Feb. 2, 2008 - Fried Friday (as in snow day, school fried)

Sorry, once I get into the illiteration bug as Anne (with an "e") of Green Gables, I have to finish it out.

Upon arising yesterday, I realized it was going to snow for a while. By the time small son showed his face to the world.....many inches had accumulated.

And my husband's normal time for arriving at the homestead was altered by HOURS.....so.....in light of the distractability of small son DUE to said snowfall.....I called a SNOW DAY.

I don't normally. Do things like that, home school being what it is and all. I mean technically, we could do school in the middle of the night or in the middle of a hurricane......

But I was feeling very tired and unmotivated and truly needed a break myself.....

AND I knew that small son needed to get out there and try to do SOMETHING with this very long driveway we have.....or Daddy would be left stranded at the end of the driveway in his little pick up.

So, in his inimitable little boy way, small son went out and tackled the driveway in fits and spurts and patches.....enough to get his Dad in and us out......

THEN we went to the library and got several movies. I also declared this a 'non-working' weekend.....no housework, no laundry.......truly. Everything WILL be there Monday.

I MIGHT have to go grab a few groceries, but other than that......it is veg out heaven here at the Lower ranch until church Sunday morning.

EVERYONE needs to unwind every once in a while, right?

And we just might 'learn' a few things too!

Denise aka The Domestic Angel

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Feb. 1, 2008 - THoroughly better THursday

Either I'm just plum getting too old for all this or I really have a child who has to be literally watched over 24/7!

I was SO hoping (and there have been times) that I could just set up a day or a plan for small son and he would just breeze thru his studies.....leaving me to pursue MY interests. I had that goal for my 'golden' years of 50 and beyond.

THAT has come and gone......a year ago.

Sigh.

Now we're hoping he at least can hold down a job by the time he's 30 and get his own place.

I figure I'll be WAY old and too tired to care by the time I get to 'pursue my interests'!

All this said because we DID have a MUCH better day yesterday, but it was ONLY b/c I literally held this child down, MADE him talk to me, read, do his work.....I tell ya, it's like .......it's like.......well, my Daddy used to say 'pulling hen's teeth', but I sure wish I could think of a more apt analogy. Me giving birth to an elephant? Something like that anyway. Some of THE most difficult work I've ever done.....and I've done PLENTY of hard work in my time, physically, emotionally, intellectually. This beats 'em all!

I really AM going to sit down with my Charlotte Mason books and see what she has to say about these things. I know the weekly study this time is about "The Will"......and I've read that part before......can you spell "S-T-U-B-B-O-R-N" with a capital "C" for small son's name? I slipped somehow years ago and am sure paying for it now.....readers.....beware for your own!! Shape that will NOW, while you have time. You WILL pay for it later if you don't!

SO.....if someone makes any kind of inference that what we do as home schooling mom's is a trifle 'fluffly' or makes out like you don't "WORK"......send them to ME, I'll straighten 'em out! Or better yet......in keeping with the humility of Christ.....just know in your heart what a real trooper you really are!!!

THAT being said, I am proud to say that we came the CLOSEST to finishing one complete day of school, doing ALL subjects I had listed, than we ever have in recent memory. Here's how it looked:

Bible - read Gen. 6. At this point, I think it's time for some 'feedback' about what he's reading in his Bible version, so I also required him today to write down in his own words what's happened so far. Now, I realize that's covering an awful lot.....but I was curious to see what he'd come up with. Well, he came tearing into the laundry room shortly after starting school and blurted out "God made everything and man got evil but then he found Moses". Let some theological wizard argue with THAT. He actually THOUGHT I was going to let him just narrate orally, but I made him go write SOMETHING down at least.....he wrote "Moses was a ritgus man". Sigh. At least he got that part, eh?

Story of Mankind - says this book is 'boring'. Made him read it anyway. I almost agree.....axis partners? Eewwww.

Copywork - Did Lesson 20 spelling words. Honestly. Beautiful. Looks like art.

Poetry - "A Late Walk" by Robert Frost

Art - asked him to draw a picture from something he read yesterday. His choice. He was surprised, but after thinking just a little while, he drew a sled and then a child on one from "Snow Treasure".....at least he's paying attention!

Reading - Hobbit, finished chapter 2

Math - watched dvd for Lesson 14, did 3 worksheets

History reading - "Snow Treasure", chapter 4

Nature Study - I read to him the next section in "the skies". He's really fascinated by this. I hope he sort of takes it and runs with it on his own sometime.

School of the Woods - I read this one to him since it's off the computer. Finished 2nd half of Chapter 1
Discussed 'teaching' as opposed to 'instinct' and also applied much of what we read to HIM.

Science - Again, I read this to him since it's on the computer. We got to page 20. It is about astronomy. Kind of neat that this goes with his Nature Study.

French - finished introducing the alphabet pronunciation and went over the 7 'question' words. Also at dinner, I started 'naming' different things and making up short sentences with the question words in  them. He was impressed and started repeating me (immersion?) and I was impressed with myself that I remembered so much! A little 'brush up' and I might be fluent again. I DID catch myself writing what he did in French afterwards. Huh.

All in all a VERY productive day. Now if only today would be as good. Half his school days.....huh.

Denise aka The Domestic Angel

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Jan. 31, 2008 - Windblown Wednesday.....

....you know, like a windstorm, blowing you all about from here to there, never knowing where you'll end up, or if you're in the place where you started again.....or where you'll end up next??

THAT'S how yesterday was for me.

I got up late, by about an hour (and again today by about an hour and a half). I'm beginning to think this low iron thing is hitting me again.....OR I've just taken a clue from our furry forest friends and my body wants to go into hibernation!!! Mercy, it's cold here!!!

I just felt like I never finished anything, was running around from place to place, chore to chore. I even woke up this morning with one of those headaches......like I didn't sleep at all. GRRRRR.

Seriously, I'd get half the dishes done, then the muffins would come out of the oven. Then the dog would need let out. Then small son would need some kind of help with school. Then .....then......then.

And the PHONE. I seriously am going to turn off the ringer during school today, after hubby has called.

I literally felt out of breath by the end of the day.

HOWEVER.......and because I held this child's feet to the fire all day long (maybe why I felt out of breath, huh?).....he DID accomplish alot. Here it is:

And I need to say in here that he DOES do alot of reading on his own....he currently has no less than about 5 or 6 books going......all the way from Hardy Boys to The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, to Lord of the Rings.......so, he's getting alot of stuff just peripherally right now.

Bible - Gen. 5, wrote in journal

Story of Mankind - only read half of what was required .......more reading for him today!

Copywork - Lesson 18 spelling words.....can't wait to find a copybook I can afford. He is doing SO well!

Poetry - "Love and a Question" by Robert Frost

Reading - did his 7 pages of Hobbit (big surprise)

Math - finished 3 pages of worksheets for Lesson 13, took the test, will grade papers Monday.

History reading - Snow Treasure - chapter 3.....asked me what a 'bomb shelter" and "air raids" were.....was able to explain them in light of the first scene in the new Narnia Lion, Witch Wardrobe movie.....we also talked a little about the 'drills' I had in elementary school (in the 60's) and the cold war. He seemed pretty interested.

Grammar - did worksheet on tell, ask, command, exclaim sentences. Got them all right!!

Music appreciation - read Chp. 2 in Mozart book while listening to one of his symphonies.

Here's where I stepped in and MADE him do this. I think part of the problem is he does not like to read books on the computer......so I read for him!!! Wish I could afford 'real' books right now.

Missionary studies - David Livingstone to page 5

School of the Woods - 1/2 the first chapter. Discussed importance of 'teaching'.

Age of Fables - covered the Laestrygonians, Cerce and the Sirens. Discussed.

Science - began "The Sciences", read the foreword. He's kind of excited about the 'experiments'. We'll see.

Picture Study - looked at Rembrandt's "Night Watch" online...discussed the mammoth SIZE of the paintings these old Masters did.....referred to Chicago's Museum of Art.....free admission this month....we might just get to go check it out!! I'd really like him to see one of those HUGE paintings. He might just 'get' why they took so long to do.

We started WAYYYY late, so this was quite an accomplishment. Can't remember what I threatened him with, but not alot of whining today. Hopefully today will be better. It does seem to get better as the week progresses, as long as we are consistent. Wish there were no weekends and I am seriously rethinking Mondays.

Denise aka The Domestic Angel

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Jan. 30, 2008 - Terrible Tuesday

Ok, I'm back with the illiteration......but......it's fun.

And yesterday was pretty terrible.

Found out a friend had a stroke and was in hospital close to us, so we took a few hours after hubby got home to go visit the family at the hospital. Her father is our SS teacher. He would do no less for us.

THIS meant we had to leave small son more or less 'self directed' for much of his school and normally that is NOT a problem. Yesterday, it was.

I only left him things to do that I KNEW he could accomplish w/o my help. He only did a few items!!! I was devastated! It was the old child digging in with that smoldering look that could melt stone when I asked why he didn't accomplish hardly anything.

I am at a loss. But not 'beaten'. I knew this transition was not going to be easy and I knew it was not going to be 'overnight' and I KNEW that once the 'newness' of the situation wore off......he'd be causing trouble again. Past history being what it is, after all.

I may have to drop down to a different year. I am going to the AO or CM site or whatever that deals with LD kids. I cannot let this thing get to me.
 
I am TRYING to let him have a part in deciding how get this education. Engaged. Active. Helping with certain decisions, making him OWN those decisions so he will see it was HIS choice to do certain things. It doesn't seem to matter and I'm about to take the matter into my OWN hands. This is a tough age with "normal" children.....all his 'issues' are making it worse.

However.......after our return, I held his feet to the fire and MADE him finish at least what I had written, which would have been about a half day. Which also meant he finished up WAY later than normal, in fact, it was getting dark when he finally got done!! Here's what he begrudgingly accomplished.

Bible - read Gen 4, wrote in journal

History - finished the chapter in Story of Mankind.

Copywork - Did Lesson 17 spelling words

Poetry - Read "My November Guest" by Robert Frost. Said it was talking about winter.....I plan on getting a more in depth narration today.

Reading - of COURSE he did his reading in "The Hobbit"....duh.

Art - drew an absolutely detailed representation of a map and weapons from The Hobbit. His assignment was "draw something from the Hobbit that was significant to you". Pretty good job, actually.

History reading - Snow Treasure, not sure how far he got, I'm thinkin' he finished cht. 2

Nature Study - I sat and read the introduction to him about "The Skies". Hubby was there too and was more fascinated than small son......hmmm.....maybe I could get HIM to teach it, eh?

Piano - did a few minutes with his intro to piano book.

All BARE MINIUMUM stuff.

REFUSED to read the Einstien book, the Shakespeare book or his book of missionary stories, said they were 'too hard'.......hmmm........and THIS the child that insisted he could "do" this work??? Will definitely be re-evaluating today. It's been ONE WEEK since we switched over. I need to put a TIME limit on it from now on.

I'm TRYING to keep the lessons short re:CM. 20 minutes. Or less. I'm trying to engage and involve in different types of media and learning. Sigh. I cannot let this get to me.

I WILL figure this out!

Denise aka The Domestic Angel

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Jan. 29, 2008 - Meltdown Monday

And guess who had the meltdown?? ME!!!!!!!!!

Honestly, don't know what that was all about......my hormones must be running amuck again, but I had not one but TWO seperate meltdowns yesterday......both regarding our finances.

January has always been a difficult month for me. Cold, dark, hard to have joy about anything....and I've been checking back and even some of my writing on my other blog reflects that!

Time for an 'attitude adjustment'!!! MINE!!!

Not sure how I'll accomplish that yet. Still praying thru. The light at the end of the tunnel almost was too dark to see yesterday for some reason. But my husband really REALLY helped me thru this one. I am SO grateful for that man sometimes.

Several years ago when we we in another tight spot, and I was being impossible, I made him promise that we BOTH would never get this way at the same time......so far, so good.

He reminded me of that promise yesterday. Said it's a good thing we BOTH weren't so down or we'd be in some serious trouble.....ain't THAT the truth?

Poor small son. He pretty much just stayed out of the way. I've often wondered what it would be like to have older parents.....well, this child HAS 'em!  I pray it doesn't effect his school work today.

I am feeling somewhat better today. I've fought thru the 'poor me' part of it and now I'm working on the "plan" part of it.......

Plus, there's all this other stuff to do today......laundry, school, this afghan is still calling my name......cooking...........LIFE.

My temporary vacation in self pity was just NOT that enjoyable.

ONWARD.....

Denise aka The Domestic Angel

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Jan. 28, 2008 - Conundrum

How is it possible to do more with less time? That is my conundrum that I have been contemplating all weekend.

Here's the deal.

Small son now accomplishes more learning in MUCH less time even though the reading and subject matter is more difficult ......than he has in a very long time.

I don't get it.

Maybe it's just that he's not only had this huge physical growth spurt, but somewhere along the way, he had a maturity spurt or something.

How is it that I've missed that? I've already raised 2 other children and never really noticed this quantum leap thing before. And trust me, he's still as goofy as ever. Still such a little boy at times (and usually at the times when I need him to be more grown up), that I want to just smack him......but with this whole school thing......wow.

Maybe it's just the fact that God does answer prayers on HIS timetable, not mine. I'm sure I remember praying about this situation countless times. Is this really the answer? Hmmm.

Anyway, just some of my Monday morning ponderings.......here's what was accomplished on Friday.

Bible - read Gen. 3, wrote in journal

Copywork - did lesson 15 spelling words. This has a 2 fold purpose. He not only is practicing his cursive, he's doing spelling words!!! Plus, it's the only book I have actual cursive writing in that he can copy!

****Sidebar - Here's a thought on cursive. I remember when we put him in a Christian school when he was about 6, (basically b/c I was having a hard time teaching him to read, thought it was me....turns out he's dyslexic!), but when he was doing Kdg. at this school, they began teaching cursive. I was shocked that they were teaching it this young....but.....hey. He enjoyed it for a while, then got really defiant about it and really got sloppy. Seems when he did the words, he was fine, but the practice strokes......blech. ANYWAY, he was only in this school one semester (when we finally realized it was NOT my inability to teach him to read, but HIS disability) and after he finished their Kdg in June, we elected to home school him forever.......but I thought since he did such a great job on cursive, I would include it that fall. Bought all the cursive books, etc. No go. He just wouldn't cooperate and rather than frustrate him I just stopped making him do it. That's when we discovered all these other problems he has......including this shaking of his hands when doing something he needs to be 'careful' with. Went thru all the proper medical testing....no medical probs.....hm.

Flash forward to today. Not sure if the background he had as a 6 year old has anything to do with it......OR the fact that we delayed putting some things into his studies.....but he is doing an absolutely BEAUTIFUL job of cursive now!!! Is it b/c I didn't even require it for so long? Is it b/c his small muscle control is now under control?? He still shakes quite a bit when doing fine things......but his handwriting is remarkable. I just got to wondering that if some mind's have trouble comprehending abstract concepts like math until the age of 12 or so.....then perhaps the same is true of cursive?? Or maybe, it's just a cognitive, tactile thing?? Like the connection between the brain and the muscles, etc?? Just a thought I'd share with you. In fact......it's odd to look back on all the things I thought he was so far behind on 2-3 years ago....and now he seems to be catching up quite quickly. Maybe just a memo to those mom's who think their children are so far behind and will be living at home until they're 40 b/c they can't do their times tables ......I'm thinkin' it all comes out in the wash.......as long as there is much perserverance.

Ok, musing over.

French - yes, you read it right.....French. I was always taught that if you don't have a handle on the English language, you won't be able to master a foreign language......but I've also heard that if you can 'get' a foreign language, sometimes that clears up English for you......so we just plunged ahead and started.....Friday I introduced the French alphabet and the pronunciations.....well, half of it.

History read - Snow Treasure - read foreword and Chp. 1 of the book that goes along with his history study.

Math - took Test 10, 11 and 12 AND the Unit test that covered Lessons 1-10.....I forget the tests sometimes!

Reading - several more pages in Hobbit

Literature - Age of Fables - read chp. 29  "Return of Usylesses"

Science - read first chapter of Einstein book

I had several other things written down to do, but forgot that he had an activity when I was making up the lesson plan for the day.....so he only actually did get thru half of it.

Not bad. Not bad at all.

Denise aka The Domestic Angel

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Jan. 25, 2008 - WOW. What a difference!

I am shocked and amazed at the difference in small son. His attitude and his approach to school from one day to..... BOOM ....the next.

Here is what he accomplished yesterday and then I'll explain.

Bible - Read Gen 2, wrote in journal (haven't checked just WHAT he's writing yet, I'm letting that be "personal" for the time being.)

Copywork - did a list of spelling words.....all I can say is UNBELIEVABLE! Even better than before! I think I'll keep the spelling combined with penmanship like this for right now. I need to find some cursive copybooks for him to imitate......does better literally 'copying' right now. Connecting the letters or something.

Grammar - Did a worksheet regarding parts of speech. A few new concepts and GOT IT!

Poetry - read "Ghost House" by Robert Frost (he's 'studying' Frost this term) and then I had him do.....

Art - drew a picture of what he thought the poem "looked" like. We used to do this all the time and sometimes the renditions were fantastic. Kinda spooky!

Math - finished Unit 12 - 3 worksheets. Need to 'catch up' on a few tests today that we somehow forgot!!

Reading - more Hobbit

Ok.....this part was done at home before we left on our "3 hour cruise" (hear the Gilligans Island music in the background?).....actually, it was more like an 8 hour trek!

He willingly ASKED "which books do I need to take with me today"? After dusting myself off while arising from the floor, I chose some books from the table and marked the places with sticky notes that told him what to do. The backpack was VERY full. Some of those books are quite large. Reminded me of what I lugged around at university!

We left for his home school activity, I ran to the big library and grocery store, picked him up, we grabbed a sandwich at Subway, then we drove many miles to church where I had things to do.

He read his 20,000 leagues book AND his Missionary stories on the way there, drug that heavy backpack into the church sanctuary and while I was singing, read his Story of Mankind book.

THEN it was time for me to go to class, so he found a corner somewhere else and read his Mozart biography while listening to Mozart on his Walkman. How cool is THAT??

I'm thinkin' he probably did a few other things too, just can't remember them right now and he's sleeping.

In fact, it's 9:30 last night and we've not been home long, when he comes up to me and asks me what's wrong with the printer.....remember the evil printer, that once I got THIS thing working properly the other day,  decided to quit on me?? WELL.....small son started pulling on cords and actually got it to come on!! Traced the cord to where it was plugged into the wall.....yep, you guessed it.....not plugged in all the way.....older home, sloppy outlets.....good grief!!!

ANYWAY...I ask what he wants to print.....it's some map he thinks is 'cool' and wants to put it in his journal......maybe make a 'treasure map' out of it....this is the kind of 'free thinking' that you can't PAY to have pop up into their heads!!! He was busy with glue and the like when I was falling into bed!! Can't wait to see what he's done this morning!

All that to make this observation: The change from Wednesdays Whining to Thursdays Self Motivation is startling! I saw a young man. NOT this whiney, baby, drag my feet, dawdle and goof off little boy.

I know there will be relapses back to that little boy, but this is WONDERFUL and I'm enjoying every minute of it.

I think, at least in HIS case, that this type of education is more "real", but it is also more empowering for him. Something HE is in control of. Whodathunkit?

We will be needing to fine tune some things. And we're not "totally" doing Term 2. Some things we've substituted b/c it's what we have and we canNOT afford to run out and get new books right now. If only.

Oh, did I mention that yesterday and all he accomplished was 'technically' only a half day of school?

Not bad. Not bad at all.

Rejoice with me!!!

Denise aka The Domestic Angel

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Jan. 24, 2008 - Twilight Zone.......

.....honestly.....I was looking for Rod Sterling all day long yesterday. I could NOT get on here, I could not do many things on the computer.....there was this really bizarre screen that, like, totally took over my computer. Telling me some 'renewal period' was over and I had to buy XYZ system to use my pc. Started my internet by itself first thing in the morning and that was REALLY creepy...... and every 5 minutes or so popped it back up, like a pop up, only way worse. I have Gateway GoBack which is a seriously great thing to have. Did that back to the day b4 when things were fine....didn't help, and it ALWAYS has.

I tried to download a couple of anti virus programs and couldn't. Finally it got to where it was only doing it occasionally. I shut down the computer several times and BOOM, there it still was......however, by the time I went to bed last night.....it was gone. Poof. Disappeared. Like it never happened. I'd think I hallucinated it, but hubby saw it too, thank goodness!!! Seriously, that was THE strangest experience I've ever had in all these years of having this computer. Well, except for an X rated one years ago.....no more leaving the IM thing on all the time with DSL!!!!

SOOO....I'm back.

AND....if yesterday weren't already strange enough......small son had a literal MELTDOWN. About school.

AND I was not feeling well, I think I'm getting a kidney infection or already have one or something, my back and neck feel like a stiff board and hurt like crazy. SO, I literally just walked away from him and refused to do ANYTHING until his Dad showed up.

Normally, Daddy is the 'enforcer', but lately small son has been confiding in him and become somewhat 'closer' to his dad, so when hubby went in to talk to him, I left and made sure I was far enough away to not hear it all.

Funny thing, when it was all said and done, the thing bothering small son was not AT ALL what I thought it was.

What he told his dad and would NOT tell me, was he HATED doing 'baby work'. That he WANTED to do the work of his age group. That he did it at the Christian school he went to (and he DID, with the exception of math) and he HATED not doing 6th grade work here at home.

Well, blow me over and call me shorty!!! I was stunned, to say the least.

HOWEVER, I had been considering and praying about a few things. Like going back to the way we used to do things YEARS ago.....Charlotte Mason and Ambleside.  We still had all the books, so.....why not? It was like God was preparing me for all this. Just not right then.

SO, yesterday was spent not only trying to do something with this beast.......er.......nice machine (sometimes I think it hears me), but TOTALLY changing our curriculum. With a bad back. Sigh.

I hopped online, got the Ambleside curriculum for the 6th year and SHOWED him exactly what he'd be doing....."no problem" he says. You know, sometimes the Holy Spirit answers come right away, and I got that nudge that said "just do it".....so......we did.

So, somewhere around noon, small son started going downstairs and getting into those......say it with me....."BLUE TOTES".....where all his extra books and curriculum is stored.......and started dragging the books he'd seen on the screen on Ambleside to me. Guess that sort of clinched it, huh?

And all kidding aside, it has ALWAYS been the way he learned the best, but when the 'guilties' kicked in about not doing things the way real school did them, or other home schooling parents.....I always caved and tried to convince him of how wonderful these other programs were. HA. How smart is my child to know I was blowing smoke? And how great is it that he KNOWS the way he learns best?

AND how God like was it that I get this "Homeschool Minute" thing from TOS about 'perspective' yesterday morning?? Saying things like 'your school doesn't have to look like everyone else's' and other wise sayings?

Needless to say, I was humbled and very grateful.

I printed off all the books, etc. that we'll be needing for the 2nd term. I'm sure that's not the best place to start, but.....what do you do?

And remarkably, even AFTER all the drama and angst, AFTER a long trip to the little local library.....he actually accomplished  probably MORE actual learning yesterday. than he has in a long time. Here's what he did.

Bible - read Gen. 1 and actually wrote in his journal. You know, a thought here. Maybe he'll start acting older if I start treating him older, huh? I never have dumbed down anything or babyed him......I THOUGHT, but maybe now since I EXPECT him to act like a 6th grader in respect to his school work , he will.....hmmm.

Reading - Foreword and 1st 7 pages of "The Hobbit"....(yeah, it's KILLIN' him to have one of his favorite books required).

Math - we will continue to use MathUSee......finished 3 worksheets in Lesson 12.....had a somewhat difficult time getting doubles....hmmm.

History - Story of Mankind pgs. 509, 510. I LOVE the way this book is written! Will have him narrate back to me on the road today.

Poetry - Read a Robert Frost poem "Into My Own" from "A Boy's Will" section. How appropriate was THAT?

20,0000 leagues under the Sea, started that one and we had requested books on Braille and he read that out loud to me.....we BOTH learned alot about braille!

Of course, we'll accomplish more today.....sort of......today and tomorrow are half days b/c of hs group activities anyway, BUT.....he 'remembers' that we used to take our books with us when running around.....and since we have alot of driving to do....that will work!

Strange times......but, following the Holy Spirit and God's leading is like that sometimes, eh?

Denise aka The Domestic Angel

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Jan. 22, 2008 - Does this happen to you?

Maybe I'm the only one on the planet that this happens to, but just as I start to feel.....satisfied or like I've accomplished much or when things are on an even keel.....something comes along to leave a bad taste in my mouth, which usually ends up with me not continuing something I've started that I've purposed for God's glory.

Sigh.

Satan.

That slimey devil.

I won't go into detail here, but twice yesterday I was.....sort of reminded that just because God has shown ME something, doesn't necessarily mean that everyone else is going to stand back and go "oh, yeah.....how cool".

Sometimes I just feel like Moses. Confronted with the biggest liar of the millenium and a huge bunch of complainers. I'm thinkin' he was feelin'.....like......"why do I bother?"

Because God said so. AND because eventually, God WILL get the glory He deserves. SOMEDAY someone will remember.

I may have more later, maybe on a different blog. Still ruminating.

No school on Mondays so nothing to report on that front.....forgot to do my lesson plan, b/c hubby and I sort of TOOK a 'date'.....and I mean "took" b/c it is never easy. We sure don't get these times just handed to us. We started off running to the license bureau to change our address.....not open.....MLK day. THEN, I had a small check I needed to cash, so we drove over to a town totally in the OPPOSITE direction of where we were going to cash it.......not open....MLK day.

Starting to see a pattern here?

THEN, hubby told me he'd spot me a few bucks for what I needed, so we drove all the way back to the town we eventually wanted to end up in......got the few groceries I needed. My main purpose for this drive was to get a skein of yarn in a certain color at the store..........they did not have it!!! I was crushed. I am almost done with this afghan I've purposed for my son and daughter in law......HOWEVER....the original yarn was purchased about.....10 years ago or so. I had used three varying colors in the same shade.....now, they HAD the lightest color.....but not the medium one I needed. Sigh.

Found out there was another store in yet ANOTHER town about 15 miles north and west of us, that just MIGHT have it, so hubby said since we were out running around and running out the gas, we might as well go see.

You guessed it. No luck there either.

We finally just gave up and came home. BUT.....the drive was nice. The sun was shining. I got to see LOTS of things and go down LOTS of roads I've never been on before. AND it kinda reminded me of what we used to do when we were first married....just take off on a lark, go for a drive, get lost and then find our way again.....sort of sounds like life, eh?? It's good for God to remind us of those things, huh? And good thing we have those experiences to sort of 'pad' the bad times.

I guess I need to get out more, or at least remember these gov't holidays, eh?

More on school tomorrow.....gotta go run and do that lesson plan!

Denise aka The Domestic Angel

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Jan. 21, 2008 - Fridays...

....around here are a little different. Not as bad as Mondays, but strange, nonetheless.

You see, for always and evermore, Fridays have been my 'traditional' cleaning days. Now, when we lived in the house we just moved out of 6 weeks ago.....I did not keep my cleaning schedule. Don't know if I was just being stubborn, of if I truly believed it made no difference. It's hard to describe, but besides the fact that the house was the size of a postage stamp and there was no place for anything and it was beyond frustrating and even if I picked up, it just felt like I was continually shoving everything back into corners and then within a few hours, the stuff would just sort of start oozing back out.......BESIDES that, there was this incredible black soot like dirt that just got on and stayed on EVERYTHING all the time. First, we thought it was the area, since steel mills aren't far off.....like it was coming out of the air, especially in the summer, when windows were open. THEN we noticed it was worse in winter, so hubby assumed it was b/c the furnace had NO filter and was on the direct dirt of the crawl space....not on a cement pad. Add to all that extreme termite damage, water so hard it has literally ruined out clothes and dirt and sand that came in continually from the OUTSIDE.....and I really just didn't have a heart to do it anymore.....so I guess I rebelled, sulked, pouted....just basically forgot about it.

However, anywhere else we've lived, we have been on the Friday - full clean/Tues- brush up schedule. Tues/Sat being laundry days. Small son had forgotten that, I think. So, with the move out here......he has been 'reminded' of his duties alongside me, as WELL as his responsibility in his room (which at the other place ALSO didn't exist, b/c it was a storage area with a bed he slept on!!) HOWEVER, with our new school schedule, and realizing how important it has been for HIM to keep a schedule, Aspies' being what they are and all.....I have chosen to do a half day of school on Fridays.

Sometimes you just have to 'adjust'. And as others have commented here......let God lead. I DO believe in letting the Holy Spirit lead our lives, but I also know that small son benefits and is much more.....content with a somewhat immutable schedule. It used to take me DAYS to get him 'back on track' after a few lazy, let's just go to the park' days. I had to realize in my own time that even though that was WONDERFUL for many other home schools, and other children had NO problem adjusting to the ebb and flow of 'take it as it comes'.....I had to do SOMETHING about what our school looked like and how it functioned, or I was going to waste far too much time catching up, keeping up and ......staying motivated. All to small son's detriment.

SOOOO, that being what it is, and all that being said to say this: even though Friday was a half day, we completed the housework in the am, did school after/before lunch even with Daddy present......I did laundry a day early for some reason AND we had time to run to the big town and get groceries, since I was out of most everything. Not bad.......here's what we accomplished in school....

Spelling - he also took the initiative to get started by himself again today......this is REAL progress and what I've been praying for! Did Lesson 14, will take the 'test' today.

Math - finished the Lesson 11 worksheets......had a few bumps in the road. He seems to have trouble retaining the older things he learned, but not the new ones....hmmmm.

Reading - did all workbook pages for Lesson 9, mostly worked on antonyms and synonyms. New terms for him, did well.

English - Did Lesson 9 about asking sentences. Pretty basic stuff, did well.

Basically, we did every other lesson the way I have it laid out in my lesson book......we skipped Health, Science and History, and he's at the very beginning of new units in each subject anyway.

To coin a phrase from my spiritual mentor.......

ONWARD......

Denise aka The Domestic Angel

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Jan. 18, 2008 - Eeyore Thursday and a word about lesson plans

Seriously, how gloomy can this weather stay? Small son says he feels like he's living in a cave. AHHH, but TODAY, it's absolutely sunny and gorgeous and looks like it should be about 75 degrees outside.....but it's supposed to go sub-zero by tonight.....go figure. Just some of the joys of living in the Midwest.

Not sure who shared this, if it was someone on a blog here, or a home schooling friend of mine....oh, I think it was a young lady who home schools 3 (and a 4th too young)......in fact, the friend who told me about Rod and Staff, which we're using now.

I asked her one day what she was doing and she told me she was working on her lesson plans. Now, I've done Charlotte Mason, Ambleside and many MANY other curriculi where I just skated by doing one day at a time......always seemed to work, sort of....for me, anyway. And since small son has ALWAYS had such difficulties, I'd just say "oh, we'll get to that tomorrow". Sort of.......I'm sure some of you understand.

She went on to say she just dug in once and planned out an entire week for all 3 children....and was amazed at how much smoother her week went. I'm sure she thought it was a fluke, I would have.....like the stars and planets and such were all just lined up right for a change.....but she says she continues to do it because it really DOES make a difference in her week!!!

HEY, I am ALL for smooth and making my week better, so with this new schedule/life plan we started at the beginning of this year, I also instituted the "Weekly Lesson Plan" session on Mondays.....those days that for us are like most people's Saturdays.

I actually STARTED a lesson plan of sorts back when we started R & S....in November (when we brought small son home from his ill fated stint at CS), but it was more of a "keep track of where we're AT", not a road map for where we're going.

This is our 3rd week of pre planned school.....and amazingly, it has gone incredibly well. Certainly not a magic wand to make all our problems disappear, but a definite PLAN or road map, if you will, of where we're going. And it makes sense, actually. I'm all for 'relaxed' and sometimes 'student led', but ......SOMEONE has to be in charge, no?

It takes me about an hour, probably b/c I'm such a novice at this. I'm sure if I had multiple children, it would take even longer, or I'd come up with a 'shortcut' way to do it.....but.....all in all.....we've actually accomplished MOST of what I've 'planned'. WOW.

Now, I'm so "Monk-sih" or OCD that we have to do everything at a certain time and if we're not done, we 'move on' anyway.....I certainly leave enough room for sunrises, unexpected company, unexpected tragedy and the like.....but it really really is working.....I highly advise it for anyone who feels......like maybe they're not getting enough done in a day.....or they feel like.....lost or something.

Anyway,

Spelling - Man, does this child like to complain!!!! I'm really starting to look back on our life. I'm thinkin' I was a major complainer for much of his growing up years or something.....I've decided one way to slip in cursive is to make him do his spelling words in cursive, and he's basically just copying it from his book, b/c they actually have the list in cursive and in print.....and he does an absolutely GORGEOUS job!!! Finished lesson 10, did lesson 11 and took a test, got one wrong.

FUFI - Did vocab words for Chpt 5, read all of chtp 5, then did the few exercises. These we do mostly orally, instead of on paper. It's just better for him to get a 'taste' of this curriculum this way, as it's for mostly older children.

Math - he continues to actually ENJOY his math now....Praise the LORD!!!! Watched the DVD for Lesson 11, did 3 lesson 11 worksheets, introducing geometry and trig.....shapes and such. Ugh. Glad he 'gets' it!

English - Lesson 8 is an oral and written review of 1-7.....completed that section.

History - Took the Unit 1 test - got 6 wrong out of 31 - 81% - B-......not as good as on the review test, but Daddy was home and he's our major distraction!!

Reading  Lesson 9 - did vocab words and read story.

We finished an hour or so earlier than we normally do, but small son had started school HIMSELF while I was in the shower (and THAT'S a major accomplishment too!!!!)....so, since it was SUCH an Eeyore day, we decided to run into our little town and go to the library. Glad we did. Small son in interested in learning how to read braille....not sure why, but it's his 'thing' right now.....and this tiny little town library couldn't find anything, but she put in to have some things sent (and I didn't even ASK).....we'll see what she came up with!

One more day.....we'll see how today goes!

Denise aka The Domestic Angel

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Jan. 17, 2008 - Plodding thru.....

Twice this week small son has commented, "why do we do the same thing every day?? We get up, we do school, we eat, we read, we go to bed....., (well, that's HIS version of 'normality'...oh, to be a child again, with no real responsibilities!!!).....that is so boring. Why is it so boring now?"

Personally, the way I see it, is that our life could USE some 'boring' times. We have had enough excitement and upheaval to last a lifetime. And unfortunately, I see that small son has gotten 'used' to that. Needs the 'rush' of uncertainty, the thrill of never knowing what's around the corner. Sad commentary on our life, actually.....and why I encourage him to read fantasies and mysteries. I'd much rather he get his thrills from a book, than too much of it in real life.

Praise the LORD for the mundane. For the plodding times. For winter. For schedules. For the 'same old same old'. I know his raging hormonal, pre-pubescent body is revving for more.....but for now.....this peace and tranquility is the best medicine for the past few years of uncertainty. I pray he will get used to some semblance of 'normal', but still look for and enjoy the unexpected also. Not necessarily the tragic chaos, but the little unexpected 'rushes' of life.

Yesterday was yet another red letter day in our schooling adventure. After the requisite (and I think somehow he thinks he is SUPPOSED to 'gripe'')..... pre-school whining and request to 'do school in the living room where the sun is shining'.....he settled into his work and did well......

Spelling - I'm glad we begin with a rather benign subject......today he decided he did NOT have to look over the words for his test.....so rather than beg him to do so, I let him take the test w/o preparing.....he only got 1 wrong, which is NOT a big deal....however.....he usually aces it and for him to have to write words 10 times each is the WORST punishment in the world, even one word....so, maybe he'll learn, eh? Finished a portion of alphabetizing in the previous lesson he had 'put off', finished lesson 12.

Health - the 2nd subject of the day I trade off with FUFI, today it was health. finished chp. 2 with questions, mostly about how God is in control, but we have responsibilities of keeping our body healthy too. Just real basic stuff.

Math - finished lesson 10 - completely understands the concept and wanted to move on to the next one today.....then elected to wait until tomorrow.....he's learning to pace himself, I can see that.....well, either that or put off til tomorrow what he could do today.....I'll have to watch that!

Science - Began Unit 2 about animals. finished the first section of lesson 1 with questions.

History - did an oral review of vocab words with him, HE skimmed for review, then he just plunged in and wanted to take the pre-test......I allowed it and lo and behold he got 89% - a B+. I was shocked! Today is the big Unit test.

English - working on review here also. Did an extra credit worksheet and some sentence diagramming on the whiteboard. Am very encouraged to see he 'gets' the whole sentence diagramming thing.

Did not do reading....need to work on that....maybe a different program? Hmmmm.

Funny thing. Late last night......I heard him rummaging thru some of those now infamous blue totes in the basement and up he came with this huge stack of books.....all about how to write. Earlier that day he had found his disc with what he calls his book he is writing on it. Doodled with that a little bit.....then the 'how-to' books....hmmm. Glad the info was available for him and glad he's digging in HIMSELF.

Could be interesting around here for a little while. Sharing this computer......

Denise aka The Domestic Angel

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Jan. 16, 2008 - Blessed Monday!

Whew. Schedules are good. Things are definitely starting to 'come together'. Of course, there is still the stray bump in the road, the bad attitude, the scowling look, the whine........but all in all, things are SO much better.

Is it b/c MY attitude is so much better? Is it b/c Daddy's attitude is better? Is it b/c Jupiter is aligned with Mars?

I've allowed myself about........5 minutes..........to consider the "WHY'S" of this incredible transformation of attitude and have decided it is GOD.

I've also added to the mix that small son is actually getting older. HE has had to endure a few hardships these past months. HE has learned much about action/consequence. Good life lessons.

It is all good, in SPITE of all the upheaval, conflict and financial difficulty. God is GOOD.

Yesterday we even accomplished ALL of our schedule for school. In the allotted time. Even tho we started late. Here's how it went:

Spelling - not so smooth.....LOTS of grumbling, trying to get us back in the 'groove'. Whining, grumbling, complaining, not necessarily about spelling, but about 'doing school'.....I'm hoping that fades with time (yea, and I my thighs will be thin, chocolate will become a health food and the world will be at peace!).....took a test over lesson 10 words, but refused to even LOOK at them, let alone go over them, so.....he got 3 wrong. It was a 'pre-test' and I make him write his mistakes TEN times each. Not a happy camper. Did Lesson 11, but I also am trying to get him more familiar with cursive and make him write out his words only ONCE in cursive, and he does an absolutely BEAUTIFUL job!!!! It's like art, or something!!

FUFI - (Further Up and Further In for those who don't know) - finished the exercises for chp. 4, drew a picture of the pale sun and the huge buildings and the.....despairity of it all, and it actually came thru in how he drew it.....interesting. Read about sound waves, learned ALOT.

Math - continued on to lesson 10, which is 8 plus 2 to make 10 to add 8's. AND HE GOT IT!!! I really think we've turned a corner in this math issue!!! And he's 12 years old.....maybe that one article is right, eh? At least for this child. Watched the DVD for lesson 10, then did 4 pages of exercises. At one point, I thought he was doing something wrong and started to correct him....to which he told me the correct way.....I checked the teachers manual.....he was right!!! DUUUHHHH.....

Science - Unit test was interrupted last week by Grandpa Joe's death.....so I decided I would help him review and then just take the test. We reviewed mostly vocab words and then I read him some sections....took the test, got an 85%, which I allow as a B+......I was pleasantly surprised, the pre-test and all things considered.

Reading - now, small son cannot STAND this reading program for some reason. Can't figure out why, b/c he LOVES to read. I think he just doesn't like the 'busyness' of the workbook.....not sure. anyway, he finished lesson 8 worksheets. Under protest.

English - amazingly, this child LOVES sentence diagramming. Dare I think it?? Is this another one like his sister and I?? Who thinks English is fun and all that?? Not bad for a dyslexic, sensory intergrated, learnnig disabled boy, eh?? Anyway, we went over more simple subject and predicate and threw in some compound subjects and predicates. He even figured out how to diagram the double compound BY HIMSELF. WOW!

We left History for today. MORE review and another unit test. I just couldn't see putting him thru 2 in one day, when he really has never done 'tests' before. I'm still unsure of how I feel about testing.....but I DO know he will run into 'tests' in real life....on the job, in college......from God......just need to work on his review methods.

All in all, not a bad day......all things considered.

Denise aka The Domestic Angel

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Jan. 15, 2008 - Back to "Normal"......

.....whatever THAT is.

Wasn't there a book by that name or something similar a while back?? Anyway.

SO glad to be done with some of the unpleasantries of the past few days. Sheesh. Sometimes it just hits you in waves, eh? And in places you don't expect it.

But we survived. I see many major changes on the horizon. Hubby has been doing alot of 'soul searching'. Regarding "family". Hmmmm. We'll see what develops.

But we are now free to resume our 'regularly scheduled lives'....until the next 'thing' happens, which could be any moment.

School was ok on Friday, all things considered. You know, little things like finding out a grandfather you really didn't know very well has died. It seriously had NO EFFECT......at least no effect anyone could tell.....on small son. How very sad.

But, much like I wrote about on my new blog and current Bible study site,  www.daughterofgracemom.blogspot.com  ,small son's reaction certainly reflects not only the life and choices of my husband, but most importantly the life and choices of HIS father. As my Daddy used to always say "we die how we live".....or to quote a more well known source. "Live by the sword, die by the sword".

'Nuff said.

We did manage to do half a day of school on Friday....and I have good news!!! With this schedule that I am unwilling to break unless Jesus plants His foot on this globe again, small son seems to be having an improved attitude for school!!!! YEAH!!!

We have also seen improvement not only in his attitude toward school, but toward his life in general.

I heard banging around in the kitchen one day last week.....and asked "what are you doing out there"......"I'm going to do the dishes", was his reply. Without me asking?? Not as an 'avoidance' tactic?? Will wonders never cease!!

He also.....and anyone with boys will agree with me how very life changing this one was......he also......went and took a shower ON HIS OWN.....w/o cajoling from me, or wheedling, or begging, or threatening. WOW. Talk about shock!!

Could it be he is ......sigh.......growing up??

Oh, my.

More on what we accomplished today, tomorrow.

Denise aka The Domestic Angel

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Jan. 14, 2008 - An update, an apology, a lesson learned and some musings

No, it is NOT a bad joke, like "there's a priest, a rabbi and a Methodist minister........". Just some blog 'housekeeping issues' to deal with.

But first, an update. MY father is still fine, at least as of the last time I spoke with him or anyone else in my family. Thanks for the prayers and the comments. God is truly good, may HIS name be praised forever.

The update is regarding my husband's father, who passed from this earth's existence Friday, January 10, 2008. WAY too much drama to comment on here.....and.....after reading my apology and some things I've learned from THAT experience.....you will understand why I will not discuss the goings on of the weekend. My mother always taught me "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all".....PHEW. Hard words. But necessary. And words that need to be heeded.

Suffice it to say my husband's father is home with the Lord. My husband has peace about that regardless of the .....type of family he comes from.....and it is basically all over. 'Nuff said.

On to part 2. The apology.

In November I posted some thoughts I had regarding participating with The Indiana Youth Ballet in their children's production of "The Nutcracker".

It has been brought to my attention that some of the things I casually said in discussing our involvement in aforementioned production might have cast the company, the production and/or the owner and/or the entire experience in a negative light.

THAT IS NOT THE CASE. IT IS NOT A TRUE STATEMENT. Both small son and I were more than pleased with our participation and the resulting personal growth we experienced having been involved with the production. I have re-read and re-read what I wrote, looking for negativity, intended or otherwise. I do not see it.....however, what I have learned I will share later.

I want to go on record and on bytes in cyberspace as stating "I believe that any homeschooling parent should involve their child at least once in this type of community experience, whether it be with the Indiana Youth Ballet or any other community theatre, dance or performing group. The experience itself teaches much. It teaches self discipline. It teaches team work. It teaches community involvement. It teaches digging down and doing things that perhaps someone might not be used to doing, but that there is reward in perserverance. ALL sterling qualities and qualitites that I, as a home schooling parent, want my child to experience in order to 'round out' his learning and I would highly recommend the Indiana Youth Ballet as the place to have that experience ".

Was it a perfect experience?? No. Was it always enjoyable? No. But is anything? No. Can any experience, enjoyed by more than one person, have the same outcome or can any two people agree on how something turned out?? Just ask those who work in the legal field or law enforcement. (Of which I am qualified to comment, as that was my 'career' for many years). Did the perpertrator who ran off have a blue or red shirt on? Was the car white or grey? Was he tall or short? Have hair or not?? For every witness you have that comes forward, there will be a slightly different rendetion of 'who saw what'. Does that mean NONE of their experiences are worth 'noting' or that they were not valid? No. JUST DIFFERENT. That is why there are so many investigators and why they are so busy.

All in all, if anyone had cared to ASK me what my experience was like with the Indiana Youth Ballet, I would have told them it was overall a very POSITIVE experience. I would recommend it to anyone with children. To participate, to attend, to help. Good people, good times, overall good experience.

Apology complete. Or explained. at least.

NOW on to what I've learned.

I have learned MANY things from this ENTIRE experience.

I have learned that these words I type that go out into cyberspace CAN make an impact and CAN make a difference....now and even months, yea, YEARS later, Google being what it is, after all.  I also KNOW that this is a "public forum", therefore anyone can access what I say.....I have NEVER attempted to hide who I am, what I write....or more importantly......HOW TO CONTACT ME DIRECTLY if something I type is offensive.  I ENCOURAGE feedback, in fact, it was my plea for assistance THRU this blogging community that 'got me into trouble', so to speak.

The last time I checked, this was still America. We still have that wonderful document, the constitution, from which spring MANY rights. One of them being 'ree speech. Another free press. I learned these things at University of Michigan. Pre-law classes. Law library.

Something I know. That if I am going to write a journal for all to see, that I need to be prepared to take any criticism or negativity about what I say.....I need to understand that MY way is not the only way to 'see' or do things.....and that the feelings and events I write about are MY thoughts and MY thoughts only. This principal is not only true in the blogosphere, in any other endeavor in life.

I also know that as a Christian, which I proclaim to be without excuse, I need to be very careful with my words, so as not to offend, FOR THE SAKE OF MY LORD. In this case, I am extremely sorry. I do not ever want to reflect negativity for the sake of the one who saved my soul. I would want others to see anything that I do or say, as inviting....so that if they did not share my belief, they would at least be curious as to what makes me that way, at most they would ASK, "just what is it about you that makes you different?" I do not ever want the reaction "oh, well, if THAT'S what  a Christian is like, I don't want anything to do with it". It is for THIS REASON I pen this apology.

I also believe very strongly in living my life with my priorities lined up correctly. I am human, and just like everyone else, I fail in that respect sometimes too.

So, when this situation reared it's head, I consulted my 'head'. I shared everything with my husband. Asked him what he thought I should do. I was reminded of another person in this blogging community who was led to erase all her blogs, as inspiring as they were, due to what some construed as 'negative' thoughts that were penned by her. I thought to myself "oh, my, gosh....is that what I should do too?"

I asked my husband, "should I never blog again?" Is God punishing me for something? Am I being a bad witness? Is this something I should not be doing?

He assured me that having a blog is not evil. He read what I wrote. He assured me, as did a close friend of mine, that what I said MIGHT have been construed as negative and that I just needed to 'watch' my sarcasm.....I learned A LONG TIME AGO that sarcasm does NOT come thru well in cyberspace.....so, for that I am indeed chagrined, chastised and rebuked and will very much try to contain the type of .....wit I convey in cyberspace. It's really just not the same as.......seeing someone's face when they're saying something.

He also reaffirmed that anyone who does anything that is in the public pervue.....a blog, a business, a roadside stand, for Pete's sake, needs to have thick skin. I need to take what one person thinks, review it, consider it and then.....let it roll off my back. As do many others. If they do not, it can be crippling.

I will take out certain 'references' so anything 'negative' cannot be googled. I will LEAVE the references in this apology, so there is no misunderstanding about our experience. And I will be more watchful of using names, as should all of you out there in the blogosphere. Not for yourselves, but if you claim the name of Christ, for HIS sake.

I remain, (only b/c of the wisdom of my husband)
Denise aka The Domestic Angel

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Jan. 11, 2008 - Just ONE Hour later.........

......and I bet I don't get hardly ANYTHING accomplished today.

Add to that the news that was phoned to my hubby last night, on his cell phone, WITH his supervisor in the truck for his annual review, that his father may not make it thru the night.

Sigh. So much to say. Just pray. His family defines dysfunctional (and NOT in a good way, and he knows and admits it) and we are usually totally left out of any loop. Intentionally. And we live less than 2 hours away.

I will try to be brief.

Yesterday was fun. We accomplished ALOT. Even in school. And even though I had purposely planned only a half day, b/c of an activity we had to leave for around 12:30.

While I was running around making cookies to take with and getting dinner ready to go in the crock pot.....small son accomplished:

Spelling - today I began requesting he copy his spelling words at LEAST once in cursive. This has always been a thorn in our side....he did it....it was BEAUTIFUL. UNbelievable. I'm all for waiting for several things now, not just math!!! Did lesson 9. Will take test Friday.

Health - I try to have him do this at least once a week, but haven't been very diligent. Today he had to copy a LOT of Bible verses about how God made him, etc. Grumbled a little, but all in all, "got 'er done".

Science - small son decided he didn't want to 'review' any more, so I let him take the 'pre-test' (open book) just to see how interesting things would get. They did. Get interesting. He only got 62%, a D- the way we do grading. Now, here's the thing.

What is it about some people who don't like doing something a 'second time'?? Seriously. This is my child (along with his sister) who HATES leftovers, won't watch a movie more than once unless is has LOTS of action in it or it has been over 6 months......and .....more detrimental to his schooling....REFUSES to 'go over' anything he's already done. WHAT IS THAT??? I've tried EVERYTHING. He simple will not look at something a second time! His sister did not suffer b/c of what I consider this to be a "character flaw", since she is highly intelligent, a quick study and has never had to do anything over again in her life, since she always 'gets' it the first time!!! Small son is cut from a different cloth, however.

So anyway, this little problem is what I believe to be the culprit in his almost flunking his Science pre-test. AND not just Science, or even school, but it affects other areas of his life too.  What's a mother/teacher to do? Anyone out there have any good ideas?

Moving on.

English - did a worksheet with Lesson 7, more diagramming, more simple subject, simple predicate. I must say, I'm impressed he remembers this as well as he does. Very proud.

Then Daddy came home and the wheels fell off the schooling bus!!

After that, we participated in a new adventure. The mom who heads up this group out here started a new 'activity' at her house. A battle/strategy game. So we went. Got lost. Ended up MILES in the opposite direction....I will FOREVER MORE "Mapquest" a new journey, even though someone emails me directions.....by the time we finally got to her house....I realized we really were NOT that far from our house.....after I mapquested it.....turns out she's THIRTEEN miles from us.....13 miles only!!! And I think I drove around for an hour and a half. She's new out here just since October, us since December....need to learn these country roads!

Glad we went. Met some new moms. Also had the opportunity to almost finish the anniversary afghan, since she had a meeting for the homeschool advisory board going on and since I'm not a member of that, got to just sit and knit!!! I was THRILLED!!!

Small son had a GREAT TIME! So many boys his age!! Today should be fun too, sounds like it will be alot of the same group. HOWEVER.......

........we have no idea what today holds for us. Hubby has taken a personal day today to run up to his Dad's place and see what's going on.....as long as we don't get word first that he's passed. On a good note, if there ever CAN be a good note in matters such as these.....maybe 4 or 5 years ago, after all this ill health of his Dad's started, my hubby became VERY convicted about sharing the gospel with him. It absolutely scared him to death to think his Dad might die and that he would have never shared salvation with him. He said he felt like the fact that his Dad would end up in Hell forevermore would be on his head.

Hubby took a whole day off work, drove the then 10 hours to his Dad's, took him out to eat and shared the plan of salvation with him. When he came home the next day, he told me his Dad had prayed the sinners prayer and that he was relieved to know that now his Dad will be with him in heaven. He was concerned that he didn't think he completely 'understood' things, but......had peace in his heart that he had done what God had prompted him to do.

NOW he's concerned about MY Daddy....and we've all tried. My two older children, my mother....my brother in law....he absolutely refuses to talk seriously about anything 'religious'. And now that he's in Texas.....and awaiting surgery.....and had a near death experience.....he's mentioning 'religion' more than I've ever heard him. Maybe God has worked in his heart, to prepare him? I'm going to ask large son to go over (10 minutes) and see what he can do, with God's help.

Pray for our Dad's.

Denise aka The Domestic Angel

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Jan. 10, 2008 - Busy, delightful Wednesday

You know, you really CAN get more accomplished when you get up earlier. It's not just a fluke, like I always thought. You know, you'd hear these what you thought were super spiritual women talking about getting up like the Proverbs 31 woman or King David ......WAYYYY b4 the crack of dawn, and you'd think "oh, sure, that happens .......like.......once in a blue moon and then they just ride that hobby horse for all it's worth the rest of their lives"....

At least that's what I always thought until these past few weeks. I'd always been what my friends considered an 'early riser', but I really didn't get much accomplished......what was THAT all about?? Lack of direction, self control and discernment, I guess.  But, I'm glad I've given it 'the old college try' for long enough to see the results.

Yesterday, I not only had time to shower and dress before 8 am, I baked 2 batches of muffins, one - that bran type thing my hubby is trying to lower his cholesterol with and one - blueberry, small sons favorite! Then, I threw ingredients for honey whole wheat bread into the bread maker (hubby's idea again), tossed a chicken and some spices into the crock pot for a chicken meal "yet to be determined", did several loads of laundry, updated my two blogs, made some phone calls after 9 and had time to work on that anniversary afghan for my son and daughter in law to boot!!! And that was all before noon!!!

Throw in school (starting late at 11 due to the previous early EARLY mornings, allowing small son to sleep in, knowing how impossible school would be without proper rest), another loaf of FRENCH bread, a few more phone calls (and a partridge in a pear tree.....) and I hadn't even broke a sweat yet.

Searched for that impossible chicken pie recipe, got that started.....hey, I even had time to FINISH A BOOK not related to home schooling before dinner, advise only daughter on a recipe for chocolate frosting AND search out small sons new interest with him, mediveal jousting/re-enactments. Pretty cool, huh?

We even did ALL OF SCHOOL, in spite of the late start....and with a pretty decent attitude, I might add. I think EXPECTING him to act like a mature young man now, instead of a baby, has alot to do with it.....that and the few 'discussions' we've had on that subject. Here's what we did yesterday in school.

Spelling - all of Lesson 8
Further Up & Further In - Read ch. 4 Magicians Nephew - did about half the activities - vocabulary words & definitions, discussed character with actions vs. consequences and the literary technique of foreshadowing
Math - still using MathUSee, finished lesson 9 worksheets - STILL UNDERSTANDS THE CONCEPT of 9's!!!! WOO-HOO!!! PLUS, took the unit 9 test and ACED IT!!!! Also reviewed 'solving for the unknown'....I can't TELL you what a boost to small son's esteem and confidence this break thru has been.....hey, upon reflection, maybe THIS has been the difference in his 'attitude' all the way around??? Huh.
English - lesson 6 - subject and predicate and learned DIAGRAMMING....this another HUGE HURDLE....I was one of those 'geeks' who used to sit around and make up sentences of my own and diagram them 'just for fun'.....I told him that, not to brag, but to get him to see it's just like drawing or something....and I think that appealed to him! And he truly UNDERSTOOD.....many may think a child of this age should be doing much higher English concepts....but this is again....MONUMENTAL!!

***sidebar - there has also been a HUGE change in Daddy's attitude about life in general since our move out here.....I'm wondering now if that has anything to do with small son's shift in attitude?? ***

Science - still reviewing for big test on Friday. Trying to let him find his own way (with much guidance) in HOW he 'reviews'....we'll see come test day. Thurs. will be a pre-test.....could be interesting. It's all on weather and stuff he likes, so ......we'll see.
History - Lesson 4 - read half the assignment and did half the questions.
Reading - actually, we DID sort of skate on that one.....but it's very easy for him and I'm going to try to get him to double up Thurs.....again....we'll see.

SO, all in all a very productive, enjoyable day. I give ALL GLORY to GOD for this, btw. Getting up early, praying and 'ordering my steps' has made all the difference.....

Denise aka The Domestic Angel

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Jan. 9, 2008 - Is it really Wednesday already? or HALLELUJAH, ring those MATH bells!!!

Good grief, where DOES the time go? Seriously, lately it seems like you just turn around and it's a year later, or next week or something. My husband insists it's b/c we're getting older and time just goes faster for old folks. Whatever!

Yesterday was one of those strange days for school. Of course, awakening to water in your basement at 6:30am, then running around like a chicken with your head cut off trying to get a sump pump to work that you have NO idea about doesn't help.....

Of course, we got started later.....how does that work? Small son gets up HOURS earlier and we start school later?? Must be that time/space continuim wrinkle or something.....

We DID manage, however, to cover most of his schoolwork yesterday.
Spelling - started and completed Lesson 7
(skipped penmanship and FUFI for today b/c of the late start)
Math - here's where things always get dicey here at the Lower ranch.....I think we have bought nearly every math program known to man out there in an attempt to get small son to 'understand' certain concepts, which just seemed to be eluding him. Trust me......a literal plethora of math 'curriculum' sits in some of those plastic totes we moved around yesterday!!!

So when we got to math yesterday, since we've recently been having 'discussion' about which program he learns better with.....I had a light bulb moment and said "b4 we start math....what's your input on this subject?" He looked at me like I'd gone bats. I said "which way of learning math was best for you?" He IMMEDIATELY said "can we do the block thing again?" After which he promptly went into his bedroom, opened one of those now infamous blue plastic totes (still unpacking) and hauled out his old MathUSee program, which was in a yet smaller plastic box.

**Sidebar - It just occurred to me that if this place were to ever go up in flames, the end result would be a melted, blue plastic goo.....and would probably be as toxic as a nuclear launch site....and I don't even LIKE 'fake' things or synthetic anything, like yarn or fabrics****

SO, we hauled out all the little plastic 'manipulatives' (MORE plastic???). It seems he was ALWAYS stuck at the 9's. So, I made him take the DVD down to the tv and start about 6 or 7....he got bored with that (understandably), so ON HIS OWN, he came upstairs and started just working in the workbook....at the 9's. Asked some questions, so I got out the whiteboard and just patiently went thru it again and guess what????

IT CLICKED!!!! HE GOT IT!!!! FINALLY!!!!!

Five YEARS and I am NOT JOKING......5 years of trying to get him to understand this whole 9/10, it's easier to add numbers to 10 rather than 9/concept.....and he finally GOT IT!!! We were celebratin', I'm tellin' ya!!!!

Hubby had arrived home by then and thought we had gone bonkers.....but this was MONUMENTAL!!!

Then, I happened to remember an article, which I think I still have on this computer, about how in some cases it is better to not teach math formally until around the age of 12......DUUUHHHHH. Something about abstract concepts like numbers and math and children not being able to grasp those concepts in reality until that age. That if they are able to do math, that's it's just b/c of some rote type memorization they've learned.......that they don't really "get it" conceptually, they're literally just doing it b/c they have to and they've 'learned' the 'system'.

I mostly believed that article back then, but over the years became skeptical. Small son was about 7 when I read it and we put the math books away for a few years. Literally. It just was NOT worth the effort, the tears and the bad feelings. But, as time went on and small son got older.....I started feeling....well......guilty or left out or something......like I was being that proverbial 'bad parent' b/c I wasn't using all these math curriculi I had lying around. And HE was even feeling left out or ostercized at times. Sometimes he'd come in the house after playing outside with other children and ask "how come I can't do math"....now, WHY in the world PS children would choose to pick on a child b/c he can't do math has always baffled me in the first place.....what do they do while kicking a ball??? "Let's extropolate the number of times the ball goes in the air with the speed of light? Oh, you can't do that, what a weirdo???"???? I mean, honestly, can't most of our h/s'ed children run circles around most of their ps counterparts in many subjects?? And these children he was outside with were NOT the sharpest crayons in the box, people.....I highly suspect that archaic caveman mentality of 'he's different, let's pick on him' and they just happened to stumble on his shortcomings in math.....

ANYway, I digress......I'm hoping this occurance was not a one day wonder thing. We'll see. I'm anxious to see if that article is still in this computer....I really feel like rereading it.

After we settled down from celebrating his Math conquest, we did somehow manage to move on to:
Reading - finished lesson 7, did workbook pages
Science - began review for big test on Unit 1. And that's another story for another post.....already took up WAY more time than I'd planned.

We only left out English and History, but will try to start with those today.

Denise aka The Domestic Angel

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Jan. 8, 2008 - What is it with Mondays??

Seriously. It's like the planets aren't lined up right or something EVERY MONDAY. I feel like Charlie Brown, you know, with the little cloud following me around all day MONDAY.

And then THAT bleeds over into TUESDAY.....it's like I'm always out of breath trying to play 'catch up'. Sheesh.

BUT, we did get small son back in the Chess Club he had been participating in prior to his involvement in Little League last spring. Then the whole broken thumb incident, then summer, then "regular" Christian school for a marking period (which, btw, was THE most supreme waste of our time and MONEY I could ever imagine!!!!), then this move.....NOW, as the dust settles over the New Year, we can finally get small son involved in the activities associated with the home school group out here!!!

And speaking of learning (someone this morning somewhere has bound to have mentioned it in this blogging community) this morning, he learned how to work a sump pump manually and how to sweep out a basement that had some water in it!!! Being my little 'man' while Daddy's still at work. SO good for him.

And I'm thankin' God right now for my husband's wisdom and guidance a few years ago!!! He more or less DEMANDED that we put all our 'stuff' that we were 'storing' into these ugly, obnoxious blue plastic totes. You know, the kind you buy at the $ store or Wally world for 4 or 5 bucks?? Man, am I glad all our important stuff is in those this morning!!! Just a few things in cardboard boxes....there will have to be some clean up, but for now....we're ok..... And I thought it was an enormous waste of money!!

As long as it quits raining sometime before someone needs to build an ark.....honestly, I thought I saw some of the wildlife out here lining up in pairs earlier this morning!!!, we should be ok.  I think being about 2 miles from the Kankakee River has something to do with the saturated ground. And the 3 inches of rain.....and the snow melt from the foot and a half of snow that was out here just last week.....and the 2 more inches of rain they're expecting today.....good grief. Seriously. Where do you sign up for the Ark tour?

School will be running a tad late today. And I'm sure with all this weather excitement, it will be interrupted, especially when Daddy gets home....sigh.

Gotta run and check the pump.

Denise aka The Domestic Angel

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Jan. 7, 2008 - What we did Friday and other stuff....

Friday was another 'adjustment day'. Sigh.

NOT alot of 'school', but alot of 'learning'.....I'm sure you all get my drift!

Friday has always been designated 'cleaning day' at our house, at least when I have a place that I can clean (and that's another post).

And small son has always had bathroom cleaning on his list and now out at our new place, we've added a few things, thus the 'learning curve' that he's on.

I got up on time, and small son actually stumbled out earlier also. But there are some other things going on that involve my input big time, and unfortunately, those came up early that day. SO, lots of conference and consultation time, communication, etc.....in between cleaning, etc....Hubby running VERY late. Finally around 12:30, things started to come together to make it look like we might get half a day of school in, which is the plan....and somehow the wheels just fell off the whole plan thing. Daddy finally got home, there was lunch to fix and clean up......then......More consultation, a few more stray phone calls.....and then I was reminded of what I USED to do. Turn the phone off and let voice mail get it!! DUHHHH....THAT is now my new plan for this week!!

We don't school on Mondays, b/c Daddy is home, HOWEVER......we are having small son rejoin Chess Club and that is every OTHER Monday at 3.....and today is the day. I'm having Daddy take him. It's all boys there anyway....and I don't have a CLUE how to play or even how to set up a chess board!! I've tried.....it must be my mathmatically challenged brain, 'cause it just does NOT make any sense to me.....I'd rather read and disecct a legal brief in LATIN for Pete's sake, than try to 'get' chess!!!!

On another note......it is so warm here, it's CRAZY!!! It was almost 60 yesterday!!! ALL the snow we got the week before is GONE. Of course, there are flood warnings now. AND it's supposed to thunderstorm later today and tomorrow. Sheesh. "Unseasonably warm"?? Uh, yeah. This is the rugged plains of the Midwest,  for crying out loud. I'm supposed to be shiverin' in my thermal underwear, not sitting here typing barefooted!!!

Anyway, trying to stay on schedule with getting up earlier, and my Bible reading schedule.....so far, so good.

Denise aka The Domestic Angel

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