get lost easily.  He just could not follow directions this morning...so voices were a bit raised and tension went a bit high.  Then I asked him to put on his shoes and immediately realized they were shoes that he cannot get on by himself and knew I said the wrong thing...he went into "pre-meltdown" and almost lost it...I reminded him that all he had to do was simply say, "Mama, I need help with these shoes." and say it kindly, calmly and nicely...no need to yell and whine and cry.  He was struggling to overcome and went on to yelling at me for wanting to wear his clip on tie again today and then to yell over wanting his "show and tell"  I was going to lose it myself but know that then it's just a trainwreck so I did my best to maintain...

In a strained but lowkey voice I said, ""MM, you are NOT focusing on what Mommy is telling you, you are focusing on the tie and the "show and tell", stop and listen to me and ask me nice about your shoes...

He recovered well, we got the shoes on, the tie was left at home without fussing and he got his "show and tell" and off to school he went with a kiss, a hug and a prayer...whew!!!

Minniemee (MME): I know that my girl needs some one on one time away from home when she begins fighting me at every turn.  When she is reluctant to do what it is she knows she is supposed to do and with the right heart.

We are evidently at that point.  She did not want to get dressed on her own.  She did not want to do much very willingly this morning.  This is the norm for her when she is suffering for time but it is NOT the norm for her on a daily basis.

She found other things to occupy her time besides what she should have done this morning and gave a frown, a grump or an "But, I don't want to do that, it's too much" on every turn this morning.

We did not get Bible Reading and copywork accomplished until 10:30. 

It is now 11:30 and the only additional items finished are studying spelling words and one vocabulary word...she has 4 more to do and must study two large topics today.

Owls (characteristics, diet, habitat, enemies, life span, behavior, and a drawing) and Guns (history, safety, mechanics, laws, policies and pros and cons of those items).

We still have to squeeze in swim lessons, a tuxedo fitting and a birthday party...hmmm, too much even for me as an adult...oooohhh, k.

Edit:  Thursday ended up with no swim lesson (Mama's executive decision that Daddy agreed with is that we do just one lesson a week on Tuesdays)  NO tuxedo fitting and we went to the birthday party of which the children had a blast at.

Friday we spent sewing to finish up Minnie's dress for her flowergirl position at the up and coming wedding Saturday.