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To Homeschool or not to Homeschool
To homeschool or not to homeschool, that is the question! Whether it is nobler to suffer the slings and arrows of playground bullies, or to take up workbooks against the common core and by opposing – teach common sense. Oh to wonder no more, and by making a decision, to say we end the heartache of forever scarring our children by choosing incorrectly. . . Okay, that Hamlet allusion was probably only amusing me. My students either loved or dreaded Shakespeare units. I always started with a Monty Python-esque British accent and Hamlet’s soliloquy, attempting to inspire them to love the bard. As a dedicated public school teacher for 17…
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30 Days Without Complaint 48 hours: Be a Light in the World
As I prepare to undertake this transformative challenge again this year, I am revisiting what I learned only 48 hours into 30 days without complaint the very first year – learning to be a light in the world. First, since I’ve started this challenge, I’ve found that God has continually blessed me with ample opportunities to practice. Not complaining may be a bit like praying for patience. Once I ask, I get lots of chances to practice. Because I genuinely care about people, I am generally very friendly. But my heart is fed by lots of quiet time, so busy days can be very stressful for me. You might think…
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Tights are not pants
Yesterday, God gave me a real opportunity to meet my daughter where she was. I was heading to a preparatory meeting for a local speaking engagement. I needed her to put her shoes on. After ten minutes, I called for her to come get into the car. She comes out of her bedroom in her t-shirt, sandals, and tights – no pants. Of course I giggled at her silliness, but suggested that she needs actual pants before we leave the house. After attempting to reason with her, I tried to take the easy way out and tell her that they had a hole instead of arguing the “tights are not…
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The “No Thank You” Day
I think my mother-in-law uses this term, a “No Thank You” day, to refer to one of those days that for whatever reason, someone just isn’t happy. Someone else might describe it as waking up on the wrong side of the bed, but you get the idea. Today was that kind of day around my house. I woke up before my preschooler. I got out of bed, was brushing my teeth in a pretty good mood. Then she woke up. And that was pretty much the end of that. After a “good morning, Mommy” full of the promise of sunshine, she pretty much rained on my parade the rest of…
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Seriously Harvard!? How I reset my parenting expectations
My parenting expectations were WAY out of whack. I realized this after a harmless Facebook post almost sent me into a tizzy. A mom friend posted on Facebook. “My 6 yo daughter is so smart! Harvard should get ready.” She was being quippy. (Heaven not Harvard is as a participant in affiliate programs including the Amazon Associates Program. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.) But my mommy radar sounded an alarm, seeking some measuring stick by which to gauge if my daughter might also be in this very elite kindergarten predestined for Harvard group. I began to type a long comment, but paused. She was being funny. Her…
