PSL Update

Looking at the calendar, I can hardly believe we're three-quarters of the way through our first year of pre-school (home-style). Our year has gone better than expected, though there have been a few frustrations along the way. [I can only do so much when Leah gets frustrated and doesn't want to try something (like cutting or writing/ tracing letters). During those moments I have to step back, BREATHE, and try a different approach or revisit the activity later. Time seems to be another frustration, but only when it comes to planning lessons. Sometimes a new week sneaks up on me and I haven't had a chance to plan our next unit.]

Still, those frustrations pale in comparison to the successes and joys of teaching my princess. I love watching her face light up as she grasps a new concept or skill. She, like most children this age, absorbs information, often without my help or my realizing it. For instance, we were working on sight words, and I had included a new one (or so I had thought) in the activity. Go figure that Little Miss already knew the word thanks to her love of books. Moments like that amaze me.

Not all lessons have been stellar, but then again, in the classroom they weren't either. And really, L's interest in some activities has really surprised me. We're in the midst of a Dr. Seuss unit (in honor of his birthday March 2), so last Friday we had a wacky day (read the book "Wacky Wednesday"), beginning with a shoe on the wall. My job throughout the day was to create wacky situations for Leah to find: an umbrella in a pot on the stove; dressing wacky (shirt on backward; shorts over pants; two mismatched earrings in one ear); turning furniture around; placing a viking hat over the centerpiece on the table; putting flowers in the valance in L's room; you get the idea. Leah LOVED it! Throughout the day, she'd ask, "Hmmm, I wonder what else is wacky," and then set off on a discovery mission. The next day when she came down to breakfast, she asked, "Is there anything wacky?" Later that night, she even told our sitter about the wacky day. That might not be something in the SOLS or a set curriculum, but it was fun, and it encouraged her to observe the world around her (and then offer solutions to right the wackiness). Plus, it made a book that she already enjoyed that much more entertaining. 

Another joy has been our monthly "classes" with a few other pre-schoolers. Planning and then implementing a few activities for our school day has been fun. Plus, it gives the kids an opportunity to play and learn from another adult (a friend and I take turns teaching). 

I'm already thinking about next year and the changes we'll make, though I don't think they'll be too many.
We'll probably stick with our thematic learning, but I hope to have school three days a week instead of two. (This in preparation for kindergarten in 2014.) I'll certainly need to be more diligent in planning field trip opportunities (hmmm, guess I should look into a GPS so that I feel better about leaving the 'burbs!), and I'll need to keep in mind the type of skills pre-schoolers need to know. Still, there's a certain amount of grace in this process. After all, L is learning, and our schedule allows for flexibility and change.

Words to the Wise

Two phrases/ pieces of wisdom/advice have been at the back of my mind in recent months, and since I've been at a loss lately for blog posts (due to time constraints and topics), I thought I'd share them. Please note: I did NOT originate these ideas, but I have adopted them for they have provided sound encouragement.

#1: This is the only hell we'll ever know. Consider that. As a believer, I will never know anything worse than the aches and pains of this life. This doesn't negate the human experience, for there is much heartache, loss, and tragedy (though some experience more/ worse than others), but it does provide perspective. Keeping this in mind, I know that the trials of this life are temporary; one day I will have my reward in Heaven. A life of joy, exaltation, peace, love, and adoration for my God and Savior. And knowing that gives me peace.

#2: Don't make it worse. When life seems down and out, often due to circumstances beyond my control, I have to choose not to make it worse. I can wallow in self-pity. I can be a victim of my depression. I can refuse to act (and justifiably so!) because someone else has offended or hurt me. Yet, none of those responses will help the situation. OR I can make a conscious decision to do the opposite. To rise above my self-pity. To seek help (through prayer or wise counsel) for my depression. To act kindly and extend peace when I don't want to do either. Huh. Funny how that one phrase makes a big difference in my perspective.

Efficiency

I have (slowly-- how appropriate) come to the realization that I am not the most efficient or fastest at accomplishing certain tasks. There are nights when I'll reflect on the day past and wonder "Where did the time go?" and "What did I do with it?" Usually this occurs when my to-do list for the day is still pretty full. (What's most troubling is those days when I only had two or three items on my list anyway and STILL didn't accomplish anything.) For a Type-A such as myself (though I am learning to relax... a little), these are pretty serious and concerning questions. After all, if I'm to conquer the world (ha!), then I first better conquer my to-do list, no matter how mundane and piddly the tasks.

One such task that eats up endless hours of time is cleaning the house. (I'll let you in on a little secret: I now clean the house once every three weeks. Shocker, I know. Thanks to two kids and a much busier schedule, however, I don't have the time to clean more often than that. Note: this does not mean my house is not tidy. That's not going to change, especially since I hate clutter and mess!) Anyway... the task at hand (see what I mean about efficiency?)

Usually, it takes an entire week to clean the house. A week! Ugh! No wonder I don't clean as regularly as some! I try not to clean much in the mornings since that's my time with the kids (running errands, doing school, playing, etc.), though on occasion I will clean a few rooms under child supervision. The bulk of the task then falls to my afternoons, specifically when the kids are resting/ napping. That's two hours. So why couldn't I get the house cleaned in that amount of time? After all, I kept reading about how quickly maids can clean a hotel room or house (though I don't think it counts when there's more than one cleaning a house).

But now, I might have finally caught on to something. I say this confidently since my house, as of Tuesday afternoon, is clean (well, except for the floors. They'll have to wait until tomorrow because, let's be honest, there's really nothing that could make cleaning them quicker.). This after starting just yesterday. This is a big deal for me, especially since it frees up time later this week for fun things (anything not associated with cleaning).

So here's my secret (or two):
1. Dusting cloths. I found this via Pinterest, and have been very pleased with the results. Aside from these being all natural products, they cut dusting time in half. Really! No more "spray, wipe, repeat". It's simply wipe and done!

2. Magic eraser the bathroom. Tried this today, and was pleased with the results though I'm not sure if I'll continue this method or another (see #3), especially since I still had to dry off/ wipe down the sink when I was done.

3. Spray down the bathroom then wipe with a dry cloth (not wet). This also worked really well. Should I switch to a natural/ home-made bathroom cleaning spray, this will probably be what I'll do in the future. The bonus? I didn't have to use paper towels to dry the sink afterward.

Now that I've saved all that time cleaning, maybe I'll figure out how to make the rest of my life just as efficient. I can hope, right?

Defining Myself

A New Year has begun

and so I'll take some time to

DEFINE myself.

Too often we RE-DEFINE ourselves

this time of year,

making ourselves over,

changing what doesn't work

what we don't like.

But how often do those stick?

So instead, I'll take some time

to figure out WHO I am.

I'll be honest: I still DON'T KNOW myself 

fully

(So glad my Maker does!)

I am:

-neat (no apologies here

for a neat house upon your arrival

or for perhaps a slightly cluttered counter. 

It's not about you, it's all about me.)

-organized

-creative (though it ebbs and flows

and needs a bit of polishing at times)

-kind

-loyal, a stickler for tradition, yet 

willing to risk a break with it-- just to try it--- 

and later regret it

-generous (for I've been blessed with so much)

-good listener

-patient (though the kids know how to push its limits!)

-honest and open, yet private 

-indecisive and even unsure 

(of what I want, who I am, what I'm feeling)

-selfish (especially with me time)

-proud (aren't we all?)

Such a list is 

incomplete

a work-in-progress

just like 

me.

And though I cannot change

on my own

I know Someone 

who draws me closer

everyday.

Loving me

Willing me

To allow Him to work from the inside

out 

That I may be defined by Him

Transcending MY definitions, descriptions

Accepting my TRUE self:

Daughter of the KING.

And that's all the definition

I need.

Pinterest

Yes, it's been awhile since my last post. (Early December, I think.) The busyness (in a good way) of the holidays coupled with the post-holiday return to "normalcy" has kept me occupied and away from the blog. But, full disclosure, the lack of topics has also kept me at bay. Don't get me wrong. I love posting and writing on a regular basis, especially since sometimes it feels like the only intellectual outlet available to me, but there are times when there's simply not much to say. (Hmmm, I seem to remember that being a concern when I first started blogging.)

But all of that is neither here nor there, especially since I do have a few comments about something today: Pinterest.

LOVE IT! Yes, I'm sure all of you who discovered Pinterest in the early days might be saying "told you so!" I love the ease of finding and organizing activities/ lessons for PSL. It definitely makes lesson planning go a bit more smoothly (as compared to Googling activities/ topics). The only challenge is limiting what I'm going to do. There are so many great ideas, but I only have so much time (or so many resources). How do people do everything? (Hypothetical. I know people don't do EVERYTHING.)

I do wonder, though, if some people become so obsessed with pinning that they just pin; they don't actually do anything with the information they find. I know that the boards help organize information and ideas, but if you have 100+ pins, do you actually revisit them, or do they just sit there? (Yes, this applies to me, too. I've pinned a few "quiet time activities" but I have yet to make them a reality. I'd like to... when I have time. Guess I just have to make it happen, right?)

See, I don't like clutter... of any kind. So even the boards of completed units bother me. I moved all of that information to a new board (completed PSL units), but I wonder if I even need that. There's a part of me that says I should keep those pins in case I use the units again when little man is older. But there other part of me says to get rid of them; I can find new activities. Now that I've combined all of those units into one folder, though, I have quite a few pins in one place. Pins that I might not revisit. (Makes me wish I could create sub-boards in each board, or at least in some boards.) So, I'm trying to weed/ revise regularly so as not to become overwhelmed (visually) by all the options. It seems to be working (though I do get distracted at times. After all, there's lots of interesting "stuff" there!).

All that to say, thank you to my friends who introduced me to the world of pinning. It appeals to my personality and quirks, and though I lament the lack of time I have for it (or sometimes the amount of time I "waste" on it), it helps me stay organized (and reduces the amount of torn-out magazine pages on the desk).

$112K +

"A wife of noble character who can find? 

   She is worth far more than rubies"  Proverbs 31:10

I read recently that if a stay-at-home mom were paid, she'd earn at least $112,000 a year. The group who determined this salary listed all the duties of a SAHM, and then examined the salaries of those who do those jobs for a living. Interesting.

If I were to be paid-- monetarily-- for all that I do, my husband could quit his job! And yet, often I (or all mothers or fathers, to be honest) receive little tangible compensation for my hard work. I could lament this reality, pining for some compensation for the tedious daily tasks, yet, as I've pondered this figure, I'm reminded that I am worth far MORE than a mere $112K... and not because of what I do, but because of who He is, and whose I am.

Yes, my job is invaluable, and I love it (though some days do try my patience). I am tasked with training, disciplining, and raising my kids to be kind, loving, caring, compassionate, generous, faithful, good; with running the household; with organizing our calendar/ planning events. Most importantly, I am tasked with teaching my children about God, who He is, and what He's done for us. Woah. That's an enormous responsibility, and one that I'm (on my own) ill-equipped to do.

I have found that SAHMs regularly degrade their worth. We're not bringing in a paycheck, so somehow we're not contributing as much to our families. We can't spend a little on ourselves, because we haven't "earned" it. Why do we have such a negative view of our worth when we have been blessed with such a high calling? We're not tasked with training/ interacting/ dealing with those whom we might have a passing interaction; we are called to care for OUR children. We have the opportunity to prepare them for the future (while enjoying the journey with them). What an amazing blessing!

We don't need a number to tell us what we're worth. Instead, we have God's Word, which affords us more than what some number-crunchers deduced:

"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life (10-12)....She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks (17).... She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her" (Proverbs 31: 25 - 29).

Embracing and accepting our calling means we should EMBRACE and ACCEPT our worth! We are worth "far more than rubies" (10). That's certainly more than $112! Because God has crafted us for this calling, blessing us with the children in our care, He determines our worth. Not man.

So though $112K extra a year might be nice, I prefer the salary fitting of the daughter of the King (eternal life), and the opportunity to offer THAT salary to my children one day. In the meantime, I will embrace my calling, my job, the tedious, menial tasks with joy, knowing that my worth is determined by God. And in His eyes, I am invaluable.

The Kiddos

It's been awhile since my last post AND since I've update everyone on the kids, so I thought I'd do both today. Though their ages are trying at times (little miss surprises me with her occasional tantrums and baby boy regularly gets into places he shouldn't), those moments are tempered by the playful, fun ones.

*Lately, Leah has been asking for a pet. This came from out of the blue (contrary to belief that I might have coached her. Though I do want a dog, I certainly don't want the added responsibility of one right now.)
  L: "Mommy, I want a pet."
  Me: "Oh, well, we'll see about that. What do you want?"
  L: "A cat."
  M: "Hmmm, you'll have to talk to Daddy about that. He doesn't like cats."
  L, considering that fact: "Well, does Daddy like dogs?"
  M: "Yes, Daddy likes dogs."
  L: "Then I want a dog."
 After our conversation, Leah repeated it with her dad. Of course, he was a bit surprised they were even having it. Since then, Leah has mentioned WHEN she gets her dog (not if). Hmmmm, she might have to wait awhile on that.

*Polishing the Floors, a Win-Win.
  Not sure how this started, but lately, the kids (thanks to Daddy) have become obsessed with cleaning the wood floors. Well, maybe not exactly, but they do love blanket rides. Leah wraps herself in the blanket, pretending to be a caterpillar changing into a butterfly. (Yes, she even emerges from her cocoon.) Although this is the usual scenario for her, she did modify it the other day; she loaded up the blanket with toys, and then pretended she was Santa, delivering toys down the hallway.
  Hunter loves lying face down during the rides. We're not exactly sure why, but boy, is it funny. Sometimes he'll turn over onto his back, which often means he's just barely lying on the blanket. Other times, he'll try to stand (obviously he doesn't get very far). Ahh, simple fun.

*Speaking of simple fun, notice the new "toys" in these photos. The kids loved playing in a box. They'd just sit in it. Not sure the allure of cardboard, but it kept them entertained. Course, I think the flashlights helped, too. Hunter will go to the drawer where we keep them, point, and say, "Light?" He loves walking around with them, but he especially enjoys playing with them in the darkened laundry room. Again, who knew such a simple tool would bring the kids such joy.
  Now, I realize Leah doesn't look too joyful in the box. That was her "Mommy, I'm making a sad face" for the photo. Hmmm, honestly, it looks like both of them aren't too happy. Almost as if I had locked 'em up.

*So the hubs might not like this photo, but it was too funny NOT to include. After church on Sunday, Hunter pulled out Leah's Ariel costume from the box of dress-up clothes and brought it over to me. Seeing no harm in indulging him, I helped him into it. That boy was so happy! He continued about his business (playing) while we made lunch. And when it was time to eat (and he had to lose the costume), he was NOT happy!
  Later that day, while Leah and I were at Awana, Hunter again "asked" to wear the costume, but Scott told him "no". That's not what Hunter wanted to hear: he threw a tantrum because he couldn't wear the costume. (I'm sure he's going to kill me one day when he sees this photo!)

*No photo for this tidbit, but I've noticed that Hunter has been learning how to play from Leah (as evidenced by the previous story). Leah likes to pretend she's Jasmine kitty, and Hunter has begun doing the same. At times, independently of Leah, he will drop to all fours, mew, and crawl over to me. Once he gets to me, he pulls himself up for a "kitty hug and cuddle". Satisfied, he'll then crawl away (or do a circuit and repeat). Too funny.