It has been 6 months since I last posted. Those six months flew past. There were many times when I wanted to post about exciting adventures or great news, but something else always grabbed my attention. Tonight/this morning is the time for updates.
Mario, my oldest, has completed 3 years of public high school in 2 years. If he would have started high school on time, he would be graduating this year. He decided to wait until he was 16 to start high school and now he is 17 and a junior. He is on task to graduate next year at age 18! I am so proud of him. In October, he got his first job (other than all the work he has done for me) at the movie theater. He also obtained his learners permit in September, even though he has only driven twice since then. He has decided he wants to wait until he is 18 to drive. He has began to distance himself from the lovely girl that he was spending time with. I am sad about it, but it is his life, so I keep my opinion to myself. He is a good son and has a great head on his shoulders. I just think she was a positive influence on him and the type of girl I would love to see my son with. Overall, I am very proud of him.
RJ, my not-so-gentle-anymore giant, is in the middle of his high school basketball season. He is a freshman who plays JV and Varsity and he even got to start Varsity four times. He is 6'6" and weighs about 245 lbs. This is his 3rd year in public school, and I am not happy at all with his grades. Granted, this is his first year in high school, but he got four C's on his first report card. He usually gets all A's and B's. This is my child that gets me emotionally charged in not such a good way. I love him dearly. He is me in so many ways. The only problem is, he is the me that I have worked so hard to change. But I understand him so I love him with a special love. Some how, some way, I have to keep him from making mistakes I did. I thought I had life all planned. Thank God I like challenges! BTW...his 15th birthday is in 6 days.
CJ is my main focus right now. He will be 10 in 2 days. He is the perfect mix of my two older boys. He is my main focus, because he is home and he doesn't seem to be very happy right now. It isn't his fault, I take full blame. With my older boys, I always played board games with them and I always made sure they were signed up for plenty of activities. They were always surrounded by other kids. I have not been the same way with CJ. Life is different with the younger two. They take a back seat many times. I finally got CJ on a basketball team at the Y. He doesn't know, but I also plan on taking him to a co-op that meets every other week. Putting him in school isn't an option. I have a good plan. I just need to stick to it.
Crystal is amazing. She has taught herself how to read. She kept using www.starfall.com and www.abcmouse.com, and by October, she was reading. Now she is reading at a 3rd grade level. I tried using www.reflexmath.com for her math, but she is clearly not ready. I won't rush her. That is why I teach them at home. When she learns to do math is not as important as her learning it when the desire is there to master it. She is really into the Littlest Pet Shop right now. Tomorrow I will post a pic of the house she is building for her LPS animals. She makes them clothes and she finds all kinds of neat things by watching Youtube. She is a self-starter like I was at her age. She is my breath of fresh air, because my none of my boys are that way. I have to guide them through every thing. She has an idea, and she finds a way to make it happen. She got it from her momma! LOL!
Me, I changed the name of my business, because it is going in a new direction. My business is now called Comforting Touch Mobile Massage. I am now in search of 2 therapists that will work with me. We will now specialize in massage parties and also corporate massage. No more nickels and dimes. I used to go to a home to do a 30 minute massage for $15. No more. I have set new standards for myself. I now have a website, www.comfortingtouchmobile.com. I am really excited about the direction my business is taking.
Right now, I am planning a trip to Houston, TX. Mario, RJ, and I are going to drive there for the NBA All Star basketball festivities. We are all super excited about it. We are leaving in 8 days. At first I felt bad that I wasn't taking the little ones, but now I am ok with it. My big boys and I are going to have a great time!
It is almost 3 am, so I guess I will try to get some sleep. We are going to see a play in the morning.
Thank you so much for sharing your current journey, Kila! As a relatively new unschooler, this is very helpful. Assessment is oftentimes a good first step toward progress, so now that you are clear on why CJ is unhappy, you are now in a position to do some things differently, and experience results that are more in line with what you and he need. I'm constantly doing that with my girls (8 and 6), and I'm learning so much about letting them lead, and listening to their needs in the process.
ReplyDeleteCrystal sounds like a brilliant little being! We used Starfall quite a bit too (when the girls were younger).
Thanks for posting reflexmath.com; I wasn't aware of that resource.
Sending you love and light on your journey!
Thank you! It is much needed and appreciated!
DeleteI'm going to update my blog. You've inspired me. We've done so much, but I've left the old blog collect dust. It seems that you are in TX. I am too.
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