To Plan or Not to Plan?

 If you have been part of the homeschooling community long enough you know this is a loaded question in which everyone has their opinion.

Truth be told, I LOVE to plan.  Jotting down ideas, creating the connection with reading and activities, and providing a clean record of what is accomplished is thrilling to my "type A" personality. The feelings of guilt and sense of overwhelming unfulfilled plans is the down side.

My solution is "bullet journal" our day.  This picture is an example of a bullet journal although mine is much more free flowing.  Keeping a list of task I desire accomplished or at least a began in our day helps with the planner mindset.  Empty boxes for each child as well as a box labeled together for activities completed together allows me to keep record and just see all the learning taking place daily.  I also added a notes section to provide space for questions, ideas, and future plans that come up during our time together.

So thoughts, do you plan?

Never Stops

Some things never stop.  Laundry is one of them.  Others include dishes, messy counters, dog hair collecting in the corners, Nerf bullets under furniture, Lego creations in stages of build, smudged glass, dirty cars.  The list could go on and on.  Some days I am just too exhausted to face it all.  Choosing to ignore these never stopping things today and just move on.
  
Tell me I am not the only one?!

Sisters Grimm

Addictive!  The one word I would choose to describe these books. What a wonderful, enthralling audio book series that was randomly chosen at our library.  After listening to the 2nd book in the series, The Unusual Suspects, I immediately put book 1 and the rest of the series on hold in our library system.  All three of us are so engaged in the story, hanging on each word.  Bubba describes the audio book as a "movie of words."  Not only has this given mom a break from reading aloud for hours, but it opened up a rabbit trail to fairy tales.  

The connections, excitement, and laughs we enjoy reading the fairy tales is remarkable.  This organic learning and extension is proving to be very rewarding!

Refreshing

The sun is shining, the air is warmer, and we are ready to get outside.  Once out and away from distractions and confining space, discussion open up.  Recently on our walk, we talked about book genres and why we were enjoying the current fantasy series in our read aloud time.  That flowed directly into a discussion on future employment and business ventures for each child.  Before I knew it we were heading home to create a mowing business the kids decided to create.  Plans included Bubba mowing and Sis keeping books as well as handling customer service.  This works out well since she is the people person of the two.  Walking side-by-side in nature and fresh air seems to open them up to cooperating, exploring new ideas, and exciting energy. 

I admit I feel the same.  Most mornings, I walk or jog with our dog, Scout.  The refreshing time outside energizes me, allows me to pray, and prepares me for the day ahead.

How about you?  Does fresh air refresh you?

Hidden Blessing

Guess what!  I was blessed with an energetic, persistent, determined, inflexible, strong willed child.  There aren't many of us today that receive such a blessing.  Trust me.  I rarely see these traits in children at the park, with my friend's kids, and in restaurants.  Many days were spent trying to overcome his intense personality, but fortunately God opened my eyes to the joy he brings to our family.

It is often said his energy, persistence, determination, firmness, and strong desire will serve him later in life.  Probably true.  The thing is these attributes assist him now.

After living in Idaho for 5 years, we finally went snow skiing.  I should say my husband, my daughter, and I went skiing.  Bubba insisted on snowboarding.  Even after talking to friends who ski and snowboard, hearing the difficulty the first few days offer, and attempting without friends in his class, he insisted on snowboarding.  Other parents suggested making him ski first or giving some sort of bribe or deal to snowboard later.  Knowing that was a disaster waiting to happen, I signed him up for snowboarding and stood back.  His determination, strong will, energy, and persistence paid off.  He totally rocked the snowboarding!  Enjoyed the day!  Can't wait to go back!

If you are lucky enough to have one of these children, my suggestion is to love them where they are and lean into their understanding of self.

4 Reasons We Cook Everyday

Being a homeschooling mom is busy enough, I don't need to add unnecessary task to my "to do list," but I am passionate that we cook daily.

1.  Cooking is Real World
John Holt is right, my kids don't need any more artificial, prepackaged curriculum.  Cooking is something that must be done everyday by someone so you can eat.  Cooking involves science, math, reading, and critical thinking.  You don't have to create a reason to do it because wait long enough and everyone will naturally get hungry.

2.  Time Together.
Cooking is a side-by-side activity that allows conversation, thoughts, ideas, and insight to flow naturally.  Enjoying the fruits of your labor allows more time together to share stories, poems, and discussion.  

3.  Skill
Learning to cook gives each person a skill to be used today as well as later in life. Understanding food preparation, cooking techniques, and nutrition serves themselves and others.

4.  Passing on Tradition
Since we are from the South where everything centers on food and drinks, passing on recipes is crucial for traditions.  There is nothing like homemade bar-be-que sandwiches, potato salad, and pecan pie. 

So take some time, get together in the kitchen and cook!  

Trust

TRUST was the word put on my heart over and over for this year.

Trust in God.

Trust in myself.

Trust in each other.

Trust in my children.

Trust is defined as firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.

This focus continues to challenge me daily.  As I trust myself on following my interest and passions, I trust my children to follow their passions and interests to grow and improve their God-given talents.

How do you look at trust?