Calling all parents with children recently adopted from Ukraine!
I've been weighing ideas for summer tutors. I've talked to other mom's, I've read others comments and I've come to the conclusion that I am not patient, disciplined or creative enough to teach Alex English all by myself. We work together for about an hour a day before he goes to school and although he tells me "Mom-Alex school cool!" I'm just running out of ideas....
So, I put an ad on Craig's list and have TEN qualified applicants willing to come tutor him during the summer, three days a week, 2 hours a day. Then I got a hair brain idea, and asked my favorite applicant what she would charge for a group lesson as opposed to one on one. She said $15 an hour. If I could find four more children-I think five would be maximum-we could each pay $3 per hour per child! Doesn't that sound lovely? The lessons would be held here at my house. If anyone is interested in joining us, please let me know. (I know it would be a quite a drive for some of you!) And I'm thinking mornings, but time and days of the week are up in the air. Let me know what would work for you.
Tonight was Devree & Rylee's Guyz and Dollz recital. They did great! Alex got bored towards the end and kept asking me how many more songs. Then in order to go out to ice cream he had to read the rest of his book on the way to the ice cream store. I know reading is really hard for him right now, he can sound out the words pretty well but he has no idea what they mean.
We had a pretty hot day today and Alex was so disgruntled about it. He kept saying "HOT!" like I didn't know it was hot or something. He had on shorts, I had the air on in the car but it was like he'd never been in 90 degree weather or something. I tried to explain that it's hot like this for four months out of the year, he'll need to get use to it but I don't think he understood.
Yesterday I went out to call him in from riding his bike and found him across the street playing soccer with some neighborhood children. I was so happy to see him in group play that I let him stay out until almost dark. Today when he plopped himself in front of the TV after school (well, he did go to Costco with me) I tried to explain that this was his time to play, that we were eating and going to a dance recital. He didn't go play with anyone but he did turn off the TV and go get his Digi.
Before dinner James, Austin & Alex all put on the boxing gloves and boxed. James and Austin get really rough but Alex held his own okay. I know they were much nicer to him then they are to each other but he's such a light weight compared to them. My only rules about boxing is don't cry to me when you get hurt and stay out of the kitchen! I have found that sometimes boys just need to hit each other and as long as they have gloves on, I don't mind if they do.
Last week I dressed up as an old lady to sing a silly song for my friends grandmothers 80th birthday party. I have a terrific old lady get up-complete with a polyester dress, gray hair and a osteoporosis hump. I looked a sight. Alex looked at me so puzzled. How in the world do you explain that? All I could say is I'll be back in a little bit. I'm sure he thinks I'm crazy!
Kambree tried out and made dance company again this year and is going to a member of the dance company presidency. She is also going to be a member of PLT (Peer Leadership Team).
Austin is struggling with his grades but besides that doing well. But really "besides that" only consists of hanging out with his friends and eating us out of house and home.
Devree received an award for having 3 consecutive 4.0 report cards and is busy working on getting her 4th 4.0. She also got her braces on last week and has a very sore mouth.
Rylee is doing well. She really had a tough time being fit for her appliance. She gets it on this Friday and I'm sure that will be a day of tears.
Alex's doctors office called with great news. All his test were negative. BUT they forgot to run the Hep B and want me to bring him back in for another blood draw. I told them no. They can wait until we go in in two months for his booster. I am not subjecting him to another poke right now. Not after the tears and drama of last time.
James is busy trying to get the sprinklers running, the air on, the sinks draining and all the other many things that need fixing and repairing done. He was complaining about how many things need fixing and I tried to make him feel better by telling him I wish people would stop getting hungry, clothes would stop needing laundering and the house would stop getting dirty!
Anway, here's to tutors, boxing, dance recitals & housework!
I've been weighing ideas for summer tutors. I've talked to other mom's, I've read others comments and I've come to the conclusion that I am not patient, disciplined or creative enough to teach Alex English all by myself. We work together for about an hour a day before he goes to school and although he tells me "Mom-Alex school cool!" I'm just running out of ideas....
So, I put an ad on Craig's list and have TEN qualified applicants willing to come tutor him during the summer, three days a week, 2 hours a day. Then I got a hair brain idea, and asked my favorite applicant what she would charge for a group lesson as opposed to one on one. She said $15 an hour. If I could find four more children-I think five would be maximum-we could each pay $3 per hour per child! Doesn't that sound lovely? The lessons would be held here at my house. If anyone is interested in joining us, please let me know. (I know it would be a quite a drive for some of you!) And I'm thinking mornings, but time and days of the week are up in the air. Let me know what would work for you.
Tonight was Devree & Rylee's Guyz and Dollz recital. They did great! Alex got bored towards the end and kept asking me how many more songs. Then in order to go out to ice cream he had to read the rest of his book on the way to the ice cream store. I know reading is really hard for him right now, he can sound out the words pretty well but he has no idea what they mean.
We had a pretty hot day today and Alex was so disgruntled about it. He kept saying "HOT!" like I didn't know it was hot or something. He had on shorts, I had the air on in the car but it was like he'd never been in 90 degree weather or something. I tried to explain that it's hot like this for four months out of the year, he'll need to get use to it but I don't think he understood.
Yesterday I went out to call him in from riding his bike and found him across the street playing soccer with some neighborhood children. I was so happy to see him in group play that I let him stay out until almost dark. Today when he plopped himself in front of the TV after school (well, he did go to Costco with me) I tried to explain that this was his time to play, that we were eating and going to a dance recital. He didn't go play with anyone but he did turn off the TV and go get his Digi.
Before dinner James, Austin & Alex all put on the boxing gloves and boxed. James and Austin get really rough but Alex held his own okay. I know they were much nicer to him then they are to each other but he's such a light weight compared to them. My only rules about boxing is don't cry to me when you get hurt and stay out of the kitchen! I have found that sometimes boys just need to hit each other and as long as they have gloves on, I don't mind if they do.
Last week I dressed up as an old lady to sing a silly song for my friends grandmothers 80th birthday party. I have a terrific old lady get up-complete with a polyester dress, gray hair and a osteoporosis hump. I looked a sight. Alex looked at me so puzzled. How in the world do you explain that? All I could say is I'll be back in a little bit. I'm sure he thinks I'm crazy!
Kambree tried out and made dance company again this year and is going to a member of the dance company presidency. She is also going to be a member of PLT (Peer Leadership Team).
Austin is struggling with his grades but besides that doing well. But really "besides that" only consists of hanging out with his friends and eating us out of house and home.
Devree received an award for having 3 consecutive 4.0 report cards and is busy working on getting her 4th 4.0. She also got her braces on last week and has a very sore mouth.
Rylee is doing well. She really had a tough time being fit for her appliance. She gets it on this Friday and I'm sure that will be a day of tears.
Alex's doctors office called with great news. All his test were negative. BUT they forgot to run the Hep B and want me to bring him back in for another blood draw. I told them no. They can wait until we go in in two months for his booster. I am not subjecting him to another poke right now. Not after the tears and drama of last time.
James is busy trying to get the sprinklers running, the air on, the sinks draining and all the other many things that need fixing and repairing done. He was complaining about how many things need fixing and I tried to make him feel better by telling him I wish people would stop getting hungry, clothes would stop needing laundering and the house would stop getting dirty!
Anway, here's to tutors, boxing, dance recitals & housework!
3 of my blog friends said something...:
He seems to have fun when he comes and jumps on the trampoline with my boys too.
Hi Wendy,
It will be a little while but I think we would want to put Katya in english lessons!
I didn't read this whole post, just the beginning. Try posting a message on the Kiev Mission board and see if there are any cute, starving return missionaries looking for some extra cash. They make awesome tutors! I read on one of your other posts that your son speaks Ukrainian. If this is the case, make sure you specify that you need someone who speaks Ukrainian, not just Russian. This is now we found our most adorable and beloved translator to help us out when we first came home. We all very quickly adopted him as part of our family. Sorry he's currently in Russia or I'd send him your way. Even though he only helped us with heavy hitting translation for a few weeks because my son also checked his Ukrainian at the Borispol airport with no intention of retrieving it, we still keep in close touch with him. And, he still occasionally helps out with minor translating when we need him to - not with our son, but for things like medical records and letters and he's even done a couple of phone calls for us. Even though my son had no desire to retain his Ukrainian, it still took about 6 months before he completely lost his Ukrainian and spoke enough English to get by.
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