Trying new things can be good....and bad.

     We are just over a week into trying "Time4Learning" I think I have a love-hate relationship with it, to tell you the truth. Let me tell you why...

     I am new to the homeschool realm. I still have this template in my mind of what "school" should look and feel like.  A structure that fits a mold I have lived with my entire life. I am not a big fan of change, but of course I know that I can't always avoid it. I know that "the way we've always done it" isn't always the best way to go either.
    When my son and I logged on to Time4Learning for the first time we were both excited. It looked like fun! The colors, the graphics and audio really got my ADHD son's attention. The way the site is so well organized really appealed to my son's Asperger's. We were hitting it from all sides!!
    My thought right then was "Shoot...I won't have to fight for him to do his lessons anymore! Awesome!"
    It didn't take long, though, for my old "cookie cutter" thoughts to school to creep in. I watched how effortlessly he sat to do his work, how quickly he went through it and thought, "There is NO WAY this is teaching him enough". I wanted to supplement his computer time with book time. After having so much fun at the computer, it was even harder to get him into a workbook.
    As I write this, I am thinking of using Time4Learning as a reward time for his book time, but then again, I am realizing that I need to look at the state standards again and see if TIme4Learning fulfills the requirements. If it does, then I guess we are set, right? I just need to fight myself on my old habits of what school needs to look like. Apparently it needs to be difficult to count..LOL

Excited to try new things for a change!!

On the homeschool journey there have been some wonderful weeks, and there have been some terrible weeks. I am a rule follower at heart. I don't waiver from the set path very easily and I am not a big fan of change.
   However, I am seeing the need to change up how I homeschool.  I was very excited when I received the invitation to try and review Time4Learning as a supplement to my curriculum. I have take a short look at it and I am already impressed. The organization of it is superb. As I dive into this curriculum I will give you all very candid opinions on what I find.  Stay Tuned!!

I've been invited to try Time4Learning for one month in exchange for a candid review. My opinion will be entirely my own, so be sure to come back and read about my experience. Time4Learning can be used as a homeschool curriculum, for afterschool enrichment and for summer skill sharpening. Find out how to write your own curriculum review for Time4Learning.

I've been invited to try Time4Learning for one month in exchange for a candid review. My opinion will be entirely my own, so be sure to come back and read about my experience. Time4Learning can be used as a homeschool curriculum, for afterschool enrichment and for summer skill sharpening. Find out how to write your own curriculum review for Time4Learning.

Frustation Station.

wow...it's amazing how flustered I can get after having a perfectly smooth day! Do any of you feel like this? After an amazing last couple of days with my little man ( an Im talking really great...like a walk in the park talking about the purpose of life, kind of great!) today was back to the drawing board, and I was back to a high level of frustration.
Shouldn't I be back at level 1 of frustration..since I have obviously had a break from the behavior that is stressful? I am trying to give myself a little grace here, but I feel bad. I don't think im a bad mom or anything..but I need to find a better way of letting the stress go in the first place. I ate a TON of cherries tonight. I figured if I was going to eat my feelings, I might as well do it in a vegan, organic form. That way I can feel I was eating my feelings in a healthy way. No?
I get this big knot of frustration, stress and ager right in my stomach and it just breeds irritation. I'm wondering if this makes me a literal "stress ball"?

I am an amateur mom.  The definition of amateur is one who "engages in a study, sport, or other activity for pleasure rather than for financial benefit. One who has never competed/worked for payment or for a monetary prize. A person inexperienced or not particularly instructed in a particular activity.

Now, I'm not saying I am an inept mom. I am a fine mom...but I am definitely winging it here. Each day is a new challenge to my skill set! Just when I think I am getting to a point where I can coast for a while...I hit another bump in the road and find that I have to pedal all over again.

The latest bump to slow me down was a doozy. Our son, who is 7, was diagnosed with ADHD, ODD and what used to be referred to as Asperger's. We had been dealing with a major change in my son's behavior and honestly wondered if he had been abused at some point. I was terrified and furious at the thought of it. I was so relieved when we finally got to the point of realizing it was not the case.
However, what on earth was the cause of his crazy change in behavior? He was becoming defiant, angry and aggressive at times. Others, he was remorseful and like his "normal" self.

I felt like I needed to have a psychology degree just to be his mom! I wrote scripture on all the windows of my house today to just give me a sense of peace. I know God is my source of strength and I will rely on Him today. Tomorrow? ..,...Well, I'll deal with that when it comes.