I didn’t forget to post this earlier, I was just busy cleaning my house for a party. Now, why on earth did I clean my house prior to 25 to 30 children coming through it with handfuls of potato chips and cups of purple Kool-aid? I guess because I love that Dyson so much…

It’s the first of the month, and I love the opportunity that a new beginning affords. No big plans, just focus on one small thing for one month. This month, I’m going to concentrate on ending this school year and getting ready for next year. We’re plugging along nicely in our curriculum…well, I’m forcibly dragging my boys through these last few weeks. But we’re not behind and barring unforeseen emergencies, we should finish at the end of the month. I’ve promised them a trip to the National Gallery of Art on June 1st as our final reward, and I’ll even let them pick out something from the gift shop if they earn enough smiley faces in the next four weeks for cooperative behavior. It is so hard to get them to focus on math and handwriting when the warm, sunny outdoors beckons them (and me!).

Then in early June, I’m going to the IHM Conference where I can place a book order and get free shipping. I will finalize my shopping list this month, and be all ready to order next year’s supplies. I hope this will reduce the temptation to browse and splurge-purchase that awesome music program that I will never use or those really nice math manipulatives that will only be strewn about the schoolroom by the toddler on a daily basis.

Come July, we’re moving to Kansas. Strangers will come and box my things and put cryptic lables on them. There is no guarantee that all the school supplies will be packaged in their own boxes or have similar labels. I might open a box and think it’s only candlesticks, tablecloths and serveware…but buried underneath all that may be a math textbook and all the blank notebooks I stocked up on at some end of season sale. My husband begins classes on August 13th, and I plan to do the same with the kids. Not being able to locate school stuff is a sure-fire way to drive this homeschool momma bonkers. So when my order from the conference arrives, I will add to it the books I already own that I will need for Billy and Katie. These items will be carefully set aside with a clear label and will travel with us so I know exactly where everything I need is.

So, finish school, make a booklist, and set aside texts needed for next year. I’ll worry about moving next month.

Do you have a new month’s resolution? Last month, Cris resolved to have her baby, but it didn’t work out that way. I’ll bet she succeeds this month, though!