Archive for August, 2008
August 28, 2008
· Filed under Uncategorized
We have moved around a lot. This has not always been easy on our children. The hardest move was two years ago when we moved from our home in a cul-de-sac full of other children the same ages as our own children. This was not a move that we wanted to make. We got in over our heads financially and had to sell our home. The home itself wasn’t that special, the neighborhood was and the people were. I know that my oldest children still have yet to truly forgive us for taking them away from there.
My mother lives across the street from that cul-de-sac and last night we were there for dinner. I had to keep pushing my children out the door to go play. This worried me. It occurred to me that through all the moves and different neighborhoods (some of which have had no children) they have become more and more introverted. This really worried me.
We are moving yet again and this time I am hell bent that I will find a good neighborhood for them. It sounds easy but it isn’t. We just really need a place where the kids can really go out and play!
August 27, 2008
· Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged education, family, family gatherings, homeschool, relaxing, rest, school
Although all the work that goes into a family gathering is not rest and relaxation, it is definitely what the doctor orders at times! My children love it when we are having family over and it happens quite often. What I love about it is all the getting ready and cooking while thinking of who will like what! I love the fact that it breaks up the sometimes grind of the homeschool days and gives me something else to think about.
We did get our full day of school in which is miraculous but then my kids are simply astounding me this year with their eagerness.
We had a wonderful, relaxing evening with our family. And although it was work to cook, clean, shop, and do school, it was a nice change of pace. One that I need more often than I admit.
August 25, 2008
· Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged family, family time, field trip, fun, homeschool, play, work
Please visit http://kadiddle.blogspot.com to read today’s blog post. I was too lazy to write it over and over and it won’t let me copy and paste. BUMMER!
August 22, 2008
· Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged children, education, family, homeschool, road trip, toddlers, zoo
In about 12 hours we are going to head to a zoo just north of us. It will be quite a drive, then all day walking the zoo and then the drive home. Hopefully we will all remember it as a good experience. My only worry is that the two year old will not sleep in the car and at home she naps twice per day still. We are lucky in that way in our daily routine but it makes going somewhere hard because she is so used to her routine.
The kids are thrilled to be going. The zoo is small but we are excited anyway. They are all geared up and a road trip doesn’t faze them. They still think that being in the car together is a great time. I hope that never changes. It is one of my favorite times together.
Will blog more after the zoo. Hopefully with some photos this time!
August 21, 2008
· Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged education, family, fun, homeschool, relaxation
It is my perception that most homeschool moms are usually looking for activities for their children or finding ways to make everyday things more fun for their kids so that homeschooling does not get boring for the children. What about the moms? Do we think of what we need to do to recharge?
Six years ago when we decided to be a homeschool family (our children have never been to public school) I told my husband that I knew I was going to go stir crazy. I told him he had to make the effort to get me out of the house as often as possible so that I could keep doing what we felt was right for our children. He is a sweet guy and told me that he promised to make sure that happened.
Here we are six years later, the dates have been about once, maybe twice per year. Things just changed and they changed in a great way! My husband had some sort of revelation because we go out more than ever (not more than once per week), we have better quality time during the evenings after the kids go to bed at 8 pm. He promotes the idea of me going out with friends or my mom for dinner anytime or lunch on weekends. He doesn’t mind if I spend two hours in a hot bath with a good book.
I sometimes wonder what happened in his brain but then I don’t really care. It works and it’s wonderful and it makes me want to do my part of things even better.
What do you do that gets you recharged or relaxed?
August 20, 2008
· Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged day trip, family, family life, family outings, field trip, home school, homeschool
I haven’t yet told my children but my husband and I are planning an all day field trip for our little family this Saturday. We hope to travel north to where the weather is cooler for the day. We are lucky to live in a state with such a rich history. I’m sure most people feel that way about the place that they live. I hope that we can take the time on this Saturday to visit at least one place that will be special and stand out to the children. I will be excited to blog afterward to tell you what we find.
There is a great website at www.letshomeschool.com that has field trip ideas for every state. It’s a lot of fun! There are some great ideas there.
What has been your greatest field trip? Do you have field trip ideas for homes on a tight budget, because let’s face it, we are all on a tight budget right now! Please share if you have ideas!
August 19, 2008
· Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged art, craft, education, family, family time, homeschool, projects, school pride, school shirts
My niece who goes to a charter school has a day where the whole school wears their school shirts to come together in school unity and pride. So, I am going to the craft store (I might die, it’s not my favorite place, it’s right up there with the morgue) and I am going to by cheap little t-shirts for each of us and a few fabric paints or decals and let the kids make Home’s Cool t-shirts! Then we will have a designated day to wear them. I am so excited about this little idea. YEAH!
August 19, 2008
· Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged children, education, famiy, home, homeschool, parenting, school, social
As I read through the homeschool blogs of others I must say how amazed I am at all of you! I read blogs of other homeschool parents (moms and dads alike) that are homeschooling so many different ages and seem to stay so optimistic. It makes me feel like the biggest complainer. At the same time, I feel inspired, like I’m not alone in the world of homeschooling. Thank Heavens for the wonder of the internet. What did homeschool parents do to stay in touch with the world before this wonderous invention! Take Suzy Snaps for example, what an inspiration! WOW!
Tomorrow night there is a social for homeschoolers in our area and I am hesitant. The children need the social aspect and I probably do too. Though, my need for solitude seems to take precedence most of the time, I am hoping it won’t get the best of me and that I will make the effort for my children.
Anyway, happy schooling to all! Thanks for your blog posts.
August 18, 2008
· Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged alone time, exercise, homeschool, play time, recess, sanctuary, spa, tranquil
I think that all homeschool parents need more “spa days”. We need more time out. Some time out needs adult conversation and some time out needs to be in silence.
Can you think of the last time you truly had silence. I used to think that any quiet time was silent. Then I took a course in Music Appreciation from a wonderful professor. We had an assignment to go home and listen to a piece of music on our stereo. After the music we were to sit and reflect on what we had heard in the music. After reflecting on the music we were asked to be still and to really listen and list what sounds we heard. I, being naiive, wrote that there was total silence. When I got my workbook back from the professor he had written “really, no sounds at all?” on my entry. I went back to the same spot in my house the following night at the same time and sat still. I had been so wrong. The noise of the air conditioner or fan was there. I heard cars that I had just blocked out before. There were other sounds too. My point is, we need silence and we rarely have it, even when we think we do.
The closest I have ever found to being in real silence was when I was growing up out in the middle of the nowhere. It was a wonderful desert and I was allowed to explore to my hearts content. I would walk or run for hours just to be alone with my thoughts. It was total sanctuary. I live in a different desert now but rarely make the time to go out and just walk or run for hours for sanctuary. I wonder how much better my life would be if I would take that time for my own recess?
August 18, 2008
· Filed under Uncategorized
When starting this blog I never had any intention of bringing anything to the table but things that had to do with homeschooling but as I grow and learn, I realize that children can have drug problems just like anyone else. They can also be caught more unaware if they have never been exposed to the drug culture or language. My advice is not to take your kids out and get them educated on these things but should you run into certain situations, I have come across some very good, non biased, sites with golden information. The first of which is for Drug Treatment. Should you need to know what to do to help your child or anyone with the treatment of a drug use problem please visit this great site.
The other site that I have found to be very valuable is regarding Drug Rehabilitation. This site is a phenomenal wealth of information because it can help you find a drug rehab facility anywhere in the United States. It’s like one stop shopping.
By this post I don’t want anyone to think that my family has yet to have direct drug problems but we were exposed to some things as I may have shared during the past month and it makes one ponder on what steps we, as parents, or children of any age, even adult, we need to take to help our children heal and to make our family whole again. Drugs are such a strong force that it is important to catch things early and get proper treatment just as fast as you can. It is not a time for complacency. If you, your family, or someone you know are having problems please direct them to the above mentioned sites so that they may find some help.
