Filling The Days

With the arrival of the warmer weather the kids are now able to play and ride their bikes outside for a few hours every day.  This gives us all the break we need--from each other and from school work.  On a typical day desk work takes from 3-5 hours.  The 4th grader and 2nd grader are only "officially" doing 3 subjects: Math, Language Arts and History/Geography.  Things like Bible, reading and handwriting are done on the side and throughout the day.  Kenny, who will be 6 this summer, is doing pre-reading activities, math and handwriting activities about 3 days a week. 

We really don't have that much of a school work load.  I like to keep it simple, since this is our first year of homeschooling exclusively.  The fact is, if Nate...ahem...one particular 4th grade student spent as much time doing his work as he spends making excuses and elaborate schemes to get out of doing his work, we'd be done before lunchtime every day.  But then how else would I die to my flesh?  Every. Single. Day?

Since I'm not teaching English part time at the moment, I have more time to spend training the kids in working around the house.  Just about all our meals have to be made from scratch here and, as a result, I spend more hours in the kitchen.  I estimate that meal preparation (meals, snacks, baking) takes me about 3-4 hours a day. And that's with a helper helping out 5 days a week. My goal is to get the kids helping more and more and not have to rely to paying someone to help around the apartment.  At the moment I can't imagine not having her--she is a sweet friend and a tremendous help.  But I've got to get the kids trained and that just won't happen as long as we have someone else to do the job. 

Imparting the necessary skills to my children is not easy and can be so overwhelming some days.  I'd appreciate your prayers for Hetee and I for wisdom in this area. 

Until next time!