KnowledgeHouseMama's Xanga

Can You Relate?

Tue, 25 Jul 2006 11:50:55 GMT

Top Ten Things I'm Dreaming About Since I Had a Baby Nine Weeks Ago....

Forgetting the baby somewhere and not realizing til I got home!
Letting a stranger hold my baby and then they disappear (in one dream, they took her to be in a commercial for a tow-truck company! )
Being seen by my ex-husband and every ex-boyfriend I've ever had, while wearing my spit-up covered house mu-mu with no bra and somehow my sagging behind is also hanging out totally exposed.
Eating two cups of Cream of Broccoli soup before I realize what I've done.
Negotiating for slings with a hillbilly who has hoarded them in her trailer and won't listen to reason. (nothing against trailers, people - I used to live in one, and I am a hillbilly and proud of it! )
Someone else is nursing MY baby! And she looks like a crack addict!
Laying on the beach in the surf (When I woke up, I was getting peed on!).
Actually sipping, with casual ignorance of the priviledge, a steaming hot beverage.
Falling into and getting trapped in the largest ring sling I've ever seen...we can't get out!
Visions of a dozen tall, enticing glasses of frosty ice water swirling and dancing before my eyes ala the old Ethel Merman swimming pool dancers routine!

~ Tacky Tuesday ~

Tue, 11 Jul 2006 16:06:37 GMT

I can't remember where, but I saw something cool on another blog - "Fine Art Friday". What a great idea! I'd love to know who started it, if you happen to be reading or know who that person was. Very creative and a nice little variation from blogging life.

So, forgive me for leeching off your creativity, but today I present to you, "Tacky Tuesday". In the spirit of tackiness, I hogged off your lovely idea and proudly present to you my Tacky Tuesday submission....feel free to join in if you dare!

What, you thought I was kidding?

Why homeschool?

Thu, 06 Jul 2006 14:48:47 GMT

Sharing my response from a local mom's group when asked about homeschooling....

We homeschool for many reasons....my husband was initially reluctant (okay, appalled!) when I approached him about it. He is a retired, tenured, award-winning public school teacher, my MIL is a public school teacher and librarian, and my FIL is an elementary principal and retired teacher. Institutionalized learning is practically in their blood!

I knew when my son was just a baby that I wanted to homeschool...it didn't even feel like an option not to, tho I did explore local Montessori schools at one point. (I create a Montessori home environment for toddler/early preschool learning, btw). I prayed that God would work on my husband's heart the way He'd worked on mine, and that I would be able to present my desires for home-learning in a way my husband would be able to relate to, understand, and agree with. I braced myself for major resistance, and instead ended up with an amazing teaching partner at home. So don't give up!

Just like sending a child to school, homeschooling is not always for everyone. You must enjoy being around your child(ren) all day and night, because you definitely spent great amounts of time together. You must enjoy learning *with and from* children, and if you want to be successful, able to keep a joyful mindset of the wonders of discovery through a child's eyes so you can appropriately convey excitement when presenting a learning opportunity or exploring something new with your child.

I love being the one who gets to see the spark of the "aha moment" in my child's eyes...I love being able to curl up on our comfy sofa under a soft blanket with kitties at our toes anytime we feel like it, to read books together, talk about whatever is on his mind, play a game, or just relax and cuddle if one of us needs a break. I love being able to watch my child for the sparkle of interest and intrigue, then figuratively grab his hand and take off in flight of new adventurous learning around that interest...we may land at a library, museum, bookstore, farm, business, government office, computer, charity organization, forest, planetarium, or other wonderous place in our community. We may explore one subject and nothing else for days or weeks or even months at a time - however long the natural desire remains.

I homeschool because I do not want anyone teaching my child that the sun must be yellow and the grass must be green, that he has to ask permission and perhaps wait to use the bathroom when his body needs to go, that he must tolerate injustice and cruelty from other children, that he must learn what someone else is ready to teach him regardless of whether he is interested in it at that moment. I work hard to preserve the natural wonder and awe that children are born with, and that so few of us have the opportunity to really keep alive into adulthood. I want him to live his entire life with zealous joy and enthusiasm for learning and never, ever feel that it is a task or chore or burden to expand his mind and use his brain, but that it is a delightful gift instead.

My personal belief is that learning in an institutionalized setting, according to someone else's schedule, interests, beliefs, and profit-based margin (because school is a business, ultimately), eventually and almost always destroys our natural wonder and passion for learning by the time we reach young adulthood, often earlier.

I want my child to enjoy and live his life in a highly creative state, so that he never settles for a job just for money's sake, so that he chooses a career or perhaps many careers, based on his dreams and not financial or obligatory considerations. I want him to feel comfortable with and confident enough in his unique spirit and abilities that he maintains a lifelong freedom of expression and creativity and joy in living and continuous learning. I want him to never be conformed to this world, but instead live by his beautiful heart and the justice and joy in it.

That being said, it makes more sense when I say that we are homeschoolers, yet we do not "do school" at home. We have a special room devoted to learning fun, with centers for different areas of interest. I have a closetful of curricula, supplies, and resources. Do we use these things? Yes, but not on a schedule, not on a regular basis, and not unless we have a desire to use them at a given time.

Learning happens everywhere and all the time. We embrace this as part of our everyday adventure, and supplement (when we feel like it) with "educational" resources.

You often hear that children learn best through play, and I believe adults do, too! Our brains absorb and truly retain new information when we are *engaged*. I don't know about you, but my brain is not activated by (mostly) sitting at desks doing what someone else tells me to for five+ hours a day, as well as it is when I am taking a nature walk, volunteering in my community with people of all ages, creating a wild science experiment in the kitchen, sitting on my grandmother's quilt under an old tree while reading, strolling through the latest exhibit at the art or science museum, or enjoying a gentle breeze with a paintbrush in my hand at our backporch easel.

Children learn and soar naturally, if you just give them freedom, encouragement, and time. It is an amazing feeling when my child enthusiastically asks for a math worksheet (his current faves are from www.math-drills.com/ ), if he can read to me from our latest chapter book, spends hours of his own accord intensely researching a personal interest (the latest was favorite foods of US presidents - a great way to unintentionally learn much more than just their fave foods!), or responds with sheer delight and genuine interest when we embark upon our latest learning adventure.

Oh my, how do my posts about this subject always get way too long? :\ Anyway, if you made it this far, thanks for listening!

Wednesday, April 05, 2006

Wed, 05 Apr 2006 00:43:22 GMT

As I near the finalization of my pregnancy, my desire is for peace and serenity more than anything. This precious miracle taking place within me seems to give me an extra special gift - a heightened sense of my Heavenly Father and the gloriously beautiful world He created for us. Every day, I am amazed at the colors of the sky, the contrast of tree branches against it, the smell of the wind, the way the breeze feels against my skin and through my hair....there is a preciousness of time and of children than permeates my thoughts and often leaves me with joyful tears and a heart overflowing with love and gratitude.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to read, share, and encourage me as I shared a small part of my story....perhaps someday I will feel led to write more. For now, peace.

"Too bad I can't marry you, mama..."

Fri, 23 Dec 2005 15:09:32 GMT

This out of the mouth of my precious five year old the other night. Ahhhh...what is better than being so very unconditionally loved and adored? Lord, please let that sweet moment in my life stay in my memory for the rest of my days....

Thursday, December 15, 2005

Thu, 15 Dec 2005 16:54:16 GMT

UGH!

I upgraded to Xanga premium and now my blog is SO UGLY!

I can't believe Xanga is still offering the same old boring skins and not even a single new one. I searched and searched for any decent skins elsewhere and only seem able to find anime and teen stuff.

Please share where you find decent skins!

Friday, December 02, 2005

Fri, 02 Dec 2005 12:21:41 GMT

Well, I tried to put one of those blogthing quizzes in here, but apparently either my preggo brain isn't working to capacity, or I can't do it unless I pay for Xanga Premium.

Speaking of preggo brain, I realized yesterday that we're 16 weeks along, not 15!!! Not exactly the kind of thing an obsessed pregnant mama would mess up, you'd think.

Oy veh!

It's not even 7:30 in the morning and I'm having a serious craving for some nice steaming Pad Thai.... Noodles are a pregnant girl's best friend sometimes.....

Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Wed, 30 Nov 2005 18:39:37 GMT

Hello world!

It's sure been a while since I've posted anything here, or even felt like a real cyber-presence for that matter. It sure is nice to be back!

Guess what? I'm 15 weeks pregnant!!!!!!! My belly is HUGE already - I'll post some pics when I can. We found out at about 3 weeks and after a long period of bedrest, 24 hour nausea, and discovery of a fibroid tumor sitting near an atery as well as growing toward my cervix, I'm thrilled to report that things are looking MUCH better and baby is doing beautifully! PTL PTL PTL!!!!

Nemo has been so wonderful and loves to kiss my tummy, saying, "Ooooh, look at that big beautiful belly" and making sweet little noises to the baby that only they can understand. It brings tears to my eyes and fills my heart with such joy to look down and see my precious son loving the baby growing in my womb. I never dreamed I would seriously be pregnant again, especially at age 39! What an amazing God we have!

The other day, I was watching Nemo playing, and thinking about the little pile of wonderous goodies tucked away until the holidays. While he played and went about his day innocently, I got to savor the delicious knowledge of blessings and joy in store for him that only I knew about. What fun to imagine his face lighting up when he discovers the wonder of Christmas morning and all the delightful goodies awaiting him!

It made me wonder if God enjoys heart-treasures like that with us. Me, walking around never in my wildest dreams expecting to carry and birth another precious child again, pregnant and not having a clue as I went on about my days. Him, up there with a secret delicious grin of knowing and love and anticipation for a daughter He loves so much....

Neat to think about, isn't it?

Sunday, May 29, 2005

Sun, 29 May 2005 00:23:06 GMT

Friday, May 13, 2005

Fri, 13 May 2005 02:54:00 GMT

Can you believe how cool this is? Seriously, try it!