Not So SAHM

Of cracks and sags and potty dances

So yesterday we made the three-hour long drive down to Pensacola. I, as the only adult, have driven alone with the girls plenty of times. Why have I not found a legal way to sedate them yet? When Reagan was a traveling toddler she would sleep for about two hours at a stretch, which would give me ample amounts of alone time. Something I desire, no require during car rides. That mesmerizing vibration forces my brain into self awareness mode and I just need to have thinking time. I get pretty short and snappy when I haven’t had that time.

Ashlyn just doesn’t need that much sleep and so she’d rather be awake screaming incomprehensibly about some injustice; like her sippy fell to the floor, or I’m singing and could I please stop singing Mommy! Whatever. However, yesterday she actually fell asleep right after we got on the road. I was in driving heaven. This is when Mr. Murphy had to insert his law into my world. Reagan, whose bladder is reminiscent of a camel’s ability to hold water for days at a time, suddenly has to go “really bad Mommy!” “Are you kidding me!?!? I scream say. “We just left swimming lessons where you changed clothes right next to a perfectly good, in-working-order toilet! I know, because I used it!” Her response was to look at me with that “mom, you’re just not getting me, what was I supposed to do” look.

I really wouldn’t have cared that she had to use the restroom, EXCEPT for the fact that Ashlyn was still asleep and if we were to stop the car she would wake up and I couldn’t just leave her in the truck at some gas station if she actually stayed asleep even with the doors locked because both my girls are really cute and I just know someone’s waiting to snatch them from me at any second and contrary to what I might say sometimes I really don’t want them gone from my sight. So I was angry. And Reagan was starting to do the potty dance in her car seat. I was studying the side of the road as we were driving along judging where would be the best place to pull over and make her go on the side of the road. Don’t wrinkle your nose, you know you did that as a kid. Or was that just my family? And I figured if she was humiliated just enough she’d never do this to me again. At that moment the next exit came upon us and I turned onto it. Looking back to let Reagan know relief was in sight what did my eyes behold? Reagan. Asleep. Oh no she di-unt. You know darn well you can’t go to sleep if you have to pee so badly that you’re bouncing around doing the sit-down version of the potty dance.

So I say yell, “REAGAN! Wake up! Do you really have to go to the bathroom?” To which she replied that she indeed did really have to go. My mind still boggles at this. I decided to go ahead and stop even though Ashlyn wasn’t awake yet because the only thing worse than an angry, screaming toddler in the small confines of a vehicle is an angry, screaming seven year old who has peed on herself. I had to wake Ashlyn up to get out of the truck, which almost made me cry. I don’t know when I’ll ever have the gift of her sleeping in the truck again. Needless to say I wasn’t happy and was already breathing in short, puffy breaths when we enter the gas station.

Oh my…what in the world? People still smoke in convenience stores? Apparently in middle of nowhere Alabama the owner/worker of the store still smokes like a chimney. I couldn’t catch a breath, literally and I’m not joking. My breathing was already short and labored and now I feared for my life because there was no clean oxygen to be had. I know my kids’ lungs became instantly grey if not closer to black. And the air wasn’t foggy either, which means the smoker had been smoking in there for days if not years and it was just lingering on everything. That was the quickest pee stop we’ve ever made. It reminds me of a trip I made with one of my friends one time down to one of her family member’s house. Her mom smoked nonstop, and it was cold outside so the car windows stayed rolled up. We thought we were going to die.

Anyway, we get back on the road and I’m just lamenting the fact that I will have no more alone time on this trip. And I was now the proud mother of a broken record. “Where we going?” “Where we going?” “Where we going?” “Where’s Daddy?” “Where’s Aunt Lee?” “Where’s Chuck E. Cheese?”

Now, I must get to the rest of the title. I know you’ve all seen this fad: young man decides that it is cool, if not a little impractical, to wear his pants past his hiney. Yesterday, during the question and answer session we see this guy hobbling along the side of the road. I’m not joking. His walking was literally impeded by the fact that his pants were barely hanging onto his body BELOW his butt. His heehee AND hoohoo would have both been visible save his underwear and the only thing keeping him legal was a belt trying its hardest to keep his pants at an unnatural level. It was ridiculous. Does anyone find this anything other than purely stupid?

Not twenty feet past him was a young lady, probably in her teens or early twenties, trying to balance on a bike, and her crack was facing the road, all 8 inches of it. I’m not joking again. Her muffin top and eight inches of crack were visible for all passers-by to see. I threw up a little bit in my mouth. And I wondered if she and saggy bottoms knew each other. And it made me cry a little bit for the youth of today. And it made me fear a little bit for my geriatric self knowing that these idiots seemingly uneducated loafers, or two just like them, would be in charge of taking care of me. I’m hoping Jesus returns before that though.

That’s enough for now. We made it safely and the rest of the day was spent reveling with family in anticipation of the wedding on Saturday. No cracks or sags or potty dances for the rest of the night.

This is the neighborhood where our condo is located.

Party like it’s 1773!

The mainstream media, so I hear–I don’t watch it, is downplaying the birth of the latest grassroots movement: the new revolution. In 1773, colonists who were tired of being taxed without being represented decided to take matters into their own hands by dumping English Tea into the Boston Harbor. Unwelcome taxes had been being levied on the colonists for a while but they hadn’t been able to get England’s attention. Boy did the Boston Tea Party. The British closed the port until colonists could pay for the tea. One thing led to another and the result of the American Revolution was a new nation with the promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

I’m hoping that the metaphorical tea parties that were held in all fifty states on the 15th will resonate in Washington like the original party resonated with King George III. We aren’t being taxed without representation, we’re being taxed with misrepresentation. I’m not going to get into the political details right now (are you sighing with relief?), but things have got to change, and not the kind of change Obama has brought to the country. Not the kind of change Congress passed without even reading first. Actually, not so much as change really, more of a reverting back to what the Founding Fathers envisioned for this country. And that wasn’t a hand-out national government ruling over emasculated states.

As for the tea party I went to, it rocked. I’ve never been to any other protest, but I’m guessing this isn’t how regular liberal protests occur. We started off with a prayer and a patriotic song. I know, can you believe it? It almost felt like that was the rebellious part of the whole day. Religious and patriotic. It was peaceful. No one was calling for the death of anyone. Nobody was violent. No one was destroying things…unless you care about a couple of tea bags that were thrown about. I’m hoping that this really is the beginning of a new revolution. Our nation, as the Founding Fathers saw it, cannot survive on the path we’re taking now. Sure, we can become some other type of nation, but we would lose our greatness and wouldn’t be the beacon of light for the rest of the world.

I’ll leave you with some eye candy from the festivities!

Tea partiers! (And please for the love of all things innocent DO NOT call these protests “tea b@gging” and DO NOT call yourselves “tea b@ggers”. Google it if you don’t know what I’m talking about.)
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Young revolutionary
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This local business was giving away free pork sandwiches.
Pork in buns: delicious.
Pork in stimulus bills: disgusting.
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In front of the Alabama State House

“When the people fear their government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty.” Thomas Jefferson

What do we want? Smaller government! When do we want it? NOW!

P.S. This is the second anniversary of the Va Tech shootings. Du and I will always remember what a special young lady Lauren McCain was. She’s waiting for us in Heaven!

Good Friday revisited

I wrote this post last year and after rereading it I realize I couldn’t say it much better this year.

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Spring is in the air and we can’t wait to dive right in. The grass is starting to hint at it’s natural color. Robins are back searching the thawing earth for sustenance. The air seems lighter, the days are definitely lighter, and our moods, almost broken by the long winter, have begun to lighten as well. The awakening of the earth does amazing things to awaken ourselves again.

The earthly awakening coincides with spiritual awakening as well. Easter falls near the beginning of spring. It’s the perfect time to don new clothes, pet cute little chicks and bunnies, celebrate the new season and rebirth. Pastel colors everywhere reflecting how soft and sweet everything is.

Somehow, some time along the way we have allowed the pastel colors of spring to mute out the colors that really symbolize this season, and this Good Friday in particular:

Drab brown: the color of the crown of thorns worn as humiliation. The color of the cross built as an ancient torture device.
Royal purple: the color of the robe the soldiers placed on a man they were also spitting on.
Crimson red: the color of the blood that was shed from the body drained of all life.
Muted gray: the color of the tomb where that dead body was buried. The color of the stone rolled in front of the entrance.

This is what Good Friday is all about! What’s so good about torturing a man until he’s unrecognizable? About humiliating him in front of everyone who had days before lauded him? About forcing him to carry his death device after he’d been beaten almost to death? About nailing nails through his body to hold him onto the cross? About watching an innocent man die while shouting insults at him and dividing up the only clothes he had left?

The Good is something only a heart Spiritually awakened can understand. This innocent Man chose to die on this day, the day we now call Good Friday, so that we would not have to face the same death He did. His physical death we will taste (except for those alive at His return). His spiritual death, we do not have to face. God had to turn His face away from Jesus (Eli, Eli lama sabachthani?) because He became our sin. He took the shame and punishment of our sin and had God turn away from Him for the very first time in His life. This was what He dreaded and prayed for God to take away from Him in the garden. But yet. He. still. did. it. He took the total wrath of God so you and I would never have to face that.

Pure white: The robes we now wear in heaven having been cleansed by that crimson red.
Royal purple: The robe the soldiers forced Jesus to wear is the only color fitting for the Savior of the world and the King.

One thing must have gotten Jesus through this ordeal. Knowing that He would soon be reunited with the Father in Heaven. He would not face that wrath for eternity. He knew on the third day He would rise again. Amen and hallelujah!

It is called Good Friday because of that sacrifice. Oh Good God, thank You so much for that sacrifice, that we may be able to call the worst day in the history of man GOOD.

IN CHRIST ALONE

here sung by Natalie Grant

In Christ alone my hope is found

He is my light, my strength, my song

This Cornerstone, this solid ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease

My Comforter, my All in All

Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh

Fullness of God in helpless babe

This gift of love and righteousness

Scorned by the ones He came to save

‘Til on that cross as Jesus died

The wrath of God was satisfied

For every sin on Him was laid

Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain

Then bursting forth in glorious Day

Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory

Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me

For I am His and He is mine

Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From life’s first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from His hand

Til he returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

Curriculum, curricula

(I had a post all written up last night about the curricula we’re going to use and WordPress kindly enough did not auto save it for me. So when I went to save it it disappeared. I cried a little.)

I’m already learning Latin without having to crack open a book. Why can’t they just add an ‘s’ onto the end of a word to denote a plural? And why isn’t it curriculi like cacti? I’ll find out soon enough since Latin is one of the subjects we’ll be taking up this coming school year. I’m still in the planning stages but here is what I’m planning on teaching and the curricula we’re planning on using.

History, geography, language arts, literature, art: All of these will be covered with Tapestry of Grace. I can’t rave enough about this program. TOG is a classical Christian program that teaches from creation to the present day in four years. You can then repeat the material for four more years in the middle school ages and four more years in the high school ages. The cool thing is that with each cycle you get deeper and deeper into the material. Another cool thing is that there are so many options with TOG and you can choose to use as much or as little as you want. In the upper levels TOG also covers philosophy and government. All encompassing.

Latin: It’s always easier for people to learn languages when they’re younger. This coming year both Reagan and I will start Latin with Memoria Press’ Prima Latina. It is described as a gentle introduction to Latin. AND it also includes review of English grammar (the parts of speech) so Prima Latina will also cover grammar!

French: We’ve worked for two years on memorizing vocabulary and social phrases. I’m either going to create my own program that will focus on learning more vocabulary, social phrases and French culture. If I go with a curriculum it will be Memoria Press’ First Start French and work that over two years. I may take their scope and sequence and pick and choose the things I want to teach.

Bible: We’re getting back to the basics this coming year. I think I’m going to order Memoria Press’ Christian Studies. It basically helps your child learn the stories of the Bible more in depth. And while learning the stories we’ll be able to cover Christian character as well. I guess I could just do this myself without a curriculum, but I think their teacher manual has guiding questions and ideas to study further. Reagan also does AWANA where she memorizes verses each week. I’m going to have her write these out in cursive and this will be part of her handwriting work.

Science: My desire is to just buy a book of experiments and do a couple of those a week. Then if there’s something we need or want to cover more deeply we can take time to do that. Reagan loves science. Her first day of science ever we did an experiment with water and food coloring to learn about primary and secondary colors. The science that we’ve been doing lately has been more reading and book work and less experiments. I fully admit this is my fault, but that’s why I want to get away from workbook curriculum. HOWEVER, I was doing some research and came across Apologia’s Exploring Creation with Botany. Reagan loves flowers and plants and to be able to devote a year to learning more about them would be awesome for her. I just have to do more research to figure out if there are enough hands-on things to do with this curriculum.

Spelling, Phonics: We used All About Spelling this year and worked through Levels 1-4. It was a great review for phonics and spelling rules. Different curricula teach spelling in different ways. Some teach a graduated type of spelling (all, hall, install); some teach sight words. All About Spelling uses phonograms (letter and letter combo sounds) and actual spelling rules at the same time. Once you know the rules and know the most common rule breakers there aren’t many words that you can’t spell. It also uses methods that teach to all three main learning styles (visual, audio and kinesthetic). So this year we’re going to work through Levels 5 and 6. If we finish these before the year is over we’ll just do continuous review.

Math: Here is where I’m deviating far from the norm. I’m contemplating not teaching a formal curriculum at all. I’d like to focus on teaching Reagan cooking and sewing while incorporating math into the learning. I call it experiential learning. There will be plenty of time in a couple of years to pick up anything she might miss. We will continue to memorize and review her addition, subtraction and multiplication tables.

PE: We’re going to continue with dance classes, gym classes, swimming lessons, etc. Du would like to create some kind of PE work to do with her. I’m leaving that up to him.

Music: I’m going to wait several years before we start having Reagan learn an instrument, UNLESS she begins to show a strong interest in one earlier. I’d say with all we’ve got going on above we’re going to be busy enough.
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Looking back at everything above it looks like a lot. But it’s not a bad schedule. We’re only adding Latin, but we’ll be taking away the stress of workbook material in math, science and Bible. This year a normal day can take anywhere from four to six hours, including lunch and break time. Since I’m going to be including cooking and sewing this coming year schooling will happen all throughout the day. And this is one of the great things about homeschooling: making the school fit your lifestyle.

Please don’t hesitate to ask if you have any questions about the curricula we’ve used in the past or are thinking about using. My next post will be about the dilemmas and questions most people face when thinking about homeschooling, so please send me your questions about that. I’d love to give my opinion, as limited as it may be.

Homeschooling Changes

We’re a homeschooling family with a seven year old daughter who is doing a mix of first, second and third grade work. I love the idea of a Classical Christian Education, but I haven’t been good at adhering to that philosophy. I am a product of public education and that method of teaching is the only method I know. So going against that grain and realizing we’re going to be ok is sometimes tough.

The best thing to do, no matter what style or method of homeschooling you choose is to teach the way your child learns (a good book for this is In Their Own Way by Thomas Armstrong, Ph.D.). I work well getting things done quickly and moving on. My thought is that if I get it done I can move on to things I’d rather be doing. That’s not the philosophy nor the attitude I should be bringing to the table everyday. Is it a wonder why Reagan isn’t enjoying school as much as she could?

Reagan likes to play and experience things. She’s a visual learner as well. I’m realizing that the worksheet and “get it done” method just isn’t giving her the love of learning that I should be fostering in her right now. I’ve also been reading more of Teaching The Trivium by the Bluedorns. I’m being reminded that education for someone as young as Reagan (and I have to keep reminding myself that she is only seven) should be fun while still meaningful. Is it necessary for her to do twelve addition problems, twelve subtraction problems and other sundry math problems each day? Is it necessary for her to be learning what the difference is between igneous and sedimentary rocks when she’s just going to forget that and have to relearn it in a couple of years?

NO! I’ve come to the conclusion that our homeschooling needs to be more about experiencing while learning. I think for this coming year we’re going to focus on memorizing facts (consistent with the Grammar Stage of the trivium) but doing it while experiencing the subject she’s memorizing. So, for math, I think I’m going tohave Reagan in the kitchen more often, measuring, adding, dividing, multiplying and doing math. I’m realizing that whatever she doesn’t learn in textbook form right now she’ll just pick up quickly when she’s older because her brain will be ready for it in textbook form then (this is a Bluedorn belief and I think they’re right).

Reagan loved science the first year we incorporated it into schooling, and that is because the very first day we did an experiment with water and food coloring to learn about primary and secondary colors. This has been replaced by computer work and relegating experiments to Fridays when I feel like doing them. This coming year I think I’m just going to pick up a book on science experiments for youngsters and work through that. We can then extrapolate on any idea that is brought up and learn what needs to be learned that way.

I’m also planning on introducing Latin this coming year. I’ve found a curriculum that gently introduces Latin while teaching the basics of English grammar, the seven parts of speech. Does she need to learn about more in depth grammar at 7-8 years old? I doubt it. She’ll get practice in it while writing and doing copywork in different subjects and she won’t even know she’s actually learning.

Writing these things is helping me to actually believe more firmly what I’ve been trying to tell myself. It’s ok to break away from the public school way of doing things! If you’re a homeschooler did you have trouble convincing yourself of that? It’s taken me four years…I pray I’ve learned.

N.B. The above is copied from the Homeschool page (linked to right up there above the header). If you’d like to learn more about the curriculum we’ve used before click over. I’ll be writing a couple more homeschooling posts soon: 1. The curriculum I plan on using this coming year, 2. Attention problems/solutions with homeschooling and 3. What to do if you are considering homeschooling. With the second one I’ll be asking for your help!

If only money grew on trees and I had a green thumb

I have a picture of my dream house. I ripped it out of a magazine and have it safely tucked away for when the time is right…retirement.

It’s white, two story with a wrap-around porch; symetrical but not square; black shutters and a porch swing; roundings on the house and porch that create the perfect amount of interest; beautifully manicured lawn; a friendly, inviting atmosphere that says “you are more than welcome to come in! Sit a while and swing while sipping on some sweet tea” (it’s in the south).

I’ve had that picture for years because my dream house hasn’t changed much over the years. When we lived in Germany it took on a slightly “castle” feel. We started envisioning wooden floors with marvelous inlaid detail, oriel windows (forget bay windows!), and bastions. Stained glass windows and our crest proudly displayed anywhere it could be hung or carved (we’d have to invent it first). Winding staircases and secret passageways…needless to say we had castle envy, and we wanted to have our own version. I would always end up though thinking, “yes, but it must have a wrap-around porch.”

And when we’d venture back into the southern U.S. all the sudden my dream house needed columns as well and plantation-like surroundings. Forget that wrap-arounds and columns aren’t generally seen together. And if you have seen one kindly send me a picture as it will become my new muse.

Until now this house has sat on its perfectly manicured lawn right in front of the water. Ocean, river or lake, the body of water changes frequently. I’ve just always known I want to be near some type of water. Now I’ve got one more requirement…mountains. It needs to be in the mountains as well.

It is absolutely beautiful up here. Peaceful and relaxing. The views are magnificent, no matter where we drive. When we’re at the top of the mountains it’s breathtaking to look miles and miles away and see the rolling peaks. When we’re in the valleys or anywhere in between, the peaks are everywhere we look, peeking at us (ha ha) beyond the greenest pastures I’ve seen outside of Ireland. It’s amazing.

So, at latest inventory, the requirements for my white, two-storied, wrap-around-porched dream home (possibly with columns) are to be by water and in the mountains. Oh, and close to a major city…because one cannot give up the “necessities” and conveniences of life if it’s going to be the absolute perfect place for retirement. Right?

For now, until money grows on trees and I acquire a green thumb, I guess I’ll have to keep on dreaming.

P.S. Please excuse any spelling errors and such as I have typed this whole post on my phone, and although it has a general spell check you can never be sure you’re not typing a word you don’t mean to type, that spell check won’t catch…Like when, in college, I typed “Adam Smith’s sex principles of capitalism” instead of “*six* principles”. My professor chalked it up to a Freudian slip. I chalked it up to a stupid spell checker that couldn’t read my mind. Anyway, thanks for overlooking them.