Can you help me with a fluid schedule?

[Mere2]

Ok, I am a new hs Mum. DD is 6 and DS is 4. DD is bright and eager to learn - a great student. DS is special needs (muscle disease) physically takes alot of my time and energy. He is also full of mischief and refuses to play by himself whilst we are doing school. He is not interested in doing school himself so I have a constant battle of DS distracting DD whilst doing school.

Add to the mix of swimming, gymnastic and karate (all important therapy of DS and is held mid mornings weekly; DD participates as well) and physio, OT and speach therapy for DS weekly as well. I am also a solo Mummy, dh works 7hour flight away and comes home once every 2 months. So all of the house chores etc are left up to me. I'm it.

Today my DD gymnastic teacher tells me that DD has a lot of natural talent and is trying to move her to the nationals club early (instead of the normal age of 8). Great news but I know that will come with alot of time commitment. I know I can say no but why should DD miss out....she misses out on so much all ready due to our family situation.

So how do I fit in school? I'm trying to fit it in here and there but nothing is consistent due to DS medical needs. Next year in January he is ment to start Kindy (we are in OZ) which adds even more time restraints although it will be easier to teach as there will be no distractions.

Do I just keep trying to bumble my way along until January or do I call it quits and realise that its just not possible to hs DD (even though I really want to)????? If I send DD to school I will feel like its because i'm a failure at scheduling my time.

Can you realistically hs on a fluid schedule, 15 mins here, 15 mins there? Can they learn well? I would love to just wipe out 3 hours every morning and say that its just for school but it just doesn't work with DS medical needs.

Any ideas...positive stories of a fluid schedule?

TIA
Fi

[cin]

I don't know yoru dd's temperament, nor your curriculum choices, but here's how we do things. My dd is 7 (tomorrow!!!) and is a pretty easy student. She loves reading and learning.

She does math 1st thing. As soon as she is done with breakfast, she heads off to her desk to do her math. She can read, so she can read directions and usually follow them. Her books are mostly 'go on to the next page' type of books, so after math, she does reading. Which is read the unit and then answer ?s in the wkbk. Then she does whatever else she needs to do; critical thinking, logic, latin, etc. I do go over the words with her in Latin nd Vocabulary. Science and History are the only 2 subjects that I HAVE to sit with her. And I usually have the 4 yr old sitting on my lap while I read those.

We do have activities throughout the week, most are in the afternoons, but our days are measured by completion of work, NOT by the amt of hours we put in. If we are not finished, DD will work some after lunch. I do beleive that you could do Math, go to gymnastics, then do reading. Then later on do something else. As long as it all gets done. Part of the joy of homeschooling is the flexibility and for us, the SPEED in which the works can get done.

:grouphug:

[Kristine out of lurking]

Because your dd is just 6, it's possible to school in short bursts. I don't believe it would be effective as she got older, but that won't be an issue at least when your ds goes to preschool.

You have a lot on your plate right now. In addition to academics, don't dismiss the importance of teaching your dd the value of your family, which includes your ds's needs. This IS an education for her, one that will take her far in life even without opening a book. :)

If your dd is participating in gym and swimming and karate, it might be necessary this year for you to reevaluate the time commitments that all of these outside activities require, in addition to your ds's activities--especially if your dd moves into the higher gym level.

You said your alternative is to send your dd to school--that would eliminate much of her outside activity, wouldn't it? You can always decide to do that down the road (or maybe not, depending on your hs laws).

Meanwhile, you can school on the fly. If your ds does not need attention while eating, for example, you can read or otherwise work with your dd while he eats. Can you move her bedtime back a little to read to her after he's in bed? You might listen to CDs in the car, at the very least, classical music, or other stories on tape that both of your dc can enjoy. If your participation is not required in your ds's therapy, you can take advantage of those times to work with your dd, no matter what the location. You can take both kids outside and walk/sit, admiring nature and discussing.

The big things that *I* would try to focus on for the next few months would be reading aloud to dd at her level and just talking about what you're reading--ask her questions, about the setting/location, characters, what if's, etc.... If possible, I'd also try to squeeze in letter formation practice, and math workbooks.

You will have the transportation time when your ds begins Kindy, but your down time can be used a lot more effectively with your dd then too. My ds went to preschool for two years when we hsed, just because it was something for HIM, and it also gave dd and I larger blocks of free time.


Good luck!!!