My patience is definitely being tried by the loves of my life - my chlidren!
Jayden (3) does NOT want to learn. He does not like homeschooling. I try to do things that would be on his level, but he does not want to learn. He cannot see the bigger picture of anything. If I tell him he can't do something now - he gets mad & says "I'll never do....." WOW!!! what a challenge! Sad to admit - I do not remain calm all the time. I'm trying.....but he is wearing me out!!!
Mayci, (8 mo) - is totally attached to me. My husband mentions how her umbilical cord is still attached! I cannot leave the room for any length of time before she starts to cry her head off. I do remain calm with her. Since she will be my last baby - I may have had something to do with her attachment. But during the day, doing homeschool & housework makes it nearly impossible. Then when they are all asleep I want ME time - not housework time :(
So this was not a very exciting blog - but it felt good to write. So thank you for reading.
Any suggestions for my 3 year old are welcome!
next week should be more encouraging - I promise!
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Michelle - You are not alone - even if it feels like it. Thank you for being so open. My oldest two go to public school and I'm left with my 28 month old.... however, the minute they walk in the door chaos happens...all during homework time. It can get Insane!!! :) Love you much! ~ Tab
ReplyDeleteNo suggestions. I know it sucks for you but it makes me smile because J sounds like us when we were that age. :) I love you & this too shall pass. . . I think. ha
ReplyDeleteI know how it is with the attached at the hip baby. Gracie was like that ... once she started walking though, she has done much better.
ReplyDeleteAs a mother of a boy about the same age as Jayden, and having observed many other little boys and having taught many, many little (& big too!) boys, my only advice is that boys learn VERY differently than girls. Boys learn by doing physical things ... like learning spelling words by jumping up and down for each letter in the word ... learning Bible verses by using actions for each word/phrase, etc.
ReplyDeleteThere are a lot of good books out there about teaching boys - I have quite a few that I can recommend, but they are at home and my memory isn't that good anymore ... haha!! The only other piece of advice that I have is to maybe take a break from "formal" learning for Jayden and try again in another three months. Quite honestly, he may not be ready for traditional instruction for another year or two. Remember that every child is different, learns at a different speed and it needs repeated, boys learn differently than girls :)
I'm not sure what you are using for curriculum, but there is a good preschool program called "Before Five in a Row" that uses various children's books as the basis and incorporates lots of activities that teaches them many different subjects without sitting at a desk and therefore, Jayden may not be as adverse to learning the ideas - Malayna would love the activities too. Again, that's at home, so I can give you more input about it in a week and a half!! :)
Another good book is "I Love Dirt" - it has 52 activities to do with your children outside and each one has a teaching element and Jayden won't even know he's being taught something :) lol - the best kind of teaching/learning!!!
You are doing a fantastic job and none of us have this whole mothering thing figured out. You are doing your best and spend a lot of time with your kids. When they grow up, they won't remember if the project was done perfectly, they will remember that you spent the time with them and helped them create, learn and explore their worlds. Keep up the good work!!
As for Mayci being attached at the hip, my baby is the same way. He's 16 months now and is getting more independant, but he's still a very strong Momma's boy. I totally know the feeling of just wanting "ME" time when they finally go to bed, and forget the housework. Maybe set aside a night each week, consistently, that is for yourself and one nap-time each week and allow yourself to enjoy that time for youself, without any thought of housework or guilt about what you think you should be doing and aren't. Just enjoy the time.
Another thing that Christopher & I have started doing is each week he keeps the boys for 2 hours so that I can go to Starbucks and enjoy a coffee or go to the library and read a book, etc without the kids. And no errands happen during that time, unless it's something I want to do. It is very important to remember that YOU are important too. If you are burned out and stressed to the max, you are not going to have as much to give your kids. Take care of yourself and give yourself permission to relax every once in a while and you will end up being much more able to deal with life and the busyness of three little ones.
Anyway, I've rambled on enough, but if anything I said doesn't make sense or you have any questions or just want to vent, you know my email address :) I'm always just a phone call away too ...
I'm going thru the same thing. Emily crys her head off if I leave the room or the living room. Its exhausting. During Emilys morning nap I tried schooling Jacob but he didnt want to either. His favorite- I don't know how to do that!!!! which I know he does. So for now I took some time off and enrolled him at Gymboree they have a 2 hour drop off school skill classes for 3-5years old. and he likes it. So we are happy for now. You are not alone .
ReplyDeleteSara T.