Slow Start

It is taking a lot of effort to get Doodle back into working this week- I am glad my expectations were not too high! We started back on Wednesday. On the plus side he today recited three poems beautifully which we have been learning since September, so something has stuck! It is also a bit difficult at the moment as we (still) have work going on at the house which means disruption in the kitchen which is our main 'work' room. Nevertheless we have begun and so I hope things will get better!

I am slightly re-arranging the work schedule this term. Well, we didn't really have one before but I have actually broken down what subjects I would like to do on what days. We have found that unless serious work is done in the morning, it does not happen. After New Years I had a bit of a wobble about doing this again- was I trying hard enough to prepare, will the boys miss out, how will I know what to teach them etc. It was a great blessing to go back to WHY we were doing this. Also of tremendous encouragement to me were my parents (unsolicited) comments after they saw Dan Doodle, regarding his behaviour.

In the run up to Christmas we had a Jesse tree and he quite voluntarily wanted to read some of the scriptures on most days. This thrilled me- partly because my boy was reading the Bible out loud, and partly because he was choosing to read!

This slow start has given us pause for thought and we have now planned out the weeks between now and the May/June break so that we will be doing some work each week- some weeks of 5 days, others (when David on leave) for 2 or 3 days. It seems we will need to keep going at some level to keep the interest up.

I am not very good at devising project ideas but my Mum gave Doodle some Answers In Genesis (I think........) dinosaur flash cards . We have a Ken Ham book called Dinosaurs for children, and so I am going to loosely have an afternoon 'dinosaur' topic. Reading through the book, doing a bit of craft etc. A bit of history, creation, and geography all in one! We shall see how it goes. I was intending to do more with Mookie this term as well but may leave it until Easter. The main goal is letter recognition and phonics, although he seems to like maths too (oh joy!). Today whilst D was reciting his poems he was trying to join in.............it is amazing how much children absorb even when you are not trying to teach them.

I have been greatly blessed in having David at home a lot over the past term. But we needed him to work more hours and we are thankful for answered prayer in that he has now, almost officially (but not quite..) been offered a further 11.5 hours- or one shift which will take him up to almost full time again. On one hand great, on the other I will need to work harder at home :)

Doodle is about to turn 7, and Samiad will be 2 shortly after. Before that we anticipate the birth of baby Harley # 3 and by brother's induction to the Pastorate at Morton Baptist Church. In between the birthdays we are looking forward to meeting baby Mitchell #1 !! So, there are some exacting times ahead.

Reasons to be cheerful (and very thankful!) 1,2,3!!!!