I can not believe it's Friday already. This week has flown by. It's been a pretty good week, except for a hard extended family 'issue' during the middle of the week. That is always so draining. Hurtful things were said to me, and the pain and sadness of it all is still lingers sometimes. But I am feeling better overall, and I know the whole situation is in the Lord's hands. I'm just so very thankful and blessed by my family, my husband and kids, and all the wonderful friends He's brought into my life (both IRL and all my online friends). I have been so encouraged by so many wonderful things said to me, and I'm grateful for that. And I'm also grateful that I had an opportunity to fully and clearly explain my Christian beliefs and the gospel message itself. As sad as it is, I've never really done that in my Christian walk, up until now. And this was directly because of what the Lord showed me last week (go here if you want to know what I'm talking about). Since that time I feel even more in love with the Lord and more sold out for Him, more than I ever have. I had the chance to share with my family on some specific issues that were asked of me. Like I said, things were said about me and to me that were and are very hurtful, but I'm thankful for the chance I had. So how things end up with these family members, I'm not sure, leaving it all in the Lord's hands. But I do pray they all come to know the Lord's grace and salvation in their lives.
So that was the hard part of the week. But one of the good things that happened was a math/homeschool breakthrough today with my son. I have been trying to figure out if we should skip 4th grade math, Teaching Textbooks, and just go to 5th grade. By age he is already in 5th grade, but as a homeschooler, he does different levels in different subjects. But lately I've been hearing a lot of 'I can't" from him, when I know he can. It's been a difficult time, and today was a melt down day. I had had it with the 'I can't's' and he had had it with me always saying he can.
So today we were taking a placement test for the 5th grade math, just so I could see if he knew the information. Now, I do have to say I am not trying to push my boy to do more than he can. But I know what he is capable of, and I am worried that he is getting bored with math because he knows what he's doing, yet doesn't want to apply himself. So after voices were raised (I know, not proud of it, but I'm human and sin like we all do) I was getting frustrated and about to just give up on the whole thing. Just put him in the 4th grade math and leave it at that. When he looked at me and said, "You're going to let me give up?" Yep, that's exactly how I felt. But I knew it was a break through moment. I told him I didn't want him to give up and that I knew he could not only do the test, but skip 4th grade and go right to 5th grade math. He said it really was what he wanted to do, but he was nervous he wouldn't be able to do the work. I could tell that the apathy he had in his work was really starting to get to him, and he was truly beginning to believe he couldn't do it. It showed me more and more if we act and say something enough, we will start truly believing it about ourselves.
So we talked, cried, prayed and he rested a bit. Then I asked him if he wanted to try to finish the test (which was funny, he didn't know it was a test until it was over. He said, "That was a test?" ). He did, and I got him started on it again to a point and said when he got there to let me know and we would go to the next section. Well one thing lead to another, phone call after phone call, email after email and he walks into my room with the whole test done. He had gone on without me. He had such a big smile on his face when he handed me the papers. I just kept praying that he knew his work well enough so I could get him right into 5th grade. I could tell at this point its that's what his confidence needed. He needed that kind of encouragement, he needed to know he could do the work. Well I graded everything and guess what, he passed it enough to show he's ready for the 5th grade TT. It was such a special moment when I told him. I know that though it was hard, this was a breakthrough that was needed.
Because he learns different I tend to always take it very easy with him, not pushing too hard, not giving him work if I don't think he'll learn it, going over things for a long time making sure he 'gets' it. But I'm realizing that for him, it's been a bit of a detriment to him. He hasn't learned to try harder things or to push himself a bit. He's gotten the impression since he has to go over things so much, he just can't do them. I feel so bad about this. Even the other day when he was reading I was shocked at how well he was doing. We had bought some new books that at first he thought was too hard. But then when I said he could do it, and in a certain time limit, he actually did it. What a confidence builder. My boy is way smarter than I give him credit for, and I'm going to stop holding him back by thinking he needs to take it 'easy'. Now before I get slamed with comments saying not to push my boy too hard, remember you don't know the whole story or our whole lives. And that I can't explain in a few sentences all the things that have truly happened. Trust that I know what my son needs.
So I guess this week has been lots of lessons learned by me and the kids. All of them included some sort of melt down and hard times, but in the end came out pretty good. I'm blessed by that.
Well, I need to get going and put together some information on internet safety with children. The leader of our homeschool group asked if I would talk about that this Monday at our monthly meeting. It should be fun, and I have some links and tips to give, so we'll see. I hope you are all having a blessed beginnng to your weekends. Oh, and hubby and I are going on a date lunch Sunday afternoon, I can't wait.
That is so great to see you guys having a break through moment, and in a way its opening my eyes to my own son as well because I can see myself doing the same thing especially in DS reading. I think its just great you even had a moment of learning in regards to your personal relationship with the LORD how awesome that must be for your soul to be singing in.... Have a great weekend
I'm so sorry someone said something hurtful to you. Hugs to you from me!! That is wonderful about the breakthrough for your son with his math-I'm so thrilled for you both!
I hope you have a very special date with your hubby tomorrow. Love, Holly
How wonderful for Paulie!!! That is really great!!! I'm glad you chose Mystery of History, I've heard nothing but good stuff about it. We have used some of the Apologia science books, but not Zoology 1 yet. I plan to get it when LO is a little older. It's a wonderful series.
I'm sorry that you had a rough time. I hope things are starting to heal.
I just had to say hello. I enjoyed reading this entry. I have always wanted to check out TT. Right now MUS is going well, but, if that ever changes, I plan to check out TT. I am sorry you had to go through some unpleasant times this past week. I pray that the hearers of the Gospel will take it to heart.
Jenn
I had to look up your user name. I like the verse. What a great user name.
Have you considered taking off a couple weeks from math and do math games? I did that. I was shocked that when we went back to the textbook my daughters flew through the material exclaiming that it was too easy, the same material they were crying and struggling with tears saying it was too hard. Just a thought.
This blog is so I can share my journey with the Lord, my journey as a wife and mother, and my journey as a homeschool mom. I pray that you will see the Lord in my life through happy and sad times, and that this blog glorifies the Lord.
This is an award and tag free zone, thank you.
Yep, that's exactly how I felt. But I knew it was a break through moment. I told him I didn't want him to give up and that I knew he could not only do the test, but skip 4th grade and go right to 5th grade math. He said it really was what he wanted to do, but he was nervous he wouldn't be able to do the work. I could tell that the apathy he had in his work was really starting to get to him, and he was truly beginning to believe he couldn't do it. 
It showed me more and more if we act and say something enough, we will start truly believing it about ourselves.
). He did, and I got him started on it again to a point and said when he got there to let me know and we would go to the next section. Well one thing lead to another, phone call after phone call, email after email and he walks into my room with the whole test done. 
It was such a special moment when I told him. I know that though it was hard, this was a breakthrough that was needed.
