I Woke up this morning and I didn't hurt at all from that workout yesterday. I wanted to take a bike ride today but the wind is SO strong.....I guess I'll go to the gym instead.

I have a lot to do on the homeschool front, and these are the days that are the hardest because by the end of the day I am so freaking tired and stressed that an hour and a half at the gym is the last thing I feel like I am able to do. I don't know if any one else here HS but if you do and you do more than one child what do you do for your stress level and positive charge that you need?

I totally switched curriculum this year. I no longer need to do lesson plans, grades and things like that. It is all taken care of so you would think that would be 90% of the issue right there and it is somewhat.......so....I'm not sure what it is. I guess the thought of HS'ing 6 children at the same time puts me into stress over drive. Once I start it's not an issue. The one thing I really don't like about this program is that it is all computer based and on line assignments and tests. Another great thing right? NOPE. Well...... It is, but it isn't....does that even make a lick of sense?

I live in rural area and I don't get the high speed, kick your ass kind of internet the city dwellers get. No. I have the kind where you only get so much internet given to you in a 24 hour period so when it's used up, there is no more until 24 hours later (did I mention it uses a hand crank I have to keep the dinosaurs from eating?). When we are HS'ing we use up our allotment in about 4 hours. Everybody is only about half way through their work for that day. This seriously sucks. Then I have to load ALL the children (there are 8) in the van, plus all school work and computers, books and whatever else and go to the MIL's house (mother in law). Which is no big deal on that side because she is a very GREAT lady....it's the stress of the move, getting everyone set up, organized and on task that makes me want to crawl back into my hole and die.

Geesh. Just thinking about it makes me want to hide under the bed and never come out.

The one thing that has helped somewhat is that the homeschool program that they are enrolled in has sent CD's that have the lessons for the lower grades on them. This works somewhat but not all the lessons are on the CD's and I still have to log them on to their site and then log in the classes and activities they have done. When I do that, it still downloads all the materials that are on the CD's anyway...so I'm not really saving internet usage that much.

This is the source of all the woes in my life. This is why I am a nut case that needs to be committed.

I am completely committed to homeschooling my children and I'm pretty stubborn and resolute about this decision. This is my 7th year and I have no desire to send them into "regular" school. That isn't evenup for debate. It's not a religious issue because I have a great private school I am willing to go into debt for (been there, done that). The public school in town is a good school too (also BTDT). It's the whole conformity and compulsory -ness of formal school that gives me the creeps. So that's why I keep them home.

So there is my vent for the day. I'm sorry for who is reading this. It probably stressed you out too. If it's too much for you to read, lithium and whiskey usually takes the edge off and Zoloft helps a little. Lots of hugs, smiles and "I love you", "good job", "well done" are the things that keep me going.

The positive of this is that the children REALLY like the program they are doing this year, their progress is great and they are on time with their assignments. I am not too far behind and it's worth it to see them to be able to be their own people, make up their own minds and do what comes natural to them.

I know I'm going to be ok, but what I worry about a lot is fitting the time in for me that I need.