Raising Arrows

Bibidy Bobidy Bowtique Giveaway!

amy@raisingarrows.net (Amy @ Raising Arrows) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 05:01:00 +0000

This past October I was in my hometown for the annual Oktoberfest. A booth with little girl bows caught my eye and I stopped to peruse the cute little bows. The woman behind the booth suddenly said, "Hi Amy!" My un-observant self was totally caught off guard until I realized I had gone to high school with her!

Laura is now a stay at home mother of two little girls, Morgan (11) and Jordan (5). She loves to craft, so when it came to having two girls and hair accessories being so expensive and hard to find exactly what you need, she decided to make her own (a woman after my own heart!).

Her girls are the inspiration for her creations and are constantly giving her ideas for new additions to her etsy shop: Bibidy Bobidy Bowtique. Her bows are always hand sewn for durability and made from quality grossgrain ribbon. And besides that, they are oh so cute!

And Laura doesn't just do hairbows, she also does tutus and beaded socks! Such adorable things!

So, you can see why I am so excited to be able to offer a giveaway of Laura's Bibidy Bobidy Bowtique creations!

Wondering what you'll get if you win this giveaway? How about this:

You get 4 beautiful hairbows and 1 pair of beaded socks!

What do you have to do to win? It's easy and there's lots of ways to enter!

1. Leave a comment. (1 entry)

2. Facebook, Tweet, Blog this giveaway (1 entry per day per place)

3. Buy something from Bibidy Bobidy Bowtique (5 entries)

Good luck! Giveaway ends Friday, March 19th at midnight CST.

*****

Disclosure: I received hairbows & a pair of socks for my 5 year old from Bibidy Bobidy Bowtique.

Does My Blog Look Funny?

amy@raisingarrows.net (Amy @ Raising Arrows) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 06:01:00 +0000

If so, it is more than likely an Internet Explorer issue. There are 3 things you can do to resolve the issue:

1. Click on the incompatible icon. This is the tiny torn paper icon next to my blog's address in your address bar. Internet Explorer is notorious for not working...thus the little icon.

2. Change browsers. Find something other than Internet Explorer. They just aren't keeping up with the changing internet.

3. Subscribe to my blog in a reader or via email. This can be done by clicking the link below:

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Click on the icon to get my feed in a reader or via email!

Sorry for the inconvenience everyone! Don't want to lose anyone over an annoyingly messed up blog!

Irish Supper Menu

amy@raisingarrows.net (Amy @ Raising Arrows) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:02:00 +0000

Royal Tara Irish Bone China

I'm half Irish. We Irish are a proud bunch. We may have been in the States for hundreds of years, but still our idea of a dream vacation is to head to the "Mother Country" and kiss the Blarney stone. And we very much like the fact that we have our very own holiday.

Growing up, my family didn't have the traditional green supper. We'd often have green cake or some such thing and of course, the traditional wearin' o' the green, but I didn't start celebrating St. Patrick's Day with a specific meal until 2008.

St. Patrick's Day is rather bitter-sweet for me in many ways. In 2003, it was the date of my D&C after my second miscarriage. In 2007, it was exactly a month after Dad's death (where my Irish blood comes from).

In 2008, it was the first meal I cooked following my daughter Emily's death 5 weeks earlier.

picture from our 2008 Green Supper

You might ask:

Why would I choose to make my first meal back in the kitchen following Emmy's death an Irish Supper?

For the same reason we started a Jesse Tree that year. I felt we needed new memories and new traditions. So much of what we celebrated before was edged in pain because "last time" Emmy was with us. (this fact is precisely the reason I encourage friends of grieving parents to offer memberships to museums and such after a child's death--it is something new and different.)

That said, our supper was still painful, just not *as* painful as it would have been had it been something we did *before* Emmy died.

That first supper was prepared using an e-book from Urban Homemaker. However, I don't think she sells it anymore. Besides, I don't do things the same way anymore. And this year, since we'll be sharing our Irish Supper with several other families, I thought I'd share it with you too!

photo credit

Corned Beef & Cabbage
Throw it in the crock pot...end of story.
{OK, maybe there's a little more to the story, but suffice it to say, I refuse to slave over corned beef when my crock pot can do it for me...}

Start in the morning with the corned beef on low.
Add the cabbage at lunch time.
Serve for supper on a large platter.

(If you want, you can add onion, garlic, cloves, and bay leaves for seasoning. Corned beef often continues to have a pinkish tint to it even when it is completely done. It's ok, trust me.)

*****

photo credit - ignore the kielbasa ;)

Colcannon
You can do this recipe in addition to or instead of the cabbage in the crock.

1 head cabbage, shredded
4 leeks, chopped or 2 onions, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 stick butter
10 Yukon Gold potatoes, diced

In a heavy saucepan, put butter, cabbage, onions, & garlic. Stir & cook over medium heat. Don't brown!

In a separate pan, boil potatoes until soft. Drain, reserving enough liquid to mash potatoes to a soft consistency.

Combine all. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Serve heaped up into a mound with a well in the center for more butter or sprinkle colby cheese over top and put into a preheated oven until cheese melts.
Serves 6-8

*****

photo credit

Irish Soda Bread
2 c. flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 c. butter
1/4 c. raisins
1 tsp caraway seeds
1 egg
about 1/2 c. buttermilk (you can use milk)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a small bowl, mix together dry ingredients. Cut butter into dry ingredients using a fork or pastry blender. Mixture should resemble course meal. Add the raisins and caraway seeds.

Break the egg into a 3/4 measuring cup and then add enough buttermilk to fill the cup. Add this mixture to the dry ingredients and mix until thoroughly blended.

Take the dough out of the bowl and knead. Then, split the dough into several small rounds of the same size. Make a cross on top of each round with a knife and drizzle melted butter on top. Sprinkle sugar on top.

Place on greased cookie sheet and bake until golden brown (approx 30 mins).
This bread can double as side dish and dessert if you like.

*****

Dessert
I'm not picky here. If it's green, I'm good. So, you can do:
cupcakes with green frosting
green frosted cake
sugar cookies with green sprinkles
mint chocolate chip ice cream
or whatever your little Irish heart desires!

*****

So, March 17th will find me at a friend's house planting potatoes (we're doing a corporate garden this year) and eating our Irish Supper! What will you be doing?

Join the Spring Cleaning Curriculum Giveaway!

amy@raisingarrows.net (Amy @ Raising Arrows) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:01:00 +0000

Curriculum Clean Out!

This is an excellent opportunity hosted by TheCurriculumChoice.com to not only get rid of your curriculum, but win some great curriculum from other people! Click on the link to learn more!

Baby Gets a Haircut

amy@raisingarrows.net (Amy @ Raising Arrows) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:01:00 +0000

The "Before"

First, I must beg your forgiveness for the poor quality of photography here. We kept wondering why things were out of focus and why the camera was focusing on strange areas of the photo. Come to find out a great big smudge (courtesy of Micah) was the culprit! The pictures were taken prior to our revelation.

OK...now on with the story...

Some of you might think me extravagant, but I have this silly notion that my boys' first haircuts (and for some reason, not my girls'...go figure) have to be done by someone we know and trust...and that someone is NOT me.

I can shave a head with the best of them, but I do not do normal, every day little boy haircuts.

I knew Micah's hair had to be cut by my friend Lori, despite the fact her shop is an hour away from my house. {Yeah, I know it didn't *have* to be cut by Lori, but you must remember I am pregnant and once I get a notion in my head, there is just no getting around it.}

"Hey there, Dad!"

Micah wanted nothing to do with the big chair, so I held him (and ended up quite hairy, I might add). Other than that little hiccup, he was good as gold and sat nicely for his haircut. Lori crowned him the best first haircut ever!

"I'm outta here!"

With the weight of his hair gone, Micah quickly ran off to find his sibs and show them his cuteness. {ok, so maybe he was just looking for the toy room}.

"I'm a Big Boy now!"

He was so busy, we had a hard time getting any cute face-on shots of him, but you get the idea.

I still find myself looking over at him and admiring his new haircut and marveling in the fact that my little one is growing up. *sigh*

Oh, and in case you are wondering where he got his adorable little outfit...
The babylegs are from DittanyBaby.com (they're called skid pants there).
The owl embroidered t-shirt is from Mimi's Babies.

{yes, I know I can make my own BabyLegs, but sometimes a mama's gotta splurge...this was my splurge!}

*****

Disclosure time:
I schedule posts about a week in advance. When I wrote this post, Mimi's Babies was NOT one of my sponsors. Frankly, I adore her products and wanted to mention where the owl shirt came from. Well, 2 days prior to this post going live, Mimi's Babies became one of my sponsors here at Raising Arrows. Obviously, this does not change my opinion of their products, but I have to disclose...so now ya know. :)

When You Just Can't Hack Cloth Diapering

amy@raisingarrows.net (Amy @ Raising Arrows) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:00:00 +0000

This baby shall remain anonymous because he is embarrassed his mother put him in a disposable diaper.

OK, not really.

He seriously doesn't care.

So, why do I?

I could spout something about how I'm filling landfills and how I'm putting chemicals next to his sensitive skin, but it won't change the fact that right now I cannot hack cloth diapering.

Now, don't get me wrong...I LOVE cloth diapering. There is something terribly satisfying about putting cloth next to your baby's skin. And cloth you've made...well, that's even better! I am looking forward to returning to cloth diapering, but I refuse to be a martyr to something that is simply a preference.

It is a "good thing", but it does not own me.

But, "good things" are like that, aren't they? They are so good that we would gladly stand on soapboxes for them. They are so good that we would gladly sacrifice other "lesser" things in order to continue with the good things. We feel so strongly about them that we have a hard time imagining our life without them.

And then life throws a curve ball...

And the "good thing" starts to have consequences we can't manage.

For me, it was the ick factor (yes, there IS an ick factor with cloth diapering. You can read how I usually deal with it HERE.) and the fact that even my normal, everyday laundry wasn't getting done, let alone the cloth diaper laundry.

The good thing became the difficult thing. No, I don't ditch everything that is difficult, but I do have a few guiding principles that help me make decisions when good things start to cause me grief.

1) What does the Bible say about it?
2) Will it matter in 10 years?
3) Is the situation a forever situation?
4) If not, what will the short term effects be? On me? On the children? On my husband?
5) If it is, what will the long term effects be? (same people as before)
6) Is this a pride issue?

Ooooo! Did you catch that last one???

All too often good things get wrapped up into who we are. We are defined by the things we are passionate about. When they go south or become more than we can bear (even if just for a time), we find ourselves scrambling to make sure we're still who we once were. We are afraid to tell people for fear they will either point fingers or think less of us. We don't want to admit defeat or failure, even when that's not really what it is.

We are proud of the things that define us. Losing those things hits us where we live.

I've had some major realizations in the pride department lately. Things that I felt defined me were falling away at a rapid rate and I found myself distraught. Recently, I sat crying as I read an email pertaining to one of the things being stripped from me thinking, "Why is this bothering me so much? It shouldn't matter to me as much as it does."

That's when I realized it was pride that was causing me the most grief.

So, as for cloth diapering (among other things that have to go by the wayside-either temporarily or permanently) I have to see it for what it is. It isn't who I am. I don't suddenly change without it. I don't have to do XYZ to be me.

And admitting it doesn't make me weak...it makes me real.

Realizing and humbly accepting my limitations Works For Me! To read more WFMW tips & tidbits, follow the link!

Household Creeps

amy@raisingarrows.net (Amy @ Raising Arrows) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 06:01:00 +0000

photo credit

"For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."
II Timothy 3:6-7

Stay-at-home-moms and especially, homeschool moms are students. We read and read and read...sometimes to our children, but often to glean information for ourselves. We pour over how-to homeschooling books, homeschooling mom's devotionals, and homeschooling manifestos. We are ALWAYS learning, BUT...

DO WE HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE OF TRUTH?

I love to learn, and I hope to instill a love of learning in my children. But, what sorts of things am I learning? Am I spending my time learning what truly matters? I can read what all sorts of people have to say about all sorts of things, but if the Word of the Lord is not hidden in my heart, then I will fall for anything anyone says. I will try to implement every time schedule, educational plan, or child disciplinary chart out there, but never follow through or be successful with any of it because I don't know the truth.

Now, don't get me wrong...it can be good to read what others have written and spend time discussing other's thoughts on a myriad of things, but if we don't KNOW THE TRUTH, we will not have the discernment to know when something someone writes or says is just their opinion, rather than God's Truth.

So, what can we do to guard against "household creeps"?

II Timothy 2:22 tells us to
"Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."

If you do not PURSUE...not just hope you bump into...righteousness, faith, love, and peace, you will never know the TRUTH.

If you are spending your time gossiping, you aren't going to know the TRUTH.

If your conversations are not flooded with the Word of God, then you will never know the TRUTH.

Get God's Word in your heart, and GROW UP! Notice, the previous verse says, "youthful lusts." Household creeps are rooted in immaturity. Knowledge of TRUTH will grow you up!

*****

If you are looking for a little homeschooling encouragement today, head over to the Carnival of Homeschooling. I'm there with my post on the Homeschooling Blues.

Homeschooling - What If I Get Tired of the Kids?

amy@raisingarrows.net (Amy @ Raising Arrows) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 06:01:00 +0000

Back to the homeschooling questions!

Here's one I hear A LOT! Mostly I hear it phrased this way:

"I couldn't homeschool my kids because I couldn't stand to be around them 24/7."

I think the people who say such things to me think I have some sort of innate super-human patience they do not possess; therefore, *I* can homeschool, while they most definitely cannot.

OK, let's dispel that myth once and for all.

Remember, I'm the lady who couldn't wait to send her child off on the big yellow school bus? I was the lady who begged to have her tubes tied during her 3rd pregnancy. Patience was not my forte. In fact, I'm not sure it is even now.

Super-human...Nope. Supernatural is more like it.

I don't grow tired of my kids because the Lord renews me over and over and over again.

There is such a thing as homeschool burnout, but there are some things you can set in place to help keep you from hitting the wall:

1. Surround yourself with encouraging homeschool moms. I'm not necessarily talking about ladies who never have troubles of their own or who spend their lives with a goofy smile on their faces. I'm talking about real women who offer real answers with real encouragement.

Perhaps they are online (there are a million forums out there...pick one!) Even better if they are just a phone call away.

Join a homeschool support group just for moms. Not one where you commiserate over all the bad things, but one where you come home uplifted and edified. This isn't selfish. It's a great way to keep from becoming selfish.

2. Remember why you homeschool. Post the goals. Post the Scripture. When you are feeling like you've had enough, go back to the roots.

3. Read encouraging books, magazines, and blogs or watch encouraging videos. I know you think you don't have time, but sometimes all you need is a quick pep talk. Some of my favorites are:
Books
When You Rise Up by R.C. Sproul, Jr.
Educating the Wholehearted Child by Sally Clarkson

Magazines
The Old Schoolhouse
Salt Magazine

Blogs
(Don't want to step on any toes here. I read so many homeschooling blogs it would take an entire post to list them all! These are just a few of the many!)

Discover the Child
A House on Fire
A High & Noble Calling
Regan Family Farm
Peace Creek Prairie

Videos
The Children of Caesar ~ Voddie Baucham
(watch an excerpt here on You Tube)

4. Change things up. When the children are at each other and you are at them, do something different. Take a field trip. Give yourself the day off. Meet friends at the park and let the kids run. Homeschooling does not (and should not) look like traditional public school. You are not bound to the kitchen table with scope and sequence ropes that won't let you do anything out of the norm. If the kids are driving you crazy, chances are you're driving them crazy too. Do something different!

5. You're not perfect...and it's okay. There will be days when you are supermom. There will be days when you wish you could just crawl in a hole. If most days you are somewhere in between the two, you're doing good. Let go of unrealistic expectations. Let God be in charge.

and finally...

6. Kids are kids. Don't expect perfection from them either. Love 'em where they live, train 'em in the way they should go, always remember they are a blessing.

Who could grow tired of this?

How bored I would be without them!

The To-Do List - Beyond the Basics

amy@raisingarrows.net (Amy @ Raising Arrows) — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 06:01:00 +0000

Part 3
If you've missed the beginning of this series, start with Part 1.
And for those of you who have been reading Raising Arrows for a while, you might remember my post on What Does My Day Look Like. This post is similar, but only touches on the To-Do List and not the rest of daily life. Read that post if you'd like to see how the rest of our day goes.

photo credit

It seems to me that for the Scheduled Family the basics are often a no-brainer. To go beyond the basics, you need only to add a block of time that says something like Morning Chores, and the entire family knows that means Brush Teeth, Get Dressed, Make Bed, etc. This is the beauty of the Scheduled Family.

However, the Routine Family tends to have a bit more trouble in this area. I am not sure why that is, it has just been my experience as such. So, this post is more for the Routine Family.

To establish the basics, see some of the tips in the previous post. You really do need to practice the basics for quite some time before they will become the basics. I can remember when I first implemented Table Chores with the children. I had high hopes that within a week, they would do them automatically. Boy, was I wrong! It took a year and a half! And still, I must occasionally remind them of something they missed! So, do not become disheartened! Persevere!!!

Once you have the basics in place--things like a simple morning routine, afternoon routine, and bedtime routine--you can consider adding in routines that repeat weekly. This is how I get my house cleaning done.

When I had a smaller family, my weekly routine was much less involved. I cleaned my home thoroughly on Monday, did up all my laundry, and coasted the rest of the week. I found this stopped working after Baby #3. But, I do want to include a little more about this method of routine since small families deserve just as much attention as large ones...

For a smaller family, a one-day-a-week cleaning spree is often enough to keep the house in working order the rest of the week. You simply get it all done and then maintain. Since the weekend tends to destroy a house no matter what size your family is, Monday is the perfect day to regroup. No matter which day you choose to regroup, I would highly encourage you to never schedule appointments or out-of-the-house activities on that day (yes, I know Routine Families are not known for their ability to commit to something like this, but please consider the "why" behind my reasoning.)

So once upon a time, Monday was the day I would clean the house. I did this in the morning because I was schooling my oldest child in the afternoon during his sister's nap. Tuesday and Wednesday, I pretty much coasted. The house really didn't require much from me those days. These were the days that work best for making appointments. Now, by Thursday, I usually needed to readdress the mess. There were some things that needed attention since I had been away the previous days. But, quite often, the mess only took an hour or less to completely fix. It was sort of like a mini-clean, and it was enough to get me through the weekend. And that was how I did it with 2 children. (By the way, I was an avid FLYlady fan back in those days as well.)

For the larger family, you will more than likely need to break up your cleaning into bite-size pieces. My week is loosely based on the Large Family Logistics way of doing things. (The link is to Kim's old site and the posts on cleaning are on the left sidebar. You'll need to scroll a bit.)

So, here is what we do for our weekly cleaning routine:

Monday = Laundry (try to do all of it and then maintain throughout the week) & Dusting
Tuesday = Floors
Wednesday = Bathrooms
Thursday = Basement
Friday = Van & Outside chores
Saturday = Family Day & Prepare for Sunday
Sunday = Rest and Worship

This has proven to be a very doable weekly routine for us and one that is not too time-intensive. I still prefer to do all my cleaning in the morning with the children's help, and then start school as soon as we are finished.

I used to use my dry erase board for these chores as seen in Part 2 of these scheduling posts. The children now have set chores that correspond with each day so I don't have to make out a list every time. To see our set chores, click the link:

Children's Weekly Chores
(note: these chores may seem like a lot, but it really only takes us about an hour to get them all done. You'll also note each child is color-coded. Those are the children's colors in a lot of things...a huge help when there are a lot of littles.)

Your list will obviously be different because your home is different. And remember, moving beyond the basics takes time and patience. Finding a workable plan is not an easy task. You often have to just try it one way and see how it goes, make adjustments, and try it again. If you see something in your day that is a problem area, figure out a way to solve it. For instance, is your house always a mess by the time dad comes home even though it is neat and tidy in the morning? Implement a 4:30 pm mad-dash cleaning session to get the house ready for Daddy (ours is called a 15 Minute Tidy). In fact, before you start doing a full-blown weekly routine, start out by implementing bits and pieces. Do your 4:30 Mad Dash every day for a week. Is it working? Do you like the results? If so, keep it and move forward. Don't try to add every single thing I listed all in one week...you will burn out...especially if some piece of it doesn't quite fit your family.

So, a quick recap...

*Figure out what kind of family you are...Schedule or Routine.

*Find a daily basic plan that works for your family.

*Once you have practiced your plan for a sufficient amount of time, add in a weekly repeating routine one component at a time.

*If you find something that just is not working for your family, revamp it and try again. Give it time. Don't become discouraged! Persevere!!!

The To-Do List Posts:
Part1-Schedule or Routine?
Part 2 - Getting Started
This is Part 3 - Beyond the Basics

{Hey, if you missed it (I almost did!), I was over at The Homeschool Classroom with my post on Why We School Year Round. And today, I'm At The Well answering a reader's question on a Mom's Relationship with Her Boys. Go check them out and subscribe to the sites while you're there!}

Homemade Laundry Detergent

amy@raisingarrows.net (Amy @ Raising Arrows) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 02:00:00 +0000

our laundry system

I pretty much love all things homemade! I love the feeling of industry and resourcefulness that comes from making something myself for cheaper than I could have bought it at the store.

Many years ago, my mom bought me the Reader's Digest Homemade book (mine is the older version of the one in the link). That's where my homemade hand soap recipe came from. There is a laundry detergent recipe in there as well, but it tells you to use 1/2 a cup per load which just doesn't seem economical to me.

After searching for a more economical laundry soap, I came across a recipe from TheFamilyHomestead.com. (she has an excellent cost breakdown on there too!) For years this was the recipe I used:
1/3 bar of pure soap
1/2 c. washing soda
1/2 c. borax
(& sometimes I added a few drops of essential oil as well)
1.5 - 2 gallon container with lid (I used a plastic tub)

Grate the soap. (I use my Bosch Slicer/Shredder and do the entire bar or more on a fine shred.)

Put 1/3 of a bar into a saucepan. Add 6 c. of water and heat on low until soap melts.

Add washing soda & borax. Stir until dissolved. Remove from heat.

Add your essential oil here if you like.

Pour 4 c. hot water into the 2 gallon container, add soap mixture, and stir. Now add 1 gallon + 6 cups (22 cups) of water and stir.

Let sit for 24 hours to gel. Can be poured into an old liquid detergent container and used the same way you would your usual liquid detergent.

**However, there are some drawbacks to this recipe**

1. It's not ready right away.
2. It can get messy because it is liquid.
3. I often didn't feel like my clothes were really getting clean. (not that they weren't, but I often felt like the soap had too much water in it.)

So, recently via Twitter, I came across the Dugger family's recipe for powder laundry detergent and decided to give that a go. So far, I am quite pleased! Here's that recipe:

1 bar pure soap (Fels-Naptha, castille, etc)
1 c. washing soda
1/2 c. borax
medium-sized container with lid

Grate soap (as shown in previous recipe).

Place soap in container. Add washing soda & borax. Mix well.

Use 1 Tbsp per load or 2 Tbsp per load for heavily soiled clothing.

**Things I like about this recipe**

1. No wait time. I ran out of soap this morning. I made some up and could use it right away.
2. No mess.
3. Psychologically, *I* feel as though my clothes are really getting clean. ;)

Looking for more laundry detergent recipes? Head over to MamasLaundryTalk.com (she's hosting a link up on Friday...don't miss it!)

Enjoyed this tutorial? Perhaps you'd like to make your own Baby Wipes Solution? Or maybe some Playdough for the kiddos? Or maybe you just want to know more about Laundry in a larger-than-average family! Whatever you're looking for, enjoy your visit!

The To-Do List - Getting Started

amy@raisingarrows.net (Amy @ Raising Arrows) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 06:01:00 +0000

Part 2
If you missed Part 1, read it here.

OK, we talked about whether you are a Scheduled Family or a Routine Family. Now, for some ideas to get you started in making that work for you...

photo credit

One option for Scheduled Families is a simple Daily Planner. These work great for older children and parents alike, and they are compact enough to go wherever you go. Simply fill in each time slot with your to-do's for the week (I suggest weekly for the Scheduled Family rather than daily because you naturally prefer your week to have a nice flow or pattern to it). As you develop a workable schedule, you will need only to transfer the previous week into the new week. Leave the planner laying open on the table during the day for quick glances at what is next. Anything out of the ordinary (ie. school projects, urgent repairs, picking up your mother from the airport, etc) can be penciled in without too much disruption to your daily schedule.

courtesy of my friend Ashley

Another great option for Schedule-lovin' families is something like Managers of Their Homes. This type of schedule is put together in 30 minute blocks of time. You have a neatly set time for nearly everything you would like to accomplish throughout your day. You are able to schedule in everyone else's day as well. All of this is put into a color coded wall chart with blocks that can easily be changed and moved around. If you find something that does not work well in the time frame you originally placed it in or something in your life suddenly changes, you simply move it. (The Maxwells have a whole section of their site dedicated to their different schedules. Take a look at it.)

But, if you are a Routine person, MOTH (Managers of Their Homes) is more than likely NOT for you. In fact, I would gently suggest that it could quite possibly make you feel very badly about yourself and your ability to run a household properly. Mrs. Maxwell never intended for this to be the case, so please do not think I am suggesting she believes her schedule is the only way to run a household. She is merely trying to help other mamas out there manage their day with something that worked well for her household. But, the fact of the matter is that some of our lives do not fit neatly in 30 minute boxes. My life being a case in point.

So, what are some things that a Routine family can try?

photo credit

A Daily Planner may work for you too (or just a piece of notebook paper for that matter) but with two differences from the one kept by the Scheduled Family. Yours should not be marked with times. The other difference is that when you are first getting started your routine should be written out DAILY, not weekly. You simply take everything that must be accomplished during that day, write it down in a good working order, and cross it off as you go. (In the next post I'll show you how I set up a routine that stays fairly consistent so you don't have to always be writing a huge daily list).

Another suggestion comes from my friend, Sarah. You can read about it HERE. The basic idea is that you write everything down on separate notecards. When you have accomplished the item listed, you move it from the TO DO section to the DONE section. This is a great option for the children. Even those who can't read can have picture cards that tell them what to do next.

I've used this method for myself before by putting two magnetized clips on my refrigerator...one is TO DO and one is DONE. It feels so good to move the cards from one side to the other. I used this mainly as a way to remember all those daily things that if allowed to become sidetracked, I will simply forget to do: taking vitamins, giving the kids their vitamins, switching over laundry, thawing dinner, etc.

Another method that worked well for our family for a long time was using a dry erase board in plain sight. I wrote my name and my two older children's names with our chores for the day divided up between us. We erased chores as we went. Once chores were done, we moved into school work. It was a quick and satisfying way to get things done.

Ultimately, the name of the game when getting started with finding something that works for you is to brainstorm. Only you know the real inner workings of your family. Only you can look at your day and decide what might work and what definitely won't.

There are a million different methods. You could literally get lost in a sea of schedules. You also don't have to stick with one set routine or schedule for the rest of your life. My routines and schedules have changed over the years depending on my current life circumstances. I would highly suggest you take a look at other people's schedules and routines, but always with the thought in mind that what works for others will have to be tweaked for you and your family. (Take a look at other people's schedules in this post.)

The last post in this series before we move on to homeschool scheduling will be about going beyond the basics and fitting in weekly and monthly chores, so stay tuned!

The To-Do List Posts:
Part1-Schedule or Routine?
This is Part 2 - Getting Started
Part 3 - Beyond the Basics

Large Family Birthdays

amy@raisingarrows.net (Amy @ Raising Arrows) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 04:00:00 +0000

I'm going to take a break from the scheduling posts for just a bit, but I promise I will get back to them soon!

We recently celebrated another birthday and it made me stop to ponder how very different birthdays look from when we first started celebrating birthdays around here.

I hesitated to call this post "Large Family Birthdays" because we stopped doing traditional birthday parties long before we had a large family. However, I have to admit, we adopted a "large family mentality" about the same time and I wonder if that partly helped to make our decision.

So, let me give you a taste of what birthdays USED TO look like:

A room full of people
Tons of children (not my own)
Gifts being discarded within seconds of being opened
Very few decent birthday pictures because of the chaos
Tons of money spent on birthday extras that were really just a way to "keep up with the Joneses"
Exhausted parents & cranky children

Now, I know some of you LOVE the birthday party atmosphere, but for our family, it just wasn't working. And as our family grew, all we could envision was more and more chaos on more and more days of the year.

So, we ditched it all.

The day of the child's birthday, they are exempt from school and chores. They choose what we eat and most of the activities we participate in that day. We open presents as a family and usually eat ice cream cake.

Someday during the birthday week, grandparents come for a visit with more cake and their presents. There is always a special cake made by Granny to the child's specifications. (The cake in the picture is my horse-loving daughter's special cake.) The grandparents get the joy of seeing the children open their gifts without the frenzy of a million children and a million gifts.

Ocassionally, there are special outings with one friend and one friend only. A few years ago we experimented with having 2 friends and it was not good. Someone was always left out.

We also do half-sleepovers where the one friend gets to stay at our house until midnight or 12:30. The kids LOVE this! We do not do full sleepovers at all.

The celebrations include the entire family which teaches humility and sharing for the birthday child and patience and servanthood for the other children. Everyone definitely knows who the birthday child is, but the birthday child is encouraged to be considerate of his or her siblings. Celebrations are calm, but fun. There are pictures galore and they are really, really good ones. Presents are kept under control, and I never feel the stress of needing to put on a gala affair.

And that, my friends, Works for Me! (to read all sorts of other tips and trick from other bloggers, click the link!)

The To-Do List - Schedule or Routine?

amy@raisingarrows.net (Amy @ Raising Arrows) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 06:01:00 +0000

One of my many helpers

Part 1

I recently blogged about beating the homeschool schedule blues and I told you we'd be talking about homeschool schedules. However, homeschool schedules aren't the only schedules we moms have to deal with. We have a home to run and no amount of positive thinking will make the house keep itself clean. So, in addition to finding a workable homeschooling schedule, we must also find a workable Homekeeping Schedule.

The first place to begin is with assessing what kind of family you have. There are basically 2 types when it comes to how things get done in a household: scheduled and routine.

Now, before you tell me that you are neither one because you are a free spirit and prefer not to commit to anything even remotely resembling something that might tie you down, let me entreat you to consider the God you serve and His attributes in this respect (remember, we are created in HIS image). God set forth timing and order to nearly everything. Our day is 24 hours, with a sunrise and a sunset. We have a 7 day week, with a day set aside for worship. The tides, the seasons, the revolutions and rotations of the planets are all in a set order. Even God's plan for mankind's salvation and reconciliation to Himself was set forth in a certain order. God is not a God of chaos. So, Fly By the Seat of your Pants is not an option.

How do you determine if you are a family who prefers schedules or a family who prefers routines? First of all, there are merits to both. One is not right and the other wrong. They both lead to order, just in a slightly different way.

The Scheduled Family tends to like alarm clocks. They feel their best when they rise at the same time every day with no variation. Most of the members of the family work best within time limits. They are often encouraged by accomplishing tasks on time. There is very little deviation in life from day to day, and very few outside or spur-of-the-moment trips throughout the week. Everyone enjoys knowing exactly when and what will happen next. And Daddy often has a set schedule, so there is no question as to when meal times are and when Daddy's days off are.

The Routine Family rises at approximately the same time every day, but if they have been out later the evening before, they tend to sleep in later. Things in the home do not necessarily have a designated place. To this family, time constraints only serve to create foul moods and frustration. The joy of finishing a task often supersedes the amount of time it took to complete that task. Daily life includes many spur of the moment happenings: people dropping by, quick trips to the store, an impromptu outing with Daddy, to name a few. Daddy's schedule is not set in stone. He is on call, or works random weekends, or later nights here and there, or possibly, Daddy works from home or has the option to be home at will. Meal times change from day to day as do Daddy's days off.

So, now that you have a better idea of which type of family you are, you can now move forward with putting a Homekeeping Plan in place. There is a myriad of options out there for each type of family, so I couldn't possibly touch on each one, but I will try to have several future posts that give you a place to start.

I'd also like some input from you! What type of family are you and have you found something that works well for your family dynamic? Leave it in the comment section so others can benefit from learning about what has worked for you!

The To-Do List Posts:
This is Part 1
Part 2 - Getting Started
Part 3 - Beyond the Basics

Change the World - Raise Arrows

amy@raisingarrows.net (Amy @ Raising Arrows) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 06:01:00 +0000

Every now and then you read a book that makes you want to stand up and cheer. Every now and then you read a book that humbles you and causes you to want to do something bigger than yourself. Every now and then you read a book that causes you to see potential and purpose in the little things.

Today I introduce you to the book that has done all this and more: One Million Arrows by Julie Ferwerda.

About a month ago I asked if you were raising arrows. Our family was featured in the short video teaser I showed you in that post due to the fact that we had been chosen to be a part of the One Million Arrows Blog Tour. At that time, I had not read the entire book, but I liked what I saw on the website, and doesn't it make sense that a blog named Raising Arrows should be part of a book tour for a book about...Raising Arrows?

So, what makes One Million Arrows so inspiring?

The vision.

"No longer can our lives revolve around sports, entertainment, amusement, busyness, or a host of other 'good' or even 'good enough' activities. They must revolve around best, through getting to know God very personally, glorifying and enjoying Him, and then bringing His Good News to others." (p71)

The book contains inspiring stories of everyday people changing the world, parenting with purpose, all with furthering God's kingdom in mind.

And it's not just about raising your own biological arrows! It's about reaching the children of this world any way you can, training them in righteousness and the ways of the Lord, then shooting them out into the world to make a difference. This can be done through everything from adoption to funding orphanages who train with God's purposes in mind!

You really can be a part of something much bigger...don't sell yourself short!

Take a look for yourself:
Read Chapter One of One Million Arrows

Check out the website

or Buy the book!

And then...

GET BUSY RAISING ARROWS!

This is Just Gross

amy@raisingarrows.net (Amy @ Raising Arrows) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 06:01:00 +0000

For those of you fearful that I am a perfect housekeeper or super mom or some such myth...

here's your proof that I am not:

That, my dear friends, is the filter off my vacuum cleaner...

EWWWWWW!

The Homeschool Schedule Blues

amy@raisingarrows.net (Amy @ Raising Arrows) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 06:01:00 +0000

Homeschooling schedules got you in a tizzy? Feel like hiding under a chair and pouting (what my son happens to be doing in the photo above)? Wonder if you'll ever figure out a workable homeschooling schedule in this lifetime? I have definitely been there and done that!

So, what are some things you can do to beat the homeschool schedule blues? In the coming weeks I'll be working up some posts that go a little more in depth on the subject, but until then, here's a quick list to get you started.

1) Pinpoint the problem areas. Be specific. What parts of your homeschooling day drive you nuts? What subjects are you finding the most difficult to work in? Make a list.

2) Brainstorm ways you can overcome these problems. Don't be afraid to list even seemingly outrageous solutions. Ask friends to help you brainstorm and LISTEN TO THEM. Sometimes the answer is only a phone call away.

3) Try each suggestion on for size (preferably one at a time). Give each one at least a week before deciding whether it works or not.

4) Discard those that do not work. Do not worry about the fact that Susie-so-and-so made it work for her family. You are not Susie-so-and-so, and your family may have different needs than hers.

5) Keep those that do work for you. Write them down, implement then, enlist the kids to hold you accountable to the schedule.

6) In a few weeks, reevaluate. Is it still working for you? Did it end up being as great as you had thought it would be? Do you need to try something else from your brainstorming session? Has the new schedule created a new problem area somewhere else? If so, is the new problem worth keeping the new schedule? Do you need to brainstorm a solution to the new problem?

7) Don't be discouraged. The process may be long and involved, or you may find a workable schedule only to realize that a new baby or a new move or something else puts a kink in it and you have to rework it again. If you stay calm and just methodically work through finding a new solution, you'll make a lot more headway in a lot less time than if you fly into a frenzy and end up burned out (or on the floor, under a chair, pouting). Remember the adage, "Slow & steady wins the race."

and

8) My very favorite reminder...Pray for the Lord to fill in the gaps. You WILL have gaps. There is absolutely no way around it. Remind yourself, if you must, that your own schooling had gaps and yet, here you are, following the Lord's will.

How about we do a little Schedule Show & Tell here. If you have a post or a link to a homeschool schedule, link it up here! Also, here is the link to the scheduling posts I promised earlier.

Make Your Own Liquid Hand Soap

amy@raisingarrows.net (Amy @ Raising Arrows) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 04:00:00 +0000

For many years I made our own liquid hand soap from just a few simple ingredients. I'm not as diligent with it as I once was, but I still enjoy how quick and easy this recipe is.

These are the ingredients I use:

Glycerin (tall bottle)

Essential oil (small bottle)

Bar of Soap (purple bar)

A little bit about each ingredient and how you can change it up a bit:

I purchased the glycerin from Hobby Lobby for under $4 and it lasts me at least a year.

The essential oil I use is peppermint oil, but this is really up to you and what fragrances or healing properties you like. The soap shown here is a castille soap our family made during a soap-making party. You can use any soap, but I recommend something natural like Fels Naptha, castille, or even Ivory.

Now, you need to grate your soap:

I use my Bosch Slicer/Shredder that I purchased from MarmeeDear.com. I originally purchased the slicer/shredder in order to shred the bulk cheese we were getting wholesale. It proved to be fantastic for this job as well. However, if you don't own something like this, use an old fashioned grater and use the fine side so your soap will melt faster in the next step.

Put 1 cup of soap flakes in a pot.

You can choose to only grate 1 cup of soap at a time or you can grate the entire bar and save the rest for your next batch (that's what I do).

Cover the soap with 4 cups of water. Add 1 Tbsp of glycerin and about 5 drops of essential oil. Warm the pot on the stove until the soap flakes melt, stirring regularly.

And you're finished!

From here, all I do is fill all my old soap dispensers with the warm soap (a funnel comes in quite handy here!)

You may need to experiment with the glycerin amounts depending on the bar soap you use (a castille will possibly need more, a regular bar of soap may not need any at all!)

Try it out and come back and let me know how it turned out!

This post is linked to Works For Me Wednesday.

I'm Pregnant and Huge - A Diastasis Recti Story

amy@raisingarrows.net (Amy @ Raising Arrows) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 06:01:00 +0000

I said I would NEVER do this.

But, the more I think about it, the more I wonder if there are other mamas out there dealing with what I have dealt with for several years and several pregnancies. Maybe this will help...even if all it does is help you know you are not alone.

OK, so what would I never do? Post a belly shot early in pregnancy. But, here it is:

This is me at 9 weeks. Scary, huh?

Why do I look so huge so early? Same reason I look pregnant most all the time...I have what is called a diastasis recti. The basic definition of this condition is a split in the stomach muscles, but you can find a more in depth definition here.

For some women, some simple exercises will completely heal a diastasis. For this, I highly recommend Julie Tupler's Lose Your Mummy Tummy
book (you can visit Julie's actual site at www.maternalfitness.com where she has several other books and products I know nothing about, but might be of interest). However, even she says that a diastasis of my severity won't be fixed with her methods (although I do see some closure when I use her exercises). Someday I will need surgery to pull the muscles back together.

You might be wondering how to check for a diastasis. It's actually very easy.
1. Lie on your back on the floor.
2. Put your fingertips near the center of your belly (horizontally above your belly button).
3. Curl up as if doing a crunch.
4. Feel with your fingertips the center of your belly. Is there a gap? If so, how many fingerwidths is it? Diastasis is measured in fingerwidths placed side by side. Mine is usually somewhere between 6-8.

Julie Tupler says even a diastasis as bad as a 5 can be repaired. Beyond that, you can only work to strengthen those muscles and consider surgery at some point.

OK, so what is the bulge you see that most people would assume is a 6 month pregnant belly? What I am about to tell you is not for the weak-stomached...

It's my internal organs bulging out. There are no stomach muscles to hold them in place, so they sort of just flop out there. Gross, I know.

Is it dangerous? No.

Is it uncomfortable? Sometimes.

Is it embarrassing? Yes.

I always say I look better pregnant because at least the bulging belly doesn't look out of place. When I'm not pregnant I wear a brace. Not the one Julie Tupler sells (she calls it a splint), because it isn't wide enough (my diastasis is complete, from top to bottom). I wear something similar to this:

from PainReliever.com

I have to choose my clothing carefully. Jeans don't fit well and shirts have to be long enough and loose enough to cover properly. I don't wear dresses because they are not tailored enough. I try to wear shirts that have something interesting going on near my face to keep the focus off my belly. Other than that, I just put up with the comments.

It is what it is.

OK, so how does this translate into later pregnancy? Well, I get huge. No, not the kind of huge the rest of you get. I mean HUGE. With no stomach muscles to hold in my growing uterus, it too just flops out there and I end up looking like this:

Note: I was still 2 months from delivery!

In addition to just looking huge and miserable, I also now have to deal with babies who do not stay in place. My last two babies have been transverse breech. Their birth stories can be found HERE and HERE.

Because there are no stomach muscles to help the uterus stay in place, the baby can swim and flip freely even when said baby is over 10 pounds!

So, how did my diastasis get so severe and what can you do to avoid what has happened to me?

First off, I've never had strong stomach muscles. This was probably inevitable.

Also, diastasis happens to some degree to all women during pregnancy and a severe diastasis can happen to you no matter how many children you've had or what their birth weight was.

You can follow the exercises in Lose Your Mummy Tummy, you can wear some sort of support through pregnancy, and you can be careful how you move (that is explained more in Tupler's book as well), and once you've had your baby, you can get to work closing the gap.

Things not to do:
pilates,
sit-ups and crunches,
carrying a car seat (the book explains this better than I can, but at all costs avoid carrying that pain-in-the-stomach car seat with baby in it!)

I'm anxious to some day have the surgery to bring my muscles back together, but until then, these are the battle wounds I bear. I am a mother many times over...the bulging belly is worth it all!

Web Designer to the Rescue

amy@raisingarrows.net (Amy @ Raising Arrows) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 05:03:00 +0000

If you blinked, you just totally missed all my web design issues because...

Abigail

has come to my rescue AGAIN!

My nightmare is over! Hip, Hip, Hooray!

Oh, but that's right...I wasn't the least bit worried. It didn't cause me any angst. It is JUST A BLOG after all...*cough, cough*

Yes, Something is Amiss

amy@raisingarrows.net (Amy @ Raising Arrows) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 02:36:00 +0000

Perhaps you landed here wondering what in the world happened to Raising Arrows. Perhaps you are new here and just figured this was my design. Perhaps you thought I had lost my mind.

The latter is probably the closest to being true.

In my efforts to help another blogger, I accidentally changed the template settings for this blog rather than on my test blog. Pregnant brain strikes again!

After hyperventilating and contemplating running away, I decided to try to fix it since I did *just* back up my blog.

Well, let me tell you something...

Blogger's "backup your blog" button isn't enough.

*IF* I ever get this fixed...Abigail, please tell me this is fixable...PLEASE!...I will be copying and pasting the entire code to a document file. Every. single. time. I. change. something.

This is the second time I have tried to break my blog. I really thought I had probably actually done it this time for good. I retrieved some things, but as you can see my sidebars have gone from plural to singular. And my gates are no longer in the menu bar because when I added them back in something just wasn't right, so I pulled them back off again until a real web designer can save me from my plight.

All of you reading me in a reader and via email...well, good for you...you are oblivious to the chaos that is currently Raising Arrows. The posts will continue as scheduled. You are welcome to come to the blog and try to navigate the mess I have made.

All in all, it is not the end of the world. For a moment in time, it seemed like it. But, it is not.

Now, I must go inform my poor husband and children that I am okay and I will not pass out. I think I scared them when my eyes glazed over and I started breathing into a paper bag.

If nothing else, I learned a much needed lesson...

It's just a blog.

Homeschooling - Taking the Plunge

amy@raisingarrows.net (Amy @ Raising Arrows) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 06:01:00 +0000

photo credit

When I put a call out for your homeschooling questions, Nicki really delivered! Here's her first question:

[How do I take] the leap....just start and stop thinking about doing it! (my problem)

OK, I am going to answer this, not as a direct comment toward Nicki, but as a generalized discussion of this issue.

Here's an analogy for you...
I'm the kind of person who puts together a bookshelf by dumping out all the pieces, then looking at the picture and slowly working my way to the finished result. Jumping into things isn't difficult for me. Jumping into things is sometimes my downfall.

If you are a planner then you are probably the type of person who puts together a bookshelf by looking over the directions first, checking to make sure you have all the pieces and the time to put the thing together, and then (and only then) beginning work on the bookshelf. Jumping in to homeschooling without a 10 page thesis on how you will homeschool for the next 12 years will seem like a ridiculous, if not reckless, idea.

So, what do you do when you just can't seem to step foot off dry land and head into that vast ocean of scariness otherwise known as homeschooling?

First off, you need to figure out what precisely is holding you back. What terrible, awful thought is keeping you from jumping in? Perhaps it is that you won't do a good enough job. Perhaps you fear you'll warp your children (remember, I told you you will not warp them!) Or maybe you are just wanting to see the finished result before you start..kind of like the bookshelf directions.

Once you know some of the things holding you back, you can address them. But, remember, there are pros and cons to everything and you will never hash out every single thing that is scary to you.

My advice is to work within your comfort zone as much as you can, but know that if you hem and haw too long, something may come along and PUSH YOU IN! (convictions have a way of doing that!)

The great thing about being a Christian is we don't have to wait for a sign from God before we step out and do something. We can look to His Word and step out in faith. Even if we do it all for the wrong reasons and all the wrong ways, God has a way of cleaning up our messes.

I can't make you jump, but I can tell you that choosing to jump is a whole lot more pleasant than circumstances pushing you in.

Now, I want to turn the tables...
Readers, I want to hear what you think. I want to hear your stories. What made you "take the plunge?" Did you choose to jump or did circumstances "push you in?" What encouragement and advice can you offer?

Assumptions Rarely Equal Understanding

amy@raisingarrows.net (Amy @ Raising Arrows) — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 21:14:00 +0000

photo credit

"Don't assume I'm the black sheep of the family."

Let me tell you a story...three to be exact...

1. A married couple of 15 years has no children, a sporty car, a gym membership, and passports bearing the marks of several countries. You assume they selfishly don't want children because it would mess with their lifestyle.

2. The oldest child of a white family has much darker skin. She is obviously of a different race because she doesn't "match" the rest of the children. You assume she was born out of wedlock before the couple married and had children together.

3. A family with several small children makes frequent 3 hour trips out of town to visit the grandparents. They rarely give any notice to anyone and sometimes miss important events. You assume they are irresponsible and thoughtless.

Misunderstandings happen every day to every person. I'm sure everyone reading this has been misunderstood at some point or another.

On the flip side, I would venture to guess every single person reading this has also misunderstood someone else. It is human nature to make assumptions based on what we see and hear. We rarely just come right out and ask a person about our assumptions because that would just be too embarrassing. It is much easier to assume.

However, assumptions rarely equal understanding and truth.

So, what is the truth behind the 3 scenarios above?

1. The couple is not childless by choice. Every effort has been made to conceive and bear a child of their own, all to no avail. Their trips abroad usually involve some sort of mission trip to orphanages overseas in the hopes that someday they will be able to adopt. They choose not to tell anyone because they feel ashamed and fear rejection.

2. The oldest child of the white family is adopted. It took 3 long years to finalize the adoption. They are thrilled to have her as a part of their family and pay no attention to the color of her skin.

3. The grandfather of the family in question is dying of cancer. The family had to move away, knowing full well it would be the last years of his life. Because of this, they decided as a family to never let miles hinder them from visiting and spending what time they could, allowing their children special memories with their grandfather. They are neither irresponsible nor thoughtless. Their priorities simply preoccupy their lives.

I recently read a blog that suggested what you read on people's blogs is only 1% of who they really are. While, I wouldn't place the percentage quite that low, I would agree that what you read and see of others, even those you think you know well in real life, is not their full story.

Everyone has a story. Don't be afraid to ask. And if you choose not to ask, avoid assuming you know.

This weekend, think about who you see at church or other places that you have made assumptions about. Consider striking up a conversation with them and learning more about their story. It might be the family with the Down Syndrome child, or the man in the wheelchair, or the family who hasn't been in church for two months. Strike up a conversation. Build a relationship. Gain some understanding.

Music Education in Homeschool - Guest Post

amy@raisingarrows.net (Amy @ Raising Arrows) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 06:01:00 +0000

Today's guest post is from Kate at Modern Alternative Mama showing us just how easy it is to include music in our homeschool. Don't forget to stop by her blog and show her some love.

photo credit

Back before I had kids, I was a music teacher. Since they were born, though, I haven’t been so interested in teaching other peoples’ kids, and recently stopped entirely. But I did get a lot of experience in music during that time! I worked almost entirely at home, teaching private lessons and small group classes, and I worked with a lot of homeschooled kids. So, I thought I’d share some tips about teaching music to homeschooled kids.

A lot of early music education can be replicated at home, by parents, even if you have NO experience with music whatsoever. Exposure to a lot of different musical styles is good, playing musical games, chanting rhythmically, and more. Based on Ohio’s benchmarks for music education, here is what I recommend for the non-experienced home music educator:

Go to the library and get a CD of kids’ songs. Sing them often. If the songs have accompanying games (like “Eensy-Weensy Spider”), do those games with your kids.

Get a book of children’s easy music games, or use music game websites, like this one: DSO Kids! (http://www.dsokids.com/) Encourage your kids to play these games to learn about different instruments, musical sounds, rhythm patterns, etc.

Play many different musical styles for your children and help them recognize which one they’re listening to. Include classical, jazz, musical theater, and popular music. Encourage them to sing along if there are words to the music.

A lot of local areas, especially large cities, have symphonies (but so do many small towns). Many symphonies do free childrens’ concerts a couple times a year. Seek one out and take your children. Some areas also have summer band concerts, so take your children to these. Any live music you can take your children to is great! Encourage them to write down how they felt about the music, or to draw what they think the music is about, either at or after the event.

Invest in some rhythm sticks and other fun musical toys like handbells, small xylophones, drums, etc. There is a great selection of these (and musical games) at Friendship House (http://www.friendshiphouse.com). Encourage your kids to play the musical instruments and make up little tunes, play songs together, create their own rhythms, and more. If you happen to read music, you can help them write down their compositions!

If you can’t afford instruments, get a set of tennis balls and encourage the children to bounce them in a steady beat. Wooden spoons work well too as “rhythm sticks.” (Kids can play “follow the leader” with rhythm games, where they try to match the leader’s beat, and even walk to the beat, clap to the beat, jump to the beat, etc.) Encourage your children to create their own instruments based on art and household supplies (paper plates, tape, glue, markers, glitter, empty oatmeal containers, beans, rice, nails, paper towel tubes, etc.).

Listen to some basic children’s songs (like “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”) and ask your children to write a parody to this tune. That is, they can create their own words. This is a way that anyone can “compose” a new song, even if no one can read music!

Once your children are officially school age (6 or so), invest in a good basic music theory curriculum. I like Master Theory (http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/Master-Theory-Book-1-Lessons-1-30/293592), personally, as it is general and not linked to any particular instrument (most theory courses are either too advanced or are piano-specific). Do a couple of lessons per week and make a game of the answers. The first book is appropriate for kids ages 4 – 10 and there are 6 levels. If you don’t read music, don’t worry, all of the answers are in the book!

Buy or borrow CDs of ethnic music, look up pictures of foreign instruments, look at pictures or videos of other cultures performing on their traditional instruments. Encourage your children to play or pretend to play these instruments (this is where “making their own” can really help!).

If your children show a specific interest in music and would like to learn a particular instrument or are just generally interested, find a qualified music teacher in your area (even if you ARE musically inclined, you will want to find a teacher, so that it is “official.” When I was a teacher, I had plenty of experienced parents hire me because once their children were started, they needed something more formal). There are many great private teachers out there, and some offer general music classes for kids who are not yet ready for specific instruments. In general, children as young as 3 can study a string instrument (violin, viola, cello, or string bass) or piano. Children ages 9 and up can choose a band instrument (flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, drums). A local private teacher should be able to guide you towards an appropriate instrument. Please select a teacher whose primary performance instrument is the one your child would like to study, one who has experience, and preferably a degree in music. Any teacher who says, “I teach everything!” specializes in nothing, so find someone else. It’s also important that your child feel comfortable with the teacher. Don’t be afraid to interview the teacher, schedule a trial lesson, and call references. (Having been a private teacher, and knowing that any talented high school student can set up shop as a private teacher, I want to guide you towards someone who can really help your child!)

What about “mommy and me music classes?”
These days, the “mommy and me” style music classes are extremely popular. Gymboree has them and so do many rec centers and local companies. While they can be a good place to get out and have an activity, and meet other moms, I don’t think they are necessary or even particularly beneficial. I don’t think there’s anything there that you can’t do for free at home, they are expensive, and they are not always taught by qualified professionals. Skip them, and get together with other homeschooling parents if you want to do group music classes. You can have a musically-inclined parent select some musical games, pool small instruments together, or even hire a qualified music teacher to come to you and teach a custom course. (I used to do this, so yes, it does exist!)

Hopefully you’ve found some new ideas you can use in your home music educating efforts! Hop over to my blog and ask questions if you have any!

Kate blogs at Modern Alternative Mama.

Enjoying Your Pregnancy - Soothing Music

amy@raisingarrows.net (Amy @ Raising Arrows) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 14:26:00 +0000

His Master's Voice

Lately, evenings have been hard. Really, really hard. Here is a picture of me languishing on the couch trying to have a happy birthday...

This part of pregnancy is difficult to "enjoy." I started this series on Enjoying Your Pregnancy back when I was pregnant with Micah because I wanted to enjoy every second of his precious life. I knew just how fragile life could be and I was determined to not just survive, but enjoy my pregnancy with him.

I figured I'd just keep going with this series during my new pregnancy, more for my own encouragement than for anyone else! But, I'm pretty sure there are others out there who aren't finding pregnancy all that enjoyable these days.

So, today I wanted to talk about one thing that helps me tremendously in the evening hours when my stomach is reeling and my body aches. It's music. Soft, relaxing, flowing music. It eases the tense muscles, gives me something else to think about for a while, and soothes my soul.

I've used music in varying degrees in all my pregnancies. With my oldest child, it was at the end of pregnancy when the restless legs were making me crazy and sleep always seemed just out of reach. I listened to Enya's Watermark cd over and over and over. It was enough to lull me into a decent sleep. I was grateful.

My current favorite is David Nevue's Whisperings. I rarely make it past track 4 before I am sound asleep, no matter how bad my stomach aches.

I also use music while I soak in the tub. It makes a tubby just that much better. :)

Maybe it's because music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Maybe it's because my mom used to put classical music cassettes on for me to sleep by. Maybe it's because I hear music in everything.

But, I actually think it's because God designed music Himself.

Notes, taken by themselves to be plain and often discordant, suddenly resolve into unimaginable beauty when linked together in harmony. Music is not random and accidental. Even people who are tone deaf still hear beauty in melody.

My aching pregnant body relaxes when I hear music because God designed music to be a tool with which to praise and worship. Even when music is not used to honor and glorify God, you can't deny that He created the notes. They are still His, no matter what someone does to pervert them.

So, as I lay here, growing this itty bitty human being, I am enjoying not only the pregnancy itself, but the soundtrack of this pregnancy.

*****

Another thing I enjoy in the bathtub is my Homemade Bath Oil~especially during this cold, dry winter weather. And don't miss tomorrow's Guest Post about music education in the homeschool classroom.

I Seriously LOVE This Spelling Curriculum!

amy@raisingarrows.net (Amy @ Raising Arrows) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 04:00:00 +0000

OK, I toyed with the idea of calling this post

"Phonetic Zoo - A Review"

because it rhymes, but that title does not do justice to how much I love this program! "Review" always sounds so stale to me, so I thought I would just title this precisely the way I feel!

You heard me mention it back when I did the SpellQuizzer giveaway; however, I didn't really tell you much about it except that SpellQuizzer meshes well with it. So, let me explain a bit about Phonetic Zoo itself, and hopefully, you'll see why I LOVE this spelling curriculum!

Quick Background:
Last year, my almost 10 year old son was struggling at spelling. Voracious reader. Horrible speller.

I happen to believe that spelling is important. I'd be one of those people who says poor spelling makes you look ignorant no matter how intelligent you are. I know there are people who struggle terribly with it and I am forever grateful for spellcheckers; however, you honestly have to have some basis of correct spelling or even the best spellchecker in the world won't figure you out.

So, this child who speaks well, writes well, reads well, needed help.

Yet traditional spelling programs weren't working. Sure, he could get the test right (eventually), but he wasn't retaining a thing!

I'd all but given up when I got my Veritas Press catalog for the year. In it, they recommended Phonetic Zoo from Institute for Excellence in Writing. Now, I had heard Andrew Pudewa speak at a homeschool conference years ago, and I loved what he had to say about spelling, but I somehow missed the fact that he had actually created a spelling program.

Anyway, the review in Veritas Press convinced me this was worth a try even with the $100 price tag. I ordered the product, watched their Spelling & The Brain DVD that explained why this method works, and set my son loose with the curriculum. I immediately started seeing steady results and it has continued into this year! He is retaining the information. He is more confident in his ability to spell correctly. All this done with very little effort on my part. Spelling well without cramming it down his throat is worth $100 to me!

So, let me give you a quick run down of my favorite aspects of this curriculum:

*Independent learning - Very little is required of me. In fact, I no longer go over his words at all with him. He is entirely in charge of his learning.

*Auditory - My son uses the CD player and headphones. The CDs follow a pattern similar to spelling bees. My son hears the word, sees it in his mind, then writes it. The words are even checked orally, which solidifies that concept of letters being put into the correct order to form the word.

*Simple & Non-consumable - No workbooks. Let me just say that again...NO WORKBOOKS! As you see in the picture at the top of the post, there are some cards that introduce the child to the words and cards you can hand them as they finish each lesson, but these are non-consumable. The simplicity of it means I'm not storing and finding places on my school shelves for a monstrosity of a curriculum.

*Repetition of all words - The child must master the entire spelling list twice in a row before moving on. So often a curriculum lets them off the hook if they ever once get a word right. Speaking from past experience, that does nothing to cement the word into the child's brain.

*No need to rush - Spelling levels are not age graded. You start at A no matter who you are. Each level can easily last longer than a school year. When A is complete, you move to B. No one thinks you are behind. It is truly a go-at-your-own-pace curriculum.

I'll be honest. this was the first time I purchased something for school and immediately sighed with relief. It was perfect and I am so glad I went ahead and bought it! I love it and it Works For Me!)

OK, your turn! What piece of curriculum have you purchased that was a sigh of relief to your homeschool?