In my life this week…
It's been a rough week. It's been one of "those" weeks. I'm a planner. If you've been here before, you've seen that I need a plan. I enjoy a plan. A plan makes me happy. I also know that things don't always fall into said plan no matter how hard you try. So....
The big news is we're starting high school over pretty much with my oldest son. He's been extremely unmotivated, struggled, and not put forth the effort that I know he has in him. He's never liked school and always tried to do the bare minimum. Well, this time he's going to have to face the consequences of his actions. I hate it for him. As his mom, I wanted it to be easier for him - to guide him, for him to take it, run with it, flourish but sometimes "the plan" just doesn't go that way. Sometimes, you just have to learn the hard way. You have to fail to gain. Sometimes the easiest way isn't the best way at all. You choose the hard way but often times that hard way makes the biggest impact on your life. That's what I'm holding on to! I know that in the end God has a plan and His plan is so much greater than mine could ever be! We both need more accountability. The weekly meetings just don't work with this child. He needs to be held accountable but then again he needs to learn to do things on his own as well. We're enrolling him in the CLASS program, praying that having to be accountable to someone else besides mom will be another wake up call. He's so close. His desires aren't college but just to make it through. He can do this! Will he?......
Times like this is when I love having those who have been before me to lean on. I hope I can be that way for others when we make it through too!
In other news, Stephen and Sarah had a good week. During our study of the Medieval period, we made some stain glass out of paper and put together our castle. We also had some fun practicing for National Number Knockout.
We also had fun celebrating Valentine's Day and believe it or not - more snow!!
I’m cooking…
Here is a video of our dinners for the week.
I can understand the planner part and when things don't go as planned. Praying that your son will step up and do what needs to be done.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!! Prayers can move mountains and I appreciate every single one!
DeletePlanner here too. And I get so mean and cranky when my plans don't happen.
ReplyDeleteAlso, we'll be studying medieval times too. Where did you find the castle project? Maybe you linked it in already and I missed it? Totally possible...I'm flakey like that.
...danielle (raising little rhodies)
I don't think I did share but the castle project came with our My Father's World Curriculum. You can purchase it separately though. They made it a really simple project!
Deletehttps://www.mfwbooks.com/L093845990E283001BAF5042+M50+ENG#
Scroll to the bottom - Make a Castle - 9.95
Hi Melissa, thanks for sharing your heart! Will you still be doing MFW with your son, or only doing CLASS? It looks like a great program, this is the first I've heard of it!
ReplyDeleteI sent you a fb message Jackie! I will definitely keep you updated!!
DeleteI love your valentine's day table! It's lovely! You also have some tasty looking meals in that video! I subscribed to your youtube channel :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck with helping your son!
That castle is awesome! And I wish you the best of luck for your son. As parents we want to make everything easy for our kids, but that's not always what's best for them. Good luck to you all! :)
ReplyDeleteI empathize with you in your journey with your high schooler. I have one who had to start a few math books over, not because he didn't understand it, but because he would go long periods without doing any math. We had a very difficult few years. He has been enrolled in Alpha Omega Academy for several years for the same reason you put yours in CLASS. We also did Classical Conversations one it. That was a good year. Not because of Classical Conversations in and of itself, but because my son likes to shine. So he set out to outshine everyone in the class! The atmosphere was awesome for him. He actually did his work without me on his tail all the time that year. We have reached the point with him we have decided no more classes for him but dual credit via CLEP tests. He is just bored with school most of the time. I pray your journey with your son improves and you find a good fit for your family!
ReplyDeleteKingdom Life and Blessings
Hi Melissa,
ReplyDeleteIt is so hard to see our children not live up to their potential and take the easy way out. Hopefully, CLASS is just what he needs. The accountability will be good for him.
Blessings,
Angie
H.O.P.E. Home School Consulting
This sounds like a trial for you as well as him. Stay positive and maybe it will rub off on him. You have already laid his foundation. Have faith. Remember, God has his plan.
ReplyDelete#BB100
Julie
I Create Purty Thangs
I love your Valentine's Day table - I used the very same foam hearts on my table - nothing makes me happier than setting things up pretty for cheap cheap cheap!!!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your son - that's a hard journey and a hard lesson for him - but it can only make him (and you) stronger!
Blessings!
That castle is awesome! My boys might enjoy making (and really, playing with) that. We might have to make one too.
ReplyDeleteYour Valentine's Day table is gorgeous! Good luck with your son. I hope having more accountability helps him!
ReplyDeleteIt is so hard to watch our children fail! We want so much to help them succeed, but sometimes it is the learning that happens when they fail that helps them succeed later on. I wish your son the best in his new journey!
ReplyDeleteStopping in from BYB.
We are preparing to enter the world of high school with my oldest and I'm dreading it. We both need that accountability. I've been praying about what to do. I'll have to look at CLASS. Praying it's a good fit for your son.
ReplyDeleteI am also a planning type of person, so those days/weeks when things go a bit haywire, I tend to feel lots of pressure. We are also struggling with my oldest and school. He has had to do summer school a few times already over the years due to his lack of drive. It's frustrating for all involved, but these lessons are better learned at home that out in the world where there is no reset button ;-) Failing out there has such harsh consequences. Hang in there mama, you can do it :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm jealous of all that snow - we are cooking here in South Africa…a little ski trip would be bliss. Stay warm.
ReplyDeleteWarm Regards from sunny South Africa
Tamara @ MyFarmLifeDiary
I'm a high school teacher - and you are not alone in hoping that your son will take over and "want it." Younger high school students are so hard to motivate - graduation or "what comes next" for them just seems so far away. I always like to say "imagine this is all over tomorrow-what do you dream of doing next?" and then use their answer to help create a plan to get there. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI have a high schooler as well, and although she's fairly self-motivated, I struggle with letting her face consequences of poor decisions as well. I want to give grace when she doesn't do well on an assignment, but I also know that a poor grade can be a helpful learning tool too. I understand your struggle! :)
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed looking around your blog! I'm visiting today from the BB100.
I really enjoyed reading your post and sounds like you do some wonderful things. We are short on snow here in Utah.
ReplyDeleteVisiting from BB100. I wish you the best with your blog.
It is so hard when they aren't motivated. I Do hope things start to look up for you both soon.
ReplyDeleteI can not realize how much snow everyone is getting this year. I hope things have calmed down by now and hopefully spring will be here soon.
Letting our kids suffer the consequences of their actions (or lack of action in many cases) was one of the hardest things to do for my older kids...but one of the most impact for them. Hang in there! I pray that your son learns whatever lesson he's meant to from this experience.
ReplyDelete-Cristyl @ www.MyCHillThoughts.com
your son is lucky to have a mom who cares so much, it isnt always easy for you to do the hard thing!but looks like you guys had a fun valentines day!
ReplyDeleteJust stopping by from "Boost Your Blog". Love the family pic in your header-- so cute!
ReplyDeleteI hope things work out for your son, it sounds like you have a great plan. I love the castle and the stained glass windows. I bet that was so fun to make.
ReplyDeleteall moms who home school are my heroes, I could never do it, I applaud you my friend.
ReplyDeleteNewest follower :)
http://ramblingmomma03.blogspot.ca
"Sometimes you have to fail to gain."--I love that quote. Sometimes that's what's best, but it's oh, so hard to watch unfold. Keep on truckin' on!
ReplyDeleteDropping by from the BYB challenge. I know I would not have the patience to home school no matter how good I think it is for the kids. My hat goes off to you.
ReplyDeleteI love the fun and the reality of your week. I finally found a good fit for my oldest son this year (16) and am trying to figure out what work for my younger son (12).
ReplyDeleteI'm stopping by from the 100 Days Challenge. Blessings to you on your homeschool journey.
I'm a teacher and the number one thing I usually struggle with is motivation. I hope your son will soon feel motivated to fulfill his potential.
ReplyDeleteVisiting from the BYB challenge
Oh, Melissa, I hear you on the plan and the plan not working! I have felt that way about nearly all my plans since my son was born. When I had 2 girls, we had a pretty good system going. Then, along came my boy, 6 years later, and now school feels like a random experience every day. #BB100
ReplyDeleteI remember making a castle when I was younger. I made one with my father - it was an awesome way to learn about castles, medieval life, etc. Best of luck motivating your son... I am sure that is difficult! My children are all still little -but, I know as they get older -it gets more difficult.
ReplyDeleteI was a very unmotivated teenager, and so were many people I knew back then, but we all made it out okay! Most of us went on to college or university and are doing well now. It sounds like you are the doing the right thing with your son.
ReplyDeleteAnd your Valentine's Day table looks wonderful :)
We have thought a lot about putting our kids back through a few months worth of school when they get very unmotivated. I'm sure that it was a difficult decision for you. I hope the new strategy helps! Kim @Life Over C's
ReplyDeleteWow, look at all that snow! Looks like perfect weather to stay indoors and do some learning :)
ReplyDeleteI'm a planner also, and it can really affect me when plans get changed. I admire you for having to take a stand with your oldest. It can be difficult for us as parents to allow our children to fail, but it's a far easier lesson for them to fail while we are there to help them get back where they need to be than for them to fail after they've left the safety of our homes. We also use My Father's World (I recognize the castle LOL).
ReplyDeleteWow, what awesome encouragement! This just made my night!! Thanks to Build Your Blog!
ReplyDeleteThose dinners are absoultely amazing. I bet my kids wished I would do that for them.
ReplyDeleteHaha!