I think one of my reasons for looking for a co-op is that sometimes I just need a couple of hours at home to myself. (Or time to go to the dentist. ) I would think that if my kids were older, they'd be doing work on their own for short stretches, but they'd still be around. I don't mean to suggest that I don't want my kids around or that I don't love being with them; my main reason for considering hs is that I just want them around. Do those of you who pretty much have your kids around all the time find that you crave a little time away a few hours a week? (Like, more than an hour here and there for Karate or whatever.)
On his weekends off, my dh will watch the kids for a few hours so I can go have some me time. I go to my sister's or sit at the bookstore curled up with a book, or just go window shopping for a while. Mostly though, I get my me time at night when everyone else is in bed. I'll read a book, watch a movie, write, paint, play on the computer, work on a puzzle, or whatever I feel like doing. That's when I'm not using that time to work on something I didn't get time for during the day. Being an insomniac, I'm pretty much fine with it that way. I'd be awake anyway, so at least I have something to do while I sit there.
I'm a little crazy I do sometimes crave time to myself, but then when the weekend comes and hubby is home I usually end up choosing to spend time with my family instead of by myself, LOL. I use PBS for some me time during the day, that's what is going on right now. The boys are watching PBS while I have some adult "conversation" time online.
I get up before everyone and have some quiet mom time.. or at least I try to, most mornings I find I would rather use that time to go back to sleep. I also try to sneak away once or twice a week for a bubble bath.. but we have one bathroom and a small, far from soundproof home.. so it's not a very relaxing thing if I happen to get in there..lol. Hubby and I do try to go on a weekly date.. his mom keeps the kids for a few hours once a week, sometimes we just sit home and enjoy the quiet, sometimes we go out to eat or to a mall or whatever. We have even cooked feasts for ourselves in that time.. steak, shrimp, clams and hot wings..lol.
Right now I need some "me" time LOL. But it's ok. Our conversation about 30 minutes ago: Me "I'm just stressed out with curriculum stuff and getting started" My DH said "and you don't want to send them to school?" and my response "nope" DH, "So I have to listen to this all year?" Me, "Nope - I just need to get started and somewhat organized - ok and I need a drink " So tonight I am making chocolate martini's (had those last week on our date night - YUMMY!! but $7 each!?!?!?!?) and I'm going to relax. I usually just need some quiet time to myself - don't really want to "go" anywhere. It's funny - it just happens that way.... DH says for me to take off for awhile and I can't even think of any place I really want to go besides sitting on my bed reading a book that requires no thought process.
Dana, my hubby tries to "kick me out" too.. and really I would rather be home, but in a quiet home where I can just lounge out and read or watch the tv..and have it be something I want to read or watch..lol.
That's what I'm talking about. Or to just fold laundry or do dishes or go grocery shopping in peace. (Sad that that's my idea of "me time.") Okay, Dana, chocolate martini recipe, please!
We participate in a co-op but its not a drop-off. I get "me time" when DH gets home or on the weekends. My kids were previously in a Dept of Defense school and preschool so I do sometimes miss the hours I had free but now that they are older, I can shop, etc with them so it's not too bad. I do need to go to the dentist (way overdue) and I can't decide how/when that's going to happen....if I'm going to just hire a teenager to babysit or trade time with a friend. I hate the dentist so I just keep procrastinating I've found that I'm actually less stressed than when they were all in school and we were bound to someone else's schedule. With our own schedule, I don't actually need as much "me time" as I used too.
Chocolate Martini Recipe Ingredients 2 shot Vodka 2 oz Chocolate Liqueur 1 oz Irish Cream Mix in blender and serve - LOL. I'm SOOOO ready to try it today. It's not the same as I got at Macaroni Grill - but I'm game to try it - LOL!!
I get up early so I have a few hours to myself in the morning. If Handsome is home, I usually leave Emma home with him when I run errands. She likes to spend time with him so it is a benefit for me.
This will sound strange but my breaks are the days I work. I am a caregiver and the client I've got right now really doesn't need more for more than just transportation...so I sit and read or watch tv with her or play cards or chat to her for most of my 12 hour shift so that's my break.
My breaks are in the afternoon when DD2 naps and when DD7 "rests." DD7 is supposed to rest in her room in the afternoon. Times vary depending on my mood and her attitude that day. Sometime is is 1 hour, sometime it is 3 hours. She usually reads (I never assign reading because she does it on her own) or plays dolls. She can also play outside. Also, every other Saturday I do all of my shopping for 2 weeks (Fred Meyer, Costco, Wal-Mart). I am usually gone for about 4 hours. It is wonderful! I drink coffee and take my time looking at whatever I want to. This really helps me the rest of the week.
whn I need time off I just can run to the store alone cause mine are older now, I can remembre when my oldest became 13 and could babysit Legally, that is when I started getting some me time. I did teach a ladies bible study and got a sitter for that, so that helped, the sitter was at the church so I brought kids school with us and would go teach ladies, that was like a ME time to me! You just have to be creative... but yes find a co op if you can find one, cause even if you have to be there its nice to have other adults around to visit with!
If I need a break during the day, I just take one. Sometimes I will go to my room or have Ems go to hers. But usually the morning time is enough for me.
I am a new homeschooler and I am wondering when time for me will come in to play, but I usually just get time to myself when I go to the store after my husband is home. It will be an interesting and exciting, but scary year. I have many worries and especially about my fifth grader, cause I think she needs state testing this year. I worry I won't be able to teach her everything she needs to know. I also worry about them retaining things. I'm quite unsure of how often I should test/quiz them. Is it every week? Suggestions are welcome. Kim
Welcome! As for testing, don't stress. We are required to test ours every year here in VA (under the option that we use). Depending on which state you are in, you probably have options as to which test you use. Spectrum Test Prep is available at most major book store chains is a good guide for review near test time. I don't formally test/quiz my kids except in math. I may give the oldest her Rod & Staff English tests this year. All 3 of my kids tested very well the last 2 years (when we started homeschooling and testing annually became necessary). Some nationally normed tests can be given at home and some can not....all depends on where you live, etc. Rhonda
KimFras, WELCOME!!!! How often you test and why you test will depend on your family. The only reason I test isn't to give Ems a grade as much as to see where she is academically. Then we go back and cover any areas she is lacking in. Depending on how much ground we are covering, depends on how often we test. I also only test on the main subjects. As for finding mom time, you will have to see what works best for your family. My sister homeschools, so from time to time, I will take her children for a night and then she takes mine.
I live in New York State and we don't have to do it every year. My oldest daughter has always struggled in school every since she ever began Kindergarten. I would also like to focus on character skills. What would be good curriculum to use for that? I assume it's normal to be scared when first starting out. I've researched this for about 5 years now and here I am. It took a little while and I'm still scared. My husband is supportive and he made me feel a little better. I do have some supportive friends, but not family. My toughest part right now is lesson planning, which is intimidating. Is it okay to lesson plan a week at a time? It's tough to do 3 kids, especially your first time.
Hey there, I really get no breaks. The closest thing to me time is time when they're in their room or IF (rarely) my dh is home and keeps an eye on them while I go to the store. I'm kind of used to that though because it's always been that way since they were born. We never had babysitters except maybe grandparents occasionally. The only alone/me time I had was when ds was in kinder. for the first 1/2 of the year and dd was in their preschool program. I wasted so much time then that I wish I would have managed better! Most co-ops do not do drop offs though (that I've found or read of) they usually make you participate too. Mom's usually have to volunteer their time for so many hours...like teaching a class or assisting with another class or something like that. Maybe you should hire a sitter for a few hours a week (if it's in your budget...it's not ours) or call on the grandparents if possible. OOH, had to add this thought. If you have another homeschool family maybe you can swap time. You can watch the kids while she does something for a time and another day she can watch while you get time? (we don't have any hs friends yet)
I do steal some breaks for myself, never thought of them that way though.. although I do enjoy them.. We live in the country, on top of a mountain with an amazing view (at least in one direction..lol). I hang my clothes, and take my time at it since I'm over looking a little town that is in my view. I fold my clothes as I take them down.. and enjoy the views and quiet, I rarely let the kids come out with me, and really when I do, they run for the swingset or sandbox and leave me in peace for a few minutes. I usually wash the dishes "in my own world".. I dream of the day when hubby and I can build our home and I have a window over my sink.. for now I get to look over the bar into the livingroom, so I go off into "SommerLand" and unless the kids are screaming, they don't exist..lol. I am trying to convince my hubby to take the kids out to play a few times a week and leave me in the house alone and I would be in heavan with that.. but so far it's not working so well..lol.
