Hi all,

I'm in need of lots of prayers for my sanity lol. Today is our 1st day of TOG and its not going well. Boys (ages 9, 8, and 5) have been fighting all day and won't sit still for nothing. I kept reminding the older two that they were not allowed to act that way last year in PS and I expect them to not act that way during our school...didn't help.

Also we dropped off my sd at college 4 1/2 hrs away yesterday. Me and her dad need prayers for God to ease our hearts and let go...

Plus! we are moving in a couple of weeks...TOO much going on right now! Starting TOG...dd going off to college...ss11 was diagnosed in Feb. with autistm...trying to homeschool 3 hyperactive boys while keeping up 9 month old dd AND packing...almost more than I can handle right now..

Sorry if this rambles....that is how messed up my mind is right now...Thanks for the prayers

Jamie in Arkansas

Sending hugs and prayers your way, Jamie!!! Here is a thought - put all the school things away until after you move. If you are moving in a couple of weeks, you problably don't have time to do school right now! Can you all get together for some great readaloud books? Maybe some related art projects? Packing?

If you pulled your guys out of public school you will need some time for all of you to get used to a new way of doing things. Please get your husband involved on the discipline issues - the boys need to respect your authority as teacher as well as mom. This will be a year of big adjustments for all of you, so please show your family grace while requiring appropriate behavior and ourput.
Blessings,
April

I heartily agree w/ April! Put the books away and concentrate on the urgent things first. Perhaps if you get the boys involved in the moving, etc. and do things like read-alouds or audio books (quality ones), art activities, etc. it will help in the transition. When we pulled our oldest, the first yr. was rough, but w/ God's grace we made it. Boys need physical labor to get rid of that energy, so give them as much as you can. I would sugg. that you not compare their behavior to what they could do in ps, in fact I would talk about ps as little as poss. Instead, instill in them that this is not Christ-like behavior - dwell on their character. If your husband is on board, they need to honor him. We tell our boys that what they are doing is not pleasing either to their earthly father or their Heavenly Father. Don't expect immed. results, but w/ prayer and consistency, it'll sink in - they are sinners after all, just like the rest of us. There are plenty of great Christian books out there that help w/ the subject of character building in boys. Maybe you, but preferably your husband, could go through one of them w/ the boys. Even the 5yo isn't too young to learn this. Ballantyne and Henty books are good adventure stories that also give good character models.

I want to answer here too, just so you know that we veterans are in agreement here: it's not possible for you to be starting a full, new school schedule right mow, especially since you're new at this! Be reassured. I would take this time at least partly off, and make it up later. Perhaps you could choose certain parts of the curriculum and use those alone, or try to cover Week 1 over three weeks, or just do math right now, or something like that.

About your boys acting differently at home than they would in school: Of course they will. They feel completely different! They're not used to doing schoolwork with their brothers sitting beside them. They're used to having Mrs. Teacher, not Mom, give them assignments. It's a totally different feeling for them, and it will be an adjustment even if they like the idea of learning at home. The solution depends in many ways on your family.

I will be praying for you. I have had those moments where I feel like I can't keep up. It feels almost as if I can't breathe there is so much to do. Something that I have been learning is that I need to ask God what He wants me to get done in the day and only do that. You have so much you are doing right now. I'm so glad for you that you have decided to homeschool. It sounds like you have some major changes in your life right now. One observation I have made in our children is that any time there is a change they get scared and aren't sure what to expect. This comes out in different ways. One of my kids cries easily but my other kids act up. They fight and are disrespectful. They might just be unsure of things right now. Walk them through this time. God is going to walk you through it too.
I hope this helps. I will pray for strength and wisdom for you.