Molding Minds Homeschool - life. love. learning.

Facebook Saves My Sanity

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:46:00 +0000

There have been a plethora of posts by fellow homeschooling moms about the dangers of Facebook. Great posts, posts with great truths of how Facebook can suck up our time, distract us from our children, cause drama, and sometimes even marital problems.

But Facebook can be good too. For me, Facebook is a window to the world outside of my home. It allows me to have regular adult conversation, share joys and frustrations and relieve stress. You see, I am extremely extroverted. I crave and require regular interaction with adults. I use that interaction to recharge. In the same way that an introvert NEEDS to be alone sometimes, I NEED to be with people. Since my choice to homeschool keeps me at home most of the time, or hoping from kids activity to kids activity, Facebook gives me that outlet.

The truth is that sometimes homeschooling, especially out in the country, can be lonely. As much as I enjoy the company of my children, it does not fill the need for grown up conversation and company.

So, yes, Facebook can become an idol. It can come between you and what you should be doing, but managed correctly, it can also be a wonderful way to interact with others. So homeschooling moms, don't feel guilty about spending a bit of time on the internet if that is what keeps you charged!

The Waterproof Bible: A Mosaics Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:55:00 +0000

When I got home from Australia I carried the Bible that I took with me. It held sentimental value and beyond just being the Bible, I loved this particular Bible. And then I dropped it, in the rain, in a puddle. The pages stuck together, my notes and underlining smeared and the Bible was ruined.
This was several years ago, but now I have children and we have lost at least 2 Bibles to being dropped or accidentally stepped on.

Both of these situations have now been virtually eliminated!

Basic Information:

Product: The Waterproof Bible

Price: $25-$45

Bibles are available in various colors and translations as well as in a full version or New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs version.

The Waterproof Bible is made out of synthetic materials that make it 100% waterproof and virtually impossible to tear. As awkward as it was, we put this Bible to the test and left it in the rain, soaking in a puddle, in the bathroom where it is constantly humid as well as subjecting it to various real life scenarios in our house. While it sometimes took a day or two to dry, it always dried and was always in great condition afterwards! I simply could not "ruin" this Bible! We were also given some bookmarks made of the same materials as the Bible and though it did lose some shape after I spent some time twisting and trying to rip it, I could not get even the smallest rip.

The practical use of this Bible is undeniable. Whether it is going on a camping trip, being sent to the mission field in the rainforest or a gift overseas to your relative in the services, this Bible will hold up. Even kids can't beat this Bible up!

Because These Moments are Few

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Wed, 15 May 2013 23:52:00 +0000

We moved from our first home because of the school district we were in. I had planned, even insisted, that my children would go to a good public school. However, as my oldest approached her 5th birthday I found myself gripped with anxiety. My heart ached over the idea of sending my precious baby, who I had fought so hard for (we struggled with infertility and then a life threatening pregnancy which culminated in a pre-term delivery and a NICU stay) off to strangers for several hours a day made my insides turn.

My initial reason for homeschooling was that I could not bear the thought of being apart from her. I did not wish to share her first day of school, her first time reading, the cute mis-spoken phrases and stories. I did not want to hear second hand of how she finally mastered addition, or had so much fun chasing frogs, or dancing in the rain that surprised everyone at recess. I shuddered to think of all of the extraordinary moments I have witnessed that would have seemed too ordinary for any one to bother to report to me. I did not want to share her heart with teachers or friends. I did not want to be replaced by peers.

Some may tell me that is selfish, but can it be selfish to want something that should be mine?

God gifted me with a little girl. He commanded me to raise her, love her and teach her. She is only mine for a moment, and sometimes the days are long and hard, but He rewards my faithfulness by allowing me to witness the unimaginable gift of her childhood. I do not exaggerate when I say that it brings a pang to my heart to even think of not having been with her as she has grown.

Diapers to tea parties, Lego to high school prom, and one day I will find myself watching my baby, Lord willing, walk down the aisle where she will make a promise to become someone else's.

And then there is time. Time that one way or another will soon be over. Time that passes so quickly we hardly notice until we are staring into the eyes of a little girl that no longer has to stand on her tippy-toes to wrap her arms around your neck. Or as according to God's will our child who just yesterday was running through the grass, is now resting in Jesus' arms.

No matter how it happens, one day I will have to give her up and I chose to hold her as closely and tightly as I can, until that moment comes, because these moments are few.

Ooka Island: A Homeschool Mosaics Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Mon, 13 May 2013 22:05:00 +0000

You ever think to yourself, boy it would be nice if my 4 year old could actually operate this really cool online game without me having to control the mouse? I do. All.the.time. I don't have time to sit for hours at a time and play games. The point of me setting him up on the game in the first place was to give me some time to work with his sisters! Well, let me introduce you to the first pre-reader learning site that is actually easy enough for my son to use without my help!

Ooka Island is a web based game that uses game to teach phonics and reading. Students as young as 3 can navigate through the guided games and earn independent time to explore other areas of the map. Students are encouraged to practice blends and other reading skills as they build on a solid foundation of pre-reading and early reading skills.

The Basics:

Format: Downloaded from the internet onto your computer.

Price: $19.95 per month or $149.95 per year but just for you here is a 30% off link!

Ages: 4-7 or pre-reader through emergent reader

You can also order copies of the Ooka Island Books.

Pros:

I loved the parent portal that give an online progress report for you child! I also get an email every time he reads a book. The phonics was sound and my son really did start learning his blends pretty quickly. The graphics moved beyond some of the cheesier ones that you can get with online pre-school games and were colorful and fun. The map was easy to navigate and my son had no problem playing most of the games with little to no help at all. The best thing though was that he loved it. He, being a 4 year old boy, doesn't usually get involved in anything for longer than a few minutes, but I had to make him turn Ooka Island off every single time. Even better though was that I didn't feel like it was wasted time by letting him play for a few hours at a time and we are a strict family when it comes to screen time.

Cons:

Could possibly be one of those things I use a "babysitting" device while I cook dinner and would feel no guilt doing so. Oops, I probably shouldn't have admitted that.

Seriously, we loved Ooka Island. I do a lot of reviews so when something really stands out it is an exciting moment for me. Ooka Island is one of those exciting moments.

Happy Mother's Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Sun, 12 May 2013 19:24:00 +0000

To all my mom friends:

You are amazing. You children see this and know. I don't make any promises about your husband or your mother in law. :)

I actually have a great mother in law. She is a very nice lady. But, this was really funny!

You are enough. I know you feel ill equipped and inadequate. But you have been given your children by a God who loves you enough to make you exactly who and what your kids need.

Your kids think you are awesome!

You are doing a fine job. All you can do is the best you know how to do with the circumstances and resources you have been given. Don't sweat it what you can't do.

You are not going to ruin them for life. I used to say that eventually I would find myself on Oprah, defending myself and my kids were going to have expensive therapy bills. Now I am not so worried, after all, Oprah is no longer on the air. So now, I just make sure they know to get a job with good mental health insurance. :)

I breathed a sigh of relief when you canceled your show.

Good mental health insurance may be a good thing!

You will eventually have a clean house again, the laundry will be caught up, and you will have nice, unbroken things. You will look back on these moments and smile and wonder where the time went.

This house is so clean and shiny - it also looks a little lonely!

Last but not least - a thought from Gretchen Rubin:

Happy Mother's Day!

The Etiquette Factory: A Mosaics Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Thu, 09 May 2013 02:43:00 +0000

Elbows off the table! Look people in the eye when you speak to them! Say hello when you answer the phone please!

If your kids are anything like mine then you have probably heard yourself say these and many other phrases asking your kids to display some manners. I had been on the look out for a locally hosted etiquette class so I really was very excited when this product came up for review!

The Etiquette Factory is a 3 phase etiquette course appropriate for pre-school all the way through high school. I was given a copy of the three phase kit available for $99.95.

This set include:

Etiquette for Beginners Teachers Manual

Etiquette for Beginners DVD set

Etiquette Jukebox CD

Etiquette Intermediate

Etiquette Masters

4 Etiquette “Set Right” Placemats

You can also purchase the phases individually or any of the optional extras by visiting here. Optional extras include posters, accountability charts, Kid's Budget, and even a manners game!

Since my kids were young I decided to go ahead and start with phase one. When I first watched the DVD I was sure my kids were going to think it was a little too young for them. I was wrong! They loved watching the story and listening to the songs. We are moving through it a bit faster than suggested, but if I had just pre-schoolers the pace would have been just right.

We are still working our way through the first book so I will focus my review there. The teacher's manual is very well laid out. At the beginning you get a very nice review of how the program is meant to be paced, what day to view DVD's, learn the jingles and so on. Each week has plenty of review and the stories and songs are fun and engaging for the littles. The manual also gives you fun activities to reinforce what you have been learnning. Some of these are more geared towards a classroom but can be adjusted to homeschooling. There are even colored photos in the back to give you examples of the activities. One of my favorite supplemental items is the Set Right Placemat, a fun and colorful way to teach your children how to properly set a table.

Book 1 covers:

What is Etiquette?
Saying Hello
Kindness
Sharing
Magic Words
Cleaning Up
Table Manners
Good Hygiene
The "No" Word
Sincere Apologies
Being a Guest
A Clean Mouth is a Cherished Gift

The book is secular/non-religious so can be easily adapted if you want to add in Bible verses to go with the skill being learned.

This program is great. The price point is fantastic when you consider that $100 would cover you all the way from starting school to finishing and there is are few gifts you could give your child worth more than manners.

Alpha-Phonics Reading Program Review Pt1

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Wed, 08 May 2013 17:55:00 +0000

Samuel Blumenfeld graduated from the prestigious City College of New York in 1950 and spent the next decade as an editor of the University Library at Grosset & Dunlap. Sometime during that experience--and I have worked reading over-the-transom slush-piles, so I have an inkling what happened--Mr. Blumenfeld noticed something funny about American literacy. Or it would have been funny, if it were not so shocking and sad. In short, Mr. Blumenfeld jumped on the crazy-train that so many of us home-schooling parents ride and he's been coming around that mountain ever since.
A man with an amazingly active and energetic intellect, he poured himself into trying to understand the question posed by the seminal "Why Johnny Can't Read?", and even more importantly, what to do about it. Not just what to do regarding school reform, though he has much to say on that--but really, how do you teach Johnny, an actual, living, breathing human being, how to read? Because at the end of the day, that's what matters most, and that is the genesis of the Alphaphonics program.
I'm going to begin this review with restricting my comments to what is the heart of the program, the original Alpha-Phonics and then address the supplementary materials in a second review. So, first, what you want to know: Does it work? How does it work? Is it for me and my child? How much does it cost?

It costs a little under $30. See Amazon for the typical price.

Is it for you and your child? I have no idea. It certainly works very well for me and my child and I completely adore the program. But every teacher and every student interact in unique ways.
How does it work? There are something like 109 lessons. The lessons are really just lists of words. You write the word, the student sounds out the word. Next word. Voila. Phonetic rules are introduced, along with words that don't play nicely. Along with the lessons, a teacher's guide provides lesson-by-lesson direction and advice on what to emphasize and talk about. You start with very straightforward words and progress. From sex to syphilis. Just kidding. I mean, yes, "sex" is, phonetically speaking, nice and straight-forward, and once you know the rules, syphilis is, too, but neither word is on the list. More like "cat" to "gymnasium". Look, you get the point. Lesson 1 is very basic, by lesson 109 you have a fully functional reader.

The great thing for me, as the "teacher" is that I don't have to do any planning or preparation. The teacher-guide material is very concise. We work through the lists, some days we may do only three words, some days we may read 30. My student is not yet 4, so 30 words is quite an achievement. I expect it will take us about 9 months to a year to work through the program and she will be reading proficiently before she is 5. An older child or adult could work through the program in a few months if they were motivated. I *love* the fact that you can pace it however you like. I am a *very lazy* homeschooling mom/teacher-type. Easy pacing, no planning or effort? I'm interested.

The baby is waking up. I think this review will have to be in three parts instead of two. So we'll call this the introduction.

Christina O.

This product was provided free of charge in exchange for an honest review. The above opinion is 100% Christina's.

Country Living We Got Chickens!

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 20:53:00 +0000

The first thing I asked my husband if I could get, when we started our downsizing adventure, was chickens. I have been wanting to raise my own backyard flock for years now. Pastured eggs from our area run anywhere from $2 to $4 a dozen and most of the time it is hard to get my hands on some of the cheaper ones. I also just can not afford to pay for pastured chicken meat.

So here I am! About 2 1/2 weeks ago I went into the local feed store and purchased 10 straight run white leghorns and 5 Rhode Island red pullets. Oh, and two ducks. Don't ask me what happened there. I made the cardinal mistake of purchasing them because they were cute. Thankfully, they have been easy to raise and I am looking forward to some roasted duck in a few months.

Back to the chickens. We *think* that we have 7 roosters and 3 hens from the straight runs. A little disappointed since the leghorns are supposed to be my big layers but that is the risk you run when you buy straight run. I am glad I decided to get the reds as back up.

We started them off in big totes in the house with plans to move them at about 6 weeks into the large outdoor coop we made. However, after about a week and a half I was chatting with a friend who said that we could move them out now as long as they have a heat lamp. I know that probably breaks every chicken raising rule, but it is true, they have been out for about 5 nights now and even through a near freeze and survived and are thriving. They seem to be enjoying it much more than being cooped up in the boxes. The ducks especially. They have quadrupled in size over the last 3 days.

CONTINUED

I forgot about this post so things have changed a bit since I started it. Mostly, I have contracted a horrible ailment called "crazy chicken lady" and what is commonly known as "chicken math" followed close behind. We have since the top part of this post added 2 hens which we have had for about 2 weeks now. They have been laying an egg each, regularly since we got them. I have also added in 10 more chicks, just over three weeks old. I wanted to add some variety to our mostly white leghorn flock. I now have 6 different varieties of chicks, which I will have to edit in the names later because I didn't write them down when I purchased them!

My husband has been ever so tolerant of my new obsession. The day we got the new babies he came out to watch them with me and suddenly looks at me and says "did you get more?". I said yes, and he playfully walks away and says, "I don't want to know any more". I love that man. It definitely isn't his thing, but he supports us doing it anyways.

My oldest has become known as the chicken whisperer. She would spend all day around the coop if I would let her. I can not tell you how many times she has gone "missing" and we have found her cuddling chickens in the coop. I think we might let her show one next year.

A Mosaics Review: Saving Memories Forever

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 20:20:00 +0000

Do you remember sitting at grandma's feet listening to stories? Do you wish you could have recorded those for your own children?

Now you can capture these memories with a free application called Saving Memories Forever (you can upgrade to a premium account for just $3.99 per month or $40 per year). Saving Memories Forever is a phone app that allows you to record stories on your phone and manage them on your computer. Once you have registered online you can begin recording memories straight on your phone. Simply add a story teller, choose a time frame and category and hit the record button!

If you need help getting started there are helpful hints as well as a How To Video.
This app could be a great way to start a genealogy project with your children or just a fun way to record precious memories in story form from the adults in your life. Or if you are like us and have family over seas, what a precious gift to have recorded voices to listen to during times that you are apart.

We also had fun letting the kids record their own versions of what they thought our lives were like. It was fun to listen to my daughters and son describe what they thought mommy and daddy's childhood was like. They also had fun setting up their own story teller accounts and telling us all about their lives. Starting an account for your child now that you carry on through their adult years would a fantastic and fun way to look back on those sweet childhood years!

A Homeschool Mosaics Review: Spanish For You!

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 14:02:00 +0000

Click Here for Sample!

I live in Texas. That pretty much means Spanish is a requirement. Being bilingual in Texas opens up a ton of job and promotion opportunities and it has always been my intentions to teach my children at least some basic Spanish that they could build on later if they chose.

Basic information about Spanish for You!:

What we reviewed: Spanish for You! Fiesta

What it comes with: 1 Spanish for You! soft cover text book, several audio downloads in mp3 format that include native speaker downloads, lesson guides for grades 3-4 and work sheets and flashcards for those levels.

Cost: $39.95

Extra materials: No extra materials are required but having some colors for the flash cards as well as some contact paper to laminate is nice.

So here is the hard part, I wanted to like this curriculum. It seemed spot on at first glance and was a great price compared to other programs for teaching Spanish. The biggest issue I had was the download files being all out of order. In order to get things together for each lesson, I had to search through the files and find the corresponding supplements. I am all about grab and go. Another big issue for me was that while there were lesson guides, they were so basic that as a parent with little to no Spanish speaking ability, I had no idea how to administer the lesson. I would listen to the audio, try to remember pronunciations while I went over them with the girls, listen to the audio again to get pronunciations, try to play the games and so on. There just wasn't enough teacher help for me to feel comfortable and fluid in teaching my own children. It didn't work for me as I believe it was intended.

On the other hand, my girls had a fantastic time reading the vocabulary themselves in their free time and if it did nothing else, it sparked an interest in learning Spanish that I will definitely run with. There are things that I love about this curriculum. The author uses hand drawn pictures which I found very charming and my kids related to, the price point is great if you can make the curriculum work for you, and the fact that it has native and non-native speaking audio files is a fantastic idea.

I want to love every product that is sent to me, but the truth is that sometimes something just doesn't work. I can't personally recommend Spanish for You! if what you need is a scripted, thoroughly laid out and well organized Spanish program, but please do check out the Spanish for You! site and see what you think for yourself!

REVISED: We were sent an email this morning from the publisher this morning and the files have been reorganized so that navigation is easier. I have not seen the reorganized files, but can imagine that, that alone makes a huge difference.

Disclaimer: I was given this product free of charge in exchange for an honest review. Any expressed opinion is 100% mine.

Praise God for Those Perfect Homeschool Moms

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:48:00 +0000

Don't compare yourself to others. If I had a nickle for every time I heard that phrase I would be able to hire a self-esteem coach to remind me daily of perfect I am.

If you read my blog then you have probably seen a few of my posts about how I feel about how it being ok to do some comparison. Look, I get the heart behind the "do not compare" mantra. Ultimately, the only person I should be measuring myself up against is Jesus. Here is where I have a hard time though, we homeschooling moms have made a career out of "not comparing ourselves". We have turned it into an excuse not to be better than we are. Not only that, we have made it an occasion to poke fun at moms who have managed to "do it all" or to make broad assumptions about how she must be neglecting other areas of her life.

She feeds her children healthy all the time? Well, she must spend so much time in the kitchen! I would much rather be making real memories with my children.

Her house is way too clean for her children to be enjoying any artsy craftsy time.

Her children must be afraid of her to be that well behaved.

There is no way she could possibly be that joyful all.the.time.

So why are we so jealous of those mothers who have found a way to make it all fit together? Why do we assume that they can't possibly be real? Or that what they have is so unattainable that we shouldn't even try?

When I see a mom who is doing a better job at something than I am, I often have that initial flash of jealousy and envy. Then, after a moment of repentance, I often find myself looking at her and wanting to pick her brain. How do you manage your meal schedule? Talk to me about how you discipline your children. Share your secrets with me!

Instead of tearing down these mothers, why aren't we asking for their "secrets" with an earnest interest in learning how to make our own homes run more smoothly? Why are we not praising God for placing these women in our paths so that we can learn from them? Why are we not telling them how encouraging they are to us? Why instead of looking at them as a rare exception to the rule, are we not looking at them as a rare gem?

My home may never be perfect. I am still very much a work in progress. It will never look exactly like someone else's. I have been blessed with my own unique circumstances, but God forbid that if I should become "that mom", any of my fellow sisters look at the result that God has produced through me, and tell me that it is unrealistic and then proceed to criticize me behind my back for being "too perfect".

Advanced 3rd and 4th Grade Reading List

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 16:33:00 +0000

I am putting together our reading list for next year. Please keep in mind that I have two advanced and avid readers. I would put these books into an advanced 3rd grade to 4th grade range. I try to pick a variety of genre as well as length. I want the girls to enjoy the books and to also feel a sense of accomplishment when they finish one. Honestly, I don't know if we will get through all of these, but my goal is to give the girls a wide range of rich literature and if we get through it we get through it, if not, they can always come back to it in their free time or even next year.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond
Freak the Mighty
How to Eat Fried Worms
The Sign of the Beaver
My Side of the Mountain
The Wheel on the School
Little Pear
Detectives in Togas
The Whipping Boy
Mustang: Wild Spirit of the West
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Sarah, Plain and Tall
Meet George Washington
The Bears on Hemlock Mountain
The Matchlock Gun
The Door in the Wall
Island of the Blue Dolphins
Number the Stars
Good Night Mr. Tom
Captain Grey
The Castle in the Attic
The Trumpet of the Swan
The Twenty-one Balloons
The Cricket in Times Square
Pocahontas and the Strangers
There's a Boy in the Girl's Bathroom
The Learning Dog
The Cabin Faced West
The Indian in the Cupboard
Return of the Indian
Grandpa's Box
The Bronze Bow
Adam of the Road
The Phantom Tollbooth
Henry Huggins
Caddie Woodlawn
Understood Betsy
The Voyages of Dr. Dolittle
Where the Red Fern Grows
The Wizard of Oz
Old Yeller
Pipi Longstocking
Misty of Chincoteague
Amos Fortune, Free Man
Carry on Mr. Bowditch
Strawberry Girl
The Red Badge of Courage
Captain Courageous
Black Beauty
Treasure Island

I hope you enjoy!

Busting the homeschool myths #3: All homeschoolers are religious freaks

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 21:35:00 +0000

Every homeschool mom needs a denim jumper!

Admit it. You have had the image of a Christian homeschool family, 14 children all lined in a row, girls wearing denim skirts and boys with their khaki pants, polo shirts and comb over hair do. Let's not forget mom in all of her denim jumper glory cheerfully leading the group in hymnals and Bible verse recitation. You have no doubt at some point heard someone assert that all homeschoolers were religious, Bible thumping freaks. It is even somewhat of a joke among homeschoolers.

In the pioneering days of homeschooling the demographics for homeschooling were quite different than they are today. Most parents who were willing to break the law and homeschool were doing so for religious reasons. It is true that the 1980's version of a homeschooling family might have looked quite a lot like the one I described above. Fashions were different and homeschooling families tended to be from the fundamental groups of Christianity.

It even comes in a kids version!

Once homeschooling became legal and more and more parent's eyes were opened to not only the secular state of the schools but also the academic failures of the schools that demographic began to slowly change. Today, the majority of homeschoolers still cite moral or religious training as their number one reason to homeschool, but as homeschooling becomes more popular the demographics continue to change. In my anecdotal experience, our local group consists of every type of family from atheist to fundamental Baptist. Chances are, you pass homeschoolers every day and don't notice because they look exactly like everyone else. Our family has experienced gasps of shock and awe when we mention we homeschool because we "just look so normal!".

Do some families still fit into that sterotype, yes. But, really, who cares? None of us should be making our judgements of other people based simply on what they wear.

From Every Side

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 16:00:00 +0000

I had a best friend.

She was closer to me than a sister. I named my youngest daughter after her. I don't know if you have ever had that experience before but it was the kind of friendship that movies are made of and books are written about. I miss her every day. I keep waiting for the missing her to stop, but it is just always there, the missing her. We had a falling out quite a while ago and I don't know that either one of us knows how to fix it. It seems that every attempt has ended with more hurt for one of us and I think maybe we just got to the point where we just did not want to hurt each anymore.

Most of the time I do pretty well. I am happy and content and then WHAM! I miss her so badly it takes my breath away. Tears come to my eyes and I have to walk away from what I am doing lest the people near me ask and I have to explain.

Anna commented to me that I have been "all kinds of deep lately". Maybe that is true. Or maybe I just have not been able to "get my talk out" with people. I have been kind of a hermit the past couple weeks.

Regardless, I was ~~burning~~ grilling some steaks on the grill this evening and it made me think of low carb dieting. Any kind of food makes me think of dieting these days! But in thinking about low carbing, I thought of my friend and how we did that diet together and both lost quite a bit of weight. I have never been able to repeat that same success and I wonder if I will be able to do it without her.

There was a time when I would have said you were a crazy liar if you told me that we would be in this place. I remember wondering aloud with her on the phone once about the weirdness that would exist if we did not have each other as best friends. We wondered who would we talk to. We wondered how we would get advice. We wondered who we would turn to for support. I don't think either one of us really thought that was any kind of real possibility. But here we are and I don't know about her but I often find myself wondering, "What in the world happened?"

Looking back, I know that there was a lot of unhealthy things in our friendship. If anything happened in my day, she was the first person I wanted to share it with, the first person that I wanted to ask for guidance. In a lot of ways, my husband came in second. I did not need any other friends, even though I had them. I think we let too many things go for the sake of our relationship. We did not do a lot of boat rocking and when the storm came, we did not know how to stabilize it. We had no practice and a good strong wind just blew us over.

In the past few years, I have done a lot of changing and some serious changes have happened in my life. I have had to learn what living with a chronically ill child looks like, my relationship with my husband went through a change (for the better), my oldest daughter offered more serious challenges, my priorities have changed, and I have found a more real confidence in knowing who I am in the eyes of God. I often wonder if we met each other for the first time at this point in our lives, would we have become friends at all. Maybe she would not even like me now. I don't know.

I do know this: One - no friendship should ever be taken for granted. It should be nurtured with conversation, giving, and boundaries. You need conversation to further the relationship, giving to deepen the relationship and boundaries to conserve the relationship. And two - no problem should be "let go" unless you are really willing to let it go and never let it be a problem. Forgiveness and grace should always abound from every side.

God is Not Allowed in School?

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 01:34:00 +0000

It seems that every few weeks or so I pass a car on the road with a bumper sticker or someone posts a meme on facebook that looks something like this:

After tragic events such as Sandy Hook and the Virginia Tech shootings we are looking for answers and a place to lay blame. When some blame God for the violence in schools we want to defend God and we put out quirky little sayings that on the surface sound good and maybe even help us come to terms with something our finite minds cannot comprehend. Why were those children killed?

We have to come to terms with a reality, God did allow those school shootings to happen. Why? I have no idea. I only know that we live in a sinful world and we are reaping the results of our sinfulness, but God, in his infinite wisdom and sovereignty did allow the shootings. But, here is where we need to look carefully at this quote, "I am not allowed". What? Is that GOD saying that someone is not allowing him to do something? Is that God telling us that he was limited by man's legislation? Is that God telling us that he utterly and completely abandoned those children, some of which might have already been saved?

To say that God is not in the school is utter nonsense. To say that the violence in those schools is because God has abandoned them is nonsense. Where was God during those shootings? He was there, with every one of those children, with the teachers, and even with the shooters. He is there today, he will be there tomorrow. God is not limited by our rules. So Christians, think before you post this quote. It is such a gross misrepresentation of God's power and character.

Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast. Psalm 139:7-8

My Brother's Sister's Cousin's Best Friend's Uncle-In-Law Fails to Teach Their Kids Anything!

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:00:00 +0000

We got a comment on this blog not to long ago from a grandmother fussing about how her grandchildren were not learning anything while being homeschooled, that their mother was only concerned with field trips.

It irritated me.

First of all, it was by "Anonymous". Anonymous surely has a lot to say and most of the time it is critical and condescending. People are braver when they are anonymous and tend to not tell complete truths and entire stories. They just rush to judgement and offer harsh words against others. If you are going to be nasty, at least have the decency to own it.

Anonymous is brave.

I also wonder if she had ever voiced her concerns to her grandchildren's mother, out of love and concern and without a condemning spirit. I wonder what her attitude was toward homeschooling in the first place and if she allowed that to cloud her judgement. She just sounded angry and ticked off. So, I am thinking there is more to it than what she admitted.

But, that aside, what if we *did* find out that someone was not teaching their kids? What if we found out that the kids were bright and ready to learn and the only thing holding them back was laziness on the part of the parent. What if there was a child whose education was being severely neglected?

My answer is going to piss a bunch of you off -

I can take it! (Maybe)

So what? Why is that your business? I believe it is the right of every parent to decide the education they want for their kids. Do I agree that a parent should not do anything? No. Do I think it is a good idea to not educate a child? No. Do I think the parent is failing if they say they homeschool and do nothing? They are absolutely failing their child in this area. Do I think the child should be removed from the home and put someplace where they will be "better off"?

Not if at the end of the day is the child loved and cared for. I have two children that I have adopted out of the foster care system. When a child is removed from their home it causes them harm. Sometimes, it is unavoidable, as it was in the case of my adopted children, to keep them safe and healthy. But even though my home is safe, my kids are loved, my kids are well cared for, and my kids are appropriately educated - my daughter hurts. Her pain has really opened my eyes to what removing kids from their home does and the damage it causes, even after being placed in a better environment where healing is promoted and offered.

Love doesn't fix everything, it just makes the pain that was inflicted more bearable.

So, if I ever ran across a family like this, I think I would just love them. And in loving them, maybe I could offer a reading lesson or two. Maybe I could offer to have their kid(s) sit in on my own children's history lessons. Maybe the parents would learn to trust my love for them and eventually open up about why they making the choices they are, because I will bet there is a reason, and maybe I could offer assistance.

Maybe I could pray for them.

I will leave with this last thought. Kids learn an amazing amount on their own. It is astounding to me all of the things my kids know that I have never taught them. We never had formal handwriting classes. But, all of my kids know how to write and form letters, my son actually has beautiful handwriting. My four year old taught herself simple subtraction after learning how to do simple addition. Their minds are just like sponges and really do soak up the world around them. I am reminded that we are standing before the judgement seat of Christ, we are not going to be asked how much algebra we understood or if we ever got around to reading "Little Women".

But God will care about our character, how much we loved, and how much we forgave.

Busting the Homeschooling Myths #2 - I Am Not Qualified to Teach My Child

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 13:30:00 +0000

In the previous post in our homeschooling myth series, we showed you that homeschool is affordable and doesn't have to be expensive. We are going to move on to homeschooling myth #2.

Homeschooling myth #2: I could never do that! I am not qualified.

There are all sorts of answers to this. I could expound on the fact that you have probably taught your children their colors, their numbers, their shapes, how to do simple counting. Not to mention teaching them how to use the potty, walk, talk, and not to play in the street or touch a hot stove.
If you question the qualifications of most homeschoolers, they may point you to all of the above as an example of their skill. And that is fine, good even!

I can only speak for me and my opinion of it all - You tell me that I am not qualified to be a teacher and I am going to tell you: You are exactly right. I am not qualified.

The task of educating a child is monumental and an undertaking that should not be taken lightly. I also don't want to discredit all those that have been professionally educated, trained, and certified for the task. I applaud school teachers that have to manage 20 + kids, do all the paperwork, tailor the education of a single child so they will meet the guidelines of an IEP while still having to teach to all the other students, deal with administration, and cranky parents. I am not qualified to do any of that.

This was our school one morning :)

But, I am not called to do any of that. I am called to manage my children. I am called to train my children up in the way they should go. I am called to parent my children. As parents, we are all teachers to some degree. I just choose to not only impart to my children our family's values, life skills, and basic safety lessons, but also choose to teach them to read, write, and to work out math problems.

I know how to read. I know how to write. I know how to do a lot of math. I can teach all that I know. As my children grow, we will do a lot of learning together. I did pretty well in school. I did well in the small amount of time I spent in college. I am willing and eager to learn. I read books, I ask questions, and I regularly investigate ways to be better at what I do - whether that is keeping the house, raising my kids, dieting (ha) or homeschooling. This is exactly what qualifies homeschooling parents.

When (and I am sure we will) we get to a subject that I have no desire to know about or am not smart enough to understand it, and my child wants to pursue it, then we will look into co-op classes, dual enrollment classes, online resources, and other homeschooling parents that may know everything there is to know about the subject. A lot of curricula is written quite well these days, and it can be very explanatory and easy to follow.

With all that said, I don't know everything, and I won't pretend to, but I do know this, if God has called me to this task, he will equip me to do it. I will find a way, because that is what I am called to do.

Busting the Homeschool Myths #1- Homeschooling is Expensive.

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 20:51:00 +0000

When people find out we homeschool the initial reactions we get can vary from shock and awe to flat out disgust. Most, however, immediately begin to tell me how they admire me but could never homeschool themselves. In this series we plan to put to rest some of the myths and stereotypes about what it takes to homeschool.

Myth #1 Homeschooling is Expensive

When my children were first born I was working part time. I made a decent salary for a part time employee and I even had the benefit of being able to take my girls in with me! As jobs go, this one was a dream come true. However, by the time my youngest daughter was 6 months old, taking them both in was just not working. Well, more to the point was I was not working! How could I with a toddler and an infant constantly needing my attention. So, I began checking around for child care. I toured day care centers and was pleased to find one that I really loved! They had a computer lab, an indoor playground, a low teacher to student ratio and boasted a fantastic kindergarten readiness program. The kicker was that it was going to cost me $250 per week per child to send them there! $500 per week just for child care! In order to put my children into day care I would have to take a loss on my pay check. Ok, how can I make this work? I was bringing home about $350 a week on my part time hours. I could increase my hours...of course that means the girls have to stay at the day care center longer. It was unlikely that I was going to find another job that paid as well as this one and allowed me the flexibility that I needed as a mom. Then I came to a surprising conclusion. It was too expensive for me to work! It was cheaper to keep my children at home and be a non-income parent than to have a job!

Of course, I know what you are thinking, public school is free (well, free on delivery), but have you ever taken the time to tally up what it costs you to work and send your child to the "free" school? I encourage you to sit down and do so!

Consider these expenses:
gas to and from work
car maintenance
clothing for work
lunches
dinners out due to late work hours
school clothing
school supplies
gas to and from school
money for field trips/fundraisers/class parties/projects
school lunches

These are just the expenses that came to my mind, but I bet you will find that the free school isn't as free as you thought! Even if you are managing to bring home some of your pay check, what about the time investment? How much is your job and your child's public education costing you in family time?

What about homeschooling? Is it expensive? It can be.We definitely need some of those things too, and it is true, some homeschooling curriculum can run into the thousands. The great thing is that homeschooling can cost as little or as much as you want it too! Are you willing to put in a little extra time searching the internet? Between the internet and the library homeschooling can be completely free. Yes, there is a little bit of a trade. Some homeschoolers prefer to pay for the convenience of a curriculum already set up, but even that doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg. Providers such as Rod and Staff offer a very comprehensive and inexpensive "boxed" style curriculum. A parent willing to go the extra mile can match any expensive curriculum with free or nearly free substitutes.

Homeschooling through the eyes of my children

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 19:09:00 +0000

I saw someone do this with their unschooled children and thought it would be fun to show you what my children think of homeschooling. Here are some common questions they get.

How old are you?
Brianna -8, I mean 9!
Keira- Im 8
Luke- 4

What grade are you in?
Brianna-3rd
Keira-2nd...I think...
Luke-I can't a-member

What is homeschooling?
Brianna- Doing school at home
Keira- school at home, it's basically homeschooling.
Luke- get lots of breaks and you do lots of school, even if you are at home and it's homechool

How long does school take each day?
Brianna- 2 or 3 hours
Keira- 400 years
Luke- yong!

What are you learning about right now?
Brianna- Plants, fractions, God and um, um, um, one second..., commas.
Keira- I'm reading my survivalist book, life in America when it was young
Luke- reading, math, science

What is your favorite subject?
Brianna-reading
Keira- Bible
Luke- coloring

What is your least favorite subject?
Brianna-grammar
Keira-reading
Luke- doing read, doing maff,

What are some good things about homeschooling?
Brianna- You don't have to sit at a desk for about half of the day.
Keira- You don't have to raise your hand when you go to the bathroom
Luke- I like to read and you can color

What are some bad things about homeschooling?
Brianna- takes forever to get done.
Keira- reading takes forever
Luke- not doing stuff that the Bible got in

Do you have any friends? How did you make those friends if you don't go to school?
Brianna-Yes. I see them, and I say, what is your favorite color and what is your name. I see them at restaurants and parks, mostly parks.
Keira- Of course I do! I ask them if they would like to play with us. We mostly meet them at the park and sometimes on field trips and at the zoo.
Luke- Yeah. Sometimes school and public school sometimes. I have two friends in public school. Then one more I don't know.

I need to pay more attention to where my 4 year old goes. I had no idea he had been secretly attending public school.

Do you take tests?
Brianna-yes
Keira- I don't know
Luke- no

Do you like being with your mom all day every day?
Brianna-yes!
Keira- mmmmm, um....ok, yeah
Luke-yeah

Would you want to go to school if you could?
Brianna- no
Keira-no
Luke-no

What do you think you would like about going to public school?
Brianna-eating lunch with friends. Packing your lunch.
Keira- nothing
Luke- eating snacks

What do you think you would dislike about going to public school?
Brianna-sitting at a desk and having to raise your hand to go to the bathroom. I am not used to that.
Keira- You don't get many breaks.
Luke-sitting at a desk all day, even all the time.

Is your mom a good teacher?
Brianna- yes!
Keira- Oh yeah!
Luke-yes

Do you get to play any sports?
Brianna- yes, but I don't do sports. I do art.
Keira- yes, gymnastics. I am on team.
Luke-yeah, soccer and sometimes you can get scores.

Anything else?
Brianna-I have the best family!
Keira- no thank you
Luke-nope

History's Mastermind's or Amazon GIft Card Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 23:05:00 +0000

History's Masterminds by Trisms is a one of a kind history curriculum. It is research based curriculum that gives a broad overview of world history. You child will learn to research different characters, inventions, scientists, and ideas from the past to the present. It helps your child work towards learning indepently and yet, offers clear worksheets, tests, and quizzes to help you know that they are getting things done!

I will be honest. I hate standing over my kids directing every little thing they do in school. I despise it with a passion. If I am going to micromanage them, I would rather it not be with their school stuff. (I do not make the same assertions when it comes to unloading the dishwasher, however. I have to know where they put the can opener!)

With this curriculum, you have a book that has the lesson plan, all the helps, and most importantly, the answer keys. The student has a book that has all of the lessons he will need to do, laid out in a weekly format. This would be a good time to mention that the curriculum can be used in one year or can go as long as 2 years, which is my plan. They just look at the lesson plan for they day and do what it says. If you use IEW, it also incorporates IEW in the curriculum as well!

My favorite thing about this curriculum is that doesn't tell your kid what to think or believe, but teaches them how to find out what they think and believe. I really like that it is not "preachy" and that there has not been anything that I have had to correct because of differing religious beliefs but at the same time it doesn't come across as a "secular" curriculum either. It strikes a very good balance.

This curriculum can be adjusted to meet the needs of a child who has learning difficulties, like my daughter. She has ADHD and can have trouble staying on task. Luckily, the format of History's Masterminds is very clear in what she is supposed to do each day. The lesson pages seem kind of cluttered at first glance, mostly because it has the whole week on 2 facing pages, and that threw her for a loop in the beginning, but she quickly overcame that and is able to follow the daily guide.

So, this is what her day looks like with this curriculum.
She opens the student book. She finds the day of the week she is on. Let's say it is a Tuesday. Tuesday's heading says she has to Locate and read background information on Ancient Greece, locate Greece on a globe, define city-state, citizens, democracy, and barbarians. She also has to mark map 1 and do the Explorer questionnaire on Hanno. Follow along the day to the Language Arts section and she will see that she will be studying poetry without rhyme and doing Language lesson 1b.

Because she is still learning how to research and find information, I have taken the liberty of pulling all the books I have on Ancient Greece and put them on a shelf. I have also looked over the lessons for the week and pulled out all the map, questionnaires and worksheets she is going to have to complete and put them in her folder. Because of her ADHD, she tends to trend toward severe disorganization, so I even go a step further and write the day that each item pertains to across the top of the page. That is all the prep work I do. It takes a very few minutes and my goal is to eventually have her do all of that work and then I will just check for completion.

You can see a sample lesson here, but it makes it look a bit more complicated than it is. :)

I am afraid my review will not do this curriculum justice. On the Trisms website, there are names and phone numbers of some REALLY helpful women that will give you real live answers!
This is an awesome middle school history curriculum!

We are going to have a flash give away on this! If you would like to get this curriculum, simply go like our Facebook page! We will be drawing the winners from there! Winner will be drawn tomorrow!

If you do not have a need for this curriculum, then I will offer a $50 Amazon gift card in lieu of it.

You can enter the giveaway here!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Apologia Ultimate Daily Homeschool Planner and Studet Planner: A Mosaics Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 12:24:00 +0000

CHECK OUT THE INSIDE HERE!

I admit it. I am a homeschool planner junky. Of all the shiny new homeschooling products around, planners are my weak spot. I also love to write, so I over look printable or online planners that are filled in on the computer and go straight for the pretty bound ones.

Apologia's Ultimate Homeschool Planner is just that; a beautiful printed planner! Debra Bell has put together the perfect planner. This planner is a spiral bound planner with a wipe-able front cover (a must in a house with young children). The planner features many different pages including glance-at-a- month type pages, memorable moments pages, daily planning pages, reading lists, Bible plans and more!

The monthly and daily planing pages give you plenty of space to write out multiple students work. Daily pages also have space for notes, supply lists, appointments and feature a scripture at the bottom of the page. Other pages are peppered with inspirational quotes.

The best thing about this planner though, is that it is undated! This is perfect for year around schoolers who take off every 6th week, or who school January-December instead of the traditional year. No more wasted planning pages!

Apologia doesn't just offer a parent planner though. They also have student planners for elementary and teens. This planner is a great way to offer your child some responsibility and independence. It has fun sections such as an "about me" type page that allows the student to fill in goals (books I want to read, places I want to go, etc...) . There are study tips, places to keep grades, reading lists, and pages with conversion tables, math charts and so on. Of course, there are also monthly and daily planner pages to allow the student to keep up with assignments and due dates. You can have a peek at the student planner here!

If I had to pick one con it would be that as far as planners go, this one is on the pricier side. You can order the Ultimate Homeschool Planner directly from Apologia for $28 or on Amazon for $24. The Ultimate Student Planner is $19 on Apologia's site or $17.xx on Amazon. I think it is worth the price though and would still recommend it!

An Open Letter to June Bugs

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 23:59:00 +0000

Dear Disgusting Insect Whose Purpose I Have Yet to Discover,

You are a JUNE bug. Not an April bug, not a May bug. A June Bug. If you are going to insist on parking yourself on my front porch where I will inevitable feel and hear the crunch of my shoe crushing you the least you could do is stick to the month to which you are designated. JUNE.

Sincerely the June-bugist owner of the porch on which you so inconveniently make your home,

What the Public Schools Need

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:58:00 +0000

Picture Credit

I am often accused of personally attacking the teachers when I express my dislike for the institutionalized school system. I understand how my views can be taken personally so today I am sharing what I think the schools need. Now, my firm view is that should be completely shut down. I think the system as a whole is seriously outdated, and is leading our children gleefully straight to the gates of hell, but if they are going to exist, and it seems like they are for at least a little while, then we definitely need some "salt and light" in our local public schools.

I am sure if you have been homeschooling for any length of time you have heard the "salt and light" argument. How can public schools become any better if we aren't sending our children in to be the salt and light to the lost. It sounds good on the surface but a quick peek around the Bible will quickly tell you that this was not a reference to sending our young, untrained children into the world to be missionaries. Even the grown disciples were taught and allowed to mature before being shoved into the world on their own. Anyways, I digress. The point is that yes, the public school does need Jesus, but no, our children are not the ones who need to be in there evangelizing, day in and day out.

Mothers. We need good, Godly mothers. We need mothers willing to sacrifice the higher standard of living that two incomes brings so that they can raise the future Christian generation. We need mothers who are willing to cast aside doubt and fear and to rise up knowing that the command to raise their own children is one that God does not take lightly and will equip each mother to do, all she need do is ask and submit. Do not fall for the lie that if you aren't directly involved in the public school that you are not helping. By following Biblical mandates and raising your own Godly children you are setting up the next generation to be able to help heal the failures of the current one.

Fathers. We need good, Godly fathers. Fathers willing to work hard, willing to support mothers who are staying home with their children. We need fathers who are spiritual leaders, who lead by example. Fathers whose actions are guided by the Word of God. Who are not willing to let their sons and daughters be sacrificed on the alter of the common good. We need fathers whose goals are to raise up a generation firmly rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ so that when their children grow up, we have a Godly generation of voters, politicians and teachers.

Teachers. We need good, Godly teachers. We need unmarried women who have the time to focus on being in there and the ability to come home and spend time on their knees, creating lesson plans, talking to parents and being completely focused on the ministry of teaching. We need older mothers whose children have already grown. We need their wisdom and experience, their maturity both in life and in spiritual matters. We need men who are models of Godliness. Who will show young boys how to not only live a Godly life, but how to treat the young women around them. We need men who are showing boys how to be men and girls how men should act.

So let's put our focus where it should be. Let parents raise up and educate their children at home where they can be firmly grounded until they are mature and then let's send them out into the world to be the salt and light.

Deuteronomy 6:5-7

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 21:30:00 +0000

To Woman with the three children at Cedar Springs Christian Bookstore in Knoxville, TN,

You are an idiot. That is the nicest possible thing I can say about you in this moment.
As I was sifting through the homeschool materials looking for a workbook, you were busy making judgement calls based on fear and ignorance. Then you taught your children to do the same. Shame on you.

From the same mouth that you profess the love of a savior you also villianized one of the nicest people you will never meet. My brother was the "strange man" that was standing behind your children. No, he was not "watching" your little whelps, he was watching Veggie Tales, the same thing they were watching.

I watched you as looked up in horror as you saw your children watching Veggie Tales on the TV in the store and you saw my brother standing a few feet behind them. I watched you get up and tell your children to come sit with you because there was "a strange man watching you." I watched your children cry because of your fear of approximately half of the world's population.

I also noted that two of your children are boys who will grow up into the very thing you fear. I also noted that you were wearing a wedding ring. Are men just necessary evils in your world?

This "strange man" that you were so frightened of is my brother. He is moderately mentally handicapped. Had you just kept a watchful eye or even just quietly called your children to you, I may not have judged you so harshly. But, since you are a loud mouthed idiot with no tact, kindness, or love in your soul, and yet call yourself a Christian, I do judge you. You need to think about what you are saying and what you are doing. Your actions speak far louder than the words you use with your children.

You told them to be kind to each other while you showed no kindness to others.

To the readers of this blog,
Why are we villianizing men? Why are we quick to think the worst of those around us?
I urge you to remember 2 Timothy 1:7 - For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Being a Stay at Home Mom Isn't That Hard

noreply@blogger.com (Anna) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 22:04:00 +0000

Consistently teaching the children to pick up their belongings
means that the living room takes 10 minutes to clean.

I am zipping up my fireproof suit and putting on my hard hat for this one. I am about to make every stay at home on the planet mad at me. Forgive me as I might come across a bit harsh.
Being a stay at home mom isn't that hard. Ok, hear me out. There are always exceptions to the rule but for the majority of us, being a stay at home mom just isn't that hard. Yet, we are always the first to stand on our soap box shouting at others about how difficult it is to keep our homes clean or to complain about how we never get a moment to sit down. So what gives? Why does it always seem that there is something to be done? Why is the laundry never caught up and the sink never empty?

TIME MANAGEMENT.

There. I said it. The majority of us moms don't manage our time efficiently. We have time to get on FB and complain about how our dishes aren't done when we should actually be up doing them. We manage to read blogs, complain, check emails, complain, Tweet, complain.

Let me temper my post with some grace. Yes, there were seasons of my life that were hard. I had 2 babies within 10 months (I swear it was all my husband's fault!) and my life revolved around sleep deprived diaper changes, feedings, play time and all the other joys of being high risk pregnant for practically 2 years straight. I am not saying that seasonally we aren't going to go through rough patches. I'm not saying that even the physically easy days don't have moments that are emotionally draining. However, the truth of the matter is, that as my children have gotten older, being a stay at home mom has become easier. Easy to the point that there is no good reason for me not to be "all together". No reason for me not to have a good nights sleep, cook a good breakfast, clean house, school the children and even enjoy some down time browsing Facebook.

Proof that we can memories without messes.
We are stamping with the bottom of a celery stalk.

Sorry to burst your "my life is so hard" bubble. The truth is that if we are managing our time efficiently being a stay at home mom is pretty stinking cushy. A messy home isn't "a sign of character" or "memories my kids have made". It is a sign of bad time management at best and laziness at worst.

Since I have taught my children how to do their own laundry,
and I actually LET them, this stack took about 20 minutes to fold
and get put away.

Oh, and the poor me attitude, it's old. Sure, I do a lot of laundry...for the BLESSINGS that God has given me. The three babies that I was told by multiple doctors I would never have. Some days I spend most of my time breaking up bickering, cleaning of messes that are instantly repeated, making meals that are complained about, but the worth of what we doing sure does change when our perspective is on the eternal value instead of the "hardness" of what we are doing.

I'm not saying that I am never guilty of complaining (trust me it is quite the opposite!) and I realize I defy all of the mushy memes that talk about how I am a "nurse, cook, janitor..." and I suppose, in a way, I am all of those things, but at the end of the day this is the life I am not only called to, but it is the life I CHOSE. So really, what I want to tell all of the stay at home moms out there is to pull up your big girl pants, get yourself together and realize how good you actually have it. Now stop reading this blog and go do your dishes! Oh, and remember, it is all worth it :)

Disclaimer: As I said above, there are exceptions to every rule. I am speaking in general terms. I realize there are mom's whose children are ill, dealing with ADHD, autism or a other conditions and that their situations are far different than mine. Oh, and stick around for part 2 in which I tell you why being a stay at home mom is so hard!