Delaney's and Liam's Masterpiece

I've been struggling with home schooling my children lately. I feel so overwhelmed with so much to do....and worry about. (Yes, I know worry is fruitless and senseless, but worry I do. Worry over keeping the house chores done so we can actually work. Worry about the older kids' school assignments and how to help them through their current struggle/needs--trying to give everyone the individual attention that they require. Help with this math problem, help with structuring that paragraph. Brianne's physical therapy needs....and then the endless question...."What's for lunch?" (breakfast, dinner, snack, could be inserted here). I'm so tired of that question! When I'm on top of things and I make a menu and I'm not bothered by that question.....this week hasn't been a menu planning week, thus, I hate that question!
I asked Barry to give me a blessing. He did. I feel so much better---and I have a clearer vision or plan for what the Lord wants me to do right now.

I'm dropping some of the things I previously tried hard to complete (ie. history with all the kids--the older ones now have reading assignments and the younger one, well, we just don't do it.)

What I did feel inspired to do was read, read, and read some more. I always have plenty of books around from the library, yet rarely there was time to actually read them. Now, I have the time, well, at least more time now that this is my #1 school goal of the day.

Delaney picked out this book, "Chester's Masterpiece". It was a wonderful book. The book was about a cat, Chester, who wrote a book and the author, Melanie Witt asked Chester questions that helped him identify what the different parts of a story are--theme, characters and setting.

After reading it Delaney and Liam created their own story. I helped them think about the setting, characters and theme for their book. They enjoyed it, and ask me to reread the books often. We'll definitely be writing many more. I don't think we'll do a project with each book, but I'm sure we'll accomplish some to share.