I'm feeling that typical HS Mom's doubt.  Maybe I won't teach her enough.  Maybe I am not giving her the best education she could be getting.  Maybe I SHOULD send her to school.  I know this is normal and a lot of HS Mom's feel this from time to time.   Jennah and Jake are in public schools and they are just so SMART.   Em just started 1st grade -- yesterday.  What if I don't teach her enough to prove to people that her being at home was the right choice? 

I'm just feeling down.  The death of our friend last week and 9/11 yesterday and my parents are still debating a divorce and my mom may move in here.  It's all just a lot of stress right now.  It's been wearing on my physically and emotionally.

So -- we didn't start school last week like planned because of what happened.  (A part of my guilt)  We started yesterday -- and already I'm behind my schedule.  I carefully planned out everything so that I know we are covering everything I want to cover over this term.  I don't want to get behind.  I LIKE my schedule!  More stress.

We started Liberty Math -- it will be review the first week for her.  We read 1/2 of the chapter in Flying Creatures of the 5th Day:  Lepidopteras.  We learned how to tell the difference between a butterfly, moth, and skipper.  (New to me as well!)  We've been butterfly obsessed for months -- so I wanted to start with something of great interest to her.  We have also listened to Little House on the Prairie which gave her a kind of lopsided view of Native Americans -- although Pa was very open-minded about them.  So we are starting our year off with a big Native American study.   On Cindy_Downes' blog I saw a review of History Scribe and I purchased this one to go along with our study.  We read about creation today, listened to another chapter on CD of Charlotte's Web, did the Draw Write Now page on the butterfly, and did a back to school booklet. 

Tomorrow is Brownies.  Here is a picture of Emme from her first day:

  They are going to have Brownie postcard pen pals from around the world!  We were going to do this ourselves, but I'm glad she will be doing it there.  I'm pretty full here!

Em also played on Starfall and watched Animal_Planet.  She loves animals.  She was telling me about seeing a groundhog with a baby in her mouth.  She thought it was eating the baby -- but I explained that they must carry their babies just like cats do.  (Learned something else new!) 

She also started ballet last night.  I wish I would have taken pictures -- i will next week.  She has a good teacher this time, so I'm happy.  The girls are all just so precious.  Ages 6-8. 

I received  Teaching_the_Trivium in the mail yesterday!  What a wonderful gift for being the random blogger!  I'm not exactly a classical educator at the moment -- but I've been wanting to read more about it and see what ideas I can glean from that type of schooling.  I'll be devouring this book! 

I also received in the mail a Recess Pack with a huge red blow up ball (like the kind we used in school) 2 double-dutch jump ropes, sidewalk chalk, a whistle, buttons, cartoon tattoos, certificates of recognition, and poster.  All FREE!  I will start posting links to freebies on my other blog -- A_Simple)Home  I only do the ones where they send the samples to your house no strings attached -- other than maybe signing up for a newsletter.  No subscribing to anything that costs money, etc.  All the links I post will be for great free samples! 

I received some coupons I requested and a free arthritis pen and pad of paper as well.  How nice to be excited to open the mail! 

I've been working on our doorschooling as well.  Mozart is up there, as well as a page of his music (which Emme asks me to sing....*ahem*)  and Breugel's painting is up there too.  We haven't discussed it yet.

Well, that is what is going on here -- hope you are all well.  I'm going to go and post some free samples on my other blog now!

Sherry