can't shake off these negative feelings & feel low as a result

[antisellyoulight]

started homeschooling my two DSs a short while ago. While the actual academic side of things seems to be going well, I can't help but feel like I'm disadvantaging them in the other areas. We live in an area with v v v (cant stress this enough) poor sporting and social opportunities. My older DS loved PE at school (before we withdrew him) and my younger one (5) loved all the creative/arts/crafts activities. I really struggle with doing these kind of things. Nowadays, they spend most part of the day playing with another after the lessons are out of the way.

Somedays, I feel like we've made an awful mistake and that they'll grow up resenting us for not exposing them to better things. I am in theory totally convinced by the philosophy behind h/s, but sometimes.

Also, struggling with the responsibilty of it all, and feel v v overwhelmed.

If you've only recently started HE, it can take a while to find activities and get settled into what you want to do.

Could you include some art and craft stuff that they can do together, which would solve one of those areas. We used Story of the World for history and the Activity book that goes with it had all sorts of craft ideas to go along side. We made canopic jars, a Roman road, cuneiform tablets. Or what about Evan Moor history pockets - lots of cutting/sticking/colouring/making in those? Or just get some craft/construction kits.

Fortunately for me, my 3 aren't sporty but they do enjoy going to the park with DH and kicking a ball about/practising throwing and catching or having a go at cricket. Would some casual activities like that help?

I live in a great area for activities and socialising but I went gun ho into lots of activities and I now realise that we need to spend a lot of time at home just getting to know each other again. So enjoy this time and take it to look for activities and opportunities in the future.

thank you for your replies & positive suggestions. will try these

I lost confidence in myself as well but then we found lapbooks. We bought a couple from hands of a child at first. They come with full instructions and about 10-15 tasks/lessons. You make your lapbook and glue in the little books and flaps. Then fill em in as the task tells you. There's lots of writing, cutting and sticking, drawing and research involved. We're doing halloween at the mo and it has sections on history, bats and spiders life cycles and halloween crafts. Once yoy've bought a couple you'll just ebd up making your own. They're dead easy. And they take the panic out of what to teach. Been a life saver for us!

Whereabouts are you based? I am not into arty stuff but have made a home ed friend who is very artistic. She is going to get a home ed art group going. Once you make a few home ed friends then you can do group things which will enrich your boys lives in other ways.