You don't have to use words to be mean

My twin sister is homeschooling her daughter now.

I don't think she ever thought she would homeschool, but she'll be great.

I mean, really great.

One of those homeschool moms I would look at and go, wow, I never would have thought of doing that with my kids! Of course, that was back in the day when I had time to put a little creativity in my homeschooling. Now I buy creative homeschool curriculum.

Sweet Angela, seven years old. Kissed by an angel on her cheek (birthmark) and teased mercilessly by the kids at school. So unhappy this past year. Now she's happy and safe because she doesn't have to go to back to that place anymore.

But she still cries about it.

Sweet Angela, with the big eyes and charming smile. She had to endure children pointing and laughing at her on a daily basis. She had to endure the kids passing notes about her. Worst of all, she had to endure kids acting as if she didn't exist. She didn't put this into words earlier for her mom to bring her home sooner. Oh, there were teacher meetings, and dealing with bullies who would verbally tease. The kids learned. It's not what they said. It wasn't the words that hurt. Sometimes it's about asking the right questions. Sometimes it's about understanding the definitions.

Bullying. It can even happen in the home. Do my kids bully each other? Do I listen when they tell me about what one of their siblings did to them? Bullying - here is a beautiful post with a recommended book read,The Wounded Spirit by Frank Peretti. I'm getting the book. And I'm going to listen to my kids.

Sometimes it's hard to live so far away when cousins need hugs. And cousins need to give hugs. Daughters #2 and #3 may be coming home next year to learn also. Pray for them, will ya?

Curriculum Time

Curriculum time. I am going to do something I've NEVER done before. I usually analyze, overanalyze, and agonize over what curriculum I am going to buy. As a matter of fact, last year it was so bad (the analyzing and agonizing) with my daughter starting high school, that I totally forgot to order her math, and kept forgetting, and it finally arrived in October! This year, I am going to order my curriculum before the summer. Yep, before homeschool conferences. Before making any trips to the big city to look at homeschool bookstores and hold the curriculum in my hands. Before our school year even ends! I am hoping to sit down this weekend and map everything out and make the purchases next week.

Here's what I am thinking about:

For the boys:

Nothing is really changing.

Continuing with Learning Adventures

Singapore Math

Easy Grammer and Daily Grams

Apologia (Co-op)

Adding: Latin - Latin's not so tough

Typing

Handwriting (copy work isn't working for us. Maybe a bound book will help, maybe)

Adding back in IEW

For Raeley:

Core 2000 of Sonlight

Math U See

Apologia (Co-op)

Maybe adding a course of IEW. I don't think she did enough writing.

For Cameron:

Sonlight World History (Which I already have)

Singapore Math

Handwriting

This girl lives for a party!

Cameron is planning Mother's Day. I'm honored. This girl lives for a party. She plans life event to event. She brought me a post it note and a pen and told me to make a list of what I wanted. Here are her suggestions:

Clothes

shoes

high heels

boots

high heel boots.

What was her favorite gift from her birthday? Twinkle Toes Shoes. Her favorite outfit this summer? Tan shorts, brown and blue striped shirt and brown boots.

Once a week we are throwing a party for one of her stuffed animals. She wants to bake them a cake. Not good for my fitness goals!

A+ in spelling!

She wrote my last name on the post it note. Sdevynz. Her preferred way to spell Mommy is Mome. Her nickname Cammi is Came. You guessed it - Daddy is Dade. She knows the silent e rule. That's just the way she prefers it.

Vacations

I need a vacation. Who doesn't? And yes, I said need, not want.

Need so I don't lose who I am.

Need so I remember what fun is,

so I don't forget to laugh.

I've mentioned before that vacations are high priority for us since my husband and I work together. It keeps us balanced - and even if we didn't work together, because we both have such full schedules, the time away keeps us from getting burned out. I need a vacation. It doesn't have to be expensive. Take me camping and we'll eat pb&j sandwiches. Our weekends have been planned to the minute and filled with stuff that I can't fit in during the week like laundry and housecleaning. Glamorous, huh? A quick way to get burned out and lose yourself. I am beginning to wonder what a good, gourmet meal at home is like. But gourmet meals take planning and inspiration and I'm a little short on both. I did enjoy my super quick chicken and dumplings tonight with fresh (dried) basil from my friend's garden, and minced garlic. That's gourmet for today.

Facebook

I've given up Facebook for the most part and I don't really miss it. Two things that are time wasters for me - Facebook and TV. I have started DVRing Glen Beck, recently, though. I'm learning Economics from him. Seriously, I am. My kids need to know this stuff. I am gonna have to start taking notes, too. It's good stuff. He even made a big push in favor of homeschooling the other day. It is hard to even fathom how much money is spent on our totally screwed up educational system. Cut it in half and the financial problems of this country would be taken care of. Doesn't it blow your mind to hear that and then look at all the school districs who are bankrupt? A prime example of what happens when the goverment is in charge of something where money is involved.

Back to time wasters. I am replacing that time with cleaning my house and reading more. I am also trying to do one thing I enjoy every day, even if it is something small (like one square of chocolate or cutting some roses off my rose bush).

I went to the library and checked out a few books. My current reads:

The Contrarian's Guide to Leadership

Endangered Minds - just wait for my soapbox on this one!