Homeschooling

I wrote this post just after I started homeschooling almost 3 years ago.  I never published it.  Reading it now,  I feel that raw emotion that I felt when I wrote it.  We have grown a lot in 3 years. I am not so afraid anymore.


I actually haven't been very forthcoming about the fact that we are homeschooling this year.  I have felt weak and didn't want any criticism.  I always said I could never/would never homeschool my kids.  Just out of selfishness for my time, let alone a thousand other reasons...my kids make me crazy fighting, screaming and messing up the house all the time.  (I know this sounds awful and I am not saying this is how other moms are, but this is how I was.) I only say that because everyone that finds out we are homeschooling for some reason thinks that I want them to do the same.  That is not true, although if you want to try it, you should.
There are so many wonderful things about homeschooling like sleeping in, reading books snuggled in the bean bag, keeping those terrible middle school experiences at bay, or doing what you feel your Heavenly Father has asked you to do.
There are also not so fun things like finding out that your 3rd grader has been lying about doing her math assignments all week, or having a meltdown in your closet because you do not feel compitent enough to teach everything the world has to offer to your five children in one year, or your 5 year old telling you he can't wait for kindergarten because he does not want to be homeschooled.
To be honest it is super brutal.  But when I ask my girls if they are ready to go back to public school, they say "no way". They even tell the five year old "Don't do it! People are so mean."  It would be easy to send them back and I am not sure that I never will but for now I am learning at least as much as they are.  I am sure that no situation is 100% ideal, but I hope I can do my best for them.  I am going to try.

Sometimes it is harder than it looks

I know it is easy to smile and pretend it is all ok. But sometimes it is harder than it looks.  To see someone and assume that the smile means it is all ok would pretty much always be wrong.  Pretty much always.  Dealing with other humans or not having other humans to have to deal with can both be hard.  Life is hard.  I am feeling it.  Tomorrow I am sure I will feel different.

Another Year, Another Move

Here it is, the second year in a row starting off with a move.  Moving is a bit of a nightmare.  You put all your stuff in boxes and can't find what you need for weeks before the move and weeks after the move.  Then you wish you hadn't kept even part of what you did, because moving a bunch of junk feels horrible.  The kids are all sad, overwhelmed, lonely, and grumpy.  That is except the 7 year old who has tons of energy and wants everyone to play with him.  While everyone else has no energy and no patience.  This ends up being not a very nice mix.

At the moment all have been ordered to sleep.  Which is made difficult by the screaming coming from the 7 year old, who feels betrayed by everyone because no one has the energy or patience to deal with him.

I do like some things about moving.  This list is an attempt to remind myself that there are positives.

New places
New friends
Getting rid of some but not enough junk.

We moved here for a few reasons. Maybe writing them down will help me remember and focus on them.

Skyler going to college.  BYU or UVU
Kaely going to a performing arts school. UVU or Pioneer High School
Misty possibly going to law school or business school.
Saving enough money for a down payment on a home.


I am tempted to get a job to speed up the process of getting a home. But one of my reason for waiting is that I really do not want to send the twins to public school in Jr High.  I also feel like the big kids will need a lot of support in college their first year.

I know we are supposed to go through new scenarios and experience new things so that we know how to succor others and so that we can grow and be better.  I have been struggling with feeling willing.  I will try harder to do better and be more positive.  I will.

Other things worth noting

We got a dog for two weeks... then gave it back.

Kaely had a really fun 12th birthday party at the mall.

And got ...

a cellphone!

My cousin got married.

and Skyler grew taller than me and now is trying to pass Shay!

Long time coming

So I finally graduated in May.  It was a crazy whirlwind of a day.  My beautiful friend Brenda Rakes came to celebrate with us along with my sister, nephew and dad.

 We rushed from graduation, to Kaely's play, "Fiddler on the Roof."  She played a villager.

The next week I went to my brothers graduation from dental school at Loma Linda.  I was so proud of him and all the hard work he put in.  His kids are beautiful and so is his wife.  I loved being with them. it was so fun.  I also loved waking up and picking grapefruit from his trees for breakfast.

I came home from my bro's graduation to go to girls camp and be in charge of the food.  It was an eye opening experience. It was the first time I had gone to girls camp since I was a teenager.  It was K's first  time and she absolutely loved it.  She was awarded best first year camper. 

Graduation Announcement

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Long Time Coming

I really can't believe how long it has been since I posted.  It has been a busy semester full of LOTS of really great experiences.  I am so relieved to have made it through my toughest semester of school and to know that I only have one left is kind of crazy.  I hope to use everything I have learned, including the understanding that cleaning my house doesn't have to consume me.  I was able to present my paper at a national conference in October.  I won an award of excellence and 250$.  Not only that but they have confirmed that it will be published this spring in a scholarly journal.  Which is completely crazy to me. 
Shay and I went to Chicago for the first time as he also presented at a national conference in December.  The only difference is that he didn't have to write a 20 page paper.  He did a great job speaking about job growth.  It wasn't the romantic trip I had planned, since Shay ripped his calf muscle playing football at the Turkey Bowl on Thanksgiving day.  I had to push him in a wheelchair the entire time.  That sounds insensitive, but I asked him not to play at the football game because he would hurt himself.  Also, the crowds were insane on the Magnificent Mile and pushing a wheelchair was insanity.  But I do have to say that Garrett's Popcorn, Chicago mix, was delicious and I have craved it multiple times since then.
I have put on at least 8 lbs since the semester finished, I am not used to having time to eat so much.  Which leads me to one of our goals this year.... Cutting out sugar.  I am so sick of feeling yucky.  We are not buying any more sugary treats.  I will see how this goes, but I am excited.  Shay and the kids are on board as well.
It is going to be a great year!