Math is one of those subjects that everyone uses daily. Yet how much math do you really need to learn? This is something that I always go back and forth with in my head. Should I be having my kids learn math that they may never need or should they know it just incase.
I was going to just teach them math that they needed at the moment and as they got into different aspects of life teach them what they needed, but things change. My husband kept saying that the kids needed more “structure” and should be learning something like the kids in school do. So, we added structured math to our weekly to do list. Right now we are trying to find the right math program that fits their learning styles and our life style. So far we have used Spectrum workbooks but I believe we need something that has more instruction and less mom involvement. The early years were easy to do worksheets that have short lessons with little instruction, but as the math gets harder (and mom has more distractions) we need something else. The two older kids are working on math 3 to 4 times a week, it all depends what our week is like. Along with adding math, Delilah has decided that she could use some help with her spelling and would like to learn to type on a keyboard without looking. For spelling help we have decided that she just needs to read more and try to spell words before asking for help. I figure that if she is introduced to words more often then maybe they will stick in her head to spell. If she needs more instruction in the future we will add something else. I have never been a strong speller so this digital age helps us a lot. Heck, my 11 year old has been a better reader and speller than me for years! For typing Delilah has started typing.com. So far it seems to be a good fit for her, we shall see in the long run.
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This weeks meal plan is a little heartier because my husband will be home more. He ended up not being home as much last week as expected so I have some roll-over meals. The meals I made last week and enjoyed were put into a board on Pinterest so you can always go check those out. I am leaving a link to each meal so just click on the name, they are also on Pinterest.
I have really been trying to make healthier meals that the family will eat. I have succeeded in making healthier meals but now I need to try to make the meals more budget friendly. I used to make real simple or not so healthy meals. Why does healthy food have to cost so much?! I told my family we need to either stop eating fresh produce or stop eating meat. I'm thinking I will try to cut down on the meats and find less expensive protein sources. As you will notice, we also don't like eating the same meal without quite a bit of time in between, other than left overs anyway. Dinners: -Chicken & rice soup* -Gnocchi, corn, and arugula in a cream sauce along with diced ham -Mexican cornbread casserole -Pork chops marinated in pickle juice(a friend said it was awesome), roasted potatoes, roasted carrots -Cheesy broccoli, chicken, and rice Lunches: -Soft pretzels with cheese sauce* -Minestrone soup* -salad *meals that are rolled over from last week Today I am going to give some encouragement to those that homeschool mostly on their own. I do homeschooling and most of the parenting on my own in our house. I am totally not complaining because it is mostly my choice and that is what works for our family. My husband works long hours sometimes and does quite a bit of traveling so we see him the most on the weekends. Then on the weekends we need to make sure he gets time for him so work doesn’t burn him out, I mean, we play all week long while he is at work, it’s only fair. My husband loves our kids but he doesn’t really interact with them much until they can pretty much hold a small conversation or play a physical game. He will spend a few minutes with the little ones at a time but then moves on to something else, he doesn’t have the patience to sit and watch a little one play. My husband has gotten better with each kid though, but I still have trouble getting out of the house without the little one. Whenever I see the pictures saying that dads are another parent not a babysitter I have to giggle a little. In our house dad would be considered a babysitter since he is hardly ever home alone with the kids. Our system may not work for a lot of other families, but it’s what works for us. I can homeschool and spend my day how I want at the moment and he can do what he wants with most of his free time.
It can be hard, draining, tiresome, and lonely sometimes being the parent that does most of the interaction with your kids. Yet on the flip side it is very rewarding to be able to spend everyday with these little people and watching them grow. Parker and I just the other day were sitting in Ayden’s room watching him play and you could just see his mind working, I love those moments. It is those moments we need to cherish when we are having exhausting days when it seems like nothing is going right. When those tough and exhausting times come I take a step back, forget about the chores that need to be done and find something fun to do. If something is driving me crazy then it means I am doing too much or expecting too much from myself or the kids. There are times where I start getting aggravated at the kids and I step away and figure out what I need to change to make things go smoother. You also need to take time for yourself, no matter how much you have on your plate. Time for yourself could be as little as 5 minutes or as long as you want. Sometimes you just need to ignore the kids and the noise and stare at Facebook on your phone for a little while. Don’t make yourself feel bad if it happens. Get your littles in a secure and safe area, get your bigger kids on something that will keep them busy, and do something that you enjoy doing. We are always doing something that someone else enjoys, take a little time to do something you enjoy. My me time is usually spent writing a blog, playing a game on my phone or iPad, or watching an adult show. Don’t forget, your chores can always be done another time, your sanity is more important! I’m writing this today because my husband has been gone for a week. He was only supposed to be gone 5 days then it just kept getting pushed further a day at time. He should be home tomorrow for a night then gone again for what should only be one night. If I relied on him to take care of the kids on the weekends or after a normal work day this travel stuff would drive me crazy. Yet instead it is sort of like a mini vacation because I don’t have to make sure the house is as clean or cook as many dinners. There is more time for me and more time to play with the kids. |
About UsTake a step into the life of Auer (pronounced like our) homeschool. We are a family that likes to learn through life experiences. We would like to share our experiences so maybe we can make a difference in the lives of others. Don't forget to follow us on Facebook to get the smaller activities that go on that don't always make it to the blog. Archives
May 2019
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