a blurb about homeschool
homeschooling has been a good experience this year. we're not done yet of course, but we do have great incentive to finish asap ... water park!! we are equally excited for that.
besides the academic development, we're learning a lot about each other. many days have been tough, but the daily communication, patience, and respect that is required for such a thing has brought our relationship to a whole new level. if he were in school, he'd be building this with his teacher and with other kids ... which isn't bad, but me loving my kid so much, I'm just glad its with me this year. next year might be a different story ... not the loving my kid part, but you know ...
we do school work M-F ... that's the plan anyway. it seems whenever hubby is around, there is a tendency that schoolwork gets pushed to the side because something else comes up - errands to run, a spontaneous special trip, or whatever. but that's the beauty of homeschool I suppose. we missed yesterday, so Saturday schoolwork it is. but even if we didn't miss it, I have no problem doing work on the weekends. if you only have 2 hours a work a day, then we probably SHOULD do it on the weekends anyway!
I give Sam multiple "warnings" that school time is starting soon. he needs this constant heads up to mentally prep for it ... half the time this seems to work. the other half, I get lots of whining "I don't wanna!" "schoolwork is boring!" haven't found a cure for that. I did not go to school to become a teacher, I don't have lots of tricks or special projects to do, I am close to clueless on adding fun to work. I am very much a by-the-book person, so unfortunately for Sam, this is more like how I teach, using mostly workbooks.
I can easily to get discouraged because there are many blogs and websites dedicated to crafts, projects, experiments, etc to do every single day. it seems more people are "unschooling" their kids, and it leaves me to wonder if that's better. sometimes I can see where/when it is, but I always come back to reading, writing, and arithmatic.
I try to limit my reading time to those blogs ... no offense of course.
luckily for everyone I'm not a complete idiot - hahaha - and we do have craft time and take trips to the zoo, but overall, its the workbooks .... but you know what, it works. this kid is SMART!
I am actually typing this in-between helping Sam with his work ... so apparently I need to vent, just not to him.
it HAS been a good experience, and I mean that. it's very awesome to be able to watch him grow this way. and even with the very difficult days, I'd still recommend parents try homeschooling. its still worth it ... just don't read my blog to tell you how to do it!
besides the academic development, we're learning a lot about each other. many days have been tough, but the daily communication, patience, and respect that is required for such a thing has brought our relationship to a whole new level. if he were in school, he'd be building this with his teacher and with other kids ... which isn't bad, but me loving my kid so much, I'm just glad its with me this year. next year might be a different story ... not the loving my kid part, but you know ...
we do school work M-F ... that's the plan anyway. it seems whenever hubby is around, there is a tendency that schoolwork gets pushed to the side because something else comes up - errands to run, a spontaneous special trip, or whatever. but that's the beauty of homeschool I suppose. we missed yesterday, so Saturday schoolwork it is. but even if we didn't miss it, I have no problem doing work on the weekends. if you only have 2 hours a work a day, then we probably SHOULD do it on the weekends anyway!
I give Sam multiple "warnings" that school time is starting soon. he needs this constant heads up to mentally prep for it ... half the time this seems to work. the other half, I get lots of whining "I don't wanna!" "schoolwork is boring!" haven't found a cure for that. I did not go to school to become a teacher, I don't have lots of tricks or special projects to do, I am close to clueless on adding fun to work. I am very much a by-the-book person, so unfortunately for Sam, this is more like how I teach, using mostly workbooks.
I can easily to get discouraged because there are many blogs and websites dedicated to crafts, projects, experiments, etc to do every single day. it seems more people are "unschooling" their kids, and it leaves me to wonder if that's better. sometimes I can see where/when it is, but I always come back to reading, writing, and arithmatic.
I try to limit my reading time to those blogs ... no offense of course.
luckily for everyone I'm not a complete idiot - hahaha - and we do have craft time and take trips to the zoo, but overall, its the workbooks .... but you know what, it works. this kid is SMART!
I am actually typing this in-between helping Sam with his work ... so apparently I need to vent, just not to him.
it HAS been a good experience, and I mean that. it's very awesome to be able to watch him grow this way. and even with the very difficult days, I'd still recommend parents try homeschooling. its still worth it ... just don't read my blog to tell you how to do it!
a sad side to Hawaii
I live on the "rough-er" side of the island. this is where you find people in REAL poverty. the homeless have been kicked out of countless areas on the island, but they seemed to be left alone here. we live away from tourism, where the streets aren't "so pretty."
we originally came way out here because we'd MUCH rather live among the locals than living where the tourists often visit. people who come here to visit, have a tendency to use it like an Mtv Spring Break Party type place, or maybe, like Vegas. why come to Hawaii to get wasted?! do that at home!
the rental prices out here are less too. so when we first got here, we had money to live wherever, but we wanted to make it stretch. good thing we did ... but that's another story for another day.
you drive by the residential areas, and you can plainly see how people have a tendency to hoard here - its an island, things are expensive, so when you come across something of worth (or not so much), and can think of a possibility when you might need it (or not so much), you keep it.
and as the stereotypes go, this is also an area where a lot of "users" live. meth is popular out here. I've seen a few deals go down, but with so much "aloha" no one cares, its all very mellow ... if that even makes sense. aloha is a real thing, more than just a perspective. I'm sure many don't necessarily approve of using (the me now does, not so much the me of 15 years ago) but people here let people do whatever it is they're gonna do.
aren't these pictures awful? these posters are up in various places in the community. I realize they are to "scare people straight" but, I feel for my kids, its a tad too far out of the shelter that I'd take them. they are 6 and 2. I know some would say, it's never too early, and so, we've been forced to talk about it a little bit.
we rode the bus to the zoo last week, and there was one of these pictures up. I was sitting with Elliott and he saw it right away, the one with just the teeth. I told him "that girl is sick" and "she needs to brush her teeth, doesn't she?" he repeats everything I say, as to assure me that he heard what I said. its cute. I'm glad he does that.
what would you have told your kids?
when will you have the drug talk?
something to think about.
we have never had any trouble living over here. but we also live in a gated community and rarely go out a night. whenever I take the kids to the beach for a sunset, as soon as it sets, I don't mess around and I pack them up to head home. that saying "the freaks come out at night" is true!
I also have never heard so many sirens in my life. we're not too far from the local fire station, but even so, we were hearing sirens every single day for awhile. like living near train tracks, it takes awhile to get used to it. but whenever I hear those ambulance sirens, I always wonder what kind of incident those EMT's are about to see. and with those posters around town, I bet they see a lot of that, and worse.
I suppose my point to this post ... don't do meth.
we originally came way out here because we'd MUCH rather live among the locals than living where the tourists often visit. people who come here to visit, have a tendency to use it like an Mtv Spring Break Party type place, or maybe, like Vegas. why come to Hawaii to get wasted?! do that at home!
the rental prices out here are less too. so when we first got here, we had money to live wherever, but we wanted to make it stretch. good thing we did ... but that's another story for another day.
you drive by the residential areas, and you can plainly see how people have a tendency to hoard here - its an island, things are expensive, so when you come across something of worth (or not so much), and can think of a possibility when you might need it (or not so much), you keep it.
and as the stereotypes go, this is also an area where a lot of "users" live. meth is popular out here. I've seen a few deals go down, but with so much "aloha" no one cares, its all very mellow ... if that even makes sense. aloha is a real thing, more than just a perspective. I'm sure many don't necessarily approve of using (the me now does, not so much the me of 15 years ago) but people here let people do whatever it is they're gonna do.
aren't these pictures awful? these posters are up in various places in the community. I realize they are to "scare people straight" but, I feel for my kids, its a tad too far out of the shelter that I'd take them. they are 6 and 2. I know some would say, it's never too early, and so, we've been forced to talk about it a little bit.
we rode the bus to the zoo last week, and there was one of these pictures up. I was sitting with Elliott and he saw it right away, the one with just the teeth. I told him "that girl is sick" and "she needs to brush her teeth, doesn't she?" he repeats everything I say, as to assure me that he heard what I said. its cute. I'm glad he does that.
what would you have told your kids?
when will you have the drug talk?
something to think about.
we have never had any trouble living over here. but we also live in a gated community and rarely go out a night. whenever I take the kids to the beach for a sunset, as soon as it sets, I don't mess around and I pack them up to head home. that saying "the freaks come out at night" is true!
I also have never heard so many sirens in my life. we're not too far from the local fire station, but even so, we were hearing sirens every single day for awhile. like living near train tracks, it takes awhile to get used to it. but whenever I hear those ambulance sirens, I always wonder what kind of incident those EMT's are about to see. and with those posters around town, I bet they see a lot of that, and worse.
I suppose my point to this post ... don't do meth.
YOU Capture - Youth
ok so here's a no brainer - my kids are a constant reminder of how young I am not. I am no longer able to live carefree ... not like a child can ... because I'm always the one saying "no, don't touch that" or "what do you say?" or "did you remember to flush?" as a mom, you are always [trying] to make sure your little ones get in the habit of dotting the i's and crossing the t's.
but also, without them, I'd forget all about silly time, extra hugs & kisses, funny jokes, and rapsberries on bellies. good times.
remember doing this as a kid? this is my Elliott, realizing I was far away taking pictures ... doing something, anything apart from him. you see, I'm still his absolute favorite person in the world. he's running to give me a hug, because its been 5 whole minutes. I love his love.
the 2 in the back are my eldest son Samuel, and his friend Porter. boys doing what boys do.
after Elliott reached me, he found this guy on the shore ... its dead, but still a great little biology lesson. he's not afraid in the least, and THAT is what I love about kids the most. no fear. so willing to touch and learn. no hesitation and all faith.
this part of youth needs to continue to be rubbed off on me ... every single day please!
join us, its fun!
fingerprint friday
I love how ferns unroll like this to grow
details such as this, reminds me of what goes into creating something
whether its
the garnish on your dinner plate for better presentation
a painters way of signing their work
the way music is composed
or for me, the way a room is designed
or for our Creator
the specifics that make up each of us, let alone the plants and animals too
its in the details.
be aware of the details surrounding you
they are important to everyday miracles
what reminds you of our Creator in your everyday life?
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