tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35458199860347454252024-02-19T23:00:15.834-08:00Unschool's CoolMommyMayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14895017376704760161noreply@blogger.comBlogger244125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3545819986034745425.post-88537267258593753692024-01-09T17:10:00.000-08:002024-01-09T17:10:23.116-08:00Just Add...<p> Water. </p><p>That's parenting advice I once got. Apparently it's a thing circling around on the Internet. Water helps us process through our emotions. It helps to hydrate us. It brings joy to an otherwise monotonous day. </p><p>I would say this has rung true through the years-even before I was told this "parenting hack." Headache? Drink some water? Hungry? Drink some water first. Sad? Take a bath. Baby getting into everything? Fill a bin with water and give her some measuring cups and spoons. Not sure what to do with all the many kids that come to the house in the summer time? You can bet your bottom dollar it'll involve water. </p><p>But if there is one more thing I would say, it would be "Just add....a good read aloud." Need to learn a lesson in thankfulness? Read "A Long Walk to Water." Need to build your faith? Read "My Hands Came Away Red " Have the winter blues? Find several new books and put them on hold at the library. It'll give you something to look forward to in the cold months ahead. Just want to grow closer to a friend? Read "Navigating Early." </p><p>Yes. A good read aloud is never a waste of time. A story shared is an experience weathered together...We look forward to each and every one. </p><p><br /></p>MommyMayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14895017376704760161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3545819986034745425.post-51380198707266297512023-11-09T17:46:00.004-08:002023-11-09T17:46:58.336-08:00What a Blessing it has Been to Homeschool<p> We are inching in. </p><p>The time is almost here. </p><p>To graduate my first. </p><p>Okay, we have a few years left, but...</p><p>How? </p><p>I would say it seems like yesterday that she was just a baby, but it actually doesn't. </p><p>The time didn't drag by, but I didn't exactly blink either. </p><p>And I think part of that is because I soaked in as many minutes as humanly possible. </p><p>What a blessing it has been to homeschool. </p><p>Not all years are the same. </p><p>Some are better than others. </p><p>Some years I feel more encouraged. </p><p>Some years I feel more creative than others. </p><p>Some years I had more energy. </p><p>Some years I was just tired. </p><p>But what a blessing it has been to homeschool. </p><p>The way we have learned together. </p><p>The things we have learned together. <br /></p><p>The many, many opportunities to learn-</p><p>Whether is be academic or character building. </p><p>The communities we have had the honor of being part of. </p><p>The lasting friendships we have gleaned from each one. </p><p>The difference that each person has made in our lives. </p><p>The growth in each our lives. </p><p>What a blessing it has been to homeschool. </p><p>The smell of the fall weather renewing my spirit and filling my head with new ideas. </p><p>The winter, when we all begin to question what we are doing, but all the while curling up together in bed most mornings and reading books and cherishing each moment. </p><p>The spring, never coming too soon, which renews me again, giving me big ideas of field trips and nature walks. </p><p>And the Summer, always bringing a steady rotation of kids in and out of the house. </p><p>What a blessing it has been to homeschool. </p><p>I can't imagine where I would be if we hadn't. </p><p>I can't imagine where my girls would be. </p><p>Where our family would be. </p><p>The many twists and turns out lives have taken simply because we chose to homeschool. </p><p>Yet, though she is graduating in a few short years, we still have many years left with Little S. </p><p>It feels like we have been a part of this community for so many years, looking back and remembering the way things "used to be." Wearing my Veteran pin at the curriculum fair. Catching up with all the many women who have touched my life in the last 11 years. </p><p>But I guess, in a way, we are just getting started. With Little S only in 1st grade, we have many years to go. I wonder what we will learn as the years pass by. What new adventures we will take. Will it even end 2034? Will it end earlier? The thought of ever leaving this community makes me shutter. </p><p>I have so many aspirations outside of homeschooling, some of which I am able to do because we homeschool. But the thought of THIS ministry coming to an end....The thought of going back to homeschooling only one....feels bleak.</p><p>I am praying and praying for a grateful heart. </p><p>I am praying and praying to remember what a blessing it has been to homeschool. </p><p>What a blessing it has really been. </p>MommyMayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14895017376704760161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3545819986034745425.post-23212786085398472562023-07-28T20:44:00.000-07:002023-07-28T20:44:16.373-07:00I Have You, Sister and Parent Brag<p>I recently read a blog post on loneliness. </p><p>And I remember those days. </p><p>Sitting in my apartment, posting on forums, and crying. </p><p>Spending my days at home with two littles-one of whom is a sibling I watched. Wanting to pull my hair out because I didn't know why they always were arguing. </p><p>And then when my brother went to school, it was just us. And we were even lonelier. </p><p>It was a hard time. Big S would cry and want to know why her friends were in school and she wasn't. I promised her next year would be better. </p><p>Because next year we would be able to start joining homeschool groups. </p><p>And it was. </p><p>That is where it all started. </p><p>Suddenly, we were no longer alone. I remember the name and face of the first person to tell me hello. Ginger. I remember very well the name and face of the first woman in the community who was my friend. Suzette. She still is my friend, whom I am forever grateful for. She is more than a friend. She is my mentor, and I love her for all that she taught me about the Bible, about homeschooling, and about life. About how to be a friend and how to love like Christ. I remember the first woman who forever changed my life when she convinced me to organize the Christmas party-OUR FIRST YEAR! Nekey. She changed me in ways she will never know. She encouraged me and led me to find where my talents lie. I cannot tell you how many events I have planned since. I remember the first time we "did life" with together. I remember the first time I spoke to a Mom of 5 who-unknown to me at the time-would lead us to the church. Rhea. The church where we worship together and do life together. The church where we have grown as a family, learned how to be better parents, and grown in our knowledge of the Bible and apologetics. The church that has grown us in smaller ways too. The church that has taught us how to potluck, taught us how to love generously, and taught us how to work out our differences. </p><p>I praise God for the numerous sisters who have come along side me through this journey that we started 11 years ago. When I think about it, when I truly ponder that, it moves me to tears. My sisters have walked with me through struggles. I have walked with them too. I have prayed with them, and they have prayed with me. Through babies, through loss, through parenting, through health issues, through sickness, through life. Some sisters are for a season. Some are for a lifetime, but I know that each of these sisters are a gift from the Lord, leading me through life and closer to Him. </p><p>Funny side note. As a homeschooler, most people imagine I see my child 24/7. That is not the case. There are so many classes/activities, so many sleepovers, so many events. There are adults who just take my oldest out and pour into her. And I LOVE it! BUT, sometimes Mom guilt sneaks in. And I think, "Maybe I don't see them enough." </p><p>Then Big S said this, "I know you raised me. You are my Mom, and I am with you most of the time. But, in some ways, I also feel like I was raised by the homeschool community." And she is so right. I think back to all the women who poured into her over the years through all the things I listed, and my heart continues to burst with thankfulness. Not only was I blessed by these ladies, but daughters have been too. There are few things more beautiful that seeing that all come full circle. We are well into highschool. I know I will blink and she will be graduating. The closer she gets, the more I see the difference it has made in her life. And I know that the same thing is happening for Little S right now. Different ladies, different lessons, different skills, different season, but all of it the same beautiful result. </p><p>My sisters. They have me. </p><p>**********************************************************</p><p>On another note, I am SOOOO proud of both Big S and Little S! They are both moving on up in age and accomplishing SOOOO much. </p><p>I'll start with Little S because Big S always ends up going first. Here is the short of it. A few weeks ago she decided she wanted to read. Now she does. That was that. She decided that it was going to be beneficial to her if she wanted to do certain things, so she started putting in the effort. Before I knew it, she was reading words that she never learned the "rules" for. Just like Big S. It has been so neat to watch her grow into a big girl, to see her act more like a young lady. She is kind and sweet, but not afraid to stand up for herself in a polite way. She is a good friend, and she loves God and others with everything in her. She has INCREDIBLE questions. Her brain makes connections easily. She is very academic. AND she is also musical. She began playing piano this year and will start music classes in the fall. This has been a new season of life. We have spent the last 15 years in the "baby stage" because of how far apart they are, and I must say I see why people knock out the baby stage all at once now! Do I miss having a baby? Yes. Do I love this season? ABSOLUTELY! </p><p>Now on to Big S. Parenting a teen has been such a joy! I have loved seeing Big S explore her interests, form her own deeper friendships, and ask questions that she never considered before. She is applying all that she has learned over the years, and I have really enjoyed the late night talks and bonding (even though some of it has been through tears and hard lessons.) This weekend we will be staying up until midnight and waiting for the cast list release for her acting group. Why is that? Because she auditioned to be in an ensemble this year. She has spent months studying the show they will be doing, learning the plot line and historical background. She has learned how to sing operettic music. She has a beautiful voice. Her stage presence is ON POINT, and her positive attitude is contagious! Her audition went REALLY well, but it is HIGHLY competitive. She received great feedback, and those judges don't mince words, so I am confident it was sincere. However, again...only the best get it. And you have the be the whole package. So we sha'll see. </p><p>These years are so different, but no less joy filled than the baby and toddler years. In fact, I enjoy being able to soak it in without being exhausted. </p><p>In the next few weeks we will be starting our new schedule for school (since we never really stop). While Little S will have music class, we are swapping with another Mom who will take Big S to a nursing home to volunteer during craft time and BINGO. And Little S will have a friend to attend music with her and do nature walks, like a miniature co-op. It's gonna be a good one, this year. It always is. </p>MommyMayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14895017376704760161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3545819986034745425.post-9800901519698813182022-01-10T17:08:00.000-08:002022-01-10T17:08:26.552-08:00Homeschool January <p>It's January. </p><p>Oh, January. The time of year that most of us Mom's want to throw in the towel. No matter how long you have been homeschooling or how many kids you have, January seems to be the month of regret. Everybody is still tired from the holidays (or, in the case of the last 2 years, rising COVID cases). Co-ops are starting back. Activities have begun again. The weather is dreary. And Spring is OH SO far away. </p><p>But this year I don't feel that way. (Ask me again tomorrow. It may change.) I am just in awe that this is our 9th year of homeschooling! What?! In so many ways it seems longer than that. But in others it seems shorter. Am I veteran yet? Probably not since I have only been homeschooling one child the entire time. But I do like to think I have some helpful insight to some. </p><p>Nine years makes Big S 13. Highschool is right around the corner. In fact, I'm already scoping out curriculum. When we first started homeschooling we looked for bugs on the ground, took field trips to the fire station, and snuggled in bed reading books in the winter time. Okay, we still do that one. But our days look much different now. She used to spend all her days playing with her toys, which is tremendously healthy and natural. (It's what Little S does now.) Everybody told me to enjoy it, and I did-to the fullest. But I also looked forward to the day that all the unschoolers and homeschoolers talked about. The day where she found what she loved and she dug her heels in and learned everything she possibly could about it. And the days are here. She has always bounced from one interest to the next, but most of it she didn't research on her own and she surely didn't want to do anything that took real effort. </p><p>But now. Now it's so different. I recently learned that my daughter could sing. Like, sing. And all the musical skill she has been learning the last two years have finally come together. Not only can she play piano fluently and compose her own music, she can play ukelele. And she is learning violin. She can keep a great beat. She can identify pitches by ear. And did I mention she can sing? She is learning to animate with a graphic tablet, use alcohol markers, and draw realistic human faces. </p><p>She is so incredibly talented and her demeanor lightens the mood in every room. Her stage presence is spot on, and she just emits this glow about her. She is my caring creative girl who is hard on herself and equally hard on others (Maybe not a great thing, but none of us are perfect.) </p><p>Looking into the future, she is interested in Mission work. She is actively learning Spanish so she can travel to Mexico. (Today she wrote out an entire conversations between two family members just to practice. Who says they won't assign themselves their own work?) And as much as she fought it in the beginning, she is loving worldview too! And she is learning the Bible in depth, completing study after study to understand the history and meaning behind each book. Seeing the love of Jesus in her makes me wish so much I had that same passion she does when I was her age. She has had so many opportunities and influences that I did not. Honestly, I sometimes fear that the real world world be harsh on her and will shake her faith. And then I remember that's why we are equipping her. We WANT her faith to be shaken. We just don't want her to give in to the world. We want it to strengthen her. </p><p>Hour after hour. Day after day I have wondered if we are doing enough. Will she know enough? Is she learning for the long-run and and not just for memorization? Did we take advantage of the time she has with us? And in light of the recent months, I would say Yes. Absolutely Yes. Not too much and not too little. Her love of learning has become evident when she says things like, "And next I'll learn sign language, and next...." or "I can't wait to start Worldview Science." Her love for God becomes evident when she says things like, "I think everybody should know Jesus." And those were the goals. Love God and love learning. The rest will come. </p><p>Big kids are great. I have so enjoyed learning more about who she is over the last few years. But I can't forget my little. I only hope that we see the same fruits of our efforts with her. We have worked hard over the years to encourage certain behaviors (that didn't require encouraging with Big S). But character building is part of homeschooling and parenting in general. She is budding into this brilliant little girl who makes connections like crazy. She too can identify different worldviews! (Just from listening to conversations between us and between friends.) She says things like, "They think they are perfect in that movie. Don't they realize that Jesus is the only one who is perfect? Or do they not believe the Bible?" She can't put names on the worldviews yet, but she pinpoints the differences like a pro. She too has interests. Recently it is painting. She is such a perfectionist that she will paint the same picture over and over until she gets it just the way she wants it. She also loves Nature Studies we do. (Something Sam was never interested in even though she loved nature itself.) She also spends a lot of time at her nature table playing with her kinetic sand and wooden people. And she has so many sweet friendships friendships she is learning to navigate. She is my sweet and sour drama queen with a HUGE heart. She is also a social butterfly and I love her so much!!</p><p>The dynamic between the two is more than my heart can handle. It's bursting with love. When I hear my girls playing ukelele and signing songs in the bedroom my heart fills to the top with joy that the two of them have each other. When they spend hours building a Casita for their toys, I melt. When Big S sits with Little S and teaches her to draw her first realistic face, I can't believe that I have such wonderful kids. </p><p>I mourned for 4 years that I was struggling to have another child, but it was so worth the wait. </p><p>Homeschooling is mentally and emotionally hard some days, but the payoff is tremendously large. Sometimes I wish I could go to work so we could have more money or I could do something that makes an impact on more people. But it's days like to today, a January day at that, that I know the impact on the world will be large whether I go to work or stay home with these sweet girls. And I choose these girls. </p><p><br /></p>MommyMayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14895017376704760161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3545819986034745425.post-9130939515856248882020-08-13T18:05:00.000-07:002020-08-13T18:05:02.328-07:002020 Year<p> It all blurs together really. </p><p>Time. </p><p>Especially this year in the midst of the COVID pandemic. </p><p>And this year I am not ready for change.</p><p>I'm scared actually. </p><p>That if Fall comes, other things will change. </p><p>And to be honest, I'm taking reality in doses right now. </p><p>It has been laid on my heart that the years blissful ignorance or over and my eyes have been opened to the evils of the world. </p><p>I'm not talking conspiracies. In fact, I have stayed away from the news. </p><p>I'm talking about the true, heart wrenching realization that there is more going on in the world than we have going on inside these 4 walls. </p><p>And something must be done. </p><p>So it is only a matter of time before we have to go from living our typical American lives to putting ourselves in uncomfortable places and doing the work we are called to do. </p><p>Right now is a time of growth though. So we have all resolved to spend this next season of life educating ourselves. All of us. On God. On His will for our lives. On the things that we were just allowing to happen around us without so much as a tiny bit of thought. </p><p>As we move forward with that, we still strive to keep a love of learning alive in Big S. So although we are unschooling still-in that she has some control over her education-she has picked some things she wants to formally learn (like writing and logic) and we will be going forward with that. </p><p>I have to say that I am quite excited about her new books because they will require her to stretch her mind beyond what she knows and beyond what I could teach her myself. Her math is a Christian Worldview curriculum that explains God's consistencies in math. It starts with elementary concepts and moves all the way through Algebra explaining how you can literally see God work through all of it! Writing was good. Nothing spectacular but will give her a good base for public speaking next year which she wants to do to help with acting. And her logic book will be something we do together as a family. It teaches how to identify false logic such as red herrings and propaganda. I think now more than ever it is important for her to learn that. Seeing all the chaos in the country when all of this happened, I feel like learning to identify false logic will assist her in living without fear and not allowing Satan to get a stronghold on her as she grows older. </p><p>She will still have Bible, History, reading, and piano (all her choice as well)-but those are nothing new. Her and I are working through the Little House series and she has recently become engrossed in "Bud, Not Buddy." </p><p>Watching her learn piano over the last year had been heartwarming. Especially when I found out that she would be assisting in church worship soon. I just pray that these are the things that will stay with her forever. That she will realize the significance behind it. </p><p>I will also be doing some of my own learning. I have courses on government, psychology, vegetable gardening, and church history. </p><p>Jessie will be focusing on getting an IT Cert. For work and putting a lot of energy in ministry as he enters his first year as youth pastor. </p><p>We have a lot to look forward to in the months to come as we learn how to live this life during war-times. </p><p>I can't sit idol. God did not call me to be idol and all the cleaning I have done in the last 9 months has done the kingdom no good. </p><p>So here goes nothing....</p>MommyMayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14895017376704760161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3545819986034745425.post-84853273996941416012020-03-02T06:39:00.002-08:002020-03-02T06:39:56.169-08:00It Is Finished My heart is bursting with joy.<br />
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It is heavy with happiness for my Husband and for our family.<br />
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I have too many blessings to count.<br />
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But most recently it is because my Husband just graduated college and started a new job on the same day.<br />
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That's right. We got married in high school, almost 11 years ago, and 8 of those years one of us has been in school full time. Now it is finally over.<br />
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I may go to college one day, because I would love counsel when my children leave the house. And he has talked about seminary. (Lord, help us if he goes!) But the most important thing is that we no longer have to deal with school as an "only means to move forward."<br />
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He worked at Comcast almost all of his adult working life, and we knew that nothing would get him out of the field, out of manual labor, and pay as well as Comcast without a degree. So he went to school.<br />
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Every Sunday was devoted to schoolwork-and many evenings after work were spent trying to get motivated to complete assignments. I will never understand the amount of energy and drive it took him just complete each assignment after working 40-55 hours a week (sometimes more if he was traveling).<br />
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Many weeks he drug his feet and during the last year, he caught Senioritis and began skipping assignments here and there, but he did it.<br />
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And I am SO proud of him.<br />
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He landed a job nearby our house working IT with a promise that if he meets their expectations that they will move him into the brand new cyber security division when they get it up and running later in the year.<br />
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It is a stable company that has been around years and years. Amazing benefits. Pay is comparable to what he was making minus the overtime. And they are family and community oriented. (Volunteer projects, we can go eat lunch with him at the office, he can keep the girls for up to 2 hours if I need to go somewhere without them, etc.).<br />
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My heart is full. More time with my Husband AND he will finally be doing something that he is happy doing. No more dragging the ground exhausted because he just worked 10 hours out in the heat that day. No more soaking wet freezing cold boots dragging the floor when he gets home, just wanting to get under the covers because it's cold.<br />
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There will be challenges. And hard days. Who knows, probably some office politics. But he is moving forward and he is nervous-but happy to be out of his office on wheels.<br />
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It's funny. We always thought, "You won't know what to do with all your free time once you finish school."<br />
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It is already filling up fast. With good things of course, but I am having to remind him of balance.<br />
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One thing I never want to forget is that we are a family and family time is a priority. Our weeks together are numbered and they go by too fast. Mondays used to be reserved as a family day for us, which was much easier to do than reserving a Saturday will be because everybody wants to hang out and do things on the weekends. I'm a little worried, but balance will just need to be a priority.<br />
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I can see God's hand in this. The story being woven is beautiful, and I am praying that this will lead into a place where we can build our relationship with each other and with God and use it for His purpose.<br />
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That is the biggest reason why my heart is full.MommyMayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14895017376704760161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3545819986034745425.post-21983691309851189712019-08-16T12:46:00.001-07:002019-08-16T12:46:24.231-07:00Middle School and Toddler Blues Babbling Monday was the day-like so many other years-that most people posted "First Day of School" photos on their social media. (Even some of my homeschool friends did.)<br />
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It always makes me think of what it would be like to do cutesy stuff like that with Big S if she were in school. But it also makes me thankful to have her home because we always have fun things planned for the year.<br />
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This year is a tiny bit different, however. It is slow-going. Acting class was cancelled, so Big S only has scouts and youth group-neither of which is during the day. And one is only twice a month. I thought it would be a great opportunity to do the spur of the moment things we used to do, like trips to the park, volunteering all day at the library, and seeing friends with no notice.<br />
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But I am struggling with what I guess would be called the Toddler Blues. I just don't want to "deal with it." I'm tired, and I have no idea why. My brain is always exhausted. Always. I don't feel like loading up 50 bzillion snacks and chasing her around the library asking her to be quieter. I think once it cools down, park visits will be nice. And I am always up for a good play date. But I don't have the same enthusiasm I have had in the past. I don't feel like what I do....means enough. Now, I know that's not true. But I can't help but feel that way about what I do day in and day out, correcting math work, disciplining a toddler, and washing dishes... Big S is in middle school now. She researches her own stuff that she wants to learn. She does her math on her own. And Little S just wants to play. She doesn't want to sit for long periods of time sorting counting bears or playing Tanagrams like Big S did. I try to play and teach them both as much as I can, but overall, I feel useless. Like my job is just to drive them around where they need to go and sit there while they do what they need to do. I try to stay active by volunteering at scouts and participating in the adult study on 'youth nights,' but the library or anything else that doesn't request outside volunteers, I sit, and I wait.<br />
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I try to stay available while Big S does her math. It appears to be more like lingering though The laundry is minimal because we have a pair of "home clothes," not night clothes that we wear all week (unless they get dirty), and we wear the same outfit at least twice before washing. The cleaning is minimal because we are minimalists. And I am glad to not spend my life cleaning, because as much as I enjoy it, I know it is not a valuable way to spend my time if I don't have to. But where is the balance? Maybe I am just rambling, but I feel useless. I feel like I am either too busy to give my girls the attention they need or I am not busy enough.<br />
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It is a new day today. I am feeling a tad more positive. Although, the toddler and I are dealing with allergies, so it was a slow day again. With that said, I have resolved to enjoy where we are. I will find things to fill the time, like learning about chickens or just cuddling our toddler. It is the calm before the storm. Only this time, we have warning. The last time we had calm like this, my sisters moved in. We plan to start pursuing adoption again next year, which we know is a big deal with lots to do, so I will take this time to show my girls my love for them, to force myself to go out and do things, even if it means I need to plan each trip that we take to the playground.<br />
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I am going back to my planning book. Each day, I have Sam's assignment written down-which is not many. I have a simple, minimal prep work activity (like today I took all her magnetic letters and spread them on the floor. I gave her a basket and asked her to "Find the B. What does B say?" Easy peasy. She got attention. I didn't have to play dolls. We all win. And then I have some random trip days written down for nature walks and bike rides. I am just in a season where I need to expect those things ahead of time. Otherwise, I will never do them. And that's okay. I just have to make sure I plan.<br />
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So middle school is not looking like what I imagined for Big S, lots of activities and independence, business and fulfillment. But that's okay. Bedore I know it, we will be there again and I will be asking myself "What happened? Where did time go?"<br />
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What we do have planned is:<br />
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Acting Camp-Since acting class was cancelled, Big S will be participating in Acting Camp where many of her middle school friends already participate.<br />
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Learning Piano (Hopefully)-She says she wants to learn, and we have told her if she continues to ahow enthusiasm for it and learn thr basics of reading music for it by using outside resources, we will pay for lessons with a friend of ours and evebtuslly buy her a keyboard. It just makes sense. I would love for hwr to leave the house knowing how to play an instrument. Plus, it goes along with her passion for performing arts.<br />
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Spanish-Now that Big S has gotten to an average typing speed for her grade and learned all her cursive, I have told her she can move on to learning Spanish, so it won't be long before she starts Rosetta Stone/Homeschool Edition. Woo Hoo!<br />
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Chores-Here is something she has never had before. She has always helped around the houde with stuff like carrying in groceries, taking out the trash, assisting with the baby, etc. But she has never had to empty the dishwasher, wash dishes, fold laundry, etc. Middle achool is a good time to introduce those necessary skills. Poor girl!MommyMayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14895017376704760161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3545819986034745425.post-38569071437392142162019-01-16T16:37:00.002-08:002019-01-16T16:37:58.958-08:00ReconnectedLast Tuesday was amazing to say the least. Over the last year, Samantha and my relationship has been....on hold, I guess you could say. I found myself becoming increasingly irritable with Big S even after the girls left. I am really not sure why. I think I just needed rest. We took the rest of December off. And when I say "off," I mean we took a vacation. We celebrated holidays. We had no activities. We slept in even on the weekdays. And we spent a lot of time sitting around reading.<br />
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Our homeschooling also took a break over the last year. And I know, when you homeschool, you never stop learning, because life is learning, but our style of homeschooling took a back seat. We did stuff and learned. But the biggest element in our unschooling way of life-spontaneous trips-disappeared almost completely. It was hard to get up and go somewhere last minute so she could photograph something when we had to be home by 2:30. And to be honest, it was hard for me to get he motivation as well.<br />
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But this semester we are back on the horse. Tuesdays are going to be our craziest day. I would liken it to other homeschoolers' co-op day. I spend the morning cleaning the house and putting dinner in the crockpot. Then we eat lunch and head off to acting. It is 25 miles from the house. It is also a 4 hour class, so I found some stores and parks in the area that Little S and I can go to while she is in class. Then we head straight to Heritage Girls, 54 miles in the other direction, get home around 10 and crash.<br />
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I stayed for the first half of class because I had never met the teacher, and she was nervous, so she asked me to stay. They had so much fun. Generally, they will rehearse the first 2 hours of class. But this was their first class, so she had them "audition in groups" by doing improv together. She numbered their groups and gave them a topic to act out. They only had a few minutes to plan. She explained that chairs often serve as props when rehearsing and of course taught them the few "rules" of improv, like never telling your partners no. Then she switched around the groups and they got a new topic to act out. She told them they did not have to have a speaking part during improv if they didn't want, and I thought Sam would run with that because she was so nervous. But she didn't! She spoke and she was funny. And she worked together with her groups. She bit her nails the entire time, but hey, it's a start. Her teacher asked who did not want a part (like who only wanted to work backstage), and what they wanted to do. She took every suggestion and said, "Yes!" She told them this was their play, and they would get to design the set and costumes, everything. She gave them the option to learn special effects makeup, because someone asked. She made everything a learning opportunity. I was thoroughly impressed. During the lesson, which is an hour and a half, then snack, social time and games for the last half hour, Sara started to get fussy. It was naptime, so I asked Sam if I could leave. She said yes, since she had 3 friends there-one was a new friend-she thought she would be okay.<br />
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When I came back, she was so excited to have something to tell me that I did not know. We talked all the way to Heritage Girls, and all the way back. We both agreed we felt reconnected. We didn't just talk about acting. Although hat was the bulk of it. We talked about her future, her relationship with God, her feelings toward the situation with the girls...It was nice.<br />
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We went home and immediately crashed. The next day Sam went to a friend's house, and it was all about Sara. Just her and me. Like when Big S was an only child. She had a PAT meeting at the house. We read some books together. We played outside for a long time. We explored, looked in the grass, found rocks, chased leaves, rode bikes. She took a nap. The house was quiet. I got some housework done and calls made. We went to the library where she sat on the floor and pretended to read...<br />
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I have missed the slow days with both my girls. From now on, Wednesdays will be Slow Days for Sara, because Tuesdays are rough on her. We always go to storytime in the morning and play outside. But we usually end up doing errands the rest of the afternoon. From now on, I will do those on my own on Saturday night. Instead, we are going to go home and start adding in paints or something specifically for her. Sam will still have her independent work, but that day will be reserved for Sara, and I won't be helping Sam with any major projects until Thursday.<br />
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These are the kinds of days that remind me why we homeschool.MommyMayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14895017376704760161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3545819986034745425.post-81301347165934358622018-11-23T16:38:00.000-08:002018-11-23T16:41:00.799-08:00My Lord, My LordIt is Thanksgiving, and my have things changed over the last year.<br />
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Every Thanksgiving my Dad, who drives a truck, would threaten to quit his job if they would not let him off to be here. Thanksgiving was his religious holiday. He could not wait to celebrate at his place-when he got one. He went all out. One year he bought 200 feet of name brand alluminum foil. 5 pounds of briskett. Crab legs. Lobster. Giant boxes of Christmas chocolates. You name it. He came in and spoiled the grand children. Well, grandchild. Sara was too young the last 2 years and didn't want anything to do with anybody but me. We went Black friday shopping and talked and talked for hours. He was truly happy that day, but the rest of the year was unfulfilling for him.<br />
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Fast forward a few months. My Husband and I were given custody of two sweet, innocent girls, who albiet have some things they are struggling through, bring lots of light to the entire family's life. They are my sisters. My Dad's kids. (And of course the daughters of his ex wife.) We had met them once.<br />
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I tried not to post on here much about the joys struggles to respect their privacy as well as the privacy of their parents. Although, I needed to. I had a lot of anger and frustration as well as celebratory times and messages of hope. But while we were part of the case, it didn't feel right. I am still not taking sides on what happened or who should have them. But I will say this. They are no longer in our custody. They live with their Dad. And this is their first and last Thanksgiving in town. They are moving to Iowa. And I am sad. I thought I would be happy that we can all move on. But a big part of me isn't.<br />
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As for Thanksgiving, this year is different. My Dad did come in from driving his truck, but it was his last day. He is giving up his CDL. He has to be home for the kids. He isn't nagging me about not buying paper towels or having more kitchen gadgets, because he knows the struggles of saving money and not having enough room in the drawers. We aren't Black Friday shopping either. And there will not be much briskett and no Christmas chocolates. But that is okay, because this year there are 2 more people to love, a lot more happiness in his heart, and we all just grew and learned from the last 10 months.<br />
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I learned that, just like when Sara was born, I have an amazing support group of loving family members and friends. If it were not for my Husband supporting me in opening the house up to these two beautiful children, we would have never been able to witness the miracles we have or build a bond with my sisters. I won't say he didn't have his fair share of struggles. I won't say he didn't get angry when I felt lied to or betrayed. Heck, I won't even say I handled it right. Although, he never once took it out on them. I won't say that he spent every waking moment pouring into them his spiritual knowledge or wisdom. I won't even say that he was always the greatest influence. But I will say this. He allowed me to do those things. He supported me when I wanted to take them places or teach them things, just like he does with our girls. He sat at the dinner table each night, despite his exhaustion, because I was completely convicted of the fact that these girls needed to see a regular family dinner. They needed to see a family unit gathering at the end of the day and taking turns talking about events and other important topics. Heck, he even bought, transported, and constructed the new table I picked out to fit the 6 of us. At one point, we were this close to buying a mini van so we could all fit in the same car....until I backed out. He spent hours listening to me vent. He kept our girls when I needed to cry. And he *attempted* to encourage me when I felt the most empty, which was many times. That man is my rock. Ten years of marriage, and I love him increasingly more with every trial that we face, because we face it together and we become stronger for it.<br />
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I had a Mom who heard it all. The good and the bad, but most often the bad. And while she did not exactly provide the Biblical advice I needed, I was able to lay it all before her while she attempted to put together the broken pieces. As my mother, all she wanted to do was fix it for me.<br />
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I had friends who rejoiced with me when my sister was saved. I had friends who played a huge part in that too. I had friends who guided me to scripture that could teach these sweet girls about struggles and the redemption of the Lord. I had friends who offered to keep them so I could just breathe. (Going from 1 kid to 4 in a year was a lot. But to be honest, it was the situation itself that was a source of stress. Dealing with their parents. Trying to appease their sibling's need to see them, which I totally understand. DFCS'S unrealistic expectations that I should put them above my own 2 children at all times. Dealing with 2 in school and 2 at home while my Husband can't help because he is dealing with work and school full time, traveling for work constantly, while also finishing the basement. Needing to be able to leave them with him sometimes, but not being able to, because he is a male, and we need to cover our own butts.) I had friends that brought meals in the beginning when we were trying to figure out our new life. Friends<br />
who gave us giftcards for food when we weren't receiving help. Friends that texted just to check in. Friends who I texted after court cases to tell them it was a long day, and their response...."Have you eaten? Let me bring you some Wendy's at our meeting tonight." Friends that spoke to my sisters with such sweetness and empathy when they saw them. We were surrounded by positive, life giving words and love abounding.<br />
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And most importantly, I had a God who was with me at all times. I had a God that I wanted to draw nearer to during this time of chaos inside the walls of our home. When I wanted to fall to my knees when one child was slamming her body against the wall fighting me and begging me let her hair stay in knots. And another was screaming and crying, throwing a toddler tantrum at my feet. And another one was hurting inside because this was her new normal and she felt like she never had me because when they were at school, I was always making calls to counselors and attorneys and CASAs. And when I wasn't, I was tired and broken. And, as for the 4th child, I had no idea what was going on in her brain, because she had barely spoken to me since the day she got here....And I just called, "My Lord, My Lord!" And he gave me the peace and calm I needed during the storms. And he gave me the energy I needed on Saturday nights for games, a read aloud, and a devotion in the tent. I knew that he was faithful, and we would make it through.<br />
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And I do not quite know if I could have made it without God and all those he planted in our lives. But we did it. And they made it to the light at the other side od the tunnel. Now they will have a wonderful, powerful testimony to give as they grow older. And they will have the love and understanding they need to have for other children in the system. And I do thank God for all the growth we have all experienced daily. And for the opportunity we had to do what he has called me to do since middle school.<br />
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And now we will move on with our lives. And whatever happens next, will happen. And we will get through it too, the same way we did this time.<br />
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Side Note: We will be going out of town to visit the Biltmore in the next few weeks. I cannot wait! It will be a breath of fresh air! A break from reality. We have hardly anything planned, aside from the Biltmore itself. I chose a luxury hotel at a great deal! A place where we can just be-together. I can't wait!MommyMayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14895017376704760161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3545819986034745425.post-73218953655585638582018-09-20T06:17:00.002-07:002018-09-20T06:17:23.696-07:00Relaxed School's Cool I lost my passion.<br />
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My zeal for unschooling.<br />
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It's hard.<br />
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Seriously.<br />
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You don't have anybody to tell you what to teach and how to teach it. You constantly deal with outside pressures. And you have to always be available and ready to have adventures or be a mentor at the drop of a hat. It's the ideal education, in my opinion, to follow your interests and spend time diving into them. That is what we do as adults. But it. is. hard.<br />
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So when Sara was born, I lost that drive. She kept me drained of every bit of energy I had before. Then the girls moved in right as Sara was becoming a little easier. And then I was focused on getting them to and from school and somehow getting Sara a nap in before we left to pick them up. This meant life as we knew it was on pause. Our little outings or 6 hour days spent reading seemed impossible. I was spent-from driving everywhere, from listening to crying all day from a tired baby, from trying to meet everyone's emotional needs-which were at an all time high in this house. And then all the other usual stuff. Double the laundry. Double the cooking. Don't get me wrong. I love them all. They are ALL worth every minute. I tried to stay positive a majority of the time. We did devotionals together, backyard camped on the weekends, played games, had movie nights. They helped me bake and cook. In the summer we took weekly trips somewhere fun. And that's what took all my energy. The moment my head hit the pillow, I was done. (My poor Husband.) The plan was to get them to bed and spend time with him, but I was out by 9:30. Never failed.<br />
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This "Fall," after some changes and much prayer about anxieties, I am feeling renewed. Little S is almost 2 years old. She can handle a few hours out of the house without a complete meltdown, especially if she is in nature. That has been our main focus this year-getting connected with nature. Three days a week we go on a hike or nature walk and spend at least 6 hours outside. We dont do anything structured. We explore. Or the girls play. I watch. We breath in fresh air. We touch soil with our hands. We garden. We jump on the trampoline. Collect nature. We listen to sounds. And Big S now takes photographs. The other 4 days during the week, we sound 3 hours or so outside, but don't usually go on a nature walk or anything particularly special. We are just being-outside. In the hammocks or riding bikes or drawing with chalk. Nature is an important aspect when connecting with God. And as a bonus, I'd love for my children to know the life cycles of lots of things-not just butterflies. I'd love for my girls to show their kids how to rub plantain on a bug bite or show them the dry seasons vs. wet seasons when looking at the rings on a tree. Little S loves it so much, and Big S recently found a more grown up way to get into nature. (More grown up way than picking up sticks and rocks and collecting them in a basket.) She loves nature's beauty. She loves the way that-when we sit in the driveway and play games on a blanket-the sun peaks around the house and shines brightly on the trees. She loves the butterflies when they land on flowers. She loves the way that the clouds always look different. She loves to draw, but there is something about a photograph that really does it for her. She captures the perfection at its peak. And she can draw it later. It was so satisfying last weekend when we took an impromptu trip to the store to find a camera she liked. She found a used one-with a warranty. She went a little older (a 2009) but got a great deal for a beginner. There, in the store, I helped her research her camera choices-and she finally settled on a Canon PowerShot. They had just gotten it in and it hadn't even been put out on display yet. She was over the moon. She spent her hard earned money from her business on it, and she said it wwas worth every penny. She loves that little camera. She takes it with us on nature outings. She takes photos of her baked goods for her business-which is still going strong after a year. She makes anywhere from $30- $50 a month. Not bad considering we only order from her during the slow months-which are usually the months with no holidays or fresh fruits in season. Anyway, back to the camera, in the weeks coming, we are going to take outings to places where she can photograph Chattanooga from an overlook to model her train town after. Big S has a lot going on, and I'm so happy to be back in the game with her, looking up videos and taking both the girls fun places. I've missed this kind of education.<br />
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And while I'm thinking we arent exactly unschoolers, because we do math, we are definitely relaxed schoolers. If she doesn't like that math, we will look into a new one. If she doesn't want to do her Discover 4 Yourself Bible, we will figure out another way to learn it. We are open to different possibilities and flexible in schedule, and will always be that way to give both girls time for adventure and discovery. But I also realize, math is a must in this world, and the Bible is essential to knowing God.<br />
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Side Notes: We just finished an excellent read aloud-the 3rd book in the Narnia Series, "The Horse and His Boy." Next, Prince Caspian!<br />
And lastly, serving is something I want to model to my girls and teach them to do as well. I try to show them how to serve even in the smallest situations, like cleaning up when a friend leaves or bringing a plate to someone else. But I also want them know how to serve in larger capacities. Big S tried to advertise for free "Mothers Helper" services for foster Moms. She has developed a passion for children in general, but also children in foster care specifically. So far, lots have said they are interested, but nobody has nailed down dates with us. With everything going on, we are not ready to commit to volunteering at an entity weekly, so Big S is serving at the library when I take Little S to storytime-her idea. She cuts things out. She colors decorations. She cleans. She organizes books. Soon she will read aloud to the kids there. (In the past, she also taught a kitchen science class.) But the best part was hearing her say to me last week, "Mrs. Shannon already lets me volunteer, and I am so thankful for that, so I won't ask her for a different pair of scissors." The point was not that she would rather suffer than ask for scissors. In fact, I told her it would be fine to ask for bigger ones. The point is that she felt like it was a blessing to be serving, and that was enough to make my Mom heart sing with joy!<br />
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I love relaxed schooling. I love that I can tell her to forget her math that day if she wants to spend time looking up videos on photography. And if we don't read our read aloud for 3 days, no big deal. The only thing that matters in relaxed schooling-as with unschooling-is making sure we prioritize our time. We aren't always on the go. There is down time for play and discovery. We aren't going to every event available to homeschoolers just because it is free, but only if there is a genuine interest. As long as we are evaluating our actions, everything else will fall into place.MommyMayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14895017376704760161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3545819986034745425.post-53361252218390773352018-09-07T06:04:00.000-07:002018-09-07T06:04:00.593-07:00Things Change It is the beginning of the schoolyear, and I am meeting so many new homeschool Moms. At this point-6 years-I'm considered a veteran Mom. I'm beginning to realize a majority of those major beginning homeschooling decisions are behind me. Do we homeschool? What does that look like? What curriculum do we use? What major activities do we attend every year? (Curriculum Fair, Homeschool Day at McKay....) Now I'm talking relaxed curriculums to overwhelmed Moms, and giving advice on how to keep going when a new baby comes in the mix. (You don't! Ha Ha Ha!) There are a few women that I talked to around our 3rd year of homeschooling who were on the fence about actually going forward with not enrolling in Kindergarten. Since then, they have found their own little niches and become somewhat seasoned themselves. At the very least, they are not insecure about what they are doing anymore. I have seen babies enter Kindergarten, and kids that were my daughter's age when we started get their learners permit. I have even seen kids that were in middle school graduate. Every year when we attend a CHEA event, I can't believe how big the kids have gotten. (I have seen some boys grow their first mustaches!) Ah. My heart pains me as I realize my own child is about to start looking like a young lady herself.<br />
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Plus, my Facebook keeps reminding me of all our "Beginning of the Year Shenanigans" from the past, like the year we read our first Chapter Book Read Aloud, "Charlotte's Web." It also showed me pictures of the year we took Samantha "school supply shopping" so that she could feel cool like the other kids.<br />
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On top of That, I've started "lessons" with Sara. Montessori based. Fun activities to teach independence, fine motor skills, etc. I made busy bags for restaurants and other outings. And bought supplies to make sensory games. You know, the basics: beans, shaving cream, measuring cups, a giant plastic tub, etc.<br />
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And it makes me SO nostalgic. Because things change, kids grow up, and things get more complicated. I remember doing our "Healthy Earth" unit when Big S was 2. We read a book on recycling, went outside and picked up trash, and cooked a healthy meal with lots of vegetables. I remember raising butterflies and watching the wonder in her eyes grow. I remember the "Human Body" unit when she was 4. We colored a giant poster where I had traced my body and labeled the organ systems. We put red water in one side of the sink, and blue in the other to symbolize blood in the heart. We read countless books stuffed with information. It was all for fun. No worries. Play dates were plenty, and nothing else mattered.<br />
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I remember joining her first homeschool activities, and desperately trying to make friends. I remember coming to our first CHEA Event and both of us saying, "This is the group for us." I remember having time to attend pretty much every single event they held for elementary. I remember reading the CHEA Minutes religiously. (Now I can barely find time to post a question on the forum, let alone carefully read 6 pages on what decisions the group made this month.) I remember homeschool gymnastics at the local college, and being able to show up an hour before class and practice reading in the lobby.<br />
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Now it's pick and choose at this age. We can't go to it all, and we need to make sure we are home to have enough down time for Big S to make creations, and also give Little S lots of playtime. Of course on the other hand, we need to provide Big S enough time with friends. (So we recently started allowing texting on her tablet! But of course, it costs "tickets" if she wants to binge text. And she sometimes goes out with friends without me being there like I used to. Guess that is part of growing up.)<br />
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I don't know what I'm getting at here. I guess I'm looking at all these old photos and seeing all these old posts and missing the Good 'ole Days, when things were less complicated. Then again, maybe I'm just remembering it that way.<br />
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Whatever it is, I'm feeling a little lost this year. CHEA is changing. (I'm apparently not the only one who feels that way.) We had several families that didn't come back. I meant the group isn't even allowing playdates on the calendar. A group of moms got together and decided to schedule playdates, and just communicate them over Facebook. Big S isn't in any other activities (aside from AHG) as of now because of some scheduling issues. She lost the ability to see some of her best friends when they moved away, and she had a hard time moving on for almost a year after. Luckily, while she is still in close contact with them, she has found some close friends in the area as well. But I'm having a hard time finding my place since my sisters got here. We can't attend as much, and we honestly don't receive as much support as I thought we would in a community that holds caring for children to such a high standard. And I know it is because everyone is busy, but we also have some friends that seem to shy away from us too. We do receive a lot support from our AHG Troop. They have been great. They ask about the girls all the time. They allowed them in the troop despite the guidelines. They even stocked our cabinets with groceries when they first got here and we didn't have any help. They. Are. Amazing. But we aren't close enough with any of them for them to call and say, "Hey. How are your sisters? Can we pray for them? How is Sam doing?" They ask when I see them, but that's about as personal as it gets.Sometimes I feel like, even though I am getting closer to my 30s, that age gap still creates a barrier in some ways.<br />
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We joined a new group called Wild and Free. The take monthly hikes and have monthly Mom's Night Out, along with some nature based Field Trips. Maybe that will be the place God wants us through this season. We went hiking with them last week. I enjoyed talking with some of the Moms. S had a hard time figuring out where she fit into the puzzle as she warmed up to the other kids. She has agreed to give it another chance, as she was not miserable. She just...felt awkward.<br />
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I am just going to keep praying.<br />
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Things are settling down here. Everything is about to come to a peak and then really calm down. The house is quiet most of the day. We started our year off strong with a heavy focus on nature. We take nature walks several times a week, always in the early morning. It is a nice family activity and gets us noticing and identifying different species. Sara toddles along and gathers things in her basket. (Although, she is very picky.) Sometimes she rides in my pouch. And S and I look intently at the random happenings we find in nature (like a caterpillar climbing into a spider's web) and listen to the sounds. It is a nice and peaceful time, before the heat begins beating down. It really sets the tone for the day. On the days that we don't have a nature walk, we have morning time. (We pulled the name for it from a Charlotte Mason Method book I am reading, but basically we have always done this.) We start our day our with our family read aloud (Which is currently <i>The Horse and His Boy, </i>the third book in the Narnia series. We took a break. Now we are back.) And then she either does math or Bible. Of course I am available to help. Then we go about our day. Right now, S is studying how to build a train village and working on a menu for her baking business. Yesterday her and Sara spent a good chunk of the day working on a cardboard house. (Little S mostly scribbled on it and played in it, but Big S put more detailed pictures on it, made door handles, and had me cut out a window and a door.) Lunchtime is the last of our school day. That is when we listen to our Story of the World CD, but that does not take long-about 7 minutes for a chapter. Both math and history can be done on the go now, so I don't fret as much when we have outside stuff to do, as long as it is not errands. I mean things like the last minute trip we took to the aquarium a few weeks ago or Homeschool Day at High Point. Overall, the year is going well. But things are changing at is has me a little sad inside. I need to keep reminding myself that these years will bring the same joys as the ones before, just in a different way.<br />
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<br />MommyMayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14895017376704760161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3545819986034745425.post-84456901541415014252018-08-09T12:35:00.000-07:002018-08-09T12:35:28.147-07:00Living the Dream and a New School YearI have said it a few times, and so will any other seasoned homeschool mom...some days I wonder what it would be like for my oldest to be in school and just to have a toddler at home. When Big S was an only child, I imagined myself dropping her off in the morning, meeting friends for breakfast and walking the track while it is still early and quiet outside, and then going home for Bible time and cleaning. After that I would go back to the school around 11 or noon to help out the rest of the day and pick up my precious girl. All the teachers would know who I was. I would know her friends. And we would never have to deal with the bus or the dreaded car line. It was the dream. Then, after Little S was born, I imagined that I would bring Big S to school, come home, relax with the baby, just teaching her and staring at her lovingly while she nursed. Maybe attend a Parents as Teachers group connection or a Kindermusik. Then back to the school I'd go to get my big baby. Of course I would be in the PTO and help to organize all the extras. And I would probably come to the school a day or two each week to stay involved. I would have the "Mom of an Honor Student" sticker proudly plastered in more than one spot on my car, and wear my school spirit shirt to every event. <br />
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Of course all of this is going on in my imagination. <br />
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The reality of it is that we spent the morning reading the newest Gooney Bird Greene book aloud while the baby hung off my boob trying to do summersaults while still attached. Then we watched The Beginning of Life together, cuddled up in the bed while it poured outside. We followed this up with cursive while I sang to Little S, who consistently said "more" every time I finished a song. Then we read "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom." Well, I would start a sentence, and she would turn the page while I was still talking. Still counts, right? Then came Bible time for both of us and nap for the little one-which we wished was for both of us too. I had to put Little S down for a nap so that we could eat lunch and listen to our Story of the World CD without someone screaming in 5 second intervals just to get our attention. She woke up as I was typing this, and then she screamed for about 5 minutes because she wanted her sister's car that she has for her 18' dolls. Which, of course, her sister finally obliged. (Oh jeez, she really is the typical baby of the family.) Now Little S is happily eating her leftovers from last night while Big S is downstairs playing with her trains, and setting up her train village so-so. (Hmm...I am starting to wonder if I will ever see her again at this point.) Some days it is boring. Other days are exciting. Some days are "normal." Some days are packed full, and sometimes not with anything remotely educational. <br />
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But the truth of it is, I wouldn't trade any of it for the world. The juggling. The noise. The days where we are both too drained to do anything. All the chauffeuring. All the worrying. I came to this realization, with no question about it, when I experienced school for the first time. I mean, I do not like to treat my sisters any different than my own children, because right now, it is my job to be their parent. So every deep talk I had planned to have with Big S as a preteen, I have initiated with the oldest of my younger sisters. Any extras I would buy for Big S, I would buy for them. Any special activity I would do for my girls, I would do for them. So we went school supply shopping. Yep, definitely thought that would be more magical than it was. (Maybe it is a kid thing? They said they enjoyed it.) We went to open house. That was pretty neat. Everybody was chatty and excited and the teachers were all excited. Classrooms were ready. The night before school we had the dinner they chose. In fact, the oldest of my sisters cooked it with supervision, but minimal assistance. The build up was kind of exciting. But then the day finally came. The house was finally gonna be two kids less crowded. I took them to school to drop them off. What an exciting day I remember the first day being. You pick out your best outfit the night before. You make sure your backpack is just perfect. That school better watch out, because Here. You. Come! Well, we did all that. I even helped them pick out accessories. But when the morning finally came, everybody was dragging. The drop off line was 45 minutes long. I was ready to get out of there, but when I finally pulled in front of those doors....I didn't want to let her go. I just wanted to grab my youngest sister's arm and tell her she was staying home. Of course the same happened when I made it to the middle school for my other sister. I thought I was okay, but I wasn't. They aren't even my kids, but after keeping them the last 7 months, and spending the entire Summer break with them, sun up to sun down-for the most part, I just didn't want to let them go. And my heart hurts when I think of all that they won't get to do with us anymore. The morning time read alouds. The hours of playing games together until Jessie gets home. The weekly trips to do something fun-swim, pick sunflowers, riding bikes at the park. I was two ducklings short. And while the trips to the store will be easier, the days will be missing something. <br />
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But, alas, we must move forward. So...Samantha has requested to use more curriculum this year. She enjoys the fill in the blank, and feels she learns best that way, which is shocking to me because she is my artist one. But if that is what she wants, that is what we sha'll do. We chose "The Family Under the Bridge" as her first read aloud. It is a Newberry medal winner about homelessness. For a lighter note, we are going to listen to Winnie the Pooh on audio in the car. For math, we are continuing to use Master Books Living Math, which I highly recommend for the elementary years if you are looking for a laidback curriculum that does not drill and kill. And the best part is that it connects math to real life through stories for each lesson and related word problems. We bought the Story of the World CD for History. For more History/Bible she is doing Discover for Yourself Kids again, but this semester she is doing Genesis and Abraham, Issaac, and Jacob. She isn't attending the class again because they are doing Revelations, and she wanted to go in order. And for Science, we are not sure. I am still under the notion that, if given enough time to explore, she will learn all the Science basics for elementary and maybe middle on her own. (Although, next year she is considering a co-op by the house.) let's see...Her baking business is still going strong. In fact, she has an order she is dropping off this Saturday for THREE pastries! It isn't even from someone she knows. It is a woman at her grandmother's job that tried some of her samples and picked up her card! Along with that, she has started her own research on trains and villages, as mentioned earlier. She is going to continue with Heritage Girls, and probably take Intermediate tennis next Spring. <br />
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It is going to be a good year. I cannot believe we are going on our 6th year of homeschooling. How can it be? We are considering her 4th/5th grade. Her math is 5th grade, but her age is 4th because of the late birthday, and everything else she does has no grade assigned to it. I have met so many new homeschooling Moms this year, and it makes me miss the days of finger paints and unit studies that included topic related baking and storybooks. But I am looking forward. As I see her taking more initiative and studying what she wants on her own time, or doing her math with minimal assistance, I can't believe how far she has come. Besides, I have another one coming up on the days of math games and learning to read. Maybe that will keep me busy when Big S starts to drive! MommyMayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14895017376704760161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3545819986034745425.post-19316404705628964852018-05-11T19:56:00.001-07:002018-05-11T19:56:12.218-07:00#ReadAloudRevivalI began reading aloud to Big S when she was first conceived. From there, I never stopped.<br />
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I started reading, because I was always told that it was "good" for them. And I kept going after she turned "school age" as a natural extension of our homeschooling. After she began to read independently, I kept reading aloud because I told her I wouldn't stop just because she could read herself.<br />
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I'm glad I didnt.<br />
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I never realized what reading meant to us.<br />
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But as we lay next to each other in bed, curled up, reading our new book, "A Long Walk to Water," recommended by the author of the "Read Aloud Revival," I get it. As we lay together, looking at what it means to live in South Sudan, shedding tears for the reality of it and trying to decide what we can do about it, I get it.<br />
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When we have our own inside jokes about Frindles and Absolutely True Stories, I get it.<br />
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When we spend an hour in the pool, putting on our own play version of Narnia, laughing at the funny voices we both make, I get it.<br />
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As we reminis about the hours that we have spent together on the bed, in the floor, on the couch, the ground, the trampoline, the hammock...crying, laughing, getting angry, being confused, and being together, I get it.<br />
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Reading Aloud. It sounds so simple. But it is among one of the most important things I can do with my children. We can travel and we can learn about the world together. For no money. Just a little time. <br />
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I get it.<br />
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#ReadAloudRevival<br />
<br />MommyMayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14895017376704760161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3545819986034745425.post-18293396689637382962018-01-21T19:04:00.000-08:002018-01-21T19:04:21.470-08:00What They Need to Know So, seeing as we don't have a strict curriculum, as Samantha grows older, we are beginning to see a need to have a list of things we do want her to know before she leaves the house. They aren't all academic. In fact, most of them are not. Many of them are character building, survival skills, and life management skill-which can also be academic. If she can learn those things, it will be a foundation for her to learn what she needs to learn in order for her to fill her calling from God, whatever that may be. Here is that list. I'm open to suggestions.<br />
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Character:<br />
-Know Her Bible In Depth-In Progress<br />
-How to be Compassionate-Check<br />
-Patience-Half Check<br />
-How to have Discernment-Ongoing (lol)<br />
-How to Disagree (Without Arguing)-Ongoing<br />
-How to Compromise-Check<br />
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Survival:<br />
-How to Build a Fire-In Progress<br />
-How to Cook on a Fire<br />
-How to Fish-In Progress<br />
-How to Read a Map and Compass<br />
-Basic Survival Skills (First Aid, Poisonous Plants, Etc.)<br />
-How to Garden-In Progress (Every Spring)<br />
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Life Skills:<br />
-Basic Math-In Progress<br />
-How to Budget<br />
-How to Balance a Checkbook<br />
-How to File Taxes<br />
-How to Invest<br />
-How to Grocery Shop<br />
-How to Meal Plan<br />
-How to Cook-In Progress<br />
-How to Bake-DOUBLE CHECK<br />
-How to Choose a Husband!<br />
-How to Speak Publicly-Check<br />
-How to Research (Including Using Duey Decimal System and Encyclopedias)MommyMayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14895017376704760161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3545819986034745425.post-58615222356500149572018-01-12T21:44:00.001-08:002018-01-12T21:44:19.501-08:00The New YearHas it been a whole "semester" already? Where has the time gone? That cocoon is still sitting still in our butterfly pavilion. Will it ever emerge?<br />
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Maybe.<br />
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Maybe not.<br />
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Until then, we have been continuing our year with some more structured activities (of Samantha's choosing.) Last week she attended her first group Bible study-and did surprisingly well in a classroom setting. I don't know whether to beam with pride at the fact that, "despite unschooling," our daughter can still function in society as expected. Or should I cry because she is easily molded to fit the pattern, despite our best efforts to teach her how to stand out.<br />
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It is a drop off event. Class is too full. I decided to sit outide the door this week, unknown to Big S-until Baby Sister began laugh-screaming and running down the hallway while looking back to make sure I was running after her. Baby Sara. You are always seeking trouble. That is what I Love about you.<br />
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Anywho, after class, I expected to find out she was completely zoned the whole time, and quite possibly talked out of turn the entire class period. She, in fact, did not. She remembered all the important rules as well as what she needed to do for homework. And even more to my surprise, she learned so much about the book of Daniel, and they only made it through verse 8! (She taught me some things and listen and REMEMBERED when I tried to teach her some things I knew as well.)<br />
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We will be spending the rest of the week studying those first 8 verses, and after the first few days of homework, I can proudly say she is still initiating it and begging for more!<br />
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We have continued in her Master Books living math series. Unfortunately, because of Big S's struggle with numbers, we felt that we could not wait any later than 9 years old for it to "just click."<br />
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We are not reading any chapter books at the time. (We read 4 this Fall.) I felt we have enough reading to do already. But she does still read her Drew books on her own accord, and I wake her up with storybook.<br />
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She is super well adjusted and well rounded. She has a number of interests she is working on as well as leadership opportunities coming up, thanks to her gift of well....leadership.<br />
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What she is working on:<br />
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-Baking Business (She has gone from working on her baking skills to filling several orders, buying business cards, and investing in her own Kitchenaid with the profits. Next up. Printed menus.)<br />
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-Magic (Sam has a gift for showmanship. She likes to mix magic with a bit of comedy. She currently s two shows "booked" that she is practicing for. One at a nursing home in March and one at the library in April. (She put on a small show there at the Halloween party in October-duh-and some of the kids have asked when she will return!!! That made Big S feel pretty special.)<br />
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-Kitchen Science (The librarian recently asked if Sam wanted to reach a Kitchen Science class. (Told you we have lived at the library this year.) Sam is thinking "Disappearing Ink." She will be responsible for the communication with the library and all the planning, such as shopping and getting it on the calendar, and execution-teaching the class!!!<br />
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-Big S is still writing that book I mentioned in my last post, and doing well too. She is on page 100 already. (Some pages have pictures she drew.)<br />
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-Later in the year, after the Bible Study is complete, she will start tennis lessons.<br />
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-*Side Note: We spent some time last semester preparing for a spelling bee. She participated this week and did really well! But when it came to the 7th grade words, she was knocked out of the running. Darn. But I am still so proud!<br />
Last semester she also completed a Flag badge with AHG as well as a badge that I planned and lead-BAKING! They are currently working on a My Style Badge that discusses fashion along with God's Word. And later this year is her Music Appreciation badge complete with a trip to Nashville for the Grand Ole Opry and tne Country Music Hall of Fame.<br />
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Little S has been working on her mischief making skills. That's going very well for her, might I say. We are-for the most part-adapted to her personality, and she is to ours. I just practice a responsive style of parenting and it keeps her calm as long as her actual needs are met. (Needs include cuddles.) She is still attending storytime and Parents as Teachers monthly. During the Bible Study we plan to start hitting up area playgrounds. And during AHG she just wonders around in the back of the room playing with the toys back there and occasionally walking around passing out kisses to the girls while they melt with admiration. She is also remarkably well adjusted (socially) considering her early months consisted of being held 24/7.<br />
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She is beginning to participate in learning activities. We have always read, but she is more intent now. And she tries to repeat words. She can say Mama, Dada, Sissy, Doggy, and Baby.<br />
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Later this year we also have some things coming up as a family-including a stay-cation (so we can save to go on a cruise next year), another, larger garden, a kitchen remodel, our normal camping/kayaking trips. I am not sure what else yet...<br />
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I don't even know what to call our style anymore. We just kind of go with what the year brings and don't focus too much on calling ourselves any one method. It causes too much stress. After all, we did a agree on minimalism this year. That means minimal stress too.<br />
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For those homeschooling friends of mine who read this...how is your year going?MommyMayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14895017376704760161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3545819986034745425.post-39372611668066853252017-09-24T23:59:00.004-07:002017-09-25T07:18:43.276-07:00Unschool DiariesThe year has begun. Does it ever end, really? No. But my letter of intent to the DOE says September 1st-August 31st. So I guess officially it has restarted.<br />
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Little S has calmed down, or maybe I'm just used to her shenanigans. We had to learn each other. My dishwasher and robot vacuum still help me keep a clean house. Motherhood still means Grocery Pick Up at Wal-Mart, but not necessarily crock pot dinners every night. I'm sure when the next one comes along, we will be right back to slow cooker meals. Because those are the stages of Mom life. </div>
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Summer break meant swim team for is, so as opposed to sleeping in like school children across the country, we left the house earlier that any homeschooler ever should! 7 A.M. As in, Morning! There was still fog clouding my view as I made my way down to the pool. It meant 4 hour swim meets twice a week. Afternoons inside recovering from the early hours. Trips to the beach, reading in hammocks, camping, hiking, and kayaking on the weekends. It also brought fun activities like raising tadpoles, gardening (making homemade spaghetti sauce and pickles), vacationing, summer camp, etc. etc. </div>
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Now here comes Fall. I love Fall homeschooling. With all the sleeping I did in my last few months of pregnancy last year, I forgot all the fun things Fall homeschooling brings. Fall means Heritage Girls begins again. I am co-leading those sweet girls this year. Prayers much appreciated. This year we added infant story time at the library into the mix. They even have monthly homeschool kitchen science and tween programs like guitar lessons. We are at the library so much this year. I also recently looked at some improv classes for Big S. We sha'll see where that goes. Church on Sundays. Of course our regular family outings, which are slowly transforming into trips to the Apple orchard and pumpkin patch. And I try to make sure we rotate weekly afternoon play dates with friends. Can't neglect time with friends. Play is learning too. Speaking of that, we are home most days. I feel so strongly that Little S needs that time to drag toys around and climb on top of the dog and dance and read books and destroy the house morning, noon, and night. She needs time to play in the kiddie pool on the porch and roll in the grass out front. And Big S needs time to write in her own chapter book (which is almost done!), bake cakes and cookies and breads to practice for her business. She needs time to play toys (baby dolls mostly), crochet, edit videos, put together stop motions, and read her Nancy Drew books. Quiet time is a must these days. Besides Sara sleeping, I need it. I get to read my Bible and pray, do a Bible study I am working on, read my books-Volume 2 of Story of the World (Don't laugh. I feel like I need to relearn History! It is so beneficial in my understanding of the Bible too.) and Trial and Triumph (full of stories on church history and martyrs over the years.) Big S uses the time to read her books and pray. (She doesn't spend as much time with God as I would like, but I don't want to force it. It is her relationship and her time to manage. I just try to lead by example and pray that her eagerness to be near to God frequently througout the days grows as she grows.) It is a nice time of day anyhow. </div>
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Together we have agreed on minimalism in our "school" this year. In the mornings I read her awake with the Gutenburg book on insects. fNights-if she feels like it-she does a small math lesson on her own in a book called Master Books Living Math. To be honest, if She frequently turned it down, I would probably coerce her to do it. She needs to know math and the struggle is real for her. Learning through life is not clicking just yet. She seems to enjoy it though. It's super simple. She reads a story about a family on a mission trip and how they use math in their every day life. It periodically introduces a new concept and then builds on it. Stories are a page long with 5 or so practice problems. And once a week we do a Bible study in the afternoons-just her and I. That's a good time to connect too. </div>
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Our insect book recently inspired a trip to the park to look for bugs. We pulled into the parking lot and Sam instantly asked to go see the webs in the trees. They turned out to be webworm nests!! Neither of us have seen inside one before. We watched them for about an hour and researched them...We looked in the water. Found lily pads. Watched the ants crawl underneath the outdoor blanket we were sitting on. I walked next to the creek, turned over a rock, and found something I never in my life will probably see again. I brought it to Big S. It was a caterpillar in the process of forming its cocoon!!!! On a rock!!!! We could actually see it moving around in there. We just stared in awe-for a long time. By time we got home, the cocoon was fully formed and you couldn't see inside at all. We put it in our "butterfly pavillion." Can't wait to see what kind of moth it is. It was just the refresher I needed. To remind me why we homeschool/unschool. Everything I listed-the quiet time, reading together, counting kayaking as school, all of it is why. But those day trips to explore outdoors (and play on the playground afterwards of course!) Those are my favorite days. I look forward to more as Little S grows older and can help-an extra set of eyes never hurts. </div>
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Side Note: We have made some ventures for Little S too, including a trip the the Creative Discovery Museum and a trip to a park that is wheelchair accessible. I love it because it is perfect for babies and toddlers-low to the ground with ramps and lots of slats, no stairs. There was also a pond nearby. We found lots of Dragon flies-which are freakish creatures by the way! And we saw a spider spinning its web with its hundreds of newly hatched babies close by. </div>
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Big S recently turned 9. She is half grown according to the US government. Where has the time gone? We live life slowly, but it has gone by so fast. I guess we will just keep spending our time watching the bugs and hoping it will slow down.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lighting Drawing-She drew hair on the back of the paper. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8D_R7Tz47Ozc_i6mtjoD8VR3uWLW4LgrkciXwYFKN5WhLD_jiB2YzTRGIhIOKishAw35nnTs9jo8ml1W_Jgheo-JLc0dPgQj_kto6IeqfPLfaIWRfSzWsyt5c5TlOZvkOiYMIJ5Mmno/s1600/IMG_20170925_023543_350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8D_R7Tz47Ozc_i6mtjoD8VR3uWLW4LgrkciXwYFKN5WhLD_jiB2YzTRGIhIOKishAw35nnTs9jo8ml1W_Jgheo-JLc0dPgQj_kto6IeqfPLfaIWRfSzWsyt5c5TlOZvkOiYMIJ5Mmno/s320/IMG_20170925_023543_350.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old School Play-Who needs toys?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Infant Storytime</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrtaz3-ESC0ZQombgam0g90Z0xX8-IAmXgx3932Q2C11gskaIHvuOabqj7LRM5Xigz_uLBWjbi-imqPA9gAPhNSBxldr3KK_nNNxZLv19B5zEZIPHlCzYJ_CtY1Pg3V9Nukh-VWnKurlg/s1600/IMG_20170925_024224_409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrtaz3-ESC0ZQombgam0g90Z0xX8-IAmXgx3932Q2C11gskaIHvuOabqj7LRM5Xigz_uLBWjbi-imqPA9gAPhNSBxldr3KK_nNNxZLv19B5zEZIPHlCzYJ_CtY1Pg3V9Nukh-VWnKurlg/s320/IMG_20170925_024224_409.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We didn't try to make the eclipse educational, but it looks like she learned something. "Eclipse Stages" </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can still see the caterpillar at this point. </td></tr>
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MommyMayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14895017376704760161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3545819986034745425.post-13608998216359771652017-05-21T21:28:00.000-07:002017-05-21T21:28:21.777-07:00Unschool TagsThis is why #unschoolingrules!<br />
<br />
I was reading Sandra Dodd's Big Book of Unschooling, and one of her essays had tags that described a day (because there in no typical day) in unschooling. You just put down a list of words that could be that day.<br />
<br />
I thought it would be cool to do. I thought it would make me feel better about what all we get done in a week vs. a day. (We have embraced unschooling like never before this year!) And it did. I just started where I was at. I didn't pick one of our "better weeks." I just did the week starting on the day I read the chapter. I actually only remembered to capture 6 days worth of "tags," and I can't for the life of me remember day 7. Here is what I got:<br />
<br />
<br />
Lemonade Stands, Making Change, and International Adoption, Church, Adoption, Shopping for Dog, Hidden Trails, Bamboo, Cranes, and New Plants, Building Hammock Stands, Caring for Sister, Trampolines, and Playing with Friends Outside, Dogs Socializing, Walk in the Park, Hammocks, Singing, Reading, Chiropractors, Praising God, and Leveling Up at Heritage Girls,<br />
Gardening, Bridge to Teribithia, Math, Binge Reading Bridge to Teribithia,<br />
Board Games, Books, Billions and Trillions, and Dolls.<br />
<br />
What about You? Any other unscoolers out there willing to take the challenge?MommyMayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14895017376704760161noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3545819986034745425.post-63209064669523512402017-03-07T16:06:00.002-08:002017-03-07T16:06:59.985-08:00DefeatedJust when I think I have it, I don't. I have never felt more defeated. 99% of the time I feel like I am running on fumes, even when Hubby is home to help me.<br />
<br />
She is such a high needs baby. She wants me all the time already. And she nurses every hour and a half. (I've already had my milk supply and nutrients checked.) It is a comfort thing. She doesn't like her car seat because she isn't around me. Big sister tries to interact and keep her happy, but it only works 50% of the time. And even then, she can only be held off for so long.<br />
<br />
I truly have no idea what I'm doing here. She just cries SO MUCH. And the only thing that helps is Mom and the boob. We took her to the chiropractor to get adjusted today. Maybe that will help. She has been asleep in my arms ever since. That's another thing, she doesn't sleep without me. It would be different if I could just get 1 one hour nap a day from her, but I can't even get that.<br />
<br />
I'm a good Mom, really. That's why I thought I'd be better at this. But she just needs SO much of me. And there are two other needy people in my life that need a lot of me too. I truly appreciate that my family loves me and feels attached to me. BUT it's physically and emotionally exhausting.<br />
<br />
This last weekend we went on vacation t to an indoor water park. The whole time I was either nursing or passing the baby off in hopes that I could take Sam down one slide before she started screaming. And of course the whole time I was waiting to go down the slide, I was worrying about the person who was holding Sara-either my Mom or Jessie. I enjoyed vacation. The hot tub was nice, but I was needed the entire time by somebody.<br />
<br />
On the way home, Sara screamed and screamed and screamed. She finally fell asleep for 20 minutes. Sam was already asleep, so I worried the entire time if Sara was breathing. I wouldn't have been too worried except that she worked herself up too much and threw up several times and choked. We kept having to pull over.<br />
<br />
While she was sleeping, we exited. Almost home, at last....Then Sam woke up crying and panicking because she felt sick, which had a domino effect. The little one woke up screaming too.<br />
<br />
Parenthood...I have never felt so lost, so defeated. Sara is so hard. I love her and I am so thankful for her, but I feel like I don't know how to be her Mom. And that is tough. These last 4 months have been the hardest 4 months of my life. I just hope it gets better. MommyMayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14895017376704760161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3545819986034745425.post-10712039595612538422017-02-22T08:52:00.002-08:002017-02-22T08:52:25.601-08:00The New Norm...For Now9:30: Wake Up Call, Eggs or Cereal for Breakfast-Bananadiets how busy we are.<br />
<br />
By 10:30 We are fed, dressed, and the plants are watered.<br />
<br />
Of course I have been up since 7:00 with Hubby. I sent him off, fed baby, showered, cleaned house or paid bills.<br />
<br />
Then we just do what we want, usually a puzzle or reading Story of the World, Narnia, etc. One day we watched a documentary on child development. Yesterday we started her Science Fair project I am not one for schedules, but I do like a rhythm.<br />
<br />
By 12 we are done and I get to enjoy Sara some. Then it is a big meal on the boob and down for a nap. Sam and I will usually have our quiet Bible during that time. But on pretty days, she is outside in nature exploring-which is where we probably where we were all day while we read and spent time together. I leave my bedroom window open so I can see and hear her.<br />
<br />
Afternoons I work Wednesdays for a few hours and we have swim club on Thursday. So we have Friday and Saturday at home-usually. But Saturdays can be unpredictable, as they are weekends for everyone else. And with the weather getting prettier Sunday-Tuesday are for church, family/friend time, and trips to parks or soon...kayaking and camping again!<br />
<br />
Oh, unschooling in the warm months is as good as it gets. The cold weather is a bummer and recovering from birth/getting used to a new baby during that time has been tough. But we have adjusted. We have met our new normal.<br />
<br />
It had been a ride, but it has been a great year to truly immerse ourselves in learning while being laid back-guilt free. I feel much more confident that our laid back approach will turn good results. Since last February when I was sick, to September and October where I was always tired and sleeping, she has grown and matured and taken charge of her own learning. She has expanding interests and she can find her own books. She asks a lot of questions and understands things better.<br />
<br />
She has learned about child development from conception to 3 months. She saw the labor and birth of her sister. She has watched countless documentaries, her favorite being one on twins. She has started a garden, we have, as a family. She has learned about the Exodus and the lineage of the Isrealites. She has learned about nomads and ancient Egyptians, gods and goddesses, the fertile crescent promised land, the seas in the middle east, mission trips, Togo, India, Paris...She has become immersed in a Pixar series about animation. She has participated in numerous volunteer projects like Feed My Starving Children. And on the "school side" she has perfected her single digit multiplication and division. And is 100% independant on her reading. And even finished 4 living books along with the classic, Narnia. And this is all without effort. This was...life. That is with us spending a lot of our home days just talking, relaxing, and playing. Or on my part the last few months, feeding and calming a crying baby.<br />
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Update: The older she gets, the more interests she has and there is a whole world of opportunities. And sometimes she has to choose one thing over another because they are at the same time or it costs too much to do both. This Summer she is joining swim team! Swim first thing in the morning, and night too-if we choose, and swim meets 1-2 times a week! Luckily it is only for 6 weeks! But it will get us out of the house early in the morning to enjoy the weather and Sara will get to swim for free every day too. Not top mention the exprience will be a great addition to add to her list. This year she will go to her first concert and her first drag race-and that is just in the next few months. Who knows what the reat of the year will bring and what interests will be sparked?MommyMayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14895017376704760161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3545819986034745425.post-85125488119966584862017-02-16T06:13:00.001-08:002017-02-16T06:13:14.942-08:00My Battle With BreastfeedingNursing your baby is the most natural thing in the world. We were made for it and it comes easy to us. From the first latch, nursing is nothing but an amazingly supernatural bond that can never be broken.<br />
<br />
Eh! Wrong!<br />
<br />
Nursing sucks, like seriously. I don't mean to sound ungrateful or make anyone feel bad, but the media portrays it one way, and it's not. For anybody I've ever met. It's exhausting-both physically and mentally. It can be painful at times. It's a struggle.<br />
<br />
It IS natural, but it doesn't come natural. And I hate that the media-on the breastfeeding side-portrays it that way. And then when we don't or can't feed them ourselves, we feel guilty. I struggled with this for awhile. I could not figure out why God would make "so natural" so hard on us. I finally realized WE are the reason for that-our diets, the chemicals we are exposed to, etc. But before I get off on that tangent....<br />
<br />
When my first daughter was born, I just knew I was going to nurse her. But when she was born, the LC tried to help me latch her and it hurt, so they basically just said, "Give her a bottle." For the next 8 years, I blamed that hospital for the reason I did not nurse her. In reality, I never would have anyway. Because at some point, I would have faced another trial and I would not have the support system, resources, or guts to stand up and say, "I'm going to get through this. This too sha'll pass." But at that time I didn't realize that breastfeeding was challenging. I didn't realize it when I got pregnant again either.<br />
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I never read a book on breastfeeding. I never watched an informational video. But I had several friends who nurses and they made it look easy as pie! Of course what I didn't realize is that most of them had 4 or 5 kids and nursed them all. I was never a fly on the wall when they were first learning.<br />
<br />
When Sweet Sara was born, the midwife told me to take off my bra before she came out so I could nurse her. I was so overwhelmed with excitement because I just knew she would cone out and latch right on and the whole world would be bliss. Instead when she came out, I couldn't stop kissing her. She was absolutely beautiful. She was quite literally an angel from Heaven. Then I chickened out. Everyone was watching...so I asked for a lactation consultant to come in. They sent her in once I was all fixed up and she showed me what to do. I thought, "Bingo! I know how to do this." But the next feeding came around and I was completely lost. She came in, showed me, and I realized it hurt. Like really hurt. Bad. I just wasn't up for this after giving birth. This was the first of many times I almost gave up in the hospital.<br />
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I almost gave up after the lactation consultant came in over 10 times in 3 days. I almost gave up after a night of bad latchng and cracked nipples. When I got home I almost gave up after even the nipple shields were painful. I almost gave up when she fed 24/7. And then again when I found out my supply was truly low (because of her tongue tie I didn't know about).<br />
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I found hope in these things: Donor milk from one of my best friends so my nipples could heal, Fenugreek, lactation cookies, and power pumping for boosting my supply. Le Leche League who told me about her tongue tie. Most of all, having her tongue clipped!<br />
<br />
These days I still struggle though. When growth spurts come. And when she is teething hard core because she stays on the breast consistently for the rush of pain relief it gives her. And when she wants to nurse to sleep but can't stay asleep longer than 30 minutes at a time. It turns into a cycle. Some days I feel like I'm nailing this Mom thing. Other days I feel drained, like all I do is nurse while my 8 year old goes off to do her thing. It's exhausting. It is one of the most challenging things I have ever done, but yet I choose to do it anyway.<br />
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Don't get me wrong, nursing my second has been worth all the tears I've shed and pain I've experienced. Knowing that I am capable of making the milk that put the fat rolls on her legs. Watching her doze to sleep after she finishes her "naptime milkies." Looking her in the eye as she looks up at me while eating, while at the same time clawing my chest with her infant talons. Or when she stops nursing just to give me her adorable little baby smiles. Being able to calm her with my body when she is scared or in pain. Nursing on demand is more than nourishment. It is comfort in times of fear and pain. It is a familiar place and human contact whenever it is needed. But it didn't come easy. And I wouldn't have made it through without my amazingly supportive Husband who has been to the store for nipple cremes at all hours of the night. Who has watched me cry and cheered me on. Who has held her while I got just a few minutes of sleep before the next feeding stretch. He is Just Amazing.<br />
<br />
And so is she. She knows my body. As she grows, she can push my breast if she wants a faster flow. Her hands know exactly what to do to get exactly what she needs. And my body knows just what to give her, how many ounces to make and if she is sick. It is truly awe some to see all my body and my baby can do by dancing together during meal time, nap time, and beyond.MommyMayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14895017376704760161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3545819986034745425.post-90656327544927360252017-01-16T16:06:00.002-08:002017-01-16T16:06:36.858-08:00Welcome To Motherhood of Multiple ChildrenWhere a peaceful life means avoiding the grocery store and making something simple for dinner.<br />
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The dishwasher is in the process of being fixed. I have resolved to do my grocery shopping online or pick up what I can't order from Aldi during S's swim class. The crockpot is my best friend. And I'd love to get a robot mop.....Maybe one day.<br />
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Things I said I'd never do. But I've had to proritize. With Sam, as an only and an older child, I had too much time on my hands. Now with Sara, I have not enough. And I have to choose.<br />
<br />
Do I want to miss these months where they grow way too fast? Or do I want to suck it up and deal with a halfway cleaned house?<br />
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So now I have some dog hair behind the couch, the crockpot stays on the counter, and they're are a few unfinished projects at the top of the basement stairs. And the laundry may or may not stay one load behind. But it pretty much did that before. So not too shabby considering I have cloth diapers in the rotation now. Luckily, I have realized...it will all be there waiting on me when I'm ready. When Sara takes naps while I'm not holding her. When she isn't nursing as much. When Sara and Sam are busy playing together. Whe.mBecausen Sam and I are not in the midst of a learning explosion. One day we will be out of this stage and I will miss it. Until then, I'll enjoy them both and forget about the house and shopping in the store and having 3 course meals for just a little while longer.MommyMayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14895017376704760161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3545819986034745425.post-28450434953542142262017-01-12T06:02:00.002-08:002017-01-12T06:02:45.884-08:00Gotta keep this short and sweet because life is busy lately, but I have a few things I'm so excited about, but nobody wants to hear me go on about. Poor Hubby has to though.<br />
<br />
Me:<br />
<br />
I start working next Wednesday. By "working" I mean 4 hours a week. lol I will have both the girls and a 7 hour day just seemed way too long to have them and be working. So I am working afternoons, 1-5, which is just so perfect for our schedule. Clean in the morning, then work with Sam, then work. She will get her attention and not be as needy while I am there. I will be the post abortion counselor and outreach coordinator. My job will be counseling clients like usual, but the post abortive and abortion vulnerable will be specifically scheduled for when I am there. I will be doing recivery studies-individual and running the group study, which sounds like a lot, but it isn't because women aren't exactly lining up at the door to tell everyone about their abortion. My job will also be to make connections with churches and other Christian organizations to refer women who have had abortions to us for counseling. And then or course speaking at churches like usual. The best part is, she said I can clock another 4 hours a week at home if I do any work. Specifically, when Jessie is home with the girls, I will probably make calls to churches, meet with pastors and other entities, etc. So I'm nervous, but excited. Too much is changing around here. New baby. New car. New job. I am nervous about being tied down to something, even if it is only 4 hours a week. I am bad about not wanting to dedicate ourselves to stuff, even though I do all the time. I'm not flaky, but I want to able to have the option of flaking without being irresponsible. Know what I mean? Maybe not....Anyway...<br />
<br />
Jessie:<br />
<br />
He finished yet another semester of school! He has never been this dedicated. I feel so bad for him and I want to help, but we are both running ourselves dry here adjusting to the new normal. He is doing a great job, carrying all As and only has a year or maybe a little less left in his academics. So yay him.<br />
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Sara:<br />
<br />
Sara is growing fast! She is two months old now. She is having her tongue clipped so she can eat better. She isn't gaining much weight. :( Anywho, after her "surgery" she should be fine and start eating more and gaining. I am noticing all the small stuff that I never did with Sam because I was a new Mom and because she was in daycare during her good hours. But the other morning, I was sitting with Sara and just watching her. And I noticed that she was starting to notice her feet! She kept pulling them in and watching them. And then she kept trying to coordinate her hands to grab them. She was not successful that day, but it's coming soon. She is growing so fast. I put her in a jumper yesterday and she could stay balanced and play. She rolls over. She is just too darn big and strong! My Husband and I both got excited the other day when she reached for the toy on her carseat on purpose! That's right! She was batting at it on purpose!! We were in cloud 9 the rest of the night.<br />
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Samantha:<br />
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Samantha had been struggling a big for my attention lately. And as much as I want to be super mom, you can't get there just by baking the best treats and leading all of the activities. So I've been trying to keep my relationship with her going strong. It's tough though. She has so much energy from being locked in the house all day in the Winter since activities have not started back yet. And she is SO hyper. Not to mention all the changes she has been through. I keep reminding myself she is adjusting too. Anyway, we listen to audio books in the new car that has a working radio and CD player. We play lots of games in the afternoons, go out for special treats, and I make it a point to have meaningful conversations. Last night she helped me clean so I could spend time with her today and not worry about anything. We talked about how bad she wanted to be a nurse and she decided she wanted to volunteer at a hospital, so we will see where that goes. I am ready for activities to start back and pretty weather to return. I think the cold weather depresses her a bit because she has always had issues in cold weather. She is very emotional, so even the rain effects her mood.<br />
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Which brings me to my next point, I'm so nervous about everything starting back! We will be so busy that I literally had to make a list of everything to do around the house each day, right down to things like, "Lay out the Chicken and make the sauces for crockpot dinners Tuesday and Wednesday." "Make Jessie's breakfasts for the week." I have 7 loads of laundry a week, dinner and dishes every night, weekly cleaning, AHG, Swim Club, PAT, La Leche League, CHEA, Church, now work even though I did volunteer biweekly before. Now Sam wants to volunteer. And that's all before we do any at home learning for either kid. Although I guess all that is learning....With Sara I like for her to have lots of tummy time. She likes it. I like for her to have time in her Bumbo and I like for her to hear us reading. With Sam, I like to help her learn to study her Bible, read Narnia, read Story of the World-which we just started for History, and practice some sort of math through games. I'm learning to do some of this on the go. I think we may get Narnia as an Audiobook and listen for an hour or two a week-on the way to AHG and on the way to swim. Those are both 1 hour round trip. And then while I'm at the Center, she will be doing an hour of math games on the computer. And then of course Summer leaves plenty of time to hang out and read because activities are out.....I'm starting to feel better now....I guess that is life for you. Don't want to waste a minute. With two is just seems like double even though it isn't. It's worth it though, every single minute.MommyMayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14895017376704760161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3545819986034745425.post-44590070787015920842017-01-01T11:35:00.000-08:002017-01-01T11:35:11.158-08:002016 FogWe woke up this morning and started the new year off right by going to church. Great message. It touched my Husband and confirmed some of my thoughts and feelings on the future. <div>
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But anyway, I've been looking back over the past year, which really began 13 months or so ago. My Husband accepted God around Christmas time. We decided to try to adopt. Then...we got pregnant!? </div>
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Once I got pregnant, all normal life ceased to exist. I got really sick and that was it from there. We entered a fog. Don't get me wrong. We kept going, and we had a fantastic year, but everything was focused on the baby. All my appointments, a lot of what we talked about, our time together as a family (feeling Sara kick). Toward the end, we even sat around the house waiting for her-FOR ALMOST A MONTH! Then came the newborn stage. We spent a lot of time laying around in bed. I was feeding her constantly. Everyone was drained and adjusting. It is interesting how one person took over our whole lives and changed it completely. We just got back to normal life. Well, the new normal. </div>
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We also went through a few other changes this year. Jessie went back to school. He just finished a full semester today. And we even bought a new car, only 2 days ago! Life is changing, and it will keep on changing. </div>
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I already expect one possible change this year. If I decide to accept, I will be working 1 day a week at the Center. Jessie will be entering his major related classes at the end of this year. (He had some credits from where he attended school a few years back.) And, we will be parents of a 9 year old! Which seems too close to preteen to me. Since their hormones started changing around then. AND we will be reading a young toddler. Somebody please pray for me! Sam is starting swim team. I will be meeting some new people through the groups I am joining with Sara, Le Leche League and possibly Kindermusik. Of course, the girls will be too-building new relationships in the community.We plan to start a new History Living book curriculum-basically the same thing we have been doing, but a new book. We will be adding twice as much Bible time in. Minor Changes= Major Outcomes. Oh, and we will be taking our first daily vacation that isn't just a hundred or so miles away....There are so many other firsts, I can't even begin to list them! </div>
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I just can't wait. This year has a lot for us and we have a lot for it. Praying we can do more good than bad for this world this year and that Samantha learns new things along the way. </div>
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Happy New Year</div>
MommyMayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14895017376704760161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3545819986034745425.post-38943583917651722232016-12-23T04:07:00.000-08:002016-12-23T04:07:10.719-08:00Back To UnschoolWe are back to unschooling.<br />
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Well, actually, I don't know really what we do anymore.<br />
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Ah. I know what we do, we read.<br />
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Seriously, we read. I do not know how else to put it. <br />
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We are in the Narnia series right now. On Book 2 because we took a little break after Sara was born. Our living Science book is Jack's Insects. We will start that soon. And for History, we are about to start<br />
Story of the World. All...story books. So we read. We usually read one book at a time. But sometimes more. It doesn't matter to us if we are learning Science and History every day or if we learn a little Science for a month, a little literature another few months and then History for a month or two. Whose counting? And then of course we play games. So we read and play games and she and I both are satisfied. Lots of rich learning and problem solving. Don't forget puzzles. That's before all the outside activities.<br />
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And then I count practically everything she does still. Like playing and researching her own stuff-which she is beginning to do- and spending a lot of time at the theatre this year, seeing Narnia, Charlie Brown Christmas, and even the Nutcracker at the Fox Theatre! She wants to see Matilda there this Spring. And the biggest thing of all, watching her sister come into the world! Seriously, I think she has seen enough Science to not teach anything th rest of the year. Sam was just a few feet away and I was turned around backward on the bed. She saw it all and she was mesmerized. At first she said it was gross. And she could not believe all the blood after. She kept saying she didn't like it. It was too gross.<br />
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But when talking to her a few days ago, I saw that she was just processing it all, and I think it was life changing for her. She told me in the car she thinks she would like to be a nurse in labor and delivery. Not a doctor since they don't get to deliver all day, every day. She wants to help people like my nurse helped me. (My first nurse was an angel.) She said she thinks childbirth is so amazing and magical and she wants to see it again and she wants to help women through it. She also said she loves the hospital setting. The feel she gets when she goes in. The way it is quiet and you can hear the machines and it smells clean. She wants to work in one. She is pretty set on her goal, despite the fact that I told her nurses change bed pans and draw blood, and even if she does not become a nurse 10 years from now, I still think Sara's birth changed her. I love that she has a goal. For the longest time, she would get so upset because she was confused. She would say she didn't know what God wanted her to do and so when I asked her what she wanted to do, she would say she wasn't sure. Or she would say, "Lifeguard would be pretty cool. Or construction worker." (She thinks it would be like playing blocks all day. Ha Ha.) So she has found a passion and has started her research. We will see where it takes her from here.<br />
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Other Areas of Growth:<br />
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Math: Still just doing the basics. We just learned simple division and next semester we will do fractions, and, if we have time double digit multiplication. That'll probably be this Summer.<br />
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Reading: I never help her anymore. Most of the words she asks me about, even I can't even pronounce, mostly names. She is almost done with the Julie American Girl series. She too took a break after Sara. We are all just now getting back to our own books.<br />
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Spelling: She spells like a champ. She is always coming up to me spellng words that we never practiced. Well, we don't do spelling words so we don't practice any words...Anywho, she can spell just about anything I give her, within reason, and if she can't, I correct her and the day goes on. She usually remembers it later.<br />
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Vocabulary: Her vocabulary is tremendous. Not only does she know the meaning of words, she uses them consistently in sentences. I believe she purposely puts herself in that habit because she always asks me how she can use certain words in a in a sentence. I told her the other day I use books instead of Internet if I want to research something in depth. She asked what I meant by "in depth," and then she asked how she could use that in a sentence. I gave her an example and then she said, so could I say, "I slept depthly last night?" Of course I told her no and we talked about why, but I haven't heard her use it since. Maybe soon. She uses a lot of adjectives also. I guess she also just picks stuff up from us reading. She likes to follow my finger/asks what words in the book mean, and she makes mental notes (according to her) on spelling and definitions.<br />
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Research: I mentioned earlier she is starting to research. She is getting good. I fell asleep with Sara the other day after a few nights of her constantly rooting around in the dark for my boobs. Tough nights. Anyway, when I woke up 2-1/2 hours later-long nap, she had cleaned her room, played with several toys, and researched better ways to listen to her favorite artist's music on You Tube. She said she had found that you could search entire albums and also learned how to spell album. I love that girl!<br />
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Being a Big Sister: I saved the best for last. She has learned so much this year about pregnancy and development. (I planned to use the What to Expect book with her, but found that she learned more by watching me throw up, going to my ultrasounds/appointments, seeing me grow, and experiencing my recovery with me.) But the learning didn't stop there. She learned being a big sister to a screaming new baby is hard! She has learned about reflux and gas and how to burp a baby and she even changed some diapers. She is learning to calm her now that she isn't completely stuck to mommy. She has played with her, researched her development, and just plain loved on her. (Yesterday they played "airplane" and Sara spit up all over her face. I told her it's part of the big sister package. lol)<br />
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All is good. This year has already been a big success. I can't wait to see what next year brings as I watch two grow. (Of course Sara does school too.) They each "take part" in what the other is doing. Sara snoozes in and out while we read and Sam shows Sara things, tells her what they are and talks to her about family and holidays. And then of course there is tummy time. Seeing them both grow makes things go by a bit to quickly for my liking, but it makes it twice as special.MommyMayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14895017376704760161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3545819986034745425.post-44115763668993638122016-09-22T05:56:00.001-07:002016-09-22T17:17:56.575-07:00EightTomorrow.<br />
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She will be 8.<br />
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Eight is like the last half of 7. At 7 they started reasoning better. At 8, they really get stuff.<br />
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I'm ready.<br />
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Her major change always comes a few weeks prior to her birthday. Right after school lets back in and it is just her and me again.<br />
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This year, the change was huge.<br />
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She became more determined. Of course, she is still very laid back. But she does care more about doing things properly, especially her drawing. She has been using maniquins and specific sketch pencils. She asked for sketch paper and canvases for her birthday. She got a bunch. But she is using them properly. Which is nice. (She is using two of the canvases to paint dandelions for their bedroom wall.)<br />
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She also has better motor skills than she used to. Her swim laps look amazing. Her swim coach rarely corrects her. Her rotary breathing has also significantly improved. I can tell she is giving it even more effort than she used to. (Although, even in past semesters she has always tried hard and enjoyed swimming.) So we are allowing her to stay in and go as far as she wants to.<br />
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She has also received tons of praise from her AHG teachers. Since week one, she has become more vocal. The first day for badge work, they all stood up in front of the class and presented (which has never been a real issue for her). But they could tell she put a lot of thought into her project, a bag of things that describe her. She goofed off and made everyone laugh. She went out of her way to comfort the new girls who were nervous and try to become their friend. She lead prayer without an issue. She did flag ceremony without an issue. They just said they can tell all around she is more confident, and even though I am there occasionally as a parent volunteer which she thinks makes her cool, she does not need me in order to be confident and loving and to be able to speak her mind when they do devotions or presentations or other projects.<br />
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We went to visit my grandmother the other day after I saw the midwife. (The midwife is right down the road from her house and S asked to go visit.) It was probably the nicest visit we have ever had. Sam enjoyed hearing her stories about when she was little. They talked about the Bible, because S asked her why she had Phillipians verses up on her wall. They discussed investing, because we recently started discussing it and my Nana had run several successful businesses throughout her life. They talked about Halloween and her costume, the book she is reading, swim class, being a big sister, everything. She felt very connected. And hearing her talk made me realize how much she is growing up and all the things she has learned and all the interests she has!<br />
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She has such a wide range of interests. Things that she spends a lot of her time doing, like:<br />
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-Drawing. As I mentioned before, she has become more interested in learning new and proper techniques and adding them into her drawings. Although, like any artist, she always adds her own spin to things. She is currently specializing in life like people and cartoon animals.<br />
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-Engineering. She just loves to build and rebuild and remodel things. She loves to draw up "blue prints" and measure things out. She loves to follow the instructions on a Lego set and then take it apart and make her own thing. She loves K'Nex. My mother in law bought her K'Nex motors for her birthday and it was one of her favorite gifts. I believe she spends a majority of her time during the day drawing building, and....<br />
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-Reading. This is a new thing. She used to start chapter books all the time and then quit them. I'd try to remind her because she so frequently forgets about things she is working on. Eventually I stopped because I figured...if those things were important enough to her, she would remember. I would not play the role of the helicopter nagging Mom. So I stopped. And as she got older, reading became more fun to her. Because it came easier of course. One day she asked to go to the library to get some chapter books, and she hasn't stopped reading since.<br />
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-Swim. That is a given to anybody who knows her. This year she has become more independant in all aspects. She walks into the building while I park the car. She goes straight to class. She packs and carries her own bag. I do still watch her in class. But afterward, she goes up to the locker room, takes a shower-without asking me to stand outside the door, she dries her own bathing suit, and then we leave! Wait...why am I starting all over? ;)<br />
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-Tennis. After attending a tennis camp this Summer, where professional coaches taught her the basics, she has been more determined than ever to get the proper techniques down. Of course, kids aren't even supposed to start tennis until 8, so she still struggles, but she is improving and can participate in adult games as long as they are not too aggressive.<br />
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-Theatre. Although she does not deaire to be on stage, this has been get another long term interest of hers. Watching theater. Learning how things work backstage. Everything. And this Winter she will be going to see the Atlanta Ballet perform Nutcracker at the Fox Theatre! She is over the moon.<br />
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-Cake decorating. This is just one more of the many art related interests she has. But she spends so much time practicing on her Play Doh. And every chance she gets to make a cake....She does. :) She asked for a turn table (to help ice cakes) for her birthday, and she got one. She was over the moon. Next week, we are making a cake, 24 cupcakes, AND cake pops for my baby shower. She has lots of decorating ideas.<br />
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-Bible. I listed this last because I would put this between emerging interest and already emerged. If you miss a week of church, you have broken that girl's heart. She wants to understand the Bible. She wants to know how to translate from Hebrew. Last week she enjoyed hearing the TRUE story of Christmas and questioning some of our cultural add-ins. She talks a lot about wanting to know God's plan for her. It actually plagues her almost to the point of tears some days. And she sometimes talks about being a missionary, but not being sure what it is that God would want her to do. And could it be somewhat local, because she HAS to have a toilet! (AHG brought in several missionaries to Summer Camp this year.) I considered letting her go on a Mission trip...when she is older, but until then, we read about missionaries and talk about types of mission work.<br />
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I can see growing interests in several areas, including investing and owning her own business. She got some birthday money and wants to save it to buy materials to make cloth dolls to sell. I also see an interest in child development. She loves small children. And hearing about development from the womb into childhood. She asks a lot about motor skills and loves to sit in on my PAT meetings and hear about different types of development.<br />
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There is so much she loves. She is so will rounded. And she is open to so many new things.<br />
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Eight.<br />
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It's gonna be good.MommyMayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14895017376704760161noreply@blogger.com0