Comments on: Family Communication Out of Sync http://2passthetorch.com/2007/10/02/family-out-of-sync/ The better ME I can be, the better MOM I can be. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:17:24 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Tam http://2passthetorch.com/2007/10/02/family-out-of-sync/comment-page-1/#comment-77237 Tam Sun, 05 Oct 2008 12:14:04 +0000 http://2passthetorch.com/2007/10/02/family-out-of-synch/#comment-77237 post script.... replace "all with out pillows and blankets" with "all with our pillows and blankets".... brrrrr I'm chilled just thinking about that! thanks Tam post script…. replace “all with out pillows and blankets” with “all with our pillows and blankets”…. brrrrr I’m chilled just thinking about that!
thanks
Tam

]]> By: Tam http://2passthetorch.com/2007/10/02/family-out-of-sync/comment-page-1/#comment-77236 Tam Sun, 05 Oct 2008 12:11:07 +0000 http://2passthetorch.com/2007/10/02/family-out-of-synch/#comment-77236 wow... what a year hey. We had our own 18 month experiement with homeschooling before my daughter returned to school and my son started Preschool. Next year however (I'm in Australia and the school year begins in January) we are returning to homeschooling. One of the reasons, one of many, is lifestyle. We really enjoy the closeness of the experience. I like you suffered terribly this year with both children out of the home three days a week and my daughter five days. Although I was very tired from moving 7 times over 3 years and homeschooling without adequate space or preparation or time! After trying MANY things I found that giving up some of my time out activities such as tv or reading (I work from home so can read while they are at school) and instead 'hanging out' with them, observing them, just basically paying attention etc really helped. My daughter was distracted by all the new friends and the routine of school. I couldn't get her attention and keep the bond... so I just observed as much as possible without too much comment so that 'if and when' issues arose I would know what was going on. I wanted her to have the experience of school and not interfere but at the same time, not loose touch (just in case we were to return to homeschooling!) The other thing that has helped ALL of us is Friday nights off.... from EVERYTHING. We leave the gates of school, head over the the local library, return all of our books, cds, dvds, videos etc and get new material that we are all interested in, then we drive by a pizza place for a $6 pizza, head home and chill. Spending from school bell till we crash in the lounge room in true slumber party style... all with out pillows and blankets! In the morning the tv goes on for Saturday morning cartoons/music and I can slumber away while I keep up with their interests and score a breaky in bed! As long as I'm making the effort to be 'present' to who they are... they can be off on their own adventures and when they need me I'm ready. That's how I've kept my sanity. Namaste, all the Best. wow… what a year hey. We had our own 18 month experiement with homeschooling before my daughter returned to school and my son started Preschool. Next year however (I’m in Australia and the school year begins in January) we are returning to homeschooling. One of the reasons, one of many, is lifestyle. We really enjoy the closeness of the experience. I like you suffered terribly this year with both children out of the home three days a week and my daughter five days. Although I was very tired from moving 7 times over 3 years and homeschooling without adequate space or preparation or time! After trying MANY things I found that giving up some of my time out activities such as tv or reading (I work from home so can read while they are at school) and instead ‘hanging out’ with them, observing them, just basically paying attention etc really helped. My daughter was distracted by all the new friends and the routine of school. I couldn’t get her attention and keep the bond… so I just observed as much as possible without too much comment so that ‘if and when’ issues arose I would know what was going on. I wanted her to have the experience of school and not interfere but at the same time, not loose touch (just in case we were to return to homeschooling!)

The other thing that has helped ALL of us is Friday nights off…. from EVERYTHING. We leave the gates of school, head over the the local library, return all of our books, cds, dvds, videos etc and get new material that we are all interested in, then we drive by a pizza place for a $6 pizza, head home and chill. Spending from school bell till we crash in the lounge room in true slumber party style… all with out pillows and blankets! In the morning the tv goes on for Saturday morning cartoons/music and I can slumber away while I keep up with their interests and score a breaky in bed!

As long as I’m making the effort to be ‘present’ to who they are… they can be off on their own adventures and when they need me I’m ready. That’s how I’ve kept my sanity. Namaste, all the Best.

]]> By: sprittibee http://2passthetorch.com/2007/10/02/family-out-of-sync/comment-page-1/#comment-65620 sprittibee Tue, 13 May 2008 06:36:18 +0000 http://2passthetorch.com/2007/10/02/family-out-of-synch/#comment-65620 This is an issue with us, too - and we homeschool. Hard to unplug when you are a photographer and writer and blogger and emailer! This is my mom time. So I'm doing it in the wee hours of the morning instead of while the kids are up. However, we do TOO much of it during regular hours, too - and Dad has a video game habit that is worse than the kids'. Unplugging is definitely the answer... but it will not be easy! This is an issue with us, too – and we homeschool. Hard to unplug when you are a photographer and writer and blogger and emailer! This is my mom time. So I’m doing it in the wee hours of the morning instead of while the kids are up. However, we do TOO much of it during regular hours, too – and Dad has a video game habit that is worse than the kids’. Unplugging is definitely the answer… but it will not be easy!

]]> By: Pass The Torch » Homeschool Experiment Results - the JOYS http://2passthetorch.com/2007/10/02/family-out-of-sync/comment-page-1/#comment-58689 Pass The Torch » Homeschool Experiment Results - the JOYS Sun, 10 Feb 2008 12:57:58 +0000 http://2passthetorch.com/2007/10/02/family-out-of-synch/#comment-58689 [...] HOMESCHOOL EXPERIMENT RESULTS SERIES: WHY WE STARTED the JOYS the STRUGGLES the FUTURE for us UPDATE after we Quit Homeschooling Family out of Sync [...] [...] HOMESCHOOL EXPERIMENT RESULTS SERIES: WHY WE STARTED the JOYS the STRUGGLES the FUTURE for us UPDATE after we Quit Homeschooling Family out of Sync [...]

]]> By: Pass The Torch » Homeschool Experiment Results - the STRUGGLES http://2passthetorch.com/2007/10/02/family-out-of-sync/comment-page-1/#comment-58690 Pass The Torch » Homeschool Experiment Results - the STRUGGLES Sun, 10 Feb 2008 12:57:58 +0000 http://2passthetorch.com/2007/10/02/family-out-of-synch/#comment-58690 [...] HOMESCHOOL EXPERIMENT RESULTS SERIES: WHY WE STARTED the JOYS the STRUGGLES the FUTURE for us UPDATE after we Quit Homeschooling Family out of Sync [...] [...] HOMESCHOOL EXPERIMENT RESULTS SERIES: WHY WE STARTED the JOYS the STRUGGLES the FUTURE for us UPDATE after we Quit Homeschooling Family out of Sync [...]

]]> By: Pass The Torch » Homeschool Tips and Advice - Share your best links! http://2passthetorch.com/2007/10/02/family-out-of-sync/comment-page-1/#comment-58677 Pass The Torch » Homeschool Tips and Advice - Share your best links! Sun, 10 Feb 2008 12:52:23 +0000 http://2passthetorch.com/2007/10/02/family-out-of-synch/#comment-58677 [...] » Homeschool Tips and Advice - Share your best links! on UPDATE - Since We Quit HomeschoolingPass The Torch » Family Communication Out of Sync on Homeschool Experiment - Let’s just skip this monthPass The Torch » UPDATE - Since We [...] [...] » Homeschool Tips and Advice – Share your best links! on UPDATE – Since We Quit HomeschoolingPass The Torch » Family Communication Out of Sync on Homeschool Experiment – Let’s just skip this monthPass The Torch » UPDATE – Since We [...]

]]> By: teri http://2passthetorch.com/2007/10/02/family-out-of-sync/comment-page-1/#comment-42367 teri Thu, 25 Oct 2007 23:52:40 +0000 http://2passthetorch.com/2007/10/02/family-out-of-synch/#comment-42367 we always have dinner together. my dh travels a great deal, so he calls at dinner time if he can. we pass the phone around the dinner table. :) my boys in middle school, a time where many children begin to pull away from the family. last year, they became involved with taekwondo. the boys have since convinced dh and i to join the class. we agreed mostly because it is a way to stay involved with them. learning something new together is great for any relationship. we always have dinner together. my dh travels a great deal, so he calls at dinner time if he can. we pass the phone around the dinner table. :) my boys in middle school, a time where many children begin to pull away from the family. last year, they became involved with taekwondo. the boys have since convinced dh and i to join the class. we agreed mostly because it is a way to stay involved with them. learning something new together is great for any relationship.

]]> By: Pass The Torch » Snot Stew http://2passthetorch.com/2007/10/02/family-out-of-sync/comment-page-1/#comment-40004 Pass The Torch » Snot Stew Fri, 12 Oct 2007 19:55:03 +0000 http://2passthetorch.com/2007/10/02/family-out-of-synch/#comment-40004 [...] Welcome to the allergy season. Thank you all for your excellent ideas last week on my family out of sync posts. Looks like there’s hope for us after all… [...] [...] Welcome to the allergy season. Thank you all for your excellent ideas last week on my family out of sync posts. Looks like there’s hope for us after all… [...]

]]> By: ella http://2passthetorch.com/2007/10/02/family-out-of-sync/comment-page-1/#comment-39709 ella Tue, 09 Oct 2007 12:50:26 +0000 http://2passthetorch.com/2007/10/02/family-out-of-synch/#comment-39709 We gave up homeschooling last week and I've really enjoyed reading your experiences as they are much like mine. I too am missing the family rhythm we had. We have breakfast together and eat together on the weekends but it doesn't feel like enough. The suggestions your commmenters have given are great and I will be trying them too! We gave up homeschooling last week and I’ve really enjoyed reading your experiences as they are much like mine. I too am missing the family rhythm we had.

We have breakfast together and eat together on the weekends but it doesn’t feel like enough. The suggestions your commmenters have given are great and I will be trying them too!

]]> By: Lisi http://2passthetorch.com/2007/10/02/family-out-of-sync/comment-page-1/#comment-39696 Lisi Tue, 09 Oct 2007 09:41:43 +0000 http://2passthetorch.com/2007/10/02/family-out-of-synch/#comment-39696 Scheduled "family time" definitely helps, whether it's baking cookies, playing board games, or whatever everyone can do together but with smaller children (with MUCH smaller attention spans) I find it hard to get them all interested in one activity at the same time. Family dinners are very important, even if you're not ready to eat with the kids just sitting with them encourages them to talk and enjoy being together. When I'm just fed up with all the noise and chaos and no one listening to anyone else, I just pull out a book and start reading out loud on the couch. Invariably the kids will come and sit down next to me to hear the book - if I asked them first if they wanted to read, they'd say no! They do come. Try to find the small things you can do throughout the day, rather than forcing them to focus for a big chunk of time and view it as an obligation. Scheduled “family time” definitely helps, whether it’s baking cookies, playing board games, or whatever everyone can do together but with smaller children (with MUCH smaller attention spans) I find it hard to get them all interested in one activity at the same time.

Family dinners are very important, even if you’re not ready to eat with the kids just sitting with them encourages them to talk and enjoy being together.

When I’m just fed up with all the noise and chaos and no one listening to anyone else, I just pull out a book and start reading out loud on the couch. Invariably the kids will come and sit down next to me to hear the book – if I asked them first if they wanted to read, they’d say no! They do come.

Try to find the small things you can do throughout the day, rather than forcing them to focus for a big chunk of time and view it as an obligation.

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