Now or then?

Back then...Superbook and Flying house came on every morning at 7:00am on CBN and that is how we started our day. They watched cartoons and I made breakfast. and had my quiet time.  I really think I had better quiet times with children in the house 24/7 than I do now. 

Now, on days when the grandchildren come over for breakfast we start there! And maybe I have gotten to my quiet time. Hmmm that needs to change! Although I really do love Veggie Tales.

Back then ....I believed Jesus was a celebration and chores were done as we marched around the house singing Psalty Songs or the Music Machine at the top of our lungs picking up from room to room. And Yes I let them march across the beds and over the couch!  After all, by 9:00 a.m. we would become very quiet.

Now...I still believe Jesus is a YES relationship and not a NO relationship, so I am always looking for ways to make the "we are Believers we don't do that" into "Hey would you like to do this!"

Example: We don't dress up for Halloween, but we sure do for Purim.

We still march, but my five bedroom Military house has become a two-bedroom MobileHome. We now March outside and sing Jana songs.

Back then...I had text books lots and lots of Text books and Notebook Paper.

Now ...we have the Computer with Switched on School House , Ambleside online, and even McGuffey's readers Online. But I love having work you can take on the go as well. The deal I found this week for just that purpose was amazing. I found Saxon54 teachers and students book packaged together for 2.00 that's right, two not twenty. And A bundled set of Abeka's US History and a book on California Missions...Again 2.00, a Natural Speller,2.00, Abeka readers a dollar a piece and lastly a counting bear activity book for our kindergartener also 1.00.

Back then....I had a school room complete with desks I had found at a yard sale. This is where we began school on the top floor. After Christmas and Chanukah it was always HARD to go back upstairs so we would move to the kitchen table. However in Florida we did buy dry erase boards and had school IN THE POOL! That was my favorite!

Now,... learning is mostly done at Heatherlee's but when they are here we are all over the house! The kitchen table for coloring and crafts, the living room and porch for stories and either the computer in the office or the laptop in the living room.

Oh that answers this question Do you homeschool in a homeschool room, at the kitchen table, at a desk, in the park on the grass?  I guess all of the above is the answer.

Back then...We always tried to be done by 1:00 so we could work on various projects. But some days at 5:00 I would still be pulling out my hair trying to explain fractions. (Note...if they do not get division it is useless to try fractions! All books seem to put fractions at the end of the textbook. We put off fractions except for hands on cooking and woodwork until JR. High and when they got it, they ran with it full speed and actually loved Algebra and Geometry!)

Now...I am so excited it we actually begin by 1:00..hee hee, for those of you with large families and toddlers under foot ...I salute you!!!!!!!

Back then .... In the afternoon we did a lot of reading aloud. My son is quite the fidgetter and I used to think he wasn't paying attention. Yet he could always tell me what I had said to him. In Public School he was always in trouble for being antsy! Once I put a paper and pencil in his hand and said "Draw what I read" EVERYTHING fell into place. I would be amazed at the details he had heard in the story.

Now....I hand out six pencils and papers to everyone as we read a story. The one thing that hasn't changed are the stories.

Back then... the moment the first school bus hit our street, they ran outside to play. Work was complete and they didn't have homework to keep them inside.

Now, I get to watch them play for another generation.

What I love the most about teaching my children were the spontaneous conversations that took place in the middle of schoolwork. These were not stalling tactics, these were thoughts on their minds and hearts that would have had them sent to the principals office in school. It might have been labeled disruptive behavior, but it wasn't. What it was I believe are many of the memories I believe Mary also pondered in her heart. I really do not know what moms of children in school hold on to ponder. I do not think my mom knew me at all. How could she I was never there. But now that my children are grown in my heart are moments I treasure that leave no room for me to miss them. They are still with me. It is also the deep hearted questions I had the joy of answering when the had doubts about heir faith and some how they always come during math!  What that has done for MY HEART AS A MOTHER is gave me peace and assurance when my child walked away from the Lord. I know the Lord is faithful, I know He watches over His word to perform it and hope burns brightly because I know my children. I truly know their hearts. And that is YOUR gift for diligently teaching them.

 Oh, remember as you are reading these posts, Tiany is hosting the Homeschool 2007 Open House sign up and share your heart as well.