Challenges and Blessings

There are challenges to home schooling. There are challenges to living in a small space. There are challenges to having more children than 'the norm.' All of these 'challenges' flood us daily with blessings beyond number. We learn to enjoy each other or we drive each other crazy, but we are together and I think we all prefer it that way. We all need some alone time, but because we all need it, we allow each other to have it. Otto and Solomon both have their desks in Olivia's room. There are many times that Solomon has to come out and sit at the dining table because he is making it difficult for Otto to do his work. I'm confident it won't be long before he learns to focus and work with more diligence. At least, I'll do my best to help him achieve that goal. Olivia is not able to play in her room while they are working (actually when only Otto is working she does sometimes play there quietly). The children are always free to work in another area provided they are not disturbing anyone and they are doing their work. The more discipline they show, the more freedom they are allowed.