I have a little boy...

I have a little boy. He really is a super sweet little boy. Sometimes, however, I don't understand little boy ways and I get frustrated. For instance, I'll ask my boy to help clean up. When I turn around I see him slowly working with one hand...the other hand is tightly clutching some special toy that he doesn't want anyone else to get. This almost always makes me angry. I try to explain to him that he can't clean as well when he is holding onto something and only using one had. He would be able to work much more efficiently if he had both hands free. I pray that this doesn't reflect how selfish he is, that he can't even set one little toy down for fear that his sisters will snatch it away. Over and over I explain this to him, day after day, it doesn't help. He doesn't understand. I don't understand.

So, one night when we had a chance to discuss some different things, I shared this with my husband. I want to be understanding.

By wisdom a house is built, 

by understanding it is established. 

Proverbs 24:3

The Lord suddenly, clearly filled my mind with understanding. Perhaps there are lessons to be learned here, bit by bit, little by little, about letting go, surrendering. Just as Abraham believed in the Lord and was willing to let go of his only son as a sacrifice on the altar, we too need to let go of whatever it is that we are holding to too tightly. What is my Isaac? What is it that I need to let go of in order to be more useful to the Lord? Could my boy slowly learn this lesson too, just as I am slowly learning it?

OR could there be a good side to this boy habit? I only call it a boy habit because I've only ever seen little boys do this...I'm sure there are little girls who must do it too though...I'm a big girl and I do it to- in a different way, a heart way. I began to reflect the wisdom that Jean Fleming shares in her book A Mother's Heart.

In one part of the book, she encourages moms by reminding them that there are usually two sides to everything. Yes, your child might be very messy, but perhaps that means she's also very creative. Not that we can overlook the bad habits of being messy, but that we should be careful to also see the good in our children. So, I began to think what this habit could reflect other than selfishness! 

Perhaps there is a good quality in that part of my boy that drives me crazy that I'll one day rejoice about! Perhaps, he's being protective. If he is this protective of this little toy now, will he grow to be a protective brother, son, husband, and father? I pray he will!

Thank you Lord for giving me understanding in this matter! I won't be so quick to scold him now. Now, I can address him as I ought rather than responding in frustration. I still need to teach him to set his toy down so that he can do the job well, but instead of sharply snatching it away myself or putting it out of his reach as a punishment for being selfish, I can encourage him to set this toy that he wants to protect somewhere safe, so that he can use both hands and work diligently. 

416. lessons learned from little boys

417. Selah's big hugs

418. baby sign language

419. unexpected help

420. warm baby cheeks with heads and eyes still heavy with sleep

421. a new coat

422. the helpful advice of my children

423. privilege of praying for friends

424. a chorus of birds singing outside my window

425. bright sun breaking through heavy gray winter clouds

425. winter walks

426. new fabric

427. clean rooms...even if but for a night

428. the smell of fresh roasted coffee

429. lingering evidence of a good workout

430. beanbag chairs, books, and bedtime

431. This poem by Irene Foster (taken from the book mentioned above)

Here is the poem that Lucy is currently working on memorizing.

The Cupboard

by Walter de la Mare

I know a little cupboard, 

With a teeny tiny key, 

And there's a jar of Lollypops

For me, me, me.

It has a little shelf, my dear, 

As dark as dark can be, 

And there's a dish of Banbury Cakes

For me, me, me.

I have a small fat grandmamma, 

With a very slippery knee, 

And she's the Keeper of the Cupboard

With the key, key, key. 

And when I'm very good, my dear, 

As good as good can be, 

There's Banbury Cakes, and Lollypops

For me, me, me. 

Isn't that a cute poem? I think I know why she likes it so much...it is almost true. True except for the "fat grandmamma with a slippery knee" and the "key on the cupboard", but she does love going to Grandma who always has treats and candies for her! She once asked me what kind of treats Grandma had in the bowl when I was little and was very surprised to hear that we didn't always have a bowl of treats out when I was little. :)

I LOVE the break in our morning when we casually read a poem! It is so relaxing and refreshing. We all look forward to it. Mayme even has some poem books that she loves to read. (This one and this one.)

We don't analyze or study the poems, we just read them for the pleasure of it. Sometimes though when a particular poem has a really great message, I can't help but commenting on it.

I was delighted this morning when I remembered that I would get to read A.A. Milne's poem books with Jude next year!

This year I am reading through this poem book with Jude (see below), and Lucy is reading through various poems by Walter de la Mare.

What is your favorite part of your school day? Do you have any favorite poems? Perhaps I'll have to share some of our favorite poetry more often.

Singapore Math Kindergarten B 

For some reason...well more than one reason...I have felt a bit shy about posting anything Home School related lately. At the same time, I want to share some resources I love with you and well, some other thoughts too. So here I go putting all my worries and fears aside....

I have been doing Singapore Math with Lucy and am pretty pleased with it overall. Now granted true Charlotte Mason fashion wouldn't use a math workbook at this age but rather spoken "story" problems, math manipulatives (or counters and hands-on objects) and lots of games and real life interaction. I however need a book to follow! I've learned through tears (mine and her's) to allow myself and her for that matter to break away from the book's exact expectations when we need to and go at our own pace. I've also learned that Daddy is really good at making math fun...so I take advantages of any opportunities that I can to get him to help! Then they all love it!

So, I decided to start Jude on a math book too. I bought both of the Kindergarten books (A&B) from Singapore. After looking briefly over the books, I decided he could skip right to book B, and that I would save book A for Mayme. I REALLY like his book!!! If you are looking for something to guide you through math with your kindergartner (or preschooler) I highly recommend this book (maybe I should tell you though that we aren't all the way through it yet).  We don't do every page of it. We keep it light and fun. Sometimes I do the writing for him. The bottom of most of the pages has suggestions for extra activities that you can do with your child. Sometimes we only do those suggested activities rather than the work book page. I wish I had had this book for Lucy! I'm excited to start with Mayme at a very slow pace in the fall. I think it will be just enough for her to feel like she is doing "school" with her older siblings without burning her out. We'll see if that plan works or not. :) 

Looking for more CM method Math encouragement 

(including book suggestions) visit Charlotte Mason Help.

Happy Anniversary!

Today is the day! It is our TENTH Anniversary! Let me just say that I am so excited! I've been looking forward to this day for, well, ten years. :) I don't know why, but I just have.

We began our celebration last night. I saw this idea online...the kids and I went and got one balloon for every year that Tyson and I have been married (well, and one more to wish/pray on...and in case someone popped one or let it fly away). Then we put them in the bedroom. I spent the day thinking of ten special memories from the last ten years. I wrote each one down and put it on the string of the balloon. When I first saw this idea (on Pinterest), I honestly thought it sounded a little bit cheesy. Let me tell you though, it was so neat! It was great spending the day reflecting on all that the Lord has done in our lives and marriage over the last ten years. The balloons filled the room not to mention the mini-van that was already filled with four kids. I had some candles lit which really made it a neat sight (unlike the harsh light in the photo). I was going to sprinkle one of Tyson's favorite candies on the bed, but umm...these Rolo's didn't come individually wrapped. :) something to remember for next time. It was a neat night talking about these memories and recalling many others.

You know, when we begin teaching math to our children, we start with objects so that they can see and understand what the numerals represent...something to make them less abstract. There is just something about seeing these balloons fill the space of our home, our lives, it makes the number of years seem so much more real...rather than this abstract number. Really, the years just fly by so quickly, that it is hard to grasp what a number is...until you can see it.

 I am so thankful for Tyson. He is such a wonderful husband that I still don't feel like I deserve. He still takes my breath away in many many ways. I thought I would share this song that we played at our wedding...I'm gonna stand on a mountain top and tell the news that you take my breath away.    
                                                             
                             

...and old video of Tuck and Patti, "Take My Breath Away"...

Multitude Monday

397. Tree trunks the color of night with leaves as gold as daylight.
398. Treasures forgotten and rediscovered.
399. Fresh bread
400. Soft, round faces

401. The last bright colors of autumn flowers.
402. Brilliant fall leaves reflecting the blazing colors of the sunset.

403. Distant bell chiming the time
404. Far off train whistles
405. Long drives
406. Good music
407. shorts and t-shirts in mid-October
408. pumpkin patches

409. Little cowboys

410. little boys who tie ropes around their bellies to make dinosaur tails
411. the pumpkin shake you bought me, the fun evening out we shared
412. blessings in disguise (lost glasses...time for new ones)  :)
413. answered prayer after answered prayer, great is thy faithfulness O God!
414. long overdue tasks finally completed
415. the Sabbath

Multitude Monday

 

 

396. Potty Training Mayme

Why I'm thankful for potty training...    

 Well, it has been a long month. We started potty training Mayme 4 weeks ago. This was our third attempt in the last 9 months. It took about a full month, and I say that gingerly because I still don't feel we're 100% there. Oh, maybe I should say that we are and give her the benefit of the doubt. She is really doing SO well! It is very exciting! I know there will still be some accidents though. She is such a smart little cookie, so it was frustrating that it took her SO long to really get it. It was certainly a LONG month. It started out as expected, lots of accidents, lots of laundry. We handled them very well.
     However, as the "3 days" dragged on to 4 day, 6 days, 7 days, frustration grew and weariness set in. It got more and more difficult not to get angry with her. It hit me that just because I knew that she could do it, didn't mean that she knew that she could do it. I quickly accepted that this was still going to take a while. I couldn't let the "3 days" go on forever. I had 3 other kids to care for and homeschooling to lead them through. Constant watching of a 3 year old wasn't feasible any longer.  So, I yielded and began asking the Lord what lessons He had for me in this.
     It isn't funny how quickly the Lord opens our eyes to the lessons He has for us when we are truly open to seeing and learning them. (I know He doesn't always do this, but often, more times than not, I've found that within seconds of asking what He wants me to learn, answers begin popping into my head.)So, here's what He showed me, this is the good He worked in my life through potty training:

1) The Lord is slow to anger. This is a good thing! He is so patient and long suffering with us. Think of all the times that we sin and stumble, when we KNOW how to do it, yet He is gracious and merciful and not condemning. I needed to learn to be more like Him.
2) I did a lot of laundry during this time. This was a GREAT way to help me get more disciplined about keeping up with laundry so that we didn't run out of sheets or underwear. Necessity is a great motivator! I admit that since she's been doing better (not wetting the bed at night or nap time, not as many accidents, not as many bad accidents) the laundry load has lessened, and so has my diligence. Still, I've learned that I really can do it--keep up with the laundry that is.
3) Small steps are still worth celebrating. Even if you haven't completely accomplished your final goal, any step in the right direction is still good and in the case of potty training, is still worthy of celebrating.
4) Encouragement is huge! This isn't a surprise, or at least it shouldn't be a surprise to you...I hope it isn't. It is amazing how much of  a difference even a little genuine encouragement can make in someone's life. She knew when I was frustrated and I became very aware of the ways she reacted to my frustrations or anger, even when I tried to hide it. However, when I genuinely encouraged her and reassured her that I wasn't mad or angry with her for having an accident, she seemed settled and at peace. The more encouragement we gave, the more steps forward she took. The more encouragement we gave, the less time it took to get back up from our falls.
5) Slow and steady isn't bad after all. Weren't we told that when we were younger? We want everything to be fast and instant in this day and age. I'm guilty of this for sure! Being forced to wait for something is good for us. It develops character and makes the end result all the more sweeter. I learned not to fret when we made two steps forward and one step back, or even when it was one step forward and two steps back because ultimately we were moving forward no matter how slowly...we were moving forward. My attitude didn't always reflect this, I'm sad to say, but I knew it to be true in my heart. Slowly and surely, I knew we would get there.

I'm sure there are more lessons that I haven't touched on, but that's enough for now. Praise the Lord for potty training. Praise the Lord that He can teach us and work in us through any ordinary, everyday thing, and then the not so ordinary everyday things too.  So, is potty training a toddler/preschooler in your future? Fear Not! God will show Himself faithful to you too. Let Him work in you during that time, and I promise you it will be a time you'll never forget...whether it takes 3 days or 30.

(In the middle of writing this, Mayme had an accident. :) See, I told you it would still happen, but it didn't upset me. I'm so thankful that she came to me right away and was able to finish the job on the toilet. Slowly and surely we're getting there!)

By the way, I mentioned above that we used the 3 Day Potty Training method. I did overall really like the method, advice and tips! I would recommend it to others without hesitation. Like I said, we had tried two times before to potty train our daughter and I don't blame her for the failure; it really was more our fault for not being consistent and faithful to help her enough, in many different ways. My first two children were potty trained in about 2 or 3 days easily just by putting them in underwear and pants, so I guess I just expected the same from her. Every child is different!! This method really gave me the push to get back in the saddle again and stick with it this time, no matter what. I didn't call in for help and mentoring as is offered through their website. And after a week or so, we began to realize that we had to change some of their suggestions as they weren't helping Mayme...so thanks to Daddy and a little tough love more progress was made. But overall, I was really pleased with this method and the help it gave us this time around. 

Homeschooling Meme

Amy tagged me in this fun homeschooling meme!

I'm not sure exactly what a "meme" is, but it looks innocent enough. :) 

One Homeschooling Book You have Enjoyed

Well,here are some that have really encouraged me on my journey

- Pocketful of Pinecones by Karen Andreola*

- Lessons at Blackberry Inn by Karen Andreola*

- A Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola

-Home Education by Charlotte M. Mason

(* These books are SO encouraging! I think they describe CM homeschooling so gently and beautifully. I think of them often when I'm discouraged or need a new idea or feel lost.)

One resource you wouldn't be without

Well, these are the ONES that I wouldn't be without:

  - Bible, the days we do neglect to start school without Bible reading, always end up disastrous! God's word is living and renews our souls and minds. I especially appreciate this Bible reading list.

- Library
- Good Books

- Internet, this is where I find a lot of Charlotte Mason encouragement and a TON of ideas in general, we don't really use it for any specific school things yet. 
- The good old out doors!
- A book of poems. I'm delighted at how much we all appreciate this part of the morning. It's a welcomed breath of fresh air!

One resource you wish you'd never bought

Hmm...at first I regretted some of the workbooks I bought, but now the kids like to do them for fun. There are some things though that I've bought based on recommendations from friends only to find that they really didn't fit our families learning/teaching styles. Oh well.   

One Some ;) resources you enjoyed last year

- Books

- Charlotte Mason Help.com 

 -Amy, and other friends who've given counsel and encouragement

One resource you will be using next year

- Internet
-Outdoors (hopefully more than we are now)
-Friends
-More Books
-more poems, art study, foreign language, and music

One resource you would like to buy

I agree with who ever said Bookshelves to fit more books. :)
And maybe the new Kindle... and learning games and nature related DVD's books (especially some of the good ones I hear about from Vision Forum)

One resource you wish existed

hmmm...this one stumps me...maybe a daylight extender? :) No I dont' know if I would really like that, but it would be nice to sometimes have more time in a day. 

One homeschool catalog you enjoy reading

 I agree with Amy, "Don't really read any (just make wishlists on Amazon"  I do love to look at book lists from Charlotte Mason Help.com and from Ambleside. I also enjoy reading different CM blogs and books.  

Tag six four ?? other homeschool bloggers...I don't know who else to tag? So I guess it ends here.