I would like to finish this post by sharing some of the ways that I homeschool my children. Not because I think that it's the only right way to do it, but because some of it might help another homeschooling mom. If the shoe fits, then wear it! (And if it doesn't, move on and find another one that does.)
First of all, we choose not to participate in charter school. We do not want the added pressure of having to meet public school standards. I enjoy being accountable only to my husband and God. I do sometimes wish that we had money for activities like soccer, ballet, gymnastics, or horseback riding, but my husband and I feel that God (not the government) will provide what we need when (and if) we need it.
I choose not to use prepackaged curricula for most subjects because I feel that would make homeschooling less fun for us and add unnecessary pressure. I also don't try to do every subject every day. We do try to do Bible and reading every day. The other subjects I try to do three days a week. I only "plan" school work for Monday-Thursday, leaving Fridays to do makeup work and/or something fun (like going to the library or on a field trip).
For reading, I use a simple phonics program that I downloaded from the internet. First, I used it to teach my highly motivated first daughter (currently 7 years old) to read. She quickly blew through it and now reads anything she can get her hands on. Currently I am using it to teach my 6-year-old daughter to read. She is going slowly but delights to understanding more and more words. I have not even started to teach my four-year-old formally, but he catches the overflow, and I try to read to him a little every day. My kids also enjoy workbooks, so I got them some spelling and writing workbooks. They do a couple of pages a day in each workbook.
For math, we are using a prepackaged curriculum called Right Start Math. All three of my kids are still in the first (aka, Kindergarten) level. We are going really slowly through this because I want to be sure that they (and I) really understand and enjoy it. I started out teaching my two older girls together, but it was frustrating for them both because of the differences in their abilities. It was also frustrating to me because our lessons were taking 1-2 hours a day. So I continued with my older daughter, who is now nearly finished with Level A and will soon begin Level B (when we can afford to buy it). Her math lessons now take about 15-30 minutes a day. After a break I started over with my 6-year-old and added her 4- (almost 5-) year-old brother. So far they seems to be working well together, and she doesn't seem to have noticed that I set her back. She also enjoys math a lot more now. I do too, especially since I can get their lesson done in 30 minutes a day.
For P.E. , we take walks and go swimming at a neighbor's pool.
For science, we notice things on our walks and in everyday life. The other day we saw a little snake on the sidewalk. I had my kids draw a snake when we got home, and my oldest (who can read and write on her own) wrote a few sentences describing it. I have a book of science experiments you can do at home, but we haven't cracked it open yet. Sometimes something comes up that my kids ask a question about. Last week it was, "What is lava?" I proceeded to explain volcanoes to them and wrote it down as our science for the day. Later, when a volcano erupted recently in Indonesia, we talked about it. I read a news article to them (to which they only marginally paid attention), we watched Youtube videos of volcanoes erupting (they loved that part), and they drew pictures of volcanoes. Bonus: we prayed for the Indonesian people too!
For social studies, we are currently using free stuff that I found on the Voice of the Martyrs website, kidsofcouragemag.net. They have activity booklets on several different countries. I printed out one on Malaysia, and we enjoyed reading about that country and doing the simple activities that were included. Next we will be starting to study Ethiopia. (Last year, we used Five in a Row, a picture-book-based unit study curriculum, and we loved it - it was very fun and easy to do.)
Last but certainly not least, our main subject is Bible. This is the one that we try to do every day no matter what. We are reading through a chronological Bible paraphrase called Day by Day Kids' Bible. My kids love to draw, so every other week or so, I tell them the subject headings for upcoming sections, and they draw pictures that are related. I make copies (we invested in a good printer/copier that wasn't too expensive this year, and it's great). Then, each day during "Bible Time," they color our homemade Bible coloring pages while I read to them. We have a "prayer box," a simple index card file on which I write prayer requests. I pass out two or three cards to each child, and we pray for the people listed on the cards. We also memorize scripture this way, writing a couple verses on a card and making up silly tunes to sing them together. It's a super-easy way to get the Word in our hearts. Bible is my favorite subject to do with my kids, because it feeds my spirit too! (Note: on the days when I am too tired or cranky to teach Bible, or when I need to spend some extra time on my AA daughter's hair, I turn on a "Bible" movie for the kids to watch, like The Miracle Maker.)
I hardly spend any time planning or grading or anything like that. I just find things that are easy and fun for us to do. And if we don't get everything done that I thought we should, I am learning to stop stressing about it. Instead, I ask God what He wants us to get done that day. He then reminds me that His goal is for us to love each other (John 13:34-35; 15:12, 17). Then I remember that I shouldn't worry so much about WHAT we do, and instead focus on just loving my kids.
Final thoughts (to bring this back to how I'm not Supermom): I do not do my makeup every day, and I have learned some really quick, easy things to do with my hair. I do usually get dressed since we try to go for a walk most days (it helps all our perspectives to get out of the house for a little while). However, when I'm pregnant or nursing, I don't always get dressed. My house is ALWAYS messy, except when we clean up before having guests over, and even then it's far less perfect than I'd like. My living room furniture is torn up and we can't afford to replace it (though we're praying for some good free or really cheap furniture). The dishes usually stay piled up in the sink until after lunch. Some days I cannot cook, so instead we have "snack dinner" where everyone picks something to eat like cereal or yogurt. I also make big meals so we have leftovers at least 1-2 days a week. I do not "do it all." We are not involved in many extracurricular activities. Our big outings for the week are church, the park, and the library. I teach my kids piano lessons, but we cannot afford sports or other outside activities. We have a live-in roommate who helps with dishes and laundry during the week. We cannot afford to pay much, so we basically exchange room and board for some help. When the babies are awake, we can't really get anything done, so all our school work is done during their nap times. My husband has given me Monday nights and Sunday mornings "off." This really helps to keep me sane. I take that time to do personal things I want to do, like read, sleep, etc. I try to get up early to spend time with the Lord, but I also love to stay up late enjoying the peace and quiet after the kids are in bed, so my sleep/wake schedule is pretty inconsistent.
I hope that these posts help someone see that it doesn't take a Supermom to homeschool. It just takes an ordinary mom (or dad) who is willing to say yes to God's invitation to daily sow into her children's hearts, even when it's a struggle. A Supermom wouldn't do, actually. Not at all. It takes a weak one.
"For when I am weak, then I am strong" (1 Corinthians 12:10b).
Showing posts with label honesty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label honesty. Show all posts
Monday, November 22, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Brain Fog
I suffer from brain fog. It's pretty strong right now so I'm having trouble concentrating enough to even figure out what I wanted to write. I didn't wake up with it. This morning I had energy and motivation. I was in a good mood, and I was looking forward to a great day with my kids: giving the babies baths, twisting TaTa's hair, cleaning the kitchen, vacuuming, folding cloth diapers, and then maybe doing some fun things like reading, watching a movie with my girls, or doing a project like making bubble gum with them (Laughter got a gum-making kit for her birthday last summer).
Then, about four hours after I woke up, the brain fog began. I thought maybe it was because I needed to eat something, so I did, but it didn't get better. Instead of feeling happy and motivated, I now feel tired and easily overwhelmed. I can barely do anything and I feel disconnected. It feels like there's a cloud in my forehead and behind my eyes. I just want to go to sleep. And it's frustrating, because there are so many other things I know I'd really rather do, but I don't have the energy anymore to do them. What happened? And why?
I told my sis-in-law, so she and the girls prayed for me. While praying, I thought of looking up "brain fog" online. I'd never thought of doing that before, so I thought perhaps it was the Holy Spirit's leading. To my surprise, quite a few links popped up. None terribly helpful though. Brain fog can be linked to a whole lot of things including fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, menopause, stress, depression ... and the recommended remedies are just as varied. Exercise, rest, diet, meditation, supplements, and more are possible treatments. Oh, and it's also apparently not a recognized medical diagnosis. Just something that a lot of people say they suffer from. Even a lot of teenagers, which also surprised me.
What to do? I don't know, except to throw myself into the arms of my Creator Father and ask for His help. Abba, please heal me. I want to be well!
Then, about four hours after I woke up, the brain fog began. I thought maybe it was because I needed to eat something, so I did, but it didn't get better. Instead of feeling happy and motivated, I now feel tired and easily overwhelmed. I can barely do anything and I feel disconnected. It feels like there's a cloud in my forehead and behind my eyes. I just want to go to sleep. And it's frustrating, because there are so many other things I know I'd really rather do, but I don't have the energy anymore to do them. What happened? And why?
I told my sis-in-law, so she and the girls prayed for me. While praying, I thought of looking up "brain fog" online. I'd never thought of doing that before, so I thought perhaps it was the Holy Spirit's leading. To my surprise, quite a few links popped up. None terribly helpful though. Brain fog can be linked to a whole lot of things including fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, menopause, stress, depression ... and the recommended remedies are just as varied. Exercise, rest, diet, meditation, supplements, and more are possible treatments. Oh, and it's also apparently not a recognized medical diagnosis. Just something that a lot of people say they suffer from. Even a lot of teenagers, which also surprised me.
What to do? I don't know, except to throw myself into the arms of my Creator Father and ask for His help. Abba, please heal me. I want to be well!
Thursday, March 04, 2010
Let's Get Real Some More
Well, that was fun! It was a relief to get some of my hidden fears into the open, and I loved reading yours too. More stuff has come to mind today, so I think I'll keep sharing.
7. I really struggle to appreciate my children's artwork. I know that they need to create, and I love to see what they do, but in the pit of my stomach there is always this feeling of dread when they bring me something they just drew. Now I have another treasure, priceless to my child, which they want me to display prominently (preferably hanging on the wall next to my bed) and which I want to throw away as quickly as possible. Then I feel guilty for being so heartless. I have set up a system that works pretty well, but they keep insisting that this one is SO special that I just HAVE to hang it in my room (which is my husband's and my sanctuary and I want to keep it as clear of toys and kids' clutter as possible).
8. Speaking of keeping my room kid-free, we have had babies sharing our room for much of our marriage. And we have never had a real bassinet. They sleep in portable pack-n-plays. I feel bad about it sometimes, but mostly I just haven't seen the need to invest in something fancy when this works just as well.
9. We do not have enough storage space for our kids' clothing. Currently our 7-year-old keeps her clothes in a plastic 3-drawer thingy from Walmart that we happened to have. Our 6-year-old has a broken down dresser that was found as junk in front of someone's house which we refinished for her, but the drawers don't really work right. Our 4- and 2-year-olds have overflowing baskets on shelves in their closet (I actually like this arrangement; less fussy than a dresser and easier for them to put their clothes away themselves. Well, at least for the 4-year-old. Though he rarely puts them in the right basket.) Our babies used to share one dresser/changing table combo, but now that they're getting bigger I can't fit all their clothes in it, so our 9-month old has the dresser to herself while our 6-month-old's clothes are in (and on) a plastic bin next to the dresser.
10. I dislike crafts with a passion. The mess, the trouble, it just gets to me. Especially when there are toddlers around to make it more complicated. So, unlike my friend who does it anyway, I do not. At least, we do as little as I can get away with. Tonight my girls are painting because we got our school work done early and I told them we could do fun stuff this afternoon/evening. So I could hardly tell them no when they've been waiting weeks (or months) to do these projects (one of them is an unfinished box my 5-year-old got for her birthday last June). When I finally do let them do it I feel like SUCH a good Mommy though!
11. We usually eat dinner sometime between 7-8pm. Then the kids get in their jammies and go to bed. It's not how I grew up, and it seems rather strange to me, but our kids are used to it. And it just seems to work for us. But I always feel a little guilty that we have snack time around 4pm and don't have dinner until late. I'm not sure why I feel guilty about it though, except that we are not like a lot of other people who eat earlier.
Okay, my kids want me to help them with their crafts. Sigh. Guess I'd better go!
7. I really struggle to appreciate my children's artwork. I know that they need to create, and I love to see what they do, but in the pit of my stomach there is always this feeling of dread when they bring me something they just drew. Now I have another treasure, priceless to my child, which they want me to display prominently (preferably hanging on the wall next to my bed) and which I want to throw away as quickly as possible. Then I feel guilty for being so heartless. I have set up a system that works pretty well, but they keep insisting that this one is SO special that I just HAVE to hang it in my room (which is my husband's and my sanctuary and I want to keep it as clear of toys and kids' clutter as possible).
8. Speaking of keeping my room kid-free, we have had babies sharing our room for much of our marriage. And we have never had a real bassinet. They sleep in portable pack-n-plays. I feel bad about it sometimes, but mostly I just haven't seen the need to invest in something fancy when this works just as well.
9. We do not have enough storage space for our kids' clothing. Currently our 7-year-old keeps her clothes in a plastic 3-drawer thingy from Walmart that we happened to have. Our 6-year-old has a broken down dresser that was found as junk in front of someone's house which we refinished for her, but the drawers don't really work right. Our 4- and 2-year-olds have overflowing baskets on shelves in their closet (I actually like this arrangement; less fussy than a dresser and easier for them to put their clothes away themselves. Well, at least for the 4-year-old. Though he rarely puts them in the right basket.) Our babies used to share one dresser/changing table combo, but now that they're getting bigger I can't fit all their clothes in it, so our 9-month old has the dresser to herself while our 6-month-old's clothes are in (and on) a plastic bin next to the dresser.
10. I dislike crafts with a passion. The mess, the trouble, it just gets to me. Especially when there are toddlers around to make it more complicated. So, unlike my friend who does it anyway, I do not. At least, we do as little as I can get away with. Tonight my girls are painting because we got our school work done early and I told them we could do fun stuff this afternoon/evening. So I could hardly tell them no when they've been waiting weeks (or months) to do these projects (one of them is an unfinished box my 5-year-old got for her birthday last June). When I finally do let them do it I feel like SUCH a good Mommy though!
11. We usually eat dinner sometime between 7-8pm. Then the kids get in their jammies and go to bed. It's not how I grew up, and it seems rather strange to me, but our kids are used to it. And it just seems to work for us. But I always feel a little guilty that we have snack time around 4pm and don't have dinner until late. I'm not sure why I feel guilty about it though, except that we are not like a lot of other people who eat earlier.
Okay, my kids want me to help them with their crafts. Sigh. Guess I'd better go!
Let's Get Real
My friend, Courtney (who I only know through her blog), inspired this post. I try to be real in this blog (and in my life). Sometimes I feel I am too open. But I like people to know me in reality, not in some false image that I create for them.
EXCEPT when it comes to my house. In that area, I would love to have someone airbrush my life. (I'm just being honest.) Over the past year, my husband and I have been in a dinner group hosted by several couples who have become good friends. (One or two of them may even read this blog.) And I have grown terrified at the thought that we might ever need to take our turn hosting. Without exception, every one of their houses has been neater, cleaner, and most of all, more beautifully decorated than mine. We live comfortably and, for the most part, happily in this rental with terrible gray-brown carpet and plain white walls that need paint badly. We're actually grateful for the yucky carpet since our babies love to roll off of whatever blanket or towel I lay them on and spit up on it!
Anyway, I love to read things my friends write that are just real, so I am joining the Mommy Revolution and spreading the word to just Get Real. I enjoy relationships so much more when I am allowed past the facade, and I'm sure many others feel the same way. If you do, leave a comment or write your own post and leave a link so I can get to know you better too!
I've already shared about my embarrassment over my less-than-guest-ready-home. (Oh, and I forgot to mention the huge backyard that is a swamp during the winter and a lumpy mess of weeds and bare patches in the summer - but the kids LOVE to run and play in it so I love it too - except when we have guests to see its flaws.) Here are a few more confessions:
1. The Valentine's Date Disaster: My husband and I have given up going on dates on Valentine's Day since our fourth child was born on Feb. 14. So last week we went on our belated (and much anticipated) Valentine date. It started out well. We enjoyed a free dinner at On the Border with a gift card Paul had gotten from work. Afterward, as we were driving to the movie theater to see Edge of Darkness with our discounted movie tickets from Costco, we were pulled over and cited for not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign. Needless to say, that put a serious damper on the evening. After some awkward attempts on my part to help cheer my husband up (he was driving), we went ahead to the movie. (It was fun to see the bad guys get what they had coming to them.) We had planned to go out to dessert after the movie, but a series of miscommunications and assumptions led us to come home instead and go to bed frustrated and angry (at least, I was). I learned a lesson that I hope sticks with me: when someone just got a ticket (or something else bad happens to them), don't try to cheer them up. Just empathize. Be in the moment. Give it time. Perspective will come later, but sometimes you just need a chance to grieve, rant, be sad, be mad, whatever.
Last night we did get to finish our plans by having a dessert date at Cheesecake Factory where I ordered Chris's Outrageous Chocolate Cake. (It really is outrageous; I'm still working on it.) We talked about words and definitions and things that no one in the world would think funny except ourselves. We laughed and laughed and enjoyed each other. Then we came home and watched Ice Castles on Netflix instant watch. It wasn't at good a movie as I remembered it being when I was a teen.
That one was really long. I hope the rest are shorter.
2. Anger: I yelled at my four-year-old today while making my five-year-old cry by snapping at her. After a day filled with grace and many wonderful moments, I suddenly lost all patience. We got the math done, but I was sad to have lost some of the sparkle in their eyes. Maybe we can get it back tomorrow. Thank God for new days.
3. Bad Personal Hygiene: I don't get dressed every day, or even brush my hair or teeth. Today was one of those days.
4. Self-induced Sleep Deprivation: I stay up way too late nearly every night and pay for it in the morning. Tonight is one of those nights. I love to get up early to spend time with God, but most days it doesn't happen and I try to make it up at naptime.
5. Once a Week Whether They Need It Or Not: I only give my kids baths once a week. That may horrify some, but it's the way it is. It takes me all morning to get them all bathed. I just can't do it every day. So one day during the weekend is "bath day," and they all get clean, "whether they need it or not," as my husband says. (Believe me, by then they need it. - We do try to keep hands and faces clean in between, but their nails are truly disgusting by the end of the week.)
6. Procrastination: I hate cleaning bathrooms, putting away laundry, and picking up toys. So I procrastinate. And then, when it gets really bad, I yell at the kids for not keeping their bathroom clean, putting away their laundry, and picking up their toys. (I am gradually riding this cycle less and less, thankfully, but I still need help.)
I could go on and on, but you get the picture. I am a weak, sinful person who needs to admit that fact far more often than I actually do. I am learning to say I'm sorry more, but it's still hard for me. I need God, and I need to know how much I need Him. I want to be free of the need for approval from others, but I still crave it.
How about you? Want to share?
EXCEPT when it comes to my house. In that area, I would love to have someone airbrush my life. (I'm just being honest.) Over the past year, my husband and I have been in a dinner group hosted by several couples who have become good friends. (One or two of them may even read this blog.) And I have grown terrified at the thought that we might ever need to take our turn hosting. Without exception, every one of their houses has been neater, cleaner, and most of all, more beautifully decorated than mine. We live comfortably and, for the most part, happily in this rental with terrible gray-brown carpet and plain white walls that need paint badly. We're actually grateful for the yucky carpet since our babies love to roll off of whatever blanket or towel I lay them on and spit up on it!
Anyway, I love to read things my friends write that are just real, so I am joining the Mommy Revolution and spreading the word to just Get Real. I enjoy relationships so much more when I am allowed past the facade, and I'm sure many others feel the same way. If you do, leave a comment or write your own post and leave a link so I can get to know you better too!
I've already shared about my embarrassment over my less-than-guest-ready-home. (Oh, and I forgot to mention the huge backyard that is a swamp during the winter and a lumpy mess of weeds and bare patches in the summer - but the kids LOVE to run and play in it so I love it too - except when we have guests to see its flaws.) Here are a few more confessions:
1. The Valentine's Date Disaster: My husband and I have given up going on dates on Valentine's Day since our fourth child was born on Feb. 14. So last week we went on our belated (and much anticipated) Valentine date. It started out well. We enjoyed a free dinner at On the Border with a gift card Paul had gotten from work. Afterward, as we were driving to the movie theater to see Edge of Darkness with our discounted movie tickets from Costco, we were pulled over and cited for not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign. Needless to say, that put a serious damper on the evening. After some awkward attempts on my part to help cheer my husband up (he was driving), we went ahead to the movie. (It was fun to see the bad guys get what they had coming to them.) We had planned to go out to dessert after the movie, but a series of miscommunications and assumptions led us to come home instead and go to bed frustrated and angry (at least, I was). I learned a lesson that I hope sticks with me: when someone just got a ticket (or something else bad happens to them), don't try to cheer them up. Just empathize. Be in the moment. Give it time. Perspective will come later, but sometimes you just need a chance to grieve, rant, be sad, be mad, whatever.
Last night we did get to finish our plans by having a dessert date at Cheesecake Factory where I ordered Chris's Outrageous Chocolate Cake. (It really is outrageous; I'm still working on it.) We talked about words and definitions and things that no one in the world would think funny except ourselves. We laughed and laughed and enjoyed each other. Then we came home and watched Ice Castles on Netflix instant watch. It wasn't at good a movie as I remembered it being when I was a teen.
That one was really long. I hope the rest are shorter.
2. Anger: I yelled at my four-year-old today while making my five-year-old cry by snapping at her. After a day filled with grace and many wonderful moments, I suddenly lost all patience. We got the math done, but I was sad to have lost some of the sparkle in their eyes. Maybe we can get it back tomorrow. Thank God for new days.
3. Bad Personal Hygiene: I don't get dressed every day, or even brush my hair or teeth. Today was one of those days.
4. Self-induced Sleep Deprivation: I stay up way too late nearly every night and pay for it in the morning. Tonight is one of those nights. I love to get up early to spend time with God, but most days it doesn't happen and I try to make it up at naptime.
5. Once a Week Whether They Need It Or Not: I only give my kids baths once a week. That may horrify some, but it's the way it is. It takes me all morning to get them all bathed. I just can't do it every day. So one day during the weekend is "bath day," and they all get clean, "whether they need it or not," as my husband says. (Believe me, by then they need it. - We do try to keep hands and faces clean in between, but their nails are truly disgusting by the end of the week.)
6. Procrastination: I hate cleaning bathrooms, putting away laundry, and picking up toys. So I procrastinate. And then, when it gets really bad, I yell at the kids for not keeping their bathroom clean, putting away their laundry, and picking up their toys. (I am gradually riding this cycle less and less, thankfully, but I still need help.)
I could go on and on, but you get the picture. I am a weak, sinful person who needs to admit that fact far more often than I actually do. I am learning to say I'm sorry more, but it's still hard for me. I need God, and I need to know how much I need Him. I want to be free of the need for approval from others, but I still crave it.
How about you? Want to share?
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