As a New Year's Resolution, I said I could no longer babysit my neice.  So, on New Year's Eve, I told my brother they would need to find someone else.  It took them 3 weeks, but they decided to let my ex-sister-in-law babysit her.  Ok, to me its wierd to have your ex-wife babysit your fiance's baby.  But hey, whatever works for them.

It has made a BIG difference in my attitude.  I am feeling better and the kids can't back me down as well.  Plus, now when they need me, I'm there.  No more telling them they have to wait because I'm taking care of the baby.

On the Homeschool homefront, it is finally going better.  I'm not sure if we are doing "enough" but I guess everyone thinks that in the begining.  We only have sit--down work for about 1 hour a day.  I pretty much feel like we are just now getting started.  I am still trying to find out what my DS knows, what he doesn't, and how to approach him with it.  Is 6 months of de-schooling too much?  I'll say this, I'm not getting a fight anymore, and we I feel like we only really got started last week.  So, that's a good thing right?

I think I'm approaching Homeschooling in a very eclectic way.  It depends on my mood, prep time, and kids attitude that day.  I've never been one that was good for schedules.  So, I have lots of different kinds of materials so I can grab what I feel like having them do.  Sometimes we will do Unit study (with Math and Language Arts added if needed).  Other times I'll pull things from the web (like Homeschoollearning.com or ABCteach.com etc).  Then, if I don't have any planning time I'll grab one of the workbooks and we'll do a few pages.  It seems like we are doing review right now.  I guess that's one reason we get done so fast.  I just dont know where he is at yet.

My DD on the other hand, I know exactly what she knows since she hasn't been in school yet.  Most of the Kindergarten things she already knows.  We are working on letter sounds and begining reading, as well as handwritting, math, science, and whatever floats our boat.  She loves "learning time" and often (nearly daily) asks me if we can "do our learning".  I hope some day that DS will look forward to it like that.

As for my youngest kid, he hangs out.  He's only 3, so I'm pretty comfortable with his lead on learning.  I am letting him join in with the other kids when he wants and often have books or printed sheets for him to use.

So, here's to more good days.