The Frugal Homeschooling Mom

New Giftcards Available through Swagbucks

2011-10-19T13:17:00.001-04:00

Haven’t heard of Swagbucks yet? That would be pretty surprising by now. Almost everyone has tried it, or has seen their friends “winning” Swagbucks and posting their winnings on Facebook. Instead of “googling” information, many people now use Swagbucks instead – hey, why not win something just for searching the web? And you get the same search results (if you’re patient enough to simply scroll past the ads that is).

I’ve earned hundreds of dollars through Swagbucks by redeeming my swagbucks for Amazon.com gift cards – my favorite way of spending mine. And now, Swagbucks is offering even more types of gift cards to choose from, including Lowes, Kmart, JC Penney, and Nike.

To My Child’s New Teacher, In the Event Something Should Happen to Me

2011-10-18T05:28:00.006-04:00

“When I was a teacher, all the kids who came to me that were previously homeschooled were socially maladjusted in the classroom setting.” I ran into a friend at Walmart last night who used this as his reasoning for being adamantly against the homeschool movement that's growing in our area. And honestly, I don't blame him for his opinion; I once believed the same thing. When I worked in public schools, I also labeled the previously homeschooled kids as weird and unsocialized, and in my judgment I wasn't understanding of their desperate and confused and often failed attempts to “get with the program.” Of course, now that I have my own child in Kindergarten, happily homeschooling her, I realize how judgmental I was on those poor kids and their families. And I realized that, should something happen to me, my children might be thrown into public schools, amidst those teachers who might judge them without even getting to know them first. So, after another night of not sleeping with these stupid contractions (nope, I haven't had the baby yet), I've been thinking, and writing. I hope this letter inspires teachers in classrooms to give homeschooled kids a little more grace as they adjust to their new way of life.

To My Child's New Teacher, in the Event Something Should Happen to Me:

I was a homeschooling mom. I did it because I love my children, plain and simple. I wanted the best for them, just like any other parent. I've kept them out of public/private school for any number of reasons, and I guarantee you it was not to make them socially maladjusted. My end goal has always been to raise my children up in a manner in which they can be confident, capable, respectful, and level-headed adults to function admirably and with dignity in a world where most people aren't and don't. Yes, that's “different” but it's not antisocial.

I love my kids more than anything in the world, and yes, I probably did “spoil” them with love, attention, and the knowledge that they were worth everything to me. They're not going to be used to the fact that you have 30 other children to balance the needs of, and that you won't love them like a mother would. That's going to be a harsh reality for them to adjust to.

Our daily routine often began with my children recognizing that their world did, in fact, revolve around them – their schoolwork, their spiritual and emotional development, their nutrition, their enjoyment, and yes, even their social experiences. They knew that my every thought went into making sure they received a harmonious balance of activities and experiences. They will naturally find it shocking that you won't do the same thing for them.

We had a very strong family attachment. My children loved me as much as I loved them, and we told each other all the time. We were respectful of each other, something that took years to instill even with our “protectiveness” from the more “socialized” kids and their families with which our children have been exposed. We enjoyed our time together, and we were our favorite people to be around and hang out with. My children love their siblings, no matter what the age difference is, and yes, separation for a whole day from their “best friends” who love them unconditionally will probably be emotionally traumatic at first.

My children will be reasonably outraged when they encounter peers who are disrespectful of adults and their classmates; it will add to their anxiety and confusion in their new setting. After all, we've taught our children that love and respect are the most important things when communicating with others. My children may seem unsocialized and “different” from their peers, but my five year-old can carry on a meaningful conversation with a 55 year-old about anything, and she can nurture and care for a 2 year-old who's fallen and scraped their knee. She's not used to conversations being limited to a discussion of the latest iPhone app, the most popular toys, or after-school cartoons.

Don't be surprised that my children may be quiet or withdrawn. They probably will not be comfortable in the harshness of an institution, following prescribed routines and having, for the first time, limited access to educational resources. Nor will they easily be able to tolerate even the hard tile floor beneath their feet. They're used to running around in socks and pajamas until 11:00 in the morning. They'll probably be physically exhausted too, not used to the morning rush to catch a grimy school bus at 6:30 in the morning. And they won't be used to a 6 or 7-hour school day; we're usually done by noon.

My children may not remember to raise their hand to speak, but they will know all the answers to your questions. My children may not understand the importance of completing homework assignments on time, but they can complete projects with an accuracy and neatness beyond what you'd expect. My children may not have memorized all their addition facts yet, but they learned to read at age three. My children may not excel in Science, but they have an insatiable desire to investigate and acquire knowledge about a subject, and a natural love for learning. My children may seem shy or withdrawn from their “socially adjusted” peers, but they embrace differences, and will stand up for injustice and not tolerate bullies.

What exactly would you expect from my kids? They've had it great until now. Their lives have been blissfully ignorant of what institutionalized life is like, and other children's school experiences have been almost like a fairy tale to them. They probably came to you their first day in your classroom with all kinds of excitement and anticipation of what it's like in the “real world.” Imagine their disappointment.

Now look at those other “socially maladjusted” kids who are already in your classroom – who have been in the “real world” their whole lives, yet still haven't “gotten with the program.” Aren't my kids doing a much better job at adjusting, considering the differences in circumstances? Imagine the strength, the dignity, the character required of someone, especially a child, to bravely enter a world they've only heard about in the past. I'd be willing to bet that my children would have a lot to be personally proud of.

If you're reading this letter, then there's some reason I am unable to continue homeschooling my children. We knew when we began homeschooling that this might happen, as it does to many homeschooling families. If my homeschooled children did get thrust into your classroom, I truly hope you'd offer them some grace and dignity as they adjust. I understand your time and patience is limited, I used to be a public school teacher myself, but take a moment to really think about what they're going through before you label them as weird and write them off as socially maladjusted. It's not their fault, give them a chance. Label me if you have a need to judge anyone, but not them. If you don't squelch their strengths, and if you respect and encourage them rather than frustrate and hinder them, I guarantee you they will pull through. That's how they've been raised – with enough love and instilled values that even hardships and discouragement can't break them. You simply have the power to make it easier for them.

Sincerely,

The Weird Unsocialized Homeschool Mom

Homeschool Freebie Today

2011-10-17T06:29:00.002-04:00

At Homeschool Freebie of the Day, today only, you can get “Down on the Farm” Songs and Stories (MP3’s). If you’re not on their email list, I’d highly suggest signing up. Sometimes they offer “subscriber exclusives” too. Although I rarely download their stuff, sometimes I am excited when I see a few good things that I can use with Laynie – like these MP3’s. In teaching preschool I like to do an annual “farm unit” (until this year) with Laynie (and the kids I’ve kept in my home during the day), and I’ve gathered tons of stuff to use over the years. Can’t wait until Lily’s old enough to use the things I’ve gathered for this unit. Anyway, it’s not that the site isn’t a wealth of information, it’s just that most of their resources are better for use with older students, and since my child is in Kindergarten I can’t use their downloads very often. I still love the site! Go check it out yourself and see what I mean!

Free American Baby Magazine

2011-10-15T14:05:00.002-04:00

I just signed up for a free American Baby magazine! You can too, just click here and type in your information. It’s completely free. I signed up five years ago when I was pregnant with Laynie, and enjoyed getting this magazine. There are a lot of ads in it, of course, but it also has some really informative articles. Enjoy!

Instilling Frugal Values in Your College-Bound Home-schooled High School Child

2011-09-28T11:44:00.001-04:00

Going off to college is a stressful time for both children and parents alike. It is the first time that your kid will be living somewhere other than home for an extended period of time, and it is also the first time that their daily life won’t be structured by the family. There are several skills that too many college students lack, causing them to have problems adjusting to their newfound independence. One of the most important skills is learning how to budget and how to live within their means. Here are a few tips for instilling frugal values in your children before they go to college, so that they won’t have to learn the hard way.

Teach them financial literacy.

Even though your college-bound kids will learn hopefully learn many wonderful things in college, there’s (typically) no such thing as a financial literacy class. Most parents don’t think to talk to their children about credit cards, debt, investing, student loans and so forth, and this is perhaps part of the reason that so much of our population is saddled with consumer debt. Explain how credit cards work to your children, and, even though many of their friends will end up signing up for them, explain how easy it is to fall into massive debt starting in college, effectively crippling your efforts to start a stable career after college.

Establish a set allowance to practice budgeting.

Once your child begins college, it’s likely that you’ll cover some or all of their personal expenses. College life is already oriented toward frugal living, with cheap student specials galore, but it’s easy for kids who are not used to budgeting to run out of money and call you begging for more. Set up an estimated budget with your child based on the cost of living of their new school environment well before they go off to college. Have them buy things like groceries and pay for entertainment and other extraneous expenses so that they’ll know what to expect.

Teach your children various creative ways to be self-sufficient.

Some of the most valuable life skills I never learned while at home, and so I had to learn the hard way, by trial and error, in college. Skills that promote self-sufficiency include how to cook, how to make minor repairs, how to grocery shop for essential items that contributes to healthy meals, and how to buy used items like furniture and books without being ripped off or compromising on quality. The great thing about a frugal mindset is that it requires creativity; getting your kids excited about the creativity inherent in living modestly is essential.

Start a savings plan.

Saving money is not always the first thing that kids in college think of doing. At the same time, establishing the habit of saving before they begin their careers will give them a huge leg up in an uncertain economic climate. Instill in your children the idea that saving isn’t just hoarding—it’s like buying an insurance policy for the future, and, in effect, buying a special type of freedom.

Of course, there are various ways to instill in your college-bound kids the ideals of frugality and simplicity. If you consistently hew to a frugal lifestyle yourself, however, instilling these values won’t be a chore; it will come to them automatically after learning from example.

Author Bio:

This is a guest post by Nadia Jones who blogs at online college about education, college, student, teacher, money saving, movie related topics. You can reach her at nadia.jones5 @ gmail.com.

Free Museum and National Parks Admission tomorrow September 24th

2011-09-23T20:07:00.001-04:00

Looking for something to do tomorrow? I know it’s last minute, but if I weren’t on bed rest (LOL), I’d try to take advantage of this with Laynie tomorrow! Maybe some of you can! Tomorrow is Museum Day and also Public Lands Day– Sign up to get 2 free tickets for admission to some Smithsonian museums or affiliated museums, and then print the tickets. You’ll get in for free at the admissions gate! Or, go to a local National Park for free! Have fun!

Homeschooling Author Patti Armstrong Announces Book

2011-08-23T08:38:00.002-04:00

Dear God, I don't get it! is a touching story about a boy's journey closer to God, written by a homeschool mom. Thanks to author Patti Armstrong, for shooting me an email and sharing the book with us.
“Written by bestselling author, Patti Maguire Armstrong, "Dear God, I Don't Get it!" is the story of one young boy's struggle in understanding why God's ways aren't always our ways. Heartwarming and with a touching message, this book is perfect for any young reader in your life!”
There is a study guide at the back of the book. It is sold in both Homeschool catalogs and is being used in classrooms. (Bulk rates available.) You can order the book through http://www.bezalelbooks.com/ or Amazon.com.
At Bezalel Books, the description reads: “This is the perfect story for 3rd through 6th grade Catholic kids and classrooms with excellent writing, vocabulary and thinking activities incorporated at the end of the book. It combines a great story with age-appropriate apologetics and is endorsed by best-selling authors Emily and Jeff Cavins as well as Bishop Zipfel. Mary Kochan, Senior Editor of Catholic Exchange and homeschooler, endorses "Dear God, I don't get it!" and explains, "Sixth-grader, Aaron Ajax is happily comfortable, with not much more than the annoyances of a little brother to disturb him and he takes his friendship with God for granted. When a sudden change in family circumstances uproots him from the home and friends he has known his whole life, Aaron wonders what has happened to his relationship with God. Through this true-to-life story we follow the journey of a young boy coming to grips with a lesson we all need - that real friendship with God means God is in charge.”

National Geographic Kids Subscription $12 or Possibly FREE

2011-08-14T14:05:00.000-04:00

Hey, guys, so I'm incredibly frustrated with my computer right now. We need to buy a new modem because I keep having to load and reload the page. I've been online for over an hour now, just trying to check email and catch up on Facebook.

Anyway, to save some time, and since Facebook seems to be working a little better than my email and Blogger, I've shared a way to get National Geographic Kids for really cheap, and even FREE on my facebook page. Check it out! Or simply click here to be taken to Mamapedia to get it.

Buying a new modem is kinda low on the priority list right now, so any expenses related to blogging has to take a back seat to buying things to get ready for a new baby! Lillian Faith will be here in just a little over two months. But I just had to share this deal with you! I just grabbed it for Laynie.

Free Preschool Pack–School Supplies

2011-08-09T13:56:00.000-04:00

Here you can get a free preschool pack from 2 Teaching Mommies. The topic is “School Supplies,” which is perfect for the younger kids while their older siblings begin their new school year!

Welcome Back!

2011-08-08T15:45:00.003-04:00

Bet you've been wondering when I'd be back! Well, I'm back! A few things will be different this fall. I'll still bring you lots of resources for homeschooling on a budget, and a few topical posts here and there, but I'm taking it easy this year. First, I'm going to put up some new graphics - you'll notice them over the next week or so as they pop up. Then, I'll get back into the swing of things. My plan is to spend 5 hours per week "working," since I'm very pregnant now and my feet swell when I sit at the computer for too long. That means, I'll only bring you the BEST resources I can find. You also won't see very many advertisements or sponsored posts/adboxes. I just won't have time for sifting through all of them.

The pregnancy is going great. I'm now at 28 weeks along, and definitely showing. We're having another girl, and we plan to name her Lillian Faith. She's due on October 28th. Her big sister Laynie Grace, turned five in June, and will be beginning Kindergarten lessons in a few weeks, and I'm so excited. I've already planned most of the year in Reading and Math, and working on filling in the gaps with extra-curricular activities, Science, History and Geography, Latin, Art, and Music. I'm looking forward to taking a few field trips with her too.

I've thoroughly enjoyed my break from blogging, but I missed it too. I've especially missed my faithful readers, who encourage me with your emails and comments daily! I hope you've been doing well, and I'm glad to be back.

A+ Homeschool Giveaways: Week 70

2011-04-21T11:22:00.000-04:00

Current Giveaways at The Frugal Homeschooling Mom:

· None at this time. Email me if you’re a business owner and are interested in sponsoring one!

Featured Giveaways:

· none at this time

· Want to try your luck at more blog giveaways? Take a look at Mama Buzz’s, Mommy Snacks,’ Cuckoo For Coupon Deals,' and Giveaways 4 Mommy's lists of linkies!

To my Readers:

Welcome to A+ Homeschool Giveaways here at The Frugal Homeschooling Mom. Here you can find all sorts of ways to win educational or just plain fun stuff for your kids – or just some nice things for yourself! Read the comments below of what you think you’d like to try to win, click on them, and go enter!!! I wish all my readers the best of luck! And be sure to check back often, as new links may be posted daily! (Also consider subscribing above to receive notification of these giveaways every week)

To other Bloggers and Website owners:

If you’re a blogger, feel free to post a link to your current giveaway, IN THE COMMENTS SECTION. I'll approve them within the next 24 hours. There are really no rules, except that your giveaway prize should appeal to homeschooling parents. But that’s pretty easy to do – you can link to your giveaway if it appeals to moms, dads, kids, families, education… or you can link your giveaway here if your blog is a homeschool blog… that’s it! NEW FEATURE: You don’t have to come back every week to post – This is an ongoing list – when you include the date your giveaway ends, I’ll leave it up until it expires!

(Wondering why it's not a "linky" anymore? Well, I'm too cheap to pay for it - you now have to have a subscription to use Linky Tools, the method I previously used to host this. I figured comments left are just as easy, perhaps even easier on your part! Now there are no limits to how many words bloggers can use to describe their giveaway! Plus, readers can pick and choose which ones to enter just as easily.)

Baby's Development Update

2011-04-19T14:18:00.000-04:00

I’ve made it through the first trimester! Well, technically, it ends at week 14, and I’m at week 12, but most people just say you’re done with the first trimester at week 12, so I’m going with that. The baby seems to be developing well. Healthy heartbeat, great ultrasound pictures (I know, I really need to plug in my new printer/scanner so I can scan the ultrasound pictures to show you – I promise I’ll get it done one of these days). Just thought I’d check in and give a little update.

I’m going to have to just suck it up and put on my maternity clothes soon. Actually, I’m wearing the first maternity t-shirt today since I haven’t done laundry in forever and I had no other choices. I’m beginning to run out of t-shirts that fit, and I haven’t been able to button my pants for several weeks already! Thank goodness I found some awesome maternity clothes at consignment sales this season. I’ve got a full wardrobe, for less than even two items would have cost brand new at the store! And it’s cute stuff, too – despite the fact that I only paid $1-$4 per piece! Most of the stuff I wore with Laynie doesn’t fit me anymore since I’ve gained a good amount of weight in the past 5 years. I’ll be glad when it’s an obvious baby bump and not just chubby-ness.

A friend of ours is giving us a crib (isn’t it so cool how God provides?), and we’ll use the chiffarobe that matched Laynie’s recalled crib for storing the baby’s cute attire. I can’t wait to find out if it’s a boy or a girl! Baby clothing and shoes are so adorable! We’ll find out around week 18-22, sometime in June probably. We bought a used bunk bed (with a built-in desk, storage shelves, and chest of drawers) for Laynie last night for her bedroom. It’s pretty beat up, but I think I can clean it up and repaint it to make it look good as new. Laynie’s excited about sleeping in her new bed, so I’ll be working on getting her room together over the next couple of weeks or so.

I wonder if it will be a boy or a girl? I’ll be happy with either. A girl would be great, we’ve got tons of girl clothing, toys, etc. But a boy would be so fun and different. So we’re excitedly waiting to find out. Laynie wants a little sister. But I know she just wants a tiny baby to love on, so I think she’ll be happy with either a boy or a girl as well.

Addressing Behavioral Problems in the Homeschool Classroom: How to Assert Control

2011-03-31T14:23:00.002-04:00

There are many factors that can influence students in a public school classroom to engage in disruptive behavior, but when you’re a student’s teacher and parent trying to educate your child at home, the potential for behavioral problems can increase drastically. While some students thrive in a homeschooling situation and don’t even consider misbehaving, others see the opportunity to get their own way by behaving badly. By recognizing the causes behind any behavioral problems you may have encountered, you can make changes in your homeschool classroom that minimize the potential for negative student responses. Try the following tips to target problematic behavior even before it occurs.

Reiterate the Rules

Rules are an important part of establishing order in the classroom, which is a powerful way to prevent behavioral issues. However, the efficacy of these rules is often increased if you can involve your students in the process of drafting a “group contract” that will dictate both behavioral standards and the consequences of breaking them.

Even though these rules will be similar from one year to the next, it’s worth the time and energy investment if you can let your children have a say in the rules that govern their behavior. They’ll be more likely to abide by the rules, understand the consequences of failing to follow them, and refrain from disputing your rulings.

A reasonable goal is to discuss and draft a contract by the end of the first week of school. Once you’ve all agreed on a contract, post a large, colorful version of it where it can be seen and referred to on a daily basis. By creating this contract with your children that delineates school rules, you’ll be preventing the unawareness of rules and sense of disorganization that often precede behavioral problems in the classroom.

Settle the Schedule

One common contributor to the prevalence of behavioral problems is down-time between activities. If your students perceive any chink in the structure of their school days, they’re often tempted to take advantage of it by engaging in disruptive behavior. To decrease this possibility, you can proactively build extra activities or lesson tidbits into your schedule so that you’re never at a loss for things to do. Be sure to keep an eye on the time so that you’re neither coming up short nor teaching past the end of a lesson. Maintaining consistency is a strongly effective means of preventing behavioral problems.

Define the Dynamic

Because the dynamics between students and teachers (and children and parents) change over the course of a year, it’s important to be mindful of this evolution. You can prevent behavioral problems with relative ease if you can maintain an understanding of the way your children interact with you and with each other throughout the year. If you have more than one student, help them build trust and academic credibility with one another by assigning pair or small group activities. By actively working to prevent the occurrence of trust-related behavioral issues, you’ll be helping your students to feel more comfortable in the classroom environment, enabling them to function successfully without being affected by the causes behind problematic behaviors.

Bio: Lisa Shoreland is currently a resident blogger at Go College, where recently she's been researching military college grants as well as parent plus loans. In her spare time, she enjoys creative writing, practicing martial arts, and taking weekend trips.

Photo: Public Domain
URL: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3464/3268005628_765024293a.jpg

Baby Announcement

2011-03-28T20:42:00.001-04:00

I’m so excited to announce that I’m expecting! I’m about 9 weeks along, and we’re so excited. We feel truly blessed that God has chosen us to be the parents of a second child. We send all praise up to God for this precious gift!

We have known for a long time now that we wanted to have another child and we are so grateful to God for this opportunity to train up another child into His kingdom. I would love it if you’d pray for this little one.

Laynie is so excited that she’s going to be a big sister! She’ll be five when he or she is born. She asks me every day if my tummy has gotten bigger yet!

How to Homeschool for Free: Step 1

2011-03-23T22:23:00.002-04:00

Know what to teach your child

If you don’t plan to purchase a complete curriculum due to the high cost involved, then you’ll need to make a plan. You’ll need to know what to teach your child by the end of each year. A great (free) place to start is the internet.

If you’re pretty knowledgeable about standards of education, you could check your state’s education website to find the resource that certified teachers use to guide their teaching of public school students. For example, I live in North Carolina, so with a quick Google (or Swagbucks!) search for “North Carolina public school curriculum” or “North Carolina Standard Course of Study” I find the state’s guide for teachers. (I used to be a teacher and used this all the time. Most people wouldn’t know to look for it)

A simpler “layman’s terms” list is found at the World Book website, the Typical Course of Study, and lists what suggested subject matter should be taught at each grade level from preschool through twelfth grade. There are other lists like this available on the internet, but in my opinion, this is the best one.

If you want to spend some money, there are lots of books available, such as the What Your ***-Grader Needs to Know series by E.D. Hirsch Jr. Or check them out at your local library if they’re available.

Then, once you have a good idea of what to teach, gather the resources necessary to do it. Next I’ll tell you how to find them.

Frugal Cooking for a Homeschooling Schedule

2011-03-17T13:38:00.003-04:00

A guest post written by Ben at CookingSchools.net

While there are many benefits to homeschooling your children, there are also just as many challenges, especially when it comes to mealtime. With no school lunches available and fast food becoming increasingly unhealthy, you may wonder what you can do to provide healthy meals to your kids while maintaining your budget. Luckily, there are several options for cooking cheaply and healthfully on a homeschooling schedule. Better yet, you don’t even need to have attended one of the many cooking schools to implement them.

1. Leftovers

Your kids may think it's not as appetizing, but learning to use leftovers can save you time and money. A homeschooling schedule can be rough. Not only do parents and tutors have to be sure the kids are keeping up with their course materials, but they also have to plan and make meals. By cooking twice as much food when you make dinner, you can cut down on how much you spend and reduce the number of times you have to prepare fresh meals. Try cooking foods that are easy to store and that still taste good on day two after you have reheated them.

2. Vegetarianism

It may sound drastic, but cutting meat out of your diet can save a lot on grocery bills. To avoid paying hefty meat prices at the store, try slowly introducing a more vegetarian inspired diet to wean your homeschoolers off of meat. Not only will a meat-free diet you save money, but it is also usually a much healthier choice if the right protein substitutes (such as nuts and beans) are used. Likewise, since meat tends to spoil quickly or to get freezer burn if frozen for too long, deciding to cut back on meat purchases makes cooking at home more cost effective.

3. Bulk or No Bulk?

Deciding whether or not to buy and cook bulk items depends largely on the number of kids you are homeschooling. If you have a larger number, buying bulk items means fewer trips to the grocery store and more time for cooking and teaching. However if you have a smaller number of kids to teach, you may want to avoid bulk items and buying large numbers of produce items at once. Smaller numbers may mean that you will be unable to cook all the food you have purchased, causing some to spoil and simultaneously slicing a hole in your pocket.

4. Garden

Starting a vegetable, fruit or herb garden is a great way to get homeschoolers outdoors. Gardening is great for teaching kids about botany, life science and health. Plus, working hands on with plants can instill in them the desire to live green. Besides opportunities for teaching, growing your own produce makes shopping for fresh foods minimal. It is always rewarding to grow, cook and serve fruits and veggies that you and your kids have grown yourselves.

Every homeschool schedule is different, but for most people it can be difficult to find the time to teach and cook dinner for the family. However with a little creative thinking you can accomplish this task with ease. By simply planning ahead and shopping smartly you can provide your kids with healthy, home cooked meals while sticking to your budget.

Make Custom Homeschool Worksheets, Flashcards, Lapbooks, and More - Really Cheap!

2011-03-15T06:25:00.009-04:00

Lettering Delights has their Dollar Days sale going on right now (starting today, March 15^th). That means that almost everything is $1 - all fonts, doodlebats, graphics, clipart, alphabets, and paper packs. Other products are also marked down at a discount as well. They have these sales every now and then, and I only buy during these times. I always find great deals during Dollar Days! Save 10% on $15 purchase or more with code: InBloom. Save 25% on $35 with code: BiggerBloom.

Of course their products are geared for digital scrapbooking mostly, which is how I became familiar with them. I love digital scrapbooking (when I can find the time!). I’ve also used them to make custom party invitations before.

But I have also found their products to be perfect and very affordable for making custom homeschool materials.

Their “LD Trainer” series of fonts are perfect for teaching Manuscript Writing! I use them all the time to make my own worksheets for Laynie to practice writing her name and sight words. They come in a variety of styles, and you really should check them out. Type “LD Trainer” in the top left search box to find them. They also have “Modern Cursive.”

I’ve used their graphics as clipart for homemade flashcards and for coloring sheets and for cutting and gluing practice for Laynie too.

They’re great for making cute lapbooks for holidays or other special themes.

The fonts work in Microsoft Word, so making your own handwriting practice worksheets is just a matter of typing the words you wish your child to practice, and then printing them out. To use most of the other elements, though, you’ll need a little knowledge about using digital graphic elements in Microsoft Publisher or PowerPoint, or photo-editing software like Adobe Photo Elements, which is how I’ve used them. If you know how to use software such as those, you’ll find you love the freedom you have to create exactly what you need for your homeschool.

The Direction of This Blog

2011-03-14T14:52:00.002-04:00

Thanks so much for all the feedback you have offered me considering last Friday’s post. I was wondering aloud about the direction this blog should go, and you guys offered me some wonderful advice, support, and encouragement.

So, considering all those things, and also continuing to figure out what God would have me to do, I will be removing most (but not all) advertisements and affiliations from this blog, and focusing on glorifying God by sharing things that I feel are particularly relevant and helpful, with less of the incentive of sharing random things because I can “earn money” from it. Life is not about the money I can earn from my “job,” but it’s about loving God and others more than anything else, even the money we feel like we so desperately need.

Therefore, you may see a decrease in the number of posts during the week from normal, because I will be very mindful of what content I allow into my blog. I will also be decreasing the number of weekly hours spent “working” on my blog from 10-20 down to no more than 5.

This may just be temporary. If I feel God leading, I’ll spend more weekly “work” time on this blog again. But at the moment, I feel like the majority of my time is better spent with my sweet little girl (who isn’t taking naps anymore! – the time I used to spend blogging each day). And if at all possible, I’d love to go back to school and get a degree in website design or graphic design, or perhaps I’ll just try to get some resources and teach myself. I’m not kidding, if I could find out what textbooks are used for those classes, I’ll just buy them myself off ebay or our local used textbook store and read them – but we’ll see. If God opens a door, it will be!

I will continue to share:

Homeschooling and educational advice, information, freebies, and discounts
Only advertisements and affiliations that are particularly relevant to homeschooling, education, and/or which I believe encourage (in other words, don’t distract) you in your own godly spending of resources
Informative articles about frugal homeschooling (when I possibly can, since they take quite some time to write and I’ll be spending less time weekly)
Homeschooling product reviews and giveaways
Occasional random giveaways, but only those with rewards worth the time it takes for me to manage them (prizes at least $50 in value)
Personal posts about our own personal homeschooling experiences
Random coupons and freebies not necessarily related to homeschooling or education, but only occasionally on Twitter and Facebook

I will share less:

Information about couponing strategies, cash back offers when shopping online, and freebies irrelevant to homeschooling or education (except occasionally on Twitter and Facebook)
Random coupons and freebies irrelevant to homeschooling or education (except occasionally on Twitter and Facebook)
Sponsored posts, unless particularly relevant to homeschool or education
Adboxes in the right sidebar that are irrelevant to education or homeschooling
Google Ads listed in the right sidebar

The Direction of This Blog

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You may have noticed a dramatic drop in posts over the past month from what I used to write. I’m taking some time to pray about the direction this blog is to take over the next year or so. If you’re a regular reader, feel free to email me and let me know your favorite things and your not-so favorite things. I would be grateful for any input you’d like to share! Would you like to see more personal posts about our homeschool? Less random freebies? Less guest posts? More giveaways? More homeschooling articles? More couponing info? Just curious. Shoot me a short email if you’d like to share your thoughts!

I’m considering slowing down the posts a bit, removing most affiliations and ads which take up a lot of my time, and using the extra time over the next year to try to “teach myself” website design and digital graphic design so I can spruce this site up myself for cheaper than I would have to pay a professional to do it. I can’t afford to go back to school officially, but I’m sure if I could just get my hands on some technical books and manuals, and the software needed, I could teach myself! Really, I know I could. I already know enough bits and pieces to know I am capable.

If there’s anyone out there who is looking for a website designer for their own blog or company, and would like to send me to my local community college for website design, I’d be glad to design and manage your website in return, for free. Just thought I’d throw that out there. You never know who might have a need and actually recognize that as a great deal and take me up on it…

How I Became The Frugal Homeschooling Mom: Part 7

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Part 7: My Calling to Homeschool, and My Necessity to be Frugal

So, I’ve told you about my past and even the present (if you missed it, click here to see Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, and Part 6). But how does all that stuff relate to how I’ve become “The Frugal Homeschooling Mom”?

Why Am I A Homeschooling Mom?

You may have already thought you’ve figured out my motivations for homeschooling from Parts 1 through 5. You probably think: Well, she had such a miserable school experience and saw so many things in the school system while she worked there. That’s why she is homeschooling – to protect her children from those things.

And, yes, that is why. Two years ago, when I began this blog, I wrote many of my reasons for homeschooling down. Feel free to read them if you like. That is exactly why I’m homeschooling.

But now there’s so much more. Until recently I didn’t fully understand that I am also called by God to homeschool. This reason has now become my number one reason. It knocks all those other reasons out of the ballpark. Those other reasons are still good reasons, but now I have a new focus. God was preparing me for this “duh moment,” I now clearly see. I’m homeschooling to glorify God. I feel called to raise my children to love God and to love others, Biblically. God is showing me (right now actually) just how important it is to disciple my children – to teach them to be seekers after truth. Surely, they can go to public school and still love God, but the majority of their peers and teachers will not share those beliefs (even some of the so-called “Christian” ones unfortunately). Surely, they can go to public school and still love others, but not from a true Biblical perspective. I want my children to know the truth- - the gospel, and to be able to see the world through the experience of being a true child of God, not having to sift through the filter of today’s “socialization” by ungodly peers and teachers. I don’t want them to feel they have to practice their religion in moderation and keep their views to themselves in order to be accepted as normal and “politically correct.” I want them to “live out loud” their faith, as now I can’t possibly keep quiet myself!

And Why Am I A Frugal Mom?

Well, nothing really deep or sentimental there. It’s just a necessity. We’re basically going to be living off of one income for quite some time. Chris really doesn’t make very much money, but thank God he’s in a profession he enjoys. We’ve got medical debt up to our ears, and old credit card debt that we’re still paying off (we’ll be totally out of debt in the next 3 years or so). Except for those two things, we could easily live off of one income. It’s tight right now, but only temporary. But even after we get those things paid off, we’ll still want to be wise stewards of our resources, and I’ll probably still use coupons. We’ll give to the poor and bless others with any excess we are blessed with in the future.

So, clipping coupons and shopping clearance sales, yard sales, and Goodwill are just part of our lives during this time. And it’s really ok. No one can tell that most of my clothes are second-hand and that I pay anywhere from FREE to 20% of what other women pay for their makeup and accessories – I dress fairly well for a poor person actually! And we have two cars, so no one would expect that we don’t actually own one of them ourselves – it was given to us! But it does really stink sometimes, especially when friends or family invite us to go on vacations with them and we can’t afford it, or when I have to skimp on groceries for the week to be able to buy a pair of $30 tennis shoes that Laynie just loves (have you guys seen those really tacky but really cute, shiny Sketchers “Sporty Shorty’s,” complete with the outrageously bright blue flashing lights? Well, I bought them for her, lol).

But anyway, we have faith that God will provide everything we absolutely need, and if the “door is shut” because of finances then we realize it’s just not in God’s will for us at this time, or else we’ll pray for another way. And we know that everything God does is ultimately for our good, so we trust Him. And we’re content. And we’re so thankful too, for everything that God does provide for us on a daily basis – the amazing ways He’s already provided for us are so tremendous. Laynie has grandparents that spoil her rotten and buy her anything she wants. We’ve had so many things just given to us in the past several years that we honestly haven’t gone without anything we’ve truly needed.

But most importantly, there’s really a “peace that surpasses all understanding.” Really, there is. No, REALLY. There really, truly is! Do you know what I’m talking about? I hope that one day you can know this peace too – if you don’t already. Romans (in the Bible) is a great place to start if you don’t know what I’m talking about.

How I Became The Frugal Homeschooling Mom: Part 6

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So you thought the other parts were long? You haven’t seen nothing yet! LOL.

Click here if you missed Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, or Part 5.

Part 6: My “Calling”

Notice I haven’t talked much about my faith in God as a kid, as a teenager, or in college, or even in the first years of my marriage. That’s because although I was very active and involved in church, and I “talked the talk,” I didn’t really have Christ as the Lord of my life.

It’s not that I wasn’t saved. I accepted Christ at a Vacation Bible School when I was 6 years old. I was baptized by immersion at that time. I really didn’t understand much of anything about salvation, except that I knew I didn’t want to go to hell, and I didn’t mind the 10 Commandments, and I enjoyed going to church. I didn’t understand what having Christ as the Lord of my life meant, although I willingly accepted it. I was saved. And I lived a pretty good life too – like I said, I stayed away from sinful behavior for the most part. My biggest behavior problem was lying, which came naturally to me – I got away with it most of the time and didn’t get caught. To most people, I looked like the model Christian child. But I didn’t really “get it” as a kid.

As a teenager, I was praised for my maturity and moral behavior. I was still very active in church. I even led worship with a sermon one Youth Sunday my senior year! Everyone in church would have thought I was a follower of Christ by my words, my morals, and my leadership positions in the youth group. But I had no idea what I was talking about. Yes, I was highly moral, and had very strong convictions on the most obvious sins. But inside I was rotten, dead, and in utter misery. I wanted to die, after all! My sister knew my secret because she saw me at home. I was a pathetic hypocrite, and still desperately in need of Christ’s work in my heart. I didn’t have the joy and peace that only God can give. I took out a lot of my pain on her. The big sister who was supposed to be a best friend, someone to look up to, showed her a horrible example of Christianity. Sometime in my senior year of high school I attended a Christian concert with my youth group. After the concert I went to the front and asked to “re-dedicate” my life. I was seeking salvation from my misery (not from my sin), and the music had encouraged me and given me an emotional response, but I went home and a few days later was back to my old miserable self. Again, my heart wasn’t changed. I was still miserable and longing for death. I still didn’t “get it.”

About that same time, I visited Campbell University, the college I wanted to attend because I thought I wanted to be a Pharmacist (they had a good program for Pre-Pharmacy). I applied for an academic scholarship which I was able to get easily because in all actuality, my life looked really good on paper. They were really impressed. At the scholarship interview, I met a girl name Brandi who would become my roommate all four years. She lived not too far from me and we immediately became close friends, even before we began college. I remember seeing her having her nightly “devotions with God” when I visited her, and realizing that was probably a good thing to try to do. So I began to read my Bible daily. That summer I truly believed I was “getting it.” I began to have hope in my heart again, although it was very weak at first. But it grew, and I went on to college, and my hope turned into faith. My college experience was nothing like most people experience. I learned more about God’s love for me and His faithfulness than I did studying Pre-Pharmacy (changed eventually to Psychology). God began to teach me things I had never realized before. I soaked it all in, reading my Bible even more than my textbooks. I felt God moving in my life, and knew He really was there. I wasn’t just pretending anymore. It was real. I had a new best friend named Jesus. I was experiencing God. He had saved me from the depths of my despair, and although I was still fragile, I was amazed at the new confidence I had in my future.

But, as you’ll soon understand, I still didn’t quite “get it.” I simply got a taste. I believe I was like the second soil mentioned in Mark 4:5-6 actually. But that would take way too long to explain, so if you don’t know what I’m talking about please just go and read the parable (Mark 4). Anyway…

Brandi and I became friends with some other Christian girls and guys, and we hung out together and enjoyed true Christian fellowship. We were all flawed, but we loved each other and ministered to each other just the same. It was nothing I’d ever experienced before. These friends were “the real thing.” My friends and I attended a small church whose members really lived by what was preached, and the pastor of that church eventually married me and Chris. I was living the best four years of my life, feeling truly blessed.

I had met Chris the second week of Freshman Year, in Biology Lab. We began hanging out often, then dating, and then, well, we were simply inseparable. We were so in love it was sickening to those around us! He was a new Christian as well, and we read our Bible together, sharing what we were learning and both growing in our love for God and each other day by day.

I graduated with a B.S. in Psychology (having minored in Religion), Magna Cum Laude, and engaged to be married. I was flying high. I was going to be a Christian Counselor, and a wife, eventually a mother. Life was amazing. God had truly blessed me and brought me “out of the pit” of my despair. I didn’t think I’d ever revisit my depression. Things would be wonderful forevermore.

As you know, Chris and I got married a few months after graduation from college. We were 22. It was a perfect wedding, my dream come true. I had married the man of my dreams and we were beginning on an exciting journey together that was only going to be wonderful and perfect. I knew we would have hard times, but I knew we’d make it through it. In fact, I think that was a gift God gave me – just this sense that everything will be ok no matter what we will go through. I know that sounds completely silly, but it’s something I know without a doubt that God has told me, and it’s what’s held me together during the tough times that we have had in our marriage.

And we’ve certainly had some tough times. Chronic illnesses, financial struggles, bad job situations and joblessness, loss of direction in our careers, deaths of loved ones, life-threatening experiences with our daughter, and circumstances that have threatened to divide us... In short, life has really sucked sometimes. At times, I leaned on the strength and peace that only God could give me. But in times of weakness (which has been most of the time), I have forgotten and not claimed the promises of God.

Over the 10 years since Chris and I have been married, my spiritual life has waxed and waned, and it gradually became more of an act than a true experience. I’ve grown complacent, almost bored, and even angry with God. I almost completely stopped reading my Bible. I rarely prayed. It’s true. If you’re reading this, and you’ve known me over the past five years or so, this may come as a surprise to you. You have probably heard me talking about God on a daily basis. But in my heart, I wandered. I became dead. In spite of how I felt in my heart, I continued to give the impression that God was in control of my life. Now hear me, in my heart I became a hopeless, dreadful, self-centered, even hateful person. I became a fake. My depression returned, but this time I labeled it Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I even began to question if everyone around me was just a fake too, and if Christianity was even real, or just a bunch of people just like me who pretended we had something special. I heard my Christian friends proclaiming the hope and peace and love they had, and I sadly realized that I couldn’t relate.

I began to see other Christians in a new light. There were only a few of them who really seemed to believe what they said, who really had a heart-felt connection to God, and a peace and love and understanding that I didn’t experience. How did they do that? I wondered. I acknowledged in myself that although I tried, I just couldn’t honestly say that I felt like showing the fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control… Gal. 5:19-23) and I realized that, in fact, if I was completely honest with myself, that I never did experience that ability. I couldn’t do it – I was so miserable inside that these things didn’t come naturally, and since I faked them, I began to assume that most other Christians must too. I looked at those few people around me (two or three really) who seemed to really believe and live out what they said they were experiencing, and wondered, how do they do it?

I had it all wrong by this point. Without reading my Bible, and by neglecting to pursue God through prayer, I had never quite gained an understanding of what it really means to be a Christian (someone who is truly saved). I was trying to do it all on my own. I had come to believe that I had to somehow “get it” through acting the right way or saying the right things. I didn’t realize that it had to be given. There was nothing I could do to save myself. God had to do it. And thankfully, He did.

Yes, I was saved, yes, back when I was six. But just recently (maybe just a few weeks ago actually) I believe I was given a better understanding of what God really did for me.

As you can see from Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5, I was so sinful!

Don’t you see? Didn’t you catch it? Have you been thinking this whole time, what a shame that she perceived things in this way? Have you now come to the conclusion that I’m homeschooling to protect my child from all the pain I experienced? If you know me personally, have you thought to yourself the whole time you’ve been reading my story, “But I thought she was a Christian!”?

I know I’ve drug you through the hell which was my life. I’m sorry about that. I felt like I had to get some of you to understand, to relate to me. The majority of my blog readers aren’t believers, and this current part of my story may be something you’ve never heard before, especially since I’ve not usually shared my beliefs very much as of yet. If you’re not a Christian, then perhaps you and I have had some things in common. If you are a Christian, perhaps you’ve written me off as an unbeliever by this point. And my poor mama – she’s already written me a Facebook message of concern. So I knew I’d better hurry up and get to this part.

It’s not all “poor me” and “Oh, I’m so sorry I went through all that” and “what a shame” and “why did God let me experience that stuff?” That’s what I used to think ya know.

Don’t you see? OH MY GOSH – I WAS SO UTTERLY, HORRIBLY, AWFULLY SINFUL!!!

No really, I was. I was so self-centered, self-seeking, selfish. I was pitiful. I was hateful. I was spiteful. I was angry. I was jealous. I was full of strife. I was depressed, sad, miserable. I was boastful and proud of my accomplishments, I was arrogant and thought that I was better than others, I was a fake, a hypocrite, a liar, a sham. I was protective, seeking my own emotional security, controlling, manipulative, two-faced, judgmental, oh my gosh, I could go on and on. I was so sinful… And I still am. I can’t possibly go into detail here on this blog because it would take ages.

I am now so dreadfully aware of what a hypocrite I’ve unknowingly been. I’m so ashamed of those I’ve hurt, neglected, despised, judged, wounded, and hindered in their understanding of Jesus Christ. And God knows it. And God knew it all, while it was happening, and even before it was happening.

But what’s so amazing is what I’ve finally come to truly understand: that God loved and accepted me into His kingdom, even before I did all that. He loves me in spite of my sin. And now that He’s allowed me to completely experience His grace (for real – I’m not just saying it now!), I’m reading my Bible with a new understanding than I ever have before. The same Bible verses I have read in the past actually have a depth to them and a meaning that I’ve never fully grasped. Oh my gosh, I wish I could express to you the joy and excitement and love and amazing peace and hope and fullness I have now. It’s not pretend. REALLY!!!

I’m learning to finally, REALLY, submit to God, and let Him have control of my life – EVERYTHING. No, really - - everything! Nothing I have is worth anything to me anymore (this is something I’m still learning, so that sentence is very difficult for me to write. My nature still wants to be in control, and I do so love the things I have in my life right now. But if God asked me to give it up, I would with just a little bit of hesitation, lol!) And I’m learning to turn from my self-centeredness in response to what God has so abundantly given to me. In response to His grace I now know, I am finally experiencing a desire to show selfless love for others that surpasses comprehension (disclaimer: I have to be honest, it’s a process, especially with those who have hurt me deeply – but God is working in that area too). I’m really beginning to experience the Holy Spirit’s work in my heart allowing me to experience a TRUE, AUTHENTIC outpouring of the fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control… Gal. 5:19-23).

Oh, I wish I could somehow share this experience with you. I wish I could give it to you. But I leave that to God. Only He can give you this understanding through His Word the Bible and through your own seeking diligently but through His sovereignty. Which is another thing – I finally understand the joy and desire to follow God’s command to share the gospel with others.

How could I have been a Christian for the last 26 years and NOT KNOWN ALL THIS?!?!?!? How could I have attended church for the last 26 years and NOT REALLY HEARD IT?!?!?!?!? How on earth could I have proclaimed Christ in words and actions for the past 26 years and NOT KNOWN WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT?!?!?!? OH MY GOSH!!!!! How could I NOT HAVE UNDERSTOOD?

I don’t know the answer to that question yet. But thank God He did finally give me an understanding. He knew long before the beginning of time that this would be the moment for me. I’m not sure why He made me wait so long, but I do know that He did it for His glory. And I’m so honored and glad that He allowed all those miserable things to happen in my life, because I know now that even though I may not know the effects of it all for His glory, I know without a doubt that He did use it for that.

I’ve brought you up to speed to where I am right now in my spiritual life. I’m realizing that still, in spite of my 26-year “status” as a Christian, and my “outward” expression of Christianity in my words and actions, I just never did really “get it.” But finally, it was given. I praise my God for everything, the good and the bad. I am thankful for it. All of it. And now my heart is changing, and I am learning more and more, and joyfully (even though it’s sometimes really tough) growing more and more into Christ-likeness.

Not that I’ve “gotten there” yet. Not at all. I’ve still got so much to learn, and I’m still so weak in my sinful nature. But I’m learning that with faith in Jesus Christ, sin has no power over me any more. Words, I’ve said and claimed before, but which I didn’t fully understand.

So how does this relate to me homeschooling and living the frugal life? It’s huge. I’ll get back on the topic of homeschooling and frugal living next…

How I Became The Frugal Homeschooling Mom: Part 5

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Click here if you missed Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, or Part 4.

Part 5: Working Outside the Home

The first childcare center I worked was at a very upscale preschool located right behind the city hospital. I was the front desk Administrative Assistant. It was where mostly doctors and nurses left their children. The childcare was completely full, with a 30-name waiting list for each class. Part of my job required me to watch the television monitor which switched from classroom to classroom, giving a peek into what was going on in each class. I remember being shocked one day when I noticed the toddler teacher grabbing the children by their upper arms and literally slamming them into their chairs at lunchtime. The toddlers were repeatedly getting up from the table, and I guess she was frustrated. I believed it was way too harsh and forceful, so I reported it to the director. She came into my office, and saw with her own eyes what was happening. Responding in what I believed was minimal concern, she went to the classroom and “had a talk” with the teacher. Nothing else was done. After witnessing the teacher continue to do this to the toddlers, and showing it to my boss yet again with nothing done about it, I became frustrated. In my naïveté’ and in fear of causing problems with my, I’m-not-kidding, absolutely-crazy-fly-off-the-handle boss, I didn’t know what to do about it. I also remember the crawling babies’ teacher used to sleep in the corner of the classroom every afternoon while the babies played. She thought I couldn’t see her on the monitors, but I could always see her legs and feet, which wouldn’t move for 30 minutes straight. I’d also go peek in on her and find her with red groggy eyes trying to act like she’d been awake the whole time. It was what I witnessed there that caused me to vow to never to put my children in daycare.

Soon after, I was looking online and found out that the University near my house had a Master’s program for Elementary Education. I thought, how perfect! Why haven’t I ever considered being a teacher before? I always knew I wanted to help people, and if not in the field of psychology, then teaching seemed even better – at least then I’d always have the joy of seeing the progress my students made (unlike psychological counseling, where sometimes you don’t get to witness the progress). I thought, I’ve always enjoyed learning, now I can make learning fun for my own students! I was excited about my new career choice. I began the 1 ½-year program, and graduated with honors.

My first teaching job was at a poor and low-performing middle school, but I was psyched. I was going to make the most of what little resources I had, and make learning fun and exciting. My first day on the job, I got a speeding ticket, I was so excited to get there. Within a few months, I began to realize exactly what I had gotten myself into. My classroom was a moldy, leaky trailer unit, complete with our own pet mouse (which we never could see or catch, but he left his evidence behind), and a toilet that constantly overflowed onto the carpet and made the whole classroom stink. Most of the kids who attended there didn’t have the luxury of enjoying education since their primary concerns were a lack of safety at home, or wondering where they would get their next meal. Many of them were involved in gangs, fights, drugs, alcohol and yes, even sex. There were bullies of every type. That school year we had three “lock-downs” due to weapon threats and incidents, each of which I noticed was quietly kept from the press. I decided that year that I would do all I could to keep my children out of the “bad schools” such as this one.

Chris’ job took him to another city, so we moved. I got a new job, and this time I was pickier about which schools I applied. I made sure to apply only to the “high-performing” and “better” schools. I was thrilled when I was accepted at one of the top elementary schools in the county – a brand new school, with state of the art technology and an abundance of teaching resources, huge and sanitary classrooms, good community involvement and parental support. My third-grade classroom was my pride. I spent hours upon hours preparing for my first year there. I just knew it would be easy to make learning fun and exciting here. After all, I had computers, pretty posters, brand new textbooks, a bookshelf full of leveled readers and a well-stocked library to get more books from. The majority of the teachers, kids and parents attended church right down the road and I was told the school atmosphere was a “Christian environment.” The kids were all performing on grade level according to the test scores I researched before applying to work there, so I assumed teaching them would be easy.

At this school, however, it turned out all my impressions and expectations were wrong. The kids weren’t really on grade level, in fact most of them weren’t (in spite of the test reports). The resources were limited, and often I was empty-handed due to other teachers hoarding, and then budget cuts which caused the resources to become strictly limited and sparingly shared. The “Christian” and “supportive” parents turned out to be extremely gossipy and bully-like, and voiced their constant criticism of everything “new” I introduced. I caught kids chatting candidly about sex (and sexual abuse) and drugs and their parents’ weekend parties, under the slide on the playground (remember, these were third graders!). I overheard what I considered verbal abuse of a child being disciplined in the hallway, on numerous occasions. There were no consequences given by the principal when children misbehaved repeatedly in the classroom. And I’m not referring to things like talking during class – I’m talking about incidents of bullying, cussing/yelling at the teacher, poking other children repeatedly with pencils, and even throwing furniture.

While I worked at that school, I went overboard in trying to plan and do it all. I worked so hard at trying to teach to the four different groups of children I found in my care: the ones who still couldn’t yet read, the ones who had emotional and behavior problems to the extreme that they would harm themselves or others, the few who actually were performing on grade level, and the few who were academically gifted and bored to death. It was overwhelming, and I honestly did the best I could. My heart was in it. But I was only one teacher with a classroom full of a variety of individual needs, strict rules on paperwork which kept me overloaded, and a work atmosphere of lies and cover-ups. I learned that the school wasn’t at all what it was all portrayed to be “on paper” or “in reputation.” The county’s leadership and the school’s leadership only cared about how well your lesson plans were written and presented, how high your students’ scores were on the standardized tests, and whether or not your walls were covered with the mandated visual representation of what your lesson plans said you were supposedly teaching. I saw many teachers neglecting what I viewed as the most important thing – developing the students’ lifelong love of learning – in favor of “teaching to the test” and marking things off of the list of paperwork obligations and mandatory “to-do’s.” I hated what I saw as hypocrisy, and I felt I was involved in a big lie. I challenged it, even confronted my principal on it, and tried teaching to my convictions, but to no good effect. I realized what really goes on in public schools, and I wanted out. I saw children being “left behind” in spite of the government’s laws, and it made me sick.

I heard of parents who homeschooled their children while I worked at that elementary school. I judged them harshly at first, because I thought they couldn’t possibly teach their children everything they needed to know at home. How could a parent assume he/she could do a better job than a certified, trained teacher? Not only that, but their children would certainly be unsocialized if they weren’t around other children their own age. I also didn’t have a high opinion of private school kids either. I had children who transferred to my classroom from the local private schools, and they were so far behind the “state standards” which of course, were a superior brand of skills. I was so ill-informed.

By this time, my daughter Laynie was a baby, and I really just wanted to be at home with her. But we had gotten used to living comfortably on two incomes, and I had the better health insurance and benefits for our family through my work. So we decided to put Laynie with a babysitter and I went back to 10-hour days at work when she was 12 weeks old.

I was utterly and completely miserable. I cried nearly every day on the drive to work, and on the drive home, over the time I was missing with her.

In a last-ditch effort to find a “teaching home” I transferred to another school, hopeful that things might be different. I hoped I could scale back on my hours and be able to spend more time with Laynie. I hoped that this school wasn’t so lost in focus, and that I would find co-workers and superiors who valued the kids over paperwork and standardized testing. I went back to teaching middle school, and was hopeful that my new class of “Academically Gifted” students would be more enjoyable to teach. I taught at the most sought-after middle school to attend in the county – parents fought hard to get their kids in there, and bragged when they did about how wonderful it was. This school had superior test scores and a reputation of being academically challenging. Turns out things weren’t much different than the first middle school I worked at. There were rampant gangs, fights, drugs, sex, and bullying. There was even more disrespect for authority than I’d seen at my other middle school (the low-performing one, remember?). This school was even more micro-managed than the elementary school I came from. And once again, I witnessed a teacher (actually a very highly respected one) verbally abusing and emotionally manipulating students. I also overheard a Science teacher’s discussion with a student, and heard her explaining to her in a methodical manner, basically that her Christian beliefs weren’t as valid as Scientific theory (which to me is unacceptable – especially if the teacher is a Christian, which this teacher was – or at least she attended church and prayed before meals anyway).

I realized I couldn’t stand the thought of sending my child to public school. I just didn’t trust teachers with my own child. And what I had seen from transfer students had convinced me that some of the more affordable private schools must not do a good job of teaching standards either, even if the children were taught biblical values. My daughter was now almost two, and I realized I couldn’t stand the thought of missing out on her next few years, and on top of that then sending her to places such as I had worked. And to send her to one of the better private schools which did have higher educational standards would just cost way too much – we wouldn’t be able to afford it.

So I quit. I quit teaching. After finishing out the year, I just couldn’t agree to go back the next year. I began to look into job opportunities that would allow me to work from home. I got accepted at MetLife into their training program to learn financial and insurance counseling and sales. But after 6 tries and three months without pay, I just couldn’t pass the exam needed to begin working for pay there.

So I went back to work at a preschool. This time I was the lead teacher of a toddler classroom. These kids were Laynie’s age, and I loved them like they were my own (since I couldn’t be with her during the day, this was the next best thing). Those babies gave me joy, and the director was wonderful to work for. Very little paperwork was required, and I was free to make learning fun and just love on some little babies. It was good. But I still missed Laynie. I still cried on my way to and from work, and even on my lunch breaks. I just wanted to be at home with her. I’d like to say that this preschool (a 5-star facility) was a good place for children, but I saw some things there that made me angry and only reinforced my fears of ever having to leave my own child at a preschool – even physical and verbal abuse.

It was about that time that Chris and I met a wonderful friend and mentor, and she homeschooled. Not once did I ever think she was weird, or extreme, or overprotective. By this time I completely understood why anyone would want to do that. Since then, I’ve met several other homeschooling families. Witnessing their children’s strength in academics and more importantly, moral character and enjoyment of education, encouraged me to learn more about it and pursue it for my own child. Homeschooling (as well as being a stay-at-home mom) became my heart’s desire.

Our church held a class called Financial Peace by Dave Ramsey, and Chris and I attended. We balanced the budget, cut out unnecessary expenses, and began working on paying off our debt. We vowed never again to use credit cards or loans to pay for things. If we didn’t have the cash, we didn’t buy it. And we’ve stuck to it. It’s been three years, and we’ve paid off over $20,000 in debt (and STILL not finished we had so much debt!), and haven’t used a credit card since.

Very soon, thank God, Chris acknowledged the benefits of homeschooling, and of me being at home with our daughter. So it was decided: we would homeschool – somehow, any way it would be possible to do so, and no matter what it required. Even a loss in my job income and excellent benefits, and having to give up on the comforts and luxuries that living off two incomes affords.

Coming up next - Part 6: The most important thing: My Calling – I hope you’ve stayed with me so far. If you have, you may have formed some opinions about my motivations. Please continue to read. What’s next is what I really hope you’ll remember most about my story. I’ve been building up to this, and can’t wait to share it with you.

Make Valentine's Day Memorable

2011-02-13T20:33:00.001-05:00

A guest post by Anna Sowa on behalf of Kumon

Valentine’s Day is a chance for children to share their feelings with the people they care about. But how do you do that and stand out from the rest? Making Valentine’s Day cards out of construction paper and putting little candy hearts in bags tied with bows is not very unique. If you want to share a Valentine’s Day that’s memorable, try zigging while others zag.

Try putting a more personal spin on the candy your children share with their favorite friends this year. Visit PrintedCandies.com and see how easy it is to put custom messages on the candy your children hand out to friends and family. Remember that this is a chance for them to get creative and stand out from the crowd.

This year try a Secret Valentine. Similar to the Secret Santa concept, put friends’ names into a hat and have everyone choose a name. The name each participant chooses will be his or her Secret Valentine. When February 14 arrives, everyone can share the excitement of learning the identity of his or her Secret Valentine.

Unique Valentine’s Day decorative projects can be a source of fun and provide everyone a reminder of what this special day represents. The Valentine's Day Wreath is both heartwarming and easy to make. Whenever guests arrive at your home, they will be greeted with this festive variation on the classic wreath.

With a few creative ideas, you can make this Valentine’s Day experience one to remember and perhaps one for others to imitate. After all, they do say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

The Best and Most Visited Free Homeschooling Blogs and Websites

2011-02-11T14:03:00.001-05:00

There are lots of “frugal, thrifty, or free homeschooling” websites popping up everywhere. The following blogs are also homeschoolers, and often blog about living the thrifty life. Be sure to visit each one and find some very worthy reads!

(Are you a frugal homeschooling mom (or dad)? I'd love for this list to be complete! I didn't leave you out on purpose! Wanna be included? I'm a PR 3 blog, so it would help your SEO! Just email me and I'll be glad to add you! Also, if you have a distribution list, please add me – I'd love to hear of any frugal or homeschooling news you'd like to share with my readers, and of course if you're the first to share it with me, I'll gladly give you credit for the information!)

Accidentally Homeschooling
Beauty and Bedlam
Budget Saving Mom
Faithful Homemaking
Freely Educated
Fun Frugal Mommy
GA Peach Homeschool
Grocery Cart Challenge
Happy Hearts at Home
Homeschool Creations
Homeschooling on the Cheap
Legacy of Home
Life As MOM
Magic and Mayhem
Moms Mustard Seeds
Money Saving Mom
Monkey See Monkey Do
My Blessings from Above
Our Homeschool Reviews
Practical Pages
Saving Dollars and Sense - This Side of Eternity
The Happy Housewife
The Frugal Homeschooling Mom
The Thrifty Homeschooler

How I Became The Frugal Homeschooling Mom: Part 4

2011-02-11T09:12:00.001-05:00

Click here if you missed Part 1, Part 2, or Part 3.

Part 4: College and Me as a Newlywed

In spite of my miserable inner attitude as a high-schooler, I seemed content, socially active and well-adjusted to outsiders. My senior year of high school, I easily got accepted to my college of choice, Campbell University. I applied for an academic scholarship which I was able to get with very little effort because in all actuality, my life looked really good on paper. I had all kinds of sports activities, club involvement, volunteer experience, and all that stuff that looks great on college applications. They were really impressed.

At the scholarship interview, I met a girl name Brandi who would become my best friend and my roommate all four years. Like Brandi, I originally went to Campbell to major in Pre-Pharmacy. But I quickly found out I just couldn’t grasp Chemistry, so I switched my major to Psychology instead. It was interesting, and I learned a lot about myself and my previous struggles in high school, and sorted some things out with the new knowledge I had about my mind, behavior, and the chemistry of the brain.

I met some wonderful friends while at Campbell. These friends were nothing like my high school peers. Like me, these girls and guys weren’t into the party, sex, drinking and drugs scene, and we had good, honest fun. I’m so thankful I met them. Although we’ve been told since that we became known as a righteous and exclusive clique, we really didn’t realize it. We just enjoyed each other’s company, and felt free to be ourselves. Being a part of a social group was a wonderful (and saving) experience in my case, since of course now you understand my previous social history.

I had met Chris the second week of Freshman Year, in Biology Lab. We began hanging out often, then dating, and then, well, we were simply inseparable. We were so in love it was sickening to those around us! We would literally end our dates standing outside our dorms, hugging and saying good-bye for hours. We’d sit outside until 3 or 4 o’clock in the morning many nights, talking about anything and everything and getting to know each other better. I opened up to Chris (the first person ever) about my awful past, and I learned that he loved and accepted me anyway. I found out what true love is.

I graduated with a B.S. in Psychology (having minored in Religion), Magna Cum Laude, and engaged to be married. I was flying high. I was going to go to graduate school to be a Counselor or a Psychologist, but mostly I looked forward to being a wife, and eventually a mother.

August 5, 2000

Chris and I got married a few months after graduation from college. We were 22. It was a perfect wedding, my dream come true. I had married the man of my dreams and we were beginning on an exciting journey together that was only going to be wonderful and perfect.

Chris’ first job landed us in a city too far away from the graduate school I had been accepted at to study counseling. So I began working at a daycare center, having found out that you really can’t get any good jobs with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. I had lots of experience in childcare as I worked through college, so it was a natural place for me to seek employment.

I really, really, oh really wanted to have children right away, but Chris wanted to wait until we were closer to age 30. I was disgruntled but I accepted it. I realized how young we were, and how it did make sense for us to wait.

I remember meeting a couple of good friends during that time who were stay-at-home wives with no kids, and I secretly wished I could be like that. I would have loved being at home. But it just seemed silly. Everyone expected me to work, so that’s what I did. Plus, Chris really didn’t make much money. And we both enjoyed eating out at nice restaurants, going to movies, buying brand-name clothes and accessories, and just living comfortably. And that required two incomes.

The next article will be describing my years pursuing work outside the home, and also how I first became open to the idea of homeschooling…