I just love how these dresses look on little girls. I made this one and another like it for my older two when they were 1 and 2 years old. The skirts are nice and wide for easier movement- very important for toddlers. I usually pair it with some white muslin and eyelet pantalettes, but they won't fit over her cloth diapered bottom. Guess I need to make some roomier flannel ones for winter.
Today I am planning to order the pattern for the 'Beatrix' gored skirt pattern from Sensibility. It is supposed to be a simple project and I like how long and ample it appears. Plus she's added more sizes to it so it will fit more plus sized figures. Since it has turned cold, I only have two skirts that are 'wintery' and some blue jeans. I HATE pantyhose/tights whatever, and don't have leggings or know where to find some that will fit. So, I may be wearing more pants this winter or if the skirt is successful, I'll be wearing that with some knee highs or something. I'll get it figured out.
I also have a question for homeschooling moms. I've really been re-examining why Leiah is going to school. Every morning when I put her on the bus, I get a little teary or feel a pang of regret because she is so little and is gone. I thought we were doing the best for her, and she is so lucky to have such good teachers and therapists- but they aren't mama. The girls have a hard time adjusting to each other in the afternoons and fight a lot. She is tired from being worked and at school all day.
But, how in the world would I do it? I can barely keep our home clean, good meals cooked, laundry done, and make sure each child is loved and cared for. How would I have time to get all the lessons and materials prepped? I know I have my binder, but I haven't been following it as well the past week or so. Anyways, I would love to hear everyone's ideas/plans for how they go about lesson planning and their daily schedule, especially those of you with several small children. If you don't want to leave a lengthy comment, you can email me: sundholm5@yahoo.com
8 comments:
Hey Jessics~ I have your answer to your questions up on my blog. I hope this helps. Please feel free to ask any more questions you might have :o)
~C
I honestly don't know. I don't homeschool and still life is extremely busy!!!
Are you homeschooling your others?
Homeschooling is actually a lot easier than many think. Sure there are those who have a home classroom, recite the allegience to the flag and have their children sitting in desks. But to me, that's public schooling at home. ;-)
Much of homeschool can happen without your children even knowing it's homeschool.
What you need to do first, is find out roughly what it is she should be learning. You know what she knows, so you can deduce from that what she needs to learn next.
Many ladies will do once a month cooking, where they just take one weekend every month, and make all of that month's dinners and put them in to the freezer. That way, dinner is always ready - just needs warmed up. This is a possibility you can look into.
As for cleaning, I do well with just doing a bit of it each day, and if I get behind - oh well, next week's a new week. :-)
Many homeschooling moms only homeschool 4 days a week, and they take the other day to clean the whole house - there's another possiblity.
Legally, you can start homeschooling right away, without having to put out any legal papers. The state you are in has some of the BEST homeschool laws. Uncle Sam leaves homeschoolers alone in your state, because they are legally protected.
Figure that you'll need about 1 to 2 hours per day of verbal instruction - that's it. Public school takes much longer, because:
1. They have more children to teach
2. They don't know exactly how your child works, like you do
and
3. They aren't mommy. :-)
I think you're absolutly right. I personally think she should be homeschooled - I think she'll excel more, and she'll also have her mommy, which she needs the most. :-)
I am in no way an "expert", because this is our first year of homeschooling after our son went to public kindergarten. That didn't work for us at all - I didn't like him being at school all day and coming home with homework (in kindergarten!), and I didn't like having to conform to someone else's schedule. Plus, he missed me and always wanted me and his baby sister to have lunch with him - I was at school almost as much as he was!
All that said, I've been asking A LOT of questions about homeschooling because we are new to it, and I don't want to do it "wrong". Something very interesting that I just found out last week from the ladies at our kid's homeschool choir class is that until age 8 or 9, you don't really even need a curriculum or strict learning process - unschooling is great at this age. They also recommend the Charlotte Mason approach - there is a Christian based Charlotte Mason approach with free lesson plans called Ambleside Online - google it to see what it's about.
Because I homeschooled Michael as a toddler, before his sister came along, he was pretty well-prepped for kindergarten and is far ahead of his public school counterparts - I'm okay right now being relaxed and just having fun with school. We read a lot, do a lot of worksheets that interest him - he loves mazes and word searches - we are outside a lot, and they learn through play. I've decided to just let him be a kid, and do what kid's do for the time being. His sister is 3, and it is hard to teach them both right now - she likes to have my attention a lot of the time. This way is working great for us - in a few years, I'm sure we will begin a more structured process, when our little girl is a bit older and better prepped for it.
Right now, we are just enjoying each other, loving being together during the day (for the most part), and learning as we go along.
And yes, the kids do fight - they are siblings, after all. But I'm here to intervene and teach them how to be nice to each other - they are best friends, they love each other, they are playmats, and by homeschooling them together, they will grow up to be closer than if they were away from each other for almost 40 hours a week, 9 months out of the year.
A homeschool vet I spoke with last year (her oldest is 17, youngest is 7, with 5 in between) said that up until 3rd or 4th grade children only need to have school for an hour or two, 2 or 3 days each week. By high school, that time increases to 4 hours a day, 4 days a week - unless they pursue something more. That is still WAAAYYY less time than public school.
I count Tuesday's homeschool lesson as our choir class, that's our sole homeschool activity that day. We might bake something in the morning, or do crafts, but that's it for that day. Then two other days of the week we focus on something educational - and if we do something the other four days of the week, great - and if not, I know that the kids are still learning as they go.
I know this isn't the most popular method - it is a bit nerve-wracking at times, wondering if your kid is learning enough - but for this season, I feel that God has us here, so that we may succeed and I can keep my sanity. Check out some books on unschooling, and on Charlotte Mason - you may even check out Five in a Row, a curriculum you can purchase which is good for multi-age children.
I live in Texas (not sure what state you are in) and we have total homeschooling freedom here. We don't have to answer to anyone - homeschool is considered private school, and we can do basically whatever we want. We are blessed, because some states are much more restrictive.
Hope this helps - will be praying for you! If God puts this on your heart to do, I know He will keep His hand upon you when you take those first wobbly steps.
Me again... I just read this lady's blog after I read yours, and thought you might be interested in her post:
http://www.homesteadblogger.com/homesteadrefuge/73717/
A lot like what I think - why rush it? Just like my kids were eventually going to be potty-trained (whether at 2 or at 4) and they weren't going to be using a pacifier and co-sleeping with us when they went to college - they will know what they need to, when they need to - not necessarily at the exact age public school says so. My son learned to read before he was supposed to, and my daughter is already coloring better than kid's twice her age - yet they both need work in other areas. Anyway, I'm rambling again - take a peek at that link - I believe you might find it useful.
Blessings!
Thanks so much everyone- I really appreciate all the comments here. I still feel scared of the whole thing- I'm good at starting things, but not always good at staying with them.
I do live in Texas and have a lot of freedom in the homeschool area, but I'm still not sure. Need to read more...
I popped back over to see what other comments you received, and noticed that you replied that you live in Texas, too. I don't know what part of Texas you are in - we are in the Austin metro area - but you may see if there are any yahoo groups in your area. I belong to the Austin Area Homeschoolers Group, as well as another smaller group that is Christian only and based in my immediate area (Northwest of Austin). Both groups have been such a tremendous help to me - last week I nearly quit, but some wonderful ladies at our choir class talked me into staying, and I'm glad I did. If you happen to be in this area, I know that the AAH group in particular loves for undecideds to visit park days (held weekly) and "eavesdrop" to see what everyone does. They welcome questions, and you can get a great idea of what others do to manage their time. (I'm not going to advise on that one, because I'm not so great at time management, LOL!) If you aren't in this immediate area, I'm sure that other such groups exist.
Many people in our metro area laugh that everyone is always worried about socialization for homeschool kids, but in this area, it is very easy for us to over-socialize our children and under-school them because of all the groups available to us.
Just a thought... praying for ya'll!
Blessings!
Anne,- I have only homeschooled for 2 years with 2 small kids. A 5yo and a just turned 3yo. I school them together so that 3yo can pick up some things on her own. Let me tell you, it is not that hard. PS has made it seem like a job only a genius can do. Nobody else knows your kids like you do. Nobody else knows what it takes to get your kid to understand someting better. I spend about 1 and a half to 2 hours 4-5 times a week. That also includes craft time or expierments. My 5yo is reading and doing add and subtraction. He is also a science geek:) and loves the discovery and history channels. For the last 2mos he wants to be an engineer. My 3yo is learning her ABC's. She knows the ABC song and can count to 15. She wants to be a singer. I would have missed these things if they were in ps. Because they are home, I know what they want to achieve and I am going to try my best to get them there. And besides if it doesn't work out you can always put them back in ps. But I bet You will love it.
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