Homeschool Update

HOMESCHOOL REFLECTIONS

As this year of homeschooling comes to an end, I thought it would be fun and interesting to take a trip down memory lane. So I’ll be posting a series of homeschool posts from my past (old dead blog) and reflecting on what I’ve written and if things have really changed every Thursday. It should be an educating journey.

March 2004
I’ve been very busy writing my novel and reading and planning for homeschooling next year. I’m getting excited about the education aspect, but I’m still concerned about the whole getting along thing. Chris (9) just went through a bunch of different tests from I.Q. to learning tests in order to better help us understand him. I want to know if I’m dealing with a gifted child, an ADHD child or a normal boy with tons of energy. I’m also hoping to find out what his learning style is. I think it’s Auditory/Visual/Kinesthetic. We meet with the doctor tomorrow so I’ll try and update this week, but if you want to keep up with what’s happening I suggest you sign up for the mailing list. I’m very busy lately and won’t be writing very often.

Well, it’s three years after that test which we learned that our normal energetic boy was gifted (129 IQ) with 60% impulsive ADHD.

Has it helped me any in homeschooling him? A little because now I have to stop and determine whether he’s just ignoring my instructions or really forgetting and getting distracted. Has it changed the way I parent him? Not much, though I’m sure it should. I do offer him tons more grace because of it, though it’s hard to know when to tighten the reigns because he’s really smart and good at manipulating like “we’ll you didn’t exactly say I couldn’t listen to music while I did my school work.”

We’re still dealing with the same issues as before, but he’s matured a lot and through all the tears and struggles and fights, we’ve become closer. I’m not afraid to apologize to him, and he’s not afraid to hold my hand in public.

Though working on son number one did have a negative effect on son number two. It seems like I neglected Joey a bit and I need to devote more time to him who seems to have the typical middle kid syndrome. Big brother antagonizes him to no end, and little brother is sometimes his buddy, sometimes not. Joey is going through a big emotional whinny phase and it’s time I focus more of my energy on him. So this summer I’ll try and work on that relationship
Whether homeschooling or not, a mother’s work is never done!