Continued from This Post...
So, I decided Sweetheart was ready to begin Kindergarten when she "should" have, according to our state law. That means that she was 4 YEARS OLD for the first 2 weeks of school. What was I thinking? She was so excited though and loved it.
By the way, I don't remember ever asking my husband what he thought about her starting or waiting a year. I thought it was all up to me. I was an independent working woman who made all the decisions about child-care...so. What could my husband say that would help? Sigh.
Anyway, she started Kindergarten. I quit work that year because we couldn't find care for 9 month old Little Bit and be able to shuttle Sweetheart to and from Kindergarten too. So I babysat for extra money and stayed home. So WHY didn't I keep Sweetheart home? I could have had a whole year at home with her! It's because I felt she needed to start. I felt she was ready. There was pressure, people!
And three weeks into Kindergarten, when my baby had been 5 for a whole week, the teachers called me in for a conference. They were concerned that Sweetheart didn't know all of her letter sounds.
Excuse me?
Was there some memo that said I was supposed to teach her a certain number of things BEFORE she began school? I thought I sent her to school to LEARN. Well, as it turned out...she did know her sounds she was just nervous when they tested her. I asked them to try again and spend a few minutes chatting with her before they began. It worked. And the teachers explained to me that they had so far to go with the kids they had to know their letters and sounds at the very beginning of the year.
I won't even go into detail about all the things Sweetheart had to be able to do in Kindergarten, or what an effort it was for us to keep up. I should have waited. I had no idea Kindergarten would be like that. Thus, she repeated first grade later.
We still have pressure though. Thank goodness we are out of the public school pressure factory where, this year, she would have to pass the state's test in order to go on to 4th grade...even if all of her grades were passing. I can't even let myself think about the pressure those poor public schooled kids down the road are under. I know. I used to be the Applier of the Pressure.
But there is still pressure. Pressure to be involved in all sorts of activities. Scouts, sports, clubs, organizations, etc. etc. etc. There are so many things to do that are really good things for your kids to do...and we have to choose. This year, money is helping us choose to say no to a lot of things and I'm not so sure that's a bad thing.
Do you know that children used to get raised all the way up without ever participating in an extra-curricular activity? Unheard of, I know. I believe that what they can learn at home is wonderful. I believe in our family doing things together---not apart. I believe in a lot of things....but I still feel badly that we aren't doing __________. It's that pressure. I feel that I am letting my kids down, that they are not getting the good experiences that other kids are getting. I feel guilty.
Does anyone else have this pressure? Someone tell me it's OK that my kids are home.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Feeling Crafty
I am! I have been searching and reading tutorials on all kinds of crafty things online. My husband is changing jobs and the financial transition is going to be a doozy! So, I expect it to be a lean Christmas unless I can find a way to make it wonderful.
Enter homemade gifts! I remember one Christmas when S and I were dating, we made gifts for each other. He built me a hope chest and I sewed him a shirt. Or, I hung out with my mom while she sewed him a shirt and then let me mess it up every now and then. Back in the olden days when times were tougher, folks gave hand-made gifts. I am sick when I think of how much money we throw down in our country on Christmas gifts. Now I will be buying my girls some toys, but the grown ups in our life are getting more practical things.
I'm hoping all this sewing will polish up my skills enough so that I can start selling some things for extra money.
Don't they call hand-made things that are a little bit messed up, "charming"?
That's what I'm telling myself, anyway.
Enter homemade gifts! I remember one Christmas when S and I were dating, we made gifts for each other. He built me a hope chest and I sewed him a shirt. Or, I hung out with my mom while she sewed him a shirt and then let me mess it up every now and then. Back in the olden days when times were tougher, folks gave hand-made gifts. I am sick when I think of how much money we throw down in our country on Christmas gifts. Now I will be buying my girls some toys, but the grown ups in our life are getting more practical things.
I'm hoping all this sewing will polish up my skills enough so that I can start selling some things for extra money.
Don't they call hand-made things that are a little bit messed up, "charming"?
That's what I'm telling myself, anyway.
Pressure!
When Sweetheart was a baby I signed her up for Gymboree classes. I was a working mom so I had to go to an evening class. My co-teacher brought her baby along and we had a great time. During the summer we went to the daytime classes. I don't regret going to Gymboree (and wished I could have taken Little Bit too) especially since our house flooded that summer and Gymoree was about the only place she could play and walk without Sheetrock dust, nails, wet paint, and hard concrete under foot!
But the reason I signed her up for those classes (which were a bit expensive) was because I felt she needed to "do something." When she was 2 and 3 years old she didn't do any extra-curricular activities that I can recall. She went to the baby sitter's house every day and they lived life. So, she got to go to the dollar store, the post office, run through Sonic, whatever...every day. I was glad she wasn't just stuck in one room of a day care all day, even though I wished it was me running errands with her.
Then came the great Kindergarten dilemma. Sweetheart's birthday is late in August so I knew I had a decision to make. I knew from teaching that late August babies are not often top of the class. In fact, whenever we would go over data from our state's test, I would notice every August birthday. It wasn't very reassuring. Still, all my friends told me she would be fine to start school. She's a girl, they said. She's your oldest. She'll be fine, they told me. I wanted to believe them. She certainly seemed smart enough.
Still, if I was even going to consider putting that child in Kindergarten, I knew she would need Pre-K. I mean, you have to get kids ready for kindergarten these days, you know? I even bought this book. Which is a good book by the way. I looked up every checklist I could find on the internet about how to tell if your kid is ready for school.
So I found a preschool I liked. It was developmentally appropriate. They didn't have a "curriculum." They didn't do seatwork. It was great. They had an opening for Tuesdays and Thursdays so we took it. She really loved going. I thought it was a good experience for her. She could learn to get in line, listen to the teacher, follow directions that are given to a whole group and not just her, and have some fun. It was a little expensive, but I mean...you just can't drop kids into kindergarten anymore! You have to prepare them!
On a side note, when I was student teaching I spoke to one of the veteran teachers one day. She said when she first started teaching, the first day of first grade was often the first time children had been away from their mommies. They walked up clinging to mommy's leg and they spent the first part of school learning their ABC's. Nowadays, she said, these kids have all been to daycare. They know their ABC's and a lot of other things too. They have essentially been in "school" their whole lives. BUT, they don't have any social skills. The students of old had respect for teachers and mommy had taught them manners before they began school. It's a different age now.
That's why I thought I needed her to go to pre-k. How could she keep up with all the other kids who had been to daycare and preschool if I didn't?
And, as it turns out, I was kind of right.
...to be continued...
But the reason I signed her up for those classes (which were a bit expensive) was because I felt she needed to "do something." When she was 2 and 3 years old she didn't do any extra-curricular activities that I can recall. She went to the baby sitter's house every day and they lived life. So, she got to go to the dollar store, the post office, run through Sonic, whatever...every day. I was glad she wasn't just stuck in one room of a day care all day, even though I wished it was me running errands with her.
Then came the great Kindergarten dilemma. Sweetheart's birthday is late in August so I knew I had a decision to make. I knew from teaching that late August babies are not often top of the class. In fact, whenever we would go over data from our state's test, I would notice every August birthday. It wasn't very reassuring. Still, all my friends told me she would be fine to start school. She's a girl, they said. She's your oldest. She'll be fine, they told me. I wanted to believe them. She certainly seemed smart enough.
Still, if I was even going to consider putting that child in Kindergarten, I knew she would need Pre-K. I mean, you have to get kids ready for kindergarten these days, you know? I even bought this book. Which is a good book by the way. I looked up every checklist I could find on the internet about how to tell if your kid is ready for school.
So I found a preschool I liked. It was developmentally appropriate. They didn't have a "curriculum." They didn't do seatwork. It was great. They had an opening for Tuesdays and Thursdays so we took it. She really loved going. I thought it was a good experience for her. She could learn to get in line, listen to the teacher, follow directions that are given to a whole group and not just her, and have some fun. It was a little expensive, but I mean...you just can't drop kids into kindergarten anymore! You have to prepare them!
On a side note, when I was student teaching I spoke to one of the veteran teachers one day. She said when she first started teaching, the first day of first grade was often the first time children had been away from their mommies. They walked up clinging to mommy's leg and they spent the first part of school learning their ABC's. Nowadays, she said, these kids have all been to daycare. They know their ABC's and a lot of other things too. They have essentially been in "school" their whole lives. BUT, they don't have any social skills. The students of old had respect for teachers and mommy had taught them manners before they began school. It's a different age now.
That's why I thought I needed her to go to pre-k. How could she keep up with all the other kids who had been to daycare and preschool if I didn't?
And, as it turns out, I was kind of right.
...to be continued...
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Back in the Homemaking Saddle
I have been so busy getting ready for the school year and thinking about homeschooling and writing about homeschooling and preparing for homeschooling (repeat...add a different verb each time) that I haven't had time for much else.
Sweetheart celebrated her 9th birthday on Friday and that took a bit of planning and organizing as well. See, she wanted a surprise party. How do you plan a surprise party for someone who has asked for a surprise party and lives with you? Well, I pulled it off. It was really fun and I'm glad it's over.
Now.
I've been reading articles this weekend about homemaking and making our homes lovely. I'm feeling re-inspired about this space we live in. Homeschooling is a part of our day and a part of our life, but we live in this home always. We are in serious need of some cleaning out. I know this because my daughters can only find 50% of the shoes they own. Both of them are missing one shoe each of at least 2 pairs. Each. So, their closet is obviously in need of some work.
And our bedroom? I don't even want to talk about it.
Hey, at least I haven't misplaced 50% of the children!
Anyway, I have been thinking about what a privilege it is to be a homemaker and all the many, many opportunities we have to bless our families. I am determined to learn the skills that I have missed out on in a decade+ of working outside the home. Just imagine what a good cook or seamstress or homemaker I could be by now! I will definitely encourage my daughters to learn the skills they will need as they are growing up. What a blessing to enter marriage already knowing how to do things that I am learning as an adult!
So, tonight I will be writing down some homemaking goals. Just a little list to refer back to so I don't forget what I want to accomplish. I believe I will also write down some homemaking goals for the girls, according to their ages.
I'll go ahead a share one goal with you: I'm trying to learn to sew. Well, I can sew, but as I have shared with you before, I am mostly good at sewing squares and rectangles. You know, curtains, pillows, etc.
But this weekend I sewed this!
I really did! I am so excited about it! I got the idea from Rachel at Huse Blog Is It Anyway? and here is the link where she got the idea. I think the dresses look better made out of a print shirt, but someone passed these shirts to S and they didn't fit so...you use what you have. So basically, the dress was...FREE! You don't even have to make button holes becuase you use the ones from the shirt! And I'll give credit to my sister who helped cut the dress out and figure all the measuring which tends to make my head hurt. She's making one for her little one also.
Next I will try to make a shirt for Sweetheart with this method. I hope to make a shirt long enough to wear over leggings. Is that called a tunic? Or does a tunic have to have sleeves?
I have no idea.
So, on this day in history, Brenda sewed something that was NOT a square or rectangle.
I feel like a better homemaker already.
What have you been learning to do lately?
If you want to know what all you can sew from squares and rectangles, just check out my former successes with these 2 shapes:
duvet cover (I get more google hits for this post! I so apologize to those who are honestly searching for directions on how make a duvet cover. I'm sorry.)
I've also made some rag quilts. They were insanely easy but I don't have pictures. Here are the directions I used.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Wants and Needs--The Keepin' It Real Version
**OK, so I'm not the only one with these thoughts. You ask...you recieve. A KIR post about Wants and Needs. Join in on the Mr. Linky at the end!
Children have trouble distinguishing between those two things, wouldn't you say? My kids want everything they see at the store. Everything they see on commercials. Everything they see that someone else has. Earlier in the summer I threatened to not take them to anymore stores EVER because I was so sick of "the gimmes." It's not like they get stuff from me when they do that either, but still they try. None of the things they ask for are needs in my opinion. Food, water, shelter, and medical care...those are needs. Well, as it turns out, I have the same trouble as my girls.
Whenever our finances are in a crunch, I have a tendency to feel a bit sorry for myself. Some things are easy for me to do without. Others things, not so much. Even though we don't go on vacations every year or own the latest techno gadgets, or shop at expensive stores for the latest clothing...we have really never been without. We have had food. We have had water. We have had shelter and medical care.
So what's the problem? I'll tell you what I think: the problem is perspective.
My children love their toys and their room until we visit some one's house who has something cooler. My children wouldn't even know about many things that there are to have were it not for the TV. The truth is, they are mostly satisfied until they find out there are other things out there to be had.
Isn't it the same with grown-ups? We've had a lot of fun these last 6 months! We went to the beach numerous times, visited Moody Gardens, toured an old submarine and ship, rode the ferry, swam and swam and swam, played golf, went to lots of parks together...we've done a lot of fun things as a family! Then I heard about so-and-so's vacation and I felt bad for us. Why? Were we denied something that we needed? Certainly not!
Maybe it's the neighbor's pool, or their car, or their job--coveting our neighbor's stuff is far too easy to slip into--even for adults. But when we keep our eyes on the One who provides everything good, it gets much easier. If we would just stop looking around at the things of this world (which moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal) and look only to God, we would realize that we are blessed beyond measure. That example would surely be great for our children too, don't you think?
Do you have some thoughts about wants and needs? Sign up on the Mr. Linky below and share with the rest of us. This is apparently a hot topic! Make sure you link not just to your blog in general, but to the exact post you are writing or others will not be able to find it later. If you don't know how to do that, shoot me an e-mail. I once was also lost on that topic, but now I know the answer and I'll be happy to help you.
Children have trouble distinguishing between those two things, wouldn't you say? My kids want everything they see at the store. Everything they see on commercials. Everything they see that someone else has. Earlier in the summer I threatened to not take them to anymore stores EVER because I was so sick of "the gimmes." It's not like they get stuff from me when they do that either, but still they try. None of the things they ask for are needs in my opinion. Food, water, shelter, and medical care...those are needs. Well, as it turns out, I have the same trouble as my girls.
Whenever our finances are in a crunch, I have a tendency to feel a bit sorry for myself. Some things are easy for me to do without. Others things, not so much. Even though we don't go on vacations every year or own the latest techno gadgets, or shop at expensive stores for the latest clothing...we have really never been without. We have had food. We have had water. We have had shelter and medical care.
So what's the problem? I'll tell you what I think: the problem is perspective.
My children love their toys and their room until we visit some one's house who has something cooler. My children wouldn't even know about many things that there are to have were it not for the TV. The truth is, they are mostly satisfied until they find out there are other things out there to be had.
Isn't it the same with grown-ups? We've had a lot of fun these last 6 months! We went to the beach numerous times, visited Moody Gardens, toured an old submarine and ship, rode the ferry, swam and swam and swam, played golf, went to lots of parks together...we've done a lot of fun things as a family! Then I heard about so-and-so's vacation and I felt bad for us. Why? Were we denied something that we needed? Certainly not!
Maybe it's the neighbor's pool, or their car, or their job--coveting our neighbor's stuff is far too easy to slip into--even for adults. But when we keep our eyes on the One who provides everything good, it gets much easier. If we would just stop looking around at the things of this world (which moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal) and look only to God, we would realize that we are blessed beyond measure. That example would surely be great for our children too, don't you think?
Do you have some thoughts about wants and needs? Sign up on the Mr. Linky below and share with the rest of us. This is apparently a hot topic! Make sure you link not just to your blog in general, but to the exact post you are writing or others will not be able to find it later. If you don't know how to do that, shoot me an e-mail. I once was also lost on that topic, but now I know the answer and I'll be happy to help you.
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