~*~ First Week of Cyber School ~*~

Our first week of PALCS is coming to a close and what a week it has been!! :) Monday was exciting! I barely slept and got up early as to give myself time to get some breakfast, coffee, and just relax before waking the kids. It was going really well! I went to wake Logan around 9am-I had my mind made up that we were going to have a set schedule, starting around 9am each day, working until maybe 11 or 12, hour break for lunch, back to work until we were finished. Well, the first day proved that a set schedule is NOT going to happen for us right now!! ;) I woke Logan up, only to discover he had a bad belly ache. I thought at first it was nerves. New school, new things, school starting up again...stress! So, we logged on and got to reading and getting familiar with his website, classes, teachers, etc. Logan quickly went downhill. He could not longer sit up at his desk. He laid down the rest of the day, with an extremely bad belly ache, followed by a high fever , sore throat and head ache!!! SERIOUSLY:!?!? On the FIRST day of school, at a brand new school!? Your kidding right? No. Not kidding. Poor kid. So , I read for him and we watched some videos. Then he napped the rest of the day.  On top of trying to get him situated, deal with him being sick, was Isaac who was into EVERYTHING (of course nothing that he COULD play with..haha!) and just being a 1 year old. It made for a very stressful morning for mommy. I let Logan nap for the rest of the day and while Isaac napped I reached out to the PALCS family support group , to my husband, and to God. Was this the right thing? My main frustration was with Isaac. Not at him directly. But at trying to have a set schedule with a toddler ripping into everything, screaming because he wants to play on the computer, etc etc etc. I knew it may be tough but I had NO idea how tough. I also reached out to his teacher. Everyone was so helpful! They calmed my worries right away and gave me great tips! Everyone told me to focus more on getting Logan better and to take it easy. The first week is always hard for new families.

I have to say after having that supportive feedback, I felt like this was right and we could do it! It would just require me having to "let go" of my set schedules, my ideas of the perfect school day right now. It just is NOT a reality with a 1 year old in the house. Some families that faced similar situations, would wait to do school later in the day when the other parent came home, some families that are night owls, would do the work with their student when the younger child went to bed. That helped them focus and have peace and quiet. With doing school at home, this is ok since you can all sleep in the next day. It was great to see that whatever schedule suits us, is just fine! As long as Logan is growing, learning and doing his work..it really does not matter! WHEW!

So, as of right now we still do not have a schedule. We just try to do some work in the morning....we get done what we can and then if it starts to become crazy and stressful for either of us we take a break for a few hours and come back. Yes, this may seem like his school day is long, but really it's not bad. It's kind of nice to do a little work and then have a break. I know as Isaac gets older- we will be able to have a more set -day time- schedule. But I am throwing those hopes out the window until he is at LEAST 4 years old! :)

Friday is here...and we have a few things left to do but not much since we got most done this week. The awesome thing about this schooling is that...we get to go meet Daddy for lunch today! We are going to have a nice picnic lunch and play at the playground for a few hours (now that Logan is starting to feel a bit better) and just enjoy the afternoon outside. Then when we get home we will do another few hours of work and be done for the weekend! :)

Logan had his first "class chat" yesterday with his teacher and fellow classmates! It was so neat seeing how that works, hearing his teacher, talking to the teacher and students, and Logan has had allot of practice typing. We really enjoyed it!

I have loved being with Logan through all of this. At his age and because we are so new at this, I have to be by his side for everything. Of course, as he gets more used to how things run and as he grows, I will not have to be right there every moment. But, I actually enjoy it! I love learning this process with him! While it has been stressful at times with Isaac, it has been completely enjoyable with Logan! And I think he is having fun too :) Already , I am seeing a small change in our communication and relationship. We laughed allot at different things and when he completed one of his Math Assessments, he said "HIGH FIVE MOM!" I was so surprised by this and so so happy :) We are becoming a team. I have talked to him allot about how we have to be a team and work together. I am sure it will take time but already, in small ways, I am seeing this happen. When he finished for the day yesterday, he gave me a hug out of no where! He has not done that on his own in quite some time.

Yes, it may be tough, but I do think this was the right decision for us. Every new adventure ,every change, brings its challenges. But, what a learning experience for us a family and for Logan. To see that we can take on change and challenges with a positive attitude and not give up. Life is full of change. You have to adapt and take them on with a good outlook. If we are growing already, what will we be like by years end?! I am excited to see!!

I will post photo's I have taken of his first day and our picnic with Daddy soon :)

Till next time...

~Megs~