Schooltime

School starts at 9 AM and is usually wrapped up by noon.
However, "learning" happens from the time we're up to the time we all fall into bed, exhausted. Okay, the kids go to bed reluctantly, my husband and I fall in to bed. :)

The glimpse of a grasshopper becomes a lesson in biology.  Cooking lunch leads way to mathematics.  A question about outer space starts with science fiction and ends up with astronomy.  Being with my children all day is not difficult, it is normal for us.  We enjoy each others company.  And it provides the opportunity for constant learning. 

More than just the 3 R's, we are teaching our children how to live.  We are imparting to them our morals, our values, our habits. 

Something happens when I nurse.  She latches on, we settle in, and I am immediately flooded with an overwhelming love.  Time and time again I am surprised my the intensity of this emotion.  Everything fades away and it is just her and me.  Moments before I was bustling- cooking, cleaning, washing, bathing, wiping... but now all is calm.  I stroke her head, and whisper, "I love you."  There is nothing like the bond of mother and child.

My Dream Job

We've all heard the question:
If you won the lottery (or had millions of dollars or whatever) and did not have to work, what would you do? After you give your answer you are told, "then that's what you need to do." The problem with that is your dreams can be off. Perhaps you think you'd like to travel for a living. Well, let's see, how do we turn that into a career? Travel writer? Maybe you don't have writing skills. Perhaps you think you want to be on Broadway. Good luck with that. Less than 2% of professional union actors make a living as an actor. Of course, if your dream is to be a nurse, you probably will achieve your goal.

I had to be shown where I would truly find my fullfillment. If it were left up to me I would have chosen a completely self indulgent career. But through a series of unforseen events I find myself filling positions I never would have sought on my own. I had no desire to become a housekeeper, nanny, cook, chauffer or especially a teacher. I still wouldn't want to do any of these jobs for someone else. But add love to the equation and I am passionate about all of those roles.

No, it's not glamorous, yes it can be tedious, and when, oh when do I get a holiday?? Being a stay at home mother is all about attitude. I know women that do it very well but don't neccessarily want to do it. That makes for one unhappy Momma. And while I may not want to do it all day every day, most of the time I am doing exactly what I would be doing if I were a millionare. That feels pretty good. In fact, other than more vacations, I can't think of one thing that would change if we had more money.

Being content is priceless.

Are you done?

A lot of people say, "four kids, wow... are you done?"
And we say, "we'll see what God has in store for us."

Due to a family history of early menopause we don't know if I am able to have any more children. On the other hand, we know many people that have conceived while on birth control or even after having a vasectomy or tubal ligation. So to say that we have decided we will or will not have more children, well, that would be ridiculous.

I suppose a better question would be, "do you want more children?" Ahhh, that depends on the day you ask the question. (Ha-ha.) But really, I can say, I think we do.

Now ask me if I want to be pregnant again.

If I weren't overweight: yes.
If I could skip the first three months, the last month and transition during birth: yes.
But I know there is a way to get around that, through adoption.

I used to think adoption is a wonderful and noble thing; I just wasn't sure it's for me.
I thought you should really want it. Well, last week as I nursed my 6 week old I felt like I
really, really wanted it. I know it was the oxytocin. I know I have my hands full now. But I found myself talking myself into it, as in "everyone says adoption takes so long. If we start

the process now we could have a baby in 2 years. I'll still be lactating. It will be perfect."

I nonchalantly asked my husband, "would you ever adopt?" He responded, "maybe." Now that's the most positive response I've ever received from him on this subject. I prayed that if it's God's will my husband would have the same desire.

I have heard the emotional turmoil associated with adoption is much worse than the physical challenges connected with a physical pregnancy. But I am convinced that if I keep a "God is in control attitude" then all will be well.

Vitamins

While driving past Whole Foods tonight I quickly asked myself if I need to stop and get more vitamins for the children. No, I'd already made the decision to get what I suspected was inferior but readily available vitamins at the local grocery store. (Making an extra stop with 3 children in tow is something I try to avoid at all costs, and in this instance, at the cost of my children's health.) As I drove past Whole Foods, confident that I'd provided at least sub-par health supplements for our kids, it suddenly dawned on me that if I die my children will probably never eat another vitamin. I don't think the necessity of vitamins has ever entered my husband's consciousness. It seems that this preoccupation with "optimal health" for the kids is exclusive to me. I fear that my husband would be content to feed them hot dogs and mac 'n cheese. Lord knows they'd never go to bed with their teeth brushed, or have their bed sheets changed... on the other hand, he'd read to them every night and make sure they had impeccable table manners. My husband is a good man. A good man that probably does not know how seriously our children need vitamins. In truth I'm not so sure they need them, (they have a pretty good diet) I just give them vitamins just in case. The more I think about it, the more comfortable I am with the idea that they'll be in good hands should I pass away. He certainly would make them brush their teeth in the morning. ;)

1st Post- How I became a Home Educator

I didn't want to be a Homeschooler. It was my husband's idea. We could afford private school for one child but could we afford it for two, possibly three or more? No, he decided I would be able to handle this task and save us tons of money. "Easy for you to say", I thought, "you're not going to be the teacher."

For Christmas he bought me books on the glories of homeschooling. Some gift! I tossed them in a corner. I was not inspired, nor did I want to be. My children's education was someone else's responsibility, wasn't it? I mean after colors, shapes and the alphabet, "the professionals" were going to handle everything. I just had to pack them a nutritional lunch and get them there on time. God, in his amazing wisdom had another plan for me.

We kept running into homeschooling parents, children, and adult products of homeschooling. I made friends with someone who happened to be a homeschooler. She lead me to a fantastic curriculum and co-op. I joined with the idea that I was saving my daughter from the bad influences of other non-christian children. At that time, I would describe my reason for homeschooling as being motivated from fear- fear of eventual drug use and teen sex, fear of increasing tuition costs, fear of losing the ability to be a strong influence in my children's lives.

The first year I was pretty clueless. I felt okay about that because she was in Kindergarten and learning things like the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, Skip-Counting and basic Biology. That was much more than I learned in Kindergarten! My reason for homeschooling changed from protection to academics. I truly believe we are giving our children the best education we possibly can. And it has nothing to do with money. Furthermore, I've learned homeschooling is more than what happens from 9 am to noon, it is a lifestyle choice. It spills over into everything we do. (I find myself getting a second education right along with the children!)

We are going into our fourth year and my philosophy about homeschooling has evolved. I enjoy it, the children enjoy it, and it works for our family. Although I don't voice it in the presence of my mother-in-law, we hope to homeschool all the way through high school. There are many success-stories out there that encourage us to press on. We can do this.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. — Philippians 4:13