Eli is a big boy!

Today is a big day in our house. Eli's crib/toddler bed was taken out and a new big boy bed was brought in. He's been running around saying he's a big boy now!!! He's so proud!
We also had a visit from Katie's E.S. (the teacher who checks our progress in homeschooling every month!). Mrs. Caroline has a 6 month old named Jack. Jack loves Eli. He watches Eli and laughs at Eli. Today I asked Eli if he thinks we should have another baby in our family. He looked at me and smiled and shook his head no. I asked why and he said "I'm your baby. Me and Belle. You don't need more."
So, my baby is a big boy now, but still wants to be my baby! I love that boy!!!

PS His new bedding is gray, black and red and says "Rock Star" with red guitars all over. And since he got a new bed, we got Katie new bedding as well. Her bed comforter is black with bright embroidered peace signs all over. Both sets of bedding is TOTALLY them! I'll send pictures when I can load them on to the blog site!

My Musings on Homeschooling the Parent

Homeschooling has been a strange journey for me. I brought my child home because she was about to drown in the 30 child classroom. I saw she needed more one on one than they could possibly give. I spent the first year working on figuring where she really was, getting her caught up and getting a schedule that worked for all of us. This year she is mostly caught up and now we are getting into really interesting information.

I have learned so much information that I had no idea about. For instance, Mesopotamia means between the rivers and hippopotamus means river horse. I've also learned why chicken eggs are different colors and that a platypus is a mammal even though they lay eggs. Those are mostly useless, yet interesting, items to know, but I've also learned new grammar things. For instance, you can sit down but you set something down. I can't sit a baby in her crib, I set her in her crib. I can sit on the couch or I can set myself down on a couch. This is news to me.

I have also learned things about myself on this journey. I am not very predictable. I don't like doing the same thing everyday. I like mixing things up. I don't mind reading everyday, but does it have to be at the same time in the same place everyday?

More importantly, I've learned that I haven't dealt with all the pain my undiagnosed dyslexia had caused me in my childhood. I wanted to do good in school and be smart, but struggled with my reading so much it was impossible. Everyone thought I was being lazy and just not doing my school work to reflect my ability. Truth was, I had no idea what was going on most of the time and was just able to "perform" to the teachers liking in class. I see this in my daughter and it scares me. So, I am having to deal with my own pain issues as I teach my daughter that she is smart and I see her trying hard too! I, to this day, hate reading out loud. It's hard to do for a dyslexic. My daughter wants me to read to her all the time and I struggle (even with kids books, I'm afraid) but this too is a lesson for my daughter. She can see that a woman can be successful and still struggle with a reading difference. I think she's not going to struggle as I have. And I pray she never feels the pain of not feeling good enough as she gets older!

I know homeschooling was the right thing to do for my daughter. I have a feeling it'll be good for my son. But now I can see that homeschooling was great for the mother! Praise God I obeyed and brought Katie home for school!

Perseverance

One of the great joys in my life is when my kids actually enjoy conquering a hard task at school.
Today, Eli asked to do school. He asks to do school often, but I am usually so busy with "real" school with Katie that I give him something easy like cutting and pasting or mazes. But today I decided he needed a challenge. I gave him a dot to dot book for five year olds. It was HARD. He cried and fussed, but then when he figured it out and completed the page he did a happy dance and asked to do it again!
Katie has always struggled with writing/reading/grammar. Today we were talking about nouns ("A noun is the name of a person, place, thing or idea."). To solidify the rule I pulled out an old magazine and told her she had 15 minutes to find as many pictures of nouns as she can and paste them on the page. She is giggling and searching. I hear her saying quietly to her self "a noun is the name of a person, place, thing or idea...yep, this is a noun." She is having fun learning and she will REALLY know this definition by the end of the day!
My children are finding school a challenge, but are learning to persevere. I am finding homeschooling and housework and being a mom, wife, friend is a challenge, but I am being encouraged to persevere. It reminds me of the verse found in Hebrews 10:36...You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
We all have something we need to persevere in. What challenge are you facing today? Remember, the Lord promises great blessings if you fight through!

Super Powers

Katie has decided to keep her brother entertained while they do chores by making everything about a super power. She got him to clean his room in record time. She got him to help her take the laundry downstairs by saying they were evil villains and needed to be rounded up and put into the "jail" or laundry basket! He keeps saying his code name is "Super Fick Fop". We're not sure what that means, but that is what he wants his name to be. Well, Katie couldn't get her mouth to say it so she said "OK, well, I'm just going to call you FRED". When I noticed him doing the potty dance she told him to go sit on the "super throne" so he can get further instructions. She then stood outside of the bathroom and made up "missions" to do. Now, that their chores are done, she has him doing her bidding. She got him to get her a drink and put her toys away. Katie really is amazing with the preschool set when she wants to be! I love that girl!