Comments on: What Do Pirates Think?

By: Mother Hen

Mother Hen — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 14:02:24 +0000

The hardest thing to learn about homeschooling is that WE, as parents, are the ones who are IN CHARGE of deciding what takes priority in our children’s lives. As long as we are in compliance with our state’s requirements for homeschooling, we are free to choose how we spend our days.
You might look around your home, are you doing “government school at home” or are you truly homeschooling? The difference, in my opinion, is the first is a one-size-fits-all approach, and strangely time consuming for most moms to implement. The second takes into account the fact that you actually know your own children, and can therefore tailor make their education to fit their actual needs and interests. This is not as time consuming as it sounds, it can be accomplished “….when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

By: Karen Dunham

Karen Dunham — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 04:32:33 +0000

Hi Mother Hen,
I have always wanted to do this, and did when the first kids were little, but as some have gotten older, I have not figured out how to get through our school subjects and still have that hour of personal reading time….I would LOVE to have an hour to read every afternoon…..how do you schedule your days and how do you get through your chores and school work. Any suggestions? Thanks, Karen

By: amandasattitude

amandasattitude — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 18:29:45 +0000

Great post! We do something like this most days around 3 am. My husband is a full-time pastor and is able to be home a lot. So while the children are having their quiet time we adults have our “Coffee Time” to talk and catch up on the events of the day…Sometimes I don’t want coffee time to end! But everyone is energized after their quiet time.
Thanks for sharing!

By: Michelle@Life with Three

Michelle@Life with Three — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 18:35:54 +0000

Thanks so much for this reminder. Sometimes I forget that I’m not my childrens’ “cruise ship director.”

By: Alicia

Alicia — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:33:08 +0000

I really like this idea. My girls are fine in this department, but I think this could really benefit my son. Thanks! I will try this out!!!

Alicia

By: jenuinejen

jenuinejen — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:14:42 +0000

This is a great post. Thank you for the advice.

By: Jenna

Jenna — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:02:56 +0000

The word bored was not generally used in our house growing up. If you told my mother that you were “bored” she would hand you something off of her long chore list to do… if you didn’t want to be scrubbing toilets or other menial tasks you learned to occupy yourself.

By: Mother Hen

Mother Hen — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:54:12 +0000

If the little Pirate is being too noisy for his sister to sleep, you can put him on a quilt at your feet. Give him books and tell him to enjoy them quietly. That’ll be good training until he can be quiet in his bed.

By: CC

CC — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:48:08 +0000

Good idea. We’re trying to figure out how to keep our 4 year old’s pathetic attempt at a nap from interrupting his sister’s actual nap.

By: The (Almost) Amazing Mommarino

The (Almost) Amazing Mommarino — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:42:46 +0000

I agree! Kids tend to be overscheduled and don’t know how to entertain themselves.

I have given my children alone time from the time that they were little, and one thing I NEVER hear them say is, “Mommy, I’m bored.” Even when the movers messed up and buried their toy boxes in the garage where I couldn’t get to them for two weeks, they played happily with whatever they could find.