Updates

As I blogged about not so long ago, I gave Jane a reading assignment with incentives for finishing and consequences for not.  Well, she started off strong.  She read the first book called, 'Fever,' in about a week.  She was certain she was not going to like it, but about 2 chapters in, she couldn't put it down.  She wrote an awesome book report on it that I thoroughly enjoyed and proceeded to start the 2nd book.  She was supposed to read 3 books that I chose (all historical fiction) in 6 weeks with completed book reports. We are at the end of the six weeks and she still hasn't finished the 2nd book.  I don't think she's ever gotten past the 2nd chapter. 

So the consequence I told her about was no t.v.  How do I enforce that when I'm not there?  And for what time period?   My husband says it should last until she finishes the assignment.  Hmmm....that could work.  The bottom line though is she has to decide to do the work.  That's true of a child at school as well.  Few kids who are doing poorly in school are unintelligent.  Mostly, they just need to decide to do the work; to care.

In all fairness to her, I did pick Nutcracker time to decide what to do about her reading.  Her regular dance schedule is 6.5 hours of dance a week, but during nutcracker, she's up there about 12 hours a week.  Still, no excuses, right?  I mean, if she were at school, there would be consequences.  Maybe I should just give her a failing grade and move on?  But that's not why or how I want to homeschool.  So, I'm going to have to think about what to do.  I have spoken with Jane about this.  She suggested that she could do all her reading over the summer.  It's not a bad suggestion, I'll just have to think about whether that will work.

On the bright side, I am so excited to see how well she is doing in her co-op classes and in her Algebra.  She is a smart girl!  I confess, I, like every parent, worry about how my kid will do in highschool.  But even more so when it's the first time she's taken a class outside of home.  She's doing great and I think she also is relieved and pleased!

The one who is really going to benefit from my working 16 hours a week is Ruth.  She was born an independent spirit, but she is really doing well managing her school work in 3rd grade!  She had her first piano recital last Saturday and she did great.  I knew she wouldn't be too nervous; she's danced on stage twice now.  But she did her piece perfectly and her duet with the teacher perfectly.  She's something else!  I was so glad that two of her older brothers came (the other one is away at college). 

Well, our tree is up and decorated, the house decorations are up, most of my shopping is done and most of that, wrapped, and a few batches of cookies are made.  All I could think about as we decorated was how blessed I am to have my family with me.  With my son's friend gone, a woman from work dying suddenly, and the mall shooting this week, I am more aware that the real gift for me this year and every year is the family that surrounds me.  Even with all the issues that come with marriage and raising kids, at the end of the day, I have my husband and my five kids and my parents and my sisters with me....there's nothing else I want.