Mom and the Terrible, Horrible, Very Bad Homeschooling Day

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http://issuu.com/the_homeschool_handbook/docs/thh_marchapril_2012_web-1/9


Categories: parenting

Convention Follow-Up

I am going to try and be humble here but I am struggling with pride.  The kids were amazing at convention.  There are times that it seems like all of our training and hard work are making no impact as parents and then it just seems to come to together. 


It started out a little shaky as one of the kids left a light on in the car and ran out the battery the first night out but we were at Grammy and Papa's so Papa jumped the car and it was fine.  However, my misgivings about bringing the kids were growing at an alarming rate.  I had a four hour drive to think about everything that could go horribly wrong all ending with my being asked to never show my face at a homeschool convention again.  ( Hey, it could happen.)


We got there and had a lovely evening swimming and hanging out.  I laid down my gound rules and expectations while I laid out our clothes and we went to sleep.  I went to sleep praying, HARD!


The next morning we met the team to put the booth up which can be a long and arduous process filled with many potential stressful moments.  I put my kids under the authority of my wonderful boss and his lovely wife for orders and we got to work.  I was so happy to see my kids taking direction, following through and working quickly and efficiently.  It was beautiful to behold.


As time came for the convention hall to open we changed into our dress clothes and I gave them some more direction and then my boss gave them some direction.  (It is always a good idea to give your kids your list of expectations before you expect them.)  They were great!  They were helpful, polite and willing.  Connor worked on school while helping bring packages, Collin handed out catalogs and refilled the catalog racks and Caileigh sweetly greeted customers.  Caileigh so wanted to help customers and several times had to call for back up as they asked questions she could not handle but she handled it politely and with much poise.

The twins spent the next day in a VBS like Childrens Program which they loved and Connor was our runner in the booth and diligently worked on schoolwork (a perfect advertisement for high school).

The last day the kids again hung out in the booth but then we had to tear down. Again, the kids were fantastic and took direction.  Only once, did I have to step in and make sure Caileigh had properly listened and followed direction but she took the discipline and moved on.

I loved seeing my kids interact with strangers and answer questions and follow others directions.  I loved seeing my kids step into their own and handle everything thrown their way.  It pays to do the hard work in their early years and stay consistent.

We then went and spent several days in the Santa Fe/Taos area seeing the sights and hanging out.














Categories: parenting

Great article on homeschooling

Just thought I would share.... www.encouragingbeautifulmotherhood.com/2012/04/26/the-bad-news-about-homeschooling/

Going on Road Trip

I am taking the kids with me to a convention in New Mexico and then we are going to hang out for a few days in Sante Fe. Scott is not coming with us - he 's busy working, somebody has to. Anyway, as I was driving, it suddenly hit me that I am taking the kids on a working road trip without back up! Oh good heavens, what was I thinking? It is the first time we've gone this far without Daddy. I think this might be a real test of how the kids are doing with each other,with independence and with making the wise choice. There are going to be several days that they are going to have to handle themselves under scrutiny from others and hopefully they will rise to the occasion. I think they will do fine but in the back of my mind the is a little voice that is telling me that I might be crazy. I'll let you know how it goes in a few days....

Day of Worship

In our family ministry service this week we had a Day of Worsgip where we learned to worship God for who He is and what He has done for us. The opening video was written and directed by very talented staff at our church. I am showing for two reasons. One, because Caileigh and Collin are in it and two, the message of the video is one of the reasons that I am so passionate about being involved in Children's Ministry and homeschooling - the message that we are to continually bring our kids to the feet of Jesus. Check it out:

www.youtube.com/rushhourcolorado

Prepping for Convention Season Reminder

I know this is a repeat post, but ready or not, convention season starts this week!  Ask me how I know.  I know because my first convention is this weekend followed by at least two a month for the next several months.  It's a good thing we are mostly finished with the remodel - whew!  My speaking engagements have increased this year which is thrilling and humbling all at the same time.  I pray that God speaks through me and that my words are His words and that there is less of me and more of Him.  Anyway, I thought we could all use a reminder.


If you have any home school questions, please let me know, I love to talk home school.  It's one of my favorite things to talk about.


For all of you home schooling Moms, you know what's coming? Convention season. 


For some of us, it's an exciting thought, for others it's a dreaded thought. I think we, as home school parents, should go to the convention every year, whether we like it or not. Why? Because it helps us to be better educated and if we don't need the education surely some newbie does and they could use a veteran's advice.


I happen to love convention season. I love going to conventions whether I am working the convention or attending the convention. I love all the books, all the new curriculums and the science kits, oh and the history add-ons and did I mention the books. (Seriously, where else can you buy owl pellets, a how-to knit book, a Bible and Historical comparison timeline, an Adventures in Odyssey CD, and a Laura Ingalls Wilder bonnet? That's awesome - I'm just sayin') I love that I could learn about how to teach reading and how to teach Calculus within a two hour time span. I love all the possibilities. It just makes me happy.


I am aware that the convention can also be an overwhelming, scary place full of too many options. So I have decided to give to you my list of convention prep. I have been going to conventions since I was 15. For those of you counting, that's a long, long, LONG time. First as a student and now as a Mom, so I have some well used practical hints.


1. Make time with your husband to pray and write out your goals for your home school and your kids. Click on Family Purpose for a basic "how to" on creating goals. Bring these goals with you to the convention to help you narrow down the choices.  This is a vital step in deciding to homeschool, picking curriculum and being deliberate in parenting and educating your children.


2. Read Debra Bell's "The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling" before you go. It will help you get an understanding of the types of curriculum out there. Veterens and speakers will toss arounds words like, "classical, Charlotte Mason, literature based, unit studies and lap books" and it will give you some understanding of what in the world they are talking about.


3. Go with a friend who has been homeschooling longer than you. Bring your husband. Pay a babysitter, bribe your mother or do whatever you need to do to have your husband come with you. My husband is a life saver at the convention. He sees the bigger picture and helps me to pick curriculum that meets our goals and he carries all the heavy stuff. I love that.


4. Make a list before you go of what you need. Don't go in blind, do the research, visit web-sites, message boards, e-mail me, talk to the lady at church that home schools to figure out what you need.


5. Make a budget - be realistic. I spend at least $1000 a year total on all three kids curriculum although with high school looming that number is about to jump, I fear. That $1000 looks a lot but check out what a private school costs. Some people do it with less, some more. I buy what we think is best for our kids. Sometimes that's the most expensive curriculum, sometimes it's not. Keep your husband out of your budget money. We have more books on the Roman Empire than I know what to do with.


6. Plan to go for more than one day. I find I need the first day for looking around and the second or third day for buying.


7. Our cardinal rule - NEVER BUY MAJOR CURRICULUM ON THE FIRST DAY. No matter what that amazing speaker says, go home( or the hotel room) think about it, talk to your husband, look at your goals and sleep on it. This has saved me a world of trouble. I can't count the number of times I have changed my mind after some thought and prayer and sleep. Trust me.


8. Wear really comfortable shoes and bring a sweater, notebook , pens, caffeine and chocolate. You can thank me later.


9. Plan time to shop. It's tempting to go to all the speakers but you need time to get hands-on with the curriculum. Ask questions of the vendors. Ask the vendors if their curriculum fits your goals. ( I love doing this - it saves me so much time) Don't be afraid to spend major time at a booth, especially if it's going to be your main curriculum ( think MFW, Sonlight, TOG etc). Ask me how much time I spent at the MFW booth before we decided it was the "one". David Hazell knew me by name and sight while choosing Kindergarten. It's also okay to just say that you need time with the Teacher's Manual looking at the curriculum. Do what you need to do.


10. Buy fun things to bring home to your kids. Buy a bonnet, a rubber Bowie knife, a game, a new Adventure in Odyssey and a new book to read. They will think conventions are great.


If you are not a home schooler and you just want great, God honoring books, CD's, games, devotionals, parenting books, how-to's on grinding your own wheat, whatever, the home school convention is a great place to go as well.
Hope this helps and hope to see you there!


Oh, in 2011 I will be at Colorado, North Dakota, New Mexico, Nebraska, Texas, California and I forget who else (there should be a couple more...). If you are also at any of these, come find me.  I can be found at the My Father's World booth or they will (probably) know where I am.  I love to put faces with names.
Categories: parenting





Categories: parenting

Remodelling

We have been remodelling our house. New carpet, new granite countertops, new tile bathroom floors, new appliances, new paint and bedroom re-arrangements. We decided to do this in the middle of the school year because, clearly, we are crazy. We also decided to remodel in the middle of winter, in Colorado, where it snows. This February has also been the snowiest February for over a hundred years according to the record books. Did I mention that we are crazy? My beloved husband and I clearly like to do things the hard way but we get them done.

In the midst of the remodel craziness!

Everything looks beautiful though and I love, love, love my new double ovens and GIANT frig! What I have loved the most about this whole project in the middle of the school year, in the snowiest February on record, is the life skills our kids have learned. We are so busy that we generally don't stop to teach our kids some basic life skills that are oh-so handy. Scott has taught the kids how to take out and then replace plumbing in the sinks, patch holes in walls, put up coat racks, how to find a stud in the wall to put up said coat racks, change light fixtures ( which he told me were the hardest light fixtures ever, clearly blaming me) and basic use of tools. With me, the kids have learned how to prep a room for painting, how to use a roller, edging a room and write funny sayings under the new paint in Connor's new room. We have also torn apart every room in the house and gone through everything and decided what we still need and what we can donate to help others. We have organized and cleaned, budgeted and shopped, and I think we will have a new beautiful organized and updated house at the end. What I  love the most is the fact that my 13 year old, computer loving, physical labor disdaining, son, was so pleased by his new found skills that he said, "Mom, I really am glad we did this so that I could learn how to properly take care of my own house someday.".

He is still inordinately proud of the new kitchen faucet and garbage disposal that he helped his Dad put in. That is worth it's weight in gold and even all the crazy stress that we have put ourselves under.