Saturday, August 12, 2006
2006-7 school year begins!
Posted in Learning on the Narrow Path
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August 1-5, 2006 Blair hasn’t joined us for school just yet. She’s been writing a 15,000 word novel this summer which was due August 1. She’s going to take a week off before jumping in. She still came with us on our field trips and had a ball. School started off well, but shaky. John just doesn’t want to submit to authority at all and becomes very rebellious and angry when required to. I wanted to threaten him with public school if he doesn’t straighten up, but that would bear worse fruit still. Resorting to government ed would be a perceived victory for him, but in the long term, I sincerely believe, would damage the relationship we’ve worked so hard to encourage with his sisters and us. He also needs near constant supervision until his inward character is more developed, something I know to be lacking in gov’t schools. Basically, every assignment I gave him (two, count ‘em, two) was disputed. At one point he declared I didn’t have the authority to assign him anything, as he was in high school now and self-taught. That was the heart of the matter right there. His library books are ordered for his American Lit course (the most rigorous and hated of his work) and he will be focusing on that, Biology, and Bible for the time being. Later in the year, we’ll add more as he becomes accustomed to the hard work of learning. Kate started off great guns, finishing almost everything assigned to her for five days’ work despite taking two days off completely for back to school shopping and a fun field trip. She completed Investigation 1, and lessons 11-13 in Saxon 65; pages 113-119 in her English Lessons with the Bible course; a name acrostic poem; her first science lesson in mammals and a lot of supplemental reading on the mammals she has chosen to research; she read two books about the state of Tennessee and is compiling a list of things she’s like to know about our state; walked one mile and stretched for 30 minutes twice (plus loads of physical activity on those field trips); practiced her fiddle four times for more than 30 minutes; did four lessons in her Old Testament overview course and shopped for her Maple Crunch Muffins she’ll make for breakfast next week. Christy completed three lessons in her Bible course, and two math lessons. She also got 100% on her speed drill for the week. She did the name acrostic, but had a hard time with the concept of describing herself without praising herself. She kept wanting to say negative things about herself. She chose which mammals she wanted to study, completed the first science lesson with us and picked her library research books. She stretched for a cumulative hour, jumped for 30 minutes on the trampoline (no small feat in the hot humidity we’ve had) and walked a mile. I knew she’d love the art course I picked out for her, but had no idea she’d take off as she has. Not only did she complete the first four lessons, she spent nearly every unplanned waking hour practicing and teaching others her new skill of drawing 3-D basic shapes like cubes and cones. Rose’s school time is short each day, as is Christy’s. If it is to be done, it must be done before lunch. After lunch is nap, which runs 90 minutes, then snack, then everyone is ready for a break. She still managed to complete 6 pages in her Bible course and two devotions on kindness; read 8 pages in her American History book and walk two miles. She also did the first lesson in Biology with the younger set, working at her own pace. She found some great library books on her chosen mammals and read them as well as participated in the field trip. Field Trips and Extracurricular Activities this week included a full day shopping for school materials and clothes on our state’s tax-exempt day. It certainly was a challenge to find appropriate, modest clothing for the girls. I wish they would wear dresses more often, but they claim jeans are more comfortable. Picking out new notebooks, pens and pencils is just as fun now as it was 40 years ago! It’s true, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year…” but not for Staples’ reason! On 8/2, Hubby’s office presented next year’s VBS program to the children of the employees. It had a sports theme, and was a big hit despite the early reluctance of our young man. Blair immediately made friends with all the children sitting within several rows of her, and the little ones just loved singing and signing the songs. We hit the outdoor obstacle course early as it was expected to be a very hot day. John chose to be photographer instead of participate, and we got some wonderful photos of various activities. We saw a “sports news” program put on by a couple kids which outlined the topics covered in the course of the VBS week. The craft room was lots of fun, everyone made a zipper-pull with baseball, basketball, soccer, football and hockey puck beads, then had a temporary tattoo put on their hands. There was more to do, but lunchtime wasn’t far off and we had one more “room” to visit. So, off to the best part of the day – the game room! Shooting hoops with a huge, inflated basketball was challenging and the indoor obstacle course was fun, but once the girls found the kneeball game, (like volleyball, but you have to kneel, no standing allowed!) John joined in and it quickly escalated into a boys vs. girls match. We had to tear them away for lunch (this is my crew, begging for more time and saying they aren’t hungry?) in the company cafeteria. We didn’t want to miss the door prizes have to eat cold pizza. Christy won a huge Velcro ball and mitt set and Rose won a set of sports-themed adventure books. They all slept very well that night! I am glad the year has started so well. My fears for anything are always in advance. Once the event actually begins, I manage to buckle down and really enjoy myself. I think that transfers to the children, who see Mom having fun and figure, “why not have fun, too!?” Prayer points for this year will include: That Blair find her work rewarding and give her a sense of a future. That John will learn the joy of obedience and the protection of submission quickly. That Kate will continue her search for friends and not be discouraged by early rejections. That Christy will begin to see herself through the Lord’s eyes and realize the great gift she is to the world. That Rose will filter her thoughts and words through the Word, not just spouting out and dwelling on what she feels. That the Lord will continue to enable me to teach, strengthen me to parent, love me to love and move me to encourage. That Dearest Beloved will be protected in work and continue to make his family a priority. |
Thursday, August 3, 2006
Going great!
Posted in Learning on the Narrow Path
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Ahhh. Three days into the "year" and we've already had our first day "off"! Okay, it wasn't a day without school. Dearest works for a company that publishes (among other things) VBS materials. They set up the chapel and several conference rooms at his office as VBS stations and gave the kids of the employees a preview of next year's program. It was great fun for everyone -- even Jon who HATES crafts and songs and participating in anything that anyone younger than him likes! I think Blair enjoyed it more than the rest of them. She's so good at just jumping in and making things fun for herself! Speaking of the dear, she has decided on Geometry and Equine Biology for math and science. I picked her up Teaching Textbooks for Geometry. I've been wanting to see their approach for a while. It's also time for Driver's Ed. Dearest hubby will definitely be in charge of that. Our state is having a tax-free day tomorrow. All school supplies, kid's clothes and shoes are exempt from the state sales tax. Like an instant discount! So, today is list-making day. Checking out the hand-me-downs, school supplies, trying on clothes and shoes, etc. Tomorrow will be an early morning at Wal Mart and Target! I sure hope the crowds don't meet my expectations. (Think day-after-Thanksgiving sale madness.) |
Friday, July 28, 2006
Okay. On your marks...
Posted in Learning on the Narrow Path
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I'm resolute. It's time to step out of my selfish, totally self-absorbed depression and get to work! School starts August 1. So far, here's what we have planned: Blair, my 11th grade student will work through Stobaugh's Skills for Literary Analysis. I love Stobaugh's materials, and she's been wanting a deep lit course. This definitely qualifies. She is very burned out on math, having studied Algebra I and II, Geometry and Consumer math in the last 3 years. We discussed Geometry, but she's thinking she'd rather have a year off. She is considering whether she will join us for general Biology or take a specialized Equine Biology course. She is also designing her own historical research course. She will probably begin August 8, as she is writing a novel with a 7/31 deadline. I imagine she'll need a day or two to "breathe" before starting school. John will be in 9th grade this year. His goal is to complete high school in three years and gain early admittance to the Air Force Academy. He is taking Stobaugh's American Lit course, Apologia Biology, Algebra II, Spanish I and American History and Economics. Civil Air Patrol might continue depending on how the finances shake out. Once those courses are completed, we'll move him "up the ladder" to World Lit and History, Chemistry, Trigonometry, and Spanish II. Kate is in 6th grade this year. She will finish up the second half of Saxon Math 6/5 and start on 7/6. She is using "English Lessons from the Bible" and working on our family creative writing projects. She will also participate in Biology, using whatever I find helpful from "Christian Kids Explore Biology" and "The Body Book." She's not nearly as interested in human biology as she is animals and insects, though. Our annual pass to the zoo should come in very handy! She'll join our family creative writing assignments (I LOVE "If You're Trying to Teach Kids How to Write" for this.) She is starting with our current home state of TN in history and geography and will then choose states that interest her for further study. I hope she will continue her fiddle lessons, depending on the amount of disposable income we have available. She also wants to hone her homemaking skills in cooking, laundry, cooking, cleaning and cooking. Food prep gives us a great "in" with health and nutrition. Christy is my most difficult student. She's wonderful, easy to teach, willing to learn, but of all my children, the closest to "behind" academically. She will probably need a great deal of my personal attention as she works through her fourth grade year. She has found "Building Life Castles" to help her study the Bible. A computerized course for math including "Math Matters" and "Math Drill Express" will ease her handwriting frustrations. She will work on penmanship with the worksheets I produce for her with "StartWrite" software, but will do her creative writing on the computer. Spelling lists will be culled from writing projects with weekly tests. She will also use "Christian Kids Explore Biology" and "The Body Book" for science, and is most interested in diseases of humans. Nutrition, rest and exercise will be thoroughly covered. We have a copy of "History of the United States," an ABeka book that she is interested in reading through. I imagine she'll read a great deal of historical fiction as well. She will also complete Thomas Kinkade's drawing course on DVD, she loves to draw, and it's gotta help the handwriting, right? Rose, my sweet baby girl, enters our school officially this year, as a first-grade student. She will continue using "Studying God's Word" until she is ready for a more devotional-type study. Miquon Orange and Red books will be completed, as will Making Math Meaningful through level 3 or so. She will also occasionally work the computerized speed drills for accuracy and speed. She is in the second grade level of Rod and Staff's "Bible Nurture Reader" series and will join us for our creative writing assignments with spelling lists made from misspelled words and tested occasionally. ABeka's "My America" will start off her American history study, but I imagine historical biographies will comprise the majority of her history course. She will join us for biology and practice her recorder when Kate is practicing fiddle. I will be available for help and encouragement, but since all our students are mostly self-taught, I plan to get my transmission back in gear and get back to work on my bookselling business! It is time. |
Sunday, July 9, 2006
Can He DO that??
Posted in Family Doings
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I just received the most distressing news. The company Dearest Beloved worked for (before this terrible move) has been sold. The employees (some, anyway) will be relocated to Colorado. In one fell swoop, the Lord has knocked me off my feet and burned my bridge back "home." Can He DO that? I feel like a child of divorce who has just discovered that Daddy is remarrying. There's no more hope of reconciliation. There's no way back home. Kinda started the whole mourning thing again. Before this news, I was already ~this~ close to non-functional. I can't even cry. Thank the Lord for Game Boy - at least I have a world to disappear into. But it's okay - they know me and love me in that little giga-world. |
Wednesday, June 7, 2006
Aliens took my daughter
Posted in Family Doings
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My sweet, helpful, kind, God-hearted, fun, 16-year-old Blair has disappeared. In her place, is some child who is identical in physical appearance only. I know, you're thinking, "She's a teenager! That's normal and to be expected!" But it totally took me by surprise, and my children are not strangers to me. The transformation happened overnight. She's been depressed about the move for several months. We've been working through it, including allowing her to express her feelings of anger and frustration toward us and God as long as she allowed us to help her deal with the feelings and not withdraw. We have tried to involve her in local community activities to help her get a sense of "home."We have encouraged her to continue communicating (always monitored communication) with her online friends and found a phone service with a flat fee for long distance calls so she wouldn't lose touch with her friends on the other end of her known world. In the last 24 hours she has done three separate things, totally unrelated, that just aren't like her. Cruelty, dishonesty and physical aggression just aren't the Blair I knew. I've planned a day with her today - a girl's day out. I'm hoping and praying that some additional time away from the pressures of home along with some relaxing conversation will bring her back. In the meantime, if you are contacted by the aliens who did this, can you let me know? I miss my daughter. |
Friday, June 2, 2006
Getting Control
Posted in Family Doings
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I plan to spend the next few days regaining control of our finances. It is important for a family to have a handle on their budget. Doubly so for a large family. I admit, it's entirely my fault. I've been distracted lately and not paying as close attention to those things that require it. I found some recipes I just adore, but they aren't big-family-friendly, and making them has been depleting our cash in a big way. Oh, I have enjoyed making Black Cherry Lamb and Chicken Sopresseta. But paying $12 for a wedge of cheese just isn't gonna fly. Summer is the perfect time to cut back. It's too hot to cook, too hot to eat, really. Some fresh fruits, raw veggies and lots and lots of salads will be our summer fare, I'm thinking. We don't have a grill, so that's out. Another problem I've been having since moving to the south is how quickly food spoils. Up north I'd shop once a week and my fresh stuff would always last a week, sometimes longer. Here I've been shopping twice a week and my fresh stuff doesn't last three days. It's so frustrating to pay for a cantaloupe, bring it home and have it moldy and mushy 36 hours later. I don't have a car, so shopping more than twice a week isn't possible. I've studied and practice good food storage, and I'm just beside myself. It will help once we get a new upright freezer for the garage to replace the one that broke in the move. My kitchen freezer is stuffed too full to even make ice. And that's another thing while I'm ranting about the south. The water that comes out of my tap is mouth-temperature on hot days. Ew. I've been putting water bottles in the fridge, but at the rate I drink water, it will soon come down to a decision between water and milk. There's no room for a pitcher, and even if there was, it would take longer to cool than a water bottle. I'm totally befuddled. |
Sunday, May 28, 2006
A night at the movies
Posted in Learning on the Narrow Path
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Did you know there were once over 4000 drive-in movie theatres in our country and now there are only 400? We went to one of those remaining drive-ins last night. NOTE: If you are ever east of Nashville, TN, the 25-mile drive to the Stardust is well worth it, especially the snack bar. Inexpensive and delish! We saw "Over the Hedge" which was entertaining enough. But the real high point was our first viewing of fireflies! Just like when we lived in CA, and the kids thought I was making snow up out of my imagination, they had put fireflies down as legend as well. In the woods next to the theatre we even heard a whipoorwill. Wow. What an educational night! |
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Bye-bye my baby, bye-bye
Posted in Family Doings
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We've had an online friend staying with us for the last four days. She brought her adorable (any tiny) fourteen-month-old son, Andersson. He is so amazing and precious. He had a blast with the kids, and got really attached to me. When I walked in the room, he'd hold out his arms for me, even if he was with his mom. He'd climb up on my lap when he was tired and I'd hum, rock and kiss him to sleep. I thought it was going to be really hard to put them on a plane today, after all the midlife crisis-ing I've been doing these past two years. It wasn't. That acute twinge when I see a baby is gone. The feeling of emptiness in my arms has left me. I can hold, cuddle and enjoy a baby without feeling an ache when I hand him back over to his mother. I thought for sure I'd shrivel up and die if I never had another baby. I won't. Thank you, Andersson, thank you Lord. |
Tuesday, May 9, 2006
Places in the Heart
Posted in Family Doings
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My irregular heartbeat is acting up again these days, so I might not be blogging a lot. I'm sleeping 14 hours a day, behaving like a lump of broccoli on the sofa and just generally praying without ceasing. It's been 6 years. I really thought this was over and done with. Well, at least we're getting some serious "school" work done when I'm awake! We've started a video Spanish course which is a load of fun. Everyone has a computerized math course this year which will be wonderful. We are all reading together again, something our fast-paced (yes, that is supposed to be a joke) life had squeezed out. The kids are also cooking a lot in my absence. Blair made the most delicious red snapper fillets tonight with a roasted garlic sauce, pine nuts, zucchini and raisins. MAN! I have eaten in real-live restaurants with tablecloths and everything where the food wasn't this good. Rachel Ray is my HERO! http://www.rachaelraymag.com/ is her site. |
Friday, May 5, 2006
Superchic[k] Concert
Posted in Family Doings
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For an early birthday present, we gave Blair two tickets to a concert by a Christian rock group called "Superchic[k]". The concert was last night and she let me come with her! We had front row seats, which was wonderful and amazing. The music was way too loud, which was terrific! Only once or twice did my hair actually blow back from the bass amp, but most of the time I could feel it thrumbing my innards. This concert never would have happened in Oregon. We lived in a tiny place, and would have had to travel to Portland, not something we could have done just the two of us. I guess it was kinda nice to be close enough to a big city to reap this particular benefit just this once. Superchic[k]'s mission, in case you are unfamiliar with them, is to bring a message of purity and modesty to combat the world's love affair with sex. Their music rocks, for sure, and all but a few of their songs just aren't for the calming moments of communion with the Lord. For someone who grew up and cut her teeth on acid rock, metal rock, psychodelic rock and hard rock, it's a real blessing. I know it's controversial and some will say "the rhythms themselves are unhealthy," but I wish I had positive messages growing up about my worth NOT being dependent upon my body size, who I date and how much skin I can show. Although I was probably the only grey-haired adult who rushed the stage (okay, I didn't have far to go, I just stood up) and jumped (well, as much as I could) and waved my arms, there were teens my size and shape who were right there with me, having a great time and not being concerned about their jiggly underarms. It was contagious. Pretty soon I was waving, hooting and singing along and NOT thinking about how silly I must look. What a wonderful vacation from the hatred I feel every day toward my body. And then looking over at my daughter and seeing that smile... After the concert we met the band (!) and they signed our t-shirt and hat. It was an amazing night! But the very best part of the night happened before the music began. Blair and I went to dinner at a restaurant - the kind with Cloth Napkins. We had an amazing time just the two of us, laughing and crying and spending time together. She is such a great girl, and is becoming such a wonderful woman of God. I'm so glad I know her! |
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Can I be honest?
Posted in Family Doings
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I haven't been here in a while. I haven't been anywhere. I got my hands on a Gamecube game called "Harvest Moon: Magical Melodies" to evaluate as a learning tool and got hooked. This game is the new crack. It does have some educational value, although I prefer "Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life" (or "Another Wonderful Life" the girl version) for gamish realism. But it is addicting to the point of obsession for me. Of course, seeing my doppleganger run, jump, ride horses, and just generally do all the things I can't is very satisfying, albeit vicariously. "Living" in a town that isn't overpopulated with angry people, smog and tornadoes is peaceful. Watering and harvesting crops, something I've longed to do since childhood, is fulfilling. I might have to go cold turkey. |
Sunday, April 2, 2006
My family is like a doughnut...
Posted in Family Doings
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...because it has a hole in the middle. Kate, my middle child, has gone to visit Grandma for a week in Indiana. It's only two states away, but feels like continents. I have no idea how I will manage without her hugs and sweetness. If I didn't trust so completely in the Lord, I would never let any of my lambs out of my sight. How do worldly moms do it!? |
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
An auscpicious anniversary
Posted in Family Doings
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It's been two years since Blair broke her arm. It wasn't just a broken arm, it was a very badly broken arm. The ER nurse said they just don't see bones that demolished outside car accidents. It was about halfway through Tae Kwon Do class. There was a (10 year old black belt) student teacher leading the students through kicks. Blair was practicing her spinning round kick - one of those jump in the air, spin, kick and land things - when she landed wrong. Her right arm went down to catch her and both bones broke. Moms across the room heard it snap and ran to tell me. We laid the pieces of her arm (still enclosed by skin, thankfully) on a board and surrounded them with a magazine. Heavy mailing tape kept the makeshift splint together for the drive to the ER. Everyone helped out. The teacher carried Blair to the car and stayed right in her face to remind her to breathe. One mom gathered up the other children from gymnastics class for me, helped them find their street clothes and bundled them all in the car. Another mom grabbed my purse and the kids' backpacks and bags and took them out. The desk clerk at the gym called the ER to tell them we were coming. The Christian moms gathered in a corner to pray for us all. I grabbed the student teacher and hugged her and reassured her it wasn't her fault. The emergency room was not busy that day. They got Blair hooked up with an IV and pain meds first thing. She went right to sleep. There was a 20 minute wait for the x-ray machine, so I took the kids through a nearby drive through so they could eat. I went with Blair while they wheeled her bed to x-ray and shot films. She was very out of it and chatted about all kinds of things, none of which made much sense. After the x-ray, Dearest finally arrived to take care of the other kids while I stayed with Blair. We are a one-car family and have been almost all the years of our marriage. This was one of the very few times I regretted it. In order for the kids to attend classes, we had to get up and drive Dearest to work so we could have the car. He was more than a half hour away when I called him with this newsflash, and had to find someone to drive him to the hospital. The ER doctor paged an orthopedic surgeon to set the bones. I stayed in the room while they put Blair under and repaired the damage. The surgeon was Christian and noticed my cross. We even attended the same church (different services, so I didn't know him personally) and it was wonderful having his calm and peace around. We spent 10 hours in the ER that day. I managed to keep my cool until three days later when it just kind of hit all at once. All in all, Blair was in a hard cast for six weeks, a splint for another six and in physical therapy for more than four months. Two years later, she still feels achy when it's going to rain, and her bones are curved. She can't turn her wrist all the way over, but it doesn't keep her from doing whatever she wants. The doctor has offered surgery to straighten the bone if she feels she needs it, but she's not wanting to go down that road. I don't blame her! It was an amazing learning experience for all of us, and even though it was terrifying, painful and difficult, God brought us through with many blessings and graces. |
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Pass the kleenex, please
Posted in Family Doings
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Every so often, someone will say just exactly the wrong thing to me. They don't know it, but one innocent comment and I'm a teary mess for days. Right now I'm nearing the end (I hope and pray) of a midlife crisis. I wasn't ready to be done having babies. I wasn't ready to start going gray and soft in the middle. I wasn't ready to see a son married. It has all kind of come to the forefront of my mind this week with Rose's sixth birthday. We made a trip to the grocery store, to buy her cake and special meal items. She was very excited and was telling everyone she saw about her special day. The checkout clerk (who knows us but somehow doesn't hide when she sees us coming) said to me, "Well, I'll bet you're relieved to be done with the 'kid' part of your life!" I immediately recognized the anti-child bias. "Diapers? Eww! Teething and potty training? Yuck! Get them to first grade and out of my hair!" is the unspoken meaning. No surprise. Sad, but common. But for some reason it really hit me. If we participated in public schooling, this birthday would mark the end of my interrupted days. I could go back to work part time, I could have a hobby, a pet, a life. But are children an interruption? No, they are so much of my life that the thought of life without them is painful. And painful is the thought of this transition. Rose - my baby - my very last baby - isn't my baby anymore, but a little girl. The temptation to keep her a baby is real and strong. But, to every purpose there is a season and holding on to summer doesn't keep the leaves from falling. The past 12 months have held so many changes and transitions. Many have been painful and begrudging. I know I would be handling them much better if I could let go of what was and trust God for what will be. But I'm not ready. Lord, make me ready. |
Monday, March 13, 2006
Weekly Dust and Vacuum
Posted in Our Housekeeping Systems
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Each week we do a whole-house dusting and vacuuming on the same day. We do one "job" per week for a month-long rotation, and split up into four "teams." Due to physical limitations, Mom doesn't serve on team one or four. Team one: Most of the rooms are already picked up before we begin, but team one has the very important job of making sure there are no paperclips, toothpicks or little pieces of paper to jam our machines and make the job a struggle. This team starts each room first. Team two: When team one clears a room, team two moves in. Using a static duster for regular items and feather duster for delicate items, team two goes around the room like the hands of a clock, dusting from top to bottom, noon to midnight. Team three: As team two dusts their way to the next room, team three brings the big vacuum cleaner and does the floor, working from the area farthest from the door back toward the doorway, then it's on to the next room. Team four: Ah, the detailers. Using a handheld vacuum with an angled attachment, a brush attachment, or other attachment that fits this week's focus, this team does the fine detail that leaves the room really CLEAN. Focus areas: Week one of the month: HIGH. Tops of bookshelves, refrigerators, doorways, dressers, tables, TVs, cobwebs in the corner, etc. are the focus area this week. Week two: LOW. Baseboards, under beds and tables, legs of chairs, etc. get a good going over this week. Week three: BIG. This is the BIG job. The moving of the books, the dusting under the knicknacks, the delicate vacuuming of oil paintings, like spring-cleaning in miniature. Week four: LITTLE. We did such a great job last week that this week we just do a quick once-over. We rotate the teams so everyone gets a chance to experience the different jobs. We all have our favorites: Rose likes the little vacuum because it's her size, John likes the BIG, strong, manly vacuum, Kate likes to dust, and nobody likes to pick up; but we all share the work and it gets done quickly! |
Wednesday, March 8, 2006
Daily Bathroom Cleaning
Posted in Our Housekeeping Systems
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We have three bathtubs, three toilets, five bathroom sinks and a stall shower. After many years of scrubbing each one every week, I've decided less is more! By using only one shower, one tub, one toilet (barring emergencies, of course) and one sink, I have found we have less cleaning to do. Here's approximately how it works: In the morning when I wake up, I get into the master bathroom first. I do a quick dusting with a static duster and a quick sweep of the corners before any steam gets into the room to cement dust and hair to surfaces. I brush my teeth and hair and Dearest Beloved takes the first shower. When he is done, he rinses the walls and shower door with water (we keep a quart-sized plastic cup in the shower.) After he's done blow drying and brushing and all, he uses a cleaning wipe on the counter and around the sink. He has wiped up the sink since he started trimming his beard, but if I keep wipes handy, he'll do the whole counter! What a guy! John gets in the shower next. Just before he gets in, he uses a disinfecting wipe to wipe down the toilet top to bottom and the floor around the toilet. Then same shower, same rinse down with water afterward. Blair has the room now and takes the longest - no surprise. She also does a quick rinse of the stall walls with water. By the time she's done her hair and makeup the hot water is replenished and ready for me. But before she leaves, she wipes the mirror with a window wipe. Time for my shower. Before I leave the stall, I rinse the walls down with water and take a squeegee to all the wet surfaces. After I'm all ready for the day, I tidy up the room, make sure all the handles sparkle and hit the doorknobs and light switches with a wipe. That bathroom is done and isn't used again until tomorrow morning. During the day we use the toilet in the hall bathroom. It's easy to dust, sweep and wipe up during the day because no steam accumulates. Over the course of the day I'll take 30 extra seconds during each pit stop to clean one thing - the mirror, the sink and counter, the toilet and around, a quick sweep, etc. Our young girls bathe after dinner in the downstairs tub. Rose goes first and climbs up on the counter to clean the mirror afterward. Christy has second bath and cleans the counter and sink when she's done. Finally, Kate gets in and wipes up the tub when she is done. Because I can't get up and down those stairs very often, Blair has been put in charge of making sure that bathroom is tidy before she goes to bed. So she will make sure there are no puddles lurking and give the toilet and surrounding floor a top to bottom wipe before bed. By bedtime, all three bathrooms are tidy and wiped down. The steam and dampness is confined to one chunk of day in each room, so the mold is controlled as much as possible. We still shake out and wash rugs, do a good sweep and mop and scrub all the showers and tubs once a week, but it's so much easier when the mess is knocked down daily. A couple practical notes: we use a non-soap soap. It's harder on the skin, but easier on the cleaning. You might know it by "detergent" soap or "Zest." Each child has a dorm bucket I got for a few dollars at a bed and bath store. It holds their own toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, makeup, hair brush and doodads. They bring it to the bathroom for their shower or bath, leave with it full and store it under the bathroom sink nearest their bedroom. About once a month I'll take them apart and put them in a disinfect cycle in the dishwasher. Yes, I know those wipes are expensive, and yes, I know I could make them myself. But, if I have them they will get used. If I don't have them the wiping doesn't get done, the work takes longer during the weekly chore and we have to be alert for drop in visitors!! It's a trade-off and one I will gladly make to have clean bathrooms. |
Wednesday, March 8, 2006
How we do what we do
Posted in Our Housekeeping Systems
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I'm adding a new category for my blog today. I'll be writing down how we do our chores - daily, weekly, monthly and occasionally. I'm not convinced at all that this is the "right" way, even for us, but hopefully by looking at it objectively I'll see weak points for improvement. |
Monday, March 6, 2006
Rich Aunt, Poor Mom
Posted in Family Doings
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Katherine and I were remembering the precious time we spent with my sister over the Christmas holiday. We had just arrived at our new home. As the movers pulled out so did we. We drove six hours that night and arrived at my sister's house at midnight - just in time to see Christmas Day in. Kay has a beautiful house. It's huge, in a lovely neighborhood, and on a large parcel of land. She had the whole house decorated for Christmas down to the handtowels and paper plates! We oohed and aahed over the china in the cabinet and its Bible verses. We marvelled at her spotless bathrooms, little guest-sized soaps and perfectly made beds. Her kitchen was the cleanest room I've been in since my gallbladder surgery. "Mom, Aunt Kay is really rich, isn't she?" Katherine asked me yesterday. "Well, honey, she and her husband are both lawyers, the both have a second jobs and no children, so I guess they do have more money than a lot of people." I was gearing up for the "rich in love" discussion just in case this was a question motivated by envy. "I can tell. Her house is so CLEAN." Well, that wasn't what I was expecting! Turns out Katherine had been noticing rooms on HGTV and magazine covers and all those houses looked just like my sister's. Perfectly decorated, gleaming glass, fresh flowers replaced daily, no dirty clothes or dishes to be found. By the time we had packed up to leave Kay's house (after only 3 days) she had lots of little fingerprints on the glass. There were threads and little pieces of cut paper on the carpet, her bookshelves were no longer alphabetical, and the yard had definite footpaths from the constant use. I asked Kay how long she thought it would take to get it all back to normal. "Oh, not long. The girl comes to clean tomorrow, but I was thinking of cancelling this week. I'm not sure I'm ready to have the memory of our time together washed off yet." She always knows just what to say. |
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Goodbye Ten!
Posted in Family Doings
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It's a birthday weekend in our house. Katherine will go to bed a ten-year-old and wake up eleven! We tend to celebrate birthdays for a whole weekend at our house because there's more to do than can be accomplished in one short day. Saturday we went to the mall and bought Katherine a cowboy hat. She looks so great in hats, and here in cowboy country it just seemed appropriate. Plus it goes well with her BIG present. She was there and tried it on so we know we got the right size and shape. We went to see "Eight Below" at the theatre in the mall and really enjoyed it. A couple of Katherine's best friends are "snow" dogs. Ah, if we weren't allergic, I just know we'd have at least one dog. We didn't get home until almost 10PM, a very rare event for us indeed! Sunday morning we all slept in and enjoyed a quiet morning together. Rose made hot dogs for lunch with very little help and assisted Blair in making burritos for dinner. After dinner, Katherine made sundaes for everyone. See, none of us are particularly cake eaters. And we have eight birthdays to celebrate from January to June, which makes for a LOT of cake! So instead of doing the cake thing, we each choose what we want for our treat. We've had a great time feasting on birthday sundaes, birthday pies, birthday cookies, birthday chocolate fondue, even birthday toasted marshmallows - all sporting the appropriate candles. The plan for Sunday night includes a call to Katherine's best friend who lives 2500 miles away. During the call she will open the present the friend sent so they can share the moment. Monday, Katherine's true birthday, she will choose her breakfast, lunch and dinner, be excused from all chores, and just generally be treated like the princess she is! After dinner we will have a special time as a family to tell her birth story and go through the photo album we keep for her. We'll sing many happy birthday songs to her and she'll open her gifts. Gifts? This year they include a DVD of a recent Wallace and Gromit movie, a new My Little Pony for her collection, and the BIGGIE: a fiddle and lessons. |
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Fear Not?
Posted in Learning on the Narrow Path
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I made a big mistake last night. Instead of waiting for the "Local on the 8s" on the Weather Channel, I turned on the local news. A while back when our dishwasher died, we went to Sears at a nearby mall. It was very urban, but I wasn't scared while I was there. Of course, Dearest Beloved was with us, so I felt safe. We even stopped for ice cream at the food court to celebrate our new "servant." Last night on the news I saw where a man was shot at the doorway through which we entered. The gunman ran through the Sears store and out the door next to the girl's restrooms we visited. I'm no scardeycat. I lived in a downtown urban area as a young, single woman. My first-floor apartment windows were often open at night in the summertime and it never occurred to me that the Lord wouldn't protect me. On his 30th birthday, Dearest was mugged and pistol-whipped by gang members on our own front porch, but escaped with only a mild concussion. Our house was broken into, vandalized and robbed, but the perps only got away with a sentimental piece of jewelry. (The electronic toy cat scared them off - an amazing story for another time.) But for the last 5 years we have been living in a community of 900 where the "big crime" of last year was when an environmentalist burned down the McDonalds just before it opened. Oh yeah, that and kids putting red stickers on the highway deer signs' noses at Christmas. We felt safe. The kids played in our unfenced yard, even while I was cooking dinner and didn't keep one eye on them. But here, even in our suburban housing development I don't feel safe. My day stops when it's time for the kids to play outside or take a walk so I can watch with both eyes and hear with both ears. No one goes to the restroom when out in public without me or Dearest. Everyone goes everywhere together. Balancing awareness and fear is a fine line. Training the children to be cautious without being prejudiced or afraid is difficult. But knowing that our new home - our very first "boughten" home - is so close to that kind of violence wears on my heart and spirit. I know I am protecting them from the violence so prevalent in the schools by homeschooling. I just need to be sure I'm not fooled into thinking they are "safe" anywhere but in Christ. |