He is Surviving ...Possibly Thriving?

 

                                                  
                                                      Between moments with this one,

                                                      
                                                         and time spent with these two,

 

I sometimes find it hard to fit this one in.

 

 

(No problems with this young lady.  She is 11 chronologically, but she is really about 26, and a very successful Victorian woman.)

 

 

He lacks motivation. But, this week, he surprised me by not needing me so much.  He has taken off on his own, actually enjoying the educational journey I have set before him.  At times, he has made me question my ability to continue to homeschool so many children.. It is no easy task to divide yourself successfully among a high schooler, two middle schoolers, an elementary student, and a toddler.  Add in household obligations - the need to eat at least once a day, errands, laundry, etc. - and life is busy.  When you have a kid who is difficult to engage - who puts up with your attempts to share a story with him rather than enjoying it - it is easy to allow their lethargy to contaminate you.  I began to recognize this in myself, and focused more time and energy on him.  He was no longer allowed to be bored, no longer allowed to forcibly yawn throughout our read-alouds, no longer allowed to make multiple trips to the potty, and no longer allowed to pretend to die of thirst for the 20-minute duration of the history lesson.  It appears to be working.  I'll let you know if he makes it through the Middle Ages.