Take advantage of the moment

Life Skills. Do you want to know how many times I have intended on working on one life skill or another with the big girls only to fail to implement it? Do you know how many "curriculum helps" I've purchased because I "knew that this would help me to actually get the ball rolling!" And yet, we've done NONE of what I had planned or wanted to.

So, why am I even participating in this Blog Cruise if I've failed at it so many times? Oh, good question. I'll tell ya. I'm participating because we do "do" life skills. Yeah, I know, sounds contradictory doesn't it? But let me tell you something, all of those things that I had "intentions" on doing or tried to "plan" never materialized but my kids learn life skills as life...get this now...is happening. For us I have accidentally found that the best way to practice life skills is by taking advantage of the moment.

My kids work on Cooking Skills by taking turns helping me prepare a meal. We talk about everything, I explain to them why we are doing what we are doing as we go, we talk about the ingredients; types of flour we use, why it's applesauce instead of oil etc, etc. They learn to safely chop veggies and crack eggs-and then immediately wash their hands. They learn SO MUCH because we have to eat so why not have one of them helping me. No lesson plans needed, just come on in the kitchen.

They can all (except for Littlest) make their own sandwiches, pour their own drinks and set the table - properly (because we've taught that too while preparing for suppers in the past) without me. This has happened because they eventually got tired of waiting on me and were so hungry that they just prepared the sandwiches themselves.

The girls have both sewn their own pair of culottes (think full gouchoes) because they wanted to. (I had to force myself to put the sewing curriculum I had purchased away because they didn't want to make what was in there.)

The girls can change diapers because they've seen me do it so often and I've taught them how to do it, because hey, the diapers were already dirty, may as well take advantage of the moment.

I purchased a latch hook kit for each of them last year. I tried to make completing them part of their school work. We had a set "handicraft time" that we NEVER GOT TO! Okay, maybe two or three times. But within the last couple of weeks that have both pulled those kits out again and started to work on them all over. They became interested so they decided to work on them.

Is there a lot more that I would like to have taught them or have them experience? Oh yes and yes!!!! But in this season of my life (little ones and pregnancy) I can only accomplish so much. I have to realize that and not be hard on myself for the things that I want to do but don't can't do. We do the necessary and as life happens whether it be in the kitchen, at the table or on the floor changing a baby we take advantage of the moment and teach our children "life skills". If we didn't do that, then we would never get to any of it.

I wish that I had something more profound to tell you. I wish that I knew of a "secret formula" for getting accomplished all that you want to. I wish that I were one of those ladies that just has it all together and can fit in every last subject every single day and still have supper on the table, brownies in the oven and perfect hair...and home by the time Daddy arrives in the evening; greeted by all 15 kids! :)

But, I don't and I can't however I know that someday I will have more time to do more of the things that my heart truly desires to do with my children. Until then we (yes, I'm going to say it again) take advantage of the moment. That's how we implement life skills.

Click on the link above to read what my other Crew Members have to say about Life Skills. I know that I will and who knows, maybe there's a revelation out there, waiting just for lil' ol' me!

Thanks for stopping by.

Lovin' Learnin'

Homeschooling while pregnant or with a baby...is there a different way to homeschool?

Long title, I know. But honestly, every couple of years I am pregnant or have a baby in the house. Homeschooling while Preggo/or with a small baby is pretty much the norm around here. How do we do it? Well, um...man, I gotta think about it! How do we do it?


1. Give priority to what is important.
During pregnancy, unless you're one of those who stays sick for long periods of time (I, thankfully, am not one of them) it's pretty much business as usual around here. There were times when I did have to cut some of the work short because my tired body was in need of a nap but for the most part I was always good to go.

Oh, and that extra burst of energy that most preggies get always seems to come at the best of times!!

Now if you have a baby things can get a little more complicated, but again, priorities ladies. That little adorable pumpkin that you hold in your arms won't stay small for long (nor will he sleep that long and that much for long) so, take advantage of the down times and enjoy the times when he's awake and sweetly cooing and just being cute. While nursing or bottke feeding have a child read to you or you read to them. If the baby is down then take advantage of the time and cram as much teaching that you can into that 45 minute nap! Go on, full speed, you can do it!!

2. Keep a sense of humor!
This one is hard for me because I am the "it's all business and no play until we're done" kind of a gal. I like to work when it's time to work and play if we have time. My kids force me to let loose every once and a while because, well, because they're kids and kids are just funny sometimes. But seriously though, try to keep an upbeat attitude. If you only accomplish math all morning because that cute little pumpkin woke up cranky from his 45 minute nap then say hey, we've done what we can for now and will finish what we can later. One of the beauties of homeschooling is that you can do that Language Lesson right before bed!

3. Remember to take advantage of life.
Because that's what you can do when the cranky pumpkin won't cooperate. Use that time to teach your older children how a Mother responds to the needs of her child. Teach them how to love and snuggle the baby when he needs it. Show those girls...and boys...how to change a diaper-hey, that future dad's gonna change a few of 'em too right? Let them take part in rocking the baby or reading a short book to him. Get them down on the floor to play with the baby. Let the big ones help with feeding time (well, not nursing of course although the best advertisement for passing on that healthy tradition to your children is to expose them to it), bath time is a good time to teach about cleanliness and parts of the body. Let your kinders pick out a matching pj outfit or bring you four more diapers to fill up your basket. The opportunities for learning are endless!!!

And remember, even in public school they have classes called "Life Skills" and one of the things they do is practice taking care of a "baby" (mine, in Jr. High was an egg). An actual baby is much more effective I do have to say.

And lastly...

4. To everything there is a season.
Know that all too soon this stage will be gone and you might just wish that you'd enjoyed and relished it a little more. So, enjoy the season of life that you are in! It's good for us all!


Check out more posts on this topic by other very wise homeschooling Mamas at the Blog Cruise!








Lovin' Learnin'

Three words that will help you avoid burn-out

yes, it is possible. Did you know that homeschooling is a very demanding role? Oh yes, it is. It’s not your typical 8-3 teaching job, it’s 24/7 and very draining emotionally, physically and spiritually.
So, my recommendation to avoiding burn-out is three-fold. Here are the three words that you need to remember when trying to avoid just wanting to give it all up; Mommy, Mister and Master.


1. Mommy Time

!! Don’t feel bad about it!! This doesn’t make you a bad Mommy; it makes you a wise one.

When my children were a little bit younger we had the “rest time rule.” That was simply a rule that required my children to remain in their room with books and music for a designated period of time. For years it was something that we all needed and looked forward to.
As Littlest has gotten older-she is now 2-we have had to change things a good bit. She no longer takes those adored 2 naps a day that she use to nor is she content to occupy herself for very long so, when she is awake, there is noise…and lots of it. So, I’ve had to give up my “rest time rule” so that I could accomplish the more difficult subjects like math and reading while she is taking her nap. It works beautifully to get the things done that we can’t get done while she’s awake but I no longer have my mid-afternoon downtime.
And since homeschooling, as rewarding as it is, gets very demanding I had to think of someway to still get time to myself so that I could avoid burn-out.
There have been times when I’ve allowed the bigger three watch a show while they folded a load of laundry just so I could steal a few moments in the bed with a good book and a cup of hot chocolate.
Sometimes I’ll just allow the kids to take a break from school work for a little while and go out to play so that I can just check my email, blog, or the Crew blog for a while.
Every now and then hubby will come home and tell me to just go to the store for a while. Now, while shopping is very low on my list of fun things to do I sometimes take him up on it just to remember how getting out of the van, shutting the door and walking up to the store alone feels. (Can I tell you it’s kind of weird!!)

2. Mister Time
You know, the guy that will not grow up and move out someday. The one that you’ll probably still be cooking for when your youngest has moved into the next stage of life. Ladies, we gotta keep the relationship alive!
What we do here is to make sure that the children are in bed by a certain time (9:00 pm) without question. After that McPapa and I are able to relax together for about an hour or two…depending on how long it takes him to fall asleep!
This has become the rule in our home and I look forward to that time every day. We live about 600 miles away from our closest family members and are very picky when it comes to baby sitters so we do not go on dates like many couples do. Having this time at night allows us to still get time together, the time that I need to spend with my cute hubby, unwind, unleash any burdens on my heart, or just watch a documentary on Netflix.
Getting that time with him has been vital to me avoiding burnout…cause I’ve been close to burning out a time or two.
But I cannot leave you without saying that the priority to hubby comes after the Lord.


3. Master Time
Get alone with the Saviour. This is the glue that keeps me together and without this time I am not living each day to it’s best! I’m not one of those that say that you need to have your quiet time in the AM and only then, I say whenever you can do it do it and do it regularly!!

There are other things that just add to keeping your fire going such as reading encouraging articles, meeting with other homeschooling mothers and attending a Bible believing church. All of these can, in their own ways, add to the fire of homeschooling that we all want to keep burning bright.

So, I hope that something I've said has helped you in a small way. Just remember, our roles as homeschooling Mommies are important in the lives of our children. What we are doing to day God will bless in the fruit of tomorrow!

You are an amazing woman...now, go get a some Mommy, Mister and Master time.

Lovin' Learnin',

Are you one of those amazing women who is homeschooling and juggling an at home job or outside job? If you are first of all let me tell you that you are super!! I have a lot of respect for homeschooling families that juggle both school and work at the same time. But have you been feeling overwhelmed? Do you feel like you could use some direction? Or are you a working Mom that wants to homeschool but aren't sure how you would accomplish both?

Well, the Blog Cruise is here to help!

This week's topic is Working and Homeschooling. Many of our fellow Crew Mates give us a look into their working/schooling worlds this week. So, hop on over and set sail with the Blog Cruise, maybe you'll find the direction that you have been looking for!!


Lovin' Learnin'

Doing What I Said I Never Would!!!!

We can be like that can't we? We can passionatly say, "I would NEVER do..." and then one day we wake up and realize that we are doing just that!!

Well it's been like that for me with technology in our homeschool. Believe me, as a blogger I know how hard it can be to discipline one's self when it comes to computer time. Knowing that I really didn't want the McKiddies to have to struggle as well.

But here I am, in my what, 3rd year of homeschooling and I am implementing the computer in my school. Yes, there I said it, I am doing it!! We use the computer...and you know what...it's gone great!!

We use the computer for typing lessons utilizing a program called Keyboard Town Pals. We will use it for their Spanish lessons and Brother has been using it for a review that I am doing. I plan to record the children as they recite their memory work, so we will use technology there. We listen to our composer study music from the computer...there's another place. We use technology-and my kids are 3rd grade and under!

Ya know what though, I am thankful for one thing. Self-control. Yes, the McKiddies are learning to control their desires to stay on the computer for as long as the flesh wants. We have schedules, time limits and "computer work days" and a  "computer fun day". We don't allow them to sit around and mindlessly move nothing but the mouse for hours on end-it is controlled. And I pray that in doing this when they grow into adults that they have the ability to control the computer and not let it control them.

Yes, we use technology-but it doesn't use us!! We don't depend on it, our days aren't ruined if we don't get to it...but yes, we use technology. There are plenty of benefits to it, as long as you control the things that aren't beneficial!!

Click on the button at the top of the post to see what other Crew Members have to say about this.

Lovin' Learnin'