Gwen writes

homeschool mom of 4 trying to fit in some time for writing and reflection

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Category: Family Life

Switching Things Up: Finding time to write while homeschooling

Posted on August 25, 2020 by Gwen Shaneck

My go-to writing time has usually been during our rest-time. I may have older children, but I still have a thirty minute period where they go upstairs and ready or play quietly while I have a little bit of peace and quiet. Truthfully, if I only had older children I don’t think that a rest-time…

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Easing back into a morning routine: creating peace

Posted on August 18, 2020 by Gwen Shaneck

I am slowly crawling my way back to a routine. I am a person who loves routine and daily rhythms. I don’t do a schedule. I hate time blocks and everything like that. Life is too unpredictable, but I like my routines. This follows that follows that. I think that life is meant to be…

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Homeschooling from scratch

Posted on August 12, 2020August 11, 2020 by Gwen Shaneck

I’m going to be homeschooling my three youngest this coming year. Which, quite frankly, is a shock to me. When I hung up my homeschooling yoke four years ago I never thought I would take it up again. But, here we are. 2020, the year of never say never. I’m going to be homeschooling 1st…

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8 Great Ways to Exercise during Lockdown

Posted on July 16, 2020August 3, 2020 by Gwen Shaneck

Are you still in lockdown? We are. Although the world around us is opening up we are keeping to ourselves. But, that doesn’t mean that we are sitting inside and molding to the couch. Here are 8 ways we are getting our hearts pumping: Cosmic Kids Yoga: “Your place for yoga, stories, and fun!” Have…

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Shopping, an Odyssey*

Posted on May 21, 2020May 19, 2020 by Gwen Shaneck

We live out in the country a good 30 minutes from the nearest store. Over the years I have perfected a system where I basically take one day a week and throw it into the garbage of “errands.” I literally put in an 6-8 hr workday visiting all of the stores on my list and…

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Dinnertime Experimentation

Posted on May 20, 2020May 18, 2020 by Gwen Shaneck

I know from reading other blogs that I am not the only one who is suffering through this time feeling mopey and sad. I am finding it hard to keep myself motivated to nag the kids about their schoolwork, to clean the house, and even to make dinner. It just feels like every day is…

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Letting Go

Posted on March 27, 2020March 27, 2020 by Gwen Shaneck

I feel like I should be better at this quarantine thing. It’s not like I don’t have experience homeschooling or living like a hermit. I’ve done both, extensively. I guess it is the unexpected nature of this experience that is throwing me for a loop. The unexpected nature, and the end of the world aspect….

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Random Bits of thoughts

Posted on March 25, 2020March 25, 2020 by Gwen Shaneck

One of the first rules of homeschooling a group of children is that one of you will be having a bad day. Every day. Without fail. The second is that everyone will need to change their clothes COMPLETELY at least once, if not twice a day. I don’t understand how, with all of us hunkered…

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I guess this is life now

Posted on March 24, 2020March 24, 2020 by Gwen Shaneck

Yesterday the governor of Virginia closed the schools for the rest of the school year. Not only that, but they closed ALL businesses where you cannot maintain a distance of six feet – basically all personal care businesses – salons, dentists, chiropractors, etc. It seems utterly insane to do this without an economic plan in…

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Schools are Closed

Posted on March 23, 2020March 23, 2020 by Gwen Shaneck

Holy Mother. Our governor has just closed all schools for the rest of the school year. I’m not even sure how to process this. And, I’m not sure what this means for my high schooler. Or what this might mean for our potential move. I just can’t even…

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What is this place?

Welcome to my little place in the internet. I write about my family and what it’s like to suddenly find myself homeschooling my four children – including a high schooler and two middle schoolers during COVID-19. I also spend some time writing about writing and how I am trying to get more of it in my life.

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gwenshaneck

Do you follow @sharonsaysso if not, you should. Ju Do you follow @sharonsaysso if not, you should. Just facts. You decide - make up your own mind. Sharon isn’t trying to tell you how to think. She’s giving you the space to do it.
I took this picture to show off my late blooming C I took this picture to show off my late blooming Christmas cactus, but the design of the mineral deposits on the terra-cotta pot caught my eye. #naturalbeauty #beautyinthemundane #christmascactus #beautyintheeveryday #unexpectedbeauty #houseplants
This was near the summit on yesterday’s hike (a This was near the summit on yesterday’s hike (a part of the AT that leads to Apple Orchard Summit) and it was otherworldly. The trees (apple trees maybe?) were low and twisted and the trail was this grassy path #hikingtheat #hikingtheappalachiantrail #appalachiantrail #appleorchardmountain #hiking #familyhikes #hiking #hikersofinstagram #virginianature #virginiahiking
After taking down the tree I set up a little readi After taking down the tree I set up a little reading nook #read21in21 let’s do this! #readersofinstagram #read #readingchallenge #readingchallenge2021 #reading #readingtime
Apple Orchard Summit via the Appalachian Trail 2/5 Apple Orchard Summit via the Appalachian Trail 2/52 hikes for 2021 #appalachiantrail #hikingtheblueridge #blueridgemountains #blueridgehiking #virginia #virginiahiking #virginiahikes #nature #naturephotography #hiking #familyhike #hikeva
One foot in front of the other #slowandsteadyprogr One foot in front of the other #slowandsteadyprogress #knit #knittersofinstagram #homeschoollife #knitsocks #sockknitting #sockknittersofinstagram #sockknitter #knitstagram #instaknit
Nature always brings me peace with its amazing bea Nature always brings me peace with its amazing beauty even in times as dark and troubling as these #fungi #fungiphotography #fungilove #nature #naturephotography #fungusamongus #mycology #turkeytail #turkeytailmushrooms #mushrooms #peaceinnature
Just another beautiful loaf thanks to @elaine_food Just another beautiful loaf thanks to @elaine_foodbod and her master recipe (scaled to 400g). It is challenging to do sourdough in our chilly kitchen, but I think I may have figured it out. #sourdough #sourdoughbread #sourdoughbaking #sourdoughbatard #homebaker #baker #homemade #homebaked #bakersofinstagram #baking #bakingismylovelanguage
I love these little microsystems both moss and lic I love these little microsystems both moss and lichen existing together #lichen #moss #symbiosis #smallthings #tinythings #nature #naturephotography #naturelover #naturalbeauty #closeup #closeupphotography #macrophotography #amateurphotography #naturephotography #virginianature #winter
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  • Easing back into a morning routine: creating peace – Gwen writes on Homeschool Morning Meeting – What we’re doing
  • Gwen Shaneck on Sourdough Experiences
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  • On buyers…. – Gwen Shaneck on Day Six/Seven

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