Thoughts on starting Year Three

It seems just yesterday that I was sitting at the computer, dreaming of the day that I would have finished my first year of home schooling so that I wouldn't feel like such a newby. And now tomorrow, we'll be meeting with our new home school teacher to finalize our prep for year 3!

As I was looking through the books that we'll be working through, I'm getting excited about all the things we're going to get to do. I'm also wondering if maybe I've bitten off more than we can chew? Unfortunately, the kids don't seem nearly as excited as I am (go figure).

But I feel like I need more time to get myself and things organized. We still haven't finished the reno that cut school short in June, so there are a lot of things still all over the place. I had wanted to work on teaching my children what their chores were and how to properly do them over the summer so that things would run more smoothly once we were back into the swing of school- which, of course, hasn't happened.

I have all these things that I want them to learn this year, but I'm dreading the attitude that is already lamenting the end of summer and the hatred of all things school.

Even though we're onto year three, there are still things (like bad attitudes) that we haven't worked out/gotten rid of yet- and I'm frustrated just thinking about it.

However, then I think about my life and if I'm really any different that way than my children? Are they merely reflecting me (if so, why am I like that) and what am I going to do about it?

I've realized this summer that the kids fall apart where there is too much free time. As adults we waste it in front of tv's/computers/etc., but kids can't always do that when there are more of them than screens. Needless to say, when they fall apart so do I.

There are many changes that need to be made (less screen time/more control over content/more chores/etc)- but I need to discipline myself enough to list/make and enforce the changes until they become our new habits. I think once we get into the groove of that, some of our problems will fix themselves- and leave us with the real issues that need to be dealt with. And then, maybe, we'll get to the fun stuff of school.