PARENTING...what a task

What a huge responsibility God gives us, privileges...us...with? Privileges us? Hmmm...before I get sidetracked--is that the right way to say that? Well, I don't want to say what a huge responsibility God bestows us the privilege of--to raise children? OK, I think it's clear what I am trying to say. It's A LOT of pressure, a lot of catching my breath when I think about this big task. Parenting is this vast landscape that I can't quite see the end of. The length of this big field that I am looking at and wondering how am I ever going to get to the other side. I have so much to learn. Take for instance this. My oldest son is now eight and he is entering that phase of not wanting to be cuddled and he doesn't want me to talk to him like he's a little kid any more. Tonight, joking around I grabbed him and held him and started to tell him about this song (OK, truth be told, I actually sang this song) I used to sing to him that I made up all about loving my baby boy. He was hardly amused nor impressed. I would normally do this--hardly ever, but on occasion and we would end up just cracking up. Later, he even remarked about not wanting to be sung to like a baby. Oh, my heart! This is a kid who has always said, "tell me that story..."

But, it's not about me.

What a lesson I am learning. Parenting is not about if it makes me feel good to have this precious moments with my child. It's not about if they're happy either. That's a hard one for me, because I am so easily manipulated by my boys' whines and their running their fingers through my hair and looking at me with loving eyes and saying, "please mommy?"
The baby (my two year old) is even trying to giggle his way through time-outs, but I push forward with a stern look hiding that I am giggling inside too.
Uh, OK, so some things are less difficult than others.

I am just so thankful for the wisdom from the Holy Spirit--reminding me what I've read in scripture. So thankful that I can pray to a God who is listening. I didn't intend to share this, but I just looked up and noticed something on my desk. I have a prayer that I printed up/laminated that is a perfect prayer about parenting and something I need to pray, probably daily. It's from John Piper. I'm typing it up so forgive any typos please:

"Dear Lord,
There is no higher calling than being a wife and mom. You have entrusted these precious lives to our care and what we impart to them while they are with us, is our offering to you. You have not called us to be 'cool', to be liked, or to make our children happy. You have given us the responsibility to shepherd their souls. If they are great in sports, academics or worldy success, but do not know YOU, we will have failed. Help us to live what we proclaim, to be strong enough to discipline consistently when we are weary, to lavish them with love (as You do to us), to be quick to forgive and to admit when we are wrong. Help us to continue to grow in our love for the Savior and for Your word so that we can live an example that will draw them to salvation. We will never be perfect but we can be faithful and that's all that you ask. Please bless each one reading this and encourage their hearts with knowing that You have the power, ability and desire to see them succeed in this endeavor. May they raise up a generation of young adults with a heartfelt passion to serve You, and then know that they will hear ;well done, good and faithful servant.' Amen"

isms

Sixisms--thoughts from my six year old rough, tough and clever boy.


When explaining Creation to Daddy...
"So...then God got tired of working in the dark and he separated the darkness from the light."


As he came running out of the bathroom before bed...
"Mom, mom, I just did something really cool...when I was using my mouthwash, I spit it out in to the toilet and then I peed in there and I made it green--it was so cool, Mom!"



"Dude, look at this, it's so cool!"



When his older brother asked me what it means when God says 'not to pray in the streets, but to pray in your closet...' as this was something he heard recently...

"It means, don't be a show-off!"
Yes, he's six and yes, he understands something most adults don't.


"Poop"
He wouldn't be a six year old boy if he didn't think this word was hilarious.


And, when he was only four and I went away for the weekend during my pregnancy...upon my return he said:
"Mom, I was thinking about you, I was thinking about you and your baby."

Update on Curriculum

I am loving My Father's World curriculum. It's just so...right there, get to work, get it done.
I am beginning the day using Christian Liberty Press' Studying God's Word though, which isn't part of the curriculum. I don't know how I'll work in the science I had planned, but we had a blast going through the MFW science stuff already.

Right now, the biggest challenge is finding extracurricular activities that aren't too costly. I wrote to the local Parks & Rec Ctr to ask for something to be implemented. We'll see.

What has been the biggest blessing is the Morning Routine Chart that I got from that wonderful mom over at Hillside Academy. My boys get up and just get right to the chart chores in the routine. On the first Saturday my middle boy came in and asked if he had to do his morning routine...I give them the weekends off. So cute.
Katherine from Cornerstone Academy has been such a blessing with advice and checking in on me with the MFW change.

Check them out on my blogroll.
Thanks Ladies!

A week at the Cape...Cod that is

What an amazing time we had in Hyannis, MA. We love the Cape and it was another wonderful holiday for the family. I am so thankful we were able to get away like this.

Homeschooling update

Woooh woooh woooh wait a minute. This is kind of like when I had my first baby and left my job and it was winter time and we were stuck inside a lot and here was this little toddler of mine (toddler in size, but only days old) and I was now home without any ongoing socialization because uh yeah I had only left my job about three days before my water broke and so here I was a brand spanking new stay-at-home mommy--all my friends were working and my sister in laws were busy and my husband left me home all alone after just a week--and uh, yeah that pretty much sums up how I feel. Wow. Homeschooling is hard work. And, just like when I left my career to become a mom, I wonder, why didn't anyone tell me it would be like this? Don't get me wrong, I love being a mom and I am so thankful that I have had the privilege of being home with my boys all these years. And, I am privileged to be able to homeschool my boys. But, this is exhausting stuff. And, I still feel like I'm not getting enough done!
But, you know what, just as it was difficult to adjust to life as a mommy--I know that in time, I will cope and learn what to do in order to be a successful homeschooler. I know the resources are there--I know I have support from both family, friends, local and on-line homeschoolers. But, most importantly, I have the guidance and direction and strength from the Lord. I sank to my knees this week praying and sadly, I hadn't done that in a long time.
I also know that just because I struggle, it doesn't mean it's not working and it doesn't mean it isn't worth it. It's so worth it. I know that already.
When, I have time and a well thought out post, I will post about our curriculum and our first few days.

CAKE TOPPER

Here is a wedding cake topper that I recently decorated with Swarovski crystals.

It's such an honor to be a part of someone's special day. Can't wait to see pics of it on the cake.

CHILD's Window Mistreatment Nester Style

Ignore my cute husband, who jumped in front of the camera just to bug me--look at that window in the foreground...OK...I'll give you a close-up look:

These are inexpensive window shades ($6 maybe from Home Depot) and I painted them to match our primary color theme. I also hot glued those plastic paper clips to the curtain rod.


Here are two windows I mistreated in a little playroom. I used few pieces of fabric and just layered them.
Here I painted the sill red and stamped it with white paint, then hung some garland I had bought from the dollar store.

NEW PROJECT

This was completed for a twin...I still have to figure out his sister's letters.

This was painted to match the bedding pictured just below.

I added a tad bit of red to the top of the "n" b/c well I just think it needed to be done!

Some close-ups

I'm thinking about posting my web site or even to begin selling on etsy as one client suggested.

Not sure what to do--as of now I have just been taking orders

based on referrals and past clients. Hmmmm....

OUR HOMESCHOOL PLANNER

Stepping Stones Academy -- the Planner.

I created this planner in MS Publisher, but will add it here as a PDF for others to use if I can figure out how.Just tonight, while speaking with my husband about the boys' schedule, I realized tonight that I forgot to add "Computers" as a subject. He really wants to teach the boys Word and Excel--and at some stage teach them to build a computer from start to finish. So, if I were to recreate this, I'd add "Computers."This is similar to a planner I used two years ago and loved. I just thought I could customize it to better suit our school. Staples bound this with a blank cover page and then a protective plastic covering over that (40 weeks worth of copying) for under $9. Well worth it to me. I had each boy illustrate and label their own planner. You can see a partial of the cover below.

One thing I liked about this is that I could use the planner to teach my boys about scheduling. Even in Kindergarten, my oldest began to see his schedule for the week and I'd let him cross off what was completed. He even wanted to start to write in what was due. This year I'll plan to tell them what is due by the end of the week and allow them to write in what should be done in order to meet the deadline of what is due. Of course this won't work with all things, but it is like a class in and of itself, in my opinion--teaching time management and organization. I could use a lesson in this myself!

This planner is meant to be printed on 8 1/2 x 11 paper, landscape, double-sided. The pages should face the other and lay as a two-page spread. Hope this helps!

Summer Pics

It's VBS week for us and we are very busy with Cosmic City! It's so fun and we always enjoy it. Our church shares the responsibilities with two other churches...it's great for unity! We're exhauted by lunch time though...!

Here are a few pics of the kids recently. The zoo with one of the cousins and then a trip to make boats and visit at the water lab to test them!




Ahhhh...summer is much too short. But, thankfully--because we homeschool, we'll be able to do daytrips more often.