Once again, I’m trying to resist the urge to over-plan for next year.  In our town, there are many wonderful opportunities for home schoolers – athletic programs, theater, art classes, scouts, 4-H club, and so much more.  I don’t want to be over-extended.  In fact, I would like to have less on our plates than I did last year.  Therefore, I must narrow down the options to one (maybe two) per child at a time.

Sarah loves horses and really wants to be involved in 4-H or scouts.  That’s year-round, so for physical fitness, I may have to allow two activities.  Tennis classes are going to be offered in fall and spring.  YAY!  In a previous post, I mentioned that they were in the spring only.  I’ve sense learned that there will be fall tennis as well.  Sarah wants to do tennis both terms, instead of volleyball in the fall then tennis in the spring.  I love volleyball, and I think she’d love it too.  Yet, I ask myself, “do I really want to introduce her to anything additional?”… LOL… So, we’ll do tennis both terms.  It may be better to keep it simple anyway.

Rachel wants to do cake decorating classes at Michael’s.  We’ve talked about it, but never had the chance to do it.  I think it would be a great idea.  In fact, it would be nice for us to do it together; but I don’t think that’s possible with my husband’s work schedule.  Rachel also wants to take theater lessons (which would satisfy a part of her liberal arts requirement).  The neighborhood theater offers lessons, but will not this fall due to renovations.  They will, however, offer lessons in the spring.  So far, there’s nothing “athletic” in the plan for Rachel, and that’s okay with me.  My husband, on the other hand, thinks we should force her to play a team sport.  He thinks it’ll help prepare her for the workforce.  Personally, I think she can learn plenty of “teamwork” at home.

I had thought about starting the new school year next week, but my hubby will take a week of vacation next week.  That’ll be great!!  We’ll finish some things around the house and maybe sightsee the area as a family next week.  August 20^th will be the first day of the new year.  ;-)  I’m excited!

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Posted by mijubrifarms

Every year I say we won't get "busy", but it never happens. It's was bad enough with just two; not soooo bad with one. We end up doing so much that we're seldom Home to do School. That's me.
I highly recommend 4H (you've read my posts). Sarah could study horses and Rachel could enter cake decorating. Of course they would still have to take the classes, but the competition is great. She could get some of that "teamwork" practice in on a committee or as an officer. Another option for preparing for the workforce: volunteer work! once a week without mom. For PE - try something like dance. Who knows?
My DD does 4H: Sewing, Tae Kwon Do (PE) and Flute lessons & flute choir (music). Then at Co-op she will be taking Health & CPR (science) and Am. History. She also has a private mentor for Creative Writing and just joined a Teen Critique Group (english). All I have to fit in is Geometry, some extra science labs, and Driver's Ed and I'm set.

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Posted by sahmto4orMore

Thanks for stopping by my blog.

Cake decorating would be so much fun!

If she is wanting to focus on horses, i'd go with 4H over scouts; and you know i'm a boy scout fan. Not so much a fan of girl scouts.

No name yet. Eric won't name her til she's born. I'm leaning toward Autumn Hope right now, though. Anneliese is high on the list as well. He likes to see them before he names them.

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Posted by authorDonna

I know just what you mean. Your children learn so much from these outside activities but there is a balance and you do have to keep yourself in good form. Don't exhaust yourself and if it means taking a year off of all the extra stuff--do it. Blessings. Oh. Stop by my site for the book draw.

Donna Fawcett
Author of Thriving in the Home School
Donna Dawson
Author of Redeemed and The Adam & Eve Project
Word Alive Press' top seven author 2007
www.inscribe.org/donnadawson
www.shoutlife.com/donnadawson
www.blogger.com/christianfictionnovels

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