oh, my...i went in to check in on my almost-five-year-old son. he's asleep in his big-boy bed. he has kicked off the covers and is nearly snoring in deep sleep. in the corner of his bed there is his bear, wilbur, and his frog, max. beside him is his most powerful transformer, guns poised and ready, protecting him from any bad guys and bad dreams.
what is it? there is something so tender, so innocent about five...he's not ahsamed to clutch a bear and hug it, or sleep with it for security, and yet there is the emerging MAN--HE WHO WIELDS A WEAPON--HE WHO PROTECTS THE PREMISES--he who hugs and kisses his little sister when she bumps her head, and tenderly strokes her hair after her first haircut.
oh, LORD, please help me to remember these days. small boy, big man, all at once in one loveable person.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Know Your Why
I had a visit with a friend yesterday whose kids go to a private catholic school that is very academically challenging and somewhat elite. Their kids "have" to go there--the dad wouldn't have it any other way. I haven't spoken with him personally, but I'm supposing it's because of the education.
Meanwhile she referred another of her good friends to me to ask me questions about homeschooling and why I do it, because she's considering homeschooling, also.
I have to chuckle to myself every time I talk with this friend, becuase everything she says about her PRIVATE super-school gives me every bit more reason to homeschool. Everything she says about why she thinks her other friend SHOULDN'T homeschool is exactly WHY I choose homeschooling.
Stay with me here...I'm about to draw an analogy. We've recently started a home business (hence my fewer posts!) and in the training for this business, they constantly remind us to remember and DRAW ON the WHY of what we are doing. They say things like, "Do you have a dream? You must allow yourselves to dream. Visualize the future and what you want for your family." Running a family business is hard work--let me rephrase that--running a family business is HARD WORK--and requires something of everyone in the house.
Homeschooling is like that--I love the dream that I cling to for my family--that we would spend our days together, learning together, travelling together, worshipping together, and socializing together. I love that my children are exposed to other families whose values mesh with ours, who also enforce things like respect, manners, kindness, and consideration for others. I want the soil of my childrens' hearts to be soft and unpolluted by the world so that they can readily receive the gospel and understand their need for the Lord when the time comes. I love that, now that we've started a home business, they will understand that they can control their own future success, and that SAT scores, school attendance, and the "record" does not determine how successful they will be later on. They will be part of our efforts to grow this business and learn more than any high school civics or economics teachers could hope to teach their classes.
I love this life. When I first started working the business, I didn't see how I could juggle it with the homeschooling. Now I understand, by revisiting my "why" that the two have a synergistic relationship. What a fun adventure this will be! Nevertheless, the going is bound to get tough sometimes, and I know that I will have to revisit these WHYs to keep my head above water. I think I'm going to make a list and post them up here by my computer...
Meanwhile she referred another of her good friends to me to ask me questions about homeschooling and why I do it, because she's considering homeschooling, also.
I have to chuckle to myself every time I talk with this friend, becuase everything she says about her PRIVATE super-school gives me every bit more reason to homeschool. Everything she says about why she thinks her other friend SHOULDN'T homeschool is exactly WHY I choose homeschooling.
Stay with me here...I'm about to draw an analogy. We've recently started a home business (hence my fewer posts!) and in the training for this business, they constantly remind us to remember and DRAW ON the WHY of what we are doing. They say things like, "Do you have a dream? You must allow yourselves to dream. Visualize the future and what you want for your family." Running a family business is hard work--let me rephrase that--running a family business is HARD WORK--and requires something of everyone in the house.
Homeschooling is like that--I love the dream that I cling to for my family--that we would spend our days together, learning together, travelling together, worshipping together, and socializing together. I love that my children are exposed to other families whose values mesh with ours, who also enforce things like respect, manners, kindness, and consideration for others. I want the soil of my childrens' hearts to be soft and unpolluted by the world so that they can readily receive the gospel and understand their need for the Lord when the time comes. I love that, now that we've started a home business, they will understand that they can control their own future success, and that SAT scores, school attendance, and the "record" does not determine how successful they will be later on. They will be part of our efforts to grow this business and learn more than any high school civics or economics teachers could hope to teach their classes.
I love this life. When I first started working the business, I didn't see how I could juggle it with the homeschooling. Now I understand, by revisiting my "why" that the two have a synergistic relationship. What a fun adventure this will be! Nevertheless, the going is bound to get tough sometimes, and I know that I will have to revisit these WHYs to keep my head above water. I think I'm going to make a list and post them up here by my computer...
Spunky...again...keepin' it fun!
Spunky is giving away a Benz Microscope and Apologia Biology Set this week. Click Here to get the details.
...can't wait to see who wins!
...can't wait to see who wins!
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Got a Little Sidetracked...
Phew..it's early in the morning, and I've got a little time, so I'll try to catch up.
Spunky has some really interesting things going on at her blog. Check it out...it's stuff that really is important to us homeschoolers, in particular the issue of parental rights--is it an inalienable right or is it a fundamental right of parents to determine how their children should be raised and educated? Read up, weigh in.
Accidental Homeschooler, on the other hand, has had a WHOLE LOT going on in life in general. We've started a home business, and my head has been swimming in the last few weeks trying to get things organized and underway. It's really hard work, but fun! Little man thinks he doesn't have to do lessons any more, but he's got another think coming...starting today!
It really has caused me to consider the dreams I hold for my family. My first thought was this: "this is a whole lot of work--how on earth can I possibly homeschool and run a business? I guess I'd better consider enrolling him in school." My second thought was "whoa, sister--what about the education that comes from running a family business?" I had to remember why I homeschool, and what about it keeps me on task? It's the freedom, the same reason that we've started a business. We want out of the rat race. We want our family at home, together, enjoying meals and chores, staying in and going out, and we want it on our terms. We don't want to have to pack up the car and leave at 4:00 A.M. for vacation at the beach because it's the only days off from school and everyone else in the DC area is also going to make the mad dash to the beach that day, rain or shine. We want to say in the middle of a sunny week when all the other kids are in school, "let's go to the beach today!" and do it. Freedom...more on this later...
So, I'm going to have to revamp my schedule a little bit to start earlier so I can keep up with this blog, my son's lessons, meal planning, etc. It's an exciting adventure we're starting! Stay tuned for progress reports!
Spunky has some really interesting things going on at her blog. Check it out...it's stuff that really is important to us homeschoolers, in particular the issue of parental rights--is it an inalienable right or is it a fundamental right of parents to determine how their children should be raised and educated? Read up, weigh in.
Accidental Homeschooler, on the other hand, has had a WHOLE LOT going on in life in general. We've started a home business, and my head has been swimming in the last few weeks trying to get things organized and underway. It's really hard work, but fun! Little man thinks he doesn't have to do lessons any more, but he's got another think coming...starting today!
It really has caused me to consider the dreams I hold for my family. My first thought was this: "this is a whole lot of work--how on earth can I possibly homeschool and run a business? I guess I'd better consider enrolling him in school." My second thought was "whoa, sister--what about the education that comes from running a family business?" I had to remember why I homeschool, and what about it keeps me on task? It's the freedom, the same reason that we've started a business. We want out of the rat race. We want our family at home, together, enjoying meals and chores, staying in and going out, and we want it on our terms. We don't want to have to pack up the car and leave at 4:00 A.M. for vacation at the beach because it's the only days off from school and everyone else in the DC area is also going to make the mad dash to the beach that day, rain or shine. We want to say in the middle of a sunny week when all the other kids are in school, "let's go to the beach today!" and do it. Freedom...more on this later...
So, I'm going to have to revamp my schedule a little bit to start earlier so I can keep up with this blog, my son's lessons, meal planning, etc. It's an exciting adventure we're starting! Stay tuned for progress reports!
Monday, April 17, 2006
Who are you Blaming for your Plus Size Wardrobe?
If you are reading this and are overweight, please...don't take offense. I don't know why or how you became overweight and what you plan or don't plan to do about it. I myself am overweight, and I'm working furiously to overcome that state. I have mentioned before the campaign in our house to overhaul our health...
But...this campaign to make McDonald's responsible for the nation's obesity problem is patently ridiculous. Doesn't anyone take responsibility for the food they ingest? A child cannot go to McDonald's lest a grown-up, most likely a parent takes them. A human adult cannot eat a Big Mac or a Crispy Chicken #7 combo meal lest they walk in and order it. McD's has made an honest profit offering exactly what people who walk through their doors are looking for--food that is fast, convenient and tastes good, much as we hate to admit it. If you don't like how fat you are, then stop going to McDonald's. You'll probably not lose weight that way. You might have to actually make some lifestyle changes along with it, but don't sue them or write a book about how they are to blame for your health issues. Everything in moderation, my friend...everything in moderation.
But...this campaign to make McDonald's responsible for the nation's obesity problem is patently ridiculous. Doesn't anyone take responsibility for the food they ingest? A child cannot go to McDonald's lest a grown-up, most likely a parent takes them. A human adult cannot eat a Big Mac or a Crispy Chicken #7 combo meal lest they walk in and order it. McD's has made an honest profit offering exactly what people who walk through their doors are looking for--food that is fast, convenient and tastes good, much as we hate to admit it. If you don't like how fat you are, then stop going to McDonald's. You'll probably not lose weight that way. You might have to actually make some lifestyle changes along with it, but don't sue them or write a book about how they are to blame for your health issues. Everything in moderation, my friend...everything in moderation.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Gettin' Somewhere
Well, I'm making some progress in the blogging business. I've been added to the Homeschool Blogwatch! I'm excited to welcome new readers to my little spot here on the internet. I'm new at blogging, but I hope to keep the entries frequent, interesting, and most importantly, encouraging.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)