Hinds Feet on High Places

Looking for answers...

We enjoyed a quiet, relaxing rainy weekend here in the mountains of northern PA. It was nice to spend some quality family time together playing games, reading Little House books, and enjoying one another's company; snuggling with the baby and taking a nap; and just taking it easy for a couple of days. Today it is back to school, and the chilly rain continues more steadily than before...

The oldest five children are scheduled for a nice diversion this afternoon: a meeting with Sienna Brown, our local farm veternarian, at a 600+ dairy operation for a vet-science 4-H project meeting. They will be learning calf-care today, which will easily cross over into "kid care" when ours start arriving in late March-early April. I am glad for a winter project, as it seems they are usually cramming most meetings in between May and July; round up is in early August. So that activity will hopefully ward off any cases of "cabin fever."

But once again I am finding myself asking the age old question....."what do I do with the little guys?" This morning they got their phonics and math lessons done. We read Children of the Covered Wagon with limited disturbance, but that was about it for their attention spans. So what does one do with 5 boys under 6 years old who don't like toys that much when it is too wet to go out and play? I am not expecting any answers here...we all struggle with that as mothers. I have asked and been asked that question, and it seems we never get any conclusive answers. They have to figure it out for themselves. But I get so tired of hearing "Whaaatt can I dooo???" I am so resolved NOT to let them sit in front of the tv and watch movies all day. But how can we accomplish some peace and quiet and give them something constructive to keep them busy?

We have a family devotional time in the evening, and my students also have their own Bible workbooks they do as a part of each day's lessons. In past years we also included (for the older children) a study of character building curriculum and a time of prayer together as part of our school day. This year that has been non-existent. Today I tried to reinstate that all important routine, and failed miserably. There was absolutely no quiet and no one was hearing a thing I was saying. We called it quits before the lesson was finished. I felt defeated to say the least. This is the most important "class" and I can see from past results that it is not something I am willing to "drop" due to inconvenience. I realize that it is the Lord who gives the increase, but we can never do too much. I feel like I fall short of doing nearly enough to meet this solemn responsibility. I have felt Satan's attacks at every side recently, to stop spiritual growth and potential in our family. Sometimes I feel the need to escape for a while. Please pray for us, and pray for me as I continue in warfare against unseen powers. I need to be more disciplined in my own life, in my personal walk with the Lord and in planning and implementing routines and order here at home. I have been a bit burned out this school year and desperately need to get back on track. Losing focus is something a homeschooling mom canNOT afford to do! Sharing my personal struggles is not easy to do, but I have found it is appropriate to be personal and honest in this world in order to help one another and to be helped. We all have our struggles. We all face stress and strive to save face, at least in some areas of our lives. Seeking to express myself often makes the path clear so I can find the solutions needed to reach my goals. I am thankful for the company of friends and sisters in Christ here who can relate to me and with whom I can share this part of my life.

ideas for the boys

12:39, 2007-Jan-22 .. Posted by Marcinda

I know what you mean as I have the same problem with Hunter. But if I give him some textured things like cotton balls, a sheet of foil, paper, glue and scissors, he makes all kinds of "airplanes" etc...that keep him busy for a long time. It is a little messy but could be worse and he is old enough to clean up most of it himself. Just an idea for the older boys.

hey, sis!

01:54, 2007-Jan-22 .. Posted by tioga12

You know...that is just what we did!
The other night we picked up all kinds of crafty stuff and put it into a box and it was just like Christmas. They decided to do the glitter glue and spent an hour carefully decorating construction paper. And we have modeling clay, felt, paints, etc. to use other days.