I always try to hear my children out before I accuse them of something. If I didn't see it, there is no telling what really happened. This morning I was walking into our playroom from the living room and in the doorway I stepped into something damp. I immediately asked Grant is he sneezed! "No, mam," he answered. I asked again to get the same response. So, I asked the other children if they knew anything about it, but no one knew anything! I got a paper towel and blotted it and went on my way to feed the baby. Well, not to long after that, I went back to round them up to do something and I stepped in "it" again. Except now, it was MORE wet! I got a towel and blotted it again, and reluctantly smelled it! I know, that was brave ... it could have been MANY things - from spit up to everything imaginable, but it wasn't - no smell. I was ready to accuse some children of slipping drinks out of the kitchen (something they don't normally do)! They all denied it! So, I put more cloths on top of the original wet one, and when I checked it before leaving to run errands, it was ALL soaked! OK, I feel silly now! What is the deal? I am looking up at the woodwork, nothing there. This spot is in the middle of the doorway! Finally, I was about to call my dear hubby, who doesn't have time to deal with this, and it hit me ... the hot water heater is on the other side of the wall! How it is only wet in the middle of the area - I have no idea, but that is the case! While I went to Target and Sam's, my sweet husband went to Lowe's to purchase a new water heater (after he came home to assess the problem), it will be installed between 3 and 7 PM! Just in time for company and dinner! Life is FUN! I mean that! I am also thankful that my children were all innocent in this case! I wish we didn't have to purchase a new hot water heater, but I am more thankful that is wasn't something my children did!
Have a blessed weekend!
3.16.2006
Spunky's Comments ...
http://spunkyhomeschool.blogspot.com/2005/04/winning-over-relative.html
For some reason I can't click on the above link and get there, but I can cut and paste it fine ... sorry for the inconvenience.
For some reason I can't click on the above link and get there, but I can cut and paste it fine ... sorry for the inconvenience.
Homeschooling
I had a friend recently ask me about homeschooling. I want to give her the most information possible! So, I have been doing a little research and compiling some web-sites etc. If anyone reads this and has ANYTHING to add, please leave a comment! We will all benefit!
One thing I can't put my hands on is something I previously read about "how to answer when people ask you why you homeschool." Or how to "defend" your position to family and friends without saying too much. I know we have always had a lot of support, but when we have been questioned we would just say ... we are taking it one step at a time, and this is what is best for our family right now. If you have any insight on this, PLEASE comment!
Things get a little crazy at times, but we LOVE homeschooling! We enjoy the flexibility! We love making it all we need it to be and leaving the rest! We don't do any extra activities at this point. Since our children are 7, 5, 2.5, and 4 months - I have no desire to be out on the go a lot! We barely make it to the grocery and to get diapers when we need them! LOL! I haven't brought myself to go back to using cloth diapers! Yes, I did it at one time, and I may return to it to save a little cash, but for now ... I am helping fill the garbage dump! Needless to say, we like to stay home ... with a once a week trip to the library, to the store every other week or so, and to church every week - we are DONE! We have enough variation when family comes to visit or it is time for a check-up at the doctor! When Shelby was small, we would sometimes do an extra activity in the summer, but we don't do that every summer.
A little of our homeschool history. We set out, before we ever had children, planning to homeschool. I taught and we decided we didn't want our children in that setting. We homeschool for many reasons. The main one at this point is the peer influence. The other big reason is the academics. That last one scares me to death, but I know that I am starting young and I am learning with them. I don't have to jump into teaching algebra and chemistry! When Shelby was young a friend told us about a book The Well-Trained Mind. This book has been a big guide for our homeschool planning. Even with that influence, we decided to use Sonlight for out material for Shelby's kindergarten. Shelby was ready to start when I was expecting Jack! I was not in a mode that I could plan and collect materials for teaching. The Sonlight curriculum was just what I needed! We planned to take two years to complete kindergarten with Shelby. We were able to do an abbreviated schedule and take time off to visit family, sickness, and the birth of Jack. Sonlight had it all laid out, and we loved it! I still use some of it to supplement what I am doing, but it really got us off to a good start! Sonlight helped me to push some skills I would have never thought of at such a young age! It was amazing what we were able to read aloud as a family when Shelby was 4 and Grant was 2! What a special family time! Now we follow the classical approach that The Well-Trained Mind teaches, and we are progressing nicely! We had a big "vacation" in the fall for circumstances that we couldn't help, but that is part of the reason we homeschool. We are catching up and we are back in the swing of things! We are so blessed with the gift of teaching our children.
Below is something I got from a blog that I mention later! Some of it is funny, some of it is true, and some of it I would have left out, but ... here it is: What is a teacher?
One thing I can't put my hands on is something I previously read about "how to answer when people ask you why you homeschool." Or how to "defend" your position to family and friends without saying too much. I know we have always had a lot of support, but when we have been questioned we would just say ... we are taking it one step at a time, and this is what is best for our family right now. If you have any insight on this, PLEASE comment!
Things get a little crazy at times, but we LOVE homeschooling! We enjoy the flexibility! We love making it all we need it to be and leaving the rest! We don't do any extra activities at this point. Since our children are 7, 5, 2.5, and 4 months - I have no desire to be out on the go a lot! We barely make it to the grocery and to get diapers when we need them! LOL! I haven't brought myself to go back to using cloth diapers! Yes, I did it at one time, and I may return to it to save a little cash, but for now ... I am helping fill the garbage dump! Needless to say, we like to stay home ... with a once a week trip to the library, to the store every other week or so, and to church every week - we are DONE! We have enough variation when family comes to visit or it is time for a check-up at the doctor! When Shelby was small, we would sometimes do an extra activity in the summer, but we don't do that every summer.
A little of our homeschool history. We set out, before we ever had children, planning to homeschool. I taught and we decided we didn't want our children in that setting. We homeschool for many reasons. The main one at this point is the peer influence. The other big reason is the academics. That last one scares me to death, but I know that I am starting young and I am learning with them. I don't have to jump into teaching algebra and chemistry! When Shelby was young a friend told us about a book The Well-Trained Mind. This book has been a big guide for our homeschool planning. Even with that influence, we decided to use Sonlight for out material for Shelby's kindergarten. Shelby was ready to start when I was expecting Jack! I was not in a mode that I could plan and collect materials for teaching. The Sonlight curriculum was just what I needed! We planned to take two years to complete kindergarten with Shelby. We were able to do an abbreviated schedule and take time off to visit family, sickness, and the birth of Jack. Sonlight had it all laid out, and we loved it! I still use some of it to supplement what I am doing, but it really got us off to a good start! Sonlight helped me to push some skills I would have never thought of at such a young age! It was amazing what we were able to read aloud as a family when Shelby was 4 and Grant was 2! What a special family time! Now we follow the classical approach that The Well-Trained Mind teaches, and we are progressing nicely! We had a big "vacation" in the fall for circumstances that we couldn't help, but that is part of the reason we homeschool. We are catching up and we are back in the swing of things! We are so blessed with the gift of teaching our children.
Below is something I got from a blog that I mention later! Some of it is funny, some of it is true, and some of it I would have left out, but ... here it is: What is a teacher?
Friday, February 18, 2005
A teacher is someone who can...
Give a hug without getting arrested.--
Bandage a knee without calling the school nurse.--
Change a lightbulb without calling the custodian.--
Make the children wash the bathrooms.--
Have a relationship with the principal without getting fired.--
Teach a child's mind while capturing their heart.--
Teach what they believe in and believe in what they teach.--
Meet the child's need and not worry about meeting the state guidelines.--
Commit to a lifetime of work without pay.--
Pray! in class, out loud, with the children and the ACLU can't say a word.
There is is only one that can fill that job description .. A teacher is a mom
"Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and do not forsake your mother's teaching." Proverbs 1:8
Spunky
Ok ... below are web-sites and blogs I have found. Some I have used a great deal. Others I have only found on my quest to find more information in the last few days. I am not sure what all you will find on these site, so please don't think that I agree with it all! I pray that this helps some of you as you get ready to homeschool!
Sonlight
http://www.sonlight.com/
National Home Education Network
http://www.nhen.org/newhser/default.asp?id=228
http://www.brandonstaggs.com/biblical-reasons-to-home-school.html
Home Educator.com
http://www.homeeducator.com/FamilyTimes/articles/8-4article2.htm
Love to Learn Place
http://www.lovetolearnplace.com/HomeSchoolFacts/reasonstohomeschool.html
Google search – Reason to Homeschool
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=reasons+to+homeschool&spell=1
http://homeschooling.about.com/
http://homeschooling.about.com/od/gettingstarted/p/homeschool101.htm
The Well-Trained Mind
http://www.welltrainedmind.com/
Blogs:
http://www.spunkyhomeschool.blogspot.com/
http://www.homeschoolbuzz.com/
http://susan.peacehillpress.net/blog/
http://whyhomeschool.blogspot.com/2006/02/introduction-to-homeschooling.html
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/KeepingtheHome/90805/
Encouragement and Friends
http://girltalk.blogs.com/girltalk/
http://helpmatefirst.blogspot.com/
http://blessedmomoffour.blogspot.com/
3.14.2006
Sickness
Well, I think we finally are getting our round of illness! It is always hard for me to tell what is allergy and what is cold, but when everyone ends up with it ... I think it is cold and contagious! :) I kept Grant home from church on Sunday thinking it was just his allergies getting pretty bad. When he sneezes, you don't want to be anywhere near him! But by Monday evening, Shelby was complaining of her throat hurting! Also, Michael started getting VERY stuffy, and didn't rest well last night because of it! I guess we have been out too much lately - ha! So, we will be trying to recoup over the next few days before company comes on Friday! We are praying that John and I stay well!
3.12.2006
4 months
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Today, our youngest son is 4 months old! How time flies! What a blessing this precious gift has been to our family! He is growing like a weed ... 14 pounds and 8 ounces, and around 24 inches long! He has been rolling over from his tummy to his back! He loves to laugh at us all! Mostly he likes to try to suck or chew on every finger and thumb ... even attempting to put them all in at the same time! What a bright eyed blessing ... our growing little Michael.
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