12 Days of Homeschooling

Okay so we are a month into our journey now.
So far, so good, although not w/o some small bumps in the road.
But to coincide with the video content:
Yes, it is quite legal; can check it out on Texas Homeschool Coalition website (www.thsc.org).
They are still doing dance and meeting other kids at church, park, etc.
We do have tests in math, reading, and spelling.
The science curriculum, "Discovering God's World" is super!
And while we don't have an official PE class they get plenty of exercise either working out to my workout videos or by running and playing outside.
I'm sure some think we are strange, LOL! But I can honestly say that it is becoming more and more natural with every day, and it is shaping who we are as a family.
And they are missing out on things -- things we WANT them to miss--like watching secular movies, being teased by other kids, learning things they don't need to know right now, undue stress from state accountability pressures put on teachers and kids by the state and federal government.
Maybe my kid won't have ulcers by time they are in 5th grade!
Not having to worry about what they will wear each night has been a blessing. Yes, they can do their work in their PJs! And when they go out to play, they can wear their "play" clothes.
I have no idea about prom yet... too far away still.
But I know we are looking forward to Six Flags day and Field Day with the coop.
And the mom's meetings are great!

Chicken Veggie Soup

Cooler weather is here and so is my recipe for Chicken Vegetable Soup.
Enjoy!

Chicken Vegetable Soup

2 medium potatoes cubed

2 medium carrots sliced

1 medium onion chopped

1 celery rib sliced

1 beef bullion cube

3 cans chicken broth

2 cups water

1 cup noodles

2 cups chicken, cooked and cubed

1 / 4 tsp black pepper

1.    Combine all ingredients except noodles and chicken in 4 quart dutch oven. Bring to a boil.

2.    Cover, reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes

4.    Add noodles and chicken. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Simmer uncovered 10 minutes.

Homeschooling First Week

Well the adventure has started!  We have one week down.  
A Beka Math curriculum is on it's way here and also Horizons Math.
Emmarie will begin using these when they arrive later this week. 
but in the meantime she has been using a spelling book from Steck Vaughn and working on concepts she missed from the Horizons Kindergarten math curriculum.


Chloe has been doing the Horizons reading and math and is doing well on the Kinder level.  


We are the talk of the school and our small community.  But we are following the Lord.  It felt so weird withdrawing Emmarie from school and it is a test of faith and trust in the Lord.  And I know that He will help and direct us.  

To Homeschool or Not to Homeschool

Decisions. Decisions. My oldest daughter, who is in 1st grade, tells me all the time she wants to be homeschooled.  When asked why she says because her friends are mean to her (meaning that they make fun of the mole on her neck, tease her because she rubs her nose a lot due to allergies). Not only that but she hates the 2 hours of homework almost every night. And so do I. 
It's not that I think homework is a bad thing. It's just that some schools go overboard in the amount of homework they dish out at such early ages, contributing to kids hating school.  And you and I both know it is terrible for a kids to begin hating school before they ever get out of Kindergarten, knowing they still have 12 years of it left, at a minimum. 


Then on the other hand we live in an excellent school district, academically-speaking.  Even though I'm a certified teacher, I know the kids will get a great education at their school. 


When you say homeschool people often bring up the social aspects. I'm not worried about the socialization piece at all.  They get plenty of interaction with other kids at dance twice a week and then at church, as well as playing with kids in the neighborhood.


Richard and I have always wanted to homeschool but because of our circumstances have felt like it wasn't possible.  But as we are talking to more and more moms who homeschool, we are beginning to see that we can make it work.
Our schedule would have to be quite different from a traditional homeschool because of the necessity for me to work full-time. But we have met a couple of people who are like us and make it work. So we have started thinking of a plan.
And probably in January will begin our homeschooling journey with both of our children.


Stay tuned for more on these developments : ) 


Dawn 

Discover TOYS

At my website you will find tons of educational and FUN toys, books, and games for children birth to around 8 to 10 years of age.

Right now, Discovery Toys is having our Holiday Sale on our new products.

You can check it out and place your order on my website at www.discoverytoyslink.com/dadams.


Also if you are looking for a little extra cash, ways to earn free toys for your kids, or both - think about becoming a Discovery Toys Educational Consultant or hosting a product show.  You can get some of your friends together and have a play date with the kids...and be earning free and/or 1/2 price toys at the same time!

Happy shopping!  www.discoverytoyslink.com/dadams 

It's a Slow Fade...

Parents it is our job to help guard the gates of children's hearts and souls.

When kids, young children in particular, see violent or scary scenes on TV, they do not know it is not for real.  In fact, they think it IS REAL.  It is real t them!

My husband and I do not let any non-Christian movies into our home or onto our TV set.  The other night we as a family watched the movie Fireproof. One scene in the movie shows the firefighter saving a  girl from a burning house. My 6-year old daughter began crying because she thought the girl was really in that situation.  I knew it wasn't just her emotions (like girls crying at a movie) because she talked about it and asked me questions about it for days.  With the benefit of hindsight, I realize even though it was a Christian movie, it might have been better if she was a few years older when she saw it :) Now I'm not saying we are bad parents for letting them see this movie.  It was a good, clean movie.  
But sometimes children are allowed to watch things in schools, at their friends' houses, or maybe even in their own home that would be better avoided. 

I often think of the song by Casting Crowns, "Be careful little eyes what you see. Be careful little ears what you hear.  Be careful little feet where you go. People don't just stumble in a day... It's a slow fade when you give yourself away, it's a slow fade when black and white is turned to gray...." 

So let's protect who's important to us and help them to grow up into the men and women of God they are destined to be! Let's help them not have to deal with the hinderances we dealt with as adults, some of which probably a result of things we saw and heard as kids. 

Children and Holiday Shopping

By now you've probably noticed that shopping centers and malls are filling up as people begin, continue, or finish up their Christmas shopping.  Me, my husband, and 2 girls were shopping in a very large crowded mall.  We began to descend the escalator and I realized that our oldest daughter (6 years old) was NOT with us! I had to ride all the way down and back up again before I could go after her.

When I did get to the top - she was nowhere to be seen.  In panic I literally began yelling her name.  A couple of different people pointed me toward where she had gone. I ended up in Dillard's.  A clerk saw me coming as I was still calling for her, and pointing asked me if I was looking for "her."  And they asked her if I was her mommy. So the panic was over although my heart was still racing a million miles a minute! And I don't think she has ever been so happy to see me! 

But the clerk gave my daughter a very good piece of advice that I want to share. Young children don't always "think" about things before they act  - neither do some adults for that matter! The lady told her that if she was ever lost like that again, to come into a store and go up to a counter and tell the person behind the counter that she is lost and can't find mom or dad, etc.  She warned her NOT to tell people who are just walking around in the mall.

What great advice! Especially in this day and time.

It is common sense, but I had not taught this to my daughter.

Right now I'm thanking the Lord that she is safe and sound! 

So, remember to have this talk with your young children before heading out to the crowded malls this holiday season!  

Life is so short and yet so busy.  Make sure your priorities are in order.
Give the Lord first place in your life and the rest will follow.
Spend time with your kids - real quality time, like reading a book together, watching a Christian movie as a family, or getting some exercise together.
End each day with a family devotional time. It can be as short as 5 minutes, but make the time meaningful. Talk about how what you read applies to daily life.
There are so many Kids Bibles to choose from.  We are using the Discoverer's Bible right now and it is great for the whole family.
God bless you deeply today! 

They love their momma!

The amazing thing about kids is that they always love their momma.

One minute they might be happy about something you've told them to do such as pick up their toys or "you've been on the iPad long enough!"  But when they are sick or hurting, guess who they always want? You guessed it! They want mom!  Sometimes I even feel that way as an adult, LOL! 

The Blessing of Children

Tonight I think back on my girls when they were just babies. I remember holding them as we rocked. Babies trust you completely.  They lay their sweet heads on your chest and sleep.  They are dependent on us for E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G.  

And we meet their every need the best we know how and with the things in our possession.  So the thought often occurred to me during these quiet times with the girls that this is how we are supposed to be with our Heavenly Father!

He wants us to trust Him so much that we can just lay our head in His chest and not have a care in the world! He provides our every need and He wants us to go to Him, to depend on Him, to realize that apart from Him, we are nothing. This, is just one of the many blessings of children!

Anita Renfroe's "In The Muthahood"

Anita Renfroe has made a name for herself though her tributes to moms in the form of YouTube videos and appearances.  I just love her! She is so funny and yet....so REAL! I just watched, "In The Muthahood" and it just described how I have felt about being a mom.  It's not like Carol Brady and June Clever portrayed it, is it? No - far from it!  Maybe it's just the times we live in or maybe it has always been that way and Hollywood just made it look so easy! Don't get me wrong, i LOVE being a mom - even though I work full-time.  Maybe I should say, because I work full-time - LOL! I truly could not imagine my life without the girls.  They are truly amazing gifts and tremendous blessings in my life! And I've had to learn a lot about being a mom.  Growing up, I did not have a mom in the house. So I've had to learn a lot of things the hard way.  Anyway, go check out Anita Renfroe's videos, "In The Muthahood" and the one known as "The Mom Song."

http://youtu.be/rCbPqi3virQ