Transitions. Child care. Homeschooling.

Well, Vance Tales is back in business, and I am officially relieving Dave of his summer blogging.  Dave decided to aim for one blog a week this summer, as one a day was too time consuming.  However, he found this approach really hard.  He likes to narrate details, and so looking at all the materials and pictures of ALL the family for a whole week was a bit overwhelming.  I think he decided that for NEXT summer he will go back to the daily format, but just do a “highlight of the day.”  I do believe, however, that he has one more post he is working on putting up by the end of the week.  It’s about our 2 week vacation back to the East Coast we returned from a week ago.

So, I won’t say a ton about it.  But, I will say a few things.  This year, I think we struck a good balance of catching up with people, spending time with family, doing activities, AND trying to relax.  We really could have just GONE GONE and GONE each day, but accepted that we wouldn’t be able to catch up with all our old friends each summer we are home.  Or DO all the activities on our list EACH summer.  So! For those darling people we would have REALLY liked to see and didn’t get a chance this summer: We’ll look YOU up next time J

I felt pretty sad about leaving NB this time around.  Even though the kids all seem to start to break down a bit approaching the 2 week mark, I just didn’t want to leave!  Most years I hit the point where I am ready for my own bed and house and to get back at things.... But, this year the open spaces, the piney breeze, the friendly smiles, and our dear families were just a pulling on my heart strings.  Anyways, it was a great 2 weeks, and we made some memories and had some great moments that I am sure will never fade from my aging brain.

So, we’ve been in Ottawa for a week now, and my time has been spent getting ready for the transition to fall.  It came a bit early as Dave went back to work on Tuesday, and I start watching children out of my home tomorrow!    I have one of my part timers start at 7:30 AM, along with his older sister.  She will just be joining us for a few weeks before her school starts, as well as a handful of PD days here and there over the school year.  This little guy will be with me Monday, Wednesdays and some Fridays.    Then, in September, I have 2 brothers starting with us on Tuesdays.  And then in October, one little guy who will be here one day a week...switching between Wednesdays and Fridays.  They are all wonderful kids from AMAZING families that are looking for a Happy and Christian Home with other kids to send their kids just a few times a week. 

So, this week, I have been putting into practice the fall routine with Jesse, Janna, and Robyn.  I waffled between many daily schedules and I am sure this will need to be tweaked, but here is the run down for the upcoming days.   It is all printed out and posted on each floor of the house, and I am interested in seeing how things will go!

DAILY SCHEDULE

7:00-7:30 Breakfast

7:30-7:45 Kids dressed/teeth/faces/diapers

7:45-8:15 Daily chores

8:15-9:15 Free Play: Basement Play Room 

   (Babies nap 9-10)

9:15-9:30 Organized game

9:30-10 Art

10:00-10:15 Snack

10:15-10:30 Bathroom break/diapers/Outdoor prep

 10:30-11:30 Daily Excursion (Park, Friends place, Library, Ikea?? It will depend on the weather and day, and kids moods, etc.  On the couple of days where there are 5 children, it will just be a close by park as we won’t all be able to squeeze into the van)

11:30-12 Wash up from outdoors- bathroom if needed- then TV Show while lunch is prepped

12-12:40 Lunch

12:40-12:50 Story Time

12:50-1 Bathroom/Diapers/Transition

1-3 NAPS (Older kids: Quiet time for the first hour- Second hour homeschooling for Jesse. Older children welcome to join in listening to books, etc)

3-3:15 Music, dance, exercise or sensory activity (will depend on the day and kids ages/ moods etc)

3:15-3:30 Light afternoon snack

3:30-3:45 Bathroom/Diapers/Transition

3:45-4:45 Outdoor Play front or back yard.  We will go out in all weather conditions EXCEPT for extreme heat/cold/winds etc.  In the case of severe weather we will play in the basement playroom for the last hour of the day

As you will notice, Jesse starts his more formal homeschooling soon!  His 40 pounds book box came Fed Exed on Tuesday, and he was SO excited.  It was adorable.  After lunch, the kids and I spent almost 2 hours poring over the books and a few activities contained in this magic box.  Here they are checking out the goods

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I really wasn’t expecting such the fuss over my decision to homeschool our children from friends, family and strangers.  Most people have a fairly negative reaction, and, if positive, continue to question my methods, qualifications, and the social impact I am putting on my child.  In fact, the other day, in the parking lot to shoppers a woman made the comment about how busy I must be with the kids.  After asking the ages, she asked what school Jesse would be going to in the fall.  I told her I was homeschooling, and she engaged me in a 15 minute Q and A!  Are you qualified?  How does your curriculum match up with the provinces? How are your kids going to be socialized? How long does it take a day?   Will you be introducing letters?  Will you teach your kids to read?

WILL I TEACH MY KIDS TO READ?!?!  I wanted to say in a SUPER serious expression, “ I don’t believe in reading.  That’s why I am NOT sending my kids to school.”

Mostly, it’s kind of funny how people just don’t seem to understand AT ALL while on earth I would want to spend the whole day with my kids.  That I will go crazy.  Why wouldn’t I catch a break if I could?   While I don’t look down on the education system, or the majority of the population who DO send their kids to school, It’s just that I DO actually WANT to have more time to spend with them while they are so young, influential and mouldable.   I want to guide their moral and educational instruction.  I want to know their strengths and weaknesses and have the time and knowledge to guide them through these.   I want their days to be based around the home, starting with a leisurely and non rushed breakfast that does not involve them getting out the door by 7:30.  I want them to have hours outside each day to play. I want to teach them how to clean and cook and contribute to family chores. I want them to have unstructured time each day to be creative and learn how to use their imaginations and entertain themselves.  I want them to be able to go into their rooms and decompress each day during a quiet time.  I want to be able to welcome Daddy home with supper almost on the table and eager, rested kids.  I want them to have evenings free from homework, and time to spend with their dad.  I want to be able to take a beautiful sunny day off of school if we want and go for a hike.  I want to make birthdays “holidays.”  These are just a handful of things I will throw out there. 

So, I’m very excited to start up his curriculum come September.  It’s about an hour of instruction each day, and so the plan is to get it done during the second hour at nap time for the other kids.  As the woman at Shoppers said, “ Well.... I suppose.... in Kindergarten...by the time the teacher gets them all seated... and then lines everyone up.... and then .....and then..... they probably are only REALLY learning an hour of actual material.   It’s more about learning the way school works and socialization and everything.  But what about friends? ”     (and I must just interject here and say here: GOD BLESS Kindergarten teachers. You do a great job with all those kids and working in all your objectives.  I have GREAT respect for teachers of all ages and stages)

So, I may as well answer this question of socialization while I’m blogging.  Jesse will be put in group things.  There is swimming and soccer and Sunday school and Awana and play dates and his siblings!  He gets plenty of chances to interact with other kids, especially in our neighborhood as there is often a few, if not a dozen, kids running around.   Also, there is a fantastic homeschooling association in Ottawa.  Everyday there are other homeschooled kids who may together for a science experiment, or recess, to go skating.  There are even tons of group courses you can register for, where your child is dropped off for this or that for so many weeks to be taught by another parent in an area of expertise.  It could be a short lecture, gymnastics basics for 8 weeks, a science fair, a 12 week photography course.  Lots of things to do and chances to interact in larger groups.   There is a stereotype of the homeschooled kid who is socially awkward and may be ill at-ease in large groups. And sometimes that plays out, and sometimes it doesn’t.  But, honestly, my goals and hopes for my kids are NOT that they would “be cool” or “be great in a crowd”  There are far more important things I want to try and teach and demonstrate for them, that just wouldn’t be taught in school.  How to esteem others.  How to forgive.   How to be a peace maker.   Not that I will have a daily lesson and activity on such BIG heart issues...but I will have SO much opportunity with all those minutes spent with them over the days, playing, eating, working, and schooling to see where their heart it, and try to shepherd it in the way it should go.

So, a busy year ahead!   But, I feel so thankful that I am able to stay home with the kids.  That God has provided the kids to watch along with my crew so we can make ends meet financially, AND the kids have new faces to interact with each day.   So, wish me luck tomorrow.  A new adventure begins J