Mandy | Heart of the Matter

April 7, 2009 By Mandy 2 Comments

I’ll be honest. Prayer is not something that comes naturally to me. I wouldn’t say I live a busy life, but I have enough on my plate to keep me well distracted, which often presents a problem. Plus, I seem to have an issue with welcoming particular distractions with open arms and poised fingers (l’m talking about my computer here).

Of course, every day I set out to be prayerful, to spend more time focusing on the things of God instead of the things of Mandy, but failure comes easy. So how does one train her heart and mind to think on the things of God?

The spirit is truly willing, but the flesh is weak. Even though we love God, we may find it difficult to establish a routine, especially for those whose odd schedules (due to work or other factors) don’t allow for much routine. How do we build the good, steady habits of prayer time and family devotions?

First of all, let us examine why we seem to be distracted so easily. Think about it. When you look around your home, there are plenty of things vying for your attention. “Mount Washmore” overflows the laundry basket (okay, plural baskets), a pile of clean clothes sits waiting to be folded and put away, and you’ll definitely have to do a lot of ironing because they’ve cooled and wrinkled since you pulled them from the dryer several days ago.

In fact, they probably need to be washed all over again since you’re pretty sure that’s where your toddler has been wiping his nose, and your husband mistook it for the dirty bin and tossed in his greasy, sweaty clothes. The dishwasher needs to be emptied, a few pots and casserole dishes need a tough scrubbing, and well, the floor definitely needs a good mopping since you can see a trail of chalky, munchkin footprints and dirty little puppy tracks, not to mention smears of something you hope is chocolate. I suppose before you tackle that task, you’ll have to send out a search party for the mop, so it might be quicker to get down on hands and knees and use some old fashioned elbow grease.

Feel like SuperMom yet?

You really need to make lunch and consider what you’re going to toss together for dinner tonight, and, oh, you’d better get that meat out of the freezer so it will be thawed in time. One look at the counter reminds you that you’ve got a stack of bills to pay, but first you’ll have to buy postage stamps, and wait, what is your oldest child getting into?

All over your house you see reminders of things that need to be done. Toilets begged to be scrubbed. Just about every closet and cabinet needs a little reorganization. You have several books you’d like to finish and knitting that you dream of completing (but you know that’s a fairytale, since it’s taken you three months to get one-eighth of that scarf done). In between tending to your chores, duties, and hobbies, drinks are spilled, ouchies happen, and your baby takes his first steps and you forget about everything you have planned and focus the rest of the day on trying to get him to attempt such a fete again so you can capture it on video. And, let’s not forget, you’re doing all of this while homeschooling several young’ns.

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So many things call out for your attention. Your eyes and thoughts are pulled in a thousand different directions by the sights, sounds, and, ew, even smells in your home. It is no wonder you forget to make time for God, but it is no excuse.

I know that we don’t even have half as much going on in our household compared to others who have their children involved in co-op activities, music lessons outside the home, sports, dance, and whatever other functions one can muster up, but I am well aware that we are a nation of busy, busy people. However, our busyness is our own doing. Maybe it should be worded as our busyness is our own undoing.

It seems to me that the devil does not have to do much work in my home. I am my own worst enemy. Could it be that we have become so worried about keeping up our house that we have failed to keep up God’s home within us? The Bible says that our bodies are the temple. The Holy Spirit lives within believers, but are we, as believers, spending as much time tending to the temple as we do tending to things that, in comparison, don’t matter at all? Are we focused on feeding our children mentally, spiritually, and physically, but are starving ourselves of much needed biblical bread?

So again, I present the question, how does one train her heart and mind to think on the things of God? You remember that whole situation of to-do’s and distractions? Remember what I mentioned?

“So many things call out for your attention….”

Maybe it’s time to change things around our home to keep us distracted by the things of God instead of from the things of God! What if we set out things that helped us regain our focus, reminded us to spend time with God, and made it easier for us to truly tune into the Spirit? God is calling for our attention, but the distractions around us drown Him out.

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. [Deuteronomy 6:4-9, KJV]

We remain distracted by the things in our eyesight. One way to help bring things into perspective is to print out some of your favorite, encouraging, convicting, and directing Bible verses or quotes. I have mounted several on scrapbook paper. You can tape them to cabinets or apply magnets to the back to display them on the fridge or on metal exterior doors. Post a Bible verse as your screen saver, or tape one to the top of your laptop which encourages you to be a good steward of your time. Have one printed on your checks to remind you to be a good steward of your money! Write a few on business cards and keep them in your wallet or jacket pocket. Tuck a few in books as place markers or in drawers as sweet pick-me-ups. Write something on the mirror so you can consider it and memorize it as you comb your hair, brush your teeth, or do your make-up. Those verses from Deuteronomy remind me that I need to equip myself with the Word of God. Posting verses around my home will not only help me memorize them and put them to use, but will also help me teach them to my children.

Now, before I go on, I am not suggesting that we should build idols (definitely not!), but I am recommending that we set up visual reminders to keep us on track. You can find or make decorations for your home engraved or painted with simple words (like faith, hope, prayer, or grace), verses, or quotes from people God used (like Martin Luther). Whatever you do, make sure you have things in your home that serve as reminders to pray, to praise, and to worship God.

Another helpful tool is music. I’m a little slow, so I didn’t happen upon Christian music until a few years ago, and then I couldn’t bring myself to listen to anything else! I can’t tell you how encouraging and helpful it has been to hear music that lifts God above all else while I go about my daily duties. It keeps me in the right frame of mind. Every year, I buy the WOW hits and add a few more Christian tunes to my small collection. I also listen to (free) online playlists of some of my favorite hits and artists (like Aaron Shust, Casting Crowns, and Broken Vessels). We are fortunate to have a local Christian radio station as well (KSBJ) which also allows you to tune in on their website to listen.

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Several years ago I established a habit of lighting a candle every time I completed my “home blessings” (or chores) for the day. I always use good quality, well-scented candles which fill my home with delicious smells like spiced pumpkin or sugar cookie. After lighting the candle, I would plop on the couch, relax, and read my Bible or a devotional. I wish I could say I still do this, but after a couple moves and adding another child to the mix, I’ve fallen out of this routine (although I may do it from to time, it’s no longer a regular thing). Still, the candles, the smells, and the flicker of the small flame remind me of those peaceful moments. Because my candles are scented like baked goods, I am even reminded of these times when I am baking cookies, cakes, or bread.

In his book, Family Driven Faith, Voddie Baucham, Jr. tells of his experience as a child living in a small apartment in Los Angeles. His mother was a Buddhist (but is now a Christian). He writes:

“… I still remember her previous religious expressions vividly. Why? My mother’s Buddhism engaged, stimulated, and made a lasting impression on every one of my five senses. That black box, the golden Buddha, the scroll, and the sight of my mother kneeling and bowing engaged my sense of sight. The sound of the bell, the beads, and the mantra engaged my sense of hearing. The incense engaged my sense of smell, the beads engaged my sense of touch, and the fruit in the box next to Buddha engaged my sense of taste [emphasis his].”
Something is going to call for our attention. Something is going to engage our senses. Why not make it things that point us to God? Why not make it easier on ourselves, on our children?

We can change things around our home so God can engage our senses, but ultimately, we need to change our routine. Maybe we are simply too busy. Maybe we have our children involved in too many things. Maybe we have taken on extra hobbies or jobs that have distracted us from our purpose. We may need to overcome addictions and bad habits and get rid of distractions that keep us from being productive around our home and rob us of time that we could be spending with God. We may not want to cut back on certain things to make time for God, but it is necessary, and it is definitely worth it.

I was laying in bed the other night when it hit me for the millionth time. If I spent as much time with God as I spent on my computer, I would be a spiritually wealthy woman. Then I went on to think of all the blessings I have declined and passed up because I was being selfish with my time and effort. Sometimes I think, “I deserve this time. I have accomplished so much today and this is my reward.”

What if we rewarded our accomplishments with prayer and praise to God? What if, instead of giving in to the temptations to turn to our hobbies and habits that are time wasters, we turned to God, to the Bible, and to prayer?

I decided that every time I wanted to get on my computer, I would spend time in prayer first. I cannot tell you how much time I have spent in prayer lately (but I can tell you that it has been good for my children to see their mommy kneeling in prayer all over the house!). Many times, once I finished praying, I didn’t feel like getting on the computer. I knew I had better things to do with my time.

That is not to say that the computer is bad. Most of my time on the computer is spent checking emails, reading Christian blogs and other Christian material, and talking to some of my most encouraging friends. Even so, it is no substitute for one-on-one time with God.

So, whatever you need to do to establish that time with God, do it. If you need to post sticky notes on every surface, do it. If you need to get rid of cable, do it. If you need to toss out books that go against the Bible and replace them with books that encourage you in the Lord, do it. Ask your spouse to help you stay on track, to hold you responsible. Write out a routine and schedule in time to pray and read your Bible. Keep Bibles in every room. Set your bedside alarm or the one on your cell phone to go off a couple times a day, and when it does, stop what you are doing and read your Bible or pray. Don’t let yourself get out of bed without reading a verse or chapter.

When you walk into your room, whether it’s to get into bed, hang up clothes, or to go into the master bathroom, take the time to kneel beside your bed in prayer.

Sometimes at night I switch my wedding ring to the other hand to remind me to read my bible when I wake up. (This little switch idea is something I picked up from my husband. It’s also served to remind me about doctor appointments or to make certain phone calls and various other things.)

As you begin to build a routine of personal time with God, expand into a routine of family time with God. I cannot tell you how important and wonderful it is to pray with your spouse, or to sing hymns and songs with your children before reading a Bible story.

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It warms this mother’s heart to hear my children sing lyrics from some of my favorite songs, even if they mix up the words or skip lines. So many times, when my mood has been sour or my day has been twisted out of focus, I hear a little voice softly singing, “Jesus, He can move the mountains. My God is mighty to save! He is mighty to save!”

As we establish time with God, we teach our children to establish time with Him as well. We teach our children about priorities, not just about being active, but being productive. The Proverbs 31 woman “looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.” [v. 27] I am sure this woman went beyond the natural provision. She went before God to gain strength for herself and her loved ones. Don’t be idle in your spiritual life. You cannot teach your children how to be prayerful, God-seeking men and women if we are not prayerful, God-seeking mothers.

I have such a long way to go. I am nowhere near perfect, and I don’t have it all figured out. But I know where to go, and I know where my time is best spent.

And while I need to be productive in my home, in doing the duties that the Bible calls me to do as the keeper of our home [Titus 2:3-5], I must also make ample time for God. Too often my time for God is a short, hurried moment giving Him a list of demands, complaints and requests, but quality time includes being still and quiet, as well as time spent asking, crying, praying and repenting.

What blessings have I denied my family, my friends, and strangers because I have not prepared myself spiritually? Time spent with God is never wasted, time spent without Him is.

Check out my article on page 16 of the funky flipbook edition of Heart of the Matter Magazine.

mandy Mandy is a homeschool graduate who has set out to homeschool her three young munchkins in an unschooling meets discipleship method. In her column “Delightfully Discipled,” she gives a glimpse into the curious minds of her children as they follow their natural instincts to explore the heights and depths of knowledge and are led though Godly discipleship. She blogs at MandyMom.com and Noggin News.

August 7, 2008 By Mandy Leave a Comment

So You’ve Chosen to Homeschool
Maybe you recently made this decision, or maybe you’ve been homeschooling for years, yet you feel unsure, lost, confused, and are left wondering, “Why, exactly, am I doing this? How do I do it?”

Start at the Beginning

Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. Unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. [Psalm 127:1]

Start with Yourself
When you build a new home, you must first clear the land. Sometimes that means clearing away an existing building. Often, we must clear away our own intentions, expectations, and preconceived notions before we begin homeschooling. If your children have already been in an institutional school, you may have to help them clear away those as well.

Start with Christ
Begin your journey with prayer. Pray about the method you should use and the direction you should take. Begin each day with prayer. If you section out subjects, you may want to even begin each subject with prayer.

Don’t be stubborn. Understand that God knows best, and be open to and aware of His direction. It is easy to get focused on your own plan and agenda. God knows your children’s strengths and weaknesses. You may feel they are behind. Stop comparing your children and yourself to other
homeschooling families. It’s not a race.

Remember, God is the architect. He has the blueprint. We need to follow it in order to have the outcome He desires.

Set the example
Inspirational author Wilferd A. Peterson said, “Our children are watching us live, and what we are shouts louder than anything we can say.” Peterson has a great point. If we want a lesson to stick, we need to teach by example. This is called discipleship. Jesus taught his followers by
walking the walk, not just talking the talk. We cannot expect our children to have a foundation in Christ if we don’t. We cannot expect our children to love learning if we don’t.

Keep your children close. Allow them to help out as much as possible. Yes, it will take longer. When they are young, give them a verbal “play-by-play.” Tell them what you are doing, and explain each step. Don’t rush it or be impatient. I know, this can be difficult to do, but the more you practice it, the easier it will be for you to do without feeling hurried. Be calm. Be kind. Be patient. That’s the key.

Sow the seeds
If your children seem uninterested in something like numbers or colors, you can easily sow the seeds of knowledge without sitting them down and cramming in lessons (which will only frustrate them). Go on walks, and point out the colors of flowers, cars, and houses. Count how many cars are in the driveways. Count how many windows on a house. When you start out, just point out that there are “two cars” in the drive way. “A red one and a yellow one!” After doing this several times, you can ask them the questions. “How many cars in that driveway? What colors are they?” When you give your children directions, use colors and shapes if possible. For example, “Sally, can you pick up the green, rectangular box of wipes?”

Find little ways to sow the seeds. Allow your children to “catch you” praying. Allow them to say a prayer when you begin a session or before a meal. If everyone around the table wants to say a prayer at lunch time, allow it.

Children are known to have endless questions. Try turning the tables! Ask them the questions. Get their opinions, ideas, and thoughts. Here are some great lead-ins for questions.

“How do you feel when…?”

“How do you think ____ feels when…?”

“What do you think we should do in this situation?”

“Why do you think…?”

“What would you do…?”

Psalm 37:5 reads, “Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” Commit your way. Commit your life. Not parts of it; all of it. We have a tendency to separate “church from state,” so to speak, but the bible says we need to be in Christ and Him in us. If that is so, then there is no separation at all. Let God guide you, let God guide your home, and let God guide your schooling.

Over the next few months, we’ll explore these areas more in depth, so stay tuned!

Mandy is a homeschool graduate who has set out to homeschool her three young munchkins in an unschooling meets discipleship method. In her column “Delightfully Discipled,” she gives a glimpse into the curious minds of her children as they follow their natural instincts to explore the heights and depths of knowledge and are led though Godly discipleship. She blogs at MandyMom.com and Noggin News.

July 7, 2008 By Mandy Leave a Comment

Summer

It’s the season I looked forward to the most as a child, not because I particularly enjoyed the season itself, but because it meant freedom from oppression, er . . . I mean, school.

Finally, I didn’t have to worry about sitting in a classroom for long hours, waiting for the day to be over, only to be faced with a mound of homework. I wouldn’t have to deal with bullies and brats or the pressure to fit in. Ahh, summer.

When I switched to being homeschooled, I remember how awesome it felt to ease out of summer. Graduation didn’t come as a big shock of freedom either, because I had already learned how to manage my time outside of “school.” I was going to continue learning just as I had before.

Now that I’m homeschooling my own children, we’ve chosen not to take the summer “off.” In fact, if anything, summer is the best time of year for education because communities are more active. There are more functions to attend, museums offer special attractions, and many places extend their hours during the summer.

This summer, we have decided to focus on one particular subject – Slavery.

I picked up a couple books at the library on the subject. We’re currently reading about Addy, one of the girls from The American Girl collection, who struggles with leaving behind her baby sister to run away with her mother after her father and brother are sold to another family. Next month, we are taking a trip to Vermilionville to see how the people in our state of Louisiana once lived. It’s “paused” in the same time period as Addy is in. Not only will it be a lesson on slavery, but also a lesson on our own culture and how things were done before technology spit out cars and microwaves.

What I love most about homeschooling is how one subject inevitably leads into several others. We don’t have to separate them out like institutional schools do. It’s wonderful to watch my children’s eagerness and excitement over these things. We read a chapter out of our book each day (and they always want to read “just one more, Mom. Please!”). When we finish, we discuss what has happened so far. They cannot fathom why some people would be treated with such disrespect, especially since they recently memorized the golden rule; “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” (Matthew 7:12)

They want to test out some of the foods people ate back then, which leads to “chemistry in the kitchen.” I think reading about how the slaves worked in the fields has given them a new appreciation for our own garden. They wanted to try balancing pails of water (not too good at that, I must say) and dress up in disguises, like Addy did in the book.

By the end of the summer, they’ll have learned so much without realizing it as we continue memorizing Bible verses, reading stories from the Bible, learning about slavery, exploring our culture, and caring for our home and garden.

Mandy is a former homeschooling student who has set out to homeschool her three young munchkins in an unschooling meets discipleship method. In her column “Delightfully Discipled”, she gives a glimpse into the curious minds of her children as they follow their natural instincts to explore the heights and depths of knowledge and and are led though Godly discipleship. She blogs at MandyMom.com and Noggin News.

June 7, 2008 By Mandy 4 Comments

“My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days and years of life, and peace they will add to you. Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.” Proverbs 3:1-3

I believe in protecting my children from outside influences in their youth. However, it’s not enough to just protect them, but I also need to be teaching them the Word. As I keep them close to me throughout their childhood, I will have many opportunities to do this, which is why it is so important that God is first in my life. How can I ever expect them to put God first, if I do not live and walk that way myself?

God has told me that I need to pay more attention to what my children watch. I really started picking apart the shows they were watching. I came to realize the Disney Channel isn’t as innocent as I had believed.

It is no wonder we raise little diva girls full of drama and attitude. They’re only mimicking what they see on television! It’s no wonder we’re raising boys who bully, lie, cheat, and rebel! They’ve learned much of this from their favorite shows.

It’s a good idea to write out your values and remove the things from your home that do not encourage those values. I know, it’s easier said than done. It will mean you will have to sacrifice some of your favorite shows, movies, and games, but if it’s not okay for your children to watch and do, in many cases, it’s probably not acceptable for you either.

As parents, we know we need to unite under discipline and authority. It’s not helpful when one parent undermines the other’s authority. This is common sense. What we often fail to see is that these television shows, movies, and books our children are looking at are teaching our little ones lessons that contradict the values and morals we long to instill in them. They are undermining our authority. By allowing our children to watch and read such things, we are sending them mixed messages.

In the same way, we also need to limit the time our children spend with people who may influence them to do things that are unacceptable. People will tell us we are sheltering our children far too much, but I believe that it is better to shelter them now while we build them in the Lord so, when they are older, they are able to stand strong in Christ through temptations and trials. In a manner of speaking, we are building a foundation for our children, and outside influences can weaken it or cause it to crumble.

Because we homeschool, we are often asked questions about socialization. Honestly, I hate these questions. It’s ridiculous, really. We may shelter and protect our children, but we certainly haven’t hindered them from being “socialized”. If anything, by limiting outside influences, we improve their socialization. They learn how to treat people with respect because they are not constantly around rude, disrespectful children and adults who only consider themselves and walk around with a “Me-me-me” attitude. I’ve been told my children are missing out on a lot. Let me tell you, I agree. They are missing out on a lot of inappropriate talk and actions. They’re missing out on bullies who push them around and brats who tell them they’re ugly, stupid, and not good enough. They’re missing out on textbook teachings which have made theories seem like fact and have excluded Christ (or, in the case of some Christian schools, they’ve left out the truth of Christ). Gee, hmm. Doesn’t sound like they’re really missing out on anything of godly substance by staying home with me!

Somehow, somewhere, we have been duped into believing that in order to have well-rounded children, we need to expose them to the world. We need to teach them to be “open-minded.” I am guilty of being deceived here as well. I have read and tried to follow the instruction of many a child-rearing book. I found myself (and my children) frustrated and overwhelmed. What we need to remember is God has given us authority over our children and has instructed us to raise them up in his Word. His Word is our guide book. Sometimes people say, “I wish babies came with an instruction manual.” Well, I know where you can get one. It’s called the bible, and you can find it wherever books are sold. The Dollar Tree sells them for, you got it, a buck!

We live in a world that says, “There is no absolute truth,” and, “Truth is what you want it to be.” As Christians, Christ is Truth and Christ is the Word, so we can put our faith in the Word. We can live by the Word, which means we can live in Truth. It does exist, and it’s Christ. We don’t need to teach our children to be open-minded to the world. We need to teach our children to be open to the WORD.

Now, I realize it may not be possible for everyone to homeschool their children. I understand that. However, if God has pricked your heart in this direction, you must obey. Sure, you may feel ill-equipped. You may feel it’s an impossible task, especially if you work outside the home. You may feel that you just can’t handle being around your children all day, every day. God makes no mistakes, and if he has prompted you to bring your children home from school and keep them there, then it is in their best interest (and yours as well) to listen and obey. A feeling of panic and fear is natural for many. There are times when I have said, “Dear Lord! You’ve given me more than I can handle!” And, the truth is, he has. You may have heard the saying, “God won’t give you more than you can handle.” That’s a lie. God will give you more than you can handle. He does this so you will depend on him and not yourself. Rest assured, God will give you the tools to handle what he has asked you to do. Not only will he give you the tools, but he’ll also give you the blessing. However, he doesn’t hand us the blessing first. He asks for obedience, and when we take the first step, he blesses our lives in more ways than we can imagine.

As a “discipleship schooler,” or what some may call an “unschooler,” I use mentoring as my number one way of teaching. It saddens me to see parents who fail to connect with their children. They don’t fellowship with their kiddos. They keep them at arm’s length, instead of allowing their munchkins to get involved in their lives.

We need to really involve our children in our lives, but we also need be involved in our children’s lives. When I was in junior high and attending a public school, I came home one day and found myself arguing with my mother. She was frustrated over something I had posted on the internet. She said, “This isn’t you! Why would you write that?” I scowled at her and replied, “You don’t know me at all!”

Truth is, as much as she wanted to be involved in my life, as close as she longed for us to be, I was away from her for 8-10 hours a day, five days a week. During that time, I fellowshipped with people who did not have the same values as my family did. They encouraged me to do things that were against my parents’ beliefs and wishes. I had spent about 50 hours a week with people who encouraged my sinful flesh. Combined with the 60 hours I spent sleeping per week and the 15-20 hours I spent talking to friends on the phone or online, this left around 40 or fewer hours for my parents, and, well, you know I wasn’t spending every single minute I was home (and not talking to my friends) by my parents’ side. I was probably off brooding in my room, writing angry poetry, and listening to angry music. (Yes, I was that child.) When it came right down to it, I was spending more time under the influence of those who did not encourage me in the Lord. They became more important to me than my parents. After all, I spent far less time with those two people who conceived and birthed me than those who prodded me to rebel!

The year my mom took me out of public schools, I changed. I stopped being so angry. I finally picked a few friends that encouraged me in Christ. That’s not to say I didn’t make wrong choices or still have a few bad apple buddies, but I was around my parents more and bad influences less. I began to know them better, and they got to know me better. Our communication improved. I only wish this would have happened sooner!

When we send our children off to school, we lose them in a way. Again, I understand that some people may not have a choice. I get that, I do. I ache for those people, because they are truly missing out on an amazing experience, one that will strengthen not just our children, but the family as a whole.

Schools aren’t there to encourage your children to find their identity in Christ. Schools don’t care about your children’s spiritual well-being. Can you imagine what life would be like if your children were nurtured in the Spirit and were encouraged to be everything God desired them to be? Can you imagine the effect that would have on your family? Can you imagine the impact that would have on the world? All for the glory of God!

If we really, really stopped to think about it, it would blow our face off!

My ultimate goal is not to produce intelligent children. Do I want them to be smart? Sure! Yes! Definitely! Still, my ultimate goal is to produce children who are on fire for Christ, who lean on Him, and long to be useful to His kingdom – whatever that might mean and wherever that might take them. I trust, in that journey, God will fill them with all the natural and spiritual knowledge they need to know.

Of course, that doesn’t mean I don’t have moments where I panic and wonder how I am going to teach them all of the things they are “supposed” to know. I do, more than I want to admit! Yet, deep down inside, God has given me a promise to cling to. He has promised he will protect and guide my children if I follow him in obedience. He has given me a vision of my children, and, when I feel discouraged, I cling tightly to those things he has shown me.

May 7, 2008 By Mandy 7 Comments

Lately, the Lord has really been nudging me, reminding me, and pricking my soul. There’s a lesson to learn, one that I have to learn over and over again.

Where the Lord guides, He provides.

Sometimes God gives us a list of specific instructions. Sometimes He just points us in a specific direction, destination unknown. In I Kings, chapter 17, God tells Elijah to turn eastward and head for a brook near Jordan. There, the Lord would nourish him with water from the brook and food, which would be brought by the ravens. Elijah obeyed, and the Lord followed through on His word.

My Heavenly Father has been whispering in my ear, “Depend on me. I will provide.”

Often, as homeschoolers, we wonder how we’re going to do it. Maybe you feel ill-equipped. Maybe you feel overwhelmed. Maybe you’re at a point of transition, and you just don’t know what comes next. Maybe the Lord has recently called you to bring your children home, and you have more questions than answers.

Sometimes God has to remind me, “It’s not always about you.”

property of mandymom.com God dried up the brook which had nourished Elijah, then directed him to Zarephath. He told him there would be a widow who would sustain him there. He found the widow at the gate of the city where she was collecting sticks. She was preparing her final meal, as she was poor and had only enough food for only one meal for her family.

God used Elijah’s previous experience at the brook to teach this widow a lesson. She followed Elijah’s instruction, and she did not go hungry.

Our pastor made the point one day that God will dry up our brook, but he’ll provide for us somewhere else. Sometimes he asks for us to make a change. Sometimes that change is to help someone else. Sometimes he dries up our brook, dries up our comfort zone, and prompts us to more forward. It’s a reminder that we aren’t suppose to depend on the things He has given us, but we are to depend on Him!

God doesn’t always tell us the why, when, and how. In fact, He rarely does, but He always gives us direction, even if it’s only a step at a time. When we put our faith and trust in Him, He will be glorified, and we will be able to nourish our families as God intended.

There will be people along the way who will ridicule what we’re doing. They’ll let us know we’re sorely incapable. The truth is, alone, we are incapable, but we have the Lord, and with him, nothing is impossible.

It is so important to meet with God to allow him to speak to us (because, if you’re like me, there are times when you do most of the chattering). We must make time for God, for he is the foundation on which our family is built.

There are so many choices out there when it comes to schooling, and even when it comes to homeschooling. That is why it is paramount that we depend on Him for direction and guidance. Maybe we want Him to lay out the whole lesson plan for life, but we need to be content with the daily direction He has.

One step at a time!

Mandy is a former homeschooling student who has set out to homeschool her three young munchkins in an unschooling meets discipleship method. In her column “Delightfully Discipled“, she gives a glimpse into the curious minds of her children as they follow their natural instincts to explore the heights and depths of knowledge and and are led though Godly discipleship. She blogs at MandyMom.com and Noggin News.

May 7, 2008 By Mandy 2 Comments

It’s hard to believe it is already May. Being a former teacher and librarian, May always meant the summing up of the formal academic year in a school setting. I’ve personally chosen to wind down our preschool homeschooling on purpose right now to evaluate what we’ve accomplished, what worked and what didn’t, and to give us both a break. Does that mean the learning stops? Absolutely not. Our learning from here until the end of summer will be spontaneous and simplistic. No more units and focusing on planned ideas for the next three months. I’m looking forward to sunny days, beautiful mornings spent fingerpainting on the patio, frolicking in a wading pool, and watering the flowers in the backyard as the sun goes down in the evening. My son has developed a fascination with “big trucks” and digging in the dirt, so I’m sure those activities will also be high on our list of things to do.

We’ve certainly experienced some shining moments this year as well as struggles. I feel I may have started things out a bit too structured in the begining. However, the awesome accomplishments I’ve had the joy of watching my son experience have truly made this journey one that I am so grateful we explored. To see my son go from a busy little two year old to a determined and more focused three year old with blossoming language skills and an interest in drawing has been amazing to watch.

As I’m reflecting on our year, I’d love to hear how your preschool homeschooling experience is going. What have you accomplished so far? What were the highs and lows? Would you change anything? Will you be taking a summer break from homeschooling? Will homeschooling continue as usual?

Mandy is a preschool homeschooling mom to her two year old son. In her column “Knee High Homeschoolers,” she writes about the joys of homeschooling a preschooler and shares helpful links and practical information gained from experience. Visit her blog, Inching Along.

April 8, 2008 By Mandy 13 Comments

20 Ways to becoming an Eco-Friendly Family

Green.
It seems to be the color of the year! In the last few months, I’ve come across many a magazine, newspaper, commercial, television show, and website promoting eco-friendly living.

As a child, I was passionate about conserving. I helped raise money to save three acres of the rainforest. I was adamant about preserving water and energy. I often confronted litterers (as only a child can) and encouraged my family to recycle.

Mom reused containers (jars, butter tubs, etc) to use for food storage. We rarely used sandwich baggies. Mom and Dad got the most use out of their appliances as possible. They lasted for a long, long time. Mom also organized her errands to save on gas (and money). Looking back, we lived a fairly “green” lifestyle (mostly in an effort to save money).

Nehemiah 9:6- You made the heavens, even the highest heavens and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You gave life to everything and the multitudes of heaven worship you.

Over the years, I’ve abandoned some of those ways in the name of ease. I’m ashamed to admit the amount of waste we have in our home. One of my New Year resolutions is to commit myself to a healthier lifestyle, and that involves taking care of the earth, the land our Heavenly Father has given us.

I have found this to be a great opportunity to teach my children about conserving, reusing, and recycling. Of course, the best way to teach is through action, but sometimes, kids don’t quite understand why we do what we do, so it’s important to talk to them as you go green.

One of the easiest ways to save energy is to turn off lights and appliances (television, radio, etc) when you leave the room or aren’t using them. This was a habit I started as a child and have continued to this day. Encourage your children to do the same. If they can’t reach their light switch, place a stool nearby, or purchase an extender which allows them to do so.

You may not think about it, but simply having appliances plugged in uses energy. Unplugging these things when you aren’t using them will save energy and money. We have our television, sound system, dvd player, and chargers (for the laptop, cameras, and phones) plugged into a power strip. This way, we only have to unplug the power strip when these items aren’t in use.

While we’re on the subject of appliances, when it comes time to purchase new ones, go for those that are energy-efficient. It might cost a bit more upfront, but you’ll save in the long run.

You can also purchase energy-efficient light bulbs which last years, instead of months. Many come with a guarantee. If they don’t last as long as the manufacturer says, you can get a free replacement or refund.

We recently started washing our clothes in cold water. (This also saves money because we aren’t paying for heated water!) I use hot water for my husband’s work clothes (which need disinfecting) once a week.

When I come across a piece of clothing that has a stain I can’t get out or a hole I can’t mend, I set it aside. Sometimes I can cover the hole on a shirt or pair of jeans with a cute iron-on patch. (The kids love this. It seems like a new shirt to them!) Other times, I use the fabric to make something else, like a patch work dress, a superhero cape, or an outfit for a doll. The children can also use the scraps to learn to sew things like bean bags. We save the scraps for craft projects as well.

You can reuse a lot of items when it comes to craft projects. A trip to a museum in Baton Rouge gave me new ideas. This particular museum (I forget the name) has a children’s area. In one section, they have a creative area full of items like egg cartons, paper towel cardboards, fabric and paper scraps, boxes, buttons, raffia, ribbon, and much more. They encourage children to put their imaginations to work to build something. Here are some of the things some of the visitors made.

A while back, I needed an envelope but couldn’t find one. I decided to make one out of a page from a magazine. Since then, I’ve used magazine and scrap paper to make stationery. This is a great way make sure your magazines don’t go to waste. You could also pass your magazines to your friends. A magazine swap is a wonderful way to save money and paper. I’ve also used magazine sheets, newspaper, and brown paper bags to wrap gifts. (You can stamp or draw on newspaper or paper bags to make a pretty design. Kids love to do this!) You may be able to find an e-zine version of your favorite magazine on the internet, which also saves money and paper.

You can cut down on paper waste by writing notes on chalk boards or white boards instead of post-its. Try to reuse paper if possible. Here are a couple of recipes for making (recycling) your own paper!

- Pioneer Thinking’s Recipe
- Make Stuff’s Recipe

I mentioned that my mother reused jars and tubs for food storage. You can use these items to store craft projects if you don’t use them in the kitchen.

There’s a cool little lunch box on the market now. It’s called the “Bento“. It a container with smaller containers inside. This is great for separating items that could spill all over the place and for keeping sandwiches from going stale or falling apart without using plastic baggies. Even though we usually eat at home, my kids love helping me create cute little lunch box meals. These things come in handy when you go out for a picnic or a meal on the go. Laptop Lunches sells these containers.

Cloth or canvas grocery bags are all the rage these days. Before, they were a bit too expensive, but now Wal-mart and Target are selling them for a mere dollar. I bought a couple and keep them in my purse. It’s useless to purchase them if you don’t have them with you when you go shopping! If I do get plastic grocery bags, I use them in my van to toss trash before it consumes the vehicle. You can also throw stinky diapers in them so the smell doesn’t overwhelm your trash can (if you’re using disposable diapers, that is).

This month, I began using a weekly meal planner. Not only has this taken so much stress off my shoulders, but it also keeps me from wasting food. All too often, I buy fresh produce that ends up wasting away. I was just thinking about how many chickens died only to sit in my fridge because I intended to cook the meat but kept putting it off or completely forgot about it. Menus4Moms offers a free weekly menu complete with a grocery list. This helps me stay organized. I’m always prepared for supper, which makes my husband a happy man! (Plus, I save money because I’m not wasting food!)

We buy a lot of things in bulk, but sometimes (most of the time) we only need about half of whatever it is. We now split the cost and bulk with another family, which saves both of us money (and saves on waste since it requires less packaging).

When it comes to meal time, we haven’t completely switched to cloth napkins. We do, however, put a kitchen towel on the table to use as the “family napkin” if the meal isn’t too messy. This has cut down on our napkin and paper towel use. When we’re finished with the meal, I can wipe the table down and toss the towel into the washing machine.

We use special cleaners for our house. I have asthma and am sensitive to cleaners and strong perfumes. I tried vinegar, but I despise the smell. Then I fell in love with Method cleaners (found at many grocery stores like Target). They have a variety of scents to choose from (I have Lavendar All-Purpose cleanser and Mint Window Wash) with no underlying chemical odor. Method Cleaners are non-toxic, biodegradable, and naturally derived from natural minerals. They have cleansers for wood, stainless, and other special materials. Their tub and tile cleaner is fanastic, especially since there is no headache-inducing odor!

Encourage your family to save water by turning off the facet while you brush your teeth. We also share bathwater in our home. I take a bath first, and then bathe the children. This was a pretty common practice fifty years ago, but not so much now! You can also use the leftover to water plants. Showering requires even less water, but we are remodeling and don’t have a shower at this moment.

Set out recycling bins, and talk to your children about what sort of items go inside. I know it is exciting for us to figure out what we can recycle. When you go to the park or another public place, pick up trash and talk about the importance of putting garbage where it belongs.

Hopefully you don’t smoke, but if you do, don’t throw the butts on the ground. No one likes a litter bug!

These tips are easy to implement and are a step in the right direction. Sometimes this means taking a little extra care and effort, but it’s well worth it. It’s just one way we can disciple our children in caring for God’s blessings. It’s a wonderful lesson in stewardship of our earth, our possessions, and our finances.

Genesis 1:26- Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

Feel free to share some of your favorite “green” ideas, websites, and books!

Here are some websites to help you and your family conserve!
GREENandSAVE: Find out how much you’ll save if you switch to greener methods!
The Green Guide: From National Geographic
Go Green Initiative: Helping others learn about environmental stewardship.

Check out these wonderful books
Recycled Crafts Box by Laura C. Martin
Recycle Every Day! by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
Where Does Garbage Go? by Paul Showers
Why Should I Save Energy? by Jen Green
Why Should I Protect Nature? by Jen Green
Why Should I Save Water? by Jen Green

Mandy is a former homeschooling student who has set out to homeschool her three young munchkins in an unschooling meets discipleship method. In her column “Delightfully Discipled”, she gives a glimpse into the curious minds of her children as they follow their natural instincts to explore the heights and depths of knowledge and and are led though Godly discipleship. She blogs at MandyMom.com and Noggin News.

March 8, 2008 By Mandy Leave a Comment

Delightfully Discipled: An Interview with Natasha

“Every life situation can be turned into an opportunity to teach; you just have to be open to seeing it!”

Over the last couple months, I have had the privilege of getting to know a new breed of homeschoolers. They’re eclectic, but not very structured. They’re borderline unschooling leaning toward delight-driven education with the ultimate goal of leading their children on the path of the Lord.

It may seem like a new trend, but discipleship schooling has been around since the beginning of time. Over the next few months, we’ll be exploring what it means to be delightfully discipled.

This month, I’ve interviewed a fellow discipleship schooler and good friend of mine, Natasha Pharis. She’s been a blessing to have as a friend, and, without knowing it, encourages me daily!

I met Natasha in our small group bible study for married couples. Our sons are close in age, and we have similar interests, so we became fast friends. She’s now 28-years-old and pregnant with her second child who should be arriving in a few weeks! Natasha and her husband of seven years are both involved in their son’s education, but fill different roles.
“I’m more of the structured teacher [in helping with] cut and paste, drawing, etc. Mike teaches the ‘as needed’ instruction,” she explained. “We both support each other in the teaching we do because we know we have the same goal in mind [which is] to raise children of God who have a hunger for learning without the pressure of it.”

Natasha was once a career-oriented woman who was climbing the corporate ladder. When her son, Kale, was ten months old, she left her full time job to care for him.

“I’ve truly been grateful for every, almost every, minute of it,” she grinned.

Some people know they will home school before their child is even born, but Natasha wasn’t one of those people.

“To be honest, I never imaged myself as a homeschooler, because I had always been very career focused. As Kale aged, I realized I had more responsibility to my family and raising him than I did helping someone else get rich. My husband and I have the biggest influence on our children, and we really didn’t want someone else raising them.”

A little over a year ago, Natasha got to know one of her neighbors who, come to find out, home schools her four children and is the secretary of our local home school association.

“In getting to know her family, I realized [homeschooling] was something that had been placed on my heart to do. It was something I needed to do. I started researching, and, lucky for me, [my neighbor] had tons of material and references available.”

What seemed intimating at first became less so after Natasha realized she was already teaching her son. “I just wasn’t doing it in ‘school’ format!” Natasha exclaimed.“I was a little worried at first,” she admits. “I didn’t want to be one of those parents who makes a child get involved in something he truly has no interest in because we like it so we think he should.”

Her son, who is nearing age three, is constantly on the go. He’s a busy little boy who has a variety of interests and loves to explore.

“There isn’t much he doesn’t like to do. He loves to draw, color, and cut and paste- which [neither of us] do very well. We started teaching him sign language at six or so months old so we could communicate easier, and to this day, he is very excited in learning more. We started off with the signs for ‘more’, ‘eat’, and ‘all done’, but now he‘s constantly asking me how to ‘say this’ with your hands. It‘s good, because I‘m learning as well.”

Sign language definitely has it’s benefits. “Today at the library, we were able to communicate to each other during story time without disturbing the teacher or other kids. It excites me that he will be able to talk to his new sibling at a very early age because we will teach him or her sign language as well.”

Kale is well-loved and nurtured, but he’s not treated like a helpless baby. Mike and Natasha encourage him to do things himself, but are always there to offer a helping hand if needed. They have allowed their child to grow without hindrance.

“He’s surprisingly coordinated and can actually play baseball very well. He doesn’t need the t-ball stand. I am truly blessed to have a child that enjoys learning and wants to learn. He keeps me on my toes!”

Natasha is passionate about her God-given mission.

“I don’t want underpaid teachers who aren’t allowed to teach about God to be responsible for the raising of my children. God blessed me with them, and we feel it’s our responsibility to do the best we can. We don’t have structured school every day, but we do make time to do school work. It’s getting to the point where he’s asking if he can ‘do school work’. How can I possibly tell him no? Why would I? It definitely makes it a lot easier to teach someone that is anxious to learn.”

Natasha and I both agree, all parents are teaching their children in some way. “Anyone who has a young child knows they pick up your good and bad habits. They are very curious creatures and are very interested in the world around them.”

As parents, we have to be aware of our own words and actions because our children are watching. They mimick us well. That’s what discipleship is all about- leading our lives in such a way that we direct and disciple our children to do the same. Mike and Natasha have decided not to subscribe to cable television so they can better control what comes into their home. Instead, they’ve placed wonderful learning materials within arm’s reach and are ready and willing to teach their child with every situation, small or large.

“As Kale gets older, we structure things a little more. We actually sit down to draw, color, and read for short periods of time. Learning is never forced, but always enjoyed. He takes breaks to play as often as needed, and sometimes ‘school’ is concluded after just one short session. Even though we may not do a lot of ‘school work’ in a structured setting, I use every opportunity I can to teach him without overwhelming him. Every life situation can be turned into an opportunity to teach; you just have to be open to seeing it!”

Natasha and her son Kale create a pizza with Mandy Mom’s children, Nolyn and Merikalyn.

February 8, 2008 By Mandy Leave a Comment

Time With God

Always remember these commands I give you today. Teach them to your children, and talk about them when you sit at home and walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. [Deuteronomy 6:6-7]

One unschooling perception I dislike? Some unschooling parents feel you should never schedule time to teach your children.

I disagree.

For the most part, we don’t have a particular curriculum to follow or a schedule by which we accomplish or complete things. However, there is one thing that we do plan, and that is time with God. I feel this is an important thing to teach your children so, when they get older they already have these habits in place.

Over the last few months, I have started a new tradition of setting aside time in the morning to talk about Jesus. Through the course of the day, we talk about God in different ways. Currently, the children are interested in what God made and why he made it.

My daughter and son love to stare at the moon just before darkness falls when you can see all the colors of the sky as the sun sets. She wonders why the shape of the moon changes day to day. Their curiosity in all things God-made have led us into wonderful conversations about God’s blessings and the tools and materials He has created for us to use.

Before meals, we take turns saying grace. My three-year-old’s prayer often goes something like this:

God. Thank you for dis food. Thank you for dis food. Thank you fooooor….. Mommy and Daddy. Help us to being have (behave). Thank you for dis food. Thank you for my shoes. Thank you for my spoon. Amen.

My nearly-five-year-old daughter gracefully closes her eyes, bows her head, and grasps the hands of her neighbors. “God. Thank you for this chicken with garlic and rice. Thank you for Nana and Poppa. Help me to feel better because I hurt my finger today. Thank you for my baby doll, and thank you for Jesus. Amen.”

Everyone loves to say a prayer before we eat, so our food is usually thoroughly blessed before we partake. I’m glad they love to pray. It warms my heart!

In the evening, before bed, I cozy up to my munchkins on the couch and have a prayer time with them. I’m usually interrupted several times, but that’s okay. My middle child often mumbles his own little prayer while I talk.

As we tuck the children in bed, we tell them, “Don’t forget to pray.” We kiss them goodnight, then stand outside their doors and listen to their sweet little voices as they whisper prayers heavenward. I love to listen to them. Sometimes they pray for the sweetest things, and often they have a couple crazy requests.

I wonder if that’s how God feels when I pray. I wonder if His heart is warmed when I pray for something He desires, or if He is amused when I ask for something silly and ridiculous. I can imagine Him thinking to Himself, “Daughter, if you only knew the plans I have for you.”

God has shown me how important it is to set aside time for Him. He has asked me to show my children how to do the same, to build these habits so, when they are grown, they will not part from them.

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart
from it. [Proverbs 22:6]

We have a wonderful opportunity as home schooling parents to open God’s world to our children. In those moments, we can show them that God is in the little things, the big things, and all around us. We can point out His glory in the small blossoms or large oak trees. We can show them God’s grace as we show (by example) how to properly deal with emotions, forgive others, and reach out in love. And, while there are so many pop-up situations in which we can reveal a little of God, there are also those times we should purposefully set aside to listen to and learn about God.

In closing, I want to encourage you to set aside time with your children for the LORD. No matter what method of home schooling you choose, this is one thing that should be first and foremost!

Mandy is a former homeschooler student who has set out to unschool her three young munchkins. In her column “Adventures in Unschooling”, she gives a glimpse into the curious minds of her children as they follow their natural instincts to explore the heights and depths of knowledge. She blogs at MandyMOM.com.

January 8, 2008 By Mandy 1 Comment

Learning Is What Happens, Naturally
I’m sitting here at my makeshift computer desk (an old sewing table) with my legs folded under me. I’ve been staring at this blank screen for a while. Now and then, I type several lines, then delete it all. What do I write? How do I explain? How do I define what we’re doing?

Whenever someone asks my daughter, “Where do you go to school?” she smiles and replies, “I go to Sunday School!” I guess this would be a good time to mention, we’re unschoolers! My children do not understand the usual definition of school!

My son doesn’t realize he already understands math. He knows he wants three cookies, and he definitely makes it known when I short him! My daughter has difficulty counting on her fingers, but she knows how to count out eggs as she cracks “two for Mommy, two for brother…” when she’s helping make breakfast.

I often wonder how many four-year-olds have such a passion for cooking. My daughter understands what spices and seasonings are and often tries to name the ones I’ve used when tasting the dishes I’ve laid out for supper. As I type, she’s “cooking” a meal of her own. She just announced she’s making chicken noodle soup… “with garlic”. I suppose baking and cooking is chemistry and basic math, but she doesn’t know that! (By the way, now she’s moved on to making mashed potatoes “with cheese on top”. )

When I first started home schooling, I found myself extremely frustrated. My daughter didn’t seem to be on the same level as some of her peers. I felt it was time to reassess, so I began researching different methods, hoping to find some sort of curriculum or cure for what I feared was a “slow learner”.

For several months I looked into various learning styles. Occasionally, I’d try a different approach, then realize it wasn’t a great fit. I became frustrated, until I stopped to look around me and realized….

Both of my children were learning. Yes, my two year old and four year old were learning without my prompting, hassling, and force. While I was stressing out about learning methods, they had continued on a natural path. On their own, they had come around to figuring out all sorts of things. I wasn’t even aware I was teaching them because, in my mind, I had created two separate worlds: Learning and The Rest of Life.

The obvious hit me, life is learning.

A baby is naturally curious about his world. At first, it’s all about his body. He becomes amazed by his hands, staring at them for hours, guiding them to his mouth, rubbing his eyes, and wiggling his fingers. No one tells him how to do this. He just does. He learns how to grasp things on his own. He learns how to roll over, sit up, and walk. He moves beyond his interest in his own body and begins to explore the world around him. Sure, we try to lend our support, but it’s something we cannot force. It will happen when he is ready.

As a parent, it’s amazing to sit back and watch our children’s capabilities and personalities unfold. One day we wake up and realize they’ve mastered something we haven’t purposely tried to teach them.

I always say, “We didn’t choose unschooling, unschooling chose us.” It’s true. Unschooling is what happened when I stopped forcing workbooks and lessons. Unschooling is what happened when we went about our day-to-day life. Unschooling is what happened… naturally. Our children continued to do what they’ve always done…. learn!

We guide them along by being available. We’re available to answer their questions, available to join them in their adventures, whether it be around the house or on a fun field trip. We’re available to read books, create crafts, and watch them as they explore their interests. We’re available to help them, especially when they ask!

My children don’t have free reign over the house. They do have to follow a set of rules (after all, God did give us authority over our children, and has commanded them to obey). My authority comes from God, and I submit to Him. His command to “train up a child” [Prov. 22:6] means I am required to be active in their lives. At this point, I am not their friend, I am their mother. I am not someone who merely keeps a watchful eye. I watch over them, yes, but I have been instructed by the Lord to discipline and guide them in the right direction. I mention this because I want to make it clear that my children are not running wild, exploring whatever they desire under the guise of education.

In closing, the greatest lesson I have learned from this experience (so far… as I’m sure there are many more to come) is that children don’t learn by our schedule. They are naturally curious. They have a thirst for knowledge. They may not learn things in a certain sequence at a certain age when other children are, but you can be sure they will learn what they need to know. Give it time. Be patient. Remember, you have the ability to let their natural passion for learning flourish. Don’t hinder it!

Mandy is a former homeschooling student who has set out to unschool her three young munchkins. In her column The Natural Noggin: Adventures in Unschooling, she gives a glimpse into the curious minds of her children as they explore their natural instincts to explore the heights and depths of knowledge. She blogs at MandyMOM.com.

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