A Fly On My Homeschool Wall

 I have been incapable of posting because my depression got so bad that I was in the most basic survival mode each day. But I have seen my doctor. I have talked to my family. I have been taking steps to do better. And I am slowly finding light. Along the way, the kids have been so, so, so busy with Island Fest 2026! It was yesterday. Himene Tarava A song about the planting of the seeds with Little Princess, Ladybug, Mister Man, Brother, and Beowulf Haka Puaka  (The Pig Dance) With Mister Man, Brother, and Beowulf This dance was choreographed by native Marquesas Islanders who gave this group permission to dance it for this festival.  It was accompanied by live music--one musician was born on one of the Marquesas Islands. Otea (The Rooster Dance) With Ladybug and Little Princess Otea again This time with Little Princess soloing (She's the one in the yellow) Himene Uru (The Breadfruit Song) with Lola Ladybug and Lola got to play Uncle Dave's big drum--the one he used to acc...

This picture looks boring, but it documents my younger kids having a serious-and-thoughtful conversation about the Bible and current events.  Rose Red has the best ability to make people around her think and engage in conversation!    Thank you to those who posted words of sympathy and encouragement for me.  My heart goes out to you in your struggles as well.  We're all doing our best!   I'm seeking a new blogging routine because my Sundays are full with my church assignment in the leadership of the children's organization--we call it Primary.  That's why my blogging has been hit-or-miss for the past few months.  I used to write on Friday afternoons, but those aren't as free as they used to be either.  So I'm thinking. Today I'm somewhat handicapped as I type one-handed.   I had carpal tunnel surgery this week! Me--prepped and ready for surgery (Recovery is turning out to be harder than anticipated.) It is a profound relie...

As I've written before, it's probably hormones, and I'm trying to put them in their place, but they're bossy little things, and I'm struggling. I feel like a failure every day. I'm disappointed in our homeschool. I cry over things as simple as getting dinner on the table. But I've been doing interstitial journaling in my planner to prove to myself that I'm not failing as a home educator and human being, so I do have proof that we're getting things done. We received an "Everything is for Sale" Monopoly expansion pack that has inspired frequent game play in our home. Morning Meeting is thriving as we review The Family Proclamation using the songs from this blog that we found and fell in love with 10 years ago.   (It's hard to believe Marilyn's kids and my kids were so small and are now so big.  We've never met in person, but her joie de vivre keeps me avidly interested in her blog.) We're also enjoying our daily readings fr...

 I was ready to post last week, but Ladybug had seizures--4 of them in 17 hours--and that rather rocked our world. She's now on an anti-seizure med, and hopefully it will work without negative side effects. I have a camera set up in her room that broadcasts to my phone that I keep on all night, so that I can be aware of her while she sleeps.  It is motion-sensitive, sending me an alert every time she moves enough to set it off.  (Thank goodness it's sensitive, but not TOO sensitive!) In addition, we're doing a mental health therapy intake appointment this week; Ladybug has an EEG scheduled; we have our usual case management appointment; we're taking the last set of two kids into the PCP to establish care; and I've got to do a pre-intake interview for a comprehensive neurodevelopmental assessment for Lola. Oh!  And we've got 7 prescriptions ready for pick-up. Through it all, I'm doing my level best to do school with the kids each day. These three have spent h...