So I realised today (after two different people inquired about us homeschooling Darby) that I hadn't posted anything about it. So I thought, that I would explain our decision and that way everyone knows! ; )
We started Darby in Kindergarten at the elementary school just down the road in the fall. It was a GREAT school and her teacher seemed wonderful as well! She was doing good there and enjoying it. We started her because at the time we hadn't decided if we should homeschool or not. And Robert proposed that we start her and we could always pull her out if we decided against public school! So that is what we did. We decided to pull her out at the semester, and here is a list of reasons why, starting with the most important to us: 1. Darby is very different then myself. I struggle to understand her and create a deep, meaningful relationship with her. We have a great mother/daughter relationship, but I want it to have a good foundation of trust and love. And because we are so different, it's coming harder then otherwise. When she was in school, I would get her home by 4, do homework, clean up, start dinner, and then after dinner it was bedtime. I had VERY little time to really communicate with her other than the basics. Because I had two other children to care for and a house to keep. I felt our relationship slipping from my fingers and felt convicted about it. Even if it's just for a few years to really work on our foundation for our relationship, so be it. But now we get time together alot! When the little ones are sleeping and working on school work. I felt the need to be a better steward of my time with Darby. 2. Darby's education. The quality of education that can be offered in a homeschooling environment has been shown to far exceed public schools. I have nothing against public school teachers! I just think that the system has a few flaws that make it hard on the teachers. 3. We found a co-op. I was holding off on homeschooling until I could find a network of other homeschooling families to socialize with. For support for me and friends for Darby. We actually visited a Classical Conversations open house the other day. Robert and I are reading alot about it. We are considering getting Darby into it for first grade. It would include her going to a tutor with other kids her age one day a week and me supplementing the rest of the week using the same curriculum. 4. Simplicity for me!! I always thought it would be easier once she got into school. Like I would get a "break". But it just complicated things. Getting the other little ones up and ready in time to take her to school. And usually having to wake them from their naps in the afternoon to go pick her up. Packing a lunch everyday. Which I realise was optional, but in my eyes, I didn't see public school food as any kind of option for my daughter. Things are more structured and organized now that she is home. Bryse loves having her around and is learning just as much watching us do school and doing some herself. 5. Flexibility!!!!!!!! With us living so far from family, I don't have to worry about her getting into trouble for being taken out of school for us to travel home to see family. As it is, we only have to schedule around Robert's work schedule. And that is a huge blessing. We can do lessons in the car so easily. My parents are coming to visit next week and i don't have to worry about Darby seeing them less because of school. If I feel like taking the kids to the aquarium on a school day to dodge business, I can! Without asking a stranger for permission to spend time with my little girl! ; ) So I guess those are the main things. There are others, but these are the biggest in deciding what would work for us.
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Baby #4 is expected to join us in September of 2010! The search for a good homebirth midwife is underway! : )
Robert had lots of time off over the Christmas season and it was nice! We took the kids bowling one of those days. Which was tiring for us, but a blast for the kids. Never realised how competitive the girls were until that day! Anyway here are some pics from that fun time! And the other day we got some newer furniture. Basically all of the furniture we've had was found on the side of the road one way or another. So we started shopping around for some furniture recently. Mainly, we were in a hurry because while Jack was being potty trained he peed on our old furniture several times. ack. So we got seriouse about it. Shopped at some nice places for newer furniture. We were wanting a sofa/love seat combo and then eventually (when we could afford it) add a recliner too. It was too expensive to get all three at this time. Well, just as we were about to cave and buy new, Robert found a black leather sofa/loveseat combo WITH a micro fiber recliner on craiglist!!! It was within our price and we praise God for providing the little luxuries!!! Plus, the recliner couldn't have come at a better time, cuz Cal's been sick for a couple weeks now and Robert and I have been taking turns holding him in it.
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LindseyI'm the mama and wife. Updating you on our life! Archives
January 2022
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