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Bits and pieces

I'm going to take a break from social media. Again. 

It's good for me. I really like the interaction, but it's not real interaction. And I overthink it. And I over use it. 

When I comment on somebody's post I worry that maybe I said something that might offend someone else. Or maybe I came across too self-promoting. Or maybe I don't actually know what I'm talking about. 

Let's just say I'm kind of glad social media didn't exist when I was a teenager...

And I'm not usually an overthinker.

If you've read my blog at all, you've probably read how much I wish I could limit the negative effects of the internet in my life. 

And days like yesterday, spent in the great outdoors fishing with my family (nothing was caught!), remind me that my immediate interactions are the most important. 

But, before I go, I wanted to share some bits and pieces of my recent Facebook interactions (that offer insight into my thoughts and feelings during this covid-19 quarantine). 

About at-home Church:
It's a bit more routine now. We have full blown church. Assigned talks, and prayers. (Plus a talk from our stake presidency). Rotate teaching the two classes (primary and Sunday school, or we call it littles and big kids). I've been playing the piano! (From the easy hymn book). Reagan dances during the songs. I love it. (Although Sunday is still the longest day of the week... And it IS still stressful to try to make sure the living room is clean enough for Sacrament meeting, while trying to get everyone dressed and Brant is having Zoom meetings in the other room...) ❤️ Not sure I'll want to go back to normal church...

About handling school at home:
I feel your pain. I hate schedules. I tried making one, and it lasted a day before I threw it out the window. My husband still thought we were doing it, though, so it must've sort of been working. We just do school first thing, I bounce from kid to kid helping them log in, etc. Then in between them I play with the little kids, shower, etc... The other day I curled my hair at 1:00- that's how long it took me to get ready in between everything else. 
I've also decided to take it easy with stuff. I try to encourage them to do it all, but don't actually expect it all to get done. There's A LOT of playing involved in between my help- it's hard to focus on school when there are a thousand small children running around and playing! By lunch time, school is over until tomorrow (except my sixth grader, who happens to live with his teacher, and still has to finish anything he didn't before lunch). And then we play OUTSIDE!
P.S. I'm struggling with those who say we're not "homeschooling." Our kids are home, and they're doing school. That's what homeschooling is. The teachers might send a video to help, and make the assignments- but we're still the ones managing the learning- which is most of what the teachers do at school. (I'm married to one!) So, yes, this actually IS a homeschool environment. 
And we can do it! Only like 20 something more school days! We got this! 💪

In response to my friend (who does homeschool):
You have great ideas! But your list makes me tired and sad. It's so exhausting to do all those great ideas! You have to be so hands on and involved! Haha. I want to just send my kids back to school so the teachers can get paid to do those things!
My big kids do help the younger ones a lot. But I'm with you- especially for younger kids, play learning is best. And it kind of works for the bigger kids, but I do expect them to keep up on their "real" learning too (I'm not sure how to say that where it doesn't sound like I'm negating the importance of the learning you're talking about...) And so it gets hard to have them do both. We've found a pretty good balance though. And I'm not mad about school being out. I kind of like it. It's been unique and memorable. 
I still don't know how you homeschool though! It takes so much effort and energy! You're awesome!

I will likely still blog, and might find a way to still share it to my Facebook page without wasting day away... 

Thanks for reading, and sharing your thoughts! I really do love the interaction! 

Comments

  1. MaryApril 26, 2020 at 5:22 PM

    Because Social Media is my main connection to my family that I love and miss every day, I will miss seeing your postings. I will check for Blog posts more often. I haven't Blogged in a while. Love you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tina CrowtherApril 26, 2020 at 5:37 PM

      I'll text pictures to you! I still love sharing pictures, which is why I always come BACK to social media after a break! I can't stay away permanently because I love sharing!

      Delete
  2. NaDellApril 26, 2020 at 9:47 PM

    Love you all! I'm not scheduling my older two kids because they have it figured out on their own. My younger two need a little more structure to stay on track and get their assignments finished so the last two weeks I made a schedule and spread out assignments over the week.
    It's hard to feel balanced in everything lately, but I did LOVE my walk alone the other night. I just crave the quiet (which is why I stay up so late usually....)
    For home church, we have a fairly small meeting. We have opening song, opening prayer, sacrament song and sacrament, and discuss our learning for the week or watch a church video, and then have a closing song and prayer. We try to keep it pretty simple. With two kids who can accompany, it's good for them to play piano for us too.

    ReplyDelete

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