Just a little bit too busy around here for my taste.  Whatever happened to relaxed homeschooling??

Well, it's my own fault.  I love to be busy.  Most of the time.  Right now, Calgon, where are you?

I got up really early today, made some chai and then for two hours I was on the phone.  Well, it was "talkshoe" and I interviewed Jill Novak about the new issue of the Girlhood.  The she interviewed me about our experiences with a CSA these last few years.  She's got three more seminars today, so I hope you get to hear them!  Get on her mailing list so you can be a part of them...they are so uplifting!

This afternoon we had our "Delightful Kids" meeting at our local library.  We did watercolor painting, embroidery and attempted to create some things out of playing cards.  The boys did a bridge of sorts.  They had a great time, but I was envisioning the Golden Gate Bridger or Eiffel Tower or something...:)  Maybe next time.  I hope to post some photos soon.

Jen over at Jeneralities.com is having a great contest for RS.  Go check it out and enter.  I'm supposed to paste some text here but by golly, it's late and I am sooooo tired.  I'll try to do it later.  Just go check it out anyway. 

Have a wonderful day, and God Bless!

N.

Everyone needs some encouragement now and then. 

 I know I do! 

Sometimes I turn to my friends, but find out that they are in need just as much or even more than I am, then we are really in a boat aren't we? 

Sometimes I turn to my family, but many times they turn to me and I can't find the right words to say, within myself. 

 But if I turn to the Lord first, He ALWAYS has a word for me. 

I like to write about my crazy life experiences and hopefully someone reading them will see a little bit of themselves there, and will take to heart a snippet here or there and be encouraged. After all, why write anything at all unless it can teach, touch, humor or encourage someone else? 

What is the purpose?

In my previous post, I had a gal comment that she had purchased my Unschooling encouragement Ebook.  She really disliked it and told me so.  I emailed her, sent her a refund and asked her to just delete the book.  She emailed and thanked me for the refund, apologized and said she was sorry she commented on my blog in anger and basically that was that.  (I deleted those comments from the thread.)

After I asked her to delete the book, I decided that she didn't need to and that maybe sometime down the road it might help her in some small way.  I really pray that it would! 

But more than that, I pray that the Lord and His word would touch her heart.  His words are life, and truth, and everything that we need.  I'll be thinking of you J.L., and praying for you!  You are worth it! 

Christ died for you, after all. 

You are loved!

The whole of God's creation is at our fingertips, and we want

to learn all about it. But homeschooling is not just about

academics and information, formulas and facts. In thinking

about what we need, I discovered that there is much more

that we will gain from homeschooling, and without even

spending a cent! What it will cost us though, is TIME and the

dedication and resolve to rely on the Lord to be our

homeschooling shepherd. He will gently show us His way, and

as we follow Him, we will gain:

 A teachable heart and spirit.

A willingness to learn from our mistakes.

 Hands that serve.

 A heart that forgives.

 A loving home.

 A library card complete with fines!

AND the blessing of Godly, homeschool materials!

(The Lord blesses us with some "wants" too, not just our "needs.")

 A humble heart.

 A willingness to expect the unexpected, and rejoice in each new day.

The patience of Job.

(Or at least a new appreciation for trials!)

You will soon discover that what you thought you needed is

not always necessary, but what is necessary is gained.

The eternal, important things that you need will be gained

from being home, pouring your life into your kids,

 by God's strength, wisdom and grace alone!

Blessings and Happy Homeschooling,

Nancy

Do you remember learning to read?  Well, the experts say that most adults forget most of their memories of their very early years; say, before the age of 10.  I certainly don't fit in that category because I have many vivid memories of my early childhood.  But do I remember actually learning how to read? 

Nope. 

 I remember going to school, but not the actually learning-to-read process.

I love to read!  Reading is life.  I don't know where I would be without being able to read.  But reading, especially teaching reading can throw a wrench in an otherwise peaceful journey. You know, being a homeschooling Mom can add a great deal of pressure to our lives.  WE must be the ones who teach our children how to read!  And that pressure can be great IF we are following a preconceived notion of when our children must learn to read.  

Children learn different things at different times.  Children learn to read when they are ready to read!  Take my first born.  (No, not really, you can't have her, although many of my friends would like to have her and borrow her from time to time!)  Anyway, I tried to teach her to read when she was five or so, and we clashed heads in a very big way.  She just wouldn't do it!  We were both frustrated.  So, some wise person told me to back off. 

 Ok, I did. 

So hubby and I  just kept reading out loud to her, we read our own books, visited the library often and books have always been a huge part of our lives.  And one day, viola' she started reading.  She read chapter books, not the Dick and Jane twaddle.  And she hasn't slowed down since.

Enter second born.  Second born child loved books too, but as he got older and older...the reading wasn't happening.  I started to get a little worried.  But after listening to Dr. Raymond Moore and reading "Better Late Than Early," I figured everything would work out fine.  And it did.  My son began to read when he was 9, but there is also another factor to this story; he was very sick and we didn't know it right away.  He has diabetes, and until it was diagnosed and we began treatment, concentrating was very hard for him to do.  So once we got that figured out, he began to read.  He loves to read and reads all the time, or he would if I let him!

Child number 3 also is an avid reader.  You know the funny story about how when we have our first baby we sterilze the pacifier and such, and then by the "nth" baby we just wipe it off on our jeans kind of thing?  Well, feel sorry for child number 3 because I have NO idea when she started reading.  She just did and does and that is that.  By the time you  have several learners running around, it's just too hard to notice who is doing what, when!  Life happens too quickly, and I can't keep up.

So what happens when the number four child is NOT reading yet?  And "should be" because he is old enough, yada, yada, yada.  (Do people still use that word anymore?)  Anyway, that is where we are today.  A 10 year old who is perfectly capable of reading, just doesn't want to do it yet...but sorta wants too, and is the smartest little whip of the bunch, but just is TESTING Mom in a big way.  Maybe it's "let's see how long we can get away with not reading!" 

 Hmmm. 

 Well, at any rate, I wanted to tell you about a neato little book that my sometime boss/buddy/old friend Gena Suarez has written.  It is all about a little green guy named "Splish" and it's his story of learning to read.

My son was pretty excited when we got this book in the mail, but as soon as I started reading he became suspicious!  I think the book "resembled" him in many ways, although he isn't green.  "And Then Mama Said...It Takes Time to Learn to Read" is a fun book that kids are drawn to.  At least mine were!  My son thought the drawings were similar to the "bears" which of course, are the Bearenstein Bears and I hope I spelled that right.  :)

At any rate, if you are trying to teach a child to read  to convince yourself that there is no reason to bang your head up against the wall because your "older" child is not reading yet, then you should read Gena's book.  It will give you some more peace of mind, or at least help you find that peace that is there tucked away in your mommy-brain somewhere. 

 Do you know why?  Because that is the "soul" purpose of this book.

At least I think it is!

You can get Gena's book at the Schoolhouse Store.  Just click on the graphic!

Blessings,

Nancy

Hello friends! 

I shared something that happened awhile back, on my front porch column, and then I wrote this post.  However, for some crazy reason I never posted it.  Today, I was going through my archives and found it.  It couldn't have happened on a better, more appropriate day.

It has been quite a day.  The quintessential Monday. 

In this homeschooling/journey of life, there will always be unwanted challenges.  Behavior challenges (both the kids, and our own) ~ housekeeping challenges, marriage challenges, relationships of all kinds, for that matter, and last but not least, just plain ole' every day life challenges.

I think as homeschooling Mothers no matter how confident we are in our methods (or our madness!) sometimes we need to think  outside of ourselves!  I know I preach a lot here about trusting your intuitions, believing in who you are--by God's grace, and trusting in yourself to do what is best for your kids.  Sometimes even those of us who have been at this for a long time can suffer periods of burn-out, or confusion and sometimes we can get that feeling of wanting to walk off the gangplank---or make someone else! 

 But one thing I try to share with you is to never, never, never, never give up.  (Who said that?  Sounds like a history question for you...or your kids!)  Always be open to new ideas, take them to heart if they work for you and toss them out if they don't. 

 Just remember, burnout can be caused by staying in a rut!  Get a jumpstart, get out of that deadly rut and get going again.  It might not always be smooth sailing, but I don't know of any journey that can give that guarantee.  After all, nobody said homeschooling was going to be a pleasure cruise, did they?  Remember what they said about the Titanic?  "Not even God Himself can sink this ship." 

Famous last words.

Just remember who your Captain is, and your homeschooling ship will stay on the straight and narrow course.

Homeschooling Is Life!

Nancy

 All content (C) Nancy K. Baetz, all rights reserved

Apostrophes.

They might seem like simple little appendages to some of you, but to me, they are nothing less than albatrosses!  If you have known me for any length of time, you know that I don't like apostrophes!  I do not like them in my blog, I do not like them with a frog...(not much rhymes with blog!)  I do not like them here or there, I do not like them anywhere!  

Sigh.  I am apostrophe challenged.  Give me some plural possessives and watch me go crazy.  I know, they are kind of like an appendix; useful for some reason, but a body can still function with out one. 

 So, why is it that if I mess up my apostrophes, somebody always notices and lets me know?  I guess all my friends AND enemies must be left brained orderly perfectionist geniuses.  That is all I can figure!  Here is a nice little award for those of you who know your apostrophes.  Print this out and fill it in and just leave me floundering happily away in my blissful ignorance, ok?  Thanks!

Anyway, I am not the first one to start a cause against them.  Go here, but only if you are over 18, ok?  I warned you!  And just in case you too have apostrophic challenges here are some wonderful links to rules, games, teaching stuff and MORE THAN YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW about apostrophes and other parts of grammar, punctuation, speech, spelling and whatever else all those things are technically called.

Blessings! 

Homeschooling Is Life!

Nancy

If you check in over here once in a while, you might already know about my new Haircutting 101 e-book.  I promoted this on our homeschool leadership loop and a dear lady, Carol Topp, gave me some excellent tips and feedback!  One thing she mentioned was that she was looking for a product description page.....and I didn't have one.  Other than an announcement, I decided I had better get busy and tell you a bit more!

 Haircutting 101:  A Simple Guide for Cutting Your Son's Hair  is an 18 page e-book (electronic format, actually a pdf (portable document format) that is downloaded right to your computer.  It is just what you need so that you can start saving money today!  No more trips to the barber, salon or beauty school for those family haircuts.  Everyone can learn how to do a simple boy haircut by following a simple yet fun guide made just for you!

It has photos like these:

 It actually has close to 30 photos of various stages of a haircut, from start to finish!

This e-book also contains a supply list, some suggestions for materials and products, and many fun and personal tips and tricks and a bit of silliness thrown in just for fun!

It is my hearts desire that this guide will help you learn a new skill, one that you can use for life and also one that your children can learn right along with you.

Now, if you are intrigued and would like to jump in with both feet--or, both hands, a comb and a pair of scissors, you have come to the right place! You can get your guide to haircutting right here. (You will go right to a secure order page through paypal.)

If you have any questions, comments or problems, please let me know!

Happy Haircutting!

Nancy

Homeschooling Is Life!

Update:  10/08   This is now renamed "Haircuts For Little Men" and is available at www.nancybaetz.com

Right now, it is at a very low affordable price!

Hi!  Over at TrinityPrepSchool there is a terrific list and a challenge to come up with one of our own.....several blogs have taken the challenge already and it will take me years to catch up with reading all of them.....nevertheless, I hope to try! 

 But first, I am going to post my own. 

1.  Put People Before Things.  This is a long time motto of Le Leche League, the breastfeeding support group.  Although (sadly) I don't belong to the current membership, I did for quite awhile, and this saying helped me to remember that my little ones come first, before the housework, the other needs that seem to be pressing, and just about anything on the planet.  People are eternal.  Stuff is all gonna burn.. 

2.  Pray Hard.  Prayer Changes People! (Us!)   A lot of times we think that prayer changes God.  Nope, it helps us get in line with His thinking.  And by Praying for those little people in our lives, it will change US as we learn what they need and how we are going to work (with the Lord's guidance) to give them what they need. 

3.  Learn To Be Content with Less.  Less Is More.  If you only had one or two resources for your homeschooling endeavors, what would you choose?  In reality, I bet ALL of us have way more stuff than we can shake a stick at.  And stuff means "time stealer."  I am working on eradicating the stuff we have collected that is taking over our home.  Are you?

4.  Find the Best Odds.  This is another one of the "pregnant or new Mom" maxims.  From the "What to Expect" series, Best Odds is a way of thinking that helps you to eat better whether for two or for one!  Before you put that morsel in your mouth, is it the best you can find?  Give youself the Best Odds, whether it is eating, exercising or even buying curriculum!

5.  Under-schedule Yourself.  Redeem the Time!  With the choices we have available for extra-curricular classes and socialization opportunities   it is easy to overwhelm your "schedule."  First, prioritize your priorities!  Next, consult with each child and your spouse about those "extras" that might be wanted or needed.  Check the local options, make up a list of what is available.  Then throw the whole thing out!  Not really, but sort of.  Don't think you have to be involved in EVERY offering that comes your way.  One outside activity is enough! 

6. Stop and Smell The Roses.....with your children.  Many times we Mom's forget that our kids don't really know who we are or what we really like!  Do they know about your hobbies and interests?  Spend time showing those things to your kids.  Go where you want to go, together.  It's all about relationships!

7.  Keep Life Simple.  Enjoy the Simple Life!  The more you do and have, the more things you have to do and the more you have to maintain!  Remember this.  K.I.S.S. 

 No, not that old saying, this one:  Keep It Simple Sweetie!

Homeschooling Is Life!

Nancy

©Nancy K. Baetz

Homeschooling Is Life! 2006

Related Tags: Seven Habits, Breaking Habits, Home Education, Family, Homeschooling, Simple Living, Homeschool Curriculum

  Stay tuned to find out!!! 

 How's that for a catchy title?  I do hope you will check back and see.  (It's coming on Thursday's Front Porch.)

Thanks for all the wonderful encouragement the last few days!  It's been a busy, crazy time but God is good and all things work out according to Him.

Did you read the article in the Chapel section of TOS--Spring issue?  The interview Deb W. did with Terri Maxwell?  I am so anxious to read her book. Homeschooling with a Meek and Quiet  Spirit. (Hurry up and send me your extra copy, Miss M!) 

 I can't wait to read it.....I NEED to read it. 

I also want to take (another) peek at the MOTH book.  You know, "Manager's of their homes."   Not that I need it or anything, mind you. And not that I could use it, it's kind of like me and KONO's----information overload!  But that doesn't mean YOU can't use it.  Variety is the spice of Homeschooling :)

 (Be sure to check back on Thursday!!!)

So, stay tuned---

Homeschooling is Life,

Nancy

Ok, so it's not quite Summertime yet, and things haven't been so easy so far today.

I don't like posting anything when I am feeling frustrated like I am today, but I guess I need a good dose of preaching to myself.  Now, if I could just get myself to listen! :)

It doesn't matter what method or style of homeschooling you use, or if you have degrees or not, OR whether you are rich or poor.  What matters is the condition of your heart. Today, I feel like my heart is broken.  My kids have been fighting and short with each other, and I haven't had a lot of patience for any of it. 

 I know my heart hasn't been in the right place.  I have been finding fault and placing blame.  There are also a lot of temporary little foxes that have been raiding the vineyard.  It's hard for me to see past it, and get my mind back in sync with what is truth.  It's amazing to me how just a few things can pile up and make a mountain!  I know I have to get rid of that mountain, and I know how~ I just forget sometimes, and then there is a bit of rebelliousness that would just rather gripe about the mountain instead of conquering it. (Some day's it seems easier to gripe than it does to just believe what God says!)

I know this might seem a little simplistic, but I thought maybe the Lord could give me some insight, so I sat and read His Word and asked him to help me change my heart today.  You know, He is in the business of changing hearts and lives. (And moving mountains, and vanquishing little foxes....)

Here are a couple of acrostics that I thought of, while pondering my heart disease today:

His

Eternal
Attitude is

Right

Teaching

Help

Eventually

Arrives and is

Richly

Treasured

He who dwells

Even, I

Am protected

Reassured by

Trusting in your Word

Heaven's

Eternal

Answers

Reward

Truth seekers

Hearing

Ears

Are

Resting in

The Lord's Peace

How can

Everyone know

All of your

Riches Lord?

The Bible tells them..

Change my heart oh God and renew a right spirit within me!

Have a blessed day!

Nancy

Are you hearing voices????  Feeling insecure, frazzled or worried????

Are thoughts racing around your head.........like some of these?

"Oh, I just can't teach these kids anything!"

"We really are unschoolers, but sometimes I am so unsure of all this!"

"I feel like someone is watching my every move, and I am BLOWING it!"

"What if someone asks my kids a question they can't answer them???"

"Our schedule is not what I want it to be, but it seems like we are WAY too busy."

"Little Suzy is falling behind in math."

"The house is SO out of control."

"How will I ever teach it ALL?"

"What about gaps in my kids' education?????"

Relax, dear homeschooling Mother, Relax.

What a blessing to find this in my mailbox today from HSLDA.  There is nothing better than a homeschooling Dad's perspective, (and an HSLDA lawyer, at that ) to set our minds at ease. 

 God Bless you Michael Farris!

 From the HSLDA weekly update:

 "Home School Heartbeat": Myth of the Perfect Homeschooling Mom

Nobody's perfect--homeschool moms included! Expecting yourself to
manage a mistake-free homeschool, or comparing yourself to others,
will only sap you of strength and joy. Get refreshed this week as
Michael Farris encourages moms to set realistic goals and simplify
their teaching methods.

(click the link to read the transcripts of this week's Home School Hearbeat, and then

RELAX!)

And speaking of HSLDA, you can get a free trial membership through Aug. 15, just click here and tell them Nancy sent you!

Changing my label to "Lifeschooling."

Nancy