Posted in Lifestyle of Learning

Okay. So the hot water ran out on me in the shower this morning. I was trying to work out a problem in my plot! Lol!

Posted in Lifestyle of Learning

I've signed up for National Novel Writing Month (or NaNoWriMo). Which means I've committed myself to attempt to write 50,000 words during the month of November!! Fortunately, the goal here is quantity NOT quality! :) So I am going to do my best to churn out unedited uncritiqued unpremediated prose! :D

Posted in Lifestyle of Learning

Adolescents see the real you. They know you better than you do yourself. The number one step--the ONLY step really--to parenting teens is to repent and experience revival within. An honest walk before the Lord, living out the joy of serving Him will bring your teens alongside you.

Your teens are your co-workers now. When they sense your honest love and caring, your eagerness for them to have great experiences, your enthusiasm for the Lord's work they will want to join you in that work. Be honest, listen, share, work hard, have fun. Repent and serve the Lord.

Posted in Lifestyle of Learning

Been thinking lately about what I would do differently if I had it all to do again. I feel a bit remorseful and I find myself wishing I had a second chance, wanting to start over and try again. Not productive thinking, I know, but maybe I can glean from such thoughts and come up with goals and strategies to put into practice now!

 

So what are these things I wish I'd done differently? Focus on my homemaking skills--I did try off and on. I found the Sidetracked Home Executives--a good start. I wish I'd stuck with it and kept my daughters by my side so they, too, would feel it was/is an honor and a privelege to be a homemaker.

 

Wish I'd spent more time having fun with my kids, teaching them to be cheerful, to enjoy work, to appreciate simple things. And to develop a servant heart. These are obviously all things I need to nurture in myself!

 

One thing I did right--not worrying about any academics until age eight. I'm not going to say enrolling in our district's alternative learning program was a mistake; I think I needed it then. But if I could start over, knowing what I know now--I would skip it. (Providing my husband agreed!) Dealing with the public school is such a sticky mess. And I would stick with AmblesideOnline--with Charlotte Mason methods, at least!--all the way through! I think if we'd been honing narration skills all along, my daughters would be having no trouble in school right now--they'd be able to focus on what was necessary. And if we'd been "CMing" all along, creating that love of learning, they might even be interested in biology, in history, in geography. That is something I'm really regretting now......

 

While I can't go back in time and homeschool my kids all over again, I can work on my current relationship with them--growing in myself a cheerful grateful attitude, nurturing a servant's heart. I can develop my homemaking skills and find creative ways to enlist their help. I really really hate to think I'm done homeschooling. 'Cause I'm not ready to quit!

Posted in Lifestyle of Learning

Well, I am a real homeschooler now, at least in the eyes of the state. (Though I am still a one-quarter homeschooler.  See Homeschool "Fractions" http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JewelSea/130640/ .) Since my eldest was in the third grade we have been enrolled the district's "alternative learning experience" program (district support for homeschoolers). I know many "true" homeschoolers would have considered that government meddling, but it worked for us. I found resources, support, and other homeschoolers there. And I was still the teacher and all our learning was done at home. And we were allowed quite a bit of latitude in curriculum choice, etc.

 

All that has changed now, though. First the state began tightening up requirements (and drove out many Christian families) and then last spring the district axed the program altogether. It's so odd! At a time in our state when many other districts are expanding their alternative programs, ours cuts it completely! Anyway, we were left high and dry just as my younger daughter was to begin high school. She had been attending middle school part-time, but none of us were comfortable with enrolling her fulltime.

 

So that means she will be attending high school part-time (they have this strange rotating schedule, so that she will be going every other day) and the rest of the time she will be at-home, a real "honest-to-goodness" homeschooler, because this will be the first time I have ever had to submit our state's Intent to Homeschool declaration!  To be honest, I find it a bit exciting!

 

So now we are "honest" homeschoolers! At least half the time!!

Posted in Lifestyle of Learning

This really strikes a nerve! Amy tells me ( http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DandelionSeeds/82654/ ) that a clean home starts with clean hearts. It has become very apparent to me that some heartwork is in order in this home. Right! Okay, God, let's have it. How do I start cleaning up these kids' hearts? What? I need to start with MYSELF?!! Gulp. Okay, Lord. How do I begin?

 

I've known/felt for a very long time that I want to renew my relationship with my Lord. I'm not quite sure how to go about that except just to get down on my knees and start, to "P.U.S.H." (Pray Until Something Happens) as Amy says.

Posted in Lifestyle of Learning

Do I struggle with being consistent? Now there's a question! Consistent with what? Getting nutritious meals on the table on time each day? Going to bed at a reasonable time? Remembering every day to show my family how much I love them? Keeping the house decently picked up and clean? Do I struggle with any of these things? Sigh. Do I really have to answer that question?

 

Yesterday morning, as my eldest dd (15) was heading out the door to catch the bus (yes, she goes to public school fulltime now, but in my heart I'm still a homeschooler), she proudly informed me she had eaten an English muffin (good...) and drank half a can of pop (not so good!). As you may have guessed, eating a good breakfast is a bit of an issue in this house. "But, honey," I said, "that is so bad for you." And she went on her merry way and I returned to my contemplation of consistency. Now while I very rarely start my day with sugared foods, I began to wonder how well I follow my own advice about eating well. Am I consistent? (Eeep!) How about all the other motherly advice that drops so easily from my lips each day? Do I follow my own advice? Am I consistent?

 

Self-discipline is not a strong point of mine. If I were to focus on trying to be consistent with that list up there and all the other "inconsistencies" I can think of, I would be completely overwhelmed and sink before I ever left the harbor! Rather than actions or chores, I am going to pick one... principle, I guess... to focus on, to try to be consistent with. I am choosing to ask God to help me balance my actions with my words. To begin to follow my own advice: to eat well, exercise, get enough sleep, to plan ahead and not procrastinate (woah!!), to let only positive words past my teeth (another hard one)...... I have lots of advice!

 

And, rather than to continue to give advice (that no one listens to anyway), perhaps I should share my own struggles with these issues and how I have to lean on God everyday. Perhaps it's time to stop talking and start walking!

 

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DandelionSeeds/80481/

Posted in Lifestyle of Learning

Ooooooo. Attitudes have been an issue in this house and home these days. And the Lord has been impressing it on my heart more and more (beating me over the head perhaps?) that attitude has to start with me! Good attitude, that is. The unfortunate truth is my attitude can have a profound effect on the rest of the family! And when that attitude is not so good...... watch out!

 

My eldest dd informed me this weekend that I never have any fun? Really? I stopped in my tracks as I searched for the truth in that comment. Do I really never have any fun? Am I the sourpuss, the wet blanket in this family? It's true that life has felt more and more challenging these last few years, responsibilities seem to weigh more heavily on me. But is that mere faulty perception? Is it really as hard as I make it out to be? Do I truly have such a heavy load to carry? I know it is too easy for me to through myself a "pity party", to lapse into a "poor me" attitude. Wups!

 

Now I tend to keep most of these gripes to myself, but obviously they affect my attitude! When I look at the life I'm living, I see it's not so much that I need to change what I'm doing--to get out there and start whooping it up, having some fun--but that I need to change how I am doing it! (Light bulb moment here!!!) I am very blessed in what I have and whom I share my life with. I need to start showing that, to have FUN doing the things I am doing now, already, and to start sharing that fun with my family.

 

I have just been blessed with discovering Amy's blog, Dandelion Seeds: http://homeschoolblogger.com/DandelionSeeds/ And, as well as just having had a baby (congratulations, Amy and family!), she is just finishing up a Clean Heart, Clean Home Challenge. The state of my house usually has me in despair and I am always on the lookout for "the" method that will save me from my self-induced chaos. Here on Amy's site I have discovered a clean house and home campaign that addresses the heart first!! Maybe I'm coming in on the end of this, but you can count me in. Amy started "reviving the heartbeat in her home" in February with Boot Camp and that is where I am starting, too. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DandelionSeeds/77354/

Posted in Lifestyle of Learning

Seems false to call myself a homeschooler these days. I have one in public school fulltime and the other there half-time. Does that make me a one-quarter homeschooler?

 

Despite everything, I still believe I, we, their parents are still our children’s main educators. I still believe their basic values and their love of learning, as well as their skills and tools for learning come from home. So I will continue on in my quest to create a "lifestyle of learning".

 

And, besides, there are only seven more weeks of public school. Soon they WILL be back home with me! :)