My blogging friend Jimmie  has inspired me to stretch my brain by writing the title to my own memoir using only 6 words. I was leaning towards "You'll miss me when I'm gone"  since that's what I tell my husband when he complains about something I've done.   I also came up with a few that summed me up really well, but were a little too personal to post on a pubic blog. But I finally settled on a fragment of one of my favorite verses:

YET, THE LORD THINKETH APON ME

"But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh apon me." Psalm 40:17a

I'm also supposed to tag five other bloggers.

1. My real life friend, Karen from Fritzemeier Family Blog

2.  Sonia from My Homeschool Treasure Trove

3. Heather from VA Homeschool Mom For God

4. Sharon from Momn4Boys

5. SchoolinRhome from School In R Home

The rules
1. Write the title to your own memoir using 6 words.
2. Post it on your blog.
3. Link to the person that tagged you.
4. Tag five more blogs.

Yesterday I was teaching my daughter a song I had learned as a child. It was actually used in a hand clapping game my sister used to do with her friends while we road on the bus (in the four years I attended private school before my parents began homeschooling). Unfortunately, I was the "pesky" little sister, so she never bothered teaching the hand motions to me.

The song went like this:

Say say oh playmate

Come out and play with me

And bring your dollies three

We'll climb my apple tree

Slide down my rainbow

Into my cellar door

And we'll be jolly friends

For ever more.

After indulging in this bit of nostalgia, I began thinking about some of the other childhood games I remember, but haven't taught to my children, and all the ones I've probably forgotten.  I was thinking it would be nice to make some kind of website to record these games. That afternoon, I received this email from the Games For Learning Yahoo Group list:

I have an idea I'm starting to put into action that I need your help with. I've created a group at YouTube for people to upload videos of step-by-step instructions of children (or grownups) teaching how to do different playground games.

Examples would be:

hand clapping games
jump rope rhymes/games
chinese jump rope
traditional/chinese jacks
hop scotch
playground ball games
cat's cadle/string games
etc etc

The idea being a place to go to be able to learn all these wonderful games from our childhoods and to be able to pass them along to the next generation and so on. I want to see a resurgence of these games! I know they are still out there but doesn't seem like they are as prevalent as they used to be so I want to change that!

So help me out!! All you have to do is get your digital video cameras out and let your kids know that they can be a star on YouTube and help share some fun games with kids around the world! Break the how-to video up into short segments...Multiple videos will probably be necessary for many of the games...Just make sure you label them all with the same title and a very clear "PT 1, PT 2, etc" and go through it slowly and carefully to ensure that its easy for someone who's never heard or seen the game to be able to fully learn it from your video. Once you have a video you're happy with, go to the link above and join the group and upload it!

Make as many of these instructional videos as you like...Even ones that have been done already because there are so many variations of so many of these games! Ihope you will help me out and that your kids will enjoy making how-to videos!! I hope to hear from many of you soon!

Let me know if you have any questions.

Tina

Talk about providential! I love when God works things out like that, don't you? If you're interested in seeing what is posted or posting some videos of your own, please visit Playpalooza. Let's all renew our childhood memories this summer and help our children create some of their own. (And if any of you know the hand motions to THIS clapping song, I'd be extremely greatful if you'd teach them to me.)

A while back, Jimmie introduced me to Squidoo and I love it. Building lenses on Squidoo is a great way to organize information and resources so you can keep track of everything  without filling your computer memory with zillions of bookmarks. And they even pay you a little something for doing it!

Check out some of the lenses I've created, then build one of your own:

Notebooking 

"Notebooking" is a term used to describe the process of creating a written and illustrated record of learning. Unlike other methods of education which are based on cosumable workbooks and texts, notebooking produces a journal of past educational adventures, which can be added to whenever additional learning takes place. Notebooks are a great way to review information and are an excellent way to share your learning experience with others.

What To Do With Lapbook Scraps

Although lapbooking is a great educational tool, it does create an abundance of scrap paper waste. This is a major turn off for some who are considering this method of education, and a source of guilt for many avid lapbookers.

But good stewardship and lapbooking can go hand in hand. There are many ways to recycle lapbook scraps, and some are as fun and educational as the lapbooking itself. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

You may also want to check out the Notebooks and Lapbooks Group  for more great notebooking and lapbooking lenses.

Sewing Lapbook

This lens provides ideas for completing a lapbook on the topic of "sewing." It's not anything fancy, but hopfully it will provide you with a few ideas. I will be adding to it as I think of additional topics to include.

Books For Girls

In an effort to help our daughters prepare for their futures, my husband and I began a hopechest for each of them at birth. This is a collection of high quality household tools as well as precious heirlooms.

Along the same lines, we have also begun a library for each of them by purchasing the highest quality books we can find- some newly published and some which are old favorites. We hope that by reading these books, both now and in the future, our daughters will develop the skills needed to be sucessful women- wives, mothers, and homemakers. Take a peek at our girls' bookshelf.

Table Manners

As the party guests gather around the table and begin gorging themselves, your glance shifts to the man seated across form you. His impeccable table manners add pleasure to your meal. Noticing your stare, he politely asks if you are enjoying your meal. Replying with an empathetic "Yes!", you shower him with food particles. After a scene like this, you may feel like giving up and becoming a hermit. But, there is still hope! Proper table etiquette is easy to learn and will save you from future embarassment.

Teatime Treats

Teatime is once again gaining popularity as many young mothers seek to establish this tradition with their children. Ofcouse, the sweetest part of these times together is the memories made, but here are a few recipes for some other sweet things you can serve with your tea.

Bringing The World To Your Living Room

So, you've made the decision to do a geography unit study. You've finally let go of your boring (but safe!) textbooks and made a trip to the library. But now what? Just follow these easy steps and soon you will find yourself touring the world from the comfort of your own home.

Creating Geography Treasure Boxes

Continent Boxes are sort of like treasure boxes- one for each continent- which contain maps, books, and artifacts from the countries on that continent. You can buy or create things specifically for your continent boxes, or you can do a "scavenger hunt" around the house to see what objects you can come up with.

Country Unit Studies

I've also mead some unit study lenses for different countries. These have ideas for crafts and for notebooking or lapbooking.

 China Unit Study

Mexico Unit Study

Japan Unit Study

Native American Crafts and Ideas

This is a list of projects and ideas that I will be using with my children as we study the Native Indian tribes of North America.

How To Teach Your Three or Four Year Old To Read

Teaching your child to read can be one of the most enjoyable things you will ever do. Preschool aged children are eager to learn and have an amazing capacity to absorb information. The key is to keep it simple and keep it fun. Do a little each day and maintain a relaxed environment.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

This simple book has been a favorite with generations of children. The simple, repeating text and bright, colorful illustrations are perfect for engaging young minds with short attention spans. However, this is more than just a storybook. The Very Hungry Caterpillar contains a wide variety of themes. So many, in fact, that this one simple book could be used as the basis of an entire preschool curriculum!

Making A Yearbook For Your Homeschool

At the end of third grade, my parents removed my sister and me from the private Christian school we had been attending and began home schooling. While I eventually grew to like being at home, I still to this day enjoy looking at my old school year books from the private school. I'm sure I would enjoy looking at my home school year books as well, but there aren't any. Nor are there any pictures. Not one single photo to prove that I ever attended school after the third grade. So, when I was paging through an old Teaching Home Magazine and read about the yearbooks someone else had done, I knew this was a tradition I was going to start.

Slime Science

Let's face it, most kids love to make a mess! And, yes, slime can be messy. But it is truely amazing how many different things you can learn about just by playing with this oohey gooey goop. Come on, admit it. The kids aren't the only ones having fun!

Holiday Freebies

There are tons of freebies available online. All it takes is a printer and some common art supplies to add some fun and educational activities to your holiday routine.  

Some friends of ours gave us a coconut from Florida, so my husband opened it up for the kids. He had never seen a coconut in the husk before, so I think he learned as much as they did. Unfortunately, this coconut was fermented. We will be purchasing another one (minus the husk) from Wal-Mart so the kids can try the fresh coconut. Yummy stuff!

What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.  James 4:14b

I've known for a long time that I would eventually have to face the death of my mother's parents, but I was still unprepared for the shock of that phone call four Sundays ago. "Grandma's dying, " my sister-in-law told me between sniffs. As I probed her for details, we both burst into sobs. How could we face the loss of this woman who had meant so much to us all? 

"When will you be heading up?" I asked. She wasn't sure yet. My brother had told her they might leave the next day to give them a little more time to recover from the stomach flu. I thought about the two day drive they had ahead of them. I was pretty sure they wouldn't wait.

Four hours later, my own family was packed and on the road.  It was a ten hour trip to Michigan. A phone call to my brother's cell phone confirmed my suspicion. They had left two hours before and were also speeding down the highway, hoping for one last chance to see the precious soul we couldn't ever imagine being without. Every one else was already gathered at the hospital.

"It isn't fair!" my mind argued. "After all these years of living so far away, when my husband finally decides to move to Michigan, why now? Why couldn't our house have sold? She was so excited when I told her we were coming. And I really wanted the kids to get to know her better. I'm not ready to let her go. It isn't fair!" Yes, I know that life isn't fair. If it were, things would be much worse. Still it was hard to grasp this news which came with so little warning. Flu . . . hospitalization . . . pneumonia . . .kidney failure . . . heart attack . . . congestive heart failure . . . only days, maybe hours to live. It was just so sudden.

We arrived at 2:00 AM. My husband dropped me off at the hospital and stayed in the car with the sleeping kids. I woke my aunt, who was sleeping in a chair by Grandma's bedside. Grandma was sleeping peacefully and I hated to wake her, but Aunt R. did it anyway. This might be my only chance to say good-bye.  "Mom, Melissa's here."

 I kissed her as the tears ran down my cheek. "Hi, Grandma. It's Melissa. I'm so sorry! I'm going to miss you so much."  I wasn't sure she could recognize me. Her breathing was ragged. Her voice weak and horse. It was hard to believe that this broken, suffering body really belonged to my dear sweet Grandma. I couldn't bear to see her, but I couldn't bear to leave.

Grandma drifted back to sleep and my aunt and I chatted. "You can stay the night if you want, " she said. I breathed a sigh of relief and called my husband so he could take the kids to the hotel for the rest of the night. Coming was hard, but leaving was harder. 

"Thanks." I told her.  Something about her response made me think she was glad for the company. None of us wanted to face Grandma's death alone.

The hours ticked by and none of us got much sleep. Grandma squirmed restlessly,  her back aching from days spent in bed, her breathing tube irritating her nose. I watched my aunt massage her back and offer her occasional sips of water.  We watched the clock, hoping my brother would make it in time.  "Tom's coming," my aunt told my Grandma. "he'll be here soon."  She seemed to be waiting for him.

After a couple hours of sleep, squeezed in between interuptions as we sat wedged into uncomfortable chairs, we noticed that Grandma's breathing had changed.  My aunt suggested we have the family members come to the hospital as soon as they could. It was about 5:00. I called my brother. They had stopped for the night and wouldn't be there until after lunch. We were getting nervous.

My aunt stepped out of the room to get some coffee. I sat by the bed, stroking my grandma's swollen hand. Her arm was covered with bruises where they had failed to insert an IV. Her ventilator  let out a steady beep. Her breathing slowed. Where was my aunt? I couldn't face this alone! Should I call someone?

My worries were in vain. Grandma continued to live (for a whole week in fact), and soon the room was full people. Grandma asked if she could go home.  "Not yet. You need to rest," we told her. She tried to climb out of bed, but my mom and aunts restrained her. "You aren't strong enough to stand up," they told her.

I'm sure the sight of the family standing in a ring around her bed must have startled her. "Why are you all here?" she demanded. "Everyone out!" she waved us out of the room.  We all filed into the hallway, insisting that Grandpa should stay. We weren't sure what she was going to do. I think she just needed some time to think.

We all went down to a family waiting room and sat chatting, catching up with each others lives. I couldn't help thinking how Grandma would love to be a part of this, and yet she was all of it. It made no sense. And yet, it made perfect sense that this woman who was the glue of our family should bring us together even in her death.

And so began one of the most horrible weeks of my life, and yet one of the best. Life is full of contradictions: That I could spent almost thirty-three years of my life taking from my Grandma, and receive a greater blessing from one week giving back. That watching her die to us was like watching her being born into heaven. That I could spend precious time with my family while losing an important part of it. That I could become closer to my Grandfather as my Grandmother drifted farther away.  And that I could miss her so terribly and yet be glad that she is no longer here.  

I do wish you all could have known her. She was quite a woman. And while she,  like the mist,  has slipped away, her legacy lives on.

Below is a tribute I wrote for her two years ago. Thanks to everyone who expressed their sympathy. It has been a comfort.  Melissa

Grandma,

When I think of you, I think of how you have devoted yourself to making those around you feel special and loved. Almost all my memories of you involve you giving something- money, gifts, time, or attention. If there was ever anything you knew we needed or wanted, you would try to give it to us if there was any possible way.

You made yourself a part of our everday lives. You came to the important events: baptisms, grandparents days, plays, graduations, soccer games, professions of faith. You went on outings with us, took us along on errands, and picked and canned fruit with us. You invited us for sleep overs and let me sleep on the floor by your bed when I got scared and cooked whatever we wanted for breakfast. You kept a special drawer with special toys just for us and you had another drawer filled with candy that you were always happy to share. You baked cookies and cakes and bought donuts and came and had coffee with us. You bought groceries and clothes for us. You saved bones for our dogs, toilet paper tubes for our hampsters and gerbils, greens for our rabbits, scraps for our chickens, and the last piece of steak from your dinner for Mom. You spent hours knitting us mittens, socks, sweaters, and washclothes. And you were always there when we needed you, like when Mom cut her hand cleaning the cupboards and you not only took her to get stitches, but came back and finished the cupboards.

You were always patient with us. You never got upset when we were loud or wild. (Yes, I know I was loud and wild.) And I can only remember one time that you punished me, and I cannot remember what for, only that I was shocked that I had actually done something bad enough to deserve it from you. You always gave the impression that we were the most wonderful and important people you knew, and we never felt like we were a burden to you.

Holidays would not have been the same without the care and trouble you took to prepare special meals and add special touches (like Andes candies on the buffet). Even if we were not there to celebrate with you, you did all you could to bring the celebration to us by sending Valentines, Easter candy, Christmas cookies and such. And you were always glad to provide anything we felt was necessary to our enjoyment of the day.

You showed us an example of generosity through your generosity. And you showed your love for us through your actions. You have sacrificed for us, worried over us, laughed and cried with us, worked and played with us. Some people are worthy of love and honor simply because they are what they are- a grandmother. But you have set a higher standard for all the others. You have shown the love of Christ to us, and like Him, we love you because you first loved us.

OK, just for fun, I have an assignment for you.

When a recent hail storm broke the stems of some of my budding daffodils, I brought them inside and placed them in a vase on the table.  Just a few hours of warmer temperatures was enough to encourage them to bloom.

Now, I can think of several analogies I could make using these flowers; analogies dealing with life and suffering and analogies dealing with education. But what do you think?

If you're feeling philisophical, please leave me a comment. Thanks!

Mothers too often use their busy schedules to excuse themselves from any mental excersize. But just as muscles atrophy without use, so a mind that is not excersized soon turns to mush. Continuing to learn new things will not only benefit your family by making you better equipped to fulfil your duties, but it will also send a message to your children that learning is not just something one is forced to do until they are old enough to do more important things. Here are three ways you can use "mother culture" to nuture your child's love of learning.

1. Set educational goals for yourself.

Think of something you want to learn and then make time to learn it. Your goals could include learning new skills or increasing your head knowledge. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

•  Learn a foreign language
• Build a web page using trial and error
• Do a research project on that topic from the kids lessons that you wanted to know more
• Make a lapbook (use a kit from the HomeschoolEStore or design you own)
• Learn how to sew, knit, etc.
• Take a photography class

2. Read something besides fiction (or the kids school books).

Consider these your "textbooks which can be read and reread for insight and encouragement. Here are a few of my favorites:

• The Hidden Art of Homemaking by Edith Shaffer
• Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentis (This is actually fiction, but instructional none the less.)
• Love & Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs
• Christian Living in the Home by Jay Edward Adams
• Instruments In the Redeemer's Hands by Paul David Tripp

Or, read something that will help you to reach the educational goals you have set for yourself.

3. Nuture your own curiosity.

 No trivia is trivial when it provided the opportunity for a great educational experience.  Children will naturally ask questions, but they will not always know how to get the answers unless you show them. A great way to do this, is by keeping track of those times when you say "I wonder . . ." and making the effort to actually find the answer.

Remember, learning is a lifetime experience. Enjoy the adventure!

We just made playdough using the recipe we put in our pumpkin lapbooks. Normally playdough is unwelcome in this house, but today I relented. Why, you ask, would a woman who promotes various messy methods of hands-on learning have a problem with playdough? It all started nine years ago.

When my oldest son was two I tried to make him some playdough. I had made it once before when my brothers were little, but I couldn't find the recipe. So I tried a new one, and the playdough turned out too greasy. Being a frugal Dutch girl, I couldn't stand the thought of wasting all that flour. It would almost be a sin to just throw it away.  Instead, I feed it to my chickens. I had twenty-four hens at the beginning of that day. The playdough killed twelve of them. I watched them suffer all that day, their heads flopped to the side, dying of thirst but unable to  drink.  When my husband came home, I begged him to end their suffering. If you ever raise chickens, my advice is to never feed them playdough.

So, we moved on to store bought playdough. The first time he played with it, my son thought it would be a good idea to stick it to the bottom of his tennis shoe and walk all over the house. Eight years later, the ban on playdough was temporarily lifted when the children received some as a prize at a Reformation Day party held by a local church. The first thing my youngest son did was to stick it to the bottom of his shoe and walk all over the house. You know, sometimes it's good to throw things away.

Now, less than a year later, my three youngest  are sitting in the living playing with spicy-smelling brown (we put in too much cinnamon) playdough. They are all barefoot.

Hmm . . . I've just been informed that the little one has some stuck in her nose. Anyone need some playdough?

If you are interested in learning more about Charlotte Mason's methods you ought to read this. Or if you're interested in learning more about nature study and nature journaling, read this. Or if you just want to read a fun little story about a visit from Charlotte Mason, then go here. Yes, all three of those links go to the same place: The very first Chalotte Mason Blog Carnival. What a fun read! (For a rainy day, ofcourse.) And if you need some pages for your nature notebooks here's a great set from Betsy of Notebooking Nook: Nature Study Combo Set.  Or try this set from Debra of Notebooking Pages.com: Nature Study pages and North American Birds.

Now GO OUTSIDE!!!!

I was sorting through some papers this morning and came across a few quotes I had collected on the topic of "love."

My absolute favorite is an excerpt from a cotton commercial. The woman quoted is telling a short story of her childhood. Every night her mother came in, closed her window, and covered her. When she asked her mother why she did this, her mother replied, "Love is seeing a need and filling it."  I think that is a really good definition. 

A few years ago my own daughter was struggling with a particular punishment I had given her and was doubting my love. I told her this story. Then I asked her if she knew that I waited for her to fall asleep every night so I could cover her before I went to bed. That night, she faked sleep just so she could see if it was true. When I pulled the covers up and bent down to kiss her forehead she opened her eyes and reached up to hug me. "You DO love me!" she exclaimed.

A second quote comes from Francis Bacon. "A crowd is not company, and faces are but a gallery of pictures, and talk is but a tinkling of cymbols, where there is no love."

And finally, a quote with no source~ "The first duty of love is to listen."

All of these remind me that love is an action. I can tell my children I love them, but it doesn't mean anything if I don't demonstrate it. My children don't just need a teacher, they need someone who will listen to them, and sympathis with them, and sacrifice for them. They need a mother.

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. Ephesions 5:2

I really wanted my children to have a taste of their "Dutch-American" heritage and as a homeschooler I am always looking for educational opportunities, so I was pleased that we were able to visit the Dutch Village theme park on a recent trip to Holland, Michigan. It was a great learning experience. The kids had a lot of fun filling out scavenger hunt papers with information about the culture and history of the Netherlands and turned them in at the end of the day for three pieces of stick candy. (I wish I had thought to ask if they could keep them for their notebooks.) Here are a few pictures from our visit.

The entrance . . .

 . . . the front desk . . .

 . . . an old organ known as "The Golden Angel" . . .

 . . . Dutch klompen dancers . . .

 . . . the Friesian farmhouse . . .

 . . . The Holland House candle shop:

dipping . . .

. . . carving . . .

. . . and the final product . . .

When you think of bluebirds, you probably think of  pretty, cheerful bits of fluff.  After all, don't we always hear about the "bluebird of happiness"? But what we do not hear about, is the incredible amount of "white paint" these tiny little birds are capable of producing. Nor do we often hear that they have an annoying habit of throwing themselves against living room windows . . . repetedly . . . as early in the morning as possible.

No, we just don't hear of those things. And so we, blissfully ignorant as we were, hung our nesting box on the wall of an old trailer which sits on the opposite side of our driveway. The driveway where our two black vehicles often sit. Er, make that our two FORMERLY black vehicles. We were full of joy as we saw this bluebird couple take up residence in the box and begin their family. But that was not to last.

You would think that nesting birds with five or so hungry babies to feed would be too busy to make trouble. But not this pair. Thump, thump, thump. There they go again. My husband gives them the evil eye as he watchs them leave the window and perch upon his new truck, his baby.  "Maybe they'll knock themselves silly, "  I sooth.

Then the snake arrived and our bluebird adventure came to a sudden end. The blacksnake went home with a full belly and Ma & Pa Bird packed up and went in search of other windows to try their kamakazi stunts on. We washed the vehicles and enjoyed our new found quiet. And a Carolina wren took up residence near our front porch and began to eat the abundant supply of moths under the porchlight.

Be careful what you ask for, you may get it.

Have you noticed lately how it seems as if everyone is training their daughters for careers? Even the daughters who desire to be wives and mothers spend most of their time preparing for something else, just in case. The idea of a woman being on her own has become the norm, both for Christians and non-Christians, when really it should be seen as something which rarely occurs, and that under less than ideal circumstances. When asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?", even little girls know better than to say, "I want to be a mommy." After all, a grown daughter is given but three choices: stay at home, twiddling her thumbs and leeching off her father (if he will let her); catch a man and let him support her (if she can find one); or become a productive and respected member of society (if she can make it).

Ideally, there is no better place for a woman to be than in a family and there is nothing a woman can do that is more important or useful than serving God within her family. If a daughter has been well trained she will be productive and should be allowed to practice that productivity within the sphere of family life. A grown daughter should have an important place in the home, helping to make her mother's job easier and carrying out those tasks which would otherwise go undone. She can practice submission within the family where God has placed her and gain skills in homemaking and in serving others with humility. The addition of her energies and talents will allow the influence of her family to extend far beyond the sphere it would influence without her, giving everyone additional opportunities to minister and grow.

But parents underestimate the value of the role a grown daughter can play in her father's household, and because of this our daughters are not being well trained and have no desire to contribute to the well being of the family. Or, if they have the desire, they lack the knowledge to accomplish it. Their parents, following the example of the world around them, spend their daughters' early years preparing them for the day when they will inevitably leave the protection of male headship and encourage them to pursue a single lifestyle as early as possible in an attempt to make it on their own. And these daughters, left vulnerable and unprotected in a world which not only expects its young women to care for themselves, but also its widows, are pressured into believing that they must prepare for that day as well. The things which were once seen as preparations for the possibility of an unavoidable hardship begin to be seen instead as preparations for a life of their choosing. College and careers, once seen as instruments used to accomplish the important things in life, begin to be seen as the important things. And things like home and family begin to be seen as obstacles rather than as a calling.

These young women are restless and discontented, worrying about the future when their real problem is the present. Because they are not happy where God has placed them, they fill their heads with dreams and goals which have little to do with the purpose for which God created them. They allow prideful, selfish and independent tendencies to grow as they look forward to the time when they will be on their own. Instead of carrying out God's plan for a life where all their talents can be used, their dreams and goals become centered on just one of their talents. And not being allowed to fill the role God has given them, they waste their todays on hopes of tomorrow. Wishing that God would place them where they could do some good, they neglect to do the good they could do in the family where He has already placed them. This tendency may be seen as the "normal" carelessness of youth, but these habits will become more and more engrained and will prove a serious handicap should God ever give them stewardship over families of their own.

If we want our daughters to be home centered, it is not enough simply to keep them at home. They must also have a purpose while they are in our homes. We must help our daughters to understand that they are not here to "kill time" until they can begin fulfilling their role in life. They are here because right now this is their role in life. We must be careful not to allow them to pursue self-centered activities which might lead them to believe it is possible for them to live without responsibility. Activities and educational opportunities should be complimentary to their role, not a replacement for it. We must encourage them in the development of their skills and abilities, and provide ways for them to put them to use. It's time for us to begin preparing our daughters for the lives we expect them to live, instead of for the ones we hope they will never have to face. And in the end, they will be better equipped to deal with all those "what ifs" as well.

I wrote the first three verses of this poem for a college writing assignment way, way back BC (before children). The last three were added a few years ago in honor of my grandparents. I think the railroad theme is perfect for Lilliput Station, don't you?

The sun was warm apon our backs,

As we kicked the stones along the tracks.

Mom and Dad on either side,

And my two steps to match their stride.

The birds had gathered in the trees,

To send their songs apon the breeze.

As the sun beat down apon our backs,

And shone a glare on the railroad tracks.

Mom and Dad on either side,

And my steps matching every stride.

And the gentle humming of the bees,

Brought back faded memories.

As the sun burned down apon my back,

And sweat blocked out the railroad track.

My parents no more at my side.

No longer able to match my stride.

The sun shone golden through the trees,

As we once more made memories

A little child on either side,

Doing their best to match my stride.

And the birds were nesting in the trees,

And a hush had fallen on the bees,

As I glimpsed the sun's fast fading rays

Fall apon my last track walking days.

My children walking side by side,

As I stumbled along with my crippled stride.

And I watched them go as I stayed far back,

No longer able to walk the track.

They had grown up strong and good and kind,

And as they walked away, I didn't mind.

Though I was no more at their side,

Their steps still matched my every stride.

What is a King Tuk moth? Well, according to my (almost) six year old, it is a moth with stripes on it. As in "Look, Mama! This King Tuk moth has stripes just like King Tuk had on his face."  Well, there you go. You learn something new every day.

I took Jimmie's advice and entered my last post in the Carnival of Homeschooling for this week. I'm so glad I did because I probably wouldn't have read it otherwise. And boy is it packed with information. You probably don't need any more reasons for homeschooling, but you'll still find a lot of great information. Check it out!

The Carnival of Homeschooling

I've noticed a common theme among questions asked by those new to homeschooling. For lack of a better title, I'll call them "should I" questions. Should I use this curriculum? Should I do notebooking or stick with workbooks? Do you think my seven year old should be reading by now? What should I do when my kid won't sit still?

I find it puzzling that someone would ask me what is best for their child. Now, I'm not saying it's wrong to ask for advice. Advice can be very useful. However, I think a lot of these questions come from mothers who are feeling a bit unsure of their ability to carry out this undertaking now that they have committed themselves to it.

So, since you asked, here is my advice. No one knows your kids better than you do.

Maybe its mother's intuition, maybe its just because you are living in close proximity, but you know those kids much better than I do. I can tell you what works with my kids, but I'm pretty sure your kids aren't any more like my kids than they are like the thirty or so kids that would be in the same class with them if they were to go to a public school. Isn't that part of the reason you are homeschooling them -so you could teach them in a way that was best for them?

If you think about it, homeschooling really isn't much different than the rest of life. All those birds, flowers, trees, and animals you pointed out to them were an introduction to science. And they were learning math every time you said, "You may have two pieces of cheese, but only one cookie." If you taught your child to talk, teaching them to read is just the next step. And since you've been reading to them since they were little, you must know what books they would enjoy. So, pick out a few that will double as a history lesson. Everyone is a home educator. Some of us just do it more often than others.

So take heart!  You can do this! And if you need any help, feel free to ask! 

A Mother's Education

Even though homeschooling has become somewhat "normal" these days, it still receives more than a normal share of attention. Questions about legality and socialization have been replaced with questions about ability. "How will you teach them when they get to highschool?" "You must be really smart. I don't think I'm smart enough to teach my children." "You must have a lot of patience." I hear these comments often and they make me smile. In the eyes of the world, I may look like SUPER WOMAN, but I'm really quite ordinary.

It doesn't take a high IQ or a college degree to home educate. In fact, my own mother never went any farther than high school. She didn't know how to do chemistry and algebra was never her strong point. But if she wanted to learn something, she knew how to look it up. My mother is a researcher; and in the days before Google, she was the one to go to when you needed an answer. That is the true secret of home education: parents who love learning passing that love on to their children.

When people look at home education, they mostly focus on the children. Ofcourse, the children are important and I believe that children do benefit from home education. But I think the education the mothers receive is just as beneficial. I'm not simply taking about academics, although there is that aspect. It amazes me how much I learn along with my children; and because I am learning too, it doesn't matter whether I "know it all." I am simply a facilitator, not a teacher. But I am learning other lessons as well.

I am learning to be patient. No, I wouldn't consider myself a patient person, but I hope I'm improving. Trust me, listening while a child sounds out the words of Green Eggs and Ham requires a LOT of patience. (Come on! I could say it from memory!) Explaining how to carry in addition for the seventeenth time (and knowing there are stiil four others who still need to learn this concept) takes a lot of patience. And forcing yourself to ignore how long it took your five year old to fold the towels into that crooked heap (it would be so much easier to do it myself!) takes a lot of patience and continual self reminders these are important life skills he needs to learn. Throw in a three year old who suddenly developed a stutter and "Oh, Lord, did I REALLY ask you to help me learn patience!????" Yes, I am learning to be patient.

I am learning humility. OK, people haven't just started telling me I'm smart since I started homeschooling my children. Actually, I've been hearing it all my life. But trying to teach children , especially when they are your own children, has a way of taking you down a notch or twelve. I love writing, I can teach writing! I had a great second grade teacher (pre-homeschooling) who made it seem so easy. But my children hate to write and I can't seem to change their minds. The one subject that should be the easiest for me is my greatest failure. I also learn humility when that great project I planned becomes the worst idea Mama's ever had. I'm also humbled by the total lack of control that I have over the lives of my children, by the reflection of my sins in their own lives, and by the realization of just how much my sins hurt them. I know I would probably see this even if I didn't homeschool, but being their primary role model certainly makes it harder to place the blame somewhere else.

I am learning to pray. I pray for patience. "Oh, Lord, did I REALLY ask you to help me learn patience!????" I pray for forgiveness. I pray for wisdom in how to train and shape these lives into lives that would glorify Him. I pray for the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of myself and my children, without whom we can do nothing. Oh, did I mention patience? Home education is a process that continually drives me to my knees, and what better thing to do on you knees than pray?

So, can you teach your children? Are you smart enough? Probably not. Are you patient enough? I doubt it. But if you love your children and have a desire to learn, those really are two very good reasons why you should. You neve know what you might learn.