Homeschooling Update

Shhhh....she's sleeping......and her lips aren't moving. She is, however, making noise. Yes, she snores. My, how I love that noise maker!

I thought I'd give you a little homeschooling update. We are several weeks into our fall semester and it is going well, although, Miss G will tell you she hates to "do" school. Once we get going in the mornings she really gets into it, going so far as to hug and kiss her "History" binder.

In my continuing effort to upgrade my level of organization to Miss G's advanced level, we have made great strides this week in our scheduling. I now know not only what we're doing for the day but more importantly, according to Miss G, at what time we will do these things and in what order. The main subject that Miss G is focusing on this school year is reading. We are using "The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading" by Jessie Wise and Sara Buffington for our reading curriculum. Miss G is doing very well with it. I really like it too. The lessons are brief but thorough with reinforcement of previous lessons built into each subsequent lesson.

After we have concluded the daily lesson we also read short, mommy-made-up sentences to reinforce what we've just learned.

An example...

No! Grandma did not fib.

After Miss G finishes reading the sentence, we, of course, debate the sentence.

Miss G reads, "If I am six, I am big."

"Mommy, that's not true. You're not big when you're six. You have to be much older to be big. Jay (a little boy at church) is six and he's not big."

Next sentence, "The big hog bit him."

"Did it bite Daddy? Who did the big hog bite? I hope it wasn't Daddy."

Another sentence, "All the bad pigs bit all the good hens."

"Why would the pigs bite the hens? They shouldn't bite the hens. That would hurt them."

"Mommy fed the pig on the bed."

"Mommy! You shouldn't feed the pig in bed. That would make a mess. How would a pig get up in your bed? Did you pick it up? Daddy wouldn't like crumbs in his bed."

I'm not sure that Ms. Wise and Ms. Buffington intended to include debating principles into their beginning reading curriculum, but that's what happens at our house. Crossover curriculum....that's what I like to call it. Incorporating multiple subjects at once is a goal of mine....not really....I just made that up. Education is not a destination....it's a journey. (Does that sound better?) Oh well...we'll keep trudging forward. Something is working. Miss G is reading and that is NOT debatable.

Extrovert vs. Introverts

We're looking for some middle/common ground in our family and in an effort to better understand Miss G and ourselves, we took a Myers-Briggs personality test. Our blossoming daughter is an extrovert. I know you're all shocked. Mr. Reserved and I are.....surprise, surprise.....introverts. The test also labeled Miss G as a "thinker" and "judgemental".

I am one laid-back mommy. We don't have a set schedule. We don't even get up at the same time every day. Sometimes we eat breakfast when we get up, sometimes we don't. I don't even do her school subjects in the same order every day. We do them all, just not necessarily in the same order. In my world, the next book on the shelf is our next subject. I'm learning that although this works fine for me, it really bothers Miss G. She wants to know the exact time that we will do something and in what order. She wants to know what we're having for lunch...tomorrow. She wants to know who will be at tennis...next Tuesday. She is a planner and she is an organizer, although it's an organization that only she understands. She MUST know what is going to happen next.

Evidently extroverts get their batteries charged by going out and being with other people. While I treasure the days we don't leave the house, Miss G hates them. When I want to be quiet and relax, Miss G nags me until we are talking or playing or going.

It bothers my maternal side that she is so concerned with the details of our upcoming week and month. Why can't she just relax and enjoy the moment? Please let mommy worry about the time we need to leave to get to our next event. I'll remember to get my purse too....and my phone....and my keys....and gas for the car.

I am making an effort, which is VERY against my nature, to make our days more organized and structured. I am also trying to stay home only two days a week. She needs to get out and be with other people. I get it. Ughh...I'll do it....I mean I'd be glad to do it!

After all, watching her interact and play is highly entertaining.....even for an introvert.

Wii Fun

For all those unaware, I'm a Wii professional bowler. Yes........it's true. It's an achievement I'm REALLY proud of. Actually, our family does enjoy playing Wii together. Wii Sports is our favorite. We love to play tennis, bowling and golf. It's crazy fun. Something about those medals they give out keeps bringing us back for more.


Our family does a lot of trash talkin' too. Tonight as we were talkin' smack, Daddy said that he was going to beat us all. Miss G said,




"I'm going to win."


I said, "Not tonight, baby. Bring it on!"




Miss G, inclined to state the obvious said, "But Mommy, you have to TURN it ON before we can play!"


"It's on now, you little smart aleck. Ohh.....it's go time!"




That's her "YOU can't beat me" face.


Ahh....good times. Wii trash talkin' on a Monday night. What could be better?

Expect Goodness

My mother gave me a gift that I have only recently come to appreciate. Her gifts were that she had an unswayable positive outlook on life and that she expected goodness from everyone. She tried to pass both of these traits on to me but I only caught the later.

I try to have a positive outlook but I let things get me down too easily. I do expect goodness from everyone though and I'm genuinely surprised when people behave badly. I know what you're thinking...."She must not get out much!"....but I do. Although, in my old age, I have learned to surround myself with good people.

Today, someone I know well, was ugly to me and my daughter. Since I always expect the best out of people, sometimes I don't even realize what just happened until several minutes later. The full impact of their insult sometimes isn't realized for hours. I think, "They couldn't have meant that. Surely I misunderstood." The more I dwell on it, the more angry I become. Their hate planted a seed in my heart that grew into full blown fury. After much counseling from my husband and good friends and after many, many prayers, the fury subsided and God showed me that the problem isn't me or my daughter, it comes from the person that harbors hate in their heart.

It's upsetting when such occurrences happen to you. It's exponentially upsetting when it happens to your child. I think that is what bothered me the most about the scolding this woman gave Miss G and then ultimately to me.

This woman hates homeschoolers. I have actually heard her rant that anyone who would homeschool their children are "absolute idiots". I believe, at the core, this was the reason for her attack. My daughter, who was not in the public school system as she should be AND who was on the tennis court in the middle of the day, had the audacity to tell her that she was doing wrong. As this lady was exerting herself, she exclaimed, "Oh, my gosh!" In our household, we try really hard not to say that because we feel that gosh is just a slang term for God and we try really hard not to take the Lord's name in vain. Miss G, being shocked at hearing such language, blurted out, "We don't say that! You shouldn't say that." Unfortunately, I was on the next court over and didn't hear this exchange. The woman quickly told Miss G that she didn't say "Oh, my God." and that Miss G was not to tell her what she could or couldn't say. Miss G may not say that in her house but she could and would say that if she wanted to. Needless to say, Miss G was shocked into silence, which is rather hard to do.

I know all this because this woman kindly told me the conversation word for word and then scolded me for having a daughter who would dare to tell an adult what to do. I quietly listened to this woman not knowing quite what to say. The woman kept asking me what we teach in my house about "gosh" and "God" which I knew better than to get into with her. As she continued to rant and since I'm the world's worst debater, the only thing I could think of to say was, "You certainly have the right to say 'Oh, my gosh' if you want." But, I couldn't help think that Miss G also had the right to say what she wanted to. My daughter was standing up for what she believed in. She was standing up for God and for probably the first time, but certainly not the last, she was being persecuted for it.

The maternal side of me feels like I let my daughter down. I wasn't there when she was being scolded for her beliefs. My wise husband said that Miss G will have to face those kinds of people all her life and that we should be proud that she stood up for what she believed in.

Will I still expect good from people? Yes, I will. Will Miss G? I believe so. Although Miss G isn't biologically related to my mother, she caught both her optimistic outlook and her expectation of good. Miss G has a zest for life that can't be squelched by a woman whose heart is full of hate. I do believe that this woman has done some good. Miss G has survived her first defense of our Lord and has come out the other side unscathed and undaunted. I'm one proud Mommy!

Our Darling Enigma

These are the "toys" that Miss G picked out at the store today. They ARE quite lovely.....I'm sure ..... yes.....quite. Miss G tries really hard to be a girlish-girl, but it doesn't come naturally. Please check that picture again. Anyone notice the dirt under her fingernails? Now that is truer clue for understanding our fascinating enigma named Miss G.




Remember, this is our dirt lover. This is the girl that was fascinated by watching her Daddy and Popaw clean birds this weekend. She wanted to see their hearts. Where were their heads? Why do you take their wings and legs off. When she's older, Daddy can take her hunting too...right?!?



And then she plays for hours out of a dress-up doll suitcase from Grandma's cool stuff.



When discussing the endless costume possibilities for an upcoming Halloween event, I threw out several suggestions that were quickly shot down.

"How about a princess or a fairy or an angel? See how pretty they are?"

"No. I don't think those are right."

"Well, what DO you want to be?"

"I want to be a pirate with an eye-patch. May I have a sword too?"

So you see, she tries really hard to be a girlish-girl when she'd really rather have an adventure on the high seas, preferably covered in dirt. I guess she's a tom-boy in a pink skirt. It's like she always tells me..."God makes you just the way he wants you."

Life Comes at You Fast...

...sometimes it's best to duck.

I've ducked and dodged several things in the last couple of days. Yesterday a ducked several high velocity tennis balls during drills. I was only hit once which is about normal. I always say that it hasn't been a good day at doubles unless you get hit by the ball. The very nature of doubles requires you to aim for the net person. Getting hit is inevitable. It's part of the challenge and part of the fun.

I made another good dodge yesterday. While trying a new apple pie recipe my dear daughter threw up while helping to make it. Nothing kills your appetite faster than having your child throw up. She missed the pie but got the stove and floor. Thankfully I jumped back in time to save myself another shower. I almost scrapped the whole pie but continued making it after cleaning up and bathing her. It's not a recipe I think I'll keep. I think my opinion has been tainted and it's probably not fair to the recipe but I still can't keep the recipe or the pie. Yuck!

For those that aren't aware, the U.S. Open tournament is underway. My favorite player, Roger Federer, dodged a tough opponent yesterday to remain in the tournament. Go, Roger! I'm afraid my tennis preferences are transferring to Miss G. She watched some of his match yesterday and decided to draw a picture of him.





The lines above his eyes are his sweat band.



And this is how she feels when he wins!! Go, Roger!

The things I'm not dodging right now but trying to face head-on and head-strong are homeschooling and a Fall Festival I'm organizing for our church. Both are proving to be fun and fulfilling. Miss G is enjoying "doing school" even though she grumbles sometimes. The light in her eyes and joy in her smile when she "gets" whatever we're doing encourages me like nothing else could. What a blessing to be home with her.

What are you ducking and dodging lately? Sometimes you need to duck and sometimes you need to face things head-on. Sometimes it's hard to decided which to do.

There will be times when you take a hit and it may leave a mark. Sometimes you can miss the full blow but still be negatively affected. Sometimes you just need to be brave and take that leap of faith into the unknown. That leap of faith is a whole lot easier if you'll rely on God. Don't know what to do...pray. God can resolve situations in ways you can't even imagine.

What's the moral of this story? Be aware and duck incoming shots. Be wary and dodge negative influences. Be brave, rely on God and pray...a lot. Life is so good when we walk in step with Him.