My oldest is 13 today! He is smart, and smart, and did I mention that he's smart? My children's birthdays are always a day of reflection for me. I often wonder how my kids are doing and if I'm doing the right thing for them by homeschooling. As I type those words down and I see them written in front of me, it seems so silly that I even have those thoughts. Silly or not, as I reread what I just wrote, I AM doing the right thing homeschooling my children and so are you. We can see it with each and every birthday, not just how much they've grown physically, but how much they've grown intellectually. I guess there is no wondering when you can see growth with your own eyes. TM : )
I hope today has been a wonderful day for you! Testing is in our schedule for the rest of the week, so posts will be short. But I know things are going just fine in your home. Remember, deep breath!!! TM : )
I like this quote. Something to think about as you start your week. TM : )
"Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change." -Stephen Hawking I hope you can read this (below), they remind me of a few kids I know! Have a great weekend! TM : ) P.S. This cartoon was found on the internet to make you smile. It is not mine, I didn't draw it, I don't own it, so I need to give credit to the guy who created it. I'm good like that! : ) Fox Trot
I think I have been living on the moon lately. Is it that time of the year? Why YES, yes it is. This IS normal to feel a little whacky, do you know why? Well, I'll explain and see if it makes sense to you too.
As I look back and reflect on my years as a homeschool Mom (I'll be starting my 9th year in the fall, can you believe it? I can't imagine...), there are certain times of the year that throw me off. The beginning of the school year, and the tail end (if we're talking about a dog, more like the hind legs) of the school year. The beginning is most obvious. It's new. This year the beginning was a little scary for me as my oldest moved up from elementary to junior high or middle school or whatever your area calls the 7th grade. I felt like a new homeschool Mom starting all over again! And yes, the beginning was definitely out of sync for me as a homeschool Mom. See? You're not the only one! : ) Make sense so far? Next is the hind legs and that is where I am right now. The closer I get towards the end of the year, around April (hey, that's now), I get antsy. I am just like the kids! I am not satisfied with spring break, I'm ready for summer vacation! Am I supposed to feel this way? There's still school work to be done, and it is so hard to focus right now and being a little out of whack is starting to feel normal. But it IS normal because that is your inner voice telling you that you have been working hard right along with your kids and doing a great job this past year. It's your own little alarm clock ringing and getting your attention, letting you know to get ready for summer, loosen up, have some fun, and yes... be a little whacky. TM : ) You know that song? "6 o'clock already I was just in the middle of a dream. I was kissing Valentino by a crystal blue Italian stream... It's just another manic Monday..." Okay, I know that's not all the words, but OMgosh! I really felt this way all day! Manic and crazy and rushing around like a wild woman, and can this sentence be more redundant? Wait, let me try... manic, panic, freaking out... yep, I don't know why I felt this way. I think next time I'm feeling manic I should stop and read what I write and take some of my own advice, take a DEEP breath, and change the view!
I'm off to put the kids to bed, I'll start again tomorrow with a new view and a new song. TM : ) Okay, it's that time again. I'm gonna ask you, "How are you doing?" No, not just, "I'm okay." That's not what I'm asking. How are you doing with your homeschool life? Is it getting easier? Are you ready to pull your hair out? Or are you getting the hang of it? Usually at this time of the year you're starting to get the swing of things, but if you're not, DON'T WORRY. Look back and reflect on what you have accomplished. Give yourself credit and don't be so hard on yourself.
Homeschool is a lifestyle and if you're new at it, it takes time to adjust. Not just you, but your entire family. And guess what? It's ever changing!! WHAT? Tell me it isn't so! Yes, it really is so. And you know what? That's what's GREAT about homeschool, the freedom and flexibility to be ever changing is a gift for your children. So leave me a comment and let me know how you're doing. I want to know. And I'll give you a little insight... my hair is still on my head, but trust me, I go through boxes of hair color! TM : ) Homeschool encouragement... hmmmm... I'm not feeling it today. How about my view on why teaching your kids history is so important instead? There has been so much going on in our crazy world that I have not thought about writing encouragement and I have been thinking about current events only and what it means to us. I am a big fan of getting information from all different sources and I encourage my kids to do the same. History is so important as the more you know, the less likely you will be fooled. The media tries to fool us all the time. So how do we know which news source is correct? By knowing your history!
I am so fortunate to have a husband that has majored in world history. He helps me decipher the news by letting me know who is telling the truth and who isn't based on his knowledge of the past. He also is able to explain why certain policies make sense, and why others will never work based on that country's history. I'm always appreciative when he gives me his views, as, well, I didn't care for history much when I was a kid, but now as an adult, I realize how important it really is. So get out the history books (I am) and read a few biographies on some of our greatest thinkers from the past (this too!). With what's happening in our world today, let's teach our children to move forward and not to repeat history. TM : ) "If history repeats itself, and the unexpected always happens, how incapable must Man be of learning from experience." George Bernard Shaw Irish dramatist & socialist (1856 - 1950) Another perspective on raising successful kids. What do you think? TM : ) |
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