20 Lessons Collected And Reflected, From My First Year Homeschooling

Yes, I have survived second grade again and have attained much more this time around. These lessons are based solely on my own experiences, as homeschooling vastly differs from family to family. I do not claim to have all the answers, just a willing spirit and hope for the ones that God has entrusted to me. Trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord and doing my best to pass it on. Maybe I just stated my number one lesson.
1. Do not compare yourself or your children to others, God created each of us in a wonderful and unique way.
2. Trust that you will make mistakes and your kids will still love you.
3. Be who you are and embrace the freedom that comes from unconventionalism and not pleasing anyone but God. (and it is freeing.)
4. See your kids as God made them, understanding that, will help them discover His will for their lives.
5. There are so many resources for a homeschooling family, reach out and be resourceful.
6. Every moment is part of an education.
7. My children are naturally curious and excited to learn, this ignites my passion for homeschooling.
8. Keep lessons short, recognize "glaze over".
9. Everything is a science project.
10. Encouragement goes a long way.
11. Sometimes they need to just be left alone with a project and they will get it.(i.e. Elijah using scissors)
12. Manners, behaviors, beliefs and actions are a VERY important part of homeschooling and should be incorporated 24/7.
13. Adjust accordingly, it's okay to let something go that isn't working out, let God direct.
14. Jumping on a trampoline counts as gym. (Thanks Kelly.)
15. Animals are wonderful teachers for empathy, compassion and responsibility.
16. I have more support than I thought I would.
17.Alot of Cafe Malta and alot of prayer can get you through January, February and March.
18. That it is okay when people doubt my sanity and even more okay when they elevate me to sainthood.
19. Faculty meetings can be fun when your crazy for the principal.
20. That ALL my trust is in God, and He who began this good work in our family will faithfully complete it.
As we wrap up the official "homeschool year", I consider my time spent with the boys teaching them academic lessons and life principles, as well as the study of Moses, and how to make scrambled eggs. As I do, more and more that I have learned comes to my heart and mind, but I will end with this as I have learned how to "recognize glaze over."(see #8) So while we may put away our grammar books for the few short weeks that we call summer, our journey continues, our learning never ends, our enlightenment pursues and we await lots and lots of freeze pops.

Works For Me....

Thanks for this economically wise idea, Mom:)

A Whale of a Moth

Just had to share....

another reason I love having boys, they find all these really cool creatures that I wouldn't dare touch. Have you ever seen a moth this big? His body was the size of a big, chubby thumb!!!

Water Wars

This is what the kids did today on their unofficial first day of summer.
What does your water bill cost during June, July and August?

Memorial Day

Thankyou to all who serve...

Still round the corner there may wait a new road or a secret gate, and though we pass them by today, tomorrow we may come this way and take the hidden paths that run towards the moon or to the sun.
The Lord of the Rings
A Walking Song sung by Frodo, Sam and Pippin, as they set off for Buckland

Before you play this you may want to pause the playlist music at the bottom of the blog or else you can just listen to two songs overlapping each other.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

It's a Jungle In There

Ben and Eli switched beds over the weekend,apparently not only do you get to wear boxers when you turn 6 but you also get automatic promotion to the top bunk. Ben was cool with this so he could set up a jungle. Here is the way I found him when I checked on him during his quiet read time(a.k.a. mom needs a break time)
If you look closely you will find a living, breathing critter tucked up on the side of him, under his arm.

Forty Winks

This is what life looks like after the kids are gone.(Looks pretty good to me,except for the engorged breasts)(I feel for ya babe)
All Mabel's kittens found homes within the one day, thanks to Craig's list. Letting go of this litter was especially hard, Eli cried and said nothing will ever make him happy. That was tuesday, I've seen a few smiles since then.

Roto-Rooter Drama

Husband wakes to take a pee. Husband notices that the toilet water is at the brim of the pot. Husband wakes wife. Wife doesn't like to be woken up for non-emergencies.(non-emergency being anything other than the bed being on fire) Groggy wife scratches head. Bladder-full husband asks wife what she threw in the pot. Crabby wife pulls pillow over her face. Husband gets the plunger. Wife never hears a thing..... Morning arrives, husband goes to office, wife gets the kids breakfast.....day progresses. Wife goes to take a pee. Wife opens toilet lid, here is what wife finds... wife laughs. Wife remembers her dream last night of crazed husband with plunger. Wife takes a picture because that is what wife does.
(Wife buys Clorox in bulk)