Homeschooling begins

If you had told me five years ago I would be homeschooling Bowden I would have laughed in your face. Oh, I was concerned about my newborn's future schooling but my concerns were based on how we were going to move to get into a good school zone. But a short five years later, I not only started Bowden's first day of kindergarten but I am fully committed to homeschooling and believe in my heart it truly is the best way to educate children! Wow! God certainly has changed my heart. I could write a whole blog on how that happened and maybe I will but right now my time is short as the house is a mess, dinner needs to be made, I have pitching lessons tonight, I want to read some of my Bible, I need to plan for tomorrow, I need to cut coupons for the Grocery Game... and I only have 2 hours (or less) until Ryen wants to eat again!!!

So, our first day.... I was feeling stress but the little ones were just being themselves and it could not have gone ANY BETTER! My plan was to eat breakfast, do our devotional at the table as we finished up, spend 30 -40 minutes with Bowden while the girls played together, then spend a bit of time with each girl while the others played together. My fear was that the girls would not allow Bowden and I to get anything done. My fear was unfounded. They played together happily, knowing that they would get their turn next. I was actually able to do about an hour of stuff with Bowden because they were doing so well. I decided to add the time today as I know in the future the girls may not be so compliant and we may have to stop early.
Strangely enough, when we switched to Evynn and Kailyn, Bowden struggled playing on his own. Keith suggested I put Bowden on the computer for that time to work on one of the phonics websites he is doing. Evynn has a little activity book that we did two pages in and then the three of us colored for a while. It is more about the attention than anything.
We finished up school by playing with the clay that Bowden got for his birthday.
Some thoughts on the first day...
Regardless of how the day goes, I have to have a joyful spirit. Tomorrow may not be as smooth but I cannot get frustrated.
Even though I have shown Bowden how to write the letter "e" I cannot expect him to do it right immediately!
Seeing the joy in his eyes when he writes a "w" on his own makes it all worth while. I just want him to love learning!
It is a long road and I have to pace myself!!!!