Homeschool Doubts

Originally posted on homschlr4ever-loveandlunchmoney

 
We all have them.

Am I doing the right thing? Are my kids progressing? Will they make it into college? Am I ruining their lives?

My answers are: yes, yes, yes, I would do that whether we homeschooled or not, right.

Actually, my kids love being homeschooled as do most others that we know. Sometimes, my older son Pete will reminisce about those glorious years he spent in school.

Well actually that one glorious year he spent in school - kindergarten. But none of it pertains to the schooling, just the social aspects.

He remembers how the other kids used to fuss over who would sit next to him at lunch, who would hang out with him at recess, and who was his girlfriend. Oh, the six year old drama.

Now, he spends every lunch sitting next to Mom and little brother, RePete. He spends “recess” doing his own thing or playing with Mom or RePete until the school kids come home or we setup a get-together with others homeschooled friends, and while neither RePete or Mom is up for the girlfriend gig, he still has co-op so the prospects are still there.

I was going to interview my boys for this post, but it wasn't all that exciting.

My question was, “What do you like about homeschooling?”

 

Repete, age 8, said he liked that it didn't take very long so he had lots of time to play, he loves his co-op and friends, and math (??).

Pete, age 12, stated that he gets to stay home with his family, no waiting on other kids to finish so he can be done and do his own thing, and his friends and co-op.

What about all that awesome teaching I do? I jest. I'm just happy they are happy. And learning. And well-adjusted. And so far, neither child has yelled at me for ruining their life.

~R

Busy, busy, busy

I have so many things I want to do and am spending many minutes a day thinking about how to do it all.

I'm starting to plan for our school next year.  My seedlings are growing fast and I need to get the containers together for planting.  We've got regular doctor visits on the calendar and speech appointments.  Soccer is about to consume our lives again.  And on and on.

Pete and I are going to be extras in a cool tv show - FBI: Crimnal Pursuit: Investigation Discovery.

Should be a lot of fun.  I originally sent the info for him to be an extra and the guy sent me a reply asking if I'd like to be one too since I have to be on set anyway.  I said sure, why not and that's how that happened.

I'm carrying my iPhone with me to get pics of the set for Pete's scrapbook that I plan to make one day...along with all the other scrapbooks I plan to make one day.

But I'll have to wait to post any pictures until after the show airs. 

Now back to being busy.

~R

To Play or Not To Play

Originally posted on Homeschlr4ever/Love and Lunch Money

I always wanted to play the piano. When I was seven, my after school babysitter let me play around on her piano and even taught me how to play the theme from The Young and the Restless, one of her favorite stories. I still remember most of it.

Then we moved, my parents divorced and everything went to hell. My mom couldn't afford piano lessons and I don't even think the thought crossed her mind. And in school, I chose art, so I didn't have time for band class.

Now I'm 42 and still want to learn and I've decided to sign my boys up instead. Living vicariously through others and all that. Neither of them seems particularly enthused, although neither threw themselves down on the floor in a tantrum either, and I'm not normally one to force the issue, but I think it'll be a good thing for them in the end. They'll thank me later, right? *chirp chirp*

Anyway, there's plenty to document the good effects music has on us. I think the lessons will teach discipline through practice, empathy for Mom's inner ear canal,cooperation through working one on one with an instructor and accomplishment when they pound out that first song.

Someone tell me I'm right. These decisions are always so difficult and my husband is no help and by that I mean, he isn't agreeing with me 100 percent.

I said to him, Aren't you excited that I finally signed them up for piano lessons?

Him: Um, not really.

Me: What do you mean, not really? Don't you think they SHOULD take the lessons. You said yourself that piano was the best instrument to learn. From there all the others would be easy.

Him: I think piano lessons are good but you can't force them to take the lessons. I mean, they have to practice an hour a day. They won't even practice drums for me and they want to play drums. Are you going to make sure they do it?

Me: You bet your booty, I will.

Him: Then it sounds good to me.

I knew he'd come around to my way of thinking.

How about you? How do you handle these types of decisions in your homeschooling adventures? Do you wait for your child to ask? Do you take a firm stand as I have and sign them up? Do they hate you forever now? I don't think my heart could  stand that!

~R

Daily Walks

BN and I talk a lot about exercise and eating right and our boys are adopting this way of life.  They don't moan and groan when we want to do active things.  They don't cry and gag when I put broccoli and brussels sprouts on their plates.  They are understanding that these things are necessary to be healthy and free of disease.

I wish I had understood this when I was 8 or 12 or 25.  My mom always fed us wonderful meals and we hardly ever ate out, but there was plenty of the bad stuff around.  Meaning man made "food" products.  It wasn't her fault.  The gooberment said it was just fine and for a busy single mom, it was quick and easy.

Recently, Pete asked if he could go on my daily walks with me.  At first I was hesitant because I walk briskly and use this as a main form of exercise.  In the past, when I've headed out on my walks and the family wanted to tag along, it ended up being a leisurely walk around our neighborhood.

I never complained because I enjoyed that family time and cherish that my boys want to spend time with us, but it wasn't my normal workout.

So when Pete asked me this, I told him that is was going to be fast.  He would have to stay with me because I wasn't slowing down and RePete had to use wheels since I knew he couldn't keep up.

So far, so good.  I do make a pit stop about halfway through at the neighborhood pier so they can skip rocks, and watch the water life.

taken with iPhone

~R

Seedlings

I finally got my seeds in dirt.  I couldn't be happier.

 taken with iPhone

The boys and I did an experiment to see what birds are eating in our feeders.  They recognized the sunflower seeds, of course, but not the rest.  The results so far are in the cups behind the seeding tray.  Only one sunflower seed sprouted and the boys are diligent about watering and watching.  It'll be fun when they all flower.

~R

Pre-teen Fun

Having a pre-teen can be a joy and a curse. For my sanity, I'm going to focus on the joy.

Pete has a knack for entertaining.

During math on Thursday, this happened

Pete: Do college students get to use calculators any time they want?

Me: Sure. By then it's assumed that they know all the basics, like 2+2.

Pete: Well of course. That's six. Can I use the calculator today?

Smarty pants.

~R

I'm an underachiever

and that's the truth of it all.

This past Thursday, I met a real live bona fide barred homeschooling mom lawyer.  Phew!  Say that three times fast.

I think back story is needed.  And in the great tradition of my ninth grade history teacher,

"Let me tell you a Stir-ry."

So this homeschool mom tells us how she was home contemplating life and was actually on her way to law school when romance started.

From that moment on, every other homeschool mom I met was an almost lawyer.  Whether they met a rancher that sidetracked their plans or whether they accidentally got pregnant and had to delay their life goals, and myriad other reasons, they were headed for greatness.

It's become kind of a trendy catch phrase.  Go ahead.  Try it on.  "I was headed to law school."  Ooo how slippery.

So this past Thursday, I was talking with a homeschool mom that I love.  She's a totally unassuming, down-to-earth, kind person.  So when, in the course of our conversation, she said, "I went to law school", my hackles started rising and my bullshit meter was ready for action.  But it turns out she really did finish law school and passed the bar in another state.

And there probably isn't a real point to my story except that I never had any intention of going to law school, whether real or imaginary.

Then again, I'd sound so much more cool and motivated if I did. 

~R

My Parachute Has Holes

Forget about figuring out the color and because of that, I've spent about 10 years in college.

Oooo, you must be saying.  What did you study?  You must have a PhD by now.

In reality, I have five, that's right, five associate's degrees.  Whoopee, right.

In order:

• Business Administration - took this because when I finally got out of the Navy, I could a get a job anywhere with this magic degree.  Then decided it was lame and stopped at the AS.
• Accounting - once again, who doesn't need an accountant.  I'm good with numbers, I like order.  Nah. Not so much. Besides, some of our taxes are unconstitutional and piss me off.
• Nutrition (certification) - and then I spent 180 hours in the hospital interning and realized the FDA is full of shit and gastric bypass patients have trouble eating a 1/4 cup of anything resulting in a return to the hospital where the staff call them "frequent flyers" behind their backs.
• Nutrition (transfer) - did this in tandem with the certification because ODU promised me I could get my master's in tandem with my undergrad in Human Services.  And the only college that offered an RD only offers the courses when the professors feel like it.  My short attention span doesn't work like that. See above.
• Interior Design - was a three year degree and by the time I finished I was thinking about homeschooling. 
• Oh and I almost forgot to mention all the art classes that I've taken and probably qualify for a degree for that too.

So, here I sit.  Contemplating going back to school just so I can say I did it.  I started looking for the degree that would require the least amount of work.  What?  I homeschool my boys.  Like I have time for this.

Typical BN:  If you are going back to school, at least get a degree that you can use, like Photography.

Typical Me:  Photographers don't need degrees.  They need a good eye and a camera.  And I have both.

The thing is, I have no intention of going back to work.  Not that I'm not employable or perfectly capable of self-sufficiency.  But by the time my kids are are both gone, I'll be 52.  I plan to finally sit on the sofa, eating bon bons, watching smut TV all day and greeting my husband at the door in nothing but an apron.  I jest.

But it still bugs me that I never finished school.  Hmmm.  I'll have to keep thinking about this.

~R

A typical text tryst with BN

Me:  Three hours and counting.  :o)

Me:  Oops that was supposed to go to Pogo.

BN:  Geek alert

Me:  Takes one to know one.

BN: Your mama

Me:  Yours.



~R

Homeschooler's Valentine's Day

It's true.  We homeschooler's don't all avoid the holidays. 

As I said before this is RePete's first Valentine's card exchange and probably his last since he'll be 9 next year and too cool for such things.  Everyone seemed to enjoy the exchange.  Several children, including my own, kept checking their bags to see how it was going.  Oh the anticipation.

Ignore the blobs on the photos.  I had to blur out other children.

~R

Extreme Photography

I may need a new hobby.

Tuesday before last, the moon was gorgeous.  Low in the horizon, slight orange tint.  Gorgeous!

So, I put on the telephoto glass, extended my tripod out fully and proceed to walk down the first set of steps on our deck for a better vantage point.

I missed the last step.  Rolled my right ankle over my toes.  Not to the side.  Of course, if I am going to sprain my ankle, it has to be the weirdest type of sprain.  I won't have it any other way.

Good news is that it was just a bad sprain, no breaks.

Greater news is that I saved my camera.  Probably made my fall worse.

Bad news is that I missed a killer shot.

~R

Sweets from my Sweetie

I love that BN always gets me two cards at Valentine's Day.  One is funny and one is serious.  And he writes which is which on the envelope.

I love that even though year after year, I assure him that I will be just fine without flowers, he still sends them to me.

I love that this year, the note with the flowers said we have reserved seats to see Wicked!!!!

 

I can't wait.

~R

Valentines

RePete has never been to school.  Ever.  Not even preschool.  A couple of years ago, I had a Valentines party at our home and our kids exchanged goodies.  But he's never experienced the thrill of getting a bag full of Valentines from twenty-something of his closest friends. *snicker*  Not that his life would have a void if he never did, but it's a fun thing and I wanted him to experience it.

AND this may be the last year RePete is not too cool to exchange Valentines with his friends, so I took the initiative and set up a craft table at our co-op today to help him grow out of it with style.

And I did it on crutches. (different story for another time)

I bought several sets of different colored bags, markers and lots and (I thought) lots of stickers.  Do you know how hard it is to find Valentine stickers that boys don't think are too "girly"?  But we made do.

I spent about $30 on stickers.  I thought it was a lot of stickers.  I forgot how much girls like stickers.


I'm used to my boys.  One or two stickers, their name and they're done.  The girls spent lots of time at my table today.  Everything was perfectly decorated and coordinated and beautiful.  Luckily, the foam stickers held out until the very last crafter, but next time I work a craft table, I'll know to bring more.  Much more.


I think we ended up with close to 30 kids who made bags that will be used to collect Valentines from their buddies next week.

I can't wait and I need to remember to take a picture.

~R

I love knitting videos

I do, I really do.  I feel so inspired when I watch them and each knitter has his or her own special little techniques that I like to borrow.  Most of the time the video itself doesn't do much for me, but the little details...how this person binds off or how that person carries her yarn, that's where it's at.

My newest favorite is verypink.com .  I've learned a lot from her videos and even more from her website.  My next project will be purchasing her easter basket pattern and making them for my boys and my sisters'.  So cute.  And felted!

~R

I'm a simple gal

for the most part.  I don't need or particularly like fancy things.

So when I recently decided to up the ante on my knitting, I pulled out an intermediate level sock pattern which happens to be called Ribbed Lace.  It's in Charlene Schurch's book Sensational Knitted Socks.

But as I started the stitches and saw holes, I realized these socks just would not do.  Holes in socks?  I mean really.  Why bother wearing socks for warmth if they are laced with holes?  So, I pulled out all the stitches and started over with a simple basket weave.  Still intermediate level.

I likey much better.

And the color...Matador by Felici at Knit Picks.  Oh my.  Can't wait to wear these.  They actually remind me of the scene in The Birdcage* when they try to play off Albert as the straight uncle.  He walks in wearing a dark suit and sits down.  When he crosses his leg... a flash of pink from his socks!  Classic.

~R

* my favorite movie

Christmas Stockings

My sister asked for one thing for her birthday, a stocking for the baby.
Apparently, many years ago, I made one for my nephew who is now 17.  I have absolutely no recollection of making a stocking except for the detail of the “T” hanging off the end of the cuff.  That rings a bell.  The rest..not so much. 
His was crocheted.  I’ve all but forgotten how to crochet anything more complicated than single and double stitches.  Seeing a picture of the old stocking does nothing for my memory, so the baby’s stocking had to be knitted.  I waffled back and forth on designs and after several false starts decided on a simple pattern of my own design.  The yarn in my stash played a part in that decision as well.  I wish I had had more of the green. 
So I knitted and knitted and finally came up with this.

But because the yarn I used wasn’t that thick and I used a bigger needle to knit this, I decided to try felting.  As is, the stocking is limp and holey, although I think the lettering turned out nicely.
Here is my first ever attempt at felting.

This phone pic does not do it justice.  The picture is blurry due to low lighting, but the stocking is fuzzy.  The lettering is not quite as nice as before the felting process, but the stocking has weight to it and feels more like it can handle all the Christmas goodies my sister will place in it next year. 
And hopefully, it’ll last as long as his big brother’s has lasted.
~R

Family Photos

 

I love our photo sessions.  I take all of our pictures using a remote and sometimes my remote can be temperamental.  These were the “mess ups” and I love them the best.

~R