homeschooling help

[attachedmamaof2]

I am new to this board (I usually post in diapering). I have a 4 yo who has been in montessori since she was 18mos. I had to go back to work then and thought that it was the best option for her. Well I have recently figured out that that was a bad decision and with the birth of my son (4mos) I have been at home. I am realizing that my daughter really needs to be at home with me and have been looking into homeschooling, particularly unschooling. I have heard that there is sort of a "detoxification" phase that kids go through when they transition from school to home. I have noticed very negative behavior from her for example over the Holidays when she was home for 2 weeks. I am taking her out of her school next month and am basically trying to get prepared. I would love to hear about other mamas experiences with the "detoxification" process that I am likely to experience when she is getting used to the home routine etc. and how you guys have coped with it. Also, if anyone has an older child and an infant how you juggle giving the infant the time it needs while still caring for the older child.

Thanks, I know this was kinda long!

[marilynmama]

With her being only 4 years old I would not do any sort of structured learning or anything like that, just bring her home and let her play and have fun as a 4 year old.

You might want to check out Five in a Row (www.fiveinarow.com), we are unschoolers as well but my kids really like FIAR, its fun and literature based, they have learned a lot and its very natural learning overall IMO, we dont follow any rules with it but it gives me some ideas of things to discuss with the books and art stuff to do, etc. Get lots of art and craft supplies, texture play, books to read, music to listen to, zoo pass, library storytimes, etc

I started homeschooling when my second daughter was born and yes it is challenging!! I wont say its not, but the youngest is now 2 (she *just* turned 2) and its gotten a bit easier. I just try to include them both (even when she was an infant, or I would take advantage of nap times) in whatever we were doing. You will find your groove with all that. We have a lot of fun and learn a ton along the way!!

Marilyn

[marilynmama]

opps dbl post

[Openskyheart]

The "deschooling" process is said to take about 2 to 3 months for every year the child has spent in school. It is a great idea to totally unschool during this period, no matter which homeschooling method you think you're going to use.

I agree with Marilynmama that playing, playing, playing is great for 4 year olds.

As far as adjusting to caring for an infant while having an older child: I totally understand. My kids are a little bit less than 2 years apart, and it was hard for me to take the fact that I didn't have as much alone and cuddling time with my toddler as I had had before my daughter was born - AND my new baby wasn't getting as much of the same kind of uninterrupted attention from me as my older son had when he was a baby.

I liked the idea of the Continuum Concept where the baby just comes along for the ride involved in whatever the mama is doing. I was so busy chasing a toddler around, that all I could do with the baby was put her in the sling or the backpack and go go go. As it turns out - this was perfect for her, and perfectly in alignment with what parents have done to care for a baby while also caring for an older child since time began, sts. My daughter became an amazing observer, and I can tell you now, at 7 years old, that girl doesn't miss a trick!

Someone once told me that adjusting to having a second child is as big an adjustment as going from none to one. I believe it. What got me through the guilt feelings (feeling that I never gave either one "enough" of me) was realizing that just about everyone has a sibling, and most people have more than one, so not getting constant undivded attention from a parent is completely natural.

Now I've gone on and on (I usually do LOL!)

HTH
Laura