Thursday, September 20, 2012
Danger Men
My once very "fareful" Elijah is transforming into a daredevil. My always "on the edge of disaster" John is remaining so. My adorable, stationary baby is motating and "helping. See for yourself.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Learning...together
My sister often comments that she is without the mothering gene, which is just ridiculous, but she didn't ask me. I am the one missing crucial genes. Like the one for teaching small children. Like the one for how to decorate my home. Like the one on how to convince 8 month-olds to sleep through the night.
But, John and I, together, are learning. Last week we delved into the "Letter of the Week" preschool curriculum I found online for free. Often you get what you paid for but in this case I hit the jackpot. I can whip up lesson plans torturing 8th graders with analytical questions on any story but ask me to teach a small child and I run to the corner and cry. This curriculum lays out language arts, math, science, art, social studies, music, and character/Bible lessons. We are skipping the studies on composers and artists; somehow I don't think John will miss that.
John seems to be enjoying himself and even figured out the other day that letters are everywhere. "Hey mom," he said while we were in the van, "that sign has the letters O and P on it." I might not be too bad at this small child teaching thing but I should disclose that he did cry the first day because tracing straight lines was too hard. (If only he knew about algebra, now that is something to cry about.)
My favorite is Wednesday because we do art. Last week it was apple stamping and this week was bubble painting. We also really like Friday because we get to cook: apples last week and brownies this week.
What am I learning? How to be a mom whose focus is her family. It is much harder than you might think. I constantly have to remind myself that this is where God wants me to be right now. It is so outside of my comfort zone to exercise patience, love, forgiveness in a never ending cycle all day long. My affirmation comes in smiles from Daniel and declarations of letters from John and in the peace my heart feels.
But, John and I, together, are learning. Last week we delved into the "Letter of the Week" preschool curriculum I found online for free. Often you get what you paid for but in this case I hit the jackpot. I can whip up lesson plans torturing 8th graders with analytical questions on any story but ask me to teach a small child and I run to the corner and cry. This curriculum lays out language arts, math, science, art, social studies, music, and character/Bible lessons. We are skipping the studies on composers and artists; somehow I don't think John will miss that.
John seems to be enjoying himself and even figured out the other day that letters are everywhere. "Hey mom," he said while we were in the van, "that sign has the letters O and P on it." I might not be too bad at this small child teaching thing but I should disclose that he did cry the first day because tracing straight lines was too hard. (If only he knew about algebra, now that is something to cry about.)
My favorite is Wednesday because we do art. Last week it was apple stamping and this week was bubble painting. We also really like Friday because we get to cook: apples last week and brownies this week.
What am I learning? How to be a mom whose focus is her family. It is much harder than you might think. I constantly have to remind myself that this is where God wants me to be right now. It is so outside of my comfort zone to exercise patience, love, forgiveness in a never ending cycle all day long. My affirmation comes in smiles from Daniel and declarations of letters from John and in the peace my heart feels.
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| Lesson #1: Chalkboards are way better than worksheets. |
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| "Don't tell Elijah it was me!" |
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Saxcitrepdar
A feeling has been creeping up on me for a few weeks now. I can't quite name it though. It is a strange mixture of sadness and excitement with a bit of trepidation and all out fear. Anyone got a name for that? I didn't either so I made one up. Saxcitrepdar.
I knew once I resigned my job and my daytime identity there would be days, hours, & minutes that I would second guess that decision. "Are you really called to stay home or are you just tired of all the hard work of teaching?" That is the question that swirls in my brain at night. Fear.
"What if you are no good at being a mom all the time?" If this summer is any indication of my mom skills I have a lot of work to do. Most of it needs to be done on my knees. Trepidation.
Yesterday I had lunch with my teacher friends. As they talked about plans and lessons and things they were upset about and things they were excited for I sat back and felt a bit sad. Every year for 8 years I have planned, dreamed, and designed learning for big kids. Each year I have started out hopeful that I could impact a kid or two and maybe kids would learn to love reading just a little bit more. Sadness.
A letter a week. That is what John and I will be tackling. I found a free preschool curriculum online and so, with the extra lesson plan book I had, I have plotted out the weeks for A and B. John informed me today that he hates preschool because he can't read. Maybe, just maybe, he will be able to do a little reading by the end of the school year. Maybe. Excitement.
I knew once I resigned my job and my daytime identity there would be days, hours, & minutes that I would second guess that decision. "Are you really called to stay home or are you just tired of all the hard work of teaching?" That is the question that swirls in my brain at night. Fear.
"What if you are no good at being a mom all the time?" If this summer is any indication of my mom skills I have a lot of work to do. Most of it needs to be done on my knees. Trepidation.
Yesterday I had lunch with my teacher friends. As they talked about plans and lessons and things they were upset about and things they were excited for I sat back and felt a bit sad. Every year for 8 years I have planned, dreamed, and designed learning for big kids. Each year I have started out hopeful that I could impact a kid or two and maybe kids would learn to love reading just a little bit more. Sadness.
A letter a week. That is what John and I will be tackling. I found a free preschool curriculum online and so, with the extra lesson plan book I had, I have plotted out the weeks for A and B. John informed me today that he hates preschool because he can't read. Maybe, just maybe, he will be able to do a little reading by the end of the school year. Maybe. Excitement.
Saxcitrepdar: the mixture of sadness and excitement along with trepidation and all out fear one experiences when heading into a part of life that is unfamiliar to them.
Friday, August 10, 2012
Oh the places he will go
Daniel is now mobile and very determined. Here are a few places he likes to go.
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| Under the side table to get the lamp cord. |
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| In Mommy's room to get the fan cord. |
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| Across the room to get the monitor cord. |
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| Up on the chair to get our brother's game. |
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