I guess I never posted this when I actually wrote it, over a month ago! Perhaps I thought I needed to add something, but here goes:
We attempted some Preschool last year with Sam (then 3-3.5) and it just sort of overwhelmed me. We had some really great days, they were very encouraging that I was making a good decision to start, and we had some less "good" days that made me question if I could actually do this. So, I did what any good parent would do, I took a break. I stepped back from the idea and practice of homeschooling to see what I wanted to do. I still want to home school, I just needed a better plan.
I knew from the beginning that I did not want to plan my own curriculum. As a work-from-home-parent I know my limits and creating a curriculum was way beyond what I knew I could handle. Let's be honest, I am constantly trying to get organized, but since I know that this is something I am constantly working on, I knew I just wouldn't be able to focus enough on organizing and sticking with the entire process. So I started looking at blogs and internet resources to find some ideas on what I wanted to use.
First of all, I don't know that I would have even considered this home school adventure if it wasn't for my amazing cousin Sarah, mother of SIX adorable munchkins! Check out her blog Amongst Lovely Things where she talks about homeschooling, faith, family, food, photography, and so much more! I'll tell you, I thought she had to have the patience of a saint back when she only had three kids! Her approach to learning with your children, teaching from the heart and loving every moment of your day refreshes me and inspires me. I know, I know, we're related, I must have some hidden agenda, but seriously, she's amazing!
Along my journey I have added a Pinterest board (thanks Sarah!) to help me keep track of great ideas for learning at home. You can find those ideas here. Feel free to follow me, the board, or just pin what you like! There are some great ideas in there!
One program I truly loved was from Confessions of a Homeschooler. I seriously cannot go to her site without downloading something! Although she does offer a crazy amount of free downloads, be sure to check out some of the curriculum packages, study units and e-books she has for sale in her shop. Our trial with Preschool started with Letter of the Week and we fully intend to integrate LOTW into our continued Pre-K plan. I know that I will come back for the Kindergarten curriculum as well as many of the study units. Sam loves LOTW. In fact, when I tried to switch to a different curriculum she was specifically asking for activities from LOTW. I will be honest, there is a lot of time (and a bit of money) spent on making copies, cutting out activities and prep work, and I was also adding in extra printables each week, not to mention my regular 9-5 job.
This time around we are using a pre-packaged program from Seton Home Study School and filling in with Letter of the Week. There were a lot of factors that brought me to chose Seton, but I feel the most important is that they print their own materials. Yes, my husband is Catholic, so the curriculum being based on and around religion is a positive, but with Common Core standards being what they currently are, I know that the Seton materials will be closer to what I want my kids to learn. Their website is very helpful, giving samples of curriculum and planners, there are parent groups and they recently added some online learning for all age groups. I love that everything is included in one reasonably-priced package, that they offer oodles of support and that they include the lesson planner with instructions for each lesson. The crafts they incorporate mostly include items that you already have at home and they even include a PE section that gives tips and examples of indoor and outdoor play! My day job tends to have me tethered to a computer with internet, so play dates at the park don't really happen, with the tips Seton provides, on days that I just can't leave the office, I can still encourage activities to develop certain motor skills!
Other things we have tried? From a very early age Sam watched Your Baby Can Read. I read the parent book and watched the parent video, and after reading reviews and talking to friends and family, I gave the program a try. Sam was actually reading words by two years old and sentences well by three. Yes, it is mostly memorization, but even in today's school system we have "sight word" which do not fit within the rules of phonics. Evie didn't like the videos as much, but we still watch them from time-to-time. I feel if nothing else, they encourage word association with verbal and picture images. What people have to remember is that although my four-year-old can read a book written for a first grader, she doesn't have the same comprehension as the first grade child, but I think that encouraging a love of reading will help later on when her comprehension catches up.
My main focus in our daily lessons is to simply encourage a love of learning. Some days I feel like homeschool is more for me than for Sam. At this age, she isn't doing much more than the basics, letter association/recognition, phonetic sounds, number recognition, we are learning about basic values with math, and both Seton and Letters of the Week incorporate religion on a basic level.
Monday, September 29, 2014
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
My Job, It's Not A Love-Hate Relationship
Some people are incredibly lucky, they love their job! For them there is no better way to do something they are passionate about and collect a paycheck for doing it. For many, they hate their job, it is a never-ending struggle to get from the first day of work to the last minute of the work week. For those people, it is just about the paycheck that they simply can't live without. I mean, as my Grandfather put it "work" is just another four-letter word, so why would someone love it? I have had a few jobs over the course of the last twenty years, some I have enjoyed, some I have struggled through, none I can think of that I loved.
All of my jobs have been customer service centered. Sure, I "flipped" a few burgers (actually we would run them across a conveyor belt) and I made my fair share of pizzas (let me tell you, the ovens that move the pizza through are WAY easier than the stone ovens!) but for the most part, my jobs have been more about taking orders, filling requests, appeasing the customer that has felt their service was less than adequate. Don't get me wrong, I was raised when the world still believed "the customer is always right," however that has proved to be so far from accurate that it had caused me to be overly sympathetic to the general service person, even when the "server" was indeed the person doing things below standards.
Here's the deal... True, if we were to treat others as we would like to be treated the world would be a better place. Maybe the guy waiting tables had a horribly stressful day due to family matters, do you really want to upset him because you didn't get a drink refill before your glass was empty? Maybe the gal counting back your change made a mistake with her cash handling because she just didn't do that well in math but she is trying her hardest at what she is doing. Maybe the man or woman you are complaining to about whatever went wrong with your order or purchase had been up all night with a new baby or sick child? Would knowing these things make a difference in how you talk to people? Sure, if you see your server hanging out at a particular table of like-aged people and they are clearly not doing what they are supposed to, it's natural to get angry, but what are you most angry at? That they are ignoring you or that you actually need them for something?
I am not in a job that I love, but I am doing a job I actually like. Well, most days. I am able to help people by scheduling appointments or answering questions, I have a reasonable amount of paperwork to complete and I have the freedom to work in an office or at home while I take care of my children. It's one of those jobs that has good days and bad days, and the fact that I work for my father can take either of those types of days to an extreme! But so can the customers...
We're a straight-shooting kind of family. I have a tendency to either say it "as it is" or just keep it to myself. Let's just say that I don't try to overwhelm people with information if they don't appear to be able to process it. Dad, not so much... He will tell it like it is and will say it just like it is. In his job, things are just facts, the condenser needs a part, the furnace needs to be replaced, the thermostat is poorly designed. In many ways that is actually a good thing because he is the technician. He's the guy that when things are not working right, or just plain broken, can and will fix things.
Perhaps we were all raised in some fantasy world where we believe that you should never stop learning things. There is always something new to educate yourself about. Before I worked for my dad, if I had a question, whether it was homework or how to install a ceiling fan, he would walk me through it. He taught me how to drive and explained how a manual transmission worked. When I needed central heating and air conditioning, he handed me a crawl suit and showed me how to use a jackhammer. When I wanted a new hot tub at my own house he talked me through running the electrical line and hooking it all up so that I wouldn't electrocute myself. Yes, those are all things I have done. We're a family of "doers". If I need something done at home, a shelf hung, a filter changed, a leaky pipe under the sink to be tightened up, I will grab some tools and do it myself. Just the way I was raised! So I guess since that is the way I was raised, it makes sense that my dad will try to explain to customers why something isn't working the way it should be. Every so often he is met with blank stares and simple nods. I wish I could teach him to just smile back and walk away, but at this point he is quite set in his ways. He will still try to teach that person who is only half-listening, about how and why their heater or air conditioner isn't working properly. And later on I will get a call from the "well meaning" family member that has to ask all the same questions my dad has already answered, and then some because I need to explain "why" he said what he did. Really? I have to tell you WHY he said you shouldn't turn your air conditioning below 70 because it will cause the unit to work properly? Which part don't you get? Oh! It's the WAY he said it. Because he spoke English? Because he didn't whisper it in baby-talk? Because he didn't do an interpretive dance?
Here's the deal, you may not like the way my dad speaks to you. It will probably be more because he is straight forward and doesn't candy-coat it because we are not diagnosing cancer. There is a reason he is not a doctor or a nurse. His tone may not be "overly" pleasant, but that is because he is a grown man and doesn't run a daycare. I get it, you want someone that is going to take your order with a smile. We live in a society that has taken "Your way, right away" to an all new level. The fact is, that is not how this industry works. You want someone that is going to talk to you in hushed tones like they are telling you a bedtime story? Call a big box store. The person they send to you will talk softly and slowly and they will sell you whatever they can for more than double what it's worth. And people will continue to buy it because the sales person was such a "nice" guy. Let me tell you, he's nice all the way to the bank!
Me? One reason that I can love my job? Because we do things they way they make sense, we tell people how it is, we don't candy-coat it. My dad will treat his customers just like he always has, he will talk to them like they are family and we will treat you like family, we won't rip you off. My family consist of a lot of people that prefer my dad's way of doing things, they like people to tell them how it is, what the bottom line is, it's just how we do things. We may not be smiling all the way to the bank with your life savings, but I can tell you that we get repeat customers and referrals based on the fact that we are an honest, hard working, family company, and our consciences are clear at the end of each day that we didn't screw someone over.
All of my jobs have been customer service centered. Sure, I "flipped" a few burgers (actually we would run them across a conveyor belt) and I made my fair share of pizzas (let me tell you, the ovens that move the pizza through are WAY easier than the stone ovens!) but for the most part, my jobs have been more about taking orders, filling requests, appeasing the customer that has felt their service was less than adequate. Don't get me wrong, I was raised when the world still believed "the customer is always right," however that has proved to be so far from accurate that it had caused me to be overly sympathetic to the general service person, even when the "server" was indeed the person doing things below standards.
Here's the deal... True, if we were to treat others as we would like to be treated the world would be a better place. Maybe the guy waiting tables had a horribly stressful day due to family matters, do you really want to upset him because you didn't get a drink refill before your glass was empty? Maybe the gal counting back your change made a mistake with her cash handling because she just didn't do that well in math but she is trying her hardest at what she is doing. Maybe the man or woman you are complaining to about whatever went wrong with your order or purchase had been up all night with a new baby or sick child? Would knowing these things make a difference in how you talk to people? Sure, if you see your server hanging out at a particular table of like-aged people and they are clearly not doing what they are supposed to, it's natural to get angry, but what are you most angry at? That they are ignoring you or that you actually need them for something?
I am not in a job that I love, but I am doing a job I actually like. Well, most days. I am able to help people by scheduling appointments or answering questions, I have a reasonable amount of paperwork to complete and I have the freedom to work in an office or at home while I take care of my children. It's one of those jobs that has good days and bad days, and the fact that I work for my father can take either of those types of days to an extreme! But so can the customers...
We're a straight-shooting kind of family. I have a tendency to either say it "as it is" or just keep it to myself. Let's just say that I don't try to overwhelm people with information if they don't appear to be able to process it. Dad, not so much... He will tell it like it is and will say it just like it is. In his job, things are just facts, the condenser needs a part, the furnace needs to be replaced, the thermostat is poorly designed. In many ways that is actually a good thing because he is the technician. He's the guy that when things are not working right, or just plain broken, can and will fix things.
Perhaps we were all raised in some fantasy world where we believe that you should never stop learning things. There is always something new to educate yourself about. Before I worked for my dad, if I had a question, whether it was homework or how to install a ceiling fan, he would walk me through it. He taught me how to drive and explained how a manual transmission worked. When I needed central heating and air conditioning, he handed me a crawl suit and showed me how to use a jackhammer. When I wanted a new hot tub at my own house he talked me through running the electrical line and hooking it all up so that I wouldn't electrocute myself. Yes, those are all things I have done. We're a family of "doers". If I need something done at home, a shelf hung, a filter changed, a leaky pipe under the sink to be tightened up, I will grab some tools and do it myself. Just the way I was raised! So I guess since that is the way I was raised, it makes sense that my dad will try to explain to customers why something isn't working the way it should be. Every so often he is met with blank stares and simple nods. I wish I could teach him to just smile back and walk away, but at this point he is quite set in his ways. He will still try to teach that person who is only half-listening, about how and why their heater or air conditioner isn't working properly. And later on I will get a call from the "well meaning" family member that has to ask all the same questions my dad has already answered, and then some because I need to explain "why" he said what he did. Really? I have to tell you WHY he said you shouldn't turn your air conditioning below 70 because it will cause the unit to work properly? Which part don't you get? Oh! It's the WAY he said it. Because he spoke English? Because he didn't whisper it in baby-talk? Because he didn't do an interpretive dance?
Here's the deal, you may not like the way my dad speaks to you. It will probably be more because he is straight forward and doesn't candy-coat it because we are not diagnosing cancer. There is a reason he is not a doctor or a nurse. His tone may not be "overly" pleasant, but that is because he is a grown man and doesn't run a daycare. I get it, you want someone that is going to take your order with a smile. We live in a society that has taken "Your way, right away" to an all new level. The fact is, that is not how this industry works. You want someone that is going to talk to you in hushed tones like they are telling you a bedtime story? Call a big box store. The person they send to you will talk softly and slowly and they will sell you whatever they can for more than double what it's worth. And people will continue to buy it because the sales person was such a "nice" guy. Let me tell you, he's nice all the way to the bank!
Me? One reason that I can love my job? Because we do things they way they make sense, we tell people how it is, we don't candy-coat it. My dad will treat his customers just like he always has, he will talk to them like they are family and we will treat you like family, we won't rip you off. My family consist of a lot of people that prefer my dad's way of doing things, they like people to tell them how it is, what the bottom line is, it's just how we do things. We may not be smiling all the way to the bank with your life savings, but I can tell you that we get repeat customers and referrals based on the fact that we are an honest, hard working, family company, and our consciences are clear at the end of each day that we didn't screw someone over.
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Potty Training, Sometimes it's About When Mom is Ready
So, Samie's first use of her potty chair was at about 18 months. We tried to run with it then but she backed WAY off. So like any "good" mom, I followed her lead, and then Evie arrived a few months later, and then life just settled in. I work for my dad's HVAC company, so when Summer hit I thought "I will focus more time on this in the Fall." Except that year we didn't have much of a Fall. Here in California we went from Summer to Winter without much in between. "Alright," I told myself "Spring it is." Nope. Didn't even start the following Fall.
So we were coming up on Samie's fourth birthday and she had been primarily in diapers the whole time!
Yes, we tried giving a treat when she would use the potty. We tried stickers, candies, gold stars to "earn" bigger prizes, disposable potty training underwear, "special" underwear that we bought at Disneyland and paid WAY more than what we would have paid anywhere else!!! NOTHING was getting that kid on the toilet. Well, we could get her on the toilet, she just wasn't doing much there...
For Thanksgiving last year we went away for a week. We spent about five days at Disneyland (cause when are we not there) and then drove to my Grandma's house for Thanksgiving. One of the last few days of the trip I had the kids in the bathtub and Samie says she needs to poop! I quickly get her onto the toilet (no potty trainer seat) and she does her business! Yes, I'm aware I am putting this on the internet and that someday my poor kid is going to be incredibly embarrassed by this, but I fully intend to embarrass her in public for the entire time she lives with me so she will be over it once she figures out the internet!
When we got home from our trip we started in again with little success, she's a busy girl and I'm a busy mom and we just were not on the same page when it came to potty training. I let it go through the rest of the holidays because we were just too busy.
Work has been slow this Winter, and since I am able to work from home quite a bit, I finally bit the bullet and made the decision that I was ready for potty training. You see, that is really what it boils down to. Yes, you do have to watch for signs that your child is ready, but as a parent, I had to be ready too. Who knows why I wasn't ready before, it's not as though changing a diaper is easy or cheap! But I did know that I can't be cleaning up accidents all day, and I just don't have the resources to devote all my time into watching for signs to go to the bathroom, it's hard enough for me to get to the bathroom sometimes! I had started making cloth diapers last year (still working on that project) and found a pattern for potty training underwear. These are similar to cloth diapers as they are made of the moisture-catching fabrics but they fit like true underwear and they have a cotton knit lining instead of a fabric that wicks away moisture, so the child knows when they are wet, and they don't like it! I whipped up about four pairs in a day and mine have snap sides so that if we have an accident (especially of the poop variety) I can still take them off like a diaper and clean them like a cloth diaper. Ahhh, the sweet smell of success... Finally!
Yes, we still had some "accidents". Mostly they happen later in the afternoon and when she is "busy" playing or visiting, but with the potty pants we don't have a big mess to clean up. So far the potty pants have caught two or three wet accidents and even one small load, but as there is not much room between her and the underwear, she wants out of them quick! After the first two or three days we had some great success! We even tried them overnight instead of switching back to a disposable option and we had a dry morning! I did notice at some point there was some wetness in the trainers, which I believe was probably from the night before and they just dried enough to not bother her, so we made sure to talk about that, and that we need to put on new undies each day.
So, that's my story! I have read the 3-day potty training method and I think if you have the time to devote to it, it seems like a terrific program. I can't exactly recommend it's usefulness in my situation but the person that referred me to it swears by it!
Have a tip or suggestion? Feel free to post a comment, we can all use a little helpful advise!
Want to know more about the potty training pants I made? Hop on over to Stuff N Junk by Heidi for more information, and how to purchase!
So we were coming up on Samie's fourth birthday and she had been primarily in diapers the whole time!
Yes, we tried giving a treat when she would use the potty. We tried stickers, candies, gold stars to "earn" bigger prizes, disposable potty training underwear, "special" underwear that we bought at Disneyland and paid WAY more than what we would have paid anywhere else!!! NOTHING was getting that kid on the toilet. Well, we could get her on the toilet, she just wasn't doing much there...
For Thanksgiving last year we went away for a week. We spent about five days at Disneyland (cause when are we not there) and then drove to my Grandma's house for Thanksgiving. One of the last few days of the trip I had the kids in the bathtub and Samie says she needs to poop! I quickly get her onto the toilet (no potty trainer seat) and she does her business! Yes, I'm aware I am putting this on the internet and that someday my poor kid is going to be incredibly embarrassed by this, but I fully intend to embarrass her in public for the entire time she lives with me so she will be over it once she figures out the internet!
When we got home from our trip we started in again with little success, she's a busy girl and I'm a busy mom and we just were not on the same page when it came to potty training. I let it go through the rest of the holidays because we were just too busy.
Work has been slow this Winter, and since I am able to work from home quite a bit, I finally bit the bullet and made the decision that I was ready for potty training. You see, that is really what it boils down to. Yes, you do have to watch for signs that your child is ready, but as a parent, I had to be ready too. Who knows why I wasn't ready before, it's not as though changing a diaper is easy or cheap! But I did know that I can't be cleaning up accidents all day, and I just don't have the resources to devote all my time into watching for signs to go to the bathroom, it's hard enough for me to get to the bathroom sometimes! I had started making cloth diapers last year (still working on that project) and found a pattern for potty training underwear. These are similar to cloth diapers as they are made of the moisture-catching fabrics but they fit like true underwear and they have a cotton knit lining instead of a fabric that wicks away moisture, so the child knows when they are wet, and they don't like it! I whipped up about four pairs in a day and mine have snap sides so that if we have an accident (especially of the poop variety) I can still take them off like a diaper and clean them like a cloth diaper. Ahhh, the sweet smell of success... Finally!
Yes, we still had some "accidents". Mostly they happen later in the afternoon and when she is "busy" playing or visiting, but with the potty pants we don't have a big mess to clean up. So far the potty pants have caught two or three wet accidents and even one small load, but as there is not much room between her and the underwear, she wants out of them quick! After the first two or three days we had some great success! We even tried them overnight instead of switching back to a disposable option and we had a dry morning! I did notice at some point there was some wetness in the trainers, which I believe was probably from the night before and they just dried enough to not bother her, so we made sure to talk about that, and that we need to put on new undies each day.
So, that's my story! I have read the 3-day potty training method and I think if you have the time to devote to it, it seems like a terrific program. I can't exactly recommend it's usefulness in my situation but the person that referred me to it swears by it!
Have a tip or suggestion? Feel free to post a comment, we can all use a little helpful advise!
Want to know more about the potty training pants I made? Hop on over to Stuff N Junk by Heidi for more information, and how to purchase!
WHY WOULD YOU HOME SCHOOL?
I have thought long and hard about this. I have had many discussion about it and I think I have finally come to a place in my mind and in my heart that I am ready to discuss it openly, because I think there are more people out there that are like me.
I have considered home schooling my kids for quite some time. I have always been a bit obsessed with the future education of my children, I started looking at private school tuition before my first child was even born! I'm pretty sure it has to do with my own crazy education. We moved a lot, so I don't think we were ever able to accurately assess my education. In lower grades I was above average, not in any "super smart" classes but smart enough to keep going. In Junior High I took advantage of a bad family situation and my grades plummeted. I was smart enough to know when to change that around and did not fail the 8th grade as anticipated. (evil laugh)
When I started High School my guidance counselor was on his way out, retirement... I don't think it was a complete lack of caring for my education, but the schools were so over populated, my Junior High transcripts showed a student that barely passed courses, so I was put in some pretty basic classes. I coasted and it showed. Within the first few weeks of class I had an English teacher observant enough to know that I didn't belong in his class, I needed to be challenged, and that is exactly what he did. He worked with me and my counselor and got me in an English class that challenged me. I tried to explain that I also needed to change my math class as everything I was doing was review from seventh grade, but that was not a battle I won that year. The following year we knew better, I was in an advance English class, I couldn't skip to geometry so I muddled through Algebra 2 by barely doing homework and still ace-ing tests, and I found a new love for science. I still wasn't truly trying though. I was still able to be the "dumb blond" in the "smart kid" classes. I kept that going all through my Junior year of High School. I think that up until my Senior year my only electives were still regular course credit classes, and I even convinced my counselor to let me take geometry and Algebra 2 simultaneously my Junior year, completing all of my math credits before I was a Senior. I barely tried all through school and still remained a B average. In retrospect it is easy to wonder what I would have done had I actually tried.
So here I am, with two little girls of my own and the ability to teach them while I work. At first I didn't think I would want to do it. Then my oldest started reading words just before she turned three. Sure, she knew the names of restaurants we went to regularly, stores that we frequented, but she started asking me what certain words meant as she read things over my shoulder! I was floored. And I thought, "I could really do this."
I talked to people, read articles and blogs, researched curriculum. The first question anyone ever wants to ask is "WHY?" I would back off of the question. My first response always popped in my head "Because it sounds fun!" I could never actually say that though. Was I really going to risk my child's future on the idea that Mommy thinks it's going to be fun? So I kept thinking about that one. I'm not really worried about my kids getting bullied, they do that to each other. Bad language? HA! Between me and their father they have a pretty spicy vocabulary, we're working on that. I have great faith that our public school teachers are wonderful people that try very hard to do their jobs, and I feel they get little support from the parents, making the job even more difficult. I'm not super religious, so it really has nothing to do with a strong desire to teach them a faith-based curriculum. Plus I had so much angst about the socialization issue. So I simply put it out there that we are "only doing Pre-School" as I don't have the extra cash to throw out there, and things went really well. Samie LOVED doing school, she asks to do "school" every day, even weekends, even though we only work on things for thirty minutes to an hour. She is reading at about a first grade level, is practicing writing letters, loves to color, plays matching games and puzzles, counting, even a little addition and subtraction when we can. I still respond to the question with a "We're just testing it out" answer. Until recently.
I am looking at a Catholic program as it is my husband's religion, it is a pre-packaged curriculum and it is incredibly affordable, plus they have lots of support for the parents and students. I started reading a book written by the woman that runs the school and I thought "None of these reasons for home schooling are any that I am concerned about," and I realized, I am doing this because it is fun. Every day is not fun. We have some days that are down-right awful and even others that I don't "do school" at all because the day is just not working for me in that direction. With home schooling though, that's okay. I love the idea of teaching my kids the things I know and learning new things along with them. I am looking forward to re-learning all the things in science and history that I took for granted the first time around. I scope out new places to visit as possible future field trips. The idea excites me and terrifies me and it challenges me, and I love that. I don't want my two girls to grow up learning to fit into a stereotype, I certainly don't want them to do like I did and be the dumb girl in a smart kid class. I want them to learn to challenge themselves and to learn to do things that would never have been typically accepted in a traditional school system. I would never have thought I would want to do this and it makes me feel more alive than so many things in my life.
When I was eighteen or nineteen I was going to go into the Army. Some recruiters came to my house and gave me a "practice" test to see what types of jobs I could qualify for. I scored an average score. When I took the actual test I scored in the high ninetieth percentile and was told I should take an additional linguistics test. Only two of us took the test that day out of hundreds of people getting processed. I passed, the other guy didn't. I did not end up going into the Army but the door they opened for me was something no one else could have, I learned that I was smart enough to do anything. Well, actually they said I was not qualified to build bombs, to which I told them it was only because I never tried before. I don't want my kids, my girls, to grow up and not think they are smart enough, that they have to be tested and told how smart they are by someone else. I want to be the one to challenge them, to teach them to challenge themselves and to never underestimate their own potential.
So, I am approaching the education of my kids one day at a time. At some point we may decide, together, that they will want to mainstream into the traditional school system, that will be okay with me as long as it's what we decide together, and as long as my kids understand I will always push them. For now though, the reason that I am choosing to home school my kids, well that's because I think it's fun.
I have considered home schooling my kids for quite some time. I have always been a bit obsessed with the future education of my children, I started looking at private school tuition before my first child was even born! I'm pretty sure it has to do with my own crazy education. We moved a lot, so I don't think we were ever able to accurately assess my education. In lower grades I was above average, not in any "super smart" classes but smart enough to keep going. In Junior High I took advantage of a bad family situation and my grades plummeted. I was smart enough to know when to change that around and did not fail the 8th grade as anticipated. (evil laugh)
When I started High School my guidance counselor was on his way out, retirement... I don't think it was a complete lack of caring for my education, but the schools were so over populated, my Junior High transcripts showed a student that barely passed courses, so I was put in some pretty basic classes. I coasted and it showed. Within the first few weeks of class I had an English teacher observant enough to know that I didn't belong in his class, I needed to be challenged, and that is exactly what he did. He worked with me and my counselor and got me in an English class that challenged me. I tried to explain that I also needed to change my math class as everything I was doing was review from seventh grade, but that was not a battle I won that year. The following year we knew better, I was in an advance English class, I couldn't skip to geometry so I muddled through Algebra 2 by barely doing homework and still ace-ing tests, and I found a new love for science. I still wasn't truly trying though. I was still able to be the "dumb blond" in the "smart kid" classes. I kept that going all through my Junior year of High School. I think that up until my Senior year my only electives were still regular course credit classes, and I even convinced my counselor to let me take geometry and Algebra 2 simultaneously my Junior year, completing all of my math credits before I was a Senior. I barely tried all through school and still remained a B average. In retrospect it is easy to wonder what I would have done had I actually tried.
So here I am, with two little girls of my own and the ability to teach them while I work. At first I didn't think I would want to do it. Then my oldest started reading words just before she turned three. Sure, she knew the names of restaurants we went to regularly, stores that we frequented, but she started asking me what certain words meant as she read things over my shoulder! I was floored. And I thought, "I could really do this."
I talked to people, read articles and blogs, researched curriculum. The first question anyone ever wants to ask is "WHY?" I would back off of the question. My first response always popped in my head "Because it sounds fun!" I could never actually say that though. Was I really going to risk my child's future on the idea that Mommy thinks it's going to be fun? So I kept thinking about that one. I'm not really worried about my kids getting bullied, they do that to each other. Bad language? HA! Between me and their father they have a pretty spicy vocabulary, we're working on that. I have great faith that our public school teachers are wonderful people that try very hard to do their jobs, and I feel they get little support from the parents, making the job even more difficult. I'm not super religious, so it really has nothing to do with a strong desire to teach them a faith-based curriculum. Plus I had so much angst about the socialization issue. So I simply put it out there that we are "only doing Pre-School" as I don't have the extra cash to throw out there, and things went really well. Samie LOVED doing school, she asks to do "school" every day, even weekends, even though we only work on things for thirty minutes to an hour. She is reading at about a first grade level, is practicing writing letters, loves to color, plays matching games and puzzles, counting, even a little addition and subtraction when we can. I still respond to the question with a "We're just testing it out" answer. Until recently.
I am looking at a Catholic program as it is my husband's religion, it is a pre-packaged curriculum and it is incredibly affordable, plus they have lots of support for the parents and students. I started reading a book written by the woman that runs the school and I thought "None of these reasons for home schooling are any that I am concerned about," and I realized, I am doing this because it is fun. Every day is not fun. We have some days that are down-right awful and even others that I don't "do school" at all because the day is just not working for me in that direction. With home schooling though, that's okay. I love the idea of teaching my kids the things I know and learning new things along with them. I am looking forward to re-learning all the things in science and history that I took for granted the first time around. I scope out new places to visit as possible future field trips. The idea excites me and terrifies me and it challenges me, and I love that. I don't want my two girls to grow up learning to fit into a stereotype, I certainly don't want them to do like I did and be the dumb girl in a smart kid class. I want them to learn to challenge themselves and to learn to do things that would never have been typically accepted in a traditional school system. I would never have thought I would want to do this and it makes me feel more alive than so many things in my life.
When I was eighteen or nineteen I was going to go into the Army. Some recruiters came to my house and gave me a "practice" test to see what types of jobs I could qualify for. I scored an average score. When I took the actual test I scored in the high ninetieth percentile and was told I should take an additional linguistics test. Only two of us took the test that day out of hundreds of people getting processed. I passed, the other guy didn't. I did not end up going into the Army but the door they opened for me was something no one else could have, I learned that I was smart enough to do anything. Well, actually they said I was not qualified to build bombs, to which I told them it was only because I never tried before. I don't want my kids, my girls, to grow up and not think they are smart enough, that they have to be tested and told how smart they are by someone else. I want to be the one to challenge them, to teach them to challenge themselves and to never underestimate their own potential.
So, I am approaching the education of my kids one day at a time. At some point we may decide, together, that they will want to mainstream into the traditional school system, that will be okay with me as long as it's what we decide together, and as long as my kids understand I will always push them. For now though, the reason that I am choosing to home school my kids, well that's because I think it's fun.
Friday, May 2, 2014
New Adventures!
Hi there! Did you give up on me? Let me tell you, I think I was about ready to give up on me! My last post was over a year ago for crying out loud! But I came to a point that I just had to step back from the computer (at least during my "off" hours) and focus on things around the home, on things with my kids. Did it do me any good you ask? Well, the dishes are never caught up, the laundry overwhelms me on a daily basis, the kids toys are constantly under foot... And while Samie is still an amazing sleeper, Evie is still not sleeping through the night. I have not found any more clarity or sanity being away from blogging that before. I'm not stressing out about blogging, that used to be a big stress for me but I did find that my stress did not get any better when I'm not blogging. In fact, this blog has been a nice place to remind myself of all the things that are fun and good during my day or week or month.
Funny enough, I have over a dozen posts started or written up, I just never got around to getting them posted. I'm going to ease myself back into this, baby steps you know!
So, here's what to look forward to!
Random posts. Although I love telling you all the ins-and-outs of every week and posting photos of my adventures with my little ones, I'm going to be honest, sometimes I am barely keeping my head above water! I plan to keep you all (as much as possible) in the loop of our happenings, although I am just not going to commit to a schedule for my posts at this time.
What do we have going on? Well, Samie has been officially potty trained (I've got a post started about THAT somewhere) and we are still working on getting Evie's eczema under control and hoping it will help with her sleeping through the night! We are working on landscaping our front yard and making it into a wonderful garden! I am still working for Dad but I have also formed a loose plan about starting my own business in the next few years! We'll just say I have a five-year-plan that I'm working on... We'll be starting potty training with Evie soon, though probably not until after our summertime rush, and the big news over here is our official start of homeschooling! I have quite a few posts in the works about that adventure!
So, feel free to check in, bring your favorite cup o'whatever, and sit down and hang out a bit!
Be sure to also check out my new website for Stuff N Junk and look forward to some new posts over there too!
Funny enough, I have over a dozen posts started or written up, I just never got around to getting them posted. I'm going to ease myself back into this, baby steps you know!
So, here's what to look forward to!
Random posts. Although I love telling you all the ins-and-outs of every week and posting photos of my adventures with my little ones, I'm going to be honest, sometimes I am barely keeping my head above water! I plan to keep you all (as much as possible) in the loop of our happenings, although I am just not going to commit to a schedule for my posts at this time.
What do we have going on? Well, Samie has been officially potty trained (I've got a post started about THAT somewhere) and we are still working on getting Evie's eczema under control and hoping it will help with her sleeping through the night! We are working on landscaping our front yard and making it into a wonderful garden! I am still working for Dad but I have also formed a loose plan about starting my own business in the next few years! We'll just say I have a five-year-plan that I'm working on... We'll be starting potty training with Evie soon, though probably not until after our summertime rush, and the big news over here is our official start of homeschooling! I have quite a few posts in the works about that adventure!
So, feel free to check in, bring your favorite cup o'whatever, and sit down and hang out a bit!
Be sure to also check out my new website for Stuff N Junk and look forward to some new posts over there too!
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Stepping back...
I can't imagine anyone that hasn't been affected by the elementary school shooting on 12/14/12. To be honest, all I can keep imagining are Christmas trees standing over piles of presents that will never be opened. Perhaps this is too simple or frivolous a picture to paint, but it has continued to bring tears to my eyes over the last few days.
We want to blame someone. We all want there to be an answer, a truth, a way to make it "understandable." It never will be though. As we all start to go back to our own lives, go back to our own holidays, or own troubles, we will continue to hear about who's to blame. And have you picked a side?
Are you on the side of those that believe it is all about gun control? It's violence in the media or entertainment world? It's bullies? It's mental health? It's God? It's the devil? At the end of the day does it matter? Will it bring any of them back? No. Nothing we do or say will change what has been broken.
So where do we go from here?
I'll tell you, the minute I heard about it I have to admit I wished that heartless piece of crap hadn't shot himself so that he could be pushed through the justice system. No matter what I read, I can't have sympathy for him. I refuse to use his name, I refuse to ever acknowledge his name. I will not give him infamy for something so offensive.
I read this article and I stopped and really thought about the whole thing...
I will ask, that we all show a little respect and compassion for those that have lost their lives, those that gave their lives, those that were left to clean up, and those that may never heal.
In life we all need to show a bit more compassion, and much more tolerance. More important, we just need to pay better attention and to look for ways to help those that cannot help themselves.
Was he and so many other murders victims to mental illness? Maybe. Does it matter now? Not for them, but perhaps for someone else.
I am a child of divorce. I am a child of drug abusive and alcohol abusive family members. There have been times in my life that I simply no longer wanted to exist, much younger than you may even imagine. There have been times that I have wanted to hurt other people both verbally and physically. There have been times that I have hurt other people both verbally and physically. So what makes me different? Why haven't I shot up a school, a movie theater, a mall? Why haven't I downed a bottle of pills or slit my wrist? I wish I could tell you. I wish there was something I could say that would be this magical light switch and we could solve all the worlds problems. I don't have an answer.
Some say it could be my family. Even in the worst of times, I have always had family to support me in some way. Some might say my faith. Were those others just not give a moral compass on their way into this world?
I am learning to see myself in my daughter, perhaps that is where I will start. At two-and-a-half she's got my temper, my need to be right, my need to be heard. I see an uncontrollable girl, wild in some ways. Do I think she's capable of hurting others? Yes, I do. Do I think I can teach her how not to hurt others? Yes, I do. I think she is at a time in her life that she is trying to be heard and learning how to communicate. I don't think she is a heartless creature, I think she understands the concept of love. So I will continue to teach her. I will teach her that she will not always get her way, that in love we will always get hurt and that strength comes from waking up each morning, looking in the mirror and saying "I'm going to be the best me I can be today." I will teach her that we don't hurt others to make ourselves feel better because it really doesn't work. I will teach her to look for the wonder and magic in every little thing in life, and as I also teach her sister, I will ask for both of their help, that they continue to teach each other throughout their lives.
It is not just about being a good or bad parent. I will admit, if my kids grow up to be "bad" people, I will take full responsibility. I understand there are true mental disabilities out there, ones that may not even be diagnosed, ones that maybe there is no help for yet, but that will never make me feel less responsible for the actions of the people I have created.
For those parents that have children with these uncontrollable, un-diagnosed, no-treatment-available conditions, I will continue to hope and pray that someday help will be available, that those children will grow up and be able to be functional, even happy, adults. Until that time, be conscious of your neighbors, of strangers, of whatever.
And hug your loved ones just a little bit closer.
We want to blame someone. We all want there to be an answer, a truth, a way to make it "understandable." It never will be though. As we all start to go back to our own lives, go back to our own holidays, or own troubles, we will continue to hear about who's to blame. And have you picked a side?
Are you on the side of those that believe it is all about gun control? It's violence in the media or entertainment world? It's bullies? It's mental health? It's God? It's the devil? At the end of the day does it matter? Will it bring any of them back? No. Nothing we do or say will change what has been broken.
So where do we go from here?
I'll tell you, the minute I heard about it I have to admit I wished that heartless piece of crap hadn't shot himself so that he could be pushed through the justice system. No matter what I read, I can't have sympathy for him. I refuse to use his name, I refuse to ever acknowledge his name. I will not give him infamy for something so offensive.
I read this article and I stopped and really thought about the whole thing...
I will ask, that we all show a little respect and compassion for those that have lost their lives, those that gave their lives, those that were left to clean up, and those that may never heal.
In life we all need to show a bit more compassion, and much more tolerance. More important, we just need to pay better attention and to look for ways to help those that cannot help themselves.
Was he and so many other murders victims to mental illness? Maybe. Does it matter now? Not for them, but perhaps for someone else.
I am a child of divorce. I am a child of drug abusive and alcohol abusive family members. There have been times in my life that I simply no longer wanted to exist, much younger than you may even imagine. There have been times that I have wanted to hurt other people both verbally and physically. There have been times that I have hurt other people both verbally and physically. So what makes me different? Why haven't I shot up a school, a movie theater, a mall? Why haven't I downed a bottle of pills or slit my wrist? I wish I could tell you. I wish there was something I could say that would be this magical light switch and we could solve all the worlds problems. I don't have an answer.
Some say it could be my family. Even in the worst of times, I have always had family to support me in some way. Some might say my faith. Were those others just not give a moral compass on their way into this world?
I am learning to see myself in my daughter, perhaps that is where I will start. At two-and-a-half she's got my temper, my need to be right, my need to be heard. I see an uncontrollable girl, wild in some ways. Do I think she's capable of hurting others? Yes, I do. Do I think I can teach her how not to hurt others? Yes, I do. I think she is at a time in her life that she is trying to be heard and learning how to communicate. I don't think she is a heartless creature, I think she understands the concept of love. So I will continue to teach her. I will teach her that she will not always get her way, that in love we will always get hurt and that strength comes from waking up each morning, looking in the mirror and saying "I'm going to be the best me I can be today." I will teach her that we don't hurt others to make ourselves feel better because it really doesn't work. I will teach her to look for the wonder and magic in every little thing in life, and as I also teach her sister, I will ask for both of their help, that they continue to teach each other throughout their lives.
It is not just about being a good or bad parent. I will admit, if my kids grow up to be "bad" people, I will take full responsibility. I understand there are true mental disabilities out there, ones that may not even be diagnosed, ones that maybe there is no help for yet, but that will never make me feel less responsible for the actions of the people I have created.
For those parents that have children with these uncontrollable, un-diagnosed, no-treatment-available conditions, I will continue to hope and pray that someday help will be available, that those children will grow up and be able to be functional, even happy, adults. Until that time, be conscious of your neighbors, of strangers, of whatever.
And hug your loved ones just a little bit closer.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
September Daybook
Outside my window...
Well, the weather man says mid-eighties but it has been feeling a bit warmer to me. Not that I go outside much but, I'm just sayin'. We have had some pretty late-summer days though!
I am thankful...
To be able to be thankful for the little things in life. Life can be rough, it throws us some curve-balls at times. I am thankful that I am a glass-half-full kinda gal! And for all the babies!!! The ones that have been long waited for, the ones that are tiny little miracles and bring joyful smiles!
I am thinking about...
Too many things to list...
Learning all the time...
Why exactly did I teach my two-year-old to read? Today she asked for the Bit-O-Honey that Daddy left on the table. She's never even had a Bit-O-Honey!!! I'm thankful she still doesn't know what we are talking about when we spell words out loud but she comes at me every day with a new word she points out, words I never would have thought to tell her! We are also learning how to communicate with said two-year-old. And learning everyday how quickly these girls are growing up.
Why exactly did I teach my two-year-old to read? Today she asked for the Bit-O-Honey that Daddy left on the table. She's never even had a Bit-O-Honey!!! I'm thankful she still doesn't know what we are talking about when we spell words out loud but she comes at me every day with a new word she points out, words I never would have thought to tell her! We are also learning how to communicate with said two-year-old. And learning everyday how quickly these girls are growing up.
From the kitchen...
Ugh, I have a kitchen? Thinking about making tacos tonight! The other day I put together mac-and-cheese from scratch! Big Sister, who now goes by the nickname BeeBug, loves watching cooking shows with me! Every day after nap she asks to watch "a cooking show" but mostly asks for "Giana" (Meaning Giada). I only watch Giada and Barefoot Contessa with her, they are soft-speaking, easy to watch shows that stay low-key.
Ugh, I have a kitchen? Thinking about making tacos tonight! The other day I put together mac-and-cheese from scratch! Big Sister, who now goes by the nickname BeeBug, loves watching cooking shows with me! Every day after nap she asks to watch "a cooking show" but mostly asks for "Giana" (Meaning Giada). I only watch Giada and Barefoot Contessa with her, they are soft-speaking, easy to watch shows that stay low-key.
I am creating...
Does thinking about creating count? I am creating a game plan! A very special nephew asked me to make him a Captain America Costume, I've been making lots of notes and gathering supplies! Since none of the pattern companies have jumped on the superhero market, I'll be making this costume from scratch! It will me my first costume/apparel pattern for a child and with so much detail! I'm very excited and nervous too! Also going to be making a Rapunzel costume for BeeBug including a lovely yarn headband with braid! And for Baby Sister, also known in our house as Bullfrog, she will be Rapunzel's trusty sidekick Pascal! If I have time, maybe a costume for me, then on to my Christmas sewing!
Does thinking about creating count? I am creating a game plan! A very special nephew asked me to make him a Captain America Costume, I've been making lots of notes and gathering supplies! Since none of the pattern companies have jumped on the superhero market, I'll be making this costume from scratch! It will me my first costume/apparel pattern for a child and with so much detail! I'm very excited and nervous too! Also going to be making a Rapunzel costume for BeeBug including a lovely yarn headband with braid! And for Baby Sister, also known in our house as Bullfrog, she will be Rapunzel's trusty sidekick Pascal! If I have time, maybe a costume for me, then on to my Christmas sewing!
I am working on...
So many things, organization, patience, completing tasks... Too many things...
So many things, organization, patience, completing tasks... Too many things...
I am going...
To, um, I don't even know... I going to feed kids, change diapers, do laundry, work on dishes... You know, live the glamorous life, right?
To, um, I don't even know... I going to feed kids, change diapers, do laundry, work on dishes... You know, live the glamorous life, right?
I am hoping...
That at some point I will have the kitchen counter cleared for 24 hours!
That at some point I will have the kitchen counter cleared for 24 hours!
I am reading...
Well, I'm not reading as much as I'd like, but I am working on reading more! At least to my kids... My cousin inspired me! You can read about it here... I'm not really putting a number to paper on this one. We're just running with it. For now, it's one book before bed. Nothing too long, not ready for chapter books quite yet... I think it's helping with at least a bedtime wind-down.
Well, I'm not reading as much as I'd like, but I am working on reading more! At least to my kids... My cousin inspired me! You can read about it here... I'm not really putting a number to paper on this one. We're just running with it. For now, it's one book before bed. Nothing too long, not ready for chapter books quite yet... I think it's helping with at least a bedtime wind-down.
I am praying...
That these elections are over soon! No, really, I'm tired of them and I am skimming so many Facebook posts now because I do not want to be caught up in the drama of it all! Otherwise it's all the norm.
That these elections are over soon! No, really, I'm tired of them and I am skimming so many Facebook posts now because I do not want to be caught up in the drama of it all! Otherwise it's all the norm.
I am hearing...
Kids radio and BeeBug playing with toys.
Kids radio and BeeBug playing with toys.
Around the house...
Things... Hubby got a job so it has been a lot more of me and the girls! Chores have slowed way down. What can you do with two working parents, one of which also takes care of the kids? We have come to the understanding that there will be dishes and laundry that will always need to be done, but at least if things are picked up a bit by the end of the day it makes for smoother sailing into the next day.
One of my favorite things...
Things... Hubby got a job so it has been a lot more of me and the girls! Chores have slowed way down. What can you do with two working parents, one of which also takes care of the kids? We have come to the understanding that there will be dishes and laundry that will always need to be done, but at least if things are picked up a bit by the end of the day it makes for smoother sailing into the next day.
One of my favorite things...
Being able to work from home. Sure, there are days that I just want to be one of those mom's that drops the kids off and goes to work, but on days like today, where Bullfrog isn't feeling well, I'd have to be home with her anyway! So I will take the good with the bad on that one.
A few plans for the rest of the week...
Birthday party on Saturday! Can't wait to see my oldest (known-him-my/his-whole-life) friend and his family to celebrate his oldest child!
Birthday party on Saturday! Can't wait to see my oldest (known-him-my/his-whole-life) friend and his family to celebrate his oldest child!
Random thought...
SongPop... My newest Facebook/App obsession! I can't get enough!
SongPop... My newest Facebook/App obsession! I can't get enough!
Here are picture thoughts I am sharing with you....
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