Homeschooling Mother's Journal

In my life this week...
I was offered two fantastic work opportunities, both of which I accepted.  It looks great on paper, so I'm praying it also translates well IRL.

I started reading E.M. Forester's Where Angels Fear to Tread, from my booklist for 2011.  A few years ago, I really enjoyed A Room With a View and this book has a similar flavor, although much shorter.

In our homeschool this week...
We started reading together The Day Christ Was Born: The True Account of the First 24 Hours of Jesus's Life by Jim Bishop and The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare.  The kids and I are entirely sold on the idea of combining and our school days are nearly cut in half!  We love cuddling together with warm beverages and a good book, which these two definitely are.

Other books brought home from the library for free reading this week:
Olivia ... Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl
David ... Prince Caspian
Fiona ... A Little Princess
Ian ... Winnie the Pooh

Thanks to Silvia from Homeschooling in a Bilingual Home, I placed an order for a vintage math book called Arithmetic for Young Children, being a series of exercises exemplifying the manner in which arithmetic should by taught to young children---what a title, eh?!  I plan to use this with Ian, especially, and Fiona, if applicable.  It will fit nicely with the short and sweet Reception lessons from MEP and could provide a bit of gentle drill for Fiona, too.

Places we're going and people we're seeing...
This week I worked onsite at one of the job opportunities.  It's been a looonnngg time since I've done anything like that, but thankfully it's only a couple of hours each day.  I'll be outsourcing the other hours and managing those persons.  I'm uber-thankful to have employers who values me as a homeschooling mom!

This week was our Little League Opening Day!  I have two sons playing this year, so there's another plate to spin.  My eldest son doesn't enjoy the game as much as my youngest; David's much more a fan of sports that move quickly and non-stop, like soccer and swimming, so I've promised that this can be his last year playing the game.  This summer he's going to have a go with water polo.

This weekend we also celebrated an anniversary at Olivia's ballet studio and I was brought to tears twice: once while watching her perform for an audience of younger students and the parents of enrolled dances; and then later, when I heard words of praise and admiration from the mouth of one of Olivia's newer teachers.  Praise be only to God!  The teacher said Olivia was beautiful both inside and out.  It was an amazing opportunity to point to the One who is truly at work in Olivia's heart, which shows in her life.  If it were all up to me, she would be a wretched brat indeed!

My favorite thing this week was...

My wee men, playing the American stick-and-ball game.

I cannot and will not pick, and I feel so very blessed for it.  Oh, wait!  I placed an order for a Kindle this week.  Yep, I totally pick this!  She'll be here Monday. 

And yep-yep, I'm totally like a dude, naming gadgets and cars.  I'll let you know her name next week, after I get a good feel for her.

What's working/not working for us...

I've no complaints today and everything's working.

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have...

Does anyone choose to homeschool year-round, or do most of you prefer a nice summer break?  I've heard convincing arguments for both, but I'm still on the fence.  I like fences...

A photo, video, link, or quote to share...
I just lurve me some baseball.  My grandfather used to take me to games when I was a wee one, so sitting behind the fence yelling at batters just feels good.  Miss that amazing grand ol' man o'mine...