Feb. 25, 2008
Here It Is- Home Spun comic strip #200!
Posted in Home Spun comic part 10
Happy 200th strip to me!  I love how my motherly words of encouragement come back to me. It sounds so much nicer than the echoes of my scoldings (yes, those happen too). My children are so good at giving me props. When I finish a comic strip, their approval means so much to me. I've been known to rewrite comic scripts when they don't understand the punchline. I believe my example also helps them with their own interests. I watch how focused they are with their own activities, how they put their hearts into their work, and I know that they will be able to accomplish any goal they set for themselves. |
Feb. 15, 2008
Home Spun strip #199
Posted in Home Spun comic part 10
 Marina really did worry about this the first time I entered her poem. Luckily(?) she didn't win that year. She did win third place last year for a poem she worked on without any help from me. And she did have to read it, but she did fine. Really. I'm still waiting for my own moment of glory at the poetry contest. Maybe this year. And speaking of contests, this is my 199th comic strip. It is time once again for a contest! (Do you like how I set that up?) See YOU in the Funny Papers 2! Do you have a funny story from your homeschooling life? Something that would make a great comic strip? With my family's help, I will pick the three funniest anecdotes to draw into my comic strip! Winners will receive a color copy of their comic strip by e-mail or snail mail (your choice). Next week I'll post some of last year's winners and take a little break before posting comic number 200. Yikes! The pressure! I need to think of a good idea. It's not every day that you have a 200th comic strip... Official Rules (I feel so organized this time):
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Feb. 13, 2008
Home Spun strip #198
Posted in Home Spun comic part 10
 I was never sure if I could get both of my children to love poetry until a friend of mine set up a homeschool poetry writing workshop with gifted writer and homeschooling veteran, Laurie Spigel. I was always hesitant about writing workshops, knowing the patience level and shyness factor of my children. Surrounded by their friends and under Laurie's gentle and creative guidance, they both found their own path to poetry. Laurie has a wonderful website, Home School NYC full of useful resources (she recommended the book we use for poetry) and information for NY homeschoolers. |
Feb. 11, 2008
Home Spun strip #197
Posted in Home Spun comic part 10
 We have an excellent book that really helped bring out the poets in my children. It's called Rose, Where Did You Get That Red? by Kenneth Koch. This is the beginning of an actual poem Chase wrote, inspired by William Blake's Tyger, Tyger! Here is Chase's poem in its entirety (fixed for spelling and punctuation because that's what I do): Komodo dragon, Komodo dragon, Why do you have bacteria in your drool? Why can't you climb on a stool? How big are you? Do you eat the cows that moo? Oh why do you bite? Why do you raise a fight? And do you always have to use your might? |
Feb. 8, 2008
Home Spun strip #196
Posted in Home Spun comic part 10
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Feb. 6, 2008
Home Spun strip #195
Posted in Home Spun comic part 10
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Feb. 4, 2008
Home Spun strip #194
Posted in Home Spun comic part 10
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Feb. 1, 2008
Home Spun strip #193
Posted in Home Spun comic part 10
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Jan. 30, 2008
Home Spun strip #192
Posted in Home Spun comic part 10
 I admit being somewhat hesitant to present this week's comics. This strip in particular made me nervous. It left my husband misty-eyed with memories. My father really did let in a stray cat and she really did pass away 2 days after giving birth to six kittens. Sierra was not yet one and we were helping my parents to bottle feed a litter of hungry kittens. I decided it was important to tell because this was a significant moment in our homeschooling journey. Life sometimes hands us lessons, and the lessons are not always simple. It was not easy to explain to my children about the death of the mother cat. They had seen her the day the kittens were born. We think the stress of delivery coupled with her life as a stray was just too much for her. As hard as it was to explain why the mother cat died, I dreaded needing to comfort them over the loss of the kittens. I tend to be action-oriented in a crisis. It's much easier for me to do something than to sit around and be upset. So I went to the pet store, explained the situation and ended up buying packages of doll-sized bottles and ridiculously expensive kitten formula as the store clerk shook his head at the hopelessness of it all. I gave the bundle to my parents to do what they could. My father became a "mother" to the kittens, but the demands of caring for so many kittens was difficult. My family helped by taking turns with bottle feeding for 6 long weeks. It was definitely a long shot, but life is that important to me. Of the six orphaned kittens, five survived. One, Dustbunny, still lives with us, another lives with my parents and three were adopted. I am proud of my family for pulling together in the face of impossible odds. |
Jan. 28, 2008
Home Spun strip #191
Posted in Home Spun comic part 10
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Jan. 25, 2008
Home Spun strip #190
Posted in Home Spun comic part 10
 I have amazed myself. Ten more comics and I will be up to number 200. I could not have come this far without the encouragement of my readers. Anyone remember how excited I was last year when I was about to hit 100? Is it time to reminisce? Should I have another contest? Let me think about that. I welcome your input! |
Jan. 23, 2008
Home Spun strip #189
Posted in Home Spun comic part 10
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Jan. 21, 2008
Home Spun strip #188
Posted in Home Spun comic part 10
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Jan. 18, 2008
Home Spun strip #187
Posted in Home Spun comic part 10
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Jan. 15, 2008
Home Spun strip #186
Posted in Home Spun comic part 10
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Jan. 14, 2008
Home Spun strip #185
Posted in Home Spun comic part 10
 Yes, that is a school desk. One of the places my children are most likely to be asked about homeschooling is in their religious instruction classes. When I put this series together, I had about six strips. I now have 3 or 4 more ideas that I plan to save for another time. Honestly, I did not realize how often my children get asked about homeschooling by schoolchildren at their various activities. Marina and Chase began to commiserate with each other about their frustrations with common homeschooling questions. It was amusing and sad at the same time. My children really don't understand why it's so fascinating that they can do schoolwork in their pajamas and eat while they study. Chase lamented about how the kids at Tae Kwon Do ask him where he goes to homeschool. (My answer would be, "Anywhere!") Marina's biggest complaint was that the students never remember from one year to the next. The same children ask her the same questions the following year! The most overused comment is, "You're so lucky!" I suppose I should have asked them if anything interesting happened in these classes, but I doubt it would have occurred to them to mention these questions and comments. When I ask how their classes went, they tell me about what they learned. These homeschooling questions are nothing new to them, as common as schooled kids hearing, "What grade are you in?" They answer politely and then return to the more interesting activity of learning. |
Jan. 11, 2008
Home Spun strip #184
Posted in Home Spun comic part 10
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Jan. 9, 2008
Home Spun strip #183
Posted in Home Spun comic part 10
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Jan. 7, 2008
Home Spun strip #182
Posted in Home Spun comic part 10
 I want to thank Marina for giving me two weeks of strips. These will cover some of the questions and comments she hears about homeschooling. |
Jan. 4, 2008
Home Spun strip #181
Posted in Home Spun comic part 10
 Don't you love it when life hands you teachable moments? This is how we spend the beginning of every year. Writing those thank you notes gently puts us back into a semblance of a routine. One of these days, I'll have them address the envelopes as well. I'm the one who usually forgets to do that and ends up sending the thank you notes in February. The best laid plans... |