2008 June | Heart of the Matter

June 30, 2008 By Lori 61 Comments

Congratulations to Michelle of Northofthe49 on winning a copy of The Master Plan!

Anybody an organizer out there?

Anybody in NEED of organization in their life?

Everyonce in awhile a little piece of heaven lands in your lap!
That is what happened with The Master Plan by Julie Forsythe!
When the opportunity to review an organizational planner presented itself, I jumped at the chance….I LOVE planners, I LOVE organizers…
When I was a kid, the bigger the organizer the better….
THIS is just the type of thing that intrigues me. I have to tell you, that USUALLY I am not impressed with online organizers…they just aren’t CUTE enough for me..

UNTIL NOW!!

(click on the book to go directly to the site)

I’ve GOTTA tell you….
If you are looking for a HIP, and COMPLETE home organizer, whether you homeschool or not(there are sections for both) this is a FABULOUS resource and did I mention it’s CUTE!
This gal thought of EVERYTHING!!
Julie states in the introduction:

The Master Plan is very special. It not only provides a multitude of pages for organizing every aspect of your life, but it is also an interactive PDF. This interactivity means that you can either print out the blank planner pages you need for your own customizable planner that fits nicely in a 3-ring binder of your choosing, OR you can use the interactive fields to type in your own personalized information and either print out the completed pages or– here’s the best part– use it fully on your computer. To use the interactive tools, you simply click your mouse into any field, and type in the necessary information. You can print the Week-at-a-Glance page and stick it in your husband’s lunch box on Monday, stick a copy of the weekly menu or grocery list to the side of the fridge, or
print out sermon note pages to tuck inside your Bible for you and our children.

Do you get that??
You can USE it directly from your computer, click and type and print…or if you are OLD SCHOOL, you can print and WRITE and keep it in a notebook. The interactive feature is wonderful because you can plan and type on the computer and print it ALL out!

The contents of this 381 pages include:

Master Plan by Season
Monthly, weekly and daily calendar pages
A Plan to Nurture Your Spirit
Household Budget Pages
Menu Plan and Grocery Lists
Master Grocery List Page
8 Great Ways to Save
It’s a Crock! Menu Plan
Grocery Lists
Can You Afford Healthy?
Homeschool Planning Pages
Family Medical Records
General Household Organizational Forms
Vacation and Travel Planning
Holidays and Entertaining Pages
Address Book
Cyber Stuff
Project Planning
School Planning Pages

Here is what a sample page looks like!

I am an organizer by nature…and I have to tell you I WAS IMPRESSED by this compilation!
Julie thought of things that I have thought about but have never gotten around to, like medical records ALL in one place.

I was completely HOOKED! I am excited to finish this post and get on to some SERIOUS Re-vamping of my PLANNERS!
Thanks Julie!
If this sounds TOO good to be true, head over to Julie’s site where you can find out more, and purchase a copy for your household!

Hurry up, go on….
Time’s a wastin’!!
There’s organizing to do this summer!
Oh and did I mention that it’s so CUTE that you’ll WANT to use it…no boring FONTS here!

(and ya’ll know, as far as I’m concerned…it all begins with the FONT!!)

Would you like to win a copy of this amazing planner? To enter the giveaway, simple leave us a comment and tell us one of your best organizational tips.

Comments will be closed Friday, July 4th at 10pm EST and the winner will be announced on Sunday in our new weekly newsletter. So please go subscribe!

As always please make sure you leave your email address or that it is listed on your profile or blog. If we can’t email you, you can’t win.

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June 29, 2008 By Guest 19 Comments

I’ve been schooling long enough to have observed trends and cycles in the movement.

In the “old days”, we schooled very simply. We didn’t have the options currently available. We have a zillion companies willing to sell to us, yahoo groups, blogs, co-ops, online schools, umbrella schools, church schools, tutors …and yet I’ve seen a disturbing trend developing that alarms me. I believe that our many options have led to unrealistic expectations, feelings of inadequacy, and have contributed to burn out for many homeschooling moms. I believe, this culture has led many to put their children back into public schools in Jr High and High School because they feel that they couldn’t possibly do it as well as “suzieqexcells.blogspot.com” (fictitious url) or the “experts”. At conventions we use to hear that we, our child’s parents, were the experts on our children. Now, we often hear from the true homeschooling experts….and feel that we shouldn’t question their authority. When I began schooling we simply took it one day at a time until we finished. Most school districts didn’t want our children back in the system; we knew we had to school them until we figured out what else to do with them. ::snort::

Unrealistic Expectations
SuzieQ may post amazing blog glimpses of astonishing nature walks and yet totally ignore other school subjects. She doesn’t tell you that her oldest is 3 years behind in math, that her youngest hasn’t begun school, and that the great ideas she posted 6 months ago and that you are trying to implement didn’t work at all. SuzieQ may really be practically perfect – but we can’t really know. Co-ops may be wonderful, but aren’t absolutely essential for 2 – 3 days a week. It is possible to stay at home and homeschool the old fashioned way – and see great results. Homeschool companies, like other businesses, try to convince us that their product will SOLVE our homeschool problem. It doesn’t always work that way. Do you think I’m making this up? Consider this ad that was sent via email by a big and popular HOMESCHOOL magazine. This magazine and others are where many new homeschoolers turn for “expert” advice: We expect support from these publications.

“Greetings:

Are you still homeschooling the old fashioned way?

Homeschooling was infinitely more time consuming before “XYZ Academy”. Homeschool parents use to spend their nights and weekends doing lesson plans, tests, grading, scheduling, and coping with the ever present “Am I doing enough?” No wonder burn out is so common! Does this sound like you?”

I don’t feel supported by the above. I feel that the ad tries to portray there is something wrong with old fashioned, independent homeschooling. The use of the term and the description of what “old fashioned” would be offends me. In fact, I need their expertise to homeschool. This ad from a Homeschool magazine has irritated me enough that I don’t plan to renew my subscription.

Feelings of Inadequacies
The above ad landed in my in-box on the very same day I was communicating with 2 online friends and a local friend…. all feel INADEQUATE. I was angry…righteously angry, I believe. Ads like the above, huge co-ops that try to offer all the advantages of private school on a budget, practically perfect homeschool bloggers, tutors who charge huge bucks to implement programs I can buy for a fraction of the cost, perfect posts on yahoo groups, can all lead new homeschoolers, and even veteran homeschoolers, to feel that they aren’t measuring up. We slide into thinking that homeschooling SHOULD be easy. I shouldn’t be wasting my nights making lesson plans, grading, scheduling…..I should let the experts do it. I must find a way to pay for these services. I couldn’t possibly do enough on my own…look I can’t make the perfect 9 week unit study on the life cycle of a slug. Obviously, I NEED to either join a very active co-op, or this academy, or buy this product. When I’ve worn myself out trying all the options, when I have no money to buy the latest and greatest, I throw up my hands in frustration and put my child back into public school. More and more people feel INADEQUATE to actually homeschool independently. It doesn’t have to be like this.

Burn Out
This syndrome has always been around – even in the dark ages of our movement. I see it intensifying as well-meaning and loving moms try to implement ALL the current options. We leave our homes constantly, yet we try to accomplish all that our curriculums map out for us at home. We fail to pick and choose and so we fell picked over, wilted, and exhausted by spring.

I am not saying we should never use any of the current options. I own a yahoo group. I publish a blog. I take advantage of drama classes and such. However, I believe we need to remember the heart of homeschooling.

A few Things to Consider
God is the expert on your children. YOU are his partner. Get HIS plans for your child and faithfully follow it.

Do not become a curriculum/blog/magazine/yahoo group junkie if you are prone to feeling inadequate. Once you have God’s plan – stick to it. Look around when you have the green light from God to look for specific help. Don’t allow yourself to feel validated or invalidated based on what others are doing. Look to God for approval.

People homeschooled long before all the current options were available. Most homeschooled until graduation once they had pulled their child out of school. It CAN be done.

If you find “perfect blogs” causing you to feel depressed or inadequate – don’t read them!

Balance – use the options that encourage and help your specific family. If at any point you feel the disadvantages of participating are outweighing the advantages, be courageous enough to adjust. Seek balance.

We do ourselves harm when we excessively compare ourselves and our children to others. Quit!

Carefully choose your mentors – online and in real life. I am NOT trying to be judgmental….but you really only know what an author chooses to reveal about herself. Are you sure she is a mentor you should follow? Has she ever shared the hard days, the real days, the icky stuff so that you can learn from her how
to work through those sorts of days? What do you know about her marriage? What do you know about her children? Are they the types of adults you would like yours to become? Has she schooled long enough to give weight to her theories? Has she lived long enough to experience both joys and heartbreaks? Is she willing to pull you close enough so that you can learn from both? Does she give you the freedom to search God for yourself and reach different conclusions than she has? When you find this sort of woman, online or in real life, get close to her. Shadow her. Learn from her. DON’T TRY TO BECOME HER. God has a plan for YOUR family and YOUR life. We don’t need to become clones of each other. Don’t put her on a pedestal – she’s human. If she’s showing you the good, bad, and the ugly you aren’t likely to put her on a pedestal. ::snort::

Disclaimer: I want to be crystal clear that I am NOT saying that “co-ops are bad” – some of my best friends are co-op coordinators. ::snort:: I’m not saying “yahoo groups are bad” – I own one. I’m not saying homeschooling blogs are bad. I have a blog and am a team member of Home School Blog Awards. I’m saying that if we aren’t careful we tend to allow outside things to define how we homeschool and if we are a “success”. If co-ops, tutors, alt ed are good for you – go for it – just realize that it’s not the ONLY RIGHT way to homeschool with success.

As for my criteria for a mentor – that could be a whole other post…..but basically I look at Titus 2 and think that a mentor should be doing those things she is to teach younger women (obviously she won’t be perfect this side of heaven). There again – those are MY criteria and you are free to choose your own. ::snort:: I am NOT saying that you cannot glean from a woman who doesn’t meet the Titus 2 criteria – but mentor to me signifies an intimate spiritual relationship – someone who will be significantly speaking into my life on a variety of issues, vs. a casual/learn from each other at a support group type of relationship.

De’Etta is a homeschooling mom of 9 children ranging in age from 2-23 years old. She’s married to a wonderful Air Force chaplain. Together they’ve enjoyed 24 years of grand adventure as God has grown their family and ministry. While their methods may change, the heart of homeschooling in their family has remained steady. They desire to partner with God to raise young men and women who will love Him wholeheartedly. De’etta says, “My goal in life is to passionately love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. I endeavor through teaching and mentoring relationships to lead others to an extravagant, lavish, passionate, whole-hearted, love of their life. It is my goal to truly love others.” You can catch up with her at Choosing Joy, Homeschool Blog Awards, and Support4HomeSchool – a homeschooling yahoo group.

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June 28, 2008 By Guest 5 Comments

By Guest Contributor Hallie of Blue Thistle Books

Today I have an agenda. Not just any agenda, but one very close to my heart. Those of you who know me can attest to the fact that I rarely use my blog to complain, but I was out of phone numbers today and needed to blow off some steam so here it is.

You see, I spent all of today working. I did not see the sunshine or my children at all. From the time I woke up at 6:30 am, I have been busy running our family bookstore, Blue Thistle Books; entering products, answering 2 bazillion emails, and trying to stretch an ordinary 24 hours into 72. I also have the responsibility of caring for ailing parents. My mother has a brain injury that left her without the ability to walk and talk for a very long time. Now that she is better able to care for herself, she will reenter the hospital once again next week to have part of her esophagus removed. This has left me with the big unanswered question, What will my life be like next week? I guess I am part of what’s called “the squeeze generation,” and yet in this single parent home, there is only one person that is being squeezed.

I battle constant stress, have terrible headaches, and constant burning in my abdomen, no doubt also from my hectic-no-room-for-fun-and-games life. There is rarely a day that goes by that I don’t want to throw in the towel and call it quits because the knot in my throat is so large, it’s hard to swallow.

The reason I work at home, is so I, a single parent can homeschool my children. I did not decide to homeschool because of a desire to give up every waking moment of my day, struggling with bad attitudes, or a fondness for lack of sleep and an empty wallet, but because we live in a very bad school system, where my children were in danger. A school system where keeping order is the priority and education is a far second. A school system where my 10th grade daughter was threatened with a gun and not a single phone call from the administration was made to inform me of the incident.

Now, I don’t expect those of you who do not homeschool to care one way or the other about my personal choices or my lack of vitamin D. However, for those of you that do homeschool and understand my heart felt decision to keep my children at home where they are safe and can be taught godly principles, you just might understand what I am about to say.

When I started this business, it was my ultimate goal to provide excellent prices and excellent customer service and I feel we have done a great job in both those areas. Since the beginning, every email that I have received has been answered in a timely manner with a smile…yes, you can read a smile. Every phone call is returned promptly and courteously. Every sales receipt is sent out with a handwritten thank you, including my customer’s first name because… I want each one of them to feel important. Why? Because they are. Without them, I would be working a full time job and my kids would not have a parent at home. They would be part of the lost generation our country is raising.

Aside from those things, I deliver to my local customers, (all ten of them in CT – surprised? Me too,) despite the rising cost of fuel and I open my home to total strangers, just so they can see the curriculum before they purchase it.

Now I am not trying in any way to toot my own horn. My point in telling you all of this is, last week I opened my home to a customer – a customer driving a Lexus. Before leaving, the customer placed a special order for a new product and when it arrived he decided he didn’t want it. That product cost me $50.00 out of pocket to have him change his mind. He then asked how much another book was that he special ordered, only to complain that it wasn’t as low as the BIG GUYS. (This particular product was not one that we carried, I ordered it as a courtesy.) The customer said, “Well, the BIG GUYS sell it for $9.99.” The fact is, it cost me $10.16 wholesale just to buy it. If I were to sell it at $9.99, I would be loosing money. I wish conversations like this were the exception and not the rule, but it’s a story that’s all too familiar.

Now I’m not condemning those of you that shop at the BIG GUY, I just want you to understand, that we little guys, do not buy books and curriculum in palettes, we buy a few of an item, so we don’t get BIG GUY discounts. That being said, we are very close to the BIG GUYS on most items and on some, we are even lower. How is that possible? It is possible because I haven’t kept a 25% profit margin since we started, and after marking every item down to try and compete with the BIG GUYS, we may not make it another year.

Now beyond that, why should you shop at the little guy? I’ll tell you why? Because when you shop at the little guy, whether it be me or another small homeschool store, you are keeping a family alive. You are supporting them, so they can homeschool and feed their children. Isn’t that reason enough?

I know some of you are on a very tight budget, with only one income. I know how that feels, believe me. The only difference is, I don’t have someone to share the burden, yet I still make every effort to buy a gift or product at Etsy instead of the large department store down the street. I know there is a mother with children on the other end of that purchase that may need the money.

The fact is, if we as homeschoolers don’t keep the little guy going, we will all be buying curriculum that is put out by companies like Alpha Omega and Bob Jones.

Today, most curriculum is published by small family operations that are struggling to make ends meet. They work tirelessly, running to conventions and giving of their time to bring us the curriculum we love. And then there are the local homeschool stores that are scattered across the country. How many people go into those stores to view the curriculum and then go home to order it online from the BIG GUY online for a lower price?

Now I’m not saying there is any crime in looking for the best price, I used to do the same thing, but I then read an article that had the same tone as this post and I suddenly saw things a little differently. And now I am hoping that this post will cause you to feel the same way. So please remember this the next time you are shopping for your curriculum. And don’t worry about the BIG GUYS. They will do just fine without you. And thank you to all our faithful customers. You mean the world us.

Hallie is a thirty-eight year old single mom of four and a grandma of two. She is a business owner, a homeschool mama, caretaker of a brain injured mom, an artist within, an avid photographer, but most importantly…a child of the Living God, whose grace and mercy surround her every day. You can visit her blog at Confessions from the Rubber Room, and you can shop your heart out at her online bookstore Blue Thistle Books.

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June 28, 2008 By Kysha Leave a Comment

All of my children give oral narrations on their literature and my youngest, Hip Rider, has been due to give her book review for a while now so in her 17 month old vocabulary regarding her opinion of this book when Mommy reads it…..is just “Mimi!“. Yes, “Mimi” is what she yells with excitement while attempting to jump by repeatedly standing on her tip toes whenever Mommy brings this book out to read.

This book is part of a lovely little series of books called “A Child’s First Library of Values” which can be found at any bookstore or library. Mimi, The Selfish Kitten has difficulty sharing her ball with the other kittens. Hmmm. Sounds just like Hip Rider right about now. She soon finds out that it’s no fun playing alone after all of her friends leave her because she is so selfish. In the end, she discovers that it’s more fun to share with her friends than to sit alone with her ball. There are other books in this series dealing with such things as grumpiness, friendship, naughtiness, appreciation, gratefulness and so on. The pictures are bright, bold and colorful to really catch a preschooler’s eye and keep their attention. These are great books to get the “ball” rolling on teaching a preschooler or even a pre-preschooler about values.

Kysha is the wife of a paramedic/businessman and homeschool mom of five beautiful children from ages 2 to 18. She enjoys blogging, fishing, reading, working in children’s ministry, and snuggling with her hubby while watching sunsets or romantic comedies. You can find her at Love’s School.

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June 28, 2008 By Nikowa Lee 4 Comments

Wanting a house full of children myself, I was eager to read Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank B. Gilbreth and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey. Since this novel was based on real-life, I knew it would be a testament, good and bad, to what life was really like with a full household. It did not fail.
The Gilbreth’s were the epitome of hands-on homeschooling parents, always learning while having fun too. Extremely efficient, they always utilized what they had -often writing on the walls, teaching all of the children everything from Morse code to astronomy. Mr. Gilbreth even had the children listening to French, German and Italian on victrola’s placed strategically through out the house. Now that’s learning by emersion!

Along with reading the novel, I also studied the Cheaper by the Dozen Study Guide by Kristina Campbell. The Study Guide breaks down each chapter of the novel and provides various thoughts to ponder, questions to discuss, and great hands-on project ideas. Each chapter lists various topics that cover every subject imaginable from geography and grammar to religion and cooking. There are even strategically placed links that accompany some of the projects, providing even more hands-on learning!

The Cheaper by the Dozen Study Guide by Kristina Campbell is a great companion for the novel. It’s a must-have for Unit Studies! I plan on using it this coming school year as a literature based unit study for my two children.

After reading the novel and the study guide, and even seeing the movie (which wasn’t as good as the novel) I still feel the same way about wanting a house full. My husband and I would love to test this theory, “Cheaper By The Dozen.” Then maybe we could say what Mr. Gilbreth used to say, “Hey! Do my Irishmen come cheaper by the dozen?”

Nikowa is a 2nd year homeschooling mom to two boys. (Ages 8 and 5) With her “learning never ends” philosophy, they have an eclectic year-round approach to learning. When she’s not teaching, she enjoys photography, organizing, cooking, reading, and knitting. She is a #1 LOST fan and watches UGA football too! (Go Dawgs!) You can visit Nikowa at Knowledge House Academy.

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June 28, 2008 By Jennifer Leave a Comment

We Were There with the Pony Express by William O. Steele

I love historical fiction. Teaching history in the form of a story is so much more engaging than through reciting dry facts found in a textbook. The cultural details, events, characters, and yes – even dates, are absorbed so much more readily when presented in story. I am delighted to have been offered the chance to review We Were There with the Pony Express. Originally printed in 1956, American Home School Publishing has recently republished this title by the prolific (39 books), award-winning author William O. Steele.

I rapidly found myself immersed in the remote areas of the American West during the early 1860′s during the operation of the Pony Express. The 18-month operating period of the Pony Express is shown to us through the story of adolescent siblings, Mark and Rose Claggett. They travel to a “swing station” that their father is operating, and assist him in the running of it.

Engagingly written, this story begs to be read quickly as it rapidly moves from scene to scene while leaving readers wondering what will happen next. Combining the elements of Wild West frontier life, adventure and mystery, I’m confident that this book is a wonderful choice for the young men in your home. Our girls will enjoy it at an older age as well, as the feel is reminiscent of Brighty of the Grand Canyon by Marguerite Henry, a family favourite here. The publishers recommended reading age is 8 – 14, though older readers will benefit from this title if they are interested in exploring the Pony Express and Western settlement period just prior to the Civil War.

Steele creates an authentic western feeling in this title without resorting to profane language or excessive bloodshed and violence. Clean living and speaking young men are honoured as heroes, and provided as role models. There is a scene involving an armed conflict (violent acts are portrayed as desirable), as well as some detailed mental imagery of violent events on Rose’s part that may disturb younger children. Native Americans are sometimes spoken of with derogative titles, which would have been common to this historical period. Native land rights are also dealt with in a historically accurate way that parents may wish to use to illustrate our current understanding of Native peoples and their rights.

All in all, an excellent resource to use as part of a unit study on a wide variety of topics – Western expansion, transportation, communication, Native American relations and conflicts during America’s settlement. Excellent supplemental reading as a living book in your history curriculum as well. I for one left this book with more knowledge about the establishment, purposes and operations of the Pony Express than I knew there was to know!

Jennifer Bogart is a born-again, conservative Christian, wife of 6 years, and mother of three (5 years, 2 years, and another due in 1 month). Living rurally in Alberta, Canada she uses her blog – http://www.quiverfullfamily.com/blog/ as a creative outlet for her book reviews, musings on homeschooling, homesteading and Christian family living.

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June 27, 2008 By The Amies 1 Comment

Welcome to the Heart of the Matter Online meme. Every Friday we will feature a different topic for our meme. Today we are going to do something a bit different for our meme. Today it is YOUR chance to ask US questions. Yep, any of us. Is there something you’ve always wanted to know about the Amies? Are you curious about one of our writers? Do you have a general question that you would like ANYONE to answer? We love getting emails and comments from all of you and love answering all your questions, so please ask away here on this post– in the comments section.

Also, would you please take a second to vote in the poll below and tell us what you would like to see more of here at HOTM. Please select the top 3 posting topics that you would be interested in reading about.

The schedule for the theme of the homeschool meme is located in the right column under “Blog With Us”. Please check it out to view upcoming themes

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June 26, 2008 By AmyStults 8 Comments

*Please note I refer to all children as “he” in this article.

My stat counter tells me the Google searches that bring readers to my personal blog. By far the most searched topic is “only child.” I posted only once about my son being an only child, yet this post brings at least 2 dozen people a day to my blog. The Google searches range from “homeschooling an only child” to “will my only child be spoiled?” to “struggling with only child decision” to “Christian only child.” I never realized that there are so many women out there agonizing over whether or not it is appropriate to have an only child. Yes, as a matter of fact someone Googled “is it appropriate to have an only child?”

In the late 1800’s a man named G. Stanley Hall, who is known as the founder of child psychology, said being an only child is “a disease in itself.” What a horrible thing to say. It breaks my heart to hear that there are still people today who treat only children like they will grow up diseased. No child, and no family, is free of nuisances and shortcomings. But automatically labeling an only child as spoiled and unhealthy is unprincipled.

There are hundreds of research studies that prove that, in the greater scheme of life, single children are no different from children that have siblings. There are some stubborn, spoiled, and needy children in all families, large and small. Homeschooling the only child, however, is different. In many ways, it is easier. But in some ways, educating only one child is very difficult. It can be a double-edged sword.

In my opinion, one of the most important first steps a homeschooling mom of an only child must take is accepting that she will be judged no matter what. It is very unfortunate, but the mother of an only child, who homeschools, might just end up a double target for ridicule. She must learn to not take it personally and she must develop her own coping skills. Just last week at the grocery store, a cashier asked my son what grade he would be going into. He shrugged and said, “I don’t know, I am homeschooled.” The cashier then told my son, “I used to love starting school in the fall and meeting my new teacher. I am sorry you will have to miss that. At least you can be with your brothers and sisters at home all day.” My sweet little 6 year old looked at her with serious eyes and declared, “I don’t have any.” She then had the audacity to tell him, “You should really go to school then, you would have so much fun.” It stung me to the core, and I bit my tongue, refusing to let this person’s closed mindedness affect me.

A second very important step is to find a balance between being a playmate and a parent. Finding this balance is tricky. Parents of only children are sometimes tempted to give too much personal time and attention to their child in an attempt to make up for the lack of playmates. By giving my child around-the-clock attention, I run the risk of smothering him or maybe worse, turning him child into a co-dependant. People say that one of the benefits of being an only is that you don’t have to compete for your parents’ attention. However, this can be a double edged sword. Our children need to learn that while we will be there to nurture them and facilitate their learning, the world does not revolve around them. Don’t automatically rush to him when he wants your attention. This will cause him to become overindulged. It also equally tempting, as is the case with all children, to spoil your child with too many material possessions. Again, no parent wants an overindulged child. Resist the urge to buy your child toy after toy assuming these toys will keep him entertained.

More than toys, what your only child needs is projects. The key is to keep your child challenged. One way you can achieve this is to give him exciting short and long term projects, and teach him the skills of independent learning. This is when the homeschooling lifestyle really makes a difference because research shows that homeschooling parents are far more in tune with their child’s personality and interests. You should strive to provide your child projects or unit studies to hold his interest, spark his creativity, and encourage his passions. A bored child is a lonely child.

Please realize that your child is not going to end up a social misfit. With a devoted parent, children can and will learn social skills without siblings or classmates. You will have to learn to ignore the nay-sayers who are not only against homeschooling, but who try to make you feel like a less-than-adequate parent for having an only child. A child can learn how to share and take turns by playing with an adult just as easily as he can by playing with another child. A child can learn “socialization” through everyday family life.

Yes, that dreaded “S” word, but it is still important that a child has some playmates. Playdates and co-ops combat loneliness, but more importantly they show a child that God created everyone to be different. Healthy socialization allows children to interact with different cultures, ages, genders, races, and socioeconomic classes.

There are dozens upon dozens of places you can take your child. For starters, there are church youth programs, local park and recreation programs, scouts such as Boy/Girl Scouts or Campfire Scouts, homeschool co-op classes, library programs, 4-H clubs, local sports teams. You can organize field trips, game nights, and park days for your child. If you need help finding activities, let me know and I would be glad to help you! A potential best friend for your child could be right around the corner.

A point I would love to stress is…please don’t ever ask your child if he is lonely or bored. If he is lonely, you will be able to tell. He will be combative, lethargic, and whiney. Instead, ask him, “What would you like to do today?” If he says he’d like to play with friends, or another activity that specifically involves other kids his age, then you’ll know he is lonely and is in need of a special get-together with his friends. If he gives you another activity that does not involve other children, you will know he is simply bored.

Homeschooling is hard work, for large families and for parents of onlies. But it is so worth it, don’t you agree? Find a balance, but most importantly, savor these precious years with your child.

Amy is a devoted wife, Classical homeschooling mom to a six-year-old Superhero and the co-founder of Heart of the Matter. She has a passion for genealogy and is aspiring to be a Proverbs 31 lady. Be sure to visit her blog at Milk and Cookies.

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June 26, 2008 By The Amies 1 Comment

Kelli Crowe is a homeschooling mom of 3 boys and a professional scrapbooker and designer. She has been featured on Scrap In Style TV, designed her own line of paper, and has been showcased in numerous magazines and books. Kelli can be found at her personal blog. Come and “meet” Kelli at the Heart of the Matter Online Conference. She will be teaching on how to Scrapbook Your Homeschool Life.

You’re talking about “Scrapbooking Your Homeschool Life”. How many scrapbooks have you created over the years?
I have created approximately 30 scrapbooks over the years. It sounds like a lot. But really, I am pretty slow. I make about 5-7 pages a month.

Do you have an online gallery where we can see some of your layouts?
My personal gallery at twopeasinabucket.com:
http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/pg.asp?cmd=user&user_id=160429

My Garden Girl Gallery (where I showcase newer product for the website to help sell it)
http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/pg.asp?cmd=user&user_id=160429

You’ve been showcased in numerous magazines,books and have even been on TV. Is it weird for you at all?
It is totally weird. In the Chuck E. Cheese bathroom, as I wiped spilled orange soda off of one of my boys, a woman asked, “Are you Kelli Crowe?” I wanted to say…”Um, how much have you seen? Maybe.” O.k, that is actually a pretty rare thing. But the opportunities people have given me in scrapbooking have really challenged and inspired me.

Oh, and it was a webisode…not real TV:)

You’re outnumbered with 3 boys! How do you keep them entertained?
Legos, light sabers and a trampoline. The homeschooling lifestyle has really trained them to entertain themselves. They know that as soon as someone tells Mommy they are bored, she just might make them clean the floor or watch her tap dance.

What made you decide to come out with your own line of paper for scrapbooking?
I was asked to design some papers for ScrapinStyleTV.com. I gave them my ideas and they really did all the work. It was a really exciting experience. I am very grateful the site to for giving me the opportunity.

Along with scrapbooking comes the love of photography. What type of camera do you have?
Let me check….Honey, what kind of camera do I have? He said it is a Canon Rebel with a 24070mm zoom lens. He is the expert. I can tell you the strap is black. The lens looks like an impressive zoom lens but it is really a high quality all round lens. I am slowly learning more and more. I just take lots of pictures and end up with ones I love. A lot = 200 of the kids playing in the sprinkler.

What’s your homeschooling style?
I have gone from a very structured and action packed schedule to a more laid back, year around approach. I call it “classical light.” Our focus is on the humanities: literature, religion and history. We have a great deal of free time and specialized electives to allow the boys a chance to really explore their interests and talents. We approach math and science in a practical, life skill way. I am really having a great time relearning and learning for the first time so many things with my boys.

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June 25, 2008 By Andrea 17 Comments

This is my reality show…. Welcome!

For 2 years now, my husband has been saying that I need to homeschool. Now I feel it is important to note that he likes to blurt things out before he really thinks about them. I mean, he is a loud little Italian man. I on the other hand will analyze from all angles and then by the time I make a move the idea is usually out of style.

My husband says that berfore we got married he told God that he wanted a wife that would stay home and take care of his family. I told him that if that was the case then we have both been deceived because I told God I wanted to be succesful and productive (yeah, you know where this is going). So anyway, I am going to homeschool and this is further proof that God does have a sense of humor! Can you tell that I just wasn’t that into the homeschooling idea?

Really, all I know is corporate America. You know, the he said, she said grapevines of loveliness? If you have no clue what I am talking about, you are blessed! Corporate America is a reality show nightmare. You will not see that show being broadcast anywhere but live. Thankfully, at the end of July this year my show will be canceled and I can start a new one at home.

Needless to say the tables have turned and I have been nudged by a higher power (read: God) into homeschooling and my husband is now freaking out. Home Depot, Lowe’s, Harbor Freight, Wal-Mart, pounds of M&M’s, McDonald’s, 4-wheeler’s and many other amenities will soon be just a distant memory with our decrease in income. (Can you see me smirking?). This is going to be fun!

Here is the top 10 things new homeschoolers (or me anyway) want to know from you. I am going to ask because I would like to know and because no one else will dare to ask you. I have searched the internet but cannot find real logical answers from real seasoned homeschooling parents. So here it is:

10. So, I have purchased the whole curriculum that some experienced homeschooler has recommended. It looks awesome on my new homeschooling cabinet tucked away all neat and pretty….. Now what?

9. I like to have things planned out, but I have never been home for lunch. I think the kids will want to eat during the day. What do I do? GIVE ME YOUR WEEKLY MENU’S; I WANT BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER! ASAP!

8. Construction paper is evil, are there any acid free, cost efficient alternatives? Is colored paper necessary for preschool and 1st grade?

7. Thank God for glue sticks! Does liquid glue have any educational value that my kids will miss out on if I banish it? All they want to do is make a mess then eat it. Liquid glue has no nutritional value, does it?

6. What do I do when my husband is red with jealousy? (“You spend all day with them”, “When I call, you need to answer” “Where is my tissue paper butterfly”) Remember: I am married to a loud little Italian man.

5. How do I wear out the princess before she can wear me out?

4. Will wearing uniforms help create structure or routine? We already have them and it seems logical. By the way, how do you get dry erase marker out of uniforms? Yeah, too late, I already washed it!

3. How do you get dad involved without it seeming like a chore? (Nevermind, I can sit him down and let him make his own tissue paper butterfly!).

2. What do you do when the super hero turns evil on the fairy princess? They don’t cover this in our bible curriculum.

1. I think I have lost my mind, have you seen it? Please tell me it isn’t June already!

Andrea is a laid back gal from the south who has been married to a loud little Italian man named Darin for 7 years. They have two kids: one thinks he is a professional wrestler and the other thinks she is a professional princess (yes she wants to be paid to be bossy and prissy.) She has recently given up the corporate world to step into a land of kisses and learning. You can visit her at her blog: The Honest Woman. Help!

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