It's Thursday, and and I think we might be getting back into our routine, just in time for the weekend. We've been learning, but outside our little classroom. I can tell you that 3 field trips wrapped around an extremely busy weekend do tend to make mommy a little tired. In facet, I'm yawning right now!
I was with a homeschool mom/friend on Tuesday and we were talking about - you guessed it - homeschool. She and I have come to the conclusion that life is a really good classroom. Now - don't get me wrong. I am a firm believer in learning from a book. I think children should memorize their multiplication facts and be able to write in cursive and know a noun from a verb. I also think that they should be allowed creativity and freedom of expression in their writing and art. I think silence is not golden and noise is ok. I think it's ok to talk during a test, as long as you're not giving out answers. I don't think the government knows better than I what's best for my child. I knew things about these two the second they were born because I already KNEW them.
I find that I am spending less time preaching to my children and more time teaching them. It's important that they do their science workbooks (which is what they're doing now as I watch) but it's just as important that they learn to put their best work into their workbooks. Cut the lines straight, glue everything the right way, follow the directions, and learn to find the answers for yourself in the book.
I must keep reminding myself that, as much as I would love to keep them this size (or smaller!!) forever, my job is to grow these two into productive members of society, able to take care of themselves and able to stand on the faith that we have instilled in them. They must be able to live in this world while not being IN the world. They must be able to get a job and keep that job. They must be able to play well with others, and they must be able to keep their mouth tightly closed most of the time. I hope that during this process, I teach them things I wish I had known. I hope they learn to pray about decisions before they make one. I hope that they talk to God more than they talk to other people. I hope they always pray before they eat, no matter who is around.
Children do come with a manual, you know. It's a very, very old book.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Monday, October 15, 2012
A surprise for mom .....
This is really all the blog I need to post today - it makes it all worthwhile!! 
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Blogging in the Rain
No... really. I wasn't trying to be cute with the title. It's raining outside.
A good friend sent me a message last week (eek!) and with much kindness told me that she missed my blog posts and was eagerly looking forward to another. It's been a month! I didn't really think anyone liked them, so thank you. Thank you for finding my life more interesting than I do ;)
I hate to admit it. Really - I HATE to admit this - but I have become one of THOSE people. I have read many, many blogs over the past few months/year. Most of these blogger moms talk about putting aside a specific time to write, and even make notes during the week so they won't forget. I used to think "man! what a goober!", but now I now understand! I also have a note of things I've written down over the past month so I wouldn't forget. Guess what? I would have forgotten if I hadn't written it down. *sigh* I love getting old.
I now wonder how we had time to go to public school. Our days have been super busy with life, and living it. We took a grandparent field trip to Biltmore at the end of September for homeschool days. It was a long and exhausting day and we loved every minute of it! We also went to Andrew Johnson's home in Greeneville. If you've never been, I highly recommend you go, even if you have no children to take along. I am learning more since starting this school adventure than my children are! Ok, maybe not MORE, but definitely as much. History is coming alive to me now, in a way that it never did from inside a textbook. And, more importantly, it is coming alive in the eyes of my tots.
From the non-school side, we've still been busy. L and S have learned to ride their bikes - FINALLY!! I have found papaw to be the best teacher in matters such as these. We also participated as a family in the great garage re-do. Frankly, I was just sick and tired of having to eject myself through the moon roof of my car to get in the house. I cleaned up, paired down and re-organized. I've also re-arranged my bedroom furniture and cleaned the windows. I've always been an odd duck (and you don't have to verbalize your agreement) but I'm the only one I know that does her spring cleaning in the fall. I think it's just a matter of I can't stand the thought of being cooped up in this house all winter looking at junk.
I'm looking forward to fall. I like pumpkin and cinnamon smells in the kitchen and sweaters and falling leaves. I like putting my blanket in the dryer to get snuggly warm before settling down in front of the TV with a good book and a cup of coffee. I like socks and sweatpants. I like the quiet of moonlight. I like that my children are still small enough to wear those cute little pajamas to bed. You know the ones I mean? The ones with cuffs at the hands and feet. I don't care that they're 4+ feet tall and weigh 65+ pounds each - when they wear those pj's, they still look like toddlers to me and I get to remember.
Alas... life does go on. Today is a big day in the homeschool world. We are headed to the Knoxville Botanical gardens to tag Monarch butterflies. I'm sure I will have some good photos to go with these memories!
This morning, S asked me how much the moon was worth. Thinking I was about to have a great philosophical debate, I started to sit down. That's when L pips up and says "A dollar?" I started to say "no" when he continued with "you know? because it has 4 quarters??" -- Insert rolled eyes here.
A good friend and I have been having several discussions lately about James 3. When you get a chance, I suggest you read it.
I also highly recommend "Sun Stand Still" by Steven Furtick and "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young. Who needs Barnes and Noble when you have me?? ;)
Happy October 9th everyone. Remember to smile, remember to laugh, and remember to never take life for granted or too seriously - ain't none of us gettin' out of here alive!!
A good friend sent me a message last week (eek!) and with much kindness told me that she missed my blog posts and was eagerly looking forward to another. It's been a month! I didn't really think anyone liked them, so thank you. Thank you for finding my life more interesting than I do ;)
I hate to admit it. Really - I HATE to admit this - but I have become one of THOSE people. I have read many, many blogs over the past few months/year. Most of these blogger moms talk about putting aside a specific time to write, and even make notes during the week so they won't forget. I used to think "man! what a goober!", but now I now understand! I also have a note of things I've written down over the past month so I wouldn't forget. Guess what? I would have forgotten if I hadn't written it down. *sigh* I love getting old.
I now wonder how we had time to go to public school. Our days have been super busy with life, and living it. We took a grandparent field trip to Biltmore at the end of September for homeschool days. It was a long and exhausting day and we loved every minute of it! We also went to Andrew Johnson's home in Greeneville. If you've never been, I highly recommend you go, even if you have no children to take along. I am learning more since starting this school adventure than my children are! Ok, maybe not MORE, but definitely as much. History is coming alive to me now, in a way that it never did from inside a textbook. And, more importantly, it is coming alive in the eyes of my tots.
From the non-school side, we've still been busy. L and S have learned to ride their bikes - FINALLY!! I have found papaw to be the best teacher in matters such as these. We also participated as a family in the great garage re-do. Frankly, I was just sick and tired of having to eject myself through the moon roof of my car to get in the house. I cleaned up, paired down and re-organized. I've also re-arranged my bedroom furniture and cleaned the windows. I've always been an odd duck (and you don't have to verbalize your agreement) but I'm the only one I know that does her spring cleaning in the fall. I think it's just a matter of I can't stand the thought of being cooped up in this house all winter looking at junk.
I'm looking forward to fall. I like pumpkin and cinnamon smells in the kitchen and sweaters and falling leaves. I like putting my blanket in the dryer to get snuggly warm before settling down in front of the TV with a good book and a cup of coffee. I like socks and sweatpants. I like the quiet of moonlight. I like that my children are still small enough to wear those cute little pajamas to bed. You know the ones I mean? The ones with cuffs at the hands and feet. I don't care that they're 4+ feet tall and weigh 65+ pounds each - when they wear those pj's, they still look like toddlers to me and I get to remember.
Alas... life does go on. Today is a big day in the homeschool world. We are headed to the Knoxville Botanical gardens to tag Monarch butterflies. I'm sure I will have some good photos to go with these memories!
This morning, S asked me how much the moon was worth. Thinking I was about to have a great philosophical debate, I started to sit down. That's when L pips up and says "A dollar?" I started to say "no" when he continued with "you know? because it has 4 quarters??" -- Insert rolled eyes here.
A good friend and I have been having several discussions lately about James 3. When you get a chance, I suggest you read it.
I also highly recommend "Sun Stand Still" by Steven Furtick and "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young. Who needs Barnes and Noble when you have me?? ;)
Happy October 9th everyone. Remember to smile, remember to laugh, and remember to never take life for granted or too seriously - ain't none of us gettin' out of here alive!!
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