If anyone says motherhood was easy, they are either referring to their pet hamsters or they are heavily medicated. I’ll admit, I used to beat myself up over not getting things done perfectly. After I got over that, I would occasionally beat myself up over not getting things done at all.
Over the past (almost) nine years of motherhood, I’ve made a few compromises. Some I can live with, many I rejoice in. Here are a few items that keep me somewhat sane and walking upright.
- Sometimes I under load the dishwasher so I have less dishes to put away
- Many summer baths for the girls are their time in the pool - chlorine cleans, right?
- If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it
- If it is broke, hide it, duct tape it or throw it away
- Sliding through the kitchen wearing socks counts as sweeping
- Moving a coaster around before putting your glass on it counts as dusting
- No visible stains on the shirt? It’s good for at least one more wear before washing it
- The glamour poof will always be in style for me - it makes the simple ponytail look like I actually tried
The most important lesson I’ve learned is:
- The word “no” is now in my vocabulary. If I can’t do it, someone else will.
Tags: children, home, kids, mom, Moms, mother, parenting, Women
Hi all!
I’ve gotten such good response via here, Twitter, etc. regarding my last post. Thank you so much! Although we aren’t finished with our project, I wanted to give you an idea of what we’ve been doing.
I searched our library data base for books on every character, event, etc. in the movie. I also did a pretty extensive Google search for web sites about each subject. We are making lapbooks for this, and the girls are very excited (we’re big lapbooking fans!). To break it up, we study two characters/events on one day, then put our information in the lapbook the following day.
At the beginning of our lapbook, we’ve added a time line. We are doing everything chronologically, so we just fill it in as we go. However, I think I got a bit mixed up with Easter Island and put it earlier than it should have been. Good thing we marked the time line in pencil! 
Two of the characters in the movie apparently did not exist - Kahmunrah and Octavius. For Kahmunrah, we just studied pharoahs in Ancient Egypt in general. For Octavius, we studied Octavian - Julius Caesar’s nephew whom became Augustus Caesar, Rome’s “First Citizen”.
At the conclusion of our study, I will post photos of our finished project. For the time being, I’ve posted a list of books and web sites I’ve come across that may be of help to you. I don’t have them listed chronologically below (because I’m lazy and just copied it as I had it written on my notes!). I hope they come in handy!
Oh, and a few of my links are lapbooking links. One site I found particularly helpful was www.homegrownhearts.com/lapbook.htm There are many templates/ideas here to help you pull something together. I’ve also used The Usborne Book of World History and The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia for a good summary of different subjects.
Also, I’m a little light on some characters like Abraham Lincoln and Sacagawea simply because we studied them both extensively recently. We will include them, but not go into as great a detail as we will with subjects/characters we’ve not studied before. In addition, we’ve just begun our study, so some of the resources I’ve listed I haven’t gotten to look at extensively.
If you come across good resources I’ve missed, please let me know. I know there’s a lot out there!
Have fun with it! I hope what I’ve listed is helpful.
Blessings,
Kristy
LIST OF RESOURCES
- Teddy Roosevelt - www.homeschoolshare.com/presidents_lapbook.php; and Bully for You, Teddy Roosevelt by Jean Fritz
- The Civil War - www.homeschoolshare.com/civil_war_lapbook_templates.php; History and Activities of the Civil War by Margaret Hall; DK Visual Dictionary of the Civil War by John Stanchak; DK Eyewitness Books of the Civil War by John Stanchak; B is for Battlecry by Patricia Bauer; I’ll Pass for Your Comrade: Women Soldiers in the Civil War by Kimberly Wagner Klier
- Al Capone - www.chicagohs.org/history/capone.html; www.alcaponemuseum.com
- Amelia Earhart - www.ameliaearhart.com; www.handsofachild.com/shop/amelia-Earhart-ebook-p1021.aspx; Amelia Earhart: The Legend of the Lost Aviator by Shelley Tonaka; A Picture Book of Amelia Earhart by David Adler; Amelia Earhart: Pioneering Aviator by Leigh Hopewood; Amelia Earhart: Free in the Skies by Robert Burleigh; You Can’t Do That, Amelia by Kimberly Wagner Klier
- Ivan the Terrible - www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/history/russia/ivantheterrible.html; and The Story of The World, Book 2, Middle Ages (pgs. 231-233)
- Octavian - Story of the World, Book 2 Ancient Times; and used both Usborne and Kingfisher History Encyclopedias for this study.
- The Thinker - www.musee-rodin.fr/welcome.htm
- Kahmunrah (may have been named after Akhmenrah) - www.homeschoolhelperonline.com/lapbooks/ancient_egypt.htm,; Ancient Egypt by Philip Steele
- Albert Einstein - http://www.alberteinstein.info/; Albert Einstein by Don McLeese
- Napoleon - http://www.napoleonguide.com/; Napoleon: The Story of the Little Corporal by Robert Burleigh
- Tuskegee Airmen - www.tuskegeeairmen.org; www.history.com/content/worldwartwo
- “American Gothic” painting - I did an image search for Grant Wood’s work. For this and The Thinker, we’ll do a combined art study.
- Easter Island - www.mysteriousplaces.com/Easter_Island/index.html; Wonders of the World by Philip Steele
- Abraham Lincoln - www.homeschoolshare.com/presidents_lapbook.php; Abe Lincoln Goes to Washington by Cheryl Harness; Abraham Lincoln by David & Patricia Armentrout; Abraham Lincoln by Ingri and Edgar Parin D’Aulaire
- George Foreman - www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biography_story/248:310/1/George_Foreman.htm
- Sacagawea - www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/people/s_z/sacagawea.htm; Sacagawea by Don McCleese; Sacagawea, American Pathfinder by Flora Warren Seymour
As a homeschooling parent, I’m always on the lookout for ways to “school” everywhere (and still having fun in the process). Recently, a fellow homeschooling friend of mine had what I thought was a brilliant idea (thanks Janna!)
They had taken their kids to see the movie “Night at the Museum 2″, and she suggested what fun it would be to do unit studies on each of the characters and events mentioned in the film. I think I just might be taking her idea and running with it! Making a lapbook about what we learned might be a great addition, too.
If I can organize myself, I will post our results!
It was one of those days in our world of homeschooling. Frequent eye rolls, complaining and bickering throughout our morning lessons. I really did my best to be patient. I tried to keep my voice calm - despite having to sometimes raise it above their elevated voices. Somehow amidst the “Why do I have to!?”, “I’m tired!” and the “Make her stop it!”, we managed to finish our morning school work. Finally - lunch. The girls ran outside to play as I headed to the kitchen.
While stirring the macaroni noodles, my thoughts poured over the morning’s events. Lord, I prayed. What is up with this day? I started the day with prayer and everything! I prayed for school! I mean, really!?
Then it occurred to me (Holy Spirit driven, I’m sure!) - imagine what the morning would have been like had you not prayed.
Ouch. I think I get the point now.
Tags: Christian, home, Homeschool, kids, parenting, stay at home mom, Women
My daughters and I sing just about all the time. We’re blessed to have a couple of great Christian radio stations locally, so that makes up about 80% of what we sing.
Today I’m reminded of the verse Psalm 8:2 - “From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.”
That verse brings me such joy. I’m also stirred at the thought of the minions of the evil one scurrying away at the sound of my sweet girls singing to God at the top of their lungs.
My daughters finally cornered me.
“Mommy, are you really the Easter Bunny!?”
After a few minutes of trying to skirt around the subject by asking them questions, like “What do you think?”, I realized it was futile. I caved in.
“I’m not going to lie to you. Yes, I’m the Easter Bunny.”
My five-year-old replied in a hushed, yet excited tone. “You go to everyone’s house and put stuff in their baskets!?”
After a little more dialogue about the subject, I realized something a little remarkable. The girls weren’t completely devastated by this news. No weeping and wailing. No this-is-the-worst-thing-to-ever-happen-to-me attitude. It was very uneventful.
It made me wonder something. Could my husband and I actually have done something right? See, as Christian parents, we’ve often gone back and forth about the whole Santa Claus and Easter Bunny deal. Should we foster that belief? Should we tell them the truth from the beginning?
We finally decided to let them believe in those things, but we wouldn’t go overboard in pushing them. For each of those holidays we always focused on the true meaning. At Christmas we make a birthday cake for Jesus, read stories of His birth, make shoeboxes for Samaritan’s Purse, and sometimes do other things to help people financially (as we are able). Our mention of “Santa” has always focused on the works of real St. Nicholas. We treat Easter much the same way by doing Easter bible studies, making resurrection cookies, attending our homeschool group’s Passover Seder, and watching Jesus of Nazareth together.
While the girls have always gotten a couple of things from Santa and a little treat from the Easter Bunny each year, Jesus is always the focus. Because of that, they associate Him with those holidays - not the fake stuff society (and we parents!) add to them.
I’ve done a lot of things wrong over the years in this parenting journey. But as a result of this recent Easter Bunny revelation, the Lord has really encouraged me. And quite frankly, the sneaking out to Target for last minute basket fillers was getting kind of old anyway!
I mean, really?! How can it be that I will be forty years old in less than two months?
I’ve seen it coming for some time now. It started gradually enough.
Slowly, but surely, the daring nighties and satin bras took flight from their lavender paper lined home. The unmentionable drawer is now teeming with mammoth, cotton bloomers in shades of white, off white and gray (for those rare date nights). Bras are utilitarian these days– the farther they can keep the girls from pointing south, the better.
My Cosmopolitan and Glamour magazines have long been replaced with More, Prevention and other pubs geared toward the “older” generation. It just makes more sense to know the best way to great colon health than the most exciting public place for an intimate encounter. Those kinds of things left the radar after two kids anyway.
Also, I’m very happy to see that everyone is on a high-fiber-tons-of-grain bandwagon. Having a grocery cart filled with Fiber One Bars, Flaxseed, and triple-bran cereals isn’t quite so embarrassing these days. Strategically separating them in the cart between the shampoo, produce and pork rinds helps, too.
I’ve actually embraced the notion of being in a higher age bracket. It won’t be too much harder to bubble in the next option in questionnaires. At least I can still read them without the aid of reading glasses.
And I can still get around pretty well. Athletic Conditioning class at the Y has helped tremendously. And how many dangerously close to forty year olds do you know who can sprint, lift weights, jump rope, and run flights of stairs for a solid hour without puking? Okay, maybe most of the other people in my class – and probably most of the people who come to the Y. But that’s not my point.
My point is, even though I’m obviously older than I was twenty years ago. I’m actually stronger (even though the muscles are hidden under a layer or two of fluff). Being able to keep up with my kids on the playground, and sometimes beat them in a foot race, is an unbelievable feeling.
Yes, I’m almost forty. And I say “Yay!” to that. I’ve earned these wrinkles, and I display them proudly (plus, most of the creams and gels I’ve spent hundreds of dollars on over the years just don’t work!).
I’m blessed with an incredible family and exceptional friends who encourage, challenge and love me. I’m also closer to my Lord than I was twenty years ago. Sometimes growth has been a mere crawl, but I’m getting there.
I wouldn’t change being forty for anything. Okay, maybe one Friday night I’d like to stay up past midnight without having to hibernate for two days to make up for it. Other than that, I’m good.
So I’m counting down the days to my birthday, but not with fear and trepidation. I will greet it with a renewed sense of adventure for life. I vow to challenge myself spiritually, physically and mentally – even if that means running up an extra flight of stairs every now and then.
When my oldest daughter was three, she and I were strolling along the beach in search of shell treasures. It was December, and there didn’t seem to be much in the way of beautiful shells to be found. As we made our way down the steps to the beach, Peyton ran in excited anticipation to a large mound of broken shell pieces by the water’s edge. Carefully collecting a few, she scurried back to me clutching her treasures. “Look Mommy! I found a shell!”
Opening her hands, I saw an array of broken shards – some large, others small, but none resembling the shells they once were.
Taking advantage of that “teaching moment” and wanting to educate my daughter in the business of proper shell collecting, I quickly corrected her. “No, honey, that’s just a broken piece.” I quickly explained that there might be other whole shells worthy of picking up, even showing her some examples I found. “Oh,” she replied matter of factly. And she continued happily filtering through the pile, picking out more broken shells and placing them gently in her bucket.
As I watched her, the Lord gently spoke to me through the actions of my beautiful little girl. That’s how I see you. When others would ignore those pieces, discard them and see no value in them, I seek them out, tenderly pick them up and place them in the palm of My hand.
“..the Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” 1 Samuel 16:7
Just as my daughter saw those shells, My Father sees me.
Thank you, Lord, for salvaging my broken pieces. And thank you for those “teachable moments” – I pray I will be a better student.
My kids have always had a unique perspective of things. For example, sometimes when we get caught at a red light, instead letting out a loud sigh of frustration (like their mother often does), they squeal with delight. “Look mom, we’re first in line!” they shout.
When I’m perturbed that my daily schedule is all of five seconds off because of this unwelcome pause, my daughters rejoice at winning an invisible race of some sort. It’s interesting to me how the same event can prompt two entirely different responses.
I’m reminded of 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
God is God no matter what is going on around – or with us. Sickness, family strife, disappointments, and financial concerns – the list of difficult circumstances can sometimes be overwhelming. However, as Christians, we have the privilege of resting in Christ, and finding joy through our relationship with Him. We have a choice to accept that and rejoice in it, or wallow in our self-pity.
Today, I resolve to squeal with delight the next time I’m first in line for that red light. I pray you will, too!
The following blog is a reprint of an article I wrote published in Proverbs 31 Magazine (2004).
As parents, it is often difficult to keep from devoting every single ounce of energy to our children. When they are babies, we are responsible for caring for their every need. As they grow and become more independent, we are there to haul them to and from the myriad of activities they are involved in.
Unfortunately, as a result, sometimes our marriage relationship suffers. Sometimes we are so caught up in our kids; we wake up one day and wonder who this strange man is sleeping beside us (even if he isn’t snoring!).
One of the best pieces of marital advice my husband and I still hold to came from the pastor who married us, Reverend R.F. Smith. During our pre-marriage counseling, he asked us to hold hands forming a circle.
“When your children come along, where will they go in relationship to your circle?” he asked. Without hesitating, Joe and I pointed to the center of the circle. It seemed like the natural place for the children to go. Our pastor stepped into our circle as our “children”.
He then explained that at some point those children will go off to college, have careers and eventually form their own family. He stepped out of our circle to demonstrate, and we quickly realized our circle was empty.
“Here is a better alternative,” he continued as he joined hands with Joe and me forming a larger circle. “Make your children part of your circle, not the center of it. He stepped out of our circle and Joe and I joined hands once again. “Make God the center of your circle and it will never be empty.”
I am so thankful for that priceless advice - especially when Joe and I struggled through four years of infertility before conceiving our first daughter. After facing the possibility of never having our own children, it would have been very easy for us to make our children our “raison d’etre”.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33 NIV)
And all these things will be given to you - including a loving, healthy, strong relationship with our husbands! Imagine a triangle with Jesus as the top point. Put you and your husband at the bottom two points. Now trace the path on each side to the top. It is unavoidable! If you and your husband are reaching for Jesus, you will get closer and closer to each other.
Yes, it is our responsibility as Christian parents to meet the needs of our children and to nurture them into godly young people. But by demonstrating to our kids a loving, Christ-centered marriage, our actions can teach them more than our words ever could.
Tags: Christian, Moms, parent, stay at home mom
