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With Arms Wide Open

August 25, 2010 By LeslieT 7 Comments

Life consists of mixed emotions and subtle ironies. We’re overwhelmed with emotion on the day we’re married, received that new job, or looked into the bright future of life filled with wonderful children, a great place to live, or our dream car. Then comes the day to day grind we must face; the disagreements, unmet expectations, disgruntled co-workers, car repair bills, or back-talking offspring. Where’s the joy then? Can we find it, or is it hidden too deeply?

Take a look at this excerpt from a book my husband brought home the other day by Stephen C. Lundin. The book is titled, Fish Tales – Bite-sized Stories – Unlimited Possibilities

“We recently read about a little boy with a rare digestive disorder. He spent much of his time in the hospital, with needles in his arms. When a doctor or nurse approached him, he knew it was because they were probably going to have to put another needle in his arm. But instead of crying, he smiled and held out his arms for them.

Life can sometimes be painful when you greet it with arms extended. But there is no other way to fully embrace life.”

When he first read this to me, I thought it was a cute story. I could even find a few examples of how I could apply the principle to circumstances I had recently experienced. We talked about how we want to teach our four young children this principle and be prepared to face not only the joys of life but the struggles and disappointments – starting with their every day dealings with one another. Teaching others is fairly easy to do because you don’t have to get too dirty.

Over the next few weeks, however, this thing was ever present before me.

As I faced my daily responsibilities, I would remind myself that I enjoy this family of mine. Each small source of irritation would present itself in much larger magnification that it was in reality and I’d have to slap myself and say “with arms wide open,” …. smile, …. embrace it.

Entering my 7th week of pregnancy, two and a half months after miscarrying I had an ultrasound. After being told my baby’s heartbeat was much lower than normal, and the measurement was below the presumed gestational age, I had to tell myself, “with arms wide open,” …. smile, …. embrace it.

Nearing summer’s end (ending way too soon), and staring at the books I’ve purchased, wondering how to put some type of plan into place to pull this all together and teach my children successfully, I’d sometimes think about how incredibly hard this job really is. My toddler poops again and it’s the kind that puts a grown person to shame and I want to scream. But the Lord reminds me, “with arms wide open,” …. smile, …. embrace it.

It’s now the beginning of my 8th week of pregnancy and every morning I wake up waiting for nausea, hoping for morning sickness, praying to feel the worst pregnancy symptoms ever because I know that’s a signal of hope. It’s a sign that something is being stirred up with in. It’s not being stirred up for futility, but it’s for a purpose. There’s life destined to be birthed. So any day I felt these symptoms, “with arms wide open,” ….I smiled, …. I embraced it. I actually hoped for that same struggle the next day.

Even today, after having confirmed that our 6th baby’s heartbeat had stopped, the principle has not changed. I’ve repeated to others many times before and I hate sometimes, when I have to take this advice myself — the Lord’s principles remain unchanged. I can’t apply it to one circumstance and not another. God’s says in his word that “weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). The Word also says, “for the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross.” (Hebrews 12:2) So today, Lord, I set that same joy before me.

I will arise and eat bread. “I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” (II Samuel 12:18-23)

I love you, Lord. I know you planned and fashioned our family well before I met any of these people living in this house with me. :) Well before you placed me in my own mother’s womb. So again, I say that I love you. I thank you. I will “Be Still and Know That You Are God”.

And “with arms wide open,” ….I will smile, …. I will embrace it.

Leslie Thompson and her husband Jeoff began educating their children at home almost three years ago. They have a passion for sharing Christ’s love in marriages and helping point husbands and wives (including themselves) back to Christ when resolving conflicts. Leslie is Director of a Classical Conversations Community, in which their two oldest children are enrolled. Their two youngest children, ages 3 and 1, provide a much needed element of joy throughout the family’s school day.

Give ‘em More Busy Work!

July 15, 2010 By LeslieT 4 Comments

I’m sure you’ve heard people either warn you or complain to you about a teacher who merely filled the hands of students in their classroom, with dreaded BUSY WORK. I’ve heard the same, and having been a classroom teacher in the past, I recall fighting the temptation of doing the same. Now, as a home educator, I am rethinking my definition of busy work and have come to the conclusion that, given in the right context, busy work is not all that bad.

Why Busy Work?

1. Older children love to be engaged in projects and they enjoy seeing them through from start to finish.

In our home I’ve observed a big difference between afternoons when my children are given a massive amount of unstructured free time, and those when I purposefully give them projects to complete. There’s a span of time in the afternoon when reading is not an option because there are some additional jitters that need to be worked out through some amount of physical activity. That’s when I turn to this productive, busy work. I’m not speaking of their normal school assignments, I’m honestly speaking of work I give them to fill the time — a block of time between snack time and dinner time; between lunch and recess, etc. My eight year old daughter especially loves projects that allow her to solve a problem, or make a plan, so I may give her a calendar for the next couple of weeks and have her fill in the events and tasks we have to complete. Or I may give her a blank menu, and have survey her siblings and enter their desired meals for the coming week. My six year old son, on the other hand, LOVEs to complete workbook pages. He even takes them to bed with him at night. So in the afternoon, instead of spending 30 minutes on an electronic game, I give him a Summer Express workbook or other worksheet, in step with his current learning goals. He absolutely enhales them and can’t wait to show Mom and Dad what he has completed.

2. Little busy hands stay out of trouble.

Pre-schoolers and toddlers will find a way to do something either constructive, or destructive with their time. Instead of going on about my afternoon chores, with no forethought of what my four and two year olds will do with their hands, I will often give them projects as well. Their projects may consist of “organizing” the belongings of their pretend animals and families in the play room; putting the silverware and plastic dishes away; assisting Mom with transporting dirty clothes from the hampers to the laundry room; replenishing the toilet paper in the bathrooms, or folding towels. Many times, this relieves me from the frustration of making unwanted, discoveries of crayon-marked walls or tissue-filled toilets.

Store time has also been a fun time to assign busy work to the “littles.” I’ll have them carry the small baskets and help place items inside. Talking to them about the next item we’re looking for and asking them questions, is also a great way to keep their minds from wandering off into the worlds of boredom, tiredness, squirminess, and screamville!

Have you had times where you’ve resorted to busywork which was not-so-productive? Do you have suggestions of great projects to busy your children’s hands throughout the day or when you’re out and about? Please share!

Leslie Thompson and her husband Jeoff began educating their children at home almost three years ago. They have a passion for sharing Christ’s love in marriages and helping point husbands and wives (including themselves) back to Christ when resolving conflicts. Leslie is Director of a Classical Conversations Community, in which their two oldest children are enrolled. Their two youngest children, ages 3 and 1, provide a much needed element of joy throughout the family’s school day.

Ready – Set – Go

March 17, 2010 By LeslieT 8 Comments

Some friends of mine and I were planning a weekend trip, to attend a MomHeart Conference and as we shared our anticipation over the days and weeks leading up to the trip it was clear that this was something that all of us needed and absolutely could not wait to do. I remember sending a Facebook update to one friend letter her know that I was Ready, but not at all set! We made it there, having packed two hours before I walked out the door (I dropped the kids off with my friend/babysitter, then came back home to pack!)

Throughout the conference weekend, and since then, that phrase, Ready-Set-Go, has been in my mind. I’ve thought about how ready I was to get started in our home school journey and how ready I am each week to see my children learn a new concept, or watch them enjoy the beauty of God’s world, and share some great insight with them. But before I can go with the confidence that we’ll achieve my desired outcome, I have to be set.

I’m interested to know what other moms do each day or each week to set-up and prepare for school. Would you share your tips here?

Our home school consists of a second grader, kindergartner, and two younger siblings, soon to be ages four and two. On a weekly basis, my plans have to cover a wide array of skill and conversations levels. I go from Saxon Math to phonics to letter formation, then to matching colors and shapes.

Below you will find some of the items that have helped me in recent months, when I have them set and available for the week. Regardless of how far off schedule I become, because of life’s challenges and surprises, if I have these things set, I can go to them, and not be stuck without a plan.

1. Games and More Games
We love playing games together and I like finding games that will teach or reinforce a skill for each child’s level of knowledge. I don’t have to worry about whether the game is “beyond” one of the older children because my older ones enjoy having the opportunity to teach their younger siblings, and sometimes even let them win. Some of the games we play are Knock Out, Muggins Math, Math Dice, Puzzles for skills such as compound words and rhyming, Memory Game boards by Melissa & Doug (the ones with the flip over wooden blocks so we don’t have to keep up with pieces), and Bingo Games for learning Place Value, Counting Money, etc.

Often, I try to mix up the day and do an hour or so of “writing/reading work” then an hour or so of games, then we move to chores and snack, and back to “writing/reading work”.

2. Self-teaching Materials
An article by Kim Brenneman, from Large Family Logistics, helped me to understand and appreciate having self-teaching materials in our curriculum. Since then I’ve began building into our curriculum, materials such as Saxon Math, historical fiction, and other living books for our children to read throughout the day. The Saxon Math is the only one so far, in which there are specific written assignments given as my 2nd grader reads. The others are for filling her brain with knowledge that she will have stored there for many years to come.

3. Dirty Dishes
Recently, my soon-to-be four year old daughter has been very jealous for my time. She’s gone from nagging her brother and sister and wanting to be involved in everything they do, to following me, asking me what I’m doing, and volunteering to mop and do dishes. I’ve found that instead of busying her with other tasks, away from me, I can involve her in what I’m doing. It has become a very special bonding time. I get to hear even more of her especially cute sentences, answer her questions, and teach her some very important household skills. I had found that there were times I’d have to remind myself to pour some hear time into her but now, there’s no reminder needed. She’s right there with me and I’m so enjoying it. Dirty dishes, here we come! It’s a Mommy and Me party.

4. CC Memory Work Resources
Our children are enrolled in Classical Conversations this year and this has been a tremendous help in our schedule. It fits perfectly with our goals of educating them classically, preparing them with the tools to learn any subject, and equipping them with a Biblical world view. I keep the CC memory work flash cards and maps on hand and use them as a go-to, when I need to fill in time throughout the day, when we haven’t already covered it. The children are motivated to quiz each other on the material because Mom and Dad have a special reward for them if they’ve mastered it all by the end of the year!

5. Books and Comfy Seating
Another must-have component, is a stack of great books and a comfy couch. A set of lounge chairs, recliners, beanbags, blankets or Mommy’s bed will do too. It is here, that I can accomplish lessons on discipline, phonics, language arts and more! It’s also a grea time to practice couch time or blanket time, as suggested by Kendra Fletcher of Preschoolers and Peace. We’ll either have a snack or do with out, but as I read or one of the older kids read, the younger kids are having a wonderful time listening to the story. They are also enjoying this time of cuddling with their family and receiving special attention (especially when they are allowed to choose which book we’ll read…we do that most often). As I was reading a story to them a few weeks ago, the thought occurred to me that we had not yet covered our pages from First Language Lessons. It was neat that I was able to point out the parts of speech and punctuation from the sentences in the story and teach the lesson as I read. Everyone learned about personal pronouns and capitalization that day!

After such an activity, it’s easy to incorporate writing practice by having the older children copy sentences from the story, while the younger children get cleaned up from snack time and get ready for nap.

6. An Abundance of Creative Arts Materials
Arts and Crafts is number 6 on Harvey & Laurie Bluedorn’s list of Ten Things to Do with Your Child Before Age Ten. In our home, Arts and Crafts consists mostly of modeling clay and music. I’ve chosen those because they are areas where our eight and six year old have shown particular interest and skill. We also include paper, crayons, glue, and other materials which they can use to make creations. Among their choices from time to time, I also see chairs, blankets and sheets to make caves, tents and other structures to house them and their pretend friends.

The point is, to have things available to the children throughout the day, so that when they are bored and looking for an activity, the television, computer game, or other electronic media is not screaming for their attention. I’m so pleased when we go days and days without television and the children have come up with the most wonderful creations and songs mastered.

My job is to be set each week, and reset each day, because it’s no doubt the children will be ready to go each day. I’m learning that the more simple I can make the preparations, the more peaceful I am throughout the day. The more I am able to live a life of joy before them, modeling for them the joy of the Lord.

Share Your Advice!
I admit, I could use advice for these from time to time. Surprise! Things do not always run perfectly. Feel free to share additional tips that could help other moms in our shoes. One suggestion I think we could all use is, how do you involve all the kids, or steer the younger ones away, when the games include itsy bitsy pieces or matching cards that when lost in the couch cushions or in the bottom of the closet, can ruin the whole point of the game!

Leslie and her husband Jeoff began educating their children at home almost three years ago. They have a passion for sharing Christ’s love in marriages and helping point husbands and wives (including themselves) back to Christ when resolving conflicts. Leslie is Director of a Classical Conversations Community, in which their two oldest children are enrolled. Their two youngest children, ages 3 and 1, provide a much needed element of joy throughout the family’s school day.