Oh that is a wonderful idea! She has a baby Annabelle doll that actually cries. I think we may do something like that.
Sommer, Joslyn was the same way. She was thrilled when she found out she was going to be a big sister. She was fine right up until he came home from the hospital (he was there for 2 months after being born). I thought having her help would help her adjust & make them close. I was wrong. She'd been the center of my world for almost 6 years when he was born. She still hasn't quite adjusted to the idea of having to share my attention with him & daddy (my ds turns 4 in a few weeks). She still has some resentment towards him & feels that he's the favorite. I think part of it is because how much attention he needed as a baby. He was a premie, so he needed more attention than many newborns. He only slept 20 min at a time (at night we were sometimes lucky enough to get an hour), and ate every hour, because he couldn't eat a lot during a feeding. He had special exercises & streches that had to be done every few hours, to prevent him needing physical therapy. When he came home he was on an apnea moniter that went off all the time. So, he needed a lot of my time, energy, and attention. She felt that I wasn't giving enough to her, even though we started homeschooling when he was about 6 mos old, and she got tons of attention. I agree with the posts saying that a newborn probably won't be that difficult to take care of while homeschooling. Most newborns aren't like my ds. Most of them sleep more & eat less often than he did. Doing school while the baby sleeps is a great way to go. That way, when he's awake, you can all spend time together. I also agree that sending her to public school around the time the baby's born could make her feel that you don't love her as much or that you prefer the baby. It's hard enough for a child that age to adjust to no longer being an only child, you don't want to make her feel unwanted. I hope you can convince your hubby that things will work out. It might take a little time to get into a schedule that works for you, but it's completely possible.
Hey Kim, Since I know you and your DD (and DH...the dogs, etc)....well, you know my opinions Just wanted to let the other ladies know that I (as your local friend) appreciate all their wonderful advice. Schooling things will even out again after Christmas now that you're feeling a bit better.....DD will have time to adjust to all the "new" stuff before next school year.....and knowing her, she'd be bored at school since she's well ahead of many of her peers....and too smart for her britches sometimes....lol. As for the world revolving around her....I'll loan you all 3 of mine anytime to bring her down a peg or two...LOL...just kidding.....I'll just give you DS5 who also thinks as the baby and only boy that the world revolves around him too. Hang in there! Rhonda C.
I think it actually helped!!! Because when I would say something like let's check on the baby or something of that nature...it wasn't a big problem The other thing we did was bought a toy (we had to be in the hospital for 2 days) from the baby to the oldest!!! Thought that was pretty cool!!!
Kim, we cloth diaper too! ELi was 21 months old when Macy was born this past March. He is having a horrible time adjusting to her. Anywho, MY boys help out with measuring the detergent for the diapers and regular laundry, they help by putting the inserts into our pocket diapers and they help me get diapers by picking out their favorite colors or prints on them. So for my little girl we have all sorts of colored diapers from blue, green, orange to trains lol. Of course she does still have a lot of pink and purple diapers and a few girly prints too lol. Some days are much harder than others but IMO public school is just as hard to deal with. I had a horrible time getting Noah to school at 8 when he went to public school. I'd also have to unload all of the kids and walk Noah into the school only to repeat this all over again in the afternoon...with grouchy toddler and baby in tow because they were always getting their afternoon naps interrupted so I could pick up Noah. Just think about it...sleep deprived mama and trying to get everyone fed and to the school in the morning, not fun at all. We also took off 2 months after I had Macy. We didnt do anything but reading. Noah did a little time4learning when he wanted to but I didnt have him do any assignments at all during the time. When we picked back up in June we just did a little of this and a little of that. Noah is still far beyond his friends that go to school. I'm not worried about him academically at all. Homeschooling takes up such little time it really isnt a big deal. You can also do her schooling in the evenings when your dh is home to help with it.
I hope I'm not posting what someone else did but here has been our experience. . . DD was just starting first grade when I had the twins. Kindergarten towards the end of hte twin pg had become fairly non existent. I just sat around and incubated twins and read to her. Lots and lots of reading to her. I thought after that first year that surely she was going to be behind and the state was going to come after me. Fast forward almost three years later. . .the child is ahead grade wise in almost every single subject. She is smart, she is thoughtful, and I'm so glad that we kept her at home. Despite not really "doing anything". She came out way ahead in every way. I will say that my dh is very convinced that hsing is the right way to go so I do have a lot of support. When he gets home he asks what he can do. . .not what didn't I get done...KWIM? Anyhow, for what it's worth maybe you can tell dh you know a lady that hs'd her kids while she had 5 under the age of 6 and they still are coming out ok despite that!!!
My dh is like that too! I'm so blessed to have him! I'm glad yours is that way too! Oh my! We have friends, still in their 20's that have 5 kids. They had their 5th in November---before the oldest turned 5! That includes one set of twins---and they're ALL girls...that poor daddy! :lol: I'm not sure if they'll keep trying for a boy! (I think their oldest will turn 5 in January. I get tired just thinking about it!)
I haven't read all the comments, so hopefully am not repeating too much, but I didn't find new baby too difficult. My second one since starting hsing is nursing now while my oldest and her sister are peeling potatoes for lunch. : ) You kind of learn what works, especially if your older is as independent minded as mine is. (Challenging and a blessing at once!) But I got a sling for the baby and she spent a lot of time in there so I could hold her and do housework or attend to the other three. It really helped a lot. We also got everything set up long before and talked about it. One thing that also helped but I wouldn't wish upon anyone...I was so exhausted during the pregnancy. I was scared something was really wrong, but after delivery, that cleared. Suddenly, my energy was back and the kids had there mom back, awake and alert. So I think baby coming had less effect on them than it might have.
Well, we are dealing with two new borns this year. Plus I am schooling 3 children. I am not going to say it is easy. But it is doable. We aren't doing as many 'field trips' or library visits. I have focused more on unit studies so the lessons are more dense thus cutting down on the time involved. It is working Good luck! It truely can be done!
They came over the summer. Thanks for asking They are 5 months old now. Never a dull moment at our house
Hey, I am due in July also! Anyway, I have already had a newborn and homeschooled 2 kids at the same time. There is NO reason you cannot do this. In fact, my kids have an amazing relationship with their little sister that I think they would not have if they were sent to school. I found having a newborn and homeschooling was far far far easier than being pregnant and homeschooling! LOL. A newborn sleeps a ton. Also, it was pretty easy just to add the baby to the routine, I thought. But I was used to chaos as I also did daycare. I think the real struggle comes when the baby hits around a year or so. Until then, I doubt you will find you have any problems. Honestly, I do think you will find a routine that works for you. You and your dd will learn to adapt. Take it one day at a time. When your little one reaches about a year or so, we can discuss homeschooling with a toddler...very different experience! LOL.
