So, I've been feeling a little, no I should say a lot overwhelmed lately. I got kind of sick and I've had some trouble shaking it off. It just kind of seems like things that were relatively easy for me (i.e. making dinner, laundry, basic tasks) are really hard. My homeschooling has been falling waaaay behind. I just feel like I can't get things together. For instance, by the time breakfast is made, served, cleaned up, baby fed, showered, clothed, back to bed for morning nap, it's already 10:00 a.m. and half the morning is already gone. It just goes on from there, the day slipping through my fingers. Throw a two year old with a painful ear infection into the mix and you can just imagine.
In the midst of all this I've been observing Kai. He goes busily about his day doing things that technically would qualify as "school." He reads books, he makes his own little projects, he does his handwriting. I'm pretty amazed actually. Without direction from me, he continues to learn, create and grow in his own way. Is this "unschooling???" I have no idea, I need to read more about that.
Anyways, yesterday I took some time to just get things organized for him a little bit. Recognizing the way my days are going, I thought if I can get Kai set up to accomplish some of the things in our curriculum independently it would be great. So I made the above chart and went over with Kai what he could do for each subject on his own and check off on his own with a dry erase marker. Later, when I can get the other kids settled, he can show me what he's accomplished in each subject.
Today was the first day with the new chart. I cannot tell you the relief I felt to see those little check marks and the completed work he did all on his own. Not to mention how proud he felt of himself. Isn't there just a wonderful feeling of accomplishment when you can check things off a list? By 9:30 a.m. I was able to sit with him and do some math together. How amazing to know he had already accomplished 4 subjects by that time! Now this is not ideal, I do hope and strive to do the subjects with him. But I think this is a great thing to have in place for those mornings when things are spiraling out of control - at least one family member can stay on track!
