Andrea | Heart of the Matter

February 18, 2009 By Andrea 7 Comments

Recently, because we took the puppy along with us, the kids and I stayed behind in the car while daddy went in to purchase some items at an electronics store. You know he was gone for a while, don’t you? Gabriela was upset (appalled) that she had to sit in the car while her daddy went shopping. After just a few minutes she announced that daddy was obviously lost in the big store. I assured her that he was not lost and that he was simply on a mission. She says “No! Daddy is LOST in that big store and now we are going to have to buy a new daddy”.

Buy a new daddy? Hmmm… if it was only that simple. I guess anything that allows her to shop is okay in her mind!

I realized boredom was fast approaching and decided to act quickly by pulling out our travel bag.

What do you take along to keep kids occupied?

There are quite a few things that I have in ours to keep the kids happy and occupied during long rides in the car. It really is a sanity saver. It consists of:

2 bottles of water, 3-4 plastic cups and a few lemonade individual drink mixes (w/grip clip for sealing). The water can get a boost of flavor from just a bit of the individual drink mixes. I also like that I control their sugar intake with these packets. When the kids are done I just rinse with a bit more water and put them away. I wash them and return them to the bag when we get home.
Non sugary snacks. The last thing you want on a road trip is a wired kid. Or worse, one who is crashing from a sugar high! Stay away from sugary snacks. Pack cheerios, animal crackers, goldfish snacks, pretzels and/or popcorn for older kids. Staying away from the sugary treats also decreases clean up time since it won’t stick.
All natural baby wipes. These come in handy for quick clean up and the all natural ones won’t dry out skin like the others will.
Small first aid kit. You just never know when you will need it.
Fun tray. The fun tray is an inexpensive metal cookie sheet that serves as a desk or tray for the child. Use it for lunch on the go and they are easy to clean. The kids can also use it with magnetic alphabets and numbers for a fun and educational adventure!
Fun bag. This bag can include pipe cleaners, colored pencils, notebook, Legos or any other constructive form of entertainment. Using these materials, kids can create anything from castles and swords to zoos and necklaces! We prefer colored pencils over crayons since they don’t leave marks on windows or upholstery and they won’t melt if they are accidentally left in the car.
Audio Books. These are a real treat for kids to listen to while in the car and you can check them out for free at your local library!
Classical music. There is just something about it that can absolutely bring peace to an anxious child. It may even put them to sleep for a while!
Educational goodies. We also take along things that will help to educate the kids. Blank maps of the US can be used for a game of license place geography. Simply have the kids race to color in the states as they are spotted on license plates.
Shopping bags. These are a must for trash and dirty clothes items.

Well that is the contents of our kid’s travel bag. I’m quite sure there are many more things that you can take along to keep kids occupied while traveling. What do you suggest to include in a travel bag?

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!

January 20, 2009 By Andrea 2 Comments

This is the stuff no-one teaches you or warns you about!

I always wanted a son and a daughter, in that order. Turns out that is exactly what my husband had in mind also. Three years after marriage we had just that. God has a sense of humor.

The problem is that no one warned me about the crazy things that would happen. Although I often watched other people’s children before I was married it did not prepare me for having my own. Maybe I ignored or laughed off the obvious or maybe the craziness only happened behind closed doors. Who knows? Well, I know a great deal more now. I just wished someone would have prepared me! College certainly doesn’t let you in on these life lessons, these basic fundamentals of parenthood. Yes, even my Early Childhood Education classes only skimmed the surface of child psychology. It seems my children are better at guiding me to get the outcome they want instead of the opposite. How can this be? pic-1

Let me start with my 6 year old son. He is insecure at times but as soon as he gets to know you, watch out! He is a very loving little boy and he has a heart to please others. Lately he has had this attachment thing. Keep in mind that for at least the last 2 years he has slept quite well in his big comfy bed (by himself) with no problems.

But recently I have discovered a good bit of this going on:

pic-2

As for my daughter, my budding little artist decided to use her face as a canvas! I could not do anything. Yes, it is quite funny and she was very proud of “making up” herself. So how do you explain to a 4 year old that she should not play in adult makeup and she should not be proud of this?

Well, I stood her on the counter and let her look in the mirror thinking she would see how bad of a job she did on herself. Do you think that worked? No, she was so excited. She said, “Oh, I look like Jeff Hardy!” (One of the Smack Down Wrestlers).

On to Plan B: scrub it off and lecture. Hopefully this will not happen again or she will at least do a better job next time. My makeup was all nice and neat when I found it so she tried to cover her tracks. I have not opened it yet so I am sure that I will discover damage later. I simply couldn’t take any more at that point.

It really is a good thing we are home because they don’t teach you through this stuff in school! Only through the grace of God can it be taught to our children.

Here is a close up, go ahead laugh!

pic-4

I have discovered through all of these events that I’m excited and happy to be home with them and to be able to guide them through their life. Before, when I was in the corporate world, someone else was experiencing all of this with them. Someone else was guiding them. Even with all the mishaps, I am thankful God made me one of their most significant teachers.

November 24, 2008 By Andrea 2 Comments

What has the gaming industry done to my child’s education?

My six-year-old is working learning to spell correctly using Sequential Spelling. Last week we were working on words that contain double E’s. He was doing great until we arrived at the word “wee”. The sentence was “The wee little lad has an eye for wee little lasses”. I instructed him to write the word “wee”. He caught me off guard and said, “Oh, I know, I know, I know this one!” Seeing him all excited got me all excited, this is not a common word that is used every day -or year for that matter- so the fact that he knew it was wonderful.

“OK, write it,” I said

You know where this is going don’t you?

He wrote “Wii”. Just. Like. That.

Yes, that is what he wrote. I had to break his little heart but I did it by the book. I wrote the correct spelling on the dry erase board, “wee”. He was so confused after that but what do you tell a six year old? At least he pays attention to something. I was proud and at the same time a bit let down. So, then he says, “How many ways can you spell one word?”

I stood silent and closed the book. After my short pause I said, “Well that is it for today.” I didn’t have the heart to tell him that the English language is so complex and that some words that sound alike but have different meanings can be spelled in a few different ways! For now we will work by the book, because that is the only answers I have.

I guess that I have the gaming industry to thank and LeapFrog has created the “Didj”, a must have for any elementary age child. This is a customizable learning system and I like that. What is with all the crazy spelling? Have you encountered any such madness?

November 10, 2008 By Andrea 8 Comments

For use in parking lots, the Parking Pal™ magnetic hand is designed to help busy parents keep their child out of harm’s way while tending to other tasks. Parking Pal magnets come in several kid-pleasing styles!

MISSION:

* Help reduce injuries to children in parking lots
* Heighten awareness of the dangers in parking lots.

WHY IS IT NEEDED:
Parents, grandparents, day-care providers, aunts, uncles, friends, or whoever is caring for a child can be easily distracted in parking lots. Loading or unloading packages, rifling for keys, tending to the baby, or helping elderly parents can take precious attention away from our children, leaving them vulnerable to a number of dangerous situations. Other drivers can’t see when they back up because the car next to them is too large or they’re distracted by their cell phones, or blind spots make it easy for them to overlook small children who may be behind them. And children, well, they don’t always do what they’re told or stay where they should. It only takes one second for tragedy to strike.

I have my Parking Pal on the driver’s side of my car. Now, since I have two young children and only one Parking Pal, I have them both get in and out on the same side so that they can share it. They actually compete over whose hand will be on the Parking Pal and this occupies them while I load the car or just need a minute to find my keys. I just say. “Put your hand on the hand” and they know exactly what to do. This Parking Pal is a really great idea and keeps them close to our car and away from other moving vehicles which was quite a chore before. The only down fall to the Parking Pal is the fact that it is a magnet and since my car has many bends I did not have many options as to where to put it and I have to remember to take it off when driving through the car wash. My children also like to spin it around which may not be good for the car. Vinyl is an option that I hope the company will consider in the future but all in all the Parking Pal has more than served its purpose in our family.

Review by: Andrea Orcino, Louisiana

Amy from Buffalo Wings is our Parking Pals winner- congrats!

We have 2 Parking Pals to give away to one random reader. To be entered, simply leave a comment telling us the ages of your children. Comments will be closed Friday, November 14th at 10pm EST and the winner will be announced on Sunday in our weekly newsletter. You can sign up by entering your email address over in the right sidebar. As always please make sure you leave your email address or that it is clearly listed on your profile or blog. If we can’t email you, you can’t win.

In addition, Parking Pal is hosting a fantastic $100 Toys-R-Us gift card giveaway over at their website. Hop on over for more information.

October 27, 2008 By Andrea 3 Comments

Homeschooling has been a little rocky considering we started during hurricane season and Gustav ran us down. Getting back into a routine, my first grader is now doing well with Saxon Math but refuses to read and learn new words. Since I am determined not to fail, I decided to take the advice of seasoned homeschoolers and find some reading material that he would be interested in reading.

I picked up a book on the free table at CO-OP. “25 Emergent Reader Mini-Books” and “Easy-to-Make Reproducible Books to Promote Literacy by Maria Fleming (Fleming, 1997). These were great. Did I mention it was free and for grades K-1^stgrade?

I also found some suggested reading list links: Reading Rockets.

This is a list of recommended books for 3-6 year olds and is part of “The Big Summer Read” through reading rockets (Reading Rockets, 2008). Since my husband is a welder, this book caught my interest:
Metal Man By: Aaron Reynolds
Illustrated by: Paul Hoppe
Age Level: 3-6
Reading Level: Beginning Reader

During the hot summer, Devon likes to visit Mitch. Mitch is a man who makes sparks fly as he creates welded metal sculptures — and invites Mitch to make one with him. As the boy decides what to make, he begins to see things differently — because of “that fiery metal man.”

Reading Rockets, (2008)

This looked like the perfect book. It could create a bond between father and son, it was interesting to my child, and it had received rave reviews.. After all reading rockets is funded by the US Department of Education; therefore it should be educational. I was sold and since proceeds from the books purchased though Amazon.com support the project, I headed to Amazon, found a new book for less that $10 and ordered it.

It came in a few days later and I could not wait to read it… I mean, read it with Grant but I needed to look at it first, right? Well, it is a good thing I did.

The first line of the first page read precisely “Summer’s hangin’ on” (Reynolds 2008). It only “got” more intriguing from there; stickin’, cookin’, headin’, goin’, she don’t follow, ain’t, flyin’, grindy, whatcha, whaddya, he don’t stop. There are many more but you get the idea. I was mortified. My child is a beginning reader and this could definitely throw all of his new found skills out of the window, not to mention confuse him.

Don’t get me wrong, this is a great story, awesome in fact, of a welder who helps a little boys’ imagined creation come to life…out of old junk. This could get my child interested in reading. The illustrations are wonderful too, but how could I let my child learn these ungrammatical words? I just don’t think he is old enough to understand the difference.

Dad came home and saw the book on the counter. He says, while grinning at me I might add, “what is this, a bonding book for me and my son?” I explained how unsure I was about it and he read through the book while he expressed that he didn’t think it was appropriate and he needed to show all his welder friends at work. Meanwhile, Grant has heard enough about it and now desperately wants to read the book so, the two of them retreat to the back to read it. I hoped that Daddy would explain that these words are not correct or at least try to read it using the correct grammar.

Grant was so excited about whatever happened that he came running to the shelf and retrieved all of the books for his age, because “he is six now and he needs to read these books”. Well Hallelujah! Something good has come from this. He has read every day from those 6 year old books, with no persuasion.

God must have planned that out because I could not have asked for a better conclusion.

Jeremiah 29:11: For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future and a hope.

This book was wonderful in spite of my preconceived notions and it did serve a purpose but I will be sure to investigate next time, Lord willing.

We also borrowed the Magic Tree House series from my sister. Those are still on the shelf. What is off the shelf and now being read is the Rocket Readers series of “you can read” bible stories. Not to be confused with the Reading Rockets Board of Education recommended reading list. We have every Rocket Reader series we could find at the Dollar Tree. Yes, that is 3-5 readers per series for $1.00 and all of the stories are Bible based too. This series also contains 5 different reading levels. I am a happy homeschooling mom now. Thank you, Metal Man.

In addition, just to get another reaction, I also showed Metal Man to our neighbor, an elementary public school teacher. She said that it is a dialogue book and should be read as such. It is just meant to be fun and enjoyed. She said it would be same as reading a Cajun book or the Hawaiian Bible (aka Da Jesus Book) for that matter. For the record, I do not let my child read the LSU cajun kids books either. Somehow spelling go as “geaux” and the over use of the word cher (“cher,” a short form of “cherie”, and pronounced “sha”) just aren’t what I imagined early readers would contain.

I do understand the point and this is a great story, but this was on a recommended reading list for 3-6 year olds. How is that justified? I am happy to keep the book for reference, the moral of the story, the illustrations and the idea of getting my son into the reading closet. Bless God! I have to ask though, have you ever had this type of experience with a recommended book? Am I being too cautious? Come on you experienced moms. Help me out!

References
Fleming, M. (1997). 25 emergent reader mini-books:easy-to-make reproducible books to promote literacy. Broadway, NY: Scholastic Inc.
Reading Rockets, (2008). The big summer read. Retrieved October 20, 2008, from Reading Rockets Web site: http://www.readingrockets.org/books/summer/2008/3-6
Reynolds, A. (2008). Metal man. Watertow, MA: Charlesbridge.

August 20, 2008 By Andrea 3 Comments

I have officially started my home school journey and have been shopping for a name and catch phrase for our homeschool and homeschool blog. The blog I have yet to start.

…Because Sometimes We Feel Like the Leaning Tower of Pisa

Then I thought as I was writing this, “OOOH, that is so it!” “Scusa” (excuse me in Italian), I just realized that this title is my catch phrase. Since my husband’s father was Italian, thus our last name is Italian I started there. In my search for the foundation of Italy, I found the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Though I have always been curious, I now have time to investigate. Since I’m no longer a working woman and all.

You see, it was thought that the lean in the tower, made of marble, was the brilliant works of the architect. Turns out that the lean is do to a faulty foundation and soft soil. Over the 177 years it took to build the tower some corrective measures were taken to decrease the lean. Still today restoration is taking place. The tower could be fixed with the technology of today; however, the correction of the lean would take away its publicity and meaning.

God says we are made in his image. Though I feel like I have made leaning mistakes at times, God can build upon those mistakes. I must learn from them and not let them define my character but let God use them for his glory. The glory of the Leaning Tower of Pisa would not be known had it not been for its imperfection.

Now this lesson from a 3-year-old’s perspective:

We made our first lap book today. Tons of searching, printing, coloring, organizing, cutting, and gluing and oh! Well you see the 3 year old was adamant about cutting her “own” pages out. I tried to instruct her on what not to cut. She listened to my instruction on the 1st page but then on the second page I was like “WAIT, WAIT!” By the time she brought me the paper she had already cut it at the fold. I explained to her that she should have waited for my instructions and she had cut the book on the fold and it no longer make a book. I further explained that I had used a good bit of the morning preparing for this lap book and now she had messed it up.

She proceeded to explain to me that all I needed to do was take the papers and staple them together and glue the last page to the lap book. And, you can just flip the pictures up like this (as she begins to show me how it should be done). So at this point I am looking really dumbfounded so she says, “Want me to get the staple thing?”

“Yeah,” I told her, cause I could not think past the glue!

No mistake, just an opportunity to bring glory in a different way!

Oh, and the name of our home school is Buona Fede Academy. It means “good faith” in Italian! I feel all offical now!

July 23, 2008 By Andrea 5 Comments

I am walking in circles around the dining room but I am oblivious to the fact that I am doing it much less why. So I stop and begin to walk down the hall. It is like slow motion. I can hear Darin calling Gabriela and I can here Gabriela crying. I’m walking down the hall and I am thinking, “what has happened now, why is she crying?”

Through all the noise, what with all the crying Gabriela is doing and Darin yelling for her to come here, I can hear her sobbing “My cain’t. My cain’t”. I hear the panic in her little voice. Where is she? I follow the cry to her room and I turn and look. She is not on the bed and she is not on the chest of drawers. It sounds more like she is in the closet.Oh my word! Girlfriend is sitting on top of the containers in her closet. There is just enough room for her to sit and not hit the clothes rack. I asked her what she was doing and she sobs “I was just trying to get my pants”. I laughed (sorry but it was funny).

I was so into panic mode that I did not see her vanity chair next to the containers. To relieve the stress I had to call Darin to come see this to which he replies “do I want to?” He comes in anyway and asks her the same crazy question that I did to which she replies, through her cry, “I was trying to get my pants!” He walks out as he orders me to banish all the chairs from her throne room. Yeah, like she would find no other way to feed her fashion obsession. A girl has got to do what a girl has got to do!

I asked her to turn over on her belly and get down the way she got up. She did not comply, instead she is shaking her head and looking at me like there is no way. I asked her again and reassured her that I was here and would not let her fall. She cries and she starts onto her belly. Her toes are two inches away from the chair. Stretch I say to her, you can do it, you are almost there! I pull her leg so she can feel her little toes touch the chair. She is free. I grab her and hold her and tell her see that was not that bad as I move the chair back to her vanity. Darin was watching TV and had no idea how long she had been there. My poor baby. Why she had to have the pants that were hanging in the closet and could not grab something out of the mound of clothes she already had on the floor from playing dress up I’ll never know. The one thing left hanging in the closet was much easier to find, I guess.

The princess was spared from falling off her tower. And I forgot to get the camera.

So, why was I walking circles, did I sense what was about to happen? Was I praying?

Actually, I was and I did not even realize that I had escaped reality for the moment. I honestly had just remembered that my article was due and I had nothing yet. Stop laughing. I was actually just telling God that I was once again at a dead line and had nothing. God acted that fast. He’s good isn’t He?

The reality is that this is how I feel going into home schooling. This is my life now. I have gotten so far and the time is closer. I sit down to think on it and I start to panic. There is no turning back, I am going to fall flat on my face.

God is there to lift me up and encourage me (you can do it, I am here for you). I know the plans I have for you. (Jeremiah 29:11) Trust in me, I will direct your path. (Proverbs 3:6) He is so real and He is so on time. This is for us all. No matter where you are on your journey or what you are thinking. God is here and He is an on time God. Sit down and relax, walk circles, get spiritual, whatever it takes to let God reveal Himself in your time of need.

Thanks for all of your comments, words of wisdom, advice and prayers (someone has been praying). I feel so welcomed into this home school journey.

July 7, 2008 By Andrea Leave a Comment

Published on Heart of the Matter Online, June 25

This is my reality show…. Welcome!

For two years, 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 before we got married he told God that he wanted a wife who 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 successful 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-wheelers 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 are 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 in 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 MENUS. 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? (Never mind, 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!

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?

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!

May 20, 2008 By Andrea 6 Comments

Please welcome guest contributor Andrea to Heart of the Matter! We are sure you will all be blessed as she reminds us of the importance of taking care of ourselves! Thank you Andrea.

There is an old phrase called ‘Mother Culture’ used by homeschoolers who follow a Charlotte Mason approach to education. I ran a google search on the Ambleside Online site and was surprised to find that Charlotte Mason herself did not use the term, it appeared only in a parent’s review article.

Is there not some need for “mother culture”? …Then she can listen to her children, and perhaps do a little thinking–not about frocks and foods, but about characters, and how to deal with them; or she can take a book, and “grow” that way.
From a Parent’s Review article, 1892-93

The term irks me somewhat. It conjures up meanings in my mind that are completely contrary to what is intended by the phrase. Each time I hear the term ‘mother culture’ I cannot help but think of the ‘mommy eating bonbons and watching soap operas’ stereotype, the mommy wars between the stay at home and working mothers, the mommies carting their children to preschool dance classes and infant swim lessons. I think of what the concept of ‘mother’ is in our current culture. Instead, ‘Mother culture’ is actually meant to convey the idea that mothers should take some time out of ‘mothering’ to read books, go for walks, explore their own interests.

So, when I hear the term ‘mother culture’ I mentally substitute ‘professional development’, which might not accurately represent the concept either. As a teacher, whether it is of my own children or of other people’s children, I am a professional. It took awhile to get out of the ‘I’m just a housewife’ mind set, but it was very helpful once I did.

The wisest woman I ever knew–the best wife, the best mother, the best mistress, the best friend–told me once, when I asked her how, with her weak health and many calls upon her time, she managed to read so much, “I always keep three books going–a stiff book, a moderately easy book, and a novel, and I always take up the one I feel fit for.

Taken from the same article as the above passage.

Last summer I picked up a copy of a book called ‘The Well-Educated Mind’. It is a reading guide to the great books of classic literature for adults. I started at the beginning of her list with Don Quixote. It took me almost 4 months to finish that book. I soon saw the wisdom in having several books on the go.

I’m now working my way through Jane Eyre (I skipped a few books in between). It is challenging to find time in the day to read the classics. I had grabbed a moment on the weekend when the boys were visiting their grandparents. The house was calm and quiet, except for the Chickadee, who would appear halfway through each paragraph with her loud and demanding requests, “Want cereal!“, “Diaper!”, “Outside!”, “Stroller!”, “Want cereal!”. I finally relented by handing her a mostly empty container of Rice Krispies.

I returned to my novel, snuggled a little deeper into the couch, and managed to read a good section of the book, uninterrupted at last. Every now and then I would sneak a glance at the Chickadee. She was contentedly shoveling Rice Krispie dust into her mouth, most of which was making a sizeable mess on the carpet. Her little arm would reach down into the depths of the container as she tried to extract every last bit of crunchy goodness.

When she had finished, most of my living room carpet was covered with a fine layer of Rice Krispie powder. However, I did find out whether or not Jane married Mr. Rochester in the end.

Andrea is mom to 3 young children, ages 5, 3 and 18 months. They began homeschooling a year ago when they took their oldest son out of Junior Kindergarten. Before embarking on her adventures in motherhood, Andrea was a public school teacher and a park naturalist. The family resides in beautiful Canada. Visit Andrea and her beautiful children at Kids and Nature.

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