We’ve been home for a week and a half now. Though there have been some very dicey moments with regard to my daughter’s emotional health and its disruption to the family dynamic at times, I have to say that overall, this Love Thursday finds us with harmony in the home!

We’ve gone to homeschool park day, and the kids spent a great deal of time together with minimal “fussing” at each other. Ditto for a few other family outings - in fact, a few of these outings have been downright pleasant! The kids have exhibited “fancy manners” (our code phrase for remember to be polite), and have really been deferential to each other!

My oldest son has started up with a few of his homeschool activities already. Today I took him to his chess lesson sans his sibs. I thought it would be good for him to have some time alone to do the things he used to do, and it had a wonderful effect on him. He actually had a great time, but at the same time, missed his brother and sister. He couldn’t wait to get home and play with them again!

The days have settled into a fairly predictable routine. Just in time for things to change when we start homeschooling again! I do have a more relaxed homeschool schedule for the summer, however, with our travel to finalize the adoption, and now with the transition phase, I’ve just allowed the kids to play and bond. That will begin to change, slowly, over the next couple of weeks as the outside classes the children have begin to start up again. Then, in a couple of weeks, we will start our regular schedule here at home as well. I’m thankful the kids are bonding, so that when this change occurs, we won’t have as many “layers” to peel through.

It’s Love Thursday, and there’s harmony in the home!