An Update… and Thoughts on Patience

 

This was our school room the day before we started school….

            

And here it is after two weeks of school…

            

And this is after cleaning three times in the last two weeks… yeah, things don’t stay tidy around here for long!

Overall it’s been a good two weeks.  We had a to reassess Jacob’s phonics program.  I’ve shelved our Rod and Staff for now and we’re using Explode the Code… and loving it.  Phonics time is suddenly much less of a headache!!  And he had break through in math…. WooHoo!!  We’ve been working on +8’s, everyday I would explain how to do it and everyday he would count to find the answer.  Finally Wednesday I explained again and gave him a problem and he says “Oh, ok… 8+6… so 8 wants to be 10 so he takes 2 away, so 6 becomes 4… so 14”  YES!!! I love when everything clicks and they finally get it!!

I bought the Book of Artrageous Projects for Cade and Jacob.  It is the coolest thing!!  It teaches about different kinds of art and has everything you need to do the projects included.  So far they have mixed and painted with watercolors and woven a medieval tapestry!

Another cool thing is Start Exploring Masterpieces, a coloring book of paintings by great artists.  The boys really enjoy coloring their pictures to look like the original painting.

I’ve been thinking about patience lately… or maybe the lack of it.  One thing I think all homeschoolers hear over and over from non-homeschoolers is “I would never have the patience for that”…  well guess what…. I don’t either!!! 

When my 1st grader takes 15 minutes to get his blankets and pillows situated just right so he can do his reading and then suddenly has to use the bathroom or get a drink… I don’t have patience.

When my 3rd and 5th graders take advantage of the time I’m out of the room… trying to listen to the 1st grader read… to race around the room, throw supplies everywhere and then run and hide…. I don’t have patience.

When my 3rd grader “Can’t doooo iiiiittttt” because he doesn’t know where his pencil is, because he threw it across the room…. I don’t have patience.

When my 5th grader can’t remember how to do any of his math unless I’m sitting right beside him… and the other two take advantage of this to start dragging out toys…. I don’t have patience.

When any of them have a 45 minute melt down over 10 minutes of work…. I don’t have patience.

And when all of this happens in one day… I Really Don’t Have Patience.

But I do have a choice… I can choose to yield to my flesh and lose it with them, or I can choose to allow God to work in me and through me and show grace.  I don’t have patience, but He does.  I am not very merciful but He is.

I wish I could say I always choose the right way… unfortunately I’m not there yet!  Thankfully it’s not always that crazy.  Most days are fairly calm and easy.  And, thankfully, the rest of the time… on Those Days… I’m not alone and God gives to me from His patience when I have none.