A Week, Briefly (August 1, 2022)

 We began working on new school routines 

Step 1: New chores for everyone!

So far, so good.

Step 2: Reinstate morning walks.

So far, so crazy hot and sticky!! 

It's rather a production getting 14-16 humans and 1-2 dogs out the door, but it's worth it . . . and we're picking up trash again, so we're serving our community!

Step 3: Gather at the table for snack time, so I can add another read-aloud session to the day.

This is definitely a work in progress in need of further development, but we did have one lovely session of reading poems from My Book of Delights vol. 12 from the Well-Educated Heart rotation that will guide much of our reading this year.

Here is The Munchkin taking me up on my suggestion to draw a picture of one of the poems.

"I dwawed a bumble bee.  It gonna 'ting him on the nose!"

I hope to inspire more kids to draw and write about what they hear.

Step 4: Establish a toddler reading time.

So far Sugar Bear likes this time best, with The Munchkin coming in second.  Li'l K can be lured over if the title is right, and the rest will need lots more encouragement to develop the habit.  

It looks like Brother is good at inspiring Li'l K.

Lunchtime reading continues with more of Elizabeth Blackwell's life.  The kids are outraged by the prejudice she had to fight.  We're having lots of passionate discussions.  Nature Angel and Little Princess were horrified at the description of a pre-Civil War surgery.  Their reactions opened a lesson for the younger ones about germs, infection, and sterile fields.

We're almost finished with The Peterkin Papers.  Nature Angel can hardly stand their foolishness!  I can practically see her skin crawl as I read about their foibles.  Brother finds it too hard to understand the jokes, and he falls asleep before I can finish a chapter.  Ladybug follows Brother within a few minutes, but the rest of the kids enjoy laughing at the crazy misunderstandings.

Some of the boys helped me put together my new bookcase.

We're having an uptick of difficult behaviors in my young adopted ones.  August is the anniversary month of their placement in our family, and it is always a hard month.  Ladybug and I had to work together for several hours to settle potentially criminal behavior, and the others discussed running away again.  We had psych appointments already scheduled; I also updated their case manager.  

Behaviors seem to be settling down somewhat . . . I'm still on high alert, though.

The other kids seem to be struggling with having PTSD symptoms reawakened.  Listening, talking, and affirming have taken up many hours and much energy this week.

Nature Angel used Justserve.org to look for service she could share.  She found one group that makes tiny hats and blankets for preemies, and she's been busy crocheting miniature baby gifts.  

When she got tired one day, she took pictures of her yarn.

This is actually delicate baby yarn!  She's so good at finding beauty in the smallest details.

I attended the mom's meeting for American Rhythm.  We're going to be a small group this year--not on purpose.  I have to remember that some years are big and grand and exciting, while other years are a struggle to keep the group alive.  

Practice starts in 2 weeks!

Young Adult Updates:

Belle spent several hours filling out missionary application forms.  Every tiny step makes it a little bit more real!

Super Star finally got to start her new job working for the same company as Belle-- at a different office.  She's happy with the work.

Rose Red moved out, and she started a new job, too.

Pixie is working two jobs on her school break as well as continuing to submit necessary forms to ILP for her volunteer teaching gig in Uganda next year.

I plan to work on making Steps 1-4 habits this week rather than introducing new steps, but I never really know what we'll be ready for!