Homeschooling Ho-hum

When us moms decide to homeschool our children, we are full of bright-eyed optimism. Our children are going to be the brightest the world has ever seen! And we are going to have spreadsheets of lesson plans six months in advance! And yada yada yada, as George Costanza would say.

And then it becomes mid-winter, and the school days become a little dreary and ho-hum and looooong.

During my first year of homeschooling, I thought we were slipping come January and I couldn't understand why I was having trouble keeping it interesting and my son was having trouble BEING interested.

With a little more experience under my belt and conversations with lots of other moms, I've realized that ALMOST EVERY HOMESCHOOLING MOM (and student) feels this way about mid-January to mid-February.

Just knowing that others are struggling a little this time of year helps. I don't think it's that misery loves company. I'd rather none of us feel any misery. I think it just helps to know you're not alone. We all struggle during the darker, colder winter days.

What's the solution?

A step back, maybe. We put away the science book and started work on a related lap book on horses. Then we put that aside to create a science fair project on bridge construction.

We put aside our usual math book to take a stab at Life of Fred: Fractions.

And we're working in a field trip to the zoo. And we cut it a little short on Fridays sometimes for horseback riding or playtime at a friend's house.

Do what you gotta do. I've found it all works out by the end of the school year. A change of pace puts a little more energy back in the remaining school days, especially once March hits.

Chins up moms and teachers!
Love,
TCB

Rainy Weekends

Weekend before last, we had a rainy Saturday. Everyone in my house loves an occasional rainy Saturday. There's suddenly an excuse not to check off one blessed item on your to-do list.

Not that these guys have a to-do list.

This IS the daily agenda. It just lasts a little longer on a rainy day.

Rain, rain, DON'T go away. We've got sleepin' to do today.

Happy sunny day today!

Love,

TCB

Multitasking, Mama Style

I'm trying to count all the things I did at once this morning:

1. taught my son how to multiply mixed numbers and fractions
2. found some cold medicine for Mr. Country Belle
3. brewed tea for supper
4. marinated a pork tenderloin (supper again)
5. took a phone call
6. interviewed a couple about their home renovation project for a magazine article
7. wrote another magazine article about fireplace mantels
8. edited an article prior to publication
9. began writing another article on home construction
10. helped the dog, Molly, out to potty (remember, she's 16 1/2 years old)
11. gave Molly her medicine and eye drops (we almost lost her this week, but she's good as can be except for the eyesight loss in her right eye)
12. fed the cat
13. helped the dog out to potty (see #10 above)
14. taught my son how to spot a verb-transitive and direct object in a sentence

Whew! Mamas have their hands full. Now it's off to the afternoon.

I need a "ladysitter" like Beverly Hills Real Housewife Kyle.

I think I'll ask for one for my birthday.

Chin up!
TCB

Burn, baby, burn

I told you about our weekends in the country, often filled with work but fun in their own particular ways. Thought I'd share a couple of photos from last weekend.

Here's what happens when you add two boys, two grown men, a winter day of sunshine, and a big pile of sticks to a healthy dose of country land.

Oh, and I forgot to mention: a lighter and some leftover New Year's fireworks.



Hey, they turned it into a big party.

An all-day and into-the-night party (embers burn a long time).

Make a party out of whatever life hands you today.

Happy day,
TCB

Squash Pasta

It's hard to convince my family members that meat is not required in a meal. I really haven't persuaded them except with one dish. But I can only pull this meal out of my hat once every 45 to 60 days. Else....well, you know. The MEAT thing.

Give this a try if you want a filling, healthy meal that is super simple. Using spaghetti squash in place of pasta helps save carbs and calories and provides plenty of fiber.

Spaghetti Squash with Marinara

Cut squash in half (This is the hardest part of the entire recipe. Use a sharp knife!)
Scoop out the seeds with a spoon and place the two halves cut-side down in a roasting pan in about a 1/2 inch of water.

Cover with foil and bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for one hour.

The squash should be tender when you take it out of the oven. Carefully (it is extremely hot!!), use a potholder to pick up each half, draining out any accumulated water. Shred the insides of the squash into a bowl by scraping a fork through it, pulling it into strands.

All you need to do from here is top with your favorite marinara sauce. It's great to make your own, but on swim team nights, I grab a jar of Paul Newman's marinara sauce (lowest sugar count around) and go to town.

Happy healthy eating!
Love,
TCB

Time to Grow Up

I know I'm not alone when I say I want to protect my son for as long as possible. Every mother reading this is thinking the same thing, too. We just stick together on things like that.


But at some point point our children have to work more than is comfortable for them, and they'll be in a place where they will feel a little bit of pain. Otherwise, they'll never grow up.


I was watching my son swim laps for an hour Monday night at swim team practice. The coach assigned him to swim lap after lap of the stroke he dislikes the most - the butterfly. Why does he dislike it? It is HARD for him, he runs out of energy, goes too slow, and it's his worst stroke. The others seem to come easy for him.

I watched him struggle lap after lap and could visibly see his energy lagging (imagine that in a 9-year-old boy). I knew if I was down in that lane, I would not have made it (fyi, I'm nowhere close to 9). It made me so tired just to watch, that I wanted to scoop him out of the water and say - "Nice effort! Now take a break." I knew he couldn't stop - it's the coach's rule that if you stop and interrupt the lane flow, you gotta get out and do push-ups. So I felt his pain from my spectator's seat, and I realized: this is just a small hurdle. There will be much larger ones for him. I faced them. He will, too. And there's no way I can make some of them easier. And there's really no reason I should.

Our job is to take these little munchkins and grow them into responsible, independent, contributing citizens. It takes a little adversity - and a lot of work - to accomplish the goal. Sometimes as parents we need to move out of the way.

My thoughts for the day! Do you agree?

Happy hump day,
TCB

Weekend in the Country

If the title of this post has you thinking of leisurely walks down woodsy lanes, I feel sorry to bust your bubble. Weekends in the country are usually about work. At least on Saturdays.

And especially when one tree loosens its roots from the soil on the bank of the river, falling and taking down two other trees with it.

We have been looking at the mess for eight months. But let's face it - the job couldn't be tackled until winter weather arrived. Who wants to wade into the grassy, weedy mess that surrounds fallen trees when it's snake season on the banks of the river? In case this one stumps you - ABSOLUTELY NO ONE.

A particular boy believes it is better to play "king of the hill" on the bonfire pile than to actually haul limbs to it.

See how precious-wecious my little one is on his four-wheeler pulling a trailer-full of limbs? Don't tell him I said precious-wecious. No self-respecting 9-year-old boy wants to be called precious-wecious by his mama.

Meanwhile, back at the homestead....

Miss Pitty Pat was working, too. (No animals were hurt in the production of this post. Well, that's not absolutely true. But if you want a truckload of field mice, I can deliver them to you.)

Thanks for all the hard work, everyone.

Love,
TCB