Homeschooling My Toddlers

I first thought about homeschooling when I was a teacher, because I could really see the inadequacy of effectively teaching every child. There were just too many students in a classroom to be able to give each the attention that they needed. So, back then it was just a thought in the back of my mind.

For the past few months, I have been reading a bit on homeschooling, just to get a better picture of it. Currently I am reading, Morning by Morning: How We Home-Schooled Our African American Sons to the Ivy League. So far it has been very thought-provoking. I am really enjoying reading this book. My husband is not on board with homeschooling as of yet, and I'm not sure that I am completely either, but it's something I am really thinking about.

Last week, I thought about the fact that while I am home with them, I can "homeschool" them now. Even though they are two and one, there are things that I can do with them each day or each week to help them develop intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. Of course I have been doing this anyways, but not in a focused, intentional way. A great resource that I have found is Hands On Homeschooling and Tot School, which provides me with a loose schedule of things to do with my kids each day during our homeschool time.

I think a great bulk of homeschooling toddlers can consist mainly of reading aloud and active play outside. There are so many teachable moments that can occur during this time. But, it's also great to have different and creative activities to engage them in on a daily basis. So far, it has been great to add more structure and focus to our days.

Back to School

It's been quite awhile since my last post, and I have been wanting to blog, but just wasn't sure of what to say. I have been busy due to taking a class toward my teacher recertification, and boy is it intensive. Many times I have thought of just quitting, but I'm trying to forge onward.

Once the kids start school, if I have to work, I would like to work in the school system. Then we would have the same hours. I've been observing high school classrooms, and the other day I had to teach a lesson, and get observed by an observer at the college I'm taking classes from. It was nerve wrecking, but I survived. I don't really want to be a teacher again, but it's a good back-up job in case of emergencies. I'm considering obtaining my master's in library science or school counseling to become a school librarian or school counselor. I cannot make up my mind on which one.

But, of course, I really just want to be home with my babies right now. School is a nice diversion sometimes, but it's been kind of stressful at times too. Women don't realize how lucky they are when they have a good, strong, hard-working husband who supports their decision to stay home.

Power of A Praying Wife

I always enjoy reading stories about love, marriage, and children. Especially about Christian couples, and how they were able to endure difficulties and overcome them. A couple of years ago I saw this story on CBN, and I was really touched by it. It was about Michael and Cammy Franzese. Michael Franzeze was a notorious mob leader, and he married Cammy, who was a Christian. She had no idea that he was in the mob while they courted, or even after they married. After a few years of marriage, she started to put two and two together, and realized that he was in the mob.

What was important to Michael was that Cammy didn't tell him to get out of the mob. She didn't tell him to either choose the mob, or their family together. Instead she prayed fervently, along with her mother, for Michael to get out of the mob. What followed is an inspiration, and to read more, go here.

Their story ministers to me, and shows how being a praying wife can bring miraculous results in a marriage.

Numb

I'm surprised at how much the passing of Michael Jackson has affected me. I felt a numbness for most of the day yesterday. Late in the evening it started to sink in, and I started crying. Of course I've never met Michael Jackson, but I felt like I had lost someone in my family or something.

My brothers, sister, and I used to watch The Jacksons: An American Dream movie a million times. We watched it so much together that we would say the words right along with the actors throughout most of the movie. I remember watching Thriller, and all of the other popular MJ videos in the 80's hundreds of times along with my siblings.

I'm sad that he's gone, and it still feels like it's not really true. He was a legend, and he will be truly missed. My prayers are with his family.

Three kids for three weeks

I haven't been blogging much lately, and it's because I have been too exhausted to do so. For the past three weeks I have been babysitting my 2 year old nephew, and, oh my goodness, what a treat! Ha!

Babysitting is a great way to earn money from home. . . if you have the patience. And, I don't think that I do. God still has a lot of work to do with me on that front. Caring for my own two children is one thing, but adding another child to the mix, an active toddler boy is another. This Friday is supposed to be my last day, and although I have enjoyed the extra money, I know that this is not something that I would like to continue doing in the future.

Caring for him reminded me of why mothers should take care of their own children. Because, no one is going to love and take care of them like you would. Except maybe your own mother. My mother thinks that my kids are hers by the way she acts with them, and how she is always telling me what to do with them.

But anyways, caring for children in your home is a great way to earn money from home, and provide extra social interaction for your children. It's not really my cup of tea, but for some people it may be.

Right now I'm sleepy, and I'm about to go to bed. Next week I would like to talk about The Secrets of Fascinating Womanhood, and what I thought about the book. I'm almost finished with it.

Have a great rest of the week!

Being a Fascinating Woman

I read the book, Fascinating Womanhood, in 2004, a year after I graduated college, and when I read through the book I was simply amazed! It sounded so old-fashioned and wholesome, and, I loved it!!! The author, Helen Andelin, articulated so well about a woman's role, and what leads to ultimate happiness for a woman, and it resonated so well with me, because I instinctively knew these thngs in my heart. But reading the book was so inspiring and renewed within me the desire to become the best woman that I could be.

Earlier this week I stumbled upon The Secrets of Fascinating Womanhood, which you can download for free, and I have been reading it on my computer as I have time. Since I have been married, I usually reread through the book whenever I have a particular problem with something, and it inspires me to work on being the best woman and wife that I can be. I have been challenged and convicted while reading through this online resource to be a better wife to my husband.

How sad I was, however, when I learned that Helen Andelin had passed away on June 7th. I am thankful to her for writing such an inspiring and powerful book, and I hope that many women who want to help their marriage become the best that it can be, will read the book and learn from it, like I have.

I encourage you to read The Secrets of Fascinating Womanhood, and see if it is an inspiration to you. It shows how women actually work though Fascinating Womanhood and the results for them. So far I have enjoyed reading it, and I hope you will too.

Smallest BlessingsThursdays: Thankful To Be A Homemaker

It's Thankful Thursdays over at Southern Housewife's Blog, and I decided to participate. The blessing that I'm so thankful for today is being able to stay home with my children and care for them.

Yesterday, I happened upon the website, www.daycaresdontcare.org, and I felt extrememly grateful that my children don't have to to be in daycare. It's something that I purposed since I was younger, to not put my children into daycare.

For some reason it just made me open my eyes even more to the powerful impact that being at home with my children really makes. I felt sad for the many testimonials of the negative effects of daycare usage. But, I didn't need to read it to know. It just made me all the more thankful for the fact that I'm home with my babies, and get to love on them and teach them, and have fun with them throughout the day.

They get to enjoy being at home with Mommy, and being always near me. They get to have a sense of security in knowing that Mommy is always near, and I am so grateful for that, because extenuating circumstances could have reversed the situation. But, God has provided for me to be home with them and I am so thankful.

The pictures above are of me in a dress that I had stashed away for awhile. When I put it on I thought I looked like a 1950's housewife. How cute, I thought. I have felt so much more productive today, wearing a cute little dress around the house, even though I had absolutely nowhere to go today.