I think we’re finally ready to start school again. We actually started a few weeks ago, but the curriculum I ordered for Chloe didn’t work out. We received Winter Promise’s "Animals and their Worlds" last Friday, and the kids were so excited that we did most of the first week over the weekend. Since it is based around animals, Luke is even into it, although he mostly looks at the pictures 
But he is still learning!
I have our stuff organized, but right now it is split between the two stories, and I think that will end up bothering me! We have all the books upstairs in the bookcase in the dining room, and all the arts and crafts stuff in the playroom. I have a feeling that we’ll end up doing most of our schooling in the playroom so that Luke has toys to occupy him. When we’re upstairs, he just wants to watch tv if Chloe isn’t playing with him. Oh well, it’s our first year of homeschooling, so I guess it will be a learning process for us all. And since the Navy has said we are moving anytime between next January and next September, I don’t want to buy any new organizational stuff.
I’m excited to really begin, but nervous, too. I just pray that my unstructured nature doesn’t get in the way of Chloe’s learning. The girl begs to do school! I don’t mind being relaxed about it, but I can see myself letting it slide, and not really doing anything. Lord, please bless this year!
Your child gets that look on their face, opens and closes their mouth a bit, and then you know, you just know, that they are going to throw up.
And since the seconds always stretch into millenia in emergency moments you have time to consider your options:
I could put him down. But he really needs me for comfort and if I put him down he’ll just throw up all over the carpet and then I’ll have to scrub it and it’s already getting uncomfortable for me to bend down and do stuff with this belly and he’ll just want up as soon as he’s done anyway and then it will get all over me.
I could face him away from me. But then he’ll throw up all over his bed and I’ll have to take off the sheets and mattress pads and put on new and he’ll probably cry the entire time I’m doing that because he needs me for comfort and do I have any other clean sheets in the house anyway?
I could just let him throw up on me. It will save the most time and I can comfort him while he does it and it will contain the mess since this belly is practically a shelf anyway (not to mention the chest!) and then I can just put a changing pad on his bed and a towel on the floor in case he throws up again and I won’t have to do any scrubbing or change any sheets.
I thought I was the only one who thought this way until the other day when my sweet hubby faced this situation for the first time, and came to the same conclusion I did- It’s easier to let them throw up on you.
That’s when you really know you’re a parent!
Jeana started a post about hidden messages in homeschooling conversations on her blog. Part of this "conversation" really struck me:
Me: We homeschool.
What I meant: We homeschool.
What (oh let’s just call her a she, even though sometimes it’s a he) heard: We homeschool because we think that public schools are the spawn of Satan and private schools are his stepchildren. I think my kids are infinitely more Godly and righteous because of our choice, and any parent who does not homeschool is sentencing his/her child to eternal torment and, at the very least, exclusion from any playdate that involves my perfect offspring who by the way just this morning memorized the entire Bible while I multi-tasked by grinding wheat with one hand and handstitching a dress with the other while I gave birth to my forty-seventh child.
Her: We don’t homeschool because (fill in the blank)
To fill in the rest of the conversation with what I usually feel-
What I hear: Your kids are going to be freaks with no social skills, and you’re over-controlling and over-protective, and need a life of your own.
*We awkwardly end the conversation and drift off to talk to someone else.
I am the first to admit that I am defensive when it comes to our choice to homeschool. As soon as someone asks, "Is your daughter in preschool?" I’m preparing myself to be judged. It often feels like getting past this conversation is the first step to making a new friend.
I really don’t think homeschooling is for everyone. We personally feel that God has called us to it, not as a trial, but as a committment, unless He possibly shows us something different. Whether someone else homeschools, or does public or private school, I respect it as long as it is a decision that was thought through and prayed through and the family feels like it is God’s will for them.
But how do you get past the fear of being judged? How do you get past the awkwardness that I feel so often when meeting a new mom? How do you make the conversation comfortable for the other mom? I’m sure she must feel it, too.
What do you do in this situation?
Lately I have been reflecting a lot on my own childhood. I never remember being yelled at by my parents. Of course, when my mom got angry, she often wouldn’t speak to us for days, but that is for a different post! My mom never yelled. I don’t remember her getting impatient with all my questions. The overall sense I have of my childhood is that they just let us be children, and they enjoyed us. They put out the effort to do special games like treasure hunts with maps and clues all over the house. They surprised us with fun trips and games. They provided some really great memories.
I really feel that my biggest failure in parenting is in patience. I get sooo tired of the constant questions and talking. I often have my quiet time when the kids are taking a nap. While there’s nothing wrong with that, I remember hearing Beth Moore speak once in college. She was saying that no matter what time of day you have your quiet time, you still need to choose God first thing when you start your day. If you fail to choose God each day, then you are making a choice for depravity. I certainly don’t intend to choose depravity. But I often don’t stop to choose God first thing, either. And I think it is reflected in my lack of patience with my kids. I end up spending most of my day walking in the flesh instead of walking in the Spirit. So today I choose God. I choose to be a godly example for my kids. I choose the fruit of the Spirit. I choose to follow this example that my parents set for me and not get frustrated over the endless talking and questions, but instead to just enjoy my children.
Check out orgjunkie‘s blog to participate in Menu Plan Monday!
Well, Luke started throwing up today, so I am going to try and keep things simple this week in case the virus goes around the family…I already have several of these meals in the freezer since I often make double and freeze one.
Monday- Grilled chicken, broccoli and rice casserole
Tuesday- Chicken Tetrazzini and salad
Wednesday- Chicken Fajitas
Thursday- Salmon Burgers and something
Friday- Hamburger and Cheese Casserole
Saturday- Beef Enchiladas
And if I end up getting the virus, then we’ll be eating Mac n Cheese and McDonald’s all week, LOL.
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