Learning to be a SAHM {phfr}

I didn't plan on having kids until about 8 years ago when I found out I was pregnant with Shaver. Now I have three children and the cost of child care has convinced me that I am more needed in my home than in the workforce.
It's been a trying few months. Scout and I do not see eye-to-eye on anything! I was beginning to lose my sanity. I was angry, resentful, bored. And then it all seemed to come to me in the middle of the night the way the ghosts of Christmas visited Scrooge. I won't delve into all of it now, but one of the things I realized was how responsible I am for the children's education. There is no more day care or nanny--I am it. (You're all thinking Duh... How is this lady a mother? In my defense, going from working full time to stay at home mom and suddenly caring for 3 children every moment of the day was a bit overwhelming at first.) 
So here it is, my plan for educating my children and maintaining my sanity: weekly themes! 

{pretty}
Scout has the biggest, most beautiful eyes I've ever seen.

It's not overly difficult. I simply pick one theme to focus on for a week. I pick projects and activities and even some television shows to watch based on the theme. It keeps the kids and I both interested, promotes learning and growth, and exposes the children to new ideas and concepts.

Last week, our theme was monkeys.

{happy}
Look how happy this kid is! He is so happy to be spending fun time with me. And he is so proud of his idea to take my handprint and turn it into a gorilla.

Picking a theme can be easy or difficult. I try to follow my children's lead. I was inspired to run a monkey theme when Scout was going through her closet and pulled out her old monkey Halloween costume. Next week, we'll go with Valentine's. We're doing dinosaurs this week because I was playing around on Pinterest and found some fabulous ideas for activities for the kids.

{funny}
Scout tries to hold conversations with Pepper. These conversations tend to be one-sided.

Which leads to "How do you plan a weekly theme?" I keep it light. It sounds so overwhelming, and it really can be. The girls are young enough that it would not be appropriate to try to run entire days around a theme. Let's be real: Scout likes her dolly time and Pepper likes her eating time. I try to find one activity, project, or idea to try once a day. If the kids are into it, we might do more than one a day. If they aren't, the activity might last 5 minutes.

{real}
Each of the children has their own idea of how to paint a monkey using their handprint. 

I try to think of my own ideas. I knew we had to sing "5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed" during monkey week. And then I was thinking about how cold and miserable it has been. And I thought, let's find some toy monkeys and dress up in that Halloween costume and sing and act out the song.

I wander around Pinterest or Google for inspiration.
I look on our book shelf or through Netflix. Episodes and books of "Curious George" for monkey week? Yes, please!
If the kids have an idea, we go with it.

And now that this has been going on for a good month, the creative juices are flowing. Shaver is coming up with ideas. Scout celebrates the introduction of each new theme. The gears in my old think box are moving again!

{phfr}
I will miss those pretty little hands when they get older.
This picture reminds me of how happy we were together, painting these monkeys.
I think this is a funny little idea.
Fingerprints smudged in my house? How much more real would you like to get?

This whole theme idea might die off at the end of February. It might go strong until Scout enters 4K. I don't know. But what I can tell you is that picking a theme helps me focus. I have and see so many ideas that I feel overwhelmed. Picking a theme helps me to weed through the overwhelming-ness of it all. 

The kids enjoy the themes because there's always something different or new to try. It doesn't take over our lives; it enhances it. It ensures good quality time together.

All of these activities have value. They develop various motor, language, sensory, and cognitive skills. I'm learning that every moment has opportunities for learning and fun. 

I am learning to be a Stay At Home Mom. I am learning to be a better mom.