Kristen Blog

Multitasking and the Homeschool Mom May 1, 2012 I've read that multitasking is actually counterproductive - that by multitasking, and continually redirecting our brains, we are actually wasting valuable time. Apparently, we are more efficient if we eliminate the time it takes to switch back and forth between tasks. I'm sure the data included mistakes, which are most likely more common when we are trying to do more than what our brains can handle at once. I would argue to tell that to the homeschool mom who is preparing dinner (which has to be completed and consumed in time for 5:00 lessons), staring at her two-year-old son (who is telling her he just "soiled" his underwear) AND trying to silence her daughter who is FRANTICALLY begging for help with her schoolwork. Multitasking is my life! We multitask homeschool and sub-urban farming! Sure, I would love to put everything down and go at it all one at a time. Well...actually, I probably w...

What Did You Do Today? April 4, 2012 Look around my house right now, and you may wonder, “What did you do today?”.  Okay, the kitchen has been much worse than this, right? The clothes mess is from the essential winter/spring switchover, which I hope to complete tomorrow?? Allow me to defend: I spent my prime homeschool time working out some INTENSE emotional and spiritual healing with someone whom I love dearly. I spent some time recuperating with the family on a trail we’ve never visited and at the library. I tried to take a nap, woke up to pee and vomit, lost my temper with the kids, and made it up to them by having a play date with cousins. (Thus, I spent time with my niece and nephews.) Bonus: I got my nephew to help make my first batch of powder laundry soap. I helped out a neighbor in need and had a VERY important conversation about God. I pottied trained for the third full day in a row! (Oh, Lord will it ever end?!) I...

Homeschool Organization March 12, 2012 I recently purchased the cutest calendar on sale at JoAnn’s.  It was a glass frame with a pre-printed blank calendar, which I could fill in with dry-erase markers. The whole concept got me thinking…I’ve always wanted a chalkboard in my kitchen.  I have several friends who have them, and I always notice their sweet messages.  However, I don’t like to shop, and I never saw a chalkboard when I was out. This calendar gave me the idea to create my own.  Here’s how I did it: I found an old frame in the basement.  It’s about an 11 x 13 in, but you could use any size.  This frame was already painted blue.   I loved the color, but I didn’t like the color with the photo in it.  So, it worked well for a re-purpose. I picked out a piece of muslin that I had lying around (also in the basement).  I focused on light cloth without a pattern, so the message would be ...

Our Homeschool Group March 3, 2012   We are fortunate to attend a church in which there are a number of other homeschooling families. I knew it was a great opportunity to share the burden one day a month, and to give these homeschool moms and kids a chance to bond together. I was hesitant to join any existing homeschool groups. It seemed like so many of them were too rigid and had too many rules or requirements. As a new homeschooling mom, I knew could not enter into a group that would emphasize my pre-existing insecurity with a bunch of dominating, opinionated rules. I create enough unnecessary stress on my own. I simply can't spend a lot of time around people who seek to add to it! That's why I love our low-key group . I trust that the other homeschool moms are doing a fine job education their children, so my true emphasis for the group is on building relationships. And that is where the homeschool group has been an invaluable part of our education. ...

Gravity Science Project 2/29/2012...Happy Leap Day! We started a new book for science this week, The Real Scientist Investigates... Forces. So far, so good. We read the intro and did the first experiment. The girls learned about the scientific method for experiments and built ramps to observe gravity at work. It was the highlight of our homeschool day. As for the rest of the day...the girls worked in their daily math and skills books (by Evan Moor). Eden practiced in her spelling book (by Evan Moor), and Xander took her first test in her new spelling book ( A Reason For series by Moe Studio, Inc.). For bible devotion, we discussed faithfulness. Xander is leading a devotion at our homeschool group on Friday for her writing credit. Eden played on Starfall.com with Dillon. We struggled to entertain Dillon with Mario (on DS and Wii) and his train set and just plain pretend play, but we managed to get several credits. Tonight, we will go to the library for re...

Learning to Adapt; Adapting to Learn February 27, 2012 What makes a good homeschool mom ? I really think it all comes down to this: being willing to adapt. I am constantly questioning, constantly evaluating and re-evaluating everything I do, down to the most minute detail. (I tend to be pretty self-critical.) Sometimes I wonder if I'm good enough. Am I a good enough teacher? Are my kids going to turn out normal? Fortunately, something always comes along to give me that boost of encouragement I need. Our God is faithful to keep us on the path that He has chosen for us. As a homeschool mom, I have to be willing to release worry and fear, and lean instead on God, faith and the realization that no situation is ever perfect. I am going to mess up. I am human. That's what we do. Fortunately, I have a perfect God who can turn my errors into perfection. He is faithful to guide me to the right path, so long as I keep my heart fixed on him. I submit my homes...

A Change of Homeschool Scenery It doesn't look like much. In fact, it probably appears to be THE worst schooling environment possible...hope I don't get hotlined. Trust me, people, it's temporary. I decided to set the kids up in the basement today so that I could help Matt work on the drywall while they worked on their homeschool work. (Coincidentally, Matt ended up taking the Christmas tree down, and we were done before he was ready to start on the drywall.) Despite the mess, you would have thought I'd really done something special for the girls by letting them work downstairs. They were so excited. I guess it was that the change of atmosphere gave them a new motivation. Or getting to sit on the cushy loveseat while they worked. They didn't even care about the mess around us. Dillon loved getting to play next to us, and it was easier for me to be playing with him right near where the girls were working. I always have a hard time balancing th...