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Creative Learning
May. 2, 2006
Five is Already Too Many and Now Oral Surgery!
| Five of them are too much for me. They are a handful and a lot of work. The two teens decided to wrestle again. We tried to stop them, but it wasn’t soon enough. One thing had led to another and there it was. His canine tooth was sticking out sideways! He looked like a wild boar! He looked so pitiful; it was his own fault. They are just too rough with each other. We tried to get the tooth to go back into place, but it just would not budge. We had no choice. It needed medical attention. Well, they were able to wiggle the tooth into place, and then wired it securely to another tooth. Just think of it! The DOG has “braces” and my son, who needs them does not! Husband told our son that he could always wrestle with the dogs and have his tooth dislodged. We could then take him to the vet to get the braces. It wouldn't be efficient, but it would be cheaper!
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Apr. 24, 2006
Help! I’m Heading Towards a Book Avalanche!
I admit it! I am unable to throw out a book! They are everywhere! I must make a decision before someone gets hurt! There are many trees and cotton plants that are spending their after-life in my house. I could recycle them. They might make good insulation if we build an addition. We could think of them in terms of those small plastic building blocks and build things. I could use some new couches in the rec. room and a couple of end tables. The sheep could use another shelter. I could replace the roll with a book by the water closet. Not only would it encourage reading, I would not need to purchase anymore lavatory paper products!
The room dedicated to books is full. There are five six foot high book cases filled to overflowing in that room. There are books under the day bed in the same room. There is a another closet filled from top to bottom with books. There is also a storage shed outside filled with books as well. Husband says that I must take action. There must be a reduction.
There have been benefits to having this love affair with books. Without realizing it, I became the family librarian. My children never had to use a public library. They were living in one. When they wanted to read a book, all they had to do was peruse the stacks in the house. And they did read. Ratting on the offender who was reading until two or three or later in the morning was common. That includes Husband as well! I had enough research material in the house for school reports as well as research for speeches in college. It will be painful, but I must reduce. Of course, if anyone has any really creative uses for books, please share your ideas!
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Apr. 22, 2006
Breaking the Addiction!
When I was in grade school a relative gave me a present. I had never received this type of gift before and I was thrilled. I had received two books. They were below my reading level, but I loved them. I was thrilled. There were books in my house, and we regularly went to the library, but these books were MINE. I zeroed in on the parts of old black and white films that showed old mansions with a library. The soaring bookshelves with volumes and volumes looked too inviting to me. Soon I started to daydream about the day that I could collect enough books to create my own library. Without realizing it, I was addicted!
My addiction was satisfied with the book requirements of high school and college, but the habit did not get out of control until I was married with children. “After all,” I would tell myself, “the books were for the children.” Then I discovered the “Friends of the Library” book sale! That was it! Year after year boxes and boxes were brought into the house. Whenever a family member found a reading interest, then I would buy those types of books. I collected dogs books, science books, history books, outdoor books, pioneer books, adventure books, how-to books, and any book I thought would benefit my family. Homeschooling was a great excuse to add even more books to the collection. As a science teacher for many years, I would use trade books to introduce topics to my middle school students. As an artist and abstract thinker, it was a great combination for me as well as my students, but bad for my budget. To add to the problem, I am an information freak and collected books for my personal reading! I kept most of them. After all, how could I get rid of old friends? I love books! If it weren’t for the fact that the children grew up, I would still be bringing those boxes and boxes into the house. Wait! I now have grandchildren! Maybe I won’t break this addiction! Maybe I’ll stay in denial!
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Apr. 20, 2006
Please! Five is Enough!
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It wasn’t as though I planned it this way. We had one, then were surprised with another, and another, until we now have five. If I ever had to do it all over again, I would only have two. Although the two teenagers get along rather well, they do have their moments. They are young males in their prime, and sometimes they don’t realize their strength. A wrestling match can turn at any moment, and someone could get hurt. The oldest can be grumpy and doesn’t really want to be bothered with everyone else. I guess he is just in another “phase.” The “princess” wants to get her way and can really be snappy with the boys. She usually does get her way. Then I have one with an eating disorder. He is too cleaver, finds the hiding places for the food, and continues to gain weight. What am I supposed to do? Lock him up? The costs for doctor care is too high, and immunizations cost too much. There are no discounts bringing them in a group. They constantly mess up their “bedroom.” My husband complains about the food bill. Bath time is a problem. We cannot go on vacation because the cost of sending them to camp is cost prohibitive. I do love them, I really do, but next time I will limit myself to two! Although they are medium to small breeds, I really think having five dogs are too many!
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Apr. 8, 2006
God Has a Sense of Humor!
| Compared to many of the blogs that I have read, most are much younger than I am. I am at the end of homeschooling my last child; he starts high school next year. Five of the six children are youg adults. Four have graduated college, one professional school, and one is expected to gradutate college by December. With the oldest turning 30 this summer and with the blessing of four grand children, I have become rather reflective. When my oldest was somewhere around 10 or so, I thought my husband and I had a handle on this child rearing stuff. As the children grew older, we realized that not only did we not have a handle on things, we probably did everything wrong! Maybe we should be amazed that they turned out so well! It was only by God's Grace! In addition, information is leaking out as to what they did behind my back! Good Night! They could have killed themselves! God has a sense of humor. We are humbled before the Lord.
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