The Million Dollar Question

Well I didn’t get a chance to blog last night because I was still writing my Valentine’s Day Post over at Peace, Love, and Blessing! Yesterday was a work day for us, and although it started out well, it didn’t end as well as it did on Monday! The kids were just off the walls and there wasn’t much I could do about it. I felt like all I did was run interference all day long. I redirected more then they did anything and I was so exhausted by the end of an hour. Tadpole is just unable to be around anything that can be moved without throwing it or beating someone over the head with it. So, as much as I really really didn’t want to, I sat him in a booster seat for quite a bit of the work day. I gave him different trays and works. It sort of worked, but if really was a rough day! So I am asking all of you out there with older kids and younger kids, how do you do it? How do you keep everyone in the school room and keep them happy and working?  I just cant seem to find the elusive combination of interesting work, enough time, and keeping everyone working together. I literally just cant seem to do it. I know that Bug and Tadpole are only here two days a week, but there has to be a way to make everyone work together without hurting each other. When its just my girls everything is really fine, so I know that I they can work, but you add the other two and I just cant seem to keep them working together. So what do you do when there are younger kiddos disrupting all efforts toward good work? I guess its the million dollar question, but I am hoping that someone has an idea! 🙂 For those of you who stopped by for more then a shameless begging for help, here are few pictures of the work that we did get done!