The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly at the Caffeinated Reviewer! It's an opportunity to share news, post a recap for the previous week, showcase books, and highlight what's planned for the week ahead.
My son starts school in the fall (which I often cry about because he's my baby and I'm used to having him at home), and I just finished filling out all of the application forms. I have a degree in Education and offered to homeschool him, but he really wants to go to a public school. He said, "Mama, we're best friends, but I really want more friends that are my size." I cannot tell you how much I have cried over this. He's my baby, you know? I know he's going to love it and be happy, which is what I want for him, but it's bittersweet. On a positive note, it will give me and the girls some solo bonding time (as solo as you can get with twins).
News:
My son starts school in the fall (which I often cry about because he's my baby and I'm used to having him at home), and I just finished filling out all of the application forms. I have a degree in Education and offered to homeschool him, but he really wants to go to a public school. He said, "Mama, we're best friends, but I really want more friends that are my size." I cannot tell you how much I have cried over this. He's my baby, you know? I know he's going to love it and be happy, which is what I want for him, but it's bittersweet. On a positive note, it will give me and the girls some solo bonding time (as solo as you can get with twins).
Previous week on the blog:
Sunday: The Sunday Post [20]
Monday: Unchained (Nephilim Rising, #1) by J. Lynn, Jennifer L. Armentrout ⋆⋆⋆
Tuesday: Q [9] Book Anxiety: Is it a thing?
Thursday: Fairest (The Lunar Chronicles, #3.5) by Marissa Meyer ⋆⋆⋆
Friday: Nothing!
Saturday: Nothing!
What I'm currently reading:
What I'm currently reading:
Something Like Gravity by Amber Smith
With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
I'm enjoying Something Like Gravity, but it's really slow. I think the story is fantastic, and definitely a book that's needed in the world, but it could definitely be shorter. With the Fire on High is fabulous, and Acevedo is a phenomenal author and narrator.
What I plan on reading next:
Soul of the Sword (Shadow of the Fox, #2) by Julie Kagawa
When Dimple Met Rishi (When Dimple Met Rishi, #1) by Sandhya Menon
Call It What You Want by Brigid Kemmerer
What I'm watching:
I actually took a break from reading this week, which was unexpected but clearly needed. I've read so many wonderful books this month, and think my brain was overloading on all the awesome. I also wanted to reboot before starting Soul of the Sword, because ohmygodsoulofthesword! I've been listening to Acevedo's With the Fire on High when we're in the car, and reading Something Like Gravity while putting the kids down for their naps, but I haven't been reading during every spare second of every day (which is what I usually do).
Instead, I've been catching up on movies and television shows. I watched two movies on Netflix: Always Be My Maybe and Wine County. Always Be My Maybe was adorable and fun! I really loved when Keanu Reeves showed up (hilarious), and the entire movie was just happy-making. Wine Country was mostly disappointing, and not as funny as I thought it would be.
Husband and I have started watching Brooklyn Nine-Nine from the beginning! We were watching it together before it switched networks, and we forgot where we were. I've almost watched all of S1, and I'm loving it (again). It's such a great show! B99 is definitely something you can watch over and over again. The cast is fantastic, the episodes are always a laugh, but there's also a serious undertone that follows the story.
Challenge updates:
Audiobook Challenge: 24 / 30+
Beat the Backlist Challenge: 35 / 100
Discussion Challenge: 4 / 11-20
Goodreads Challenge: 189 / 500
Oh my goodness, your little guy calling you his best friend is so precious. What a sweetheart. :) I'm sure he'll enjoy going to school and being around his peers. I read less and less YA but I make an exception for Kemmerer. I just love her contemporaries.
ReplyDeleteRight?? I almost started crying as soon as he said it! I love him so much, Tanya! How am I supposed to leave him at school all day? I'm going to miss his face! Also, he's an amazing big brother, and a really big help with the girls, so it's nice to have him around for that too. They listen to him more than they listen to me, haha.
DeleteKemmerer is amazing. Did you ever read A Curse So Dark and Lonely?
No, I decided to take a pass on A Curse So Dark and Lonely. I realized that I have to quit forcing myself to read fantasy time and time again when the fact is it just really isn't my thing. *shrugs* Contemporary is what I love so I just need to get over the FOMO when it comes to fantasy. LOL
DeleteI totally understand! I try to make myself read historical fiction, because I like the idea of it, but it rarely works out. If it makes you feel any better, ACSDAL felt like a contemporary read, haha. If you ignore the curse, alternate universes/worlds, and magic. ;)
DeleteAwwww youre his best friend!! That is the sweetest thing ever!
ReplyDeleteI almost cried! He's the best kid. I know most parents say that about their children, but he's seriously great. He's so helpful and kind. <3
DeleteI found it hard but I wanted my daughter to interact with other kids. Ah summer or any season, choosing your activities by the heat or cold, rain or sun, etc. Also the cooking. I grill more outside in the summer, bake more in the winter. Have a wonderful week and stay cool.
ReplyDeleteAnne - Books of My Heart Here is my Sunday Post
I know he needs to interact with children his age, but it's hard to even think about leaving him for hours and hours every day. He's my oldest, so this is my first experience with a kid starting school, and it's bittersweet. I'm so happy for him, but I'm also incredibly sad for me. Ack, I cook more inside during the summer and outside during the winter, haha. <3
DeleteI can believe the heat down there would constrain time outside in the afternoon, for sure! I'd melt in the heat you get lol. And aww I can relate to how you feel about them starting school. I considered homeschooling too at one point- our neighbors did it and my friend's wife does too- but in the end our kids went to public school. But yeah it can be a tough choice!
ReplyDeleteI think I missed your recent comics post! How are things going with the comics artists?
Yes! Playground equipment gets too hot, the ground at the splash pad gets too hot, the sun coming down while swimming is intense and TOO HOT. What made you choose public school over homeschooling? I know a lot of parents that homeschool, and public schools are so unsafe these days. Teachers have guns, students bring them on campus, and horrific things happen.
DeleteComics have been very flat for me lately. A lot of my regulars were cancelled, so I'm branching out and trying new things. The new Daredevil has been great! Zdarsky is doing an amazing job with Matt Murdock's character, and the artwork for this series has been phenomenal. Miles Morales Spider-Man is excellent, too.
It was a really tough call, but we were both working and there was a financial element- which is unfortunate because things like that should never come down to money- but also my wife was less enthusiastic about the idea. And I don't mean that as a criticism- she just wasn't as enamored of the idea, and we just went ahead with public. Our school district is pretty good, I think, and they;ve done well, but I do wonder sometimes- the neighbor kids who homeschooled turned out fantastic, well rounded polite smart kids, and the way schools are now- plus me knowing what high school is like from my experiences lol- I was definitely interested in keeping them out of that environment!
DeleteThe other thing too is I have a theory that cramming kids together for 12 years is not exactly the best thing to do, but that's more of a personal theory of mine. Peer pressure, all the bad stuff that can happen, kids at different developmental levls all being jammed together into a one size fits all- I just don't think it's ideal. I mean sure some kids will be fine, but not all. But I won't get into all that!
Truth. It's hard to survive on a single income when you have a family to provide for. Homeschooling would be its own job and commitment, and one you're not getting paid for. My husband is also less enthusiastic about the idea, although he said he would support me if I choose to tackle the task. I don't know though, with the girls also being at home. It would be distracting for everyone, even though I know there are parents that make it work.
DeleteI actually did some of my student teaching at the school he'll be attending in the fall (years and years ago, haha), so I'm familiar with the layout and some of the teachers are the same. However, like you said, I dislike the idea of surrounding yourself with the same student body for twelve years. Although, we're a military family, so our children will change schools every few years, which may actually prove to be a positive. It doesn't get rid of the peer pressure or eliminate any of the bad stuff that can happen, but it's at least a change of scenery. The one-size-fits-all mentality bothers me too. I'm a teacher, and it's hard to give students the individual attention they deserve/need. Schools keep cramming more and more children into a single classroom, and that's not fair to the teachers or the students. Also, schools try to incorporate special needs students into regular classrooms for a few hours every day, and that just adds more everything.
The homeschooled children I've encountered have all seemed well-adjusted and on a clear path. It's like they decided what they wanted to do with their lives and focused on that, rather than attending a school that doesn't really make you narrow down your options. They're more concerned about grades and attendance, than future possibilities. I'm speaking from experience, as a student and as a teacher.
When we send our children to public schools, we don't know what their environment is going to be like. They could teach biased lessons based on what they believe to be true, and not necessarily what's in the curriculum. Also, children can be really cruel. My son is so sweet and kindhearted, and I'm worried someone is going to make him feel ashamed of that. I don't want him to change or doubt who he is as a person. These are his formative years, and school is where he's going to start spending the majority of his time. His teachers and peers will have a very a large influence on his development.
I've noticed that too about a lot of homeschooled kids. A lot of them seem to have found their interest, or maybe they just focus more on that- like if your passion is astronomy, then they go to planetariums and they just focus more on those areas of interest, rather than the jack-of-all-trades sorta approach that traditional school has, where we all study more or less the same stuff.
Delete"They're more concerned about grades and attendance, than future possibilities." I think you're right about this, and as a teacher you'd know I'm sure. And your whole last paragraph- that's how I feel. I've noticed it with my own kids. They're sweet kids and I cringe at times when I think of the things they've heard and seen at school- language before they're ready to hear that kinda stuff, behaviors, you know what I mean. And I hear you- sometimes the sweeter kids, or the shy ones, whatever- they get picked on or they feel like they have to decide between learning or being "cool" or popular. There's so much more to school than just learning- it's that whole social minefield! That's my biggest thing.
I was bullied in like first or second grade, don't remember exactly what years it was, but because I was a quiet kid, you know? By high school I'd learned what to do to not be in that category- I got along with everybody for the most part- but I was always leery of that for my kids. Luckily as girls they seemed to avoid the bullying stuff (I know girls can be bullied too, but maybe they just got lucky?) but thankfully their experiences seem to have been different from mine, although I know they've seen and heard stuff, so... yeah. They're pretty sheltered though, and I've seen friends of theirs and other kids with lots of freedom (like I had, ironically- my parents were pretty loosey goosey lol) and they run wild!
Anyway- it is a tough call and I hope whichever way you go, it works out fantastically :)
Yes!! I feel like if I homeschooled my children, I would focus more on what interested them specifically, and then do whatever I could to nurture that. If they changed their mind later one, at least they really knew what they were leaving behind. It helps to have clear idea of what you want to do, try that thing, and then decide weather or not it works for you. I think that's why people change their majors so often in college. We don't know what we want! It's also harder to change paths once you're paying for a certain degree.
DeleteI learned the work "fuck" in fourth grade! I had no idea what it meant, only that a kid had used it. I remember asking my mom in the car on the way home, and she shot water out of her nose, haha. Right?? Kids shouldn't have to choose between enjoying school and being "cool". I know it sounds lame, but SCHOOL IS COOL. There are a lot of fascinating subjects to study, and their are a million possibilities. Ugh, I died so many times in the social minefield. It's so hard to be close to other children your age, when everyone is still trying to determine who they are individually. Friends grow apart, which can be hard for younger children to understand.
Why are the quiet kids always bullied? No, I think you're right... it does seem to happen more often to boys. It's like they have something to prove? Girls are more viscous when they get older, and they use words to serious damage. It's starts to get really bad in 5th grade. Hormones start kicking in, and they become monsters.
Exactly. I changed majors several times- I was clueless haha on what I wanted to do. So true. Homeschooled kids (at least some of the ones I've seen) do seem to have that advantage a little bit. And of course the lack of peer pressure and, like you said, hearing those words in 4th grade or whatever!
DeleteAnd homeschooling's not for everyone! I mean some parents can do it but I know some probably that, um, no lol. Wouldn't work! And of course we all went through it and survived (with scars). But if you can make it work I definitely think it's right for some families/ kids. I kinda wish we would have, but then again... who knows?
I hear you- school (the social aspects) can be a killer at times. There were so many times I hated school- not learning, I've always loved learning- but school and all the bad stuff. I mean think about it- we take all the kids in an area, regardless of how mature they are/ aren't, throw em all together every day 5 times a week in a pressure cooker environment- and then we wonder why things go wrong? Haha if anything it's amazing they don't go MORE wrong. All those hormones and relationships (some good, some bad) that wouldn't even happen otherwise. But what do you replace the system with? I don't know (and it ain't happening anyway so oh well)!
I've heard girls can be so cutting. Mine have been lucky but yeah, they've seen drama.
I feel like I want to homeschool my children until they have a better understanding of who they are as individuals. If we incorporate them into public school when they're teenagers, so middle school, I think it would be harder for outside influences to alter who they are. They would also have a better idea of what they enjoy studying, and can take electives that at least point them in that direction. They would get the benefits of homeschooling and the social aspects of public school.
DeleteFrom the mouths of babes. Your son's comment made me laugh. Precious! I am reading Call It What You Want right now, and I am loving it.
ReplyDeleteYay! I'm so happy to hear that. I've been loving Kemmerer's books, and am really looking forward to starting this one. My son is amazing, and I love him. I want to keep him home always, which I know is crazy and unrealistic, haha. He's my first baby, you know? I don't know how to leave him for hours and hours every day.
DeleteOh, Lindsi I feel for you. Sending your kids off to school for the first time is so much harder on us then it is on them but it's a necessary education for the both of us, especially for the first child. I think I cried all day, then she came back and was so exited about her teacher, what they'd done and the friends she'd made. I didn't want to ask is she'd missed me. It wasn't any easier when my second child went although I did enjoy the alone time that we got when big sister was at school.
ReplyDeleteI've gotta say, in my experience, although those children who are home schooled do generally have a higher level of education (and I've met dozens), every single one struggles with the social aspect of being in a society. Be it when they re-join school as children, pre-teens or young adults. :-( Although I haven't personally met any adults who've been home-schooled throughout childhood yet.
Anyway, I'm glad you're enjoying what little free time you've got, whether it's reader or watching TV. I hope you have a good week. x
I know he's going to love it, and that he'll make friends and have fun, but I'm going to miss his face like crazy! He's also an amazing brother, so I know it'll be weird for his sisters to not have him around every day.
DeleteFree time is hard to come by, so I take advantage whenever it does miraculously happen. ;)
It can be hard to let them go but it’s part of our job to encourage them to find their place in the world. Be proud that you have raised a son secure enough to venture from the nest with confidence:)
ReplyDeleteHave a great reading week
I am so very proud of my son, and I know he's going to do well at school, but I'm still sad to be losing him for the majority of the day/week/year. I like having him at home and spending time doing whatever we want. <3
DeleteYes! I could never figure out why parents are shouting for joy when the kids have to go back to school. I can understand if they are a working parent, but stay at home parents, I don't get it. I missed my son every day he was in school. 💟
ReplyDeleteI'm listening to the author narrated audio of With the Fire on High right now. 💕💕💕💕💕
Have a wonderful week. 🌞
I already miss him, and he hasn't even started school yet, haha. I understand that having kids at home can be stressful, I have twins also, so it can get crazy. However, I love it. I absolutely love being a mother, and I'm happy that I'm able to stay home and raise them. I know a lot of parents have to work, and I feel so very thankful that I can do this right now. It's going to be so hard letting him go!
DeleteWith the Fire on High has been excellent so far! <3
Oh my goodness, your son is so sweet and adorable!! It's hard to let our little ones go!
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
It is!! I know I can't keep him home forever, and that he needs to experience the world, but public schools can be scary. I had an average high school experience, and existed somewhere in the middle, but it wasn't something I looked forward to every day. We've been trying to instill a love of learning into our children, and we do activities with them at home that show them knowledge can be fun and interesting. I'm worried he's going to lose that when he starts school. :/
DeleteYour son's comment was so adorable. *.* I really want to watch Always Be My Maybe (I hope Netflix in my country has it).
ReplyDeleteHappy readings! ;)
Tânia @MyLovelySecret
If you have a chance to watch it, come back and let me know what you thought! :)
DeleteAwww, your son is just precious. I know what you mean about wanting to hold on to your baby for just a little longer. Thanks for the head's up about Something Like Gravity being a slow read. I have that coming up soon for a blog tour and it sounds like I should probably start sooner rather than later.
ReplyDeleteI know we can't hold on to them forever, but five seems like a really young age to release them into the wild, haha. They're still so impressionable! These are still their formative years, and I don't want my son to lose himself because of what other people will expect from him.
DeleteSomething Like Gravity was good, but the pacing was slow, and the ending was unsatisfactory. It was realistic, but...hmm. I'll be curious to see your thoughts on this one! <3
Brooklyn 99 is so funny, we really need to do a rewatch of that!
ReplyDeleteI'm already on S2, haha. We're still not where we were before, but I think we're getting close... :)
DeleteMy baby just graduated from high school. It goes really fast. My sister's twins start school in the fall and they are so very excited. Sometimes a short break from reading is just the thing!
ReplyDeleteHigh School?? I can't even think that far ahead, haha. He hasn't started school yet, and I'm already dreading what it's going to feel/be like. It's great that the kids are excited about school, even if we parents are more hesitant about the idea. :)
DeleteOh, your little boy sounds so cute! I totally understand trying to get activities done before noon because it's hot out here, too! It's going to be a long summer.
ReplyDeleteDimple was fun on audio. Hope you like it! :)
We went to the playground this morning and it was lovely. Warm and windy! However, around lunch we had to skedaddle, since the wind died down and the sun popped out in full force. It went from mid-seventies to ninety-something in just over an hour.
DeleteI'm really looking forward to When Dimple Met Rishi! <3
Aw, I cried so hard after I dropped both of my kids at school for the first time. And I am very close to my kids and spend tons of time with them. But I still feel that school has some benefits. Most importantly, they learn to advocate for themselves and to adapt to different types of teachers, which is a good life lesson. My kids have had some truly gifted teachers! If for whatever reason, public school doesn’t work out at some point, you can always have him back home. And there are plenty of ways to be involved - I am still volunteering for one kid’s school they will never let me go lol
ReplyDeleteThis is true. They learn to be around people with different personalities and discover new ways of doing things. I know there are positives to having a public school education, but I'm also worried about the negatives that are inevitably going to pop up.
DeleteHaha! I love that the school doesn't want to let you go. Do you make awesome cookies? ;) There was a dad at one of my schools that made AMAZING banana bread, and he still brought some to the school years after his kids were gone.
OMG what your son said was the sweetest thing ever!! I'm really interested in With the Fire on High I'm going to try and it this month sometime! When Dimple Met Rishi is super cute, I really enjoyed it! I love how Netflix is coming out with really great movies. I haven't seen a good rom-com in a really long time. I've never seen Brooklyn Nine-Nine. My husband and I started binging The Office and I'm loving it!! Have a great week!!
ReplyDelete~Kendra @ Kendra Loves Books
He's the best! <3 I'm halfway through With the Fire on High and it's amazing. Acevedo is an incredible writer, and an amazing narrator. I highly recommend her books! Have you read/listened to The Poet X? When Dimple Met Rishi is my next audio after With the Fire on High, so I'm sure I'll get to it soon. :)
DeleteNetflix has been making some awesome shows! My kids like Beat Bugs, which is a show based on Beatles songs, and it's great. We don't watch a lot of television, but we sometimes make an exception for the Beatles. ;) If you're enjoying The Office, I highly recommend Brooklyn Nine-Nine! <3
Your little man is so sweet and funny. I hope all will turn out well for him! Sometimes the quiet ones can surprise you, because deep down, they're stronger than they seem.
ReplyDeleteSorry I'm so late in reading this, but what with my poll duty weekend and...well...the usual stuff, I've been bookmarking tons of posts I wanted to come back for later...
I know he's strong, but I don't want anyone to crush his spirit. He's so kind and thoughtful, an amazing brother and son, and I don't want anyone to make him question who he is. I know that's part of life, and it helps us grow as individuals, but five is so young...
DeleteNo worries! I'm happy you were able to stop by even though you've been so busy! :)