New Approach

On the days my husband works, school looks a lot different. We do a more laid back approach. What else can you do, when you have an 18mos old wondering around? Today, Cl decided she didn't want to take a nap and screamed off and on and then just on "momma, momma, momma!" until I came & freed her from her bed. We had a little talk and I brought her down, fed her and then I put her back to bed hoping it would 'stick' this time. No such luck. I ended up having to go get her again and just toss in the towel. I can't stand to just leave her up there screaming simply because it is naptime. I have never been that strict. Now, as I write this she is playing so nicely with the crayons, folders and her baby.

Back to why the 'laid back' approach-
 In the past, as I tried to teach the children, I'd be doing so over loud singing, noisy toys, or happy yelling. Gone were the days of reading aloud to the kids in her presence. I was either holding her as she tried to wriggle free or pulling her away from things she was NOT suppose to touch, because of course those things are more fun than her toys. And she could only be still for so long, before I knew it she had all of them rolling in laughter because she was climbing all over them in search of perfect spot, which she never did find. If we were in the schoolroom, as one child got up from their desk, Cl would sneakily slide in.
 It was just a circus trying to do things that way. It is not that I haven't childproofed the area; I have, as best I can w/o keeping everything under lock and key. We are talking about a strong-willed sneaky toddler who will reach, climb and stop at nothing, not even the occasional smacking of the hand, to get what she wants.
 So, I changed school on those days to the laid back approach. In the mornings, before Cl's nap, I assign all the written work and anything that I can easily teach in about 5-15mins. That is usually her limit and about all the time I can dedicate at a single time. I bring my white board and stand to the back living room (her play area) and do any teaching I can from there. When she finally does go down for her nap, we tackle the spelling tests, dictation and one on one work I need to do with R, my first grader. We do our reading at night when my husband is home and fit anything else we need in here and there so we can stay on track.
I truly LOVE this age that Cl is at; it is the absolute cutest time! It does however pose many challenges to the home schooling mom, which I have not quite figured out how to conquer. For now, this is our solution and I feel good about it, unless anyone has any other suggestions?