DH and I had a wonderful talk on Sunday, and the results of the talk have transformed our homeschool, so I thought I'd better write about it before I forget.

     I really, really love homeschooling.  However, there are some days that I feel like I'm just not connecting with Hugs -- like all I'm doing is barking orders to do this assignment or do that one.  This is not the vision I have for our homeschool.  We seem to have gotten into a rut, and I could sense we needed a change in something, or else I risked ruining the relationship with my 8 year old.

     So, with DH's approval, I decided to focus on what Hugs loves about school -- reading together on the couch cuddled under a blanket (which we do even in the summer unless it is extremely humid).  Our general routine had been to start the independent assignments first thing after breakfast and do our read alouds (science, history, literature, Bible) mostly after lunch.  For the past three days, we've started our school day with a pile of books, a warm blanket and friendly banter about who gets to sit where on the couch for our reading time.   Right now, we're reading Red Sails to Capri, which is a great, witty boy book full of adventure and mystery.  We are reading some poems (which don't get nearly the loud groans that they used to get -- a positive development, for sure) and some Aesop's Fables ("I really like these, Mom").  Oh, and the Kids Day-by-Day Bible, too. 

     There are two cool effects from this change: (1) I get to start off the day cuddling at least 1 of my boys.  The other two usually play around us, and occasionally Hugs and I get sat upon by one of the others for a few minutes (2) The rest of our schooling for the day has been met with minimal grumbling and complaining.

     I'm filing this under "God Spotting" because this change in the aroma of our homeschool can only come from Him.