You Know You're A Homeschool Mom When...
You get to change more than diapers, you get to change their minds.
When a child busts a lip, and after seeing she's okay, you round up some scotch tape to capture some blood and look at it under the microscope!
You find dead animals and actually consider saving them to dissect later.
Your children never ever leave the "why?" stage.
When your teenager decides to take one community college course, and comes home and asks you why the teacher wrote "At" on his paper. (A+)
You ask for, and get, a copier instead of a diamond tennis bracelet for your wedding anniversary.
Your kids think reading history is best accomplished while lying on the floor with their head resting on the side of their patient dog.
Your husband can walk in at the end of a long day and tell how the science experiment went just by looking at the house.
You never have to drive your child's forgotten lunch to school.
Your child will never suffer the embarrassment of group showers after PE.
The only debate about the school lunch program is whose turn it is to cook.
You never have to face the dilemna of whether to take your child's side or the teacher's side in a dispute at school.
If your child get's drugs at school, it's probably Tylenol.
Your neighbors think you are insane.
Your formal dining room now has a computer, copy machine, and many book shelves and there are educational posters and maps all over the walls.
You have meal worms growing in a container....on purpose.
If you get caught talking to yourself, you can claim you're having a PTA meeting.
Talking out loud to yourself is a parent/teacher conference.
You take off for a teacher in-service day because the principal needs clean underwear.
You can't make it through a movie without pointing out the historical inaccuracies.
You step on math manipulatives on your pre-dawn stumble to the bathroom.
The teacher gets to kiss the principal in the faculty lounge and no one gossips.
Your honor student can actually read the bumper sticker that you have put on your car.
If your child claims that the dog ate his homework, you can ask the dog.
Some day your children will consider you to be a miracle-working expert and will turn to you for advice.
Your kids refer to the neighbor kids as "government school inmates."
You can't make it through the grocery produce department without asking your preschooler the name and color of every vegetable.
You can't put your produce in your cart without asking your older student to estimate it's weight and verify accuracy.
You live in a one-house schoolroom.
You try to (quickly) capture the huge bee that was knocked unconscious as it accidentally flew into your car window, so the kids can classify and inspect it.
Your bank statement reflects the fact that you spend more at Books-A-Million than at fancy clothing stores.
You've got more books and bookcases than anyone you know.
You DREAM of a room (or even a whole house!) with wall to wall, ceiling to floor bookshelves.
The walls of your dining room are decorated with posters of the Periodic Table of Elements, Map of the Moon, Spanish Conjugation Chart and amoung other posters, not to mention a poster of the Ten Commandments since no one can tell you not to!
You have children draped all over the furniture....and they're reading...for the FUN of it!
Your children actually enjoy spending time with their family, even their siblings!
Your children aren't embarrassed to be seen playing with someone younger than they are!
You are on a first name basis with the majority of local librarians.
You've laughed out loud when someone asked you "What about socialization?"
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This was something that took me a long time to understand in my house. I wanted to be one of those free and easy homeschoolers that would spend hours working on one thing and I pictured in my head all of my girls watching, smiling. Looking at me with love in their eyes, eyes that said, isn't my mom the greatest! So now that we know how prideful I am :D. I'll tell you how it realy happened. I tried to be the mom I wanted, but God had different plans I tried to start something only to have it break down and fall apart ( can you see my pride slipping away ;) ). After much prayer and talking things out with my hubby we dcided to make a schedual and see where that put us. The change was incredible! My kids were sitting in their seats and working, they were getting the work done and their attitudes improved so much!
All I had to do was make a schedual and put them into a rotine. It is not what I wanted, but it worked for my kids. Every year now we make a new schedual and new chore chart for the girls. Some jobs fall into their allowance, some are just to contribute to the family. The routine helps them to know what is expected from them and of them. It also helps mama keep her mind intact ;) .
I pray you all have a good week. Happy Homeschooling!
Wow! Can you believe it, another year is here and we are very excited in this house! I must admit that it hasn't always been that way. We started out homeschooling journey in 1999 with our oldest daughter. I had such big plans and dreams. We had heard about homeschooling through our pastor who was teaching their children. We were actually taught that if we didn't homeschool we were feeding our children to the wolves so to speack and they would become horrible little children and we would regreat it. I did want to homeschool, but you might say we started out of fear.
The first couple of years were good, but by the time my oldest was in third grade, I had one in one and one in primary (who we later learned had learning problems). It went downhill fast and stayed there all year. At the time I was schooling three from morning to night and still not reaching goals. I had two babies, supper was never on time and my house was a constant mess. I felt out of control all of the time. We really didn'y understand. My hubby told me that enough was enough and we had to do someting. after much prayer we put our three oldest girls in public school. We did have a good experince for the most part. I volunteered in the classrooma and learned alot and we got some help for our middle daughter. We later got more help on our own for her. With our home back in control and knowing that we didn't want them to stay in public school we started to bring them home agan.
The first to come home was our oldest at the end of grade six. After bring her home we discovered that she was lacking in some areas and took a year to bring up to where we wanted her. We had a great year with just her and me and our relationship blossomed. The next year we had brought home two more, our middle daughter (he school experince was turning bad) and the fourth (because we already had work for her grade level. It was another good year. this year we now have everyone back home and it is working great. I have learned to be more disciplined and keep things running smooth. I know a year will never be perfect, we are always learning ourseleves. But our family has found what works for us and we are all content.
Our goals are very simple. We want to train our girls to godly young woman and place a desire in their heart to love the Lord and want to do His will for their lives. Homeschooling helps with this, but this is a whole life thing. Our lives must provide the example for them and show them the joy in serving the Lord. I will not push my children onto further education, nor will I hold them back from it. Some of my girls want nothing more then to run a house and be a good wife and mother, what a blessing to my heart. I do question them though, not that I don't want that for them but what if you don't marry until you are thirty? What if God has planned for you to remain single? What will you then do with your life? My desire is for them to use their minds and reach conclusions for themselves. they could become a nurse and help a missionary husband, hey could do nothing but get a basic education and become a wonderful house wife at 22. All I deisire for them is God's will and direction. My job as a mother is to make their hear ttender toward God so that they might hear His still small voice and want to obey, what ever that is.
I have now babbled on way to much and if you are still reading I am sure you are getting tired! I'll post a few picks of our first day and pray that God will bless you in your lives as you serve Him!
Hear ye the Master’s call, “Give Me thy best!”
For, be it great or small, that is His test.
Do then the best you can, not for reward,
Not for the praise of men, but for the Lord.
Refrain
Every work for Jesus will be blest,
But He asks from everyone his best.
Our talents may be few, these may be small,
But unto Him is due our best, our all.
Wait not for men to laud, heed not their slight;
Winning the smile of God brings its delight!
Aiding the good and true ne’er goes unblest,
All that we think or do, be it the best.
Refrain
Night soon comes on apace, day hastens by;
Workman and work must face testing on high.
Oh, may we in that day find rest, sweet rest,
Which God has promised those who do their best.
My Good friend at HskubesHaven at home is having a giveaway! If there was ever a giveaway I wanted to win this would be it! One of the prizes is tea! I love tea!!! Can't you just picture it, a lovely fall evening wiht the leaves in various fall colours gently falling on the ground. The sound of crunching and laughter as the children play, sitting beside an open window as the cool breeze blows. A cozy blanket over your legs and a warm cup of tea in your hands as you correct the school work of the day. I wonder if it would help if I cross my toes? ;) Maybe my legs? ;)
Wow, I meant to do this yesterday, but we had a family day and that is more important. It was a fun day though.
Back to topic, We have settled into using A.C.E , put out by School of Tomorrow. Most of this pace work will be done in the mornings though. After talking with my hubby, we have decided to require book reports by all of the girls, more for the senior grades, less for the younger. We will also be requiring about 5 projects a year per child. These will be in different forms depending on the child. such as my two older girls will have three written papers and two hands on projects. My middle daughter will have two written projects and three hands on. My two younger children will have one written project and four hands on. We our really excited about doing lapbooks this year.
Some of our topics will include ~ our Province, Canadian Prime Ministers, Flowers from seed to bloom, catapillers and butterflies, Canada and her Provinces, amoung others. We are very excited about this year and are looking forward to next Tuesday, our starting date.
Praying you all have a great year.
Proverbs 16:16
How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding than silver!
I am so excited to let everyone know that Blogger Friend School is back! I am very much looking forward to this year and enter with a heart full of anticipation. I had so much fun participating last year, and made many friends. I am looking forward to rekindling these friendships after a very hard summer and, making new friends. After all what else is school for? ;) I pray this will be as much of an encouragment for you as it has been for me in the past.
Hello to all! My name is Michelle Corning and we live in beautiful Nova Scotia, Canada. We have always wanted to home-school. I can't remember when we did not want to. We have five girls Meghan age 14 (this Sept.), Hannah age 12, Abigail age 11, Sarah age 9 and Ruth age 7. My hubby works full time as a apinter/carpenter, and I stay home and take care of our family and I love it! Although there are times I wish it paid better.
I am looking forward to this year and getting to know more homeschooling families. We are now on our third year of our second attempt at homeschooling. The first time we schooled I had three grades and two infants, I was finding it overwhelming and impossible. The schooling itself was going fine, just taking all day and my children and house, not to mention my hubby was suffering. After much prayer and consideration we placed our children into public school and they remained there for a few years ( with mom volunteering in their classrooms) we started to bring them home once again and the differnece is so wonderful.
This is now our third year and we are all looking forward to it. I know that the help mu hubby has been with organizing has been a great help. Some may find our reasoning different, but we believe that if the homitself is in disaray, the schoolong can't be helpful. I am happy to say that the last two years have gone so much better than anticipated!
We now have all of our girls home. This year we will be doing grades 2, 4, 5, 7 and 8. We use the "School of Tomorrow" Program and this works well for us. We do find that we add some things to it to make it a more well balanced program for us. We add about three or four projects into each grade level, as well as book reports and cooking, sewing, essays (these last three for the older grades).
We also participate in field trips with a local Christian Home-school group. As well as plan a few things just for our family to do together.
I myself love to cook!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! I love to read, I love history, I cross-stitch and crochet. I would add scrapbooking, but it has been so long since I have done it. I am a Christian, I was saved at the age of 20, met my hubby and the rest as they say is history ( or our story). We are waiting on the Lord for our life and direction.
So it is that time agin, things are almost settled in the new house. The school books have arrived and I have bought the traditional school supplies. I am busy planning how I want the year to go (Lord willing). I am mapping out projects, and ideas. I hope to have a four day week this year with friday as a finnish if you are behind/ or a break if you are finnished. Or Friday as a Big project day and no actual pace work. Not 100% sure yet ;) .
I also am thinking on a weekly assignment for my two older girls, having them right a summerary of sorts, or an article about something we did for my blog. Just to get them used to doing such things. anyway the month continues to go by and I still seem to have lots to do. I hope you are all having a wonderful smmer. See you all soon.
I can hardly believe that it is Sunday, I'll be it very early on sunday (1 a.m.) I have had so many ups and downs this week. My hubby was asked to fill in a pulpit today and he has been busy preparing for it. We will all be traveling to the church tomorrow (today) and staying all day, it is a two and a half hour drive from our home. He will do adult sunday school and the a.m. and p.m. services. We have been busy getting the house in order, so that I can take pictures and show everyone ;) and staying out of hubby's way so that he can concentrate. I have also discovered that my nanny is not doing well. She had an operation on her hip a month or so ago now. Well, they found infection on Monday and everything got worse since then. She has lost use of her kidneys and she is now off everything except for something to handle the pain.
To watch this sweet woman who has always been so loving and kind fade away is heartbreaking. Watching my mother go through this is heartbreaking. I have had conversations with my Grandmother, which lead me to believe that she will be going to heaven and meeting her Saviour when she passes from this world.
In todays world of selfisness and greed it is hard to think of ourselves as sinners, but we are; not one of us is perfect. Our sin has to be punished according to God's holiness. Jesus took this punishment for us when He died on the cross. Only God's Son could take away the sin we all are born with, washing it away with His own blood. Salvation is a free gift, by grace , through faith, plus nothing. Will you repent of your sin and trust in Jesus saving grace for salvation and a home in heaven? I hope that if you do not have a clear testimony of salvation, that you would get a King James Bible, and read the book of John. See for yourself how important it is to become a child of the King.
Update: My Grandmother passed away this morning at around 5:30am.
Well we are getting settled! Things are reconnected and the we are starting to get organized! I was going to post pictures, but I forgot the camera in the car again! But I will try to get it when hubby gets home.I hope you are all well. Be back soon.
Wow, I have not been away on purpose. We have sold our house and are in the process of moving. I hope to be up and back to normal here soon. please keep us all in prayer as we finish up the packing and cart it all to our new house. I have alot to catch up on.
Kim was just too kind to tag me for "Two!" Why can't I say no to these things? ;)
Two Two names I go by: Mama and Honey
Two things I'm wearing right now: Brown denim skirt and a pink t-shirt
Two of my favorite things today:
Having the shopping done! Boy that was busy!
This was yesterday, my hubby surprised me with supper after we signed the new mortgage papers.
Two things I want at the moment: Sleep and a pepsi.
Two favorite pets I have had: My cat clementine and our dog lollie
Two people I hope will fill this out:
I really am so tired at this moment that I have no earthly idea.
Two things I did last night: Played on a webkinz and watched cooking shows, I know how to live it up ;)
Two things I ate last night:
Ceasar club wrap and chocolate cake
Two people I last talked to:
My hubby and my girls
Two things I am doing tomorrow:
Going to church and taking a nap.
Two farthest trips I have taken in the last 5 years: Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick
Two favorite holidays: Christmas
My birthday
Two favorite beverages: A nice cup of black red rose tea or a cold can of pepsi.
Two things I want at the moment:
The next two weeks to go by fast so the move will be done and for the packing to finish itself.
I am not going to tag anyone, but please join in the fun. and let me know so i can come read yours.
Wow so much keeps happening. We go to the bank to sign the papers tomorrow. Yesterday Hannah had her grade six graduation. Here is a picture of her.
Next year I should have them all home in our new house, how exciting! I am really looking forward to next year. This is also my last week of babysitting. I will miss the income next year. My hubby and I will take a look and see if there is something I can do to earn a little extra spending mone, anyone else out there have any ideas?
Well just two more weeks till we move. lots still to do. I'll post pictures after we move. Hope you are all doing well.
I kow this is geting old, but I have been really busy! We will be moving on July 11 and selling our house July 18. We have finnished homeschooling for the most part and our report has been passed into the Department of Education. I have been busy researching appliances because we will be needing a new fridge and stove when we move. I have been arranging all of our new disconnections and connections to the new house and getting our new address and new phone number. I must appologise for not getting back to every one there is just not enought time in a day. I will try to when things calm down. We will only be moving 10 minutes away but the house is much more fiited to our needs. thanks to all who asked. i am still praying for you all.
You eat chocolate bars instead of candy bars.
You drink pop, not soda.
You had a Prime Minister who wasn't fluent in either of the official languages (English & French).
You talk about the weather with strangers and friends alike.
You get milk in bags as well as cartons and plastic jugs.
Pike is a type of fish, not some part of a highway.
You drive on a highway, not a freeway.
You know what a Robertson screwdriver is.
You have Canadian Tire money in your kitchen drawers.
You know that Mounties "don't always look like that."
You know that the Friendly Giant isn't a vegetable product line.
You know that Casey and Finnegan are not a Celtic musical group.
You drive with your headlights on during the day (since 1989, all new cars have been fitted with "daytime running lights").
You wonder why there isn't a 5 dollar coin yet.
You use a red pen on your non-Canadian textbooks and fill in the missing 'u's from labor, honor, color. etc.
You know the French equivalents of "free", "prize", and "no sugar added", thanks to your extensive education in bilingual cereal packaging.
You know what a touque is and you own one and often wear it.
You have heard of ... and have some cherished momento of Bob and Doug McKenzie.
You know Toronto is NOT a province.
You never miss "Coach's Corner" during Hockey Night in Canada.
Back bacon and Kraft Dinner are two of your favourite food groups.
If you live in some of the colder Canadian provinces, your car has a cord and plug sticking out of the grill ... it's a block heater for those sub-zero (in Celsius) days.
You only know three spices: salt, pepper and ketchup.
The mosquitoes have landing lights.
You have more kilometres on your snow blower than your car.
Canadian Tire Store on any Saturday is busier than most toy stores at Christmas.
Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled in with frozen snow and slush.
The local paper covers national and international headlines on 2 pages, but requires 6 pages for hockey.
You find -40C a little chilly.
The trunk of your car doubles as a portable deep freeze.
You can play road hockey on skates.
The municipality buys a Zamboni before a bus.
You pronounce the last letter of the alphabet "zed" instead of "zee."and ...
You end some sentences with "eh," ... eh?
I saw this on forum I belong too, I thought it fit me to a T! If it needs credit, please let me know. thanks
I have no excuse for not blogging. My time has been very busy, we have had many showings on the house. At this point we have an accepted offer and are waiting on water testing, finances and a house inspection if it is wanted by the buyer. I am not allowed to be excited yet, but I have been told if all goes well I am allowed to do a happy dance on saturday. Can you see me smile?
My grandmother is doing better, she continues to heal and have better awake moments.
School is in a wrapping up period, for everyone.
Well i must fold laundry. Hope and pray you are all having a good day.
