Homeschooling Mother's Journal

In my life this week...I had a lovely bunch of friends bless me more than they could ever know.   These three gracious ladies wrote and submitted an essay as to why I am a good citizen and why I should win a new car.  Although I see my life as a series of challenges not more difficult than any other, and often easier than some, my heart was greatly moved: to be tangibly blessed like this, in a world in which we Christians (and I'm totally guilty of this too) get so over-extended and busy that the most we feel we can do for another sister or brother in Christ is pray, is a big deal.  Not that praying isn't commanded nor beneficial--much of my life is upheld by the prayers of the faithful, this I fully know; but to do something truly touches a life and gives courage to a heart that may be feeling pressed down or stretched too thin.  This I'm also blessed to know and fully.

When I am privileged to hear the struggles or troubles of another friend, I always beg God to make me more creative--more perceptive--in order that I might know how to be a blessing through more than my prayers.  You see, I often am so practical and ordered in my thinking that I cannot easily discern how to help without giving advice or creating a plan or... But, although it's not my natural gift to instinctively know how to bless another in a tangible way, I'm praying, reading Treasures of Encouragement by Sharon W. Betters, and googling my heart out in order to make a list--my natural gifting--of ideas that will lift the spirits of another soul the way my sweet and darling friends lifted my own.

So, even if I don't receive this car tomorrow, I have won already.  And if I do find myself loading my fab four into a new and safer vehicle, I will wear this badge of honor proudly and yet most humbly.  Thank you!

In our homeschool this week...we've been immersed in Ancient Roman history: we read from Jennie Hall's Buried Cities the tragic tale of Pompeii and Herculaneum and then watched online in six parts at youtube a BBC film that brought my son to tears.  We also read a gripping and gritty tale of a gladiatorial battle during the opening days of the Colosseum from Peeps at Many Lands: Ancient Rome by James Baikie, and then watched another fabulous BBC film found at youtube.com--I just love the giggle I get when Latins speak with a Welsh/Scotch/Irish/English accent!  

Why, yes, I am a nerd.  Why do you ask?

Maths is always lovely although uneventful--wait!  Aang officially started Year 1 of MEP, coupled with Arithmetic for Young Children.  Oh! and he read to me without much help.  This is the fourth child with whom I've used Adventures in Phonics, published by Christian Liberty Press, and over the years I've become less satisfied and more critical of the full-phonics method of language instruction, especially when English--and American English most of all--is riddled with confusing exceptions, so yesterday I placed an order for SCM's Delightful Reading, which approaches reading instruction armed with this knowledge of our imperfect language.  Wish contentment for me and less frustration for Aang, who seems to learn best through his ears.

In Poetry we were all stirred to high emotions by readings by Mum of Gunga Din and If by Rudyard Kipling.  They were truly things upon which to chew and chew, and I found Sokka crying, "Din! Din! Din!" as he went about his days.

In Citizenship and Literature, we are still working through Plutarch's Dion and Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra.  Other than Nature-study and History and Art, these are our favorites times of the week!

Places we're going and people we're seeing...Tomorrow, we're going downtown to find out if we are the happy owners of a new car or not; then, we're off to a day filled with baseball games and photographs at the ballet studio for an upcoming press-release, authored by yours truly.  On Mother's Day we'll celebrate the gift I received nine years ago--Toph--and my privilege to be Mum to them all.  On Monday, Toph and I will head out for a luncheon date and a little birthday shopping; all she wants for her special day is some time alone with me and some of the gaudiest clothes one can find on God's green earth--I'll be sure to post pics!  Then, throughout the rest of the week, we'll be at it again: ballet and baseball until we're doing pirouettes atop the dug-out.  Hope you all have another wonderful week of comings and goings!
My favorite thing this week...Other than the Biggest Blessing, I enjoyed getting out of the house for a midday Zumba class with a friend and also watching my wee slugger, Aang, play his heart out this week at a baseball game, but the most emotional moment of the week was when Aang lost his first tooth!  He's no longer my baby, but a man-cub.  Sigh...
What's not working for us...I'm still trying to reign my kids in from the Spring Break we had last week.    I never learn that briefly relaxing the rules is not really loving my kids, when afterwards they seem utterly out of control and I feel compelled to crack the whip, so to speak.  No bueno!  As much as they & I need a short break every now and again, especially when project-deadlines are looming for me, someone please remind me that consistency is key, um'kay?  Big thanks in advance.
A homeschool question I have...A dear friend of mine is tempting me to switch courses from Truthquest History to try Tapestry of Grace so that we might be able to co-op some projects together.  Although I'm not Classical in method, for the most part, I do see the advantage of having an audience greater than those bearing the same surname and whose toothbrushes are neighbors, and I do believe I can Charlotte Mason-ize almost any curriculum and make it fit our family, but I'm wondering if it would be too much of a shift for us, or too much work for me before we start again in August.  Can anyone compare Truthquest and Tapestry for me? or tell me of your own experience with either?  I'd love to know more before I make a decision!
A photo to share...

Can you hear my man-cub roar?!