The Just-Moved-In Phase

Life kicked me around a little bit this week.

A lot of things happened:  not unpacking. Not much of that happened at all. First, there was the whole beginning home-schooling thing–which I did before I even finished unpacking my house. (Maybe that wasn’t my BEST idea.) Then there was the energy problem. As in, I just don’t have enough–especially after 1pm. What is that?

Second, we’re in that whole just-moved-in phase. We are still learning our area and even our own neighborhood. I finally figured out that the houses on both sides of me are occupied by couples with no children. I felt kind of bad for my own children when I figured that out…..as we sat on our balcony and watched the neighbors about three houses down, across the street,  all having front yard gatherings every afternoon. Their little girls all ride their power wheels back and forth and back and forth, and my children watch longingly from the porch.

Don’t even say it. Don’t say, “Go over there and introduce yourself.”

If you say that, then you just don’t know me at all. I know I may seem like Mrs. Outgoing, but when I first move to a place I am not that at all. When I first move somewhere, I like to completely draw into my shell, go completely silent and just watch and listen while I figure things out.  I can’t help it. That’s just what I do.

Besides, you can tell when you look at their group that they are having fun just the way that it is. They have probably been friends for a while, and our barging in would only be a nuisance, I’m sure. Then I would feel awkward. Nah. No, thanks.

We have made a few friends at church, and when the boys’ home school group starts we will meet more people. I’m not worried about that, really. I’m more worried about finding a babysitter that can handle four little boys!!

This week we did manage to find the best playground in the neighborhood.

It is AWESOME. Photos to come soon! I did get a silent chuckle at Caleb making fast friends with a bunch of little girls from Pakistan and their brother Mohammed.  There’s a large population of Pakistan students here, studying Military Defense.  Anyway, I just couldn’t help but notice the irony of Caleb David having a ball over there with Mohammed and his sisters.  (Please say you get it. The names: Mohammed and Joshua and Caleb David. And Daniel!! ) Caleb had a blast playing Ghosts in the Graveyard with these girls. Caleb makes friends more easily than anyone I’ve ever seen in my life. He has no idea what a wonderful gift that is!!! 

Wednesday night I came down with a super snotty head cold, and the rest of the week after that was kind of a blur. We somehow made it through. Caleb can now rattle off vowels and their sounds at high speed, and Joshua began learning multiplication, measurement, you name it. 

Thankfully, I had Alan here today, so we got a TON accomplished. The Goodwill donations finally went to Goodwill. Pictures are now hanging downstairs. Trash was taken to the dumpster. Oh! And Alan took our three oldest boys over to the house right behind us to meet their three boys, which are almost the exact same ages as Joshua, Caleb, and Daniel!! They also do Cub Scouts, so hopefully we’ll get the boys back in scouts soon. 

Right now Alan is upstairs studying hard. I’m actually watching TV!!!  This never happens: the t.v.watching, that is.

I’ve questioned this home school decision plenty of times, but at the end of the day I remind myself that I’m glad I’m doing it. I can feel certain that the boys will be where they need to be academically at the end of this year. Academics have always been important to me. I’m also hoping to work on some character issues that I see in them, since I have more time with them. The “experiment” part of this year will be to see if this huge sacrifice I’m making is worth it.  How much of a difference will it make? Will I be able to be HAPPY doing this? Will the boys be happy? Will I be able to keep up with the housekeeping, the meals, and ever get to do anything fun? That’s what I’m interested to see. I think it’ll take a lot more than just a week to get those answers. This is something I’ve just always kind of wanted to do. I promise to finish out this year, and we’ll decide about next school year once this one is finished!