Boundaries

One thing that I have learned with homeschooling is the need to set boundaries. Some people who don't understand what homeschooling is about think that I'm at home all day and that it's an easy drop off for kids or that I just add them in the mix with mine.

While I love being able to be helpful to others, I have had to learn to say no on many occasions because my family comes first, and just like families who send their children to school, we are schooling here and working hard. {whether or not it looks like it}

Here are some things that I did to set better boundaries for myself and for my family.

*I will always help in an emergency. You have to take one kid to ER, bring me the others. Things happen and I am at home and will gladly take extra kids if something happens. A hair appointment, lunch date with the husband, or even a trip to the dentist that you forgot to schedule child care for is NOT an emergency {the whole "Failure to prepare on your part does not make an emergency on my part"} I am not a drop of service because you forgot to find someone to watch your children.

* I don't take phone calls from anyone except the husband. Everyone else I let go to voicemail. I'll listen to the message and then decide if I need to call them back. Even family. Most people know my schedule so I usually don't get phone calls in the morning when we school. But the time is for the kids and not for me to chit-chat with friends.

*There is a double standard.... I'm sorry but for me there is. I will more readily watch another homeschooler during the week than I will public school kids of the same age. I can ask the mom to pack some work for their kid to do and I know that it will get done. Or if we are working on a science project or listening to a book I know that they are going to jump right in with us. I have had bad experiences trying to keep other kids out of the toys while the boys are trying to finish their math. Yes we are relaxed but we have to get stuff done as well.

*My time is valuable, I am learning that I can say "if you want to drop something off you need to do it at this time." I can't be waiting around all day for you. I know that things come up, but I am not switching around our routine or the baby's nap for unnecessary reasons.

*Putting notes on the door for the neighbor kids does work. We started school a little early do to some random breaks that we are taking {moving, and the baby}. I couldn't have the neighbors coming by and breaking up our routine. A note on the door let every one know what was going on and I didn't have to answer the door 400 times a day.

There are always exceptions to the rules and sometimes I am to do things out of the what I normally would do. But these are the rules I try to follow, it makes it easier for me and for others to know where I stand.

Where we school

Now that we are getting ready to move and all of my hard work is getting put away {...sigh...} I thought I would show you {or help me remember} what the area were we school looks like.

All the different places homeschools learn is as different as each family. Some have a dedicated school room, others just use the kitchen table or couch to school. Some are super organized and have everything labeled and color coded. {my dream!} and others not so much.

I'll be honest, I like snooping looking at other people's houses. I love seeing how things are set up and how they make living and schooling work. So for those that also like to snoop around, here you go.

For us, the boys' room is really large and we are able to have the 4 beds, toys and school stuff in their room. It actually all fits and when it's clean it looks really good.... only that doesn't happen as much as I would like.

So first off.... to make me feel better this is what it did look like in the not to distant past. We had a long table that the boys worked at and everything was just put together as best as we could.

Here you can see the three beds, Benji's is on the other side {oh.... those poor blinds have seen better days!}

So here is what I did..... First off... we got desks for the boys. They were poking each other. Why... well because they could I suppose. Having desks means they can be as close or as far as I need them to be. They each have their own space for their things and their project and stuff. {and I got them at the place where school things from the public schools go to die for $10 a piece!}

I turned the long table and put it up against the wall, that gave me a workable area but it's still out of the way.

The shelves stayed the same just cleaned up a bit and I labeled every thing as best as I could. It really does look so pretty. The area between the table and the book shelves has a rug on the floor, so it's a little better to sit right there are look at books.

There are two book shelves, one has all of our school books or reference or school what ever on it

the other has all the other reading books on it. It looks like such a small amount compared to other homeschoolers, but I will rotate the books so there is always a fresh batch {there is 3 boxes of books under Tim's bed} and... I have known since we got here that we would be moving so I have tried really hard to refrain from buying to many books.

Another find from the public school grave yard...This is just a place for extra stuff that I have that I don't know what to do with... I'll put it to better use once we get set up after we move.

Here is a long shot of the area. I think it turned out really great. It works perfect for us. The desks are pushed back at the end of the day so there is more room to bring out the toys and everything has a place. I would like to say that everything is always put back but... sad to say it is not.

Do you want to let me come peek at your school area now??? {Please}