Teens, Tweens, Toddlers - How to Manage Multiple Ages and Homeschooling
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It seems like a lifetime ago, but when we started homeschooling, our oldest son was four. We also had a two-year-old and a newborn, and as life went on, we added another baby about every other year or so. Pretty soon we had a big group of eight kids from 15 down to the baby, and I felt like I was drowning every day.
I have learned and implemented a lot of management techniques over the years.
Sometimes the things I try work and other times I have to scrap the whole shebang just an hour or two into it. Quite honestly, my current frustration is teens who see the systems, know the systems, and ignore the systems. Systems, it seems, aren't the stuff of which relationships are made.
I'm not so good at relationships. I'm very good at projects. For all the homeschooling moms out there who love to while away the afternoon with a cup of coffee and a long conversation on the couch, I'm the homeschooling mom who would rather organize paperwork and cook dinner. I'm the one to whom administration and organization come naturally. I'm the one who is socially inept most of the time, so if you want to throw a party, I'll get it all up and running for you. Just don't ask me to host. Ha!
I'm working on the relationship part, and I love reading books by homeschooling moms who are relationship rock stars.
Are you needing help knowing how to not drown while homeschooling?
How to not go completely under? I can do that. In fact, I have a whole site dedicated to helping you figure out how to homeschool older kids well while managing little ones, too. It's called Preschoolers and Peace, and it's been around a long, long time.
Help is here!
I also have two eBooks that might come in handy, particularly if you want to cut to the chase and not have to poke around the site for the info you need. The first is called Preschoolers and Peace: Homeschooling Older Kids With Success While Loving the Little Ones at Your Feet (affiliate link), and it covers everything from home management to kid management to schedules to food to school ideas.
The other is Circle Time: Plan the Best Part of Your Day (affiliate link). I was struggling getting to all of the subjects we wanted to cover, such as Scripture memory, art, writing letters, etc., and so I implemented a group time around our kitchen table that includes all the kids. It's been the anchor to our homeschool for the past 15 years!
Here's to thriving in our homes!
-Kendra, who is off to focus on some relationships here . . .
Rely on the simple and uncomplicated. Do what suits your family best. You know all of those absolutely jaw-dropping buffet spreads and fresh pine swags and elaborate gift wrapping designed specifically for each member of your family, including the goldfish? Skip 'em. Unless you just love to put on the spread and the decor, do what your family loves and will enjoy. Everything else elicits the opposite of easy Advent ideas that don't overwhelm.