I have 5 children going to school this fall. How can this be? Grant and I are going to have a wonderful time together just he and I. But we will be excited for the brothers and sisters coming home in the afternoon!
I miss homeschooling sometimes….the total influence I had on their lives. Always being together. I could decide what I wanted them to learn and make it happen. But sometimes my dreams and reality didn’t always mesh. Poop happened. Dirty dishes distracted me. The baby cried so loud we couldn’t hear each other and he refused to sleep. Every child sometimes said, “Mama, mama” at the same time and my head would pound. And when I was busy with one, another might sneak off in a quiet corner and read….and I might not miss him for awhile…because he was so quiet.
Homeschooling took all of me–my every minute. And I would sit and wonder what I could do with my business if I had a little more time. (Which is funny because now while I work on my business I sit and think about what it would be like to be with my children instead.) I was a public school teacher before children and could easily handle 25 kids in a classroom. When I taught school, there were no babies to poop and cry, no laundry to wash, someone else cooked our food, and cleaned up. All I had to do was focus on those kids. But still, if the time was right, I’d homeschool again.
Dollar Tree baskets hold each child’s school supplies off the floor in my office until the first day of school. Somehow it looks messier in this photo than it feels in real life. The shelves will be getting some TLC while the kids are at school.
While somehow they got a great education at home, they are getting a great education at our little private school too. They enjoy seeing friends and doing messy projects (that I never managed to fit in.) I love that they are memorizing scriptures and having prayer service together. And I love teaching High School choir there….LOVE. IT. I love the friendlier relationship I have with my kiddoes now that I’m not the one assigning the work. So this time of year comes a little bittersweet for me. It’s a chapter in my life I never saw us living…but the living is good.
Anyhoo, We purchased most of our school supplies this week. And for 5 children that added up to over $100!!!!! That was without the backpack or art smock for our kindergartener or the 12 pairs of shoes we need. Yep you read that right, 12 pairs—gulp! Or the complete set of scriptures for my 2nd grader….not sure how we are going to do that, but God always provides.
We somehow missed budgeting for school supplies…..??? Um, they come every year. So I think I may dust off my sewing machine and use up some stash to fill our needs.
Check out this adorable back pack:
Source: From pinterest–cites Made-By-Rae but link is broken.
This next backpack has a complete tutorial. I’ll leave off the front pocket since Brandon just needs to carry a folder and his lunch and then add the spikes form the photo above. I love her method for the straps:
Source: http://uniquety.blogspot.ca/search?q=back+pack
And this art smock
Tutorial: http://creatingbycami.blogspot.com/search/label/Art%20Smock%20Tutorial
And thinking ahead to cooler weather, I love these mittens:
Tutorial here: http://mmezsazsa.blogspot.com/2010/02/celebrate-dino-mittens_27.html
They look so easy to make. I might add a ribbing cuff to keep them on better. Wouldn’t they look darling with a dino backpack?
I love the mittens, and I’ll bet Thing 2 will go crazy over them! Going to work on a few pair, and I’m with you – add a ribbing cuff.
Yes–mittens for sure 🙂
I bought backpacks at the thrift store for two dollars each! I imagine they will go fast this time of year. Check around…there are a few thrift stores I frequent and this one always seems to have them for some reason.
Though the homemade ones are precious!
Melanie, This is a great tip. I didn’t think of that!
Angela, it is so refreshing to hear your commitment in your situation. Honestly, if you were doing menu plans, teaching, remodeling, AND homeschooling (all while keeping your FYM lifestyle), I’d feel inadequate. You are such an inspiration, and I love learning from you. Our little homeschool will be faithful to pray for your family this school year!
Thanks, Jessica. No need to feel inadequate here. The more I get to know other moms the more I realize we are all the same :). We want what’s best for our families, and struggle with busy schedules, tiredness, and budgets. Let’s stick together!
Thank you for your honesty, Angela. I love how you have the confidence to share not just your cool tips and recipes, but also some of the nitty gritty struggles. Life does not always go according to our well-laid plans, does it? The Lord orders our steps. I, too, had bright dreams of home-schooling my 4 kids, but at age 30 I was a divorced and working 2 part-time jobs to make ends meet. I had to trust my kids to the public school system and trust that God would bring good out of it. I’m still trusting.
You are not alone we put our 4 remaining school age children in public school after 12+ years of homeschooling. It was the best thing I could have done for my children. It has been a blessing to see them thrive academically and athletically .
I too miss having all my kids together, and having a direct influence on their schooling. But with the youngest two so close together, this season in (family) life is best lived with some going to charter school. They get a fresher, much more present mommy this way. I will be homeschooling the third and fourth for preschool, so not all homeschool desires are lost… but I completely empathize with you!
Keep up the good work – through your business, you are touching families to be the best they can be! Thank you for that.
Funny. I started off not homeschooling and thought I NEVER would. Now I wouldn’t change it for anything. God has such an interesting way of putting us just where we should be. 😉