Homeschooling 2014-2015

Chris and I have been on the fence about the educational path for our kids.  I have written two posts about reasons to homeschool and another with reasons to send them to an institution.  After some back and forth, we made the decision to start homeschooling this fall.  We did not take the decision lightly.  I personally had a hard time committing.  A few years ago, I really didn't think we would homeschool, but the seed was planted a few times while attending MCCW (now CWOC).  We had to really discern if this was the right choice for us.

For now, we will take it one year at a time, and I am going to try and keep my expectations low.  Hopefully not the quality.  There are so many possibilities in a homeschool, and many are extremely appealing, but in the end we can't do it all.  Not everything will work for the kids, and not everything will work well for me.  Part of the beauty and the stress is trying to figure out my kids as students and myself as their educator.   We will have to rely on our intuition, because we really do know our children.  We have to trust that we know our children, too.

We are now in the process of buying our curriculum for next year.  For me, I became very overwhelmed...maybe even over-stimulated.  Again, the endless possibilities getting in the way. What foundation are we wanting to lay for our kids?  Are we making the right choice?  Are we going to completely  ruin our kids?  Am I even smart enough to do this...because really, I'm clueless about everything.  I mean...my grammar people!!!  I'm guessing some people really have the focus and know where they want to start even if that might change along the way, but I was having a hard time finding that focus.

I am very, very blessed to have friends who are currently homeschooling.  Their kids are roughly the same age as mine, just a tish older since their kids are currently in kindergarten.  Anyway, they are a great resource, and even better people.  They have been able to answer my questions, give advice, and help narrow down our search for next year's curriculum.  I kinda feel like I'm just copying them, which is silly since we all have very similar goals for our kids.  After some prayers, talking to Chris, and looking through the material I feel like their suggestions were a good place for us to start.  I'm sure next year I will have more questions to ask, advice to seek, and need someone to talk it out if I need to vent.  So...here we go.

So, here's our list for 2014-2015:

We are starting with Mother of Divine Grace.  We have purchased her kindergarten syllabus specifically for her book list.  She has a book list of the saints, liturgical year, and rich literature.  Many of the books on these lists I would probably never have found on my own.  We have already started buying some of these books.  Each time one comes in I excitedly read through it with the kids.  So far my favorite book was a gift to Owen from my mom, The Weight of a Mass: A Tale of Faith.  It is a cute story about the value of the Mass.  The book list by Mother of Divine Grace would be great to have in your home even if you don't homeschool.

Owen working on his Occupational Therapy "homework".

For reading and writing we are using Institute for Excellence in Writing. A very comprehensive and hands on curriculum, I think.  One of my friends felt that it was great for boys.  I am positive that Owen is going to hate copy work, but OT is helping some of his frustrations, but I think he will really enjoy the games.  I actually won't be surprised if Amelia learns to read at the same time as Owen.  She is already interested in letters, words, and sounds.  At this age Owen couldn't have cared less.

Amelia has "homework" too.

Saxon Math K is what we have chosen for math.  K level uses the calendar, patterns, shapes, counting, graphing, and manipulatives.  Again, it seemed comprehensive, hands on, teacher/student friendly, and expanding on what Owen is already learning in Pre K.  I already feel like Owen has more of an interest in math.  I could be wrong.  I'm trying not to have any preconceived notions about what my kids will or won't like.  So we will just take it on day/lesson at a time.

Simon being cute. (the ladder situation is confusing)

Finally, I am most excited about this resource, and I hope Owen loves it as much as I already do.  Classically Catholic Memory incorporates religion, timeline, history, geography, math, science, poetry, and Latin.  Again without trying to have any preconceived notions, I think Owen is going to love the science and geography.  Religion, Latin, and poetry will probably be my favorite.  There are 4 levels Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta.  We are doing Alpha this year.  The next 3 years I will just get the next level, then I will repeat.  When we come back to Alpha Owen will be in the 4th grade, and we can get into more details about historical events, the timeline, science, geography....all of it really.

I'm so excited for next year!  The task of creating lesson plans and scheduling out the year is a little daunting, but it can be done.  It must be done.  Of course the baby due at the end of September will be a nice little curve ball just as I might be getting use to schooling.  But maybe the comfort will never come...who knows.  Here we go 2014-2015, the Lockharts will be a homeschooling family.  {big exhale}

Birthday week

Birthday week is upon us.  Amelia's birthday is Wednesday and Simon's is Saturday.  I almost feel like I should be 9 months pregnant and ready to pop.  If we are blessed with another baby I would like to give October a break...January has a beautiful birthstone :)

Anyway.  We are having a Halloween birthday party.  I suggested it to Amelia and she was all for it.  She loves Halloween.  She pick Halloween books year round.  I suggested it because it would give the kids another chance to wear their costumes.  Owen is being Jack Frost from Rise of the Guardians.  Amelia is being a purple monster princess.  Simon will be either Darth Vader or Frankenstein. I think for trick or treating he will definitely be Frankenstein because it's a warmer costume.  It's Owen's first costume too.

We are going to try am make this happen.

2009 Owen's first Halloween

Amelia showing off her costume a few months ago

I have a few goals this week for the blog.  I am going to try and write Amelia's and Simon's birth stories (here's Owen's) along with some notes about what they are like as we approach year 3 and year 1.  They are both awesome additions to this family.  Their wild antics keep us laughing, loving, crying, yelling, and cussing (striving for sainthood is hard!)  But mostly they keep us laughing and loving.  A friend posted that with each kid your love is multiplied not divided.  So true.  I hope the love keeps multiplying.  These kids, Owen too, make me want to love more.  I don't think domesticity/parenting comes naturally to me.  Order most definitely does not.  But the swell of my heart watching each kid sleeping as a newborn to putting on their clothes independently is like a drug that I want more of.  The plan for our family is being revealed one day at a time, and we will do our best to happily accept whatever is in store for us.  Right now we are blessed with 3 wonderful children who fill this home with joy.

Not feeling it.

I'm not feeling it today.  I'm not feeling it most days.  For two week now I feel like we have been non stop.  I know it's from adding CrossFit to our mornings.  Add a couple of appointments, play-dates, and general errands one's time is eaten up quick.

The house is in a whole new level a disarray.  The laundry, both clean and dirty, has taken over.  I'm so so so SO happy to have our new washer and dryer.  They are larger than our rickety old set so I can clean more clothes at once!!!  That also means I have to fold more clothes at once!  I have three overflowing baskets of unfolded clothes that I keep digging through. I have had the goal every day to get something accomplished and to regain the order like we use to kind of have.  And everyday I feel like I'm just trying to survive.   Feeding, diaper changes, throwing a towel on the newest spill, and ignoring the crash of toys that have been spilled to the floor.

I have been in this so called survival mode for quite some time.  I'm starting to think that I'm no longer surviving, but it's my new norm.  I lived there for all of Simon's pregnancy.  Of course I had a newborn and to recover and to adjusting to having three kids.  I will give myself a little bit of wiggle room here, but in the end these things didn't take too long. 

I long to have a system in place that is functional and teachable.  Owen and Amelia can be given household responsibilities and be expected to complete them.  I have found many lists on the trusty (and not so trusty) internet with age appropriate household contributions.  The problem for me is getting this system in place.  Any attempt I have made ended as soon as it started or was never finished and ended in a bigger mess.  I don't have the skills that can see chaos and create order. It's a vicious circle. 

I'm not sure what my point is really.  My plan was not to be a Debbie Downer.  I know I have complained to about abilities before.  I guess I could ask for some prayers.  I really want to improve.  I love being a wife and mother, but I want to be better...MUCH better at it.  And if we decide to homeschool these are skills that need to surface. 

Anyway, sorry for you time.  I will make a huge effort tomorrow to do better...here and at home.

Night interwebs!


Check out Conversion Diary where other people are completing the 7 Day 7 Post challenge.

Owen Clarence Lockhart: The Birth

Where has the day gone? It is now 8 o'clock and I have yet to begin my post for the 7 day 7 post challenge over at Conversion Diary with Jennifer. 

And I have no idea what I want to share with you guys today. So after referring back to that topics I brainstormed, I decided to type out Owen's birth story.  So here we go.

39 weeks with Owen

On March 2nd, 2009 with snow on the ground, I was three days past my due date, but I didn't care.  Chris was at Basic Combat Training so I had convinced myself the longer I was pregnant the younger our son would be when he met his dad.  I remember being really tired and taking a nap.  I hadn't heard from Chris in a while so I was pleasantly surprised when I woke up to a phone call from him around 7:30pm.  He told me how he had won a 20 minute phone call by answering a question correctly.  I was a little relieved to hear from him.  I didn't know what the future held.  Giving birth, at the time, seemed a little frightening.  Really it was the fear of the unknown.  How painful was it??  That 20 minute conversation was enough to push down some of the anxiety.  Once we said our goodbyes I went to the kitchen, filled up my "ice cup" for the trillionth time, returned to my room to write a letter to Chris as I had done every night since he left.  Around 11 o'clock I rolled over in the bed to go back to sleep.  At 11:30 felt the first of many contractions.

I began timing them.  The were 10-20 minutes apart and not too painful.  I decided I probably needed some sleep. At 4:00 am I woke up to a stronger contraction. I timed them again.  Still about 10 minutes apart and since I was starting to feel uncomfortable I decided to fill the bath tub.  The warm water helped with the discomfort.  I would refill the tub when the water would become cold.  I did this until about 6:30.  I started timing them again.  From 6:30 to 7:30 the contractions went from 5 minutes apart to 2 minutes apart.  They were lasting for about a minute and were starting to take my breath away.  I woke up my mom and told her that it was going to be today and then I called Dr. Dorn.  After speaking to me he told me to head to the hospital.  We get to the hospital and as they are getting me into the system my mom french braided my hair on either side so no loss strands would annoy me.  At about 9:30 I was taken up to Labor and Delivery.

I put on a gown and was check. I was dilated at 4.5 cm.  The nurse informed me that was pretty good for my first baby.  I continued to walk and rock and sway through my contraction, but the back labor was not ceasing and my exhaustion was taking its toll.  I could not relax between contraction anymore.  The thought of a needle in my spin scared me, but something had to give.  When the nurse came in to check me again I was at 7 cm and I spoke with her about some kind of relief.  I really don't know the name, but it was a muscle relaxer.  It was just enough.  I could still feel my contraction but it took the edge off my back between them.  I was actually able to get some sleep.  I had various visitors my mom, my dad, my mother-in-law, my sister, and my friend Libby.  My mom, my mother-in-law and Libby remained in the room to make sure my needs were met.  My dilation continued to 8.5 cm and stalled.  My water had not broke and they asked if I would like them to break at about 4:00pm they broke my water and my contractions became more intense.  I quickly became fully dilated and was given the go to push if I felt like I needed to push.

So I pushed, and I pushed and I pushed.

They brought out a mirror so I could watch, but if you know me...I don't handle medical situations very well.  I don't know if I was trying to be polite, but I never mentioned that I preferred not to watch.  So the mirror stayed.  I continued to push until everyone around me told me to look down.  Owen was halfway out and I could see his swollen face covered in goo.  At 6:06 pm with one final push he was here.  They laid him on my belly for a while before cutting the cord.  Everyone was eager to measure him since he was quite large. Eventually he was taken to the other side of the room as I was being stitched up.

March 3, 2009 at 6:06 pm 10lbs 6 oz 22 in

He was 10 lbs 6 oz and 22 inches long with a powerful set of lungs.  And he was AWESOME.  I was in love with him from the moment I knew I was pregnant.

I devoured my cold food.  And was left wanting more.  I was moved to my room.  I was really weak and could not walk without assistance.  I later found out I lost three time the amount of blood that I should have lost.  I had some visitors who came and went.  My adrenaline was wearing off, but I was waiting for a call from Chris.  I was tired and Chris was tired.  But we were filled with joy. We couldn't believe he was here. We were now a family of three.

Family Day at BCT March 25, 2009

Amelia's birth story.
Simon's birth story.
Becket's birth story.