{Homeschool Mother's Journal 4 - Summer Edition}

In my life this week….

We had a great (and very busy) week!  We started swim lessons on Monday, and my daughter is already acting like a little fish - a far cry from our experience last year (she enjoyed the lessons, but was very afraid if she didn't have her 'floaties' on).  My son, well, let's just say he goes to the lessons.  We will be getting lots of practice this summer!

My favorite thing this week was…

We had our homeschool mom's group meeting this morning.  I love getting together to talk with other homeschoolers and moms who are looking into homeschooling.  It was a great time for the kids to play together too.

Places I’m going…

After I type this, I'm going to the gym!  I've been making a point to get there consistently while it's summer-time.  NO excuses!  I've already started feeling the difference in my energy level and my happy-mom-o-meter.

Things I’m working on…

I continue to focus on organizing areas of our house.  I made good progress in May, and still have several areas that need to be tackled.  I also want to work on a chore system, and start implementing Financial Peace Jr. for Kids.

Books I’m reading…

My husband and I teach a parenting class at our church using the Loving Our Kids on Purpose video series by Danny Silk.  I just downloaded the book to the Kindle app on my iPhone, I want to read through it and highlight it up!  I love this curriculum, and highly recommend it to everyone - it has changed our family!

A quote, a video, a link or pic to share…

You know those things you *heart* about your kids?  The stuff that just makes you melt like butter on a hot summer sidewalk?  Want to know one of mine?  


FRECKLES.  Especially the ones on my little boy's nose.  

((SMILE)) Have a great week!

What's love got to do with ... pants?

Parenting is God's way of teaching us about Him.  I just know it.  He is our Father and we get to experience His love through being parents.  We also get to show our kids who God is by our love for them.  Just like Jesus said, if you've seen me then you've seen my Father (John 14). I pray that it would be true of me.  That when my kids see me, they would see their Heavenly Father.  (Yep, that's deep.  Really deep.  Whoa.)

Yesterday I had given the kids instructions on what needed to be done before we could leave to play with friends.  Usually the dialogue goes something like:

Me:  Joshua, what do you need to do to be ready for bye-bye?

Joshua:  Put on my clothes and brush my teeth...etc (because we have gone through this a million times and he knows what he needs to do)

Me:  That's right!  Let me know if you need my help.

And then I try to leave him to do what he needs to do.  I have been focusing on not nagging, or checking up; just letting them handle it and trust them to do it.  But that doesn't mean it ever always goes smoothly.  Or quickly.  Or without a lot of distractions.  Or bubbling frustration on my part.  (Because I want him to do it.  And do it now.  Yeah, quicker than now...like yesterday.) 

But I have been trying to be very purposeful, so this is what it went like after the initial discussion (with three year old translator activated):

Joshua:  Mommy, can I play on your computer?

Me:  Sure honey, as soon as you are all ready to go.  Did you put on your pants?

Joshua turns around and walks away {insert ignoring Mom completely look} and begins to do something other than put on his pants.

I hold my tongue and try not to say another word...

5 minutes later:

Joshua:  Mommy, can I play on your computer?

Me:  Sure honey, as soon as you are all ready to go.  Did you put on your pants?

Repeat x 5

Ok, you get the picture, hopefully.  By time number three, I'm really thinking, ok this child is not listening to me.  And that is REALLY frustrating.  But I keep encouraging myself, if he's not ready when it's time to leave, he will feel the pain of it, either because he will have no pants on he won't be ready, or because he won't get to do the fun things he wants to do since there won't be any time left.  Letting the consequences of his choice be his teacher is difficult.  And keeping my big ol' mouth zipped up.  And not actually ending up fuming-red-angry-mommy at the end of this. 

Thankfully, he did end up getting ready, with 10 minutes of computer time to spare.  And Mommy wasn't screaming and yelling and nagging, I was still in a good mood.

1 Corinthians 13 talks about what Love is.  God is Love, so it's talking about how He is with us.  And how we are supposed to be with each other.  So replace "Love" with "God", and then with "your name":

Love is patient and kind.  Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.  It does not demand its own way.  Its not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged... Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT)

Whew.  I have a long way to go.  But through the grace of God I know He is helping me to be more like Him.  And good news is tomorrow morning, I get another chance to practice! 

***I have been immersed in the parenting series "Loving Our Kids on Purpose" by Danny Silk.  Any genius Mommy moves above would be a result of great stuff I've learned from this series.  And lots of practice.***

 

Some things I <3

The post where I share some of my current favorite things...hope you find some new things to love!

On the web

www.starfall.com - amazing site for teaching phonics and reading with lots of fun activities.  This is a definite favorite for my daughter.

www.ixl.com - this is a great site for math games.  One freebie is allowed each day, and subscription is also available.

www.enchantedlearning.com - a plethora of free educational information and resources on so many different subjects, subscription also available.

http://www.mrsperkins.com/dolch.htm - awesome list of the Dolch sight words for pre-school through third grade.

Calvary Chapel Children's Ministry Curriculum - great resource for bible story coloring pages.

Books

We started teaching a new parenting curriculum at our church this year.  It has made such a huge impact in our home, it has changed our parenting goals and how we connect and relate to our children.

 

In my women's small group we have been studying the curriculum that goes with the book Extraordinary by John Bevere.  I worked for John and Lisa Bevere many years ago and have always admired and appreciated their teachings.  This book has truly been a life changer.

iPhone apps

For the kids:

Teach Me - we have the Teach Me Kindergarten and Teach Me First Grade for my daughter and she LOVES them.  I honestly think she is doing so well in addition and subtraction because of this app.  That is a. big. deal.  We recently downloaded Teach Me Toddler for my three year old, and he is doing great with it.

Trace - little girl has enjoyed playing this game - simple concept but challenging...I like it myself!

For me:

Get Running - I have just started using this application for my workouts.  I love it so far, it's challenging for the first week but I'm excited to see my progress.  This app guides you while your listening to your favorite tunes from running eight minutes per workout to running for a continuous half hour in nine weeks.

Textropolis - addicting.  love. it.

Have any favorite learning sites you want to share, or great books?  Please do tell!

This post has been submitted to Helpful Homeschool Hints.

Off the Bookshelf

I’ve had this book for a while now, and I skimmed through it when I first got it, but didn’t finish.

Now I am really taking the time to read it and absorb it.  It is my purpose to reach the hearts of my children.  I don’t want to just raise children that look good on the outside, know how to “act” the right way in certain situations, but in there hearts they are far from God.

In Chapter 1 Tripp references the scripture in Matthew 15 saying “Jesus denounces the Pharisees who have honored him with their lips while their hearts were far from him.  Jesus censures them as people who wash the outside of the cup while the inside is still unclean. Yet this is what we often do in childrearing.”  I know this has been true of me at times, when I just want my children to behave so that I look good (or don’t look bad as the case may be).

So far I am really enjoying this book and looking forward to gaining more wisdom from it.  I hope to give a further review when I am finished!

Have you read this book?  What did you think?

Don’t sweat the small stuff (and other random thoughts on parenting)

Let me just start out by saying, I sweat the small stuff.  All the time. 

All the perfectly posed photos of happy children might make it look too easy, so I felt the need to bring a little reality check - homeschooling so far, has been wonderful.  And difficult.  But wonderful still.

WARNING: Growing little hearts may will most definitely lead to changes in the big hearts (that’s you mom and dad).

I am learning so much about my kids, and about myself.  For example….sometimes, kids are just kids.  They are loud.  They are unruly.  They interrupt, bother and press buttons.  They are rude.  (Did I mention they are loud?)  It’s what they do…because they haven’t learned any different…because, they are kids.  Expecting my 3 and 5 year-olds to be perfect angels is crazy just not possible, especially when I consider that I’m no angel myself (whew…see getting down and dirty now)!  But I find myself with the pressure of that expectation leading my parenting, instead of the real goal…reaching the hearts of my children.

Here’s a good scenario from the other day -- I’m washing dishes and the kids are screaming being loud in the living room.  My first feeling is to yell (from the other room mind you, and over the sound of running water) for them to stop it, or better yet, the frequently used “SETTLE DOWN”.

What exactly does settle down mean to a 3 year old?  ….but I digress…

Now…what I have been working on (with God’s help, and thank GOD I can lean on Him, HE IS the best/perfect example of a great parent) instead of just yelling out into the air random commands at my children, is to stop for a moment, and really listen.  When I do, I hear that the kids are screaming because they are playing.  Yep.  Playing and having fun together.  If I wait just another moment, the screaming will stop and turn into talking, or something else, and then probably screaming again, and isn’t that ok?

I find that sometimes I default to threatening/repeating commands, so I can get them to comply (which isn’t what I’m supposed to be focused on)…which then makes it hard for them to know when I really mean it.  I need to make sure that the things I say are what I mean to say and more on purpose.  How much easier would it be for them to comply if I did that instead? 

So this whole post is to tell myself, it’s ok to let kids be kids…(because after all, we were loved even when we were un-loveable by our Heavenly Father, and He is ever so patient with us). 

The small stuff gets on my nerves sometimes.  And admitting that is the first step to overcoming it.