My Homeschooling Tree of Knowledge (A very small but growing tree)

You know, there IS a reason I never write on this blog any more - and it's the same reason I quit photography a few months back.  And that reason is that everything has caught up with me and I no longer have any time.  I don't know how but I don't feel like I am doing things differently that I did six months ago but somehow everything has swollen up and filled every nook and cranny in my day.  I find I can barely keep my eyes open after ten o'clock at night and that Mike and I are only able to catch a movie on the couch on rare occasions.  It's really kind of mystifying how instantaneous the change was, but needless to say things like this blog have fallen very low on the totem pole.

One of the things that has taken huge amounts of my limited brain capacity of late is HOMESCHOOLING.   After the move, just about everything that was running smoothly in our normal school day in Utah fell apart.  Andrew hated school and everyday it was such a struggle to get him to continue - and while I was in that struggle Elijah would slip out and find something better to do than school.  I felt like I was herding cats trying to get those two boys to stay at their studies at the same time.  Not to mention the toddlers that were sneaking away to pour dried beans all over the kitchen floor or nibbling on 5 pound blocks of cheese.   And so, I too, hated school.  It all came to a head in January when after a few phone "counseling" conversations with friends I decided I was done and was enrolling them in public school the coming Monday.  (If your heart just leaped within you because you thought I'd finally come to my senses - shame on you!)  I did come to my senses - later that night at a church activity, while I was pasting together valentines and dipping Oreos in chocolate I realized it wasn't time to give in but to get going! 

So I did the same thing I do whenever I am at a loss.  I started reading.  A lot.  I started with The Way They Learn by Cynthia Tobias.  Somehow I got this far in the game without REALLY knowing my own learning style or my children's.  I began to understand that a good deal of the frustration that Andrew was feeling was that the methods I use on Elijah don't necessarily work on him.  Meanwhile I was doing some soul searching and making lists of why I homeschool and what I really want out of it.  What would my perfect homeschooling day look like anyhow?


Next I met with the seriously knowledgeable owner of The Homeschool Bookshop  , Amber, for a one on one homeschooling consultation.  I took my lists, my dream day, and my troubles and she began to help me sort it all out.  But what really made a difference was the books she recommended.  First she had me read The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman.  I had heard the ideas presented in this book a million times over.  I was also pretty sure I knew my and Michael's love language.  But since when does hearsay ever really tell you anything?  Reading this book as well as this one has been the perfect pairing with my first read.  I now feel so much better equipped to love and understand my husband and children.

And then came this recommendation.  It's been a long time since a book has energized me as much as this one has.  It has not only given me the hope that I can run my home beautifully well but also given me the practical tools to make that hope a reality.  It's a lovely lovely gift Amber gave me.  It's called Managers of Their Homes by Steven and Teri Maxwell.  Not only do they teach you how to run your home - they spend a good deal on the why - with MANY references to the Bible.  It was like the balm of Gilead for me - reminding me that the Lord will qualify me for the "ministry" he has called me to - motherhood, marriage, etc.  While you can get the other books I've suggested from the library this one is a must buy.  See, it's not just a book but more of a workbook - with lots of things to fill out - all culminating in a big detailed schedule.  I love it.   Seriously - I love it.

Another thing we've been focusing on is getting our house in order.  I am not one of those woman who is gifted in the art of housekeeping - yet.  In the last ten years Michael, who is gifted in that respect, has been patiently teaching me how to run a house.  And as I've matured and as my children's abilities to participate in the cleaning and not just the messing has grown - we've begun to get a slight handle on it.  One thing that has been AWESOME is the app that goes with this site.  It is soo helpful.  Suddenly I don't have to have a myriad of answers to questions about treats, game time, staying up late, watching movies, etc.  I have one answer, "Do you have the points for it?"  And it's out of my hands.   They earn these points doing their chores, eating their dinners, clearing their dishes from the table, etc.  And they love it as much as I do.  We have lower rewards on their game time and treats and then big rewards like camping trips and iPods.  It's taken away the idea that they are entitled to candy and movies just for breathing and has helped them remember to do what is asked of them.

And for their chores I bought some plastic name card holders with lanyards and put cards with their chores on them in it. Each tag is labeled with their name and so they grab it at chore time and take it with them.  The cards are detailed with information like this:

Laundry:
1. Gather dirty laundry from baskets around the house.
2. Sort into piles of white/colored.
3. Wash and Dry
4. Fold and put away(with Mom)

That way they know exactly what is required with that chore instead of just saying Laundry on that card.  And they can take it with them as they do it.  When they are done with a task they move it to the back and work on the next card in their pouch.  Some cards have notes for different days of the week - for chores that only need to be done once a week.  It's awesome.  I even have one for myself.

I have soo many other things I have discovered that are helping in my schooling but I'm pretty sure I've already bored you to tears - so I'll save that for another post. AND I hope that the scheduling and the chore helps will enable me to start to write on here a little more often!  So, until then...

p.s.  Here is Amber's list of books she believes every homeschooler should read:


The Five Love Languages of Children
Manager's of Their Homes
The Well-trained Mind

The gal darn truth.

Did you know that this house is the thirteenth place Mike and I have lived in in ten and a half years of marriage?  Because we had done it so many times, I figured the move wouldn't be so hard - especially since we were finally getting the house and property we had yearned for.  Unfortunately, I was wrong.

Before we moved I was seriously emotional about it all - stomach churning, hair falling out, tears...coupled with excitement and happiness about what lay ahead.  And then I started getting sick the day we moved out of our place in Utah - and stayed sick with some sort of infection or illness for the next 5 weeks.  My body was depleted from all of the stress and it was awful.  And then once we moved in, Spokane had the coldest November ON RECORD!  Yup, that's right - it was seriously seriously cold.  And dark.  Did you know that we live farther north than the entire state of Maine?  I didn't realize we were so far north until we got here and the sun was DOWN at 4:15 in the afternoon - and didn't come up until after 7:00 AM the next day!  That's a LONG night, my friends.  And I didn't know anyone - not one person.  And by the time I wasn't sick and made it out to church and other things - it was nearly Thanksgiving.  And most people aren't really in the reaching out, making new friends state of mind during the Holidays.  Not because they're jerks - but because they've got family in town and so many things to get done.  So I was lonely.  I was so sure that I would be able to steer clear of all of that - that I knew the tricks of moving and assimilating in a new area.  So I was humbled as I saw myself being ridiculously needy with my new friends(I still am) and as I felt like I was having an identity crisis nearly once a week.

Huge frozen puddles at the bottom of our road - at least three inches thick of pure ice - perfect for "ice skating".

Isn't it pretty?  For sure, winter isn't all bad - it has been beautiful.

Why am I writing this post?  Because the sun is now staying up until nearly 5 PM now - and when Mike goes running at 6 AM he says he can see some light on the horizon.  That means the long winter is ending - that each day is brighter and warmer and longer than the one before.  And it reminds me that everything has a season - all things must pass.  It's yet another reminder that when things are hard if we just hold on, they will get better.  Before we moved I knew that it was be a test of my faith - that I would truly have to trust the Lord during the move - that He was leading us and aware of our needs through it all.  It may sound cliche but I have found relief in repeating the psalm:


Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths.


Another scripture in James that I came upon last week made me feel better too...

Know this, the trying of your faith worketh patience.

And then a couple verses later:


If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

So, I hope I haven't lost you in my churchiness but I really want to say that I know this is true - and I'm grateful for it.  I have gotten to a time in my life when I can no longer lean unto my own understanding - it's not good enough.  So, I'm acknowledging the Lord's hand in my life - and that He truly has comforted me - and sustained me through the last few months of upheaval.  And I know he will continue to do that as I turn to Him.  And I also know that he will do the same for you.  Go get on your knees and let Him in.

One of my favorite talks/articles ever by Elder Holland.


&

And here's a link to my favorite scripture passage E-V-E-R - it's in the Book of Mormon.



p.s.  The days are getting longer and I am happier now too.  I just can't wait for spring already!

Here piggy piggy....

So, yes, we got ourselves a couple of pigs.  We actually bought them a couple weeks ago but they weren't weaned yet so we had to wait until this week to get them.  We were so anxious to get them that when the day arrived and the owner said we'd have to wait to get them because she had to make an emergency trip to the dentist we were pretty bummed.  OR she said we could just go on our own without her and get them.  So, we loaded up, made the drive to Colville, WA and got those pigs.  And it was great.

Wait, no, it was actually really really REALLY awful.  It actually was so terrible that on the drive home I was sure I had made a mistake about pigs and actually being a farmer in general.  Speaking of which, having your dreams come true on days when you are really hormonal is a bummer.  Here you are finally doing the thing you've dreamed about for years and all you feel is rage rippling through your body every time your child whines followed by the desire to cry.  So, ya, that's where I'm at.  Anyhow, getting the pigs...

We pulled up and I left three of my four kids in the car while my oldest and I climbed into the pig "pen".  This pen was a little shed built out of plywood with about 8x8x8 dimensions.  Inside there was a VERY large lactating sow and probably ten or so piglets - all laying in sticky, wet, slightly frozen mud...mingled with pig poop.  In this instance I am tempted to use a stronger word for poop because "poop" sounds cute and slightly clean and flowery compared with the stuff that was several inches deep in there.  It was foul.  So we started by trying to corner the piglets so we could grab them.  Which created LOTS of squealing.  Have you ever heard a piglet squeal?  It's LOUD.  Try having 10 piglets squealing in an 8x8 plywood dungeon of poop.  It's disturbing.  And mother pig agreed that it was disturbing that there were two humans terrorizing her babies and making a chorus of blood curdling squeals.  So she started in on the fun by grunted loudly - more like a growl - then charging us.  So as we are sliding around in this hell hole trying to grab these 30 pound piglets we also are being chased by a 300+ lb momma.  It was impossible.  It actually terrified and humbled me so much that I turned to prayer.  I can't remember if that was before or after I screamed at the momma, "I AM GOING TO EAT YOUR BABIES!!!"  After my prayer was uttered I remembered that we had some french fries on the floor of the car - you know, naturally - we had just had lunch at McDonald's.  So I sent Elijah for a few.  When he got back I had him feed very hungry and very mean momma while I grabbed a piglet by it's back leg.  Grabbing it by it's other back leg, I lifted it into the air.  At which moment it stopped squealing and Elijah, momma pig, and I stared in silence...for a moment.  But then the piglet starting squealing EVEN louder and flailing all over the place and momma started to charge - so I grabbed that thing like a football(pigskin?) and jumped out.  Shakily I shoved the crap covered baby into the cat carrier in the back of my car, and walked back to the pen - noting that several goats and a couple horses had come over to watch the show.

I should mention that at this point the dream of being a farmer had left me.

I climbed back in and did it again - this time finding that momma didn't give me a moment before charging.  It felt like slow motion.  My heart was pounding, I was weak and as I jumped over the wall I noticed that I could see the whites of momma pigs eyes VERY clearly.  Elijah followed as I shoved pig number two into the carrier.  After which realizing that I was C-O-V-E-R-E-D in poop.  Disgusting, green, thick, sticky poop - everywhere.  Since there was no one home to let us in to clean up, we shoved our hands into the snow and tried scrubbing them off that way.  I also remembered I hadn't finished my water from lunch and poured about a quarter cup of ice water onto my hands to "clean" them.   Unsuccessful with getting clean, we got into the car and got out of there.

The drive home took over an hour and a half.  The car reeked so badly that my stomach was churning, Asher cried the entire way home and I had no strength left in me.  Except for that rage I was talking about.  I didn't even want to bring the pigs home.  I didn't want to see another pig ever again.  EVER.  Elijah summed it up when he said, "Mom, I am going to have no problem killing those pigs."

Luckily, when we got home and let them into their clean and comparatively palatial pen - they looked cute.  They snorted around, rooting through the dirt, and looked happy.  So we were happy.  We had ourselves some pigs.