We are going to attempt to start school next week.
Next.Week.
I have a lot of organizing and planning to do before then!
But one thing that keeps running through
my mind is,
how can I better handle those
days that will come...
when I will be frazzled, irritated and
downright frustrated.
I'd like to know from you all,
especially you veterans at this homeschooling
thing...
how you handle those kinds of days?
Please don't say you go hide in the closet....that's my thing! Please
tell me there are other options.
tell me there are other options.
Also....
because no matter what kind of day it is, our families
need to eat (they're funny that way)....I would love to know
if you have any default dinners that you always
have on hand to throw together when you
just don't feel up to something
wonderfully creative.
13 comments:
Oh my word. This is a good topic. Hiding in the closet is a good one! I will have to think on this and get back to you. Also, I need some good dinner suggestions too, because that is truly the hardest part of my day. After cleaning, motivating children,(in many ways hee hee), teaching, laundry, etc., I am so tired at dinnertime. I would so hire a cook if I could. Can't wait to see some responses on this one. :)
What constitutes a "veteran" homeschooler? I have been homeschooling for 8 years and I more often than not, I feel like a beginner! However, on those really really frustrating days (and we all have them)I find what works best for me is to just shut it down and have the kids go read in their room or work on personal projects and pick up fresh the next day. After all, isn't that one of the greatest things of homeschooling...the flexibility?! It is far better to just stop and refresh (or get your emotions under control in my case!!) than to yell or snap at your child. As for meals...argh! I need some tips too. I know we should always have quick fix meals on hand though. Looking forward to hearing from everyone else. ;)
Now you're getting to the hard questions! If my kids are frustrating me I threaten to let Dad teach them. I'm not so great in the dinner area either. I try to keep some things ready in the freezer, like lasagna or browned meat for tacos or soup. Also, we like to do breakfast for dinner night.
We are also starting school on Monday. We need to get a couple of good months in before our trip to China.
Wow, I think everyone is afraid of this one. :) You know, I think on really frustrating days, I try to keep calm, and try to help everyone keep going, emphasizing self control and honoring others. I have them go upstairs and take a break to regroup, but then when they get it together, they have to come down and finish. I figure they'll need to learn how to get control and keep going when they get out in the real world. (Although I don't think anything is wrong with just taking a day off now and again either!) One veteran homeschool mom told me that when one of her kids is having a bad attitude or big teary/frustration day, she will cut the lesson or assignment short, but not let them know she is doing it, so that they won't think they get "rewarded" with less work if they are crabby. I've done that many times.
Still don't have many dinner ideas. Although I have thought about trying the once a month cooking thing. I tried a 2-week version of that once and liked the outcome. (But didn't really like the cooking day!)
Great topic again Lori!
When things get frustrating I like to take a quick trip outside. Even if it just in the back yard it is enough to get some energy run off and get the kids back to somewhat normal. Sometimes we also just hang it up for the day and start again tomorrow. When we do put our stuff away we like to all pile on the couch and watch videos. I try to keep it educational. How it's made, Time Warp Trio and The Magic School Bus counts as school right?
As far as dinner goes... When I need a quick meal that I have not been able to plan ahead and put in the crock-pot, I usually opt for breakfast. Nothing is faster than pancakes, scrambled eggs and turkey sausage. My family loves it and honestly I put different versions of breakfast on my weekly menu quite a bit. Like on of the other posters I like to keep ground meat (turkey or beef) in the freezer for tacos, sloppy joes or casseroles. I also like to put a large pack of chicken breasts in my crock pot the day I buy them. I like to freeze them in 2 breast portions to pull out for things like enchiladas, chicken alfredo and salads and quesadillas for lunch.
Honestly cooking for my family is the only thing I feel like I have a handle on right now. I was just telling my friend Sarah that for some reason I always feel like I only have victory over one thing at a time. If my house is spotless we are not getting enough school done, if school is rolling my house is a mess, if I am cooking 3 meals from scratch everyday my laundry is piling up.... So please keep the tips rolling. I am in a mom rut and they are very helpful:)
Hmm...not trying to avoid this one, just too busy planning for school! Our biggest issue has been focus (i.e., I leave the room for 10 minutes, and not a single thing has been done by the time I get back). This tends to really get to me, as everything I need to do can't be done in the kitchen! I tend to leave the room for a few minutes to make sure I'm under control, and then try to get back on track.
As for dinner...I'm a big (main dish) meal planner. I shop for two weeks at a time, so it keeps me on track and on budget to have everything on hand to make the appropriate number of dinners. My goal is always to look at the list and pick something the night before, so I can get out anything that needs to thaw and be prepared for anything that needs to be done ahead of time. I love my crockpot, although I don't make as much use of it as I'd like. I'll try to get back with some dinner specifics soon!
Ladies, I love your comments!
I agree that when things get really tense, it's time to quit for the day...or take a break (especially Mom) then come back to it...a bit refreshed. My goal is to work hard to get a lot done on our good days so that when we have bad days, we won't really be behind if we quit for the day.
As far as meals...I agree about having browned hamburger in the freezer, ready to go for tacos, sloppy joe's or whatever. I also like to have pizza fixin's on hand. And breakfast for dinner is an all time favorite at our house. Breakfast burritos is the top choice.
I don't use my crock pot much...I would really like a couple good recipes. Lacy, I like your idea of throwing a bag of frozen chicken breasts in at the first of the day.
Anyway, if you all are coming back to read these comments, I would really love for each of you to give me a favorite recipe...something that is easy but unique to your family. A favorite casserole? A special spin on tacos? A great crock pot creation? Post it here or email it to me and I will put them in a blog post at a later date.
Thanks!!
During the summer, I cook garden veggies. I have lots of those in the freezer ready to just thaw. I keep meats that can go in the crockpot, even in the summer. I guess I'm fortunate my kids and dh will eat almost anything. We get up early on school days and get the chores out of the way. We start school early. We are done by 1:00. We take very few breaks.
How do you deal with interruptions during school? My parents think it's the grandest thing to have their grandchildren home and will visit during the day. :D I haven't had the heart to tell them THEY NEED TO DO SCHOOL - PERIOD! :)
BTW .. I'm not a veteran at this. Only my second year now. My bios went to PS and the adopted ones are stayimg home. Three of them are anyway.
Most of our interruptions are of our own making. My parents homeschooled my brother for a couple years, an aunt homeschooled all four of her kids, and many of our friends are homeschoolers, so everyone's pretty good about saving calls/visits/etc. until the afternoon. (When we're having a good day, we're done before 2.) Can you put your parents to work supervising schoolwork? My daughters do well with someone to keep them on task, and since I'm only one to their two (plus a 2-year-old who's everywhere!), an extra supervisor would come in handy sometimes. Just a thought.
Lori, I'm picking a couple recipes for you--will get back with you soon!
For meals, I used to have a menu plan for a month, the entrees did not repeat for the whole month. I had grocery list for the 1st 2 weeks, and the 2nd 2 weeks on the computer. The lists had every ingredient needed for the menus, plus breakfast cereal,lunch items, etc. All I had to do every 2 weeks, was mark things off the list that I did not need. I LOVED thies system. I took a whole week-end to get it all put together, but then I used it for probably 6mo, before doing another menu. THat was before our current adoption---now money is sooo tight.
NOW- I have learned to stack coupons and go to every local store in order to get all the specials, then make a menu from those items. After I make the menu, I fill in the blanks and take that grocery list to WalMart.
I went to a free class to learn how to do the coupons. Winn Dixie and Publix post their new sale papers online at 10pm Tues. I make a list, then go to thecouponclippers.com and BUY multiple coupons for the items already on special. I never would have dreamed on buying coupons before I went to the class. For about $6, I can get about $70 worth of coupons. I have spent the same amount as I was spending before, but now have 6-12mo supply of many staples, HBA, and HH cleaners.. Since I have done this about 6mo, I am beginning to see the savings, and my freezer has been full a couple of times, so I did not go to the store at all that week.
My all time favorite crockpot recipe:
Italian Pot Roast with Artichokes and Potatoes (My kids won't eat the artichokes)
1 (3 pound) bone-in center cut pork loin roast (I actually use a pork tenderloin)
4 tsp. dried Italian seasoning
1 tsp. salt, divided
1/2 tsp. pepper
2 tsp. olive oil
1/2 c chopped onion
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 c. chicken broth
9 small red potatoes, halved
12 kalamata olives(have never used)
1 tablespoon capers
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 cans whole artichokes, drained
Cut roast in half. Combine Italian seasoning, 1/2 tsp. salt, and pepper. Rub over surface of pork. Heat oil in large non-stick skillet over med-high heat. Add roast halves and brown on all sides. Remove from skillet and place in crockpot. Add onion and garlic to skillet. Place over med. heat and saute 5 min. Add broth, scraping skillet to loosen browned bits. Pour mixture over roast. Arrange potatoes and olives around roast and sprinkle with remianing salt, capers, and oregano. Cover with lid; cook on high for 1 hour. Reduce to low heat setting and cook for 5 hours. Add artichokes and cook for additional 1 hour.
This recipe came from a Southern Living Slow Cooker book and I love it. It doesn't taste like most dishes that come out of a crockpot. The beginning part is a bit more labor intensive than I like for a crockpot recipe but its so good that I don't mind doing it!
I hope some of you enjoy it!
As for frustrating days....um, no advice there. But I'm loving the suggestions!
Shelley, that recipe sounds DEEE-LICIOUS!! I'm going to try it out this week!
Thanks!!
um, yes, I call these days, the "hide in the closet while sucking my thumb and rubbing silky panties in my fingers kind of days!" Yes, insane and no I really don't DO that... I have 5 kids homeschooling. There are days that it all clicks along and I feel a little like June Cleaver. Then there are days when it seems everyone of them are against me and my life has exploded. lol
SO. I try to keep from being a perfectionist. I have been doing this for 9 yrs. I try to see the BIG picture. That helps me to calm down. I don't get into the "this is what they must learn THIS YEAR, sort of mentality. I think, what are the basics I want them to know bythe time they are 18. Almost always the things like generosity, love, kindness, problem solving. . .etc rise above the other things. I want them to get the basics in schooling also, but they WILL get it. If we keep working and progressing, it will happen. I have a motto: progression not perfection.
I feel like I am juggling several balls all the time and that I too have a good grip on only one thing at a time. I hate to cook. I do it but hate it. I have weekly menus. My hubby gets the food and we work together making meals usually. He is pretty good about that.(but to be fair he stinks in the chores area. ;-)) The book "saving dinner" is great in that it has the menu AND the grocery list. But I found my kids didn't really eat all the foods. But it is worth looking into. I may have to compile those grocery lists to go with MY menus for our family. But if your family is adventurous in the food dept. try that! Another thing that helps schooling is to have a good house cleaning schedule. Specific chores that each kid does. Mama can't do it all. Or she will crumple in a heap by the end of a week. So, have a realistic plan for BASIC cleaning!! And we wrote ours on a big wipe off board. Room by room who does what and on what day. This prep may take a little time, then teaching them the job takes time, but OH MAN! It is worth it. and it cuts hrs for mom to be able to teach. Another thing, I have an early bird. So getting him early is better. He likes to get his done by 10. The other is just waking up by 9:30. Work within everyones best time frame if you can. It keeps things more peaceful. And doing one at a time. DO NOT torture yourself by trying to give a spelling test to one while spouting out math flash cards to another. It confuses them and cannot be called multitasking!lol (and yes, I have tried it. Yes I am baring my embarassing moments here)so, home cleaning, chores, meals,those all help. OH, and I bought an actual lesson plan book. I pencil in each kids tentative lessons for the week each sunday night. If we don't do something it gets erased or adjusted to the next day. That gives me a good guide though. I put a dot by what we DO get done and that keeps record. hmm. sorry this made a book. but I had a really frustrating day today and so had to share the things that make ours better. add to my list-- do not attempt to school the day after you get back from vacation even IF you have it in your lesson plan book. lol they are tired and so are you.
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