Well I have done it again.
Last summer, after school let out and the days were long and we had stretches of one to two hours with nothing to do, I started saying "yes" to people.
Part of it was from a desire to actually help to get things done within the different circles that I spend my time in, but more often it was just from a serious lack of foresight and thought.
Now I am paying and paying big!
For example, I do want to homeschool Religious ed. I am teaching Religion at home and it seems really silly to be sending the kids off to CCD on Wednesday nights, when we are already covering all of this at home. So, the DRE let me know last year that we were going to have to come up with another way to account for the Religious Ed hours that our growing parish homeschool families are putting in. I told her "no problem, I'll just set up a review process like we do for he county and a few of the other moms and I can check out the portfolios of those families that homeschool." Yeah. Should be easy, except that the Diocese just came out with a whole new series of guidelines, very good, comprehensive guidelines, and the burden of proving what the kids know is now a LOT heavier! Most of these families had a hard time finishing the little book last year. They are not regular homeschoolers. They are doing it this way because either they can't get the kids to CCD due to scheduling issues, or they have children who do not do well in a classroom setting. At any rate, the amount of time needed to complete the program quadrupled.
So we had a meeting on Wednesday last. The news of the change was met with, shall we say, a lack of enthusiasm. I had to try to explain what we would be doing to account for the things that are required, and well, if looks could kill...
So I guess now I am going to have to put in some time figuring out ways to help people get the different things done.
I am not complaining, I love the new guidelines. We are doing a program that makes it very easy to meet the goals.
I just feel responsible because the accountability process was my idea.
They would still have to show what they are doing somehow though. This does make sense.
And then there is the whole scouting thing.
We are having a hard time keeping the pack together and getting all the work done.
I really wanted to just find a pack where the boys could be dropped off and they could do their stuff.
But my friend Kim is trying so hard to get everything done and she needs help...
So now I am going to be doing all the data entry for the pack. hmmm...
doesn't seem like it should take much time...
Then, of course, this is the year that I decided to give the workbooks the heave-ho and so all our work is either written or oral. I am doing a lot of work on the board and I love it, but it takes more time. They were ready though. John is writing some really nice essays and even Paul is getting into the act. He LOVES Latin! It is so funny. He listens to John's lessons and he keeps volunteering words and phrases. Last night he said "Salve Magistra" and it just cracked me up!
That is only the beginning. There is lots more going on at the church and with our other groups.
Art will start soon. We have a bunch of field trips to get together and I have a new granddaughter arriving any day. Of course Lucy and Lilly are the joy in all of this!
Anyway, I am going to go get ready for my new table and I'll take some pictures after we get it into the kitchen!
