I just had the best Mother's Day, basking in the privilage and joy of motherhood.  I thank God that I live in a country where I still have the freedom to homeschool my children.  I remember a time when I didn't really understand that "you can do that ... homeschool."  I didn't understand freedom - not really.  I had been educated in our public school system, and thought the state really had more authority than it does.  "You can do that?  Homeschool?"  Yes.  And so I do -- and I count that a blessing and a privilage to have my children around me, and be the main influence in their life.

To say "motherhood is important" is an understatement.  "The hand that rocks the cradle ... " is a very important hand in a child's life.   What an opportunity to influence - to shape - to nurture.

"I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life."
-- Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)

"My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her."
-- George Washington (1732-1799)

"The mother's heart is the child's schoolroom."
-- Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887)

"Youth fades; love droops, the leaves of friendship fall;
A mother's secret hope outlives them all."
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809-1894)

"Mother's arms are made of tenderness,
and sweet sleep blesses the child who lies therein."
-- Victor Hugo

"A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine, desert us when troubles thicken around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts." --Washington Irving

Well, these folks got it.  Do you get it?  What can a classroom setting in public school's mass education system ever give to your children that you can't give?  Nobody will ever love them like you do, and nobody can ever replace what you - dear mother - have to give to your own children ... home where they belong.

Happy Mother's Day!

Deb Turner - Homeschooling from the Heart
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine
Featured Graduates and Alumni

Here is what we did in our Tot School this week:

Tot School started out with a full day outside. The whole family worked outside all day (for the most part) after some main school subjects were completed. It was a great day! We even ate outside by a fire!

Before heading outside, "Precious" played with the counting rack (and a little peek-a-boo).

Here are my favorite shots from our day outdoors!

Trampoline Fun:

The balls are soft and from a ballpit. It makes jumping more fun. We also collected balls of a certain color that I called out. "Precious" just gathered two like colors and I told her the color they were! She currently likes yellow!

We even had a basic lesson about static electricity- can you see why?

They also visited the swings....

...plus a ride with big sister!

Then a quick wave to our shadow! (look how many lessons can be taught easily outside: colors, static, shadows,etc.)

Don't forget to stop and smell the flowers!!!

(By-the-way: She is smelling "bleeding hearts"- one of my favorite flowers. I love how they really are the shape of a pink heart with a drop coming out. Plus she has hearts on her shirt! She pulled the whole bunch off the plant in her grasp- but it will grow back thankfully)

"Peanut" did some things for his flower lapbook. Here he colored the flowers with colored pencils then finger painted the border.

The next day we did something new: Pom Pom Alphabet pages. The kids thought it was fun however they are just starting to learn the letter shapes. "Precious" watched "Peanut" and then joined in the fun!

It didn't take long and the schoolroom looked like this:

Then we also had homeschool softball. My hubby was along the one day so I took my 2 little ones and a friend's daughter for a walk around the park. I pushed "Precious" in a stroller and my son and his friend (from our church) walked along with me. It was so nice. The kids were so sweet and were looking at everything!

We even found some flowers from a dogwood tree and I was able to show them how it represented Jesus' death on the cross for us! (another great flower idea for our lapbook, too! I wish I had some kind of printable. Maybe I will do a search!)

One of our favorite books this week (in honor of being Mother's Day) was...

What Moms can't do! by Douglas Wood.

It was cute and made us giggle!

...And here is how books get read in our house sometimes.

"Precious" is such a copy-cat. She has to hold a book too. My "Princess" is reading the top book to her!

Again..."peek-a-boo,Mom!"

Have a great week with your family!

If you want to visit the other Tot School participants' posts

visit Carisa's blog 1+1+1=1! Link-up if you do Tot School activites!