I got this question a long time ago and tried to answer it to the best of my ability. I wanted to think about it some more before posting, but I thought too long and couldn’t come up with a better answer.
Sometime I would love a glimpse into your daily life…how much time you give to reading and writing AND schooling your own children.
Do your children understand the time Mom gives to books and writing? Mine are 5-11 and I worry they see me staring at a book or screen more than anything else.
I have this theory that it’s important for children to see you doing something you love —for me that’s reading and blogging— at least some of the time. Not that I read and blog just to show my children how important those activities are, but I think for them to develop a love for reading, they need to see me reading. Engineer Husband Husband loves science and math, so as they see him doing science and math, they begin to enjoy those subjects, too.
My theory doesn’t do much to settle the question of how much time to spend on each activity. I spend a lot of time reading, but often I’m reading while sitting on the couch supervising schoolwork. I stop reading my book to read aloud to the urchins or to help with a math problem. Then, I take up where I left off in my book. I read while I eat lunch. I’m writing this post while eating breakfast, and the urchins are also eating breakfast, doing their morning jobs, and listening to Les Miserables. It’s sort of a juggling act, and sometimes I do it better than other times.
I don’t do housework very well, except in spurts of insiration which don’t occur often enough. We get school done, mostly, and I make meals, most days. All that means that I don’t have it all together, but I’m satisfied with the general way things are going. I only have the same worries as the questioner on alternate Mondays.
Sherry–
I like your answer, especially the last paragraph. You and I sound a lot alike in that regard!
Incredibly, I have never thought of reading while my kids are doing schoolwork. Mostly I’m helping them or distracting preschoolers or trying to “get things done.” But my, it might change the whole tone–and me too–if I gave that a try!
I like it!
:}
Jeanne
Hi Sherry – I like what you say – kids do observe and are intereted in what their parents are interested in. I think it’s a major part of learning.
Sherry: I try to read when there is a bit of “down time” myself. I think I have been juggling the same 3-4 books for months now.
Homeschooling is a blessing. No, we are not perfect and we don’t get everything done each day. Our family has 4 extra activities along with taking care of my disabled, epileptic father-in-law 2-3 days a week. I also sell book online to support our family. On top of that, I run marathons (for my sanity). I wish there were days when the house was sparkling clean, our urchin was educated exceptionally, and a meal that Martha Stewart would be proud of is on the table. It just doesn’t work that way.
Homeschooling is about tailoring our lives around education. We are making the education and future of our children a priority. If that means that we are driving used cars, stretching ground beef/turkey, and only buying clothing on clearance – so be it. Our family loves the closeness and the chance to learn more then what is in a textbook. I wouldn’t trade it, at all!
Hear, hear and amen! My husband and I are firm believers that if our kids (even at 10 months — as young as that is!) will learn to love what you love if they see you doing it. We want to encourage him to like photography, music and reading just like we do. So we let him play piano with daddy and read books with mommy. The goal, of course, is to involve him even more as he grows up! It’s tons of fun and we have discovered that he enjoys it too! (Hopefully this trend will continue, eh?)
Interesting. I particularly love your take on housekeeping. I think I’d be right at home there.
I also wanted to tell you that I received my Challenge winner books. Book Crush looks great. Thank you!
I think I’m the one who asked the original question. I don’t worry too much about the children seeing a book in my hand, but my eyes at the computer…maybe I just shouldn’t worry!
Wanted to email, but didn’t find a contact for you…I linked to you on my website today referencing your comment back in July. It includes a book review, so I’ll add the link on Saturday.