To me there is nothing more awesome then hearing my kids being excited about learning! So when my daughter’s PreK curriculum arrived yesterday, she was ecstatic! “Mom, I am almost in PreK!” she shouted as I opened up the box to explore the wonderful treasures inside. How can a person not smile at hearing that?
We sat together in our living room look at all the neat books, supplies, and “toys” that came in HER box from HER school. She has been waiting for a year to be “just like big brother” and have her box of school supplies arrive. Watching her face as she looks through all the books, examines all the tools, and talking about all her ideas of what all the items might be used for just reinforces all our reason for making the choice to “school at home.”
Now the hard part starts for me. I get to figure out where to put all her supplies. Big brother has a whole little book case for his. Have to find room for her stuff too! I get to figure out how to teach two kids, in two different grade levels, using two different online formats and curriculums. I get to figure out a schedule that allows them both to get some one on one time specifically for school and be a licensed in home childcare provider to other people’s children. I get to make sure that my kids and the daycare kids all get a well-rounded education and experiences. I get to figure out how to have fun and teach children with ages ranging from 1 year old to 11 years. All these thoughts can be very overwhelming, even for the most experienced of home schooling moms and daycare providers! Contrary to popular belief, I am not super woman! I have my strengths and weaknesses just like you do.
So what is my secret? RELAX and take a deep breath! If I can do it, then so can you. I make a list of what I need to do and I tackle it one job or project at as time. Rome was not built in a day and neither is my home school plan. A plan that changes almost daily depending on what we have going on and what HAS to be done vs what I would like to get done! Plus I look at my kids and remember their smiling faces lit up with joy and excitement over opening up their boxes of school stuff. I remember my daughter bouncing around in her “super fairy princess ballet” costume shouting, “I’m almost in PreK!”
My secret is my kids. They make all the stress, all worry, all the planning, and everything that comes with being a parent worth it.
