Well, How do I start...I guess I am DESPERATE!!! I know, that wasn't very suttel(sp?) but I am. I am at such a loss as to what to do...I have made a very big mistake and don't know how to correct it. I guess I should start at the beginning, so here it goes:
Ok, I am not very good at admitting defeat, so please bare with me. I have been homeschooling for about 10 yrs now and I have 4 girls. 10th grade, 7th grade, 3rd grade, and k5. When my oldest daughter was getting ready to start kindergarten, we decided we would homeschool. I only knew a couple of families that homeschooled and was eager to learn more about it. We had prayed and felt lead to homeschool. it was hard knowing what to do at first, so I just did what I knew my friends were doing. Which, at that time, one was using ABEKA. I ordered everything needed for that and got to work. Things were ok, but there was so much work to do. Well as the next couple of yrs went by, it was such a struggle to make Abeka a fit for my child. By the time she was starting 2nd grade, I was at a loss as to what to do. I knew that wasn't working for us. Not that Abeka is not a good curriculum, but it wasn't a fit for us and it was very expensive. Well, I went to an older friend who had homeschooled many yrs and had, at the time had just had her 6th child. I had known her for most of my life. She had actually babysat me when I was younger. So needless to say I looked up to her. She was 11 yrs older and seemed to have such a perfect life. (funny how life always seems greener on the other side...lol) Well, her attitude toward homeschooling was "less is best." More of a unschooling method. Not much formal school until 6th grade or so. Her 2 oldest children were in highschool at the time and to be honest, I thought were the perfect children. I can't tell you the times I have said,"Who ever marries one of them will have such a good wife." They could run a house as good as , if not better than, their mother. Well, I feel under the spell. I started doing exactly what she said I should do. BIG MISTAKE!!! In the last 2 years, I began to see some things that bothered me. For one, this family has a problem keeping friends..they were so judgemental. And sadly, I have to admit, that being around that made me (us as a whole family) become judgemental. The crazy thing was that the things they were most judgemental about were the very things they did themselves. Both their oldest daughters rebelled. The both left home, one left the state. One moved in w/ a boyfriend and started using drugs. It was a really bad situation. That really made us take a look at some of the decisions we had made. When there 3rd child got closer to graduation, he worked for my uncle who owns an appliance repair business. He needed some help and I recommended their son. After a month or so of working w/ him, my uncle called and told me that he was very concerned because the child could barely read. (at the time he was in 11th grade) he said he wouldn't be able to use him anymore, but for me not to say anything to his parents because he didn't want to get involved. Besides, what would I say??? Anyway, needless to say, over the last year or so the Lord really showed us that we need to make some serious changes. We have actually cut off contact w/ that family. I know that seems so drastic, but actually, It was best.
So here is my problem, I now have children that are behind. My 10th grader is only behind in math. My 7th grader is a little behind on reading level and math. But my 3rd grader is the worst of all. She is probably only reading on a 1st grade level. I am so worried about her. I have tried several different things and just do not know what to do. I never had this much trouble teaching reading to the older girls and am at a loss. I know that my 5 yr old would probably be reading now, if I had the time to work w/ her. I just feel like I have to devote so much time to my 3rd grader. Has ANYONE dealt with this??? I have spent most of the day trying to look at different things to do with her, but for the most part, everything is so expensive. I have spent so much on things that don't work, that I am leary of spending any more.
I am praying for answers and peace. I know that homeschooling is what we are supposed to be doing, but am just feeling a little lost. (actually, ready to throw in the towel..) I am a member of our local homeschool group, but am not really wanting to air my dirty laundry to them, so to speak...lol. I haven't actually felt that much support from the group as a whole. Any advice or encouragement would be welcomed.
