Tapir Sweethearts
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Monday, February 12, 2007
Unrelated Reading
Gradually, night stumbled as if stunned and wandering aimlessly into an overcast day—limped through the wilderland of transition as though there were no knowing where the waste of darkness ended and the ashes of light began. The low clouds seemed full of grief—tense and uneasy with accumulated woe—and yet affectless, unable to rain, as if the air clenched itself too hard for tears. –Stephen Donaldson Lord Foul’s Bane—the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever
At the end of last year I was attempting to read four or five books at a time. Now I am capable of doing that. If that is the only thing I need to do. But these short people at this house keep insisting they need food. And clothing. And transportation. What’s up with that?
So one of my resolutions (you know, a manageable one) was to keep no more than two books going at a time. But I’ve come upon two that have me stalled. They are totally unrelated other than they were both on my recommended reading list. The first book has been recommended by my sister and many other homeschool moms. It is The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence. The second was recommended to my by a dear friend and my husband within the same week. Oddly enough neither had read it for years. It is Lord Foul’s Bane—the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever.
The Practice of the Presence of God sounded like such a good, life changing book. The premise of the book had been explained to me long ago. Brother Lawrence, a monk, kept a constant rapport with God. He prayed and praised not only during set aside prayer time but also while at menial chores. I heard about that and purposed to do the same thing. I’ve found that it is sometimes in the smallest, meanest chores that I have felt the closest to God.
But reading the book has been somewhat of a struggle. I am pretty sure the problem is me. Brother Lawrence has the seventeenth century motto of Nike—“Just Do It.” It is a simple formula. Your mind strays, you just redirect it. You just keep moving forward, one step at a time. I want to shout because I am so frustrated. I don’t think Brother Lawrence had two young boys giving accounts of the imaginary land of Whozitwhatsits complete with shouts of victorious Whachmacallits fighting. I don’t think he had the phone ringing, the dog begging to go pee and the neighbor girl wanting to sell me magazine subscriptions. To help a school I already have paid taxes for. I just don’t think he did. So what do I do with Brother Lawrence? He makes me feel that one of us is being simple. Sigh. Yes, I am sure it is me. I see where as a country (and individually) we are drowning in our excess. We have too much to distract us from Jesus. We cannot focus for all of our previous choices. And when I say we, the finger is pointing at me. It just makes me feel less alone to think I might not be the only one.
I am pressing on. Knowing Brother Lawrence is right. And I am distracted. And I need to practice God’s presence. A lot.
The second book, a fantasy, first book in a series, didn’t grab me at first. Thomas Covenant is a leper who has lost life—his life—because of his disease. It is at the scene of an impending accident that he is transported to another world where he seems to be expected to be a hero (don’t worry, I haven’t gotten far enough to really give a good spoiler). Definitely a unique twist, but I allowed myself to be led there.
In the second world, while his health appears to be improving, it is his mind he worried about losing.
Stephen Donaldson is a beautiful writer. He is a wordsmith. I have read and re-read paragraphs just for the sheer beauty of the words. But his wonderful words paint an aching picture. I kept feeling related to Thomas Covenant. Why was I feeling related to a leper? Slowly I am coming to see the metaphor that is this character. He is an outcast. He is locked out of society. He is different. His disease is unlovable. He is grasping to hold onto not just his physical, but also his mental health. He makes his way through both worlds one step at a time. He keeps moving. He does the next thing presented to him. And how many days have I felt like that? I don’t know, maybe my struggle with Covenant is that I have identified with him a little too much and if he fails, see a prophecy for myself. Yes, yes…over analyzing a bit much there. But when you suspend disbelief that happens.
What I feel I am getting from both books is a message to focus on the now. Walk to joy one step at a time. Even though our difficulties as a family have been minor compared to some, this is the first time in my life I have really questioned God. I have had difficulty finding praise. I haven’t had music on for me in the house for a few months. I’ve never felt like this before. Now know, I don’t question God’s existence, I don’t question He is right. I am just confused as to the whys and wherefores. It comes down to something I have said before. “The problem is not with God, but with me.” But it’s just a different problem and, like Thomas Covenant, I feel stranded in a different land. Hopefully I can hang on to Brother Lawrence’s arm and fall in step and refocus. Hopefully Thomas Covenant and I will come through the impending battle.
O my God, since Thou art with me, and I must now, in obedience to Thy commands, apply my mind to these outward things, I beseech Thee to grant me the grace to continue in Thy presence; and to this end do Thou prosper me with Thy assistance, receive all my works, and possess all my affections. –Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God
Technorati tags: books, reading
At the end of last year I was attempting to read four or five books at a time. Now I am capable of doing that. If that is the only thing I need to do. But these short people at this house keep insisting they need food. And clothing. And transportation. What’s up with that?
So one of my resolutions (you know, a manageable one) was to keep no more than two books going at a time. But I’ve come upon two that have me stalled. They are totally unrelated other than they were both on my recommended reading list. The first book has been recommended by my sister and many other homeschool moms. It is The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence. The second was recommended to my by a dear friend and my husband within the same week. Oddly enough neither had read it for years. It is Lord Foul’s Bane—the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever.
The Practice of the Presence of God sounded like such a good, life changing book. The premise of the book had been explained to me long ago. Brother Lawrence, a monk, kept a constant rapport with God. He prayed and praised not only during set aside prayer time but also while at menial chores. I heard about that and purposed to do the same thing. I’ve found that it is sometimes in the smallest, meanest chores that I have felt the closest to God.
But reading the book has been somewhat of a struggle. I am pretty sure the problem is me. Brother Lawrence has the seventeenth century motto of Nike—“Just Do It.” It is a simple formula. Your mind strays, you just redirect it. You just keep moving forward, one step at a time. I want to shout because I am so frustrated. I don’t think Brother Lawrence had two young boys giving accounts of the imaginary land of Whozitwhatsits complete with shouts of victorious Whachmacallits fighting. I don’t think he had the phone ringing, the dog begging to go pee and the neighbor girl wanting to sell me magazine subscriptions. To help a school I already have paid taxes for. I just don’t think he did. So what do I do with Brother Lawrence? He makes me feel that one of us is being simple. Sigh. Yes, I am sure it is me. I see where as a country (and individually) we are drowning in our excess. We have too much to distract us from Jesus. We cannot focus for all of our previous choices. And when I say we, the finger is pointing at me. It just makes me feel less alone to think I might not be the only one.
I am pressing on. Knowing Brother Lawrence is right. And I am distracted. And I need to practice God’s presence. A lot.
The second book, a fantasy, first book in a series, didn’t grab me at first. Thomas Covenant is a leper who has lost life—his life—because of his disease. It is at the scene of an impending accident that he is transported to another world where he seems to be expected to be a hero (don’t worry, I haven’t gotten far enough to really give a good spoiler). Definitely a unique twist, but I allowed myself to be led there.
In the second world, while his health appears to be improving, it is his mind he worried about losing.
Stephen Donaldson is a beautiful writer. He is a wordsmith. I have read and re-read paragraphs just for the sheer beauty of the words. But his wonderful words paint an aching picture. I kept feeling related to Thomas Covenant. Why was I feeling related to a leper? Slowly I am coming to see the metaphor that is this character. He is an outcast. He is locked out of society. He is different. His disease is unlovable. He is grasping to hold onto not just his physical, but also his mental health. He makes his way through both worlds one step at a time. He keeps moving. He does the next thing presented to him. And how many days have I felt like that? I don’t know, maybe my struggle with Covenant is that I have identified with him a little too much and if he fails, see a prophecy for myself. Yes, yes…over analyzing a bit much there. But when you suspend disbelief that happens.
What I feel I am getting from both books is a message to focus on the now. Walk to joy one step at a time. Even though our difficulties as a family have been minor compared to some, this is the first time in my life I have really questioned God. I have had difficulty finding praise. I haven’t had music on for me in the house for a few months. I’ve never felt like this before. Now know, I don’t question God’s existence, I don’t question He is right. I am just confused as to the whys and wherefores. It comes down to something I have said before. “The problem is not with God, but with me.” But it’s just a different problem and, like Thomas Covenant, I feel stranded in a different land. Hopefully I can hang on to Brother Lawrence’s arm and fall in step and refocus. Hopefully Thomas Covenant and I will come through the impending battle.
O my God, since Thou art with me, and I must now, in obedience to Thy commands, apply my mind to these outward things, I beseech Thee to grant me the grace to continue in Thy presence; and to this end do Thou prosper me with Thy assistance, receive all my works, and possess all my affections. –Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God
Technorati tags: books, reading
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Why We Homeschool the Way We Do--
Journey and Curriculum Choices
A Meandering and Musing
Part Four—what you would see at our house these days.
(Part One, Part Two, Part Three)
Today…Boo can read quite well. He is pleased when he does his math worksheet. But it can’t be long and repetitive. And it doesn’t need to be. For him.
Roo is five years away from fourteen but I don’t think he’ll be heading to college anytime soon.
If you looked at our day you would see we are at the same time very musically and artistically oriented and very technology oriented. We love reading and own lots of books. Our boys play the piano, they dance, they write their own stories by hand and on the computer, they create art, both techno art and traditional. They use the computer for learning and fun. And sometimes when they have fun they are learning.
As mentioned we’ve added what some see as an unusual choice for an extra curricular—ballet. Roo showed a desire and facility early on and we were fortunate to have access to an exceptional school for ballet. Boo, in traditional Boo form, declared he was having none of THAT. Which was fine with us. But after watching Roo during watch week and meeting the teacher, who may qualify for the sweetest young woman in the world (oh, and she’s a beautiful ballerina) Boo insisted at the last minute he WAS going to dance. Okeedoke.
My approach would be best described as relaxed an eclectic these days. I would love to totally unschool, but don’t see us as having enough drive to arrive at our goals. So we vary what we do. Right now we have a flexible schedule, we may do a unit study in few months and take a break and unschool for awhile after.
Because piano and dance take up a lot of our time I’ve made our schedule around those things for now. Piano is done totally at home so there is no down time or driving time. But we spend a lot of time on the piano. A lot.
Reading is important to me. We read every day Monday through Friday. We read aloud, we do Silent Sustained Reading, we read what is on our lists and things that happen to catch our attention. We have this new basketball class and it is on a dance day so we are out of the house for a long time that day. We still fit reading in. Piano takes a day off that day.
Workbooks are done for a very short time three days a week. I have a large collection and they cover a wide selection of studies. Boo has just a couple he works on. Roo has a different set for each of the three days. Each set has some form of math, some form of English and language arts a dab of history and a little science. These subjects are addressed in his reading time also. The workbooks are a nod to the yardstick traditionalists measure by. It is not a bad thing to measure. But I will not teach to a test or standard that is not ours.
I also believe we are, as a country, sleep deprived. DarlingCaveGeek and I also have strangely wired body clocks that function well later in the day. Did the boys acquire our habits genetically or just by association? I am not sure, but unless there is a pressing reason for rising early Roo and Boo are allowed to sleep until they are no longer tired. Now we do have the occasional bug run through the house, but I do believe that bodies not sleep deprived can fight off illness more effectively and much faster. And so far the theory seems to work for us. So you won’t see us shiny and scrubbed at the table at 7:30, chores done and doing our devotional. We sort of ease into our day.
We school using the computer, occasional field trips, using videos and television. For the first time in our journey we’ve joined a relaxed group of homeschoolers for our P.E. We are starting to school at the grocery store. I’m not counting that so much in the record-keeping, but it does become a natural progression. And time needs to be allowed for it. With some apprehension, I see that schooling is taking place in the car. It’s not the geography/map reading skills that worry me. It’s the, “Now when I start driving…” questions. But, hey! At least they are asking. And they are becoming quite the proficient backseat drivers.
What was my goal in writing this long, long, piece on our school and my philosophy? I think I have arrived at the belief that every parent should choose the best for their child within the framework of what is feasible in their lives. Not every one should homeschool. Homeschool may only last a season for some. Everyone who homeschools has a right to school the way they feel led to that is best for their children. It will not always look the same. Before someone accuses someone else of not “doing it right” the fruit of the family should be examined. I do not advocate abuse, but that is the exception, not the rule. That should never happen, but sadly it does.
I think for the most part we are over-legislated and people are trained to let others think for them. Many people really do believe that the school system today is what has always been in place. And it hasn’t and it isn’t perfect. But I know many beautiful teachers who do the best they can. And for some children it is a safer haven than home. That is sad.
My goal is to encourage people to pray, research and explore options for their families. To share resources and not judge but build up other families in their choices. To pray if you think someone could do better, offer only options and leave it be at that. I think school should be a joy. I think learning should be a joy and a delight and never end as we travel through this amazing world the Creator has graced us with.
Done now.
A Meandering and Musing
Part Four—what you would see at our house these days.
(Part One, Part Two, Part Three)
Today…Boo can read quite well. He is pleased when he does his math worksheet. But it can’t be long and repetitive. And it doesn’t need to be. For him.
Roo is five years away from fourteen but I don’t think he’ll be heading to college anytime soon.
If you looked at our day you would see we are at the same time very musically and artistically oriented and very technology oriented. We love reading and own lots of books. Our boys play the piano, they dance, they write their own stories by hand and on the computer, they create art, both techno art and traditional. They use the computer for learning and fun. And sometimes when they have fun they are learning.
As mentioned we’ve added what some see as an unusual choice for an extra curricular—ballet. Roo showed a desire and facility early on and we were fortunate to have access to an exceptional school for ballet. Boo, in traditional Boo form, declared he was having none of THAT. Which was fine with us. But after watching Roo during watch week and meeting the teacher, who may qualify for the sweetest young woman in the world (oh, and she’s a beautiful ballerina) Boo insisted at the last minute he WAS going to dance. Okeedoke.
My approach would be best described as relaxed an eclectic these days. I would love to totally unschool, but don’t see us as having enough drive to arrive at our goals. So we vary what we do. Right now we have a flexible schedule, we may do a unit study in few months and take a break and unschool for awhile after.
Because piano and dance take up a lot of our time I’ve made our schedule around those things for now. Piano is done totally at home so there is no down time or driving time. But we spend a lot of time on the piano. A lot.
Reading is important to me. We read every day Monday through Friday. We read aloud, we do Silent Sustained Reading, we read what is on our lists and things that happen to catch our attention. We have this new basketball class and it is on a dance day so we are out of the house for a long time that day. We still fit reading in. Piano takes a day off that day.
Workbooks are done for a very short time three days a week. I have a large collection and they cover a wide selection of studies. Boo has just a couple he works on. Roo has a different set for each of the three days. Each set has some form of math, some form of English and language arts a dab of history and a little science. These subjects are addressed in his reading time also. The workbooks are a nod to the yardstick traditionalists measure by. It is not a bad thing to measure. But I will not teach to a test or standard that is not ours.
I also believe we are, as a country, sleep deprived. DarlingCaveGeek and I also have strangely wired body clocks that function well later in the day. Did the boys acquire our habits genetically or just by association? I am not sure, but unless there is a pressing reason for rising early Roo and Boo are allowed to sleep until they are no longer tired. Now we do have the occasional bug run through the house, but I do believe that bodies not sleep deprived can fight off illness more effectively and much faster. And so far the theory seems to work for us. So you won’t see us shiny and scrubbed at the table at 7:30, chores done and doing our devotional. We sort of ease into our day.
We school using the computer, occasional field trips, using videos and television. For the first time in our journey we’ve joined a relaxed group of homeschoolers for our P.E. We are starting to school at the grocery store. I’m not counting that so much in the record-keeping, but it does become a natural progression. And time needs to be allowed for it. With some apprehension, I see that schooling is taking place in the car. It’s not the geography/map reading skills that worry me. It’s the, “Now when I start driving…” questions. But, hey! At least they are asking. And they are becoming quite the proficient backseat drivers.
What was my goal in writing this long, long, piece on our school and my philosophy? I think I have arrived at the belief that every parent should choose the best for their child within the framework of what is feasible in their lives. Not every one should homeschool. Homeschool may only last a season for some. Everyone who homeschools has a right to school the way they feel led to that is best for their children. It will not always look the same. Before someone accuses someone else of not “doing it right” the fruit of the family should be examined. I do not advocate abuse, but that is the exception, not the rule. That should never happen, but sadly it does.
I think for the most part we are over-legislated and people are trained to let others think for them. Many people really do believe that the school system today is what has always been in place. And it hasn’t and it isn’t perfect. But I know many beautiful teachers who do the best they can. And for some children it is a safer haven than home. That is sad.
My goal is to encourage people to pray, research and explore options for their families. To share resources and not judge but build up other families in their choices. To pray if you think someone could do better, offer only options and leave it be at that. I think school should be a joy. I think learning should be a joy and a delight and never end as we travel through this amazing world the Creator has graced us with.
Done now.
Be Thou My Vision
Be Thou My Vision
Words attributed to Dallan Forgaill,
Translated from Irish to English by Mary E. Byrne
Verse formatted by Eleanor H. Hull. Music Slane
From Irish folk origin.
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
Friday, February 9, 2007
Why We Homeschool the Way We Do--
Journey and Curriculum Choices
A Meandering and Musing
Part Three—In Practice
(Part One & Part Two)
We homeschooled even though I was working nights, which I did on and off for almost three years. I will tell you it can be done. At what cost to health and relationships I don’t know. But it was that important to us. There was no option. And the boys were little, so the amount of paper work didn’t need to be huge.
Those were our “desert years.” I felt often like the Children of Israel wandering…but those are different stories. Let me say, I never felt God was far, I felt we were learning and growing and we never saw an option not to homeschool. God is good.
Thankfully I have been home for the last year and a half. I have seen the world through less than bleary eyes.
It is apparent Roo adapts to structure more than Boo. He likes a yardstick to be measured by. Now saying that, he still likes the ability to bunny trail at his whim. So we have come up with the things I am sure he cannot live without doing, many books to read, workbooks to use. Then I have boxes checked for “them” –you know, those people who might come and check up on us, whoever they are.
It also includes a lot of piano. Which he has both facility and desire to do. And then the rest of the time he explores his interests. He isn’t completely following things through to a conclusion yet, but at nine I don’t know that he needs to. He will wander away from things for a while, seemingly done with something, and then come back with renewed ideas and he has time to grow and pursue and be creative.
Boo is my “fence-rattler,” button pusher, limit tester child. “I just want to be a little boy, Mom.” Peter Pan in the making. Because of Boo, I delved into unschooling. I stepped back and let him do it his way. He decided to watch movies with sub-titles. He told me he was learning to read. He played games and didn’t want help with the dice, pieces or cards. He could do it himself. And, to my surprise, he managed. But sit him down at a table with a pencil and try handwriting? Well…see HERE. Give him math worksheet. He would rather sit and stare at the wall.
Now some would say he needed discipline. We have never shied away from discipline. But after so much of it and he still was resolute, I began to worry I was losing my son’s heart. And I think I was. After having been gone physically at night for so long and only being present in a barely functioning body during those days, and then arguing with how God created him, I was losing him. So I really did back off. And spent a lot of time learning about Grace Based Parenting and Attachment Parenting, which I was already practicing at some level.
I needed to work on balance.
Part Four
A Meandering and Musing
Part Three—In Practice
(Part One & Part Two)
We homeschooled even though I was working nights, which I did on and off for almost three years. I will tell you it can be done. At what cost to health and relationships I don’t know. But it was that important to us. There was no option. And the boys were little, so the amount of paper work didn’t need to be huge.
Those were our “desert years.” I felt often like the Children of Israel wandering…but those are different stories. Let me say, I never felt God was far, I felt we were learning and growing and we never saw an option not to homeschool. God is good.
Thankfully I have been home for the last year and a half. I have seen the world through less than bleary eyes.
It is apparent Roo adapts to structure more than Boo. He likes a yardstick to be measured by. Now saying that, he still likes the ability to bunny trail at his whim. So we have come up with the things I am sure he cannot live without doing, many books to read, workbooks to use. Then I have boxes checked for “them” –you know, those people who might come and check up on us, whoever they are.
It also includes a lot of piano. Which he has both facility and desire to do. And then the rest of the time he explores his interests. He isn’t completely following things through to a conclusion yet, but at nine I don’t know that he needs to. He will wander away from things for a while, seemingly done with something, and then come back with renewed ideas and he has time to grow and pursue and be creative.
Boo is my “fence-rattler,” button pusher, limit tester child. “I just want to be a little boy, Mom.” Peter Pan in the making. Because of Boo, I delved into unschooling. I stepped back and let him do it his way. He decided to watch movies with sub-titles. He told me he was learning to read. He played games and didn’t want help with the dice, pieces or cards. He could do it himself. And, to my surprise, he managed. But sit him down at a table with a pencil and try handwriting? Well…see HERE. Give him math worksheet. He would rather sit and stare at the wall.
Now some would say he needed discipline. We have never shied away from discipline. But after so much of it and he still was resolute, I began to worry I was losing my son’s heart. And I think I was. After having been gone physically at night for so long and only being present in a barely functioning body during those days, and then arguing with how God created him, I was losing him. So I really did back off. And spent a lot of time learning about Grace Based Parenting and Attachment Parenting, which I was already practicing at some level.
I needed to work on balance.
Part Four
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Herding Cats
Basketball—third time’s a charm!
Yesterday was Roo and Boo’s third time for homeschool group basketball. Once again I must say the mom in charge has unlimited patience and is great with the kids. But I did overhear her tell someone it was the equivalent to “herding cats.” She’s got that right. But she does it well.
Roo and Boo were most anxious to get to basketball because of last week’s fiasco getting there. I hadn’t added that chronicle to the blog because I had just shared the fact I melt down with the world and didn’t want to wave that laundry yet. I’m a bit better now.
Last week’s adventure was due to a surprise bout of snow and the whole city went berserk.
MapQuest says it should take us about 30 minutes to get from our home to basketball. I say they’ve never driven the traffic. I’ve been told I am a bit OCD about being on time and I allow an hour for the trip. Well last week we got on the road and AN HOUR AND FORTY MINUTES LATER we arrived quite shaken and stressed. A gravel truck overturned, there was another wreck in our way, and in other news a different free-way had a near forty car pile-up. I was happy to arrive at all, but the boys were reduced to less than 20 minutes of play. And they were incredibly sad. They accepted it well, but I felt so bad to see their disappointment.
So this week, we started out even earlier than I usually do so that the boys might have some time before class started to shoot some hoops and hang out with the other kids. Driving was uneventful if you don’t count the arguing over the Jedi characters in an imaginary game that occurred. Roo (who inherited my compulsion for early arrival) never asked once if we were going to be late. Boo only used the high-pitched whine once and I was only slightly disheveled. Success.
Basketball was once again a great experience. And I am glad that I have allowed us to join with this loose-knit and relaxed group of homeschoolers. But I am thankful that I don’t have to try to herd the cats.
Yesterday was Roo and Boo’s third time for homeschool group basketball. Once again I must say the mom in charge has unlimited patience and is great with the kids. But I did overhear her tell someone it was the equivalent to “herding cats.” She’s got that right. But she does it well.
Roo and Boo were most anxious to get to basketball because of last week’s fiasco getting there. I hadn’t added that chronicle to the blog because I had just shared the fact I melt down with the world and didn’t want to wave that laundry yet. I’m a bit better now.
Last week’s adventure was due to a surprise bout of snow and the whole city went berserk.
MapQuest says it should take us about 30 minutes to get from our home to basketball. I say they’ve never driven the traffic. I’ve been told I am a bit OCD about being on time and I allow an hour for the trip. Well last week we got on the road and AN HOUR AND FORTY MINUTES LATER we arrived quite shaken and stressed. A gravel truck overturned, there was another wreck in our way, and in other news a different free-way had a near forty car pile-up. I was happy to arrive at all, but the boys were reduced to less than 20 minutes of play. And they were incredibly sad. They accepted it well, but I felt so bad to see their disappointment.
So this week, we started out even earlier than I usually do so that the boys might have some time before class started to shoot some hoops and hang out with the other kids. Driving was uneventful if you don’t count the arguing over the Jedi characters in an imaginary game that occurred. Roo (who inherited my compulsion for early arrival) never asked once if we were going to be late. Boo only used the high-pitched whine once and I was only slightly disheveled. Success.
Basketball was once again a great experience. And I am glad that I have allowed us to join with this loose-knit and relaxed group of homeschoolers. But I am thankful that I don’t have to try to herd the cats.
Reminders for Myself
Joy is the FlagJoy is the flag flown high
From the castle of my heart
From the castle of my heart
From the castle of my heart
Joy is the flag flown high
From the castle of my heart
When the King is in residence there
(So) let it fly in the sky
Let the whole world know
Let the whole world know
Let the whole world know
(So) let it fly in the sky
Let the whole world know
That the King is in residence there
Psalm 27
Triumphant Song of Confidence
Of David.
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the strongholda of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evildoers assail me
to devour my flesh--
my adversaries and foes--
they shall stumble and fall.
3 Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me,
yet I will be confident.
4 One thing I asked of the LORD,
that will I seek after:
to live in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the LORD,
and to inquire in his temple.
5 For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will set me high on a rock.
6 Now my head is lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the LORD.
7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud,
be gracious to me and answer me!
8 "Come," my heart says, "seek his face!"
Your face, LORD, do I seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me.
Do not turn your servant away in anger,
you who have been my help.
Do not cast me off, do not forsake me,
O God of my salvation!
10 If my father and mother forsake me,
the LORD will take me up.
11 Teach me your way, O LORD,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
12 Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they are breathing out violence.
13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the LORD!
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Why We Homeschool the Way We Do
Journey and Curriculum Choices
A Four Part Meandering & Musing
Part Two—Research and Beginning
(Part One)
Reading everything I could get my hands on.
About the time Roo was one I knew I must get moving on this homeschooling thing. I was certain my child was a genius and needed to be reading by three. I knew that unless I produced nothing short of a 14 year-old Ph.D. I would be a laughing stock and “they” would take my children away. You know “they” & “them,” the people we worry about for most often no reason.
So I went online, requested every catalog I found and read every article online. Eight years ago the web was not what it is today and I was even more lame with techno stuff than I am now. Hard to fathom.
This is where Sonlight came in. I got their catalog and I was hooked. It is a very different catalog than they have today. I still have it and what hooked me was their mission statement. My sister was so impressed she took it to our church and presented it to the board (of which she was a member.) She also became convicted to homeschool her children.
I planned our Sonlight journey. I planned us all the way to high school. Money was tight and I was trying to figure how I was going to buy a “Core” from them. When Roo was four I found their forum and gleaned wisdom from these goddesses of homeschool, these mothers who had gone before me and were willing to share. I learned to lurk.
I bought my first Sonlight Core. It was the Kindergarten Core. And while it was beautiful and slick and organized—I was overwhelmed. But I pressed on. I knew my darling children (by then Boo was a little more than one) would need MORE than the basics. So I added to the load.I pushed forward and I’ve said it before and I will say it again, I think, no I know, I pushed to hard with Roo. Thankfully he was eager to please. We were all about drowning. Sonlight, while a great company with great product and it meets the needs of so many was not a good fit for our family. I really didn’t know what to do.
Then I met Elijah Company—oddly enough from a post a mom made on the SL forum (the old days forum, for those familiar with the new). I got their catalog. I devoured everything Chris and Ellen Davis put into that catalog. They ministered to me and I soaked up all that they had to offer.
I learned about Classical learning, unschooling, text book learning unit studies, delight led learning, many different personal learning styles, . I learned there were so many curriculums out there and if I bought them, they shouldn’t dictate to me, they should be a tool to make my life easier. And easy was the only way it was going to work.
I became more confident and developed "my own curriculum" based on our needs, which was mostly picking and choosing from several sources, and which included a severly limited budget. I learned about writing Mission Statements for our personal homeschool. I’d recommend that everyone should have one as a work in progress, not so much to haul out and show everyone, but more to have as a working guide to think about and measure your family’s goals. It should be flexible and grow with your family. I spent time reading and trying to pick anyone's mind that I could to gain wisdom and knowledge. The boys were still small and I am so thankful we started early because it has been a constant work in progress and still is.
Little Roo was still trying to please Mommy, who hadn't learned to relax or back off at all. Baby Boo was coming into his own very unique and strong personality.
With many job changes, moves and thin times we never quit homeschooling, although many times it would have been much easier. We kept marching on.
Part Three
Part Four
A Four Part Meandering & Musing
Part Two—Research and Beginning
(Part One)
Reading everything I could get my hands on.
About the time Roo was one I knew I must get moving on this homeschooling thing. I was certain my child was a genius and needed to be reading by three. I knew that unless I produced nothing short of a 14 year-old Ph.D. I would be a laughing stock and “they” would take my children away. You know “they” & “them,” the people we worry about for most often no reason.
So I went online, requested every catalog I found and read every article online. Eight years ago the web was not what it is today and I was even more lame with techno stuff than I am now. Hard to fathom.
This is where Sonlight came in. I got their catalog and I was hooked. It is a very different catalog than they have today. I still have it and what hooked me was their mission statement. My sister was so impressed she took it to our church and presented it to the board (of which she was a member.) She also became convicted to homeschool her children.
I planned our Sonlight journey. I planned us all the way to high school. Money was tight and I was trying to figure how I was going to buy a “Core” from them. When Roo was four I found their forum and gleaned wisdom from these goddesses of homeschool, these mothers who had gone before me and were willing to share. I learned to lurk.
I bought my first Sonlight Core. It was the Kindergarten Core. And while it was beautiful and slick and organized—I was overwhelmed. But I pressed on. I knew my darling children (by then Boo was a little more than one) would need MORE than the basics. So I added to the load.
Then I met Elijah Company—oddly enough from a post a mom made on the SL forum (the old days forum, for those familiar with the new). I got their catalog. I devoured everything Chris and Ellen Davis put into that catalog. They ministered to me and I soaked up all that they had to offer.
I learned about Classical learning, unschooling, text book learning unit studies, delight led learning, many different personal learning styles, . I learned there were so many curriculums out there and if I bought them, they shouldn’t dictate to me, they should be a tool to make my life easier. And easy was the only way it was going to work.
I became more confident and developed "my own curriculum" based on our needs, which was mostly picking and choosing from several sources, and which included a severly limited budget. I learned about writing Mission Statements for our personal homeschool. I’d recommend that everyone should have one as a work in progress, not so much to haul out and show everyone, but more to have as a working guide to think about and measure your family’s goals. It should be flexible and grow with your family. I spent time reading and trying to pick anyone's mind that I could to gain wisdom and knowledge. The boys were still small and I am so thankful we started early because it has been a constant work in progress and still is.
Little Roo was still trying to please Mommy, who hadn't learned to relax or back off at all. Baby Boo was coming into his own very unique and strong personality.
With many job changes, moves and thin times we never quit homeschooling, although many times it would have been much easier. We kept marching on.
Part Three
Part Four
Monday, February 5, 2007
Why We Homeschool the Way We Do
Our Journey and Curriculum Choices
A Four Part Meandering & Musing
Part One the Instigators
The best thing about homeschooling is that each family should look a bit different. It is not a one size fits all proposition, although many will tell you otherwise.
I shared awhile back about why we homeschool, I thought I would add a bit and share how we got started homeschooling and how we homeschool. You would think to hear me talk that I have been doing it a long time and am an expert. I have been homeschooling for a long time because, as I’ve said it was on our hearts to teach our children at home before they were born. So that puts me at a little over nine years. Not claiming expert status, though. Just opinionated.
How did that happen? We had every intention of me going back to work after I had our baby. The only homeschoolers I knew of were from someone who knew someone and had an awful tale to tell. Why would I venture down that odd road?
I was working in an ophthalmology office and when I was pregnant with Roo I was introduced to two very different homeschool families. The first was a large family and the mother had need of the doctor I worked for.
When you work in a doctor’s office and you see a large family come in with many young, very young children you get a little nervous. But these children were so well behaved, not automatons, not Stepford children, but really sweet with great smiles.
Well the doctor I worked for was a chatter and she gave each patient a lot of time (which is a good thing if you are getting her attention but if you are the one waiting…not so much). I had taken the mom back to a room with her children and Doctor was running behind and I shut the exam door behind me wondering when the shrieking would start. But it never did. What started was the sweetest singing. So foreign to me to have children like this. I didn’t learn much about homeschooling from them, but it planted a seed. And I saw that children could be happy with little more than their mother and siblings to entertain them.
The second family was smaller—just two boys, I believe, one who came in because he was hit in the eye with a homemade arrow. I won’t let you fuss and wonder—it all turned out well, his eye ended up fine. But of course during a weekday when you have a child come in, hit with a homemade arrow by his brother, you start to ask questions. Like was school out that day? No. What where you doing? Well the arrow WAS part of school. Shooting each other had NOT been in Mom’s plan, but good trouper and boys’ mom that she was she was answering questions to a naïve and pregnant mommy-to-be about the joys of homeschooling, unit studies and all the while patiently waiting for the doctor to finish treating her son. The son was an adorable boy, well behaved for everything he went through. Well spoken and everything I wanted my not-born-baby to grow up to be.
I was hooked. How was I going to get my children to turn out that way? Who did I think I was, presuming I could teach my children anything more than how to tie their shoes and get past sippy-cups?
Research was in order.
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
A Four Part Meandering & Musing
Part One the Instigators
The best thing about homeschooling is that each family should look a bit different. It is not a one size fits all proposition, although many will tell you otherwise.
I shared awhile back about why we homeschool, I thought I would add a bit and share how we got started homeschooling and how we homeschool. You would think to hear me talk that I have been doing it a long time and am an expert. I have been homeschooling for a long time because, as I’ve said it was on our hearts to teach our children at home before they were born. So that puts me at a little over nine years. Not claiming expert status, though. Just opinionated.
How did that happen? We had every intention of me going back to work after I had our baby. The only homeschoolers I knew of were from someone who knew someone and had an awful tale to tell. Why would I venture down that odd road?
I was working in an ophthalmology office and when I was pregnant with Roo I was introduced to two very different homeschool families. The first was a large family and the mother had need of the doctor I worked for.
When you work in a doctor’s office and you see a large family come in with many young, very young children you get a little nervous. But these children were so well behaved, not automatons, not Stepford children, but really sweet with great smiles.
Well the doctor I worked for was a chatter and she gave each patient a lot of time (which is a good thing if you are getting her attention but if you are the one waiting…not so much). I had taken the mom back to a room with her children and Doctor was running behind and I shut the exam door behind me wondering when the shrieking would start. But it never did. What started was the sweetest singing. So foreign to me to have children like this. I didn’t learn much about homeschooling from them, but it planted a seed. And I saw that children could be happy with little more than their mother and siblings to entertain them.
The second family was smaller—just two boys, I believe, one who came in because he was hit in the eye with a homemade arrow. I won’t let you fuss and wonder—it all turned out well, his eye ended up fine. But of course during a weekday when you have a child come in, hit with a homemade arrow by his brother, you start to ask questions. Like was school out that day? No. What where you doing? Well the arrow WAS part of school. Shooting each other had NOT been in Mom’s plan, but good trouper and boys’ mom that she was she was answering questions to a naïve and pregnant mommy-to-be about the joys of homeschooling, unit studies and all the while patiently waiting for the doctor to finish treating her son. The son was an adorable boy, well behaved for everything he went through. Well spoken and everything I wanted my not-born-baby to grow up to be.
I was hooked. How was I going to get my children to turn out that way? Who did I think I was, presuming I could teach my children anything more than how to tie their shoes and get past sippy-cups?
Research was in order.
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
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