Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

I am not pushy.  Read that.  I am NOT pushy.  I watch and learn from other parents' mistakes - I do not push my children before they are ready for something.  But.  In the last, say three months or so, lots of changes have been going on.

First, in regards to Jordan and Rylan, I 'pushed' them into karate in November.  Jordan has been asking for the last three years if he could begin.  We kept saying 'no', mostly because Jordan was just to obnoxious distracted to handle the mental focus it would require.  He has done a lot of maturing in the meantime.  I got wind of a studio in Loveland that had a daytime homeschool class.  I was in.  Moreover, it would be great for Rylan too!  Well.  She wasn't exactly asking to participate, but I drummed it up for her, got her excited about it, and she loved it from the very start.  Did I push??  No, I think of more as placing the opportunity in front of them and then encouraging them to go for it.  But now, changes are underfoot again.  Rylan is about to turn five and should be advancing to the next age group soon.  I am starting to 'push' for it now... except that there are a couple of really naughty boys in that group.  I wish those moms would just yank them out of there, because they are obviously unable to handle themselves during the class.

Next...  About a year ago I got some math curriculum for Rylan.  Nothing heavy, just a kit from Carson-Dellosa publishing called Thinking Kids' Math Foundations for PK-1.  She and I would do a card or two every few days.  She loved it and asked to 'do math' quite a bit.  Around the same time, I looked at Jordan's math program, MEP, to see what and when Rylan should start.  They were in the process of adding a Reception Year (British equivalent to Kindergarten), so all of the lessons were not available yet.  And she wasn't ready for any kind of formal lessons anyway.  Well.  I forgot about it.  I was looking around on the MEP site in January, and checked out the entire series of lessons (60) for the reception year.  Oops.  Now it is too easy!  There are several things in there that are worthwhile to look at, but overall, she was actually ready for Year 1.  So we began a couple of weeks ago.  We still look at the reception lessons, complete them in about 10 minutes, then go on to her regular lesson.  I love love love the MEP program.  I just like the way it makes kids think.  It is difficult to explain just how it is different from what else is out there, but I like the way it flows.  I have looked at other programs out there, namely Math Mammoth and Right Start Math.  I like the other programs, but not the price tag.  The best thing about MEP is that it is FREE!  Considering the annual expense of curriculum around here (which is only going to get worse as we go on), free is a good thing.

Rylan has also recently started reading.  A few months ago I attempted to have her try out a book called I Can Read Now!, by David Fernstedt, a local author.  Rylan would have none of it.  "Mom, I CAN'T read!  Don't you know that!!??"  So the other day at the library I picked up the first BOB book (a compilation of the first 4 books) in the off chance she might try this time around.  It worked!  She read the first book with only one prompt.  The look on her face when I told her she had just read her first story was priceless.  THAT is one of the primary reasons we homeschool.  I want to be there when these moments happen.  I also want to be instrumental in the process.  If the opportunity presents itself, Rylan will almost always give something a try. 

Other changes are afoot as well.  Jordan moved on to Boyscouts last week.  His is really taking the new level of commitment quite seriously.  He hangs on every word the Scoutmaster says, which is a good thing.  At his first troop meeting last week, the Scoutmaster said that every scout "Needs to be there". (mentally speaking).  Be present and focused on what you are doing.  "Wow", Jordan says.  "He has really inspired me!".  I should hope so.  I have only been asking him to 'be present' for THE LAST THREE YEARS, but nevermind.  At least he 'gets' it now.  We did have an amazing week of getting school work done this past week.  I think we accomplished more during this past week than Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, and most of Feb combined.  I'm not kidding.  It has been rough around here.

The changes that I am talking about??  They always keep me guessing as to what will happen next.  A nap time/or length of time changes, transition from formula to milk (and how do you transport milk and then warm it when you need it when you are going to be gone from the house for several hours??), transition from baby food to regular food (again, transportation issues and menu issues), switching rooms around, new car seats, new gear, new laundry needs (keeping a white gi clean is such a challenge!!) crawling to standing to cruising to walking (Where's Colin!!??)., new abilities in children that need supervision (cooking, cleaning, laundry)..  They seem to dominate my day!!  Our newest change is the change from 2 cars down to one.  It was certainly not by choice, and we have to learn to live with this for at least a few months.  It is amazing how dependent on having 2 vehicles we have become.  The next big transition on the horizon is potty training Owen.  I am not looking forward to it in the least.  I am dreading it, actually.  Predictability will again vanish for quite some time.  Sigh.

Hey buddy... can you spare some change??  I don't seem to have enough!