Registration Time is Just Around the Corner...

I can't wait for my girls to start school. Some of you may remember that I was debating about whether to home school or not to home school. Clearly I have decided. I'd like to...really. However, the reality is that I need space. I need to be left alone, regularly. Otherwise, I start to get very agitated and snappy. As it stands right now, there is no part of my day (or night) that goes uninterrupted. Some people may like having their kids by their side 24/7...not me. Don't get me wrong, I not only love my children...I like them too. But I need time away from them and they need time away from me.

A Much Needed Break

Yes, I know I've been gone for a while. I just needed a break. My husband had been gone for a few days on a business trip. I was home alone w/ the 2, 3, 8 and 17 yr old. It was stressful. The experience did leave me w/ important things to consider about homeschooling. Planning ahead for the expected and the unexpected is very necessary for one's sanity. I didn't do this for the eight year old this time around. He just about drove me crazy bouncing off the walls and getting the girls all worked up. The fact that he is a natural born leader is a good thing. However it's only a good thing when he has something constructive to do. So, after lunchtime, I printed off a few worksheets from the web. Poor thing was actually devastated when I placed them on the table right after lunch. You would think he would be used to it by now. I made sure to give him activities that forced him to sit and think. It gave all of us some peace and allowed me to concentrate on some other things for a while. All in all, I survived.

To Homeschool, or not to Homeschool

I ran into a neighbor of mine the other day. We were talking about our children's personalities and how they develop. She revealed that she home schooled and wanted to know if I had decided whether to do the same for the girls. I confessed that I am undecided. One the one hand, I would like to have a little time to myself. I miss it terribly. However, I also want to be sure that my girls everything they need when they need it. My neighbor mentioned all the bad habits her niece picked up after she started regular school. This reminded me of the bad habits my mother said that my sister and I picked up when we started school. Ours weren't nearly as bad as my neighbor's niece, still it was food for thought. Homeschooling would better allow me to to monitor the positive and negative influences that children are bound to encounter. I love the idea of not being the last to know what's going on with my girls. My husband on the other hand, has other ideas. Not only does he want them in school, but in both the before and after school program as well. It seems rather extreme and unnecessary considering I'm a stay at home mom. Then I realize he's still hoping I go back to work full time. Still, it's not what I want for my girls. I want to raise them, teach them. I want them to be able to have their lessons, take a ballet class, visit a museum and run a quick errand at the mall all before dinner. I know I'm not asking too much. But I think my husband would be much more at ease if I could at least replace the income I made before I went on maternity leave (and never came back). I would certainly feel less guilty. A second income would ease the strain he's feeling for sure. So if there is anybody out there looking for a children's book, song, guest blogger, please contact me. My husband will thank you profusely.