Home is where you start from: trying

Sunday, December 12, 2010

trying

Life has been really crazy-busy for me this school year. It reflects mightily here on the blog, my posting has been pretty scattered.

My scattered days are leaving me a bit frazzled, and also leaves all the duties and cares in my life undone, half-done, forgotten, late and/or messy.

And yet, or maybe because of all this, I find myself yearning for a change in our homeschooling, back to our more Charlotte Mason/ art-centered learning. I yearn for more order, more rhythm, more purpose.

A few years ago, searching for the how of rhythm -to- my day- (yes it's a re-occurring theme for me) I looked a bit into Waldorf homeschooling, but could only find books that seemed to center on young children- and also there are some parts of Waldorf that I don't feel are compatible with my faith-another post, perhaps.

So, here I am a few years later, on the same restless search for order/rhythm...and I found some really wonderful/beautiful/inspiring Waldorf blogs. The wheels in my brain are already turning with lesson ideas, art ideas... Here's the thing though: So many of my days are crazy/busy that I don't have time to plan, don't have time to gather craft supplies.
The paradox: I want to make some changes in our learning days..but I don't have time to plan changes in our learning day.

The next few weeks on this blog will hopefully follow changes we make- changes I will try to make...I am reminded of a quote from The Karate Kid: "there is no try, there is only do".

Do any of you struggle with being inspired to try something new, explore a new learning philosophy but find yourself too busy to research and plan? Frustrating? Yes.

Here's to a new week of doing...

What new things are you exploring lately?

Labels: homeschool, homeschool planning, Jen's world

posted at 1:30 AM
12 comments

12 Comments:

At 2:51 AM, Anonymous said...: Well..my kids are grown so I don't homeschool. But right now I find myself researching couponing and money saving tips. It's seems that I'm more involved with researching and learning than implementing!
At 6:05 AM, laughinglioness.lisa@gmail.com said...: Jenny, I so deeply relate to your post!! And some of the post on TWTM highschool forum have magnified for me my own struggle of trying to get it all together. I'll be interested in hearing how it gets sorted in your life. And,seriously, I am amazed by all that you do on so many levels. I'll be praying for an answer for
you!!
The thing I want to work in more is writing- the kind that gets published and generates income. I feel so scattered by the demands of the kids and school and the messiness of our life. So not sure how to manage things better. I've been reading writing stuff but it almost makes it worse.
(Sheepishly apologizing for the ramble- I told you I could relate!!).

Hugs, Lisa
At 8:09 AM, Rieshy said...: I completely relate to this post. I've been asked to join (and possibly tutor) at a local C.C. group. I don't know anything about Classical Conversations! Somehow over the Christmas break while working on math facts with my 8 yo, starting Italian with my 16 yo- oh and celebrating Christmas I need to do some research...
At 8:29 AM, Unknown said...: YES, absolutely yes! I feel I am there right now planning a new curriculum. I jump in both feet hoping to figure it out as I went along. Not good for a planner like me, but I felt I had to leap.
At 8:43 AM, Theresa said...: I am constantly trying to simplify--even before we started homeschooling!!

We are taking the month of December off, so to speak, the girls do their Math, are writing Luke 1:26-31 and Luke 2 to practice cursive and learn the story. And we are reading Little Women, baking and making gifts. BUT...I am finding some time to make some changes...more art, maybe drop spelling, more geography, a new approach to writing (since we finished our other program).

I am working on going where it feels right, trusting God to lead me where we need to go!
At 5:15 PM, Emily said...: I will be really interested in following your changes, your new plan, and your implementation. I've spent the weekend narrowing down our changes come January! Like you, I'm excited but overwhelmed with time constrains I already face.
At 8:44 AM, Annette said...: Thanks for stopping by my blog. I always have ideas or changes I want to make but never seem to have the time to put them into place.
At 11:22 AM, Unknown said...: Well as you know.... I don't Home School but I can relate to feeling the chaos. I'm right there with you. I just keep reminding myself of the verse.... "Be still and know the I am God." I know you were asking for suggestions on Home Schooling but one of the things that has helped me when I'm feeling overwhlemed and can't think... I close my eyes and focus on that verse to help me bring things into perspective.

Your doing a great job with your kids Jenny!
At 12:42 AM, Hen Jen said...: CarliAlice,

exactly! I feel like I am spending too much time researching, not enough time doing. I love research, love the hunt for the best!

Lisa,

thank you for praying for me, you sound like you are echoing all the things I say/think. My dream has always been to be a writer- and yet, I don't have time for anything!! I'll try to be transparent with what I am doing, so I can help others with ideas, inspiration...but sometimes it is hard, you don't want people to watch you try and fail, kwim?
At 12:43 AM, Hen Jen said...: Susan,

we did Classical Conversations last year, I was a tutor and it was all very last minute, a new campus...I didn't like tutoring much, but I loved CC!
At 12:47 AM, Hen Jen said...: Lynda,

so what new curriculum are you researching/using? Tell me!! So then I can drool over it....

Theresa,

a light December sounds like just the ticket, I'm still schooling, but we will wrap things up on Friday. :)

Emily,

so what changes are you going to make? I am very interested! I'll be by to check out your blog and see if you are sharing. Yes, I will be sharing my journey- it'll be very humbling though if I end up bailing on it all!
At 12:48 AM, Hen Jen said...: Annette,

thanks for visiting and commenting! I love comments because then I can see who was here and I can visit back!

yes, right there with you-love to dream of changes but don't have time to implement the way I would like to in a perfect world.

Anne,

thank you for the verse, perfect advice!!

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