I Am Now a Home School Mom

  I have not been blogging lately due to adjusting to my new incredible life of  home school! When I made the decision during the last 2 months of Kindergarten last year, I knew it was what I wanted to do but was not sure if I would like it or what to expect really. I had my fears of whether or not I was capable of teaching my son and it was no doubt a huge decision! I can say now, after one whole month of experience,I absolutely love it and there are no regrets.
  I never went to college because I never could figure out just what I would love to do or even be good at. Hated to waste the time or money on something I just was not sure of. I did manage to get an Early Childhood Education credentials but that was it. I always knew I loved working with children but not so much a ton of them in one room.
 Now finally at the age of 34, I have found my love! No paycheck but the benefits are awesome! Just looking forward to the new adventures and experiences to come!

1st day of 1st grade

Wonderful Stain removing product!

  After two kids and two accident prone adults, the couch we bought pre-kid in my mind was just beyond ever looking clean again.My kids eat in the kitchen but we have had the leaky sippy cups and some of our drinks have been knocked over.Then you have the times where kids have gotten sick and the newborn spit up to try and combat.

  I always try and clean up the messes when they happen but unfortunately the couch we bought before we had children is microfiber and it seems to not clean well at all.


   NOTE: Planning on having kids ever? Microfiber is not the best way to go!

  If you have already,I have found a product that will work wonders for it.It's called Folex.I bought mine at Food Lion for a little over $6.00 but I think Wal-mart carries it as well, and probably cheaper.Nothing else I have tried even put a dent in my stains and I'm pretty sure I tried almost everything that claims to clean upholstery.

Before

After

  One of the things I love about this product other than how well it takes out stains, is there is no chemical smell.Actually,I can not tell it has any smell at all.

 The directions say to spray a generous amount on spot and rub in with finger tips.Then blot with an absorbent cloth. It can also be used in steam cleaners.

  In the before and after pictures,you can see I had more than just a spot.I'm totally amazed!
  I am going to go over it one more time because there is just a bit more I want to get off, but as you can see after just one go at it there is a major improvement!


 

Oh How Fast The Years Go By!

   It's a real eye opener once you get old enough to see kids you used to babysit when they were toddlers graduating high school,getting married and having kids of their own.It's a bit depressing to me at times because it makes me realize that life really is so short.Then I ponder questions like, have I accomplished much of anything so far in my life? I already know my answer,NO! Nowhere near what I should have. We waste so much time on things that really do not matter in the long run.Have we made a difference in any ones life? Have we spent more time worrying instead of trusting God to meet our needs.What kind of impact have we made on our society? How will we be remembered when we are gone?




  James 4:14 KJV says, For what is your life? It is even a vapour,that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.





 When we look back doesn't it really seem to have done just that? Whatever good and meaningful thing we plan to do in this life must be first priority because none of us are promised tomorrow.Even if we live to be 100 years old, it will only seem like yesterday we were young.


  I once heard it preached at a funeral that the dates on the headstone are not what was important in that persons life, but it is the dash in between the year of birth and the year of death that really defined that individual.It was what they did in the time that was given to them between those two dates.The ones they loved and cared for,the time they took to help someone in need,how they conducted themselves on a daily basis,their attitude,kind words,values and their morals.All the really important things in life.It will not matter how much money we made,where we went on vacation or all the possessions we were able to obtain after we are gone.

  
   I think on these things so often because watching my children grow and and learn new things is a constant reminder of how fast the years go by.My son will be 6 soon and it seems like yesterday he was just a little baby .My little girl just slept in her big girl bed last night for the first time.I look down at her in her bed thinking,Lord help me to teach them and guide them in every way that is right in your eyes with such little time to work with.Grant me the wisdom to use my time wisely and be all I can be with the time I am given.

Tricks For Getting Kids To Eat Veggies

  My son is a very picky eater,but I have managed to add a few new things to his diet over the months.It all started with broccoli one night.Knowing he didn't do anything green I had my doubts he was going to even try it.

  Out of desperation to get some green into his diet,I just started eating it like it was the yummiest thing in the world.He looked at me and looked at the broccoli, and said, what is that? I said,looks like trees to me, and they are soooo good!.He started laughing and said,your eating TREES? Yep,I guess I am.So,he tried them just because it sounded fun and is now one of his favorite veggies.I knew this was something I had to remember in the future so when it came to cauliflower,it became snowy trees.Lettuce and spinach are just leaves.He will now eat all of the above.

  Wish I would have thought of this when I introduced green beans,peas,and tomatoes cause he already knows he doesn't like any of that.I think the trick is to do this when introducing a new food.  Once they have already had it they don't care what you call it.

 

  How the whole idea came about was from a book called,"I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato",by Lauren Child. Very cute book about a boy getting his little sister to eat healthy.
  Would love to hear some of the ways you have tried to get your picky eaters to try and like new foods.

Learning Toddler Language

   My son is going on 6 years old so its been a while since I have had to try and interpret the interesting language of a toddler.My daughter is now almost 17 months and we moms know what this age can be like.Happy,fun,confusing,frustrating and difficult all at the same time.Some days it seems like there is no pleasing her and both of us just get through the day the best we can.

   I often think to myself, if I could only know what it is that's bothering her, then maybe I can make it all better.Figuring out what is causing her frustration will surely ease mine.Sometimes it's obvious and sometimes not.So, I decided to start paying closer attention to some of her gestures and foreign words to see if I could better figure out what makes her tick.

   If you think about it even adults that have communication barriers have problems in their marriage,on their jobs,friendships,and family.What to do about it?

   
  Learn a persons style of communicating and pay closer attention to what they are trying to say or need from you.

  So here is what I have learned in the past month by trying to better understand what the melt downs really mean.

   We were at my Mom's and while my kids were in the living room playing,my mom and I walked down the hall to her bedroom so she could show me the curtains she made.We finished that and as we were coming back down the hall, Gabriella was working her way toward us.When I got to where she was I took her hand and was going to lead her back to the living room with us.Well,she threw herself in the floor and began to cry! At first I was thinking,what in the world is this all about and attempted to get her to calm down and go with me.Then,it hit me to think where it all began.We were in the bedroom and she was on her way to us.So,I took her by the hand and said,"you want to go see too?" Instantly she quieted so we walked to the bedroom.She looked around curiously at the room and smiled.Then she turned around to go back to the living room.All she wanted to see where we had been and what we were doing and she was fine.

 We learn pretty quick as parents what their cues are as far as hunger,need for a nap,and wanting to be held because that started at birth but as a baby grows and learns about the world around them they begin to have interest in things other than the basic needs in life.Its up to us to figure out those cues as well.I know we all have busy lives but sometimes it only takes a few minutes to satisfy them.If your toddler is standing close to the door and is screaming at the top of their lungs, its probably not just a by chance she chose to have a melt down in that particular spot.Could be if you get down on her level and talk to her there might be a chance you will find out just by asking a simple question what the problem is.Do you want to go outside? Then open the door and watch for a reaction.If she seems to be happy about it, then take a five minute break for some outdoor time.More than likely just those few minutes will solve the problem.Also,by asking the question she may learn to say outside over time,making the communication barrier a little easier,and no reason for all the screaming about that particular desire again. In my sons case "ou si" was the first go at the word but it was enough I knew what he meant. Toddlers may not know what to say but they understand more than you might think what you are saying.So don't be afraid to ask what they want,thinking they don't know what you are saying.Sometimes I will take her hand and say show me what you want and I watch for pointing and what she may be looking at.

   Of course,there are just some things they will want that they just cant have because it maybe dangerous, unhealthy or just bad timing.That's OK though, because we are not the only ones that have things to learn.The best thing I have found for those situations is distraction to get their mind off the forbidden.A lot of times my favorite trick is to turn some music on or begin to sing her favorite songs.
    Understanding my toddler been one of my biggest challenges but I am glad to finally be seeing progress!
     

TGIF

  Its Friday and I am so thankful.Looking forward to spending a fun day with the kiddos tomorrow.Planning on going to our spring festival our church puts on every year.My son is especially excited about the bounce house! I'm just looking forward to some good old adult conversation and godly fellowship.Today I have plans for making a chocolate cake for the bake goods table and just trying to get the house in good shape so we don't have to worry about anything tomorrow but having a great time together.

 I am so looking forward to school getting out so we can have more of these fun times.I just really enjoy spending time with my kids.Life is tough and life is short! Make the best of it and enjoy your children while you still have them by your side.Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Changes!

  Seems like life is always changing the past couple of years! Sometimes I cant keep up with how fast things are moving.This past year we had 3 major changes in our lives.New baby girl,Joseph started school and my hubby's career change.All three were good changes but all have really took some getting used too and required even more changes in my routine just to keep up with all the new things going on.


   The only one of those changes I have only recently been disappointed about is Joseph being in school.Its not that I dislike the school or his teachers.The school has been great and he has learned so much, but he has also learned things that chill me to the bone from other kids.The things Kindergartners are doing and talking about in this day and time are mind boggling.I prefer my child to remain a child and enjoy his childhood without all the extra baggage of adult knowledge and such ungodliness.I know kids will find out things from other kids eventually but it should not be Kindergarten.


  Why are kids 5 and 6 years old using profanity?(which is not even half of the problem) The answer to that is because they hear it at home.I feel as though I'm fighting a losing battle trying to be a good example and teach my son right but I'm allowing him to be exposed to every abomination under the sun, everyday of the week that he goes to school.I only know the things that go on because I question him everyday after school about how his day went,who he played with and so on.The things he tells me has only left me to one conclusion,I must make another change! My heart can not handle it no more.I have to take him out of public school.It's not really what I want to do but it's something I feel way down deep I need to do.


  Being private school is way beyond what I can manage financially right now, we will be home schooling next year.I have actually gotten excited about it now and really looking forward to it.I have picked out what curriculum I will be using (ABeka),purchased some organizational stuff,a desk and have done tons of research.Joseph loves school and I was worried about how he would feel about it all, but to my amazement he was excited too.


   I know it will definitely be a big commitment and a challenge but we will work our way through it just like we have all the other changes in the past year.I think it will be great also, that he will always be home when his daddy is home.Him being a truck driver and not being home much is hard enough on him but it makes it even harder when his dad comes home but he cant be here the whole time because he is at school.Might not seem like a big deal to some but when your dad is away 2 weeks at a time every hour counts when he is home.I feel like it will be a good change for our family.