How time flies

How time flies is the title of this post. Time is flying by so fast. Just this evening I was sitting down with my sister , talking to her on the phone. We were talking about notebooking and I knew I had a picture in my archives here to show her a picture of our old notebooking endeavors we did when the girls were younger.

Looking at all of the posts , it made me miss that time so much. How time flies.  I missed so much when the girls were younger. We had so much fun. There wasn't a thing they wouldn't try.   So I definitely want to try and post more pictures here. I know maybe no one really reads this blog anyways. It's a great thing though to be able to blog our life. I truly hope that some day my girls can come back here and find all the wonderful , fun things that we did as a family.  I want them to be able to come back and show their children some day what God had blessed them with.

                       Katie's 15th birthday,,, she has another birthday coming up very soon.

                                       She certainly is my child,,, all chocolate cake!!

                         

                                  Last winter,, Maggie sliding down the ramp in the back yard.

                                       Hannah taking her turn going down on her knees.

                                         Our last Thanksgiving as a family with grandpa..

                                                     My Frozen Princesses, posing for a pic.

                     The girls working on a mummification experiment. The result was pretty cool.

                                                  Maggie having tons of fun

                                                Katie measuring things out too.

                                                              Hannah in 6th grade

                                                                 Marilyn 11th grade

                   Sorry, Maggie. Her picture turned out a little funny, The sun was in her eyes, 4th grade.

                                                             Maggie shooting hoops.

                                         My cutie patooties last year , cheerleaders,,,

                                                                                                                                   Katie in 9th grade this year,,, wow!                                                 We just have so many pictures. That I couldn't possibly show them all here.  I do want to make more of an effort to just enjoy them here to look back on. We have Facebook now. Facebook didn't exist when I first started this blog. So it's a bad habit at times to post everything there rather then on here. I do like this type of format still because I can find my pictures. They don't get lost in the midst of posts.    The one thing I want my girls to know is that I love them more than life itself. They have made our life so much better having them in it.  We have our days but in the end I am blessed. I have some super great kids , and for that, I can't ask for anything more.                                                         

Simplifying Homeschool the Spiral Notebook Way

Admit it.  This is the time of year that just drags, and it drags slowly. The children are read to break free of school work, and mom's brain is on how to become more organized for the new school year.   

Are we doing enough? Are we falling behind? What in the world are we accomplishing?  I found myself asking these questions time and time again. I also found that one subject was getting far more attention than another.  There was just nothing there to really hold my girls accountable, and the old , " I need you to get this done because I assigned this to you." standby was just not working anymore. It honestly didn't matter if it was me telling them to get it done. Things just weren't getting done. 



I did find one solution. Though not entirely perfect , and not an original idea of mine ,  it can be as simple as a 25 cent notebook. " No way," you say. Yes, a notebook. 

I had read an article about this simple , yet innovative idea of using a notebook to keep track of our daily progress.   I just felt like we had zero direction and something really needed to change. 

So when I read the article I immediately grabbed some notebooks that I bought in the beginning of the year and went to work.

 For Maggie and Hannah, I went as far as color coding each subject when I wrote them down. I added check boxes so that I knew what was done and what wasn't.  Each evening I went through their books, and wrote down any page numbers , drills that needed to be done , flashcards, activities  etc so they knew what needed to be done each day. If they needed to see me to start a subject I also added that in the book as well as a check mark so they knew they followed my directions. 

Now for children Katie and Marilyn's age ( K is 15 and M is 17) they needed to take more personal responsibilty for writing down what they were getting done each day.  If I had an extra activity for them I would write it down in the notebook.  

The one idea I really liked from the article I read about notebooking your daily assignments was reserving about 10 pages in the back of their notebook for the girls to record the books they've read this year.  This will definitely come in handy when I can rip it out and add it to their portfolio for their end of the year evaluations. 

This definitely is a more simplified version of the Workbox system I have used for quite some time.  I just find that it's a more compact way of doing a workbox system especially if you don't have the room for boxes or plastic totes. 

Honestly there isn't a right or wrong way to do the notebooking system. Some people write in their children's daily assingments. Some parents have their children take ownership ( I don't recommend this until at least 8th grade, but of course children may vary) and write in what it is that they are doing each day. Some people use colored pencils. Some people draw boxes. Whatever it is you decide to do, make it your own. 

Whether you use the notebook system, or the workbox system. Honestly it does help you to organize an otherwise unorganized day. 

Review and Giveaway " A Catholic Mom's Guide to Working from Home.

Have you ever wished you could make a little extra income at home?  Do you find it rather difficult to think about working outside of the home?  I think every mom at some point dreams of being able to have a little extra money to pay the bills, go on a vacation, or even just have some extra spending money. 

Well, never fear!  A Catholic Mom's Guide to  Working From Home is here!

I had the wonderful opportunity to be able to read and review this very helpful e-book on how to start up your own business at home. 

The author Jennifer Rainey takes you step by step in this very easy to read e-book on how to start, implement ,and even take some pause on how to never forget your true calling as a mother.

  A Catholic Mom's Guide to Working from Home has 101 tips that can help get you thinking and started on your way to a home business in no time.  

For instance did you know that you can use previous experience to start up your own at home business?  For example  I have always enjoyed crocheting and making homemade soaps. My experience in creating things that have become a lost art could help me make  extra money on the side.  I've also known people who bake and  create wonderful things to sell to others like custom cookies and cakes. 

The author also gives advice on the importance of being on top of the legal stuff when starting an at home business. It is very important that you take the time to research what your state laws are and to pay that ever important income tax. 

Another great thing about this book is that the author asks you to remember one very important thing : You are a mother first. God gave you this wonderful calling and if your job is taking up to much of your time. Then it's time to stop and either revisit doing something else, or go back to being the wonderful mother that God made you to be. 

Another nice feature of the book is that Jennifer Rainey also reminds moms to look to God. To thank Him, Praise Him and never forget that God is there for you throughout the good and the bad.   Also sprinkled  throughout  the book are quotes by the Saints and a good reminder to look to them as great examples of what mothers should be. 

With this book being an easy and quick read. I highly recommend this book to all Catholic moms whether you homeschool or not. Even if your considering trying your hand at starting your own business. The tips given by the author are definitely by a mom who has definitely been there and done that. So what are you waiting for? Buy A Catholic Mom's Guide to Working from Home today and get started! 

Now are you ready for a Giveaway?  Five people will be able to win the E-book, A Catholic Mom's Guide to Working from Home.  

First Entry,, click the Give Away Widget down below and enter your email address. This will give you one entry. 

Also for extra entries. Follow this as well ....... 

 Extra Entry 1. Post a comment on this post. If you started a business what would it be? 

 Extra Entry 2. Click Join this Site (right side of blog)

Extra Entry 3. Join the Networked Blogs (on the right side of blog)

Also if your not one for waiting to see if you've won.  The Catholic Mom's Guide to Working from Home  e-book  is available right now for a limited time for .99 cents on Amazon .                                    

Maggie's First Communion and my birthday

This is a little late but my baby is growing up.  Maggie has come such a long way since she was born. The first several years were full of doctors appointments, medical tests and surgeries that I never thought we'd get to the point we are today.  Two more major surgeries later and my baby girl has made her First Holy Communion.  

The week before our church hosts a First Communion Retreat for the kids. It's a special, fun time for them to go over things they've learned and to learn more new things about the wonderful sacrament that is the Eucharist.  They get to sing songs, play games, and listen to the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000. At the end they got to celebrate with pizza, cake and other snack foods.  It was a great time had by all.  I've been through it three times ( my first two took their First Holy Communion at the same time so I did this three instead of four times). 

  Getting together. Since we always have such a small amount of kids in our Religous Ed group we combine with another Parish. 

 Mrs. S has done this for many years. I'm not sure on the exact amount of years but she now has this down as an art.  The kids love it and it makes this special day to look forward to even more special.

                               The kids listening to the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 with fish and bread.

                                                      Mrs. S's version of the 5,000

Then there is craft time. The kids get to make a rosary box to hold onto their rosaries. And they also made a cross  and put a short sentence on what First Communion meant to them. I will say Oriental Trading has gotten a lot better with putting the sticky stuff on the back of the pieces. Back in the day we had to use glue and it was always a bit of a messy project, but the kids had fun anyways. 

                             Our little Communion Princess. Maggie looked so beautiful in her dress. 

                                        Maggie and Daddy. Yes, it was a little windy that morning but the day was just beautiful. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day. It worked perfectly because we had our after party out on our deck. 

                                                           Marilyn and Maggie. 

                                         Mommy and Maggie, Well, the sun got in her eyes.

                    The altar was decorated beautifully for such a beautiful day. The picture really didn't do                             it any justice. It was actually very breath taking in person. 

                        My three older girls were so excited that they got to serve for their little sister's                               First  Communion. 

                               Maggie walking down the aisle. Her veil kept wanting to slip off her head. 

                                    Marilyn, Katie and Hannah up on the altar with Father as he was saying Communion. The one thing I can brag a bit here is that my girls do exactly what they are supposed to do when they are serving. Far to many times I see kids NOT doing what they are supposed to be doing. Like playing around with their hands, not participating in the responses , or just playing around. Father, our Deacon and even the parishioners always appreciate when my girls serve. They take it very seriously.   

I will say I did not get a picture of Maggie taking Communion. Reason being because I thought my husband had the camera and here it had slipped in the back part of our pew and I didn't know it until my husband came back. But I'll give you a play by play here. 
Daddy was Eucharistic minister that day. He was fortunate to have had the pleasure of giving Maggie the Precious Blood of our Lord. He didn't know he was going to do that at the very last moment when the Deacon stepped back and handed him the cup.   Maggie did a wonderful job as well as the rest of the kids. 

                             After Communion was all finished the First Communion kids went up for Mary's May Crowing. 

                                          Our small little group. It's been kind of sad. In the past four years the amount of children in our church has been on a serious decline. Four years ago when my two oldest had their first communion we had 18 children. Though compared to many churches, which is still small, we've just had a a large decline in the amount of children we've had for Relgious Education. Our church has been averaging between 5-7 children for first communion since. I expect the numbers to continue to go down as people in our country have just lost their way.

Maggie, Father Hoffman, and as we so lovingly call him, Deacon Bill :) 

 Our after party cake. Okay so this sorry looking cake was our cake. There is such a long story to this it's almost not funny. This ended up being the second cake I had to bake because the first one didn't take, then for some reason the frosting just wasn't working like I had wanted it to. In the end we were lucky we had the cake at all. 

 Setting up for the after party. It was so nice to have so many people for Maggie's party. Not to mention what made this day all the more special was that it was my birthday too!  It was a day I'll never forget. 

             The weather outside was just beautiful. It wasn't to hot or to cold. It was JUST right.  

                        So much so that we could all enjoy a little Vitamin D that we are so all lacking up                                here  in the North.

                                                         Maggie enjoying the company. 

                                                 Maggie opening up her gifts. She got many beautiful gifts, from a                                     Picture Bible to a beautiful rosary made by one of our parishioners. 

Finishing up opening the gifts. Even Father Hoffman made an appearance. He's the guy in black sitting in the shade. I didn't blame him. LOL 

So there you have it. It was such a perfect day for such a beautiful little girl. We couldn't have asked for anything more. It was a great way to spend my birthday. With cake, friends and family. 

Is it Spring yet?

      The first day of spring .Spending some time in the kitchen cooking . 

Maggie stirring the ingredients to our Watermelon cupcakes. 

                                Check out the the cupcake mix. It's actually pink. I believed they 
                                     used watermelon Nerds for the" seeds". I'm convinced of it. 

Marilyn putting the mix in the cupcake holders. 

                                        Hannah and Kate got in on the action too. Crazy kids. 

 Even the green frosting had a watermelon taste to it. They tasted great!  

                                All the while Oreo is still waiting for spring. I think we all are.   

When NOT to homeschool

Close your eyes. Now picture a beautiful, neat kitchen table topped with a vast array of  school books. You have all of your children situated  around the dining room table beaming with smiles.  They begin digging into those books as they begin to quench  their thirsting little minds with the vast array of knowledge out there. All of a sudden little Joey needs help with an English question and your oldest jumps at the chance to help him out ever so willingly. Mom is sitting at the table sparkling with pride as her eager students are all learning and her house is perfectly arranged.  You convince yourself that, life couldn't get any better. Then all of a sudden you hear that "riiiiiippp" sound that  you would hear from a needle going across a record,  and you snap back to reality.

How about a touch of reality?  Picture this.  Your infant is nursing on you for the third  time in an hour.  A toddler with a runny nose, and fever clinging to you crying in discomfort.  All the while your 8 yr old is running around torturing, I mean, playing with the cat. While  you're  trying for the tenth time to get him to sit down in a chair. Meanwhile begging him to just please, oh please, start on that math page they've been whining and  stalling on for two days.  Your  middle schooled child is wandering around the house looking for that missing English book, again. At this point you are yelling at your  high schooled teen, who by the way is  just more caught up on their Ipod, to put it away. Asking them if they've gotten that essay done on the Great Gatsby that was due two weeks ago. 

Okay, I know you just read the title, and you are  are thinking to yourself right now," What? I see all these awesome blogs out there that encourage me  to home school. I mean, they give you about a gazillion reasons on why you should. "  So why is this blog post about when NOT to home school?  Why on earth would I encourage people NOT to do it?

 I do see a great deal of families  home school for the right reasons. These families  know and understand the sacrifices it takes to home school. They reach out to other homeschoolers when the going gets tough, and they need revived.  In other words they home educate because they feel the calling whether it's from God or their  conscience. It's  just the right thing to do for their family.  This post will focus on when it may not be in the best interest to home school. 

With homeschooling on the rise. I'm seeing more and more families jump on the bandwagon. The thing is it isn't always in the best interest of their  family.  So I've decided to compile  a short list of when NOT to home school.
*This list is not in any particular order and not limited to.

1. Everyone is homeschooling, even my best friend.

Well, here is  an if you had friends, and if  they jumped off a bridge  moment.   First, you must  ask yourself," Do I enjoy being with my children?"   I always hope that parents enjoy being with their children. 
Though I've  accepted   a small percentage of  people that do not  enjoy being around their children exist. I won't bore you  to much with the schematics.   They are the  parents  that pray for school season to start.  The mom  that whines when it's a school holiday. Or when it's summer  and they are so ready to ' send them back?' Please realize that you will spend every day with your children. The parent is the main educator. 
    
The million dollar question is: Do you enjoy being with your children?  So do you? 

 The next thing you have to ask is: " Does our family want to be closer?"  Homeschooling can bring a family much closer than most.  Everyone learns to work as a family and a unit. Each person in the family learns to love one another and appreciate each other just a little more. I will admit the family dynamic is not something that can be summed up with words. It can be very difficult describe. But if you do give homeschooling a try you will see what I mean.  

Additionally  I am beginning to see far too often as well is, " My friend Susie home schools. Then I should too." moments.  Especially when they can't stand being around their children, or haven't done any research, or just don't want to home school.    Just because it's the right choice for your friend, doesn't mean its right for your family. There are people who love being around their own children, but just find homeschooling doesn't work for them either. That's okay. It's just not the right fit for your family.

(Mind you this post is about those who jump into homeschooling without a thought).  

 If  you answer, no, to the questions  above, or you look at sending your child away to school as a national holiday.  Then  homeschooling is NOT right for you.

2. Giving  up at the first sign that it's getting hard.

Yeah, again, another one I'm seeing far too often too.  Instead of asking for help, or ideas from other homeschoolers, or even reaching out to other homeschoolers where they live when they have a problem. They just totally give up on homeschooling altogether. 

 I've seen happy parents start homeschooling just  to give up several weeks to a few months later.  The thing I've noticed. Not once did they ever reach out to anyone.
 I had to think about why this was.  The reason?  Because there is this notion that homeschooling is easy.  To dream of pink fluffy  unicorns dancing on rainbows every day is far from what homeschooling is.   You have to be able to accept the good days with the bad days.  We have to accept those days  if they go to a brick and mortar school.  Not every day your child comes home excited  to do homework when they've been stuck in a building all day.   Guess what?  Homeschoolers go through that too.  

I admit to losing count of the days when I've had to plead, beg, and argue with my children to get their work done.  On top of that  dinner is due. I need to keep track of when to care for my daughter's medical issues. Then on top of everything our house looks literally like a scene from the tornado of the Wizard of Oz blew through the house.   Am I always organized? No, it's a ton of work.   On top of it, trying to encourage my children to ask their father  to help them.  You know, getting them to realize I'm not the only adult in the house that can help them with a work assignment? 

 Yep, homeschooling is HARD. There is nothing easy about educating children.  Not every single day, and moment is a good one. If you set unrealistic expectations  that's what you're going to get. 

 

If you don't want to reach out to others for help, or aren't capable of  wanting to meet your children's  needs. 

Then homeschooling is NOT  right for you.

3. Where your priorities are at?

 Ask yourself," Where are my priorities?"  If material possessions mean far more to you, and I'm not talking  paying bills and getting the necessities, then you need to rethink homeschooling.  

Homeschooling is something that requires sacrifice.  You may need to downsize with one income. Maybe one car instead of two? It may mean needing  to make more meals at home and  not being able to go out to eat  that often. Or even downsizing a home if you're relying on one income. Movie night might also need to consist of renting movies or waiting for them to be available on Netflix instead of always going out to the movies. 

 Even so many families work and home school as well.  When I first started homeschooling 13 yrs ago just homeschooling existed . Today you will see new terms such as : homeschoolers, unschoolers, car schoolers, hack schoolers , just give it a name.   There are parents who work full time or work part time and manage to home school (Yours truly managed to do this too). I've seen teachers, professors, doctors, nurses, lawyers, scientists, you name the trade, home school.  They need to adjust their time ,  find more independent curriculum, or recruit the help of family members to make home schooling  work. Either way homeschooling is not impossible.  

Homeschooling is not limited to income. Current studies are showing that families of different types of socioeconomic standards home school today and it's no longer limited to those families who can afford to stay home. 

 It has now dwindled  to  a matter if you WANT to home school whether than if you can home school.  Many families of differing income brackets have managed to home school.  Even single parents  home school. Heck, even grandmas and grandpa's, aunts and uncles, and friends and neighbors are helping to home school when parents are unable.   

It all boils down to what you want for your family. 

If keeping up with the Jones' is far more important to you.Then homeschooling is NOT for you.

4.  Learning is a drag for you.

If learning is  a drag for you,  learning is  going to be a drag for your children. Homeschooling is  learning right along with your children. 
 If you don't enjoy learning, your children won't enjoy learning either. If you're not willing to learn alongside them. Or do not want to learn with your children. Or even want to further your own education by going beyond what you are teaching your children. 

Then homeschooling is NOT right for you.

5. You want to homeschool to run away from problems.

Not sure how to put this not so blunt, but if your child failing in school because they are not doing their homework. Guess what?  Homeschooling isn't going to go to well for you.  
If you pull them out because transitioning in school is difficult, guess what? Homeschooling isn't going to fix the problem.  If your child  has discipline problems in school, guess what?  If you  said, " Homeschooling isn't going to fix the problem, " Your 100 percent right! 

 Home school isn't a fixer upper. If problems exist, they need to be addressed otherwise homeschooling WILL fail.  When your child is disobedient to other adults, they will be disobedient to you.  At the same time if work is not getting done in school, they aren't going to do it at home.  

Now of course there can be  behaviors that are caused by the stresses of school, but if they aren't addressed ahead of time. Homeschooling will feel more like torture schooling instead.  

If you don't want to attend to the  behavioral issues first. Then  homeschooling  is  NOT for you.

6.  Your spouse does not agree

Homeschooling shouldn't be done unless both parties are in agreement. It's not worth the stress  it can cause if one parent  isn't agreeing with the other. 
 Both parties  should clearly state why they don't think homeschooling is right for the family.  Rule number 1:  Mind reading doesn't count. That means that each adult must state with words to each other why they believe that homeschooling won't work in their particular family.  Far to many times I've seen conversations that follow along this way: 

Poster : " My husband doesn't want me to homeschool.  I really want to and think it's the best thing but he doesn't want me to." 

Other posters : "  Well why? What were his reasons?"  

Poster: " Well , gee , I don't know. He just says he doesn't want me to."   

Well, if we can examine here how nonconstructive this conversation is.  Husband doesn't state what he believes. He  says, " No."  Well, guess what? God doesn't make us with mind reading radars where we can guess what the other is thinking. Construction conversation requires the use of complete thoughts.  

Remember those days when our children were young? Our children had  moments when they would  cry when they wanted something. Problem was, you didn't know what they wanted. You turned to them and said, " Well, mommy can get whatever you need if you use your big boy words."  Well the same goes here. We need to use our big boy or big girl words to say why we think homeschooling will or will not work for our  families.  No guessing allowed. 


The best way to go about  this is: Do your research, show the research to each other, and talk often.  Even a trial run for a year doesn't hurt ,and it's not set in stone. 

But, if there is no agreement in the matter, the best thing to do is pray and hope for a change of heart. Homeschooling is not something that should be forced. 

Successful home schooling consists of place where both parents work together. You will often have  days when the kids get under each others skin, and days will come and go when everyone manages to get under each other's skin.   If both parents work together to support discipline in the home, everyone will be happier.   If both parents are divided in this, home schooling  will not work.  

Another reason  homeschooling will NOT be for you.

7. You want to churn out brilliant kids

Okay, so extensive amounts of studies are out there now that show home schooled children tend to be ahead of their peers. To be honest I don't know of a parent out there that doesn't want their child to be the next child genius.  Unless your child is naturally gifted, you can't force your child to be that way. This is another issue I'm beginning to see. Parents trying to create something from their children that they are not.  

There maybe children within a family with learning disabilities or special needs, and we need to adapt to them.   Homeschooling is loving to learn.  Homeschooling is  making memories with your children. Lord knows they grow up to fast. Home schooling is  raising children in the way they should go, preparing them  for Heaven, and guiding them to be able to have a life to live on their own. Homeschooling isn't taking credit for having smart children, and it's not turning them into something brilliant, well, unless God made them that way. Homeschooling is about being able to enjoy the time given to you by God with your family. 

If your idea of homeschooling is to mold your child into something they are not. 

Then homeschooling is NOT for you. 

Well, here you go everyone. I'm sure many other reasons exist why many families shouldn't home school.  I always will be pro homeschooling, and pro school choice.  Being able to chose what is right for every family is why we have educational choice. Not everyone is meant to home school. Not every family is created equal. In fact there's nothing wrong with knowing your limitations.