'One To Go' Journey Notes - Homeschool Blogger

A New Era begins

Sun, 1 Oct 2006 22:29:00 -0500

Yes, my ds has acquired part time employment with none other than Tim Horton's. For those of you who are Canadians, you know the place well. There is probably one on a street corner near you and you probably know someone who frequents it regularly. I was very proud of ds when he was hired. He has been working 2 days each week for the last couple of weeks. I've seen him come home tired, but satsified. I knew he needed to do something that would challenge him and exhaust him a bit! He's had other work the past few years (seasonal, or short term) but now it's regular.It was an answer to prayer. His sister works there full time right now, so they can drive in together 2 days a week. All in all, it's really been the best scenario for all of us right now. So, he's doing his school work 3 days a week, and away 2 days. I'm thankful for this new experience for my ds.

No Two Are Alike

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 15:45:00 -0500

So why do I keep acting as if they are? Comparing my ds to his siblings, friends, peers around him-- all it does is bring me stress and unhappiness. Thank you, Lord, for my ds - his personality, his likes, his dislikes, his strengths, his weaknesses, his gifts, his struggles. May I remember everyday that YOU created him to be unlike anyone else. May I remember today that you are my provider - my wisdom, my joy, my security. It is found nowhere else.

We're on our way!

Wed, 6 Sep 2006 23:38:00 -0500

I guess you could say we've begun another year of homeschooling. Actually today was more of a discussion of goals and expectations, organizing and readying ourselves for another year. I feel ds was open to ideas and actually expressed himself quite well. We compromised on things and I think we are pretty clear about our roles this year. The onus is more on him to complete his assignments. I'm using a lot of video - Excellence in Writing SWI, Teaching the Classics, Math U See -- so I don't have to do all the teaching and he'll be more independent. Our focus is mainly on math and writing, but we'll be doing lots of R/A for history, lit, and Bible. Hoping and praying it will go well.

7 Habits is a good read!

Mon, 27 Feb 2006 23:05:00 -0600

My ds and I are reading 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, and my, there is a lot of good stuff in there! I read it aloud and we discuss. Sometimes I just read and put my two cents worth in there and ask him his opinion. He seems to be listening, and I think some of it is sinking in. For instance, the other day he said he saw no point to getting his schoolwork done, because it would just mean another day of new assignments tomorrow. I explained to him that he could look at it that way or he could see it as one step closer to a goal - finishing high school and moving on from there. I gave the example of someone wanting to climb Mt. Everest. Would he wake up everyday saying, "Oh no, another day of boring climbing?". He'd probably keep the big picture in mind as he climbed, knowing it was leading him that much closer to realizing his dream/goal. Anyway, the next day, ds's attitude was so much better, and it generally has been better. Well, today, had a disappointing glitch in it-- a little meltdown and some disrespectful words spoken. But other than that, he did finish his assignments. I wish I knew how to motivate this child. Lord, I need help....

How DO they find their passion?

Wed, 15 Feb 2006 19:27:00 -0600

Yes, that's my main goal for my ds. To help him find his passion and be successful in living it. But HELP! How do you do that? He doesn't really seem to have one true passion at this time unless it's skiing and hanging with his friends. But even that can't be called a true passion. He is quite content to be home, play a few computer games, play with his pets (dog and cat), and play on his bass guitar. A basically easy going guy. Personally I'd like to see him get a part time job, but his dad thinks he doesn't need to rush into that. I'd like him to experience success in something. To really feel good about himself. How does one learn to see himself as God sees him -- a unique, precious, worthy individual - nothing to do with talents, personality, 'success' in life. Just as he is. There is just so much pressure out there to accomplish, to be someone! More than anything I want my ds to succeed, to have a healthy self-image, to see himself made in God's image with God given talents. I guess I need to keep praying about this.

'It's Just You and Me, Kid'

Mon, 13 Feb 2006 23:20:00 -0600

Well, this is really what this blog is all about-- how homeschooling is so different when there is only one child left! I have 4 children, three sons and a daughter. My dd, 18, is graduating this year and my two older sons, 20 and 22, are both quite independent, making their way in the world. So, as the saying goes 'It's just you and me, kid'. My 15yo ds and me, together most of the time. That can be quite an intense time together! There are times I genuinely enjoy him and we have some great conversations together. I LOVE that! But there are also the days I want to pull out my hair. The blood pressure rises and I feel I have NO patience left with him. After all, he IS 15, and he's the kind of young man who'd rather be doing something else. He definitely has a unique learning style -- different than the other 3 dc, and that presents its own challenges. That's why I've decided to blog about this. Feeling like I'm homeschooling an only child, for the very first time (although at the beginning, I was homeschooling only one, but there were 3 others vying for my attention, too, and they all interacted together more often than not). Wondering why it's so hard. Second guessing myself over and over about how much work he can/should do. Praying he will 'get through this' and go on and succeed in his area of gifting. Praying for wisdom everyday. Experiencing great days together. Experiencing days I'd rather forget. That's what this blog is all about.

Ultimatum Delivered

Tue, 7 Feb 2006 19:23:00 -0600

Well, it was one of those meltdown kinda days the other day..was that yesterday or the day before? Well, since today's Tuesday, I guess it was yesterday. I decide once and for all to deliver (yet another) ultimatum. Ds, I wrote, if you are going to continue to complain, procrastinate, and generally make things miserable for yourself and me, we will have to look at just completing ACE workpacs. Then you're on your own, I don't have to spend so much time putting together something interesting for you, and when you're done, you know you're done. I give you till Friday, and if your work is not completed, well, I'll put in my order.
Well, the only response I got was "What difference is it going to make if I do ACE?".
I didn't answer. Truth be told, no one really can make him learn if he doesn't want to.
Anyway, today things went much better. He applied himself, complained little, and did decent work on top of it! It just shows me he CAN do what I ask, and it's NOT too much! And it showed me the power of prayer.

I woke at 3 a.m., my mind a flurry of worries for the next day. Wrong thing to do, but that's how I woke up. So, as is the case when I wake up at 3 a.m., I pray and attempt to give my stresses to God. In everything, with prayer and petition, and thanksgiving, make my requests known to God. And the God of PEACE, which passes all understanding, will guard my heart AND mind in Christ Jesus. Well, I don't know if I felt peace. I did fall back to sleep after a couple of hours, and I did wake up a bit nervous for the day - my other ds had a driving test, and my dd had an english exam to write. But we survived! My ds passed, and my dd thinks she did okay. I hope she did better than okay!

What to Do when they're bored..

Tue, 24 Jan 2006 16:19:00 -0600

My ds seems so bored with schoolwork, and it's not like I ask him to do a lot! I try to vary his work with reading, listening to CD's , viewing videos, copywork, oral questions, written answers, and yet what he really only likes is: MSN with his buddies, skiing, hockey, and being with his friends. Does that sound like a normal 15yo to you? I suggested to him that he only concentrate on four subjects a day with more work, but he said he doesn't like to concentrate on anything too long, so he wants it to stay the way it is. At least we got that cleared up. Tomorrow we go out to do volunteering at the church--preparing a hot lunch for the local high school teens. He doesn't seem to mind that..he might complain a bit, though.
I just can't remember it being so frustrating to teach my older sons! Am I not expecting enough? Am I not spending enough time with him? Am I teaching totally wrong? Sometimes I think I should tell him to go find a job and worry about finishing his school later. Or doing the GED or Adult diploma. But I don't know if he'd ever get around to it. I'd like to point him in 'the way he should go', but sometimes it's so hard to find that way.

Thoughts turn to unschooling...again..

Sat, 21 Jan 2006 22:31:00 -0600

Maybe it's just the January doldrums, but my thoughts turn to unschooling whenever I see the frustration in my 15 yo son's eyes, and wonder why are we doing this, anyway? Today I had one of those lightbulb moments, as I was researching the web looking for some ideas on how to improve the situation. I was reading an article by a mom who shared how she really had allowed her son to 'unschool', although she had other plans. Then she explained how her second son schooled a totally different way - a textbook approach - that really worked for him. Suddenly it hit me that because ds doesn't learn the way his siblings did, it IS perfectly fine - or better! - to let him school a different way--maybe even (gasp!)unschool! Of course, I know all my four children are so different from each other, and I've always tried to teach to their style. But my youngest REALLY doesn't like bookwork (reading and writing) at all! So, maybe unschooling is the way to go for him. I mean, what really is the point of pushing, prodding, begging, cajoling, etc. at times? Especially now that he's 15 and has the basics down? When he is agreeable, I sometimes misinterpret that he is enjoying his studies and finally things are fine, but really, I think he's just tolerating his education and that is so wrong. I have homeschooled a long time, so you would think I would have this all settled by now! Nope. Mind you, I've changed my strategies so many times, and the unschooling starts that way, then I bring in a little of this, and -oh yes - we must have a bit of that in our day, etc, and pretty soon we aren't unschooling anymore. I feel that I need to have some boundaries and goals in place, but what that looks like this time, I don't know yet. I'll have to pray about that and really have a talk with ds..set some mutually agreeable goals. The homeschooling life is not for the faint of heart, I say!