This is so true!
Animal school
An old story tells of the creation of a school for the animals. In this school, everybody took the same four courses: flying, swimming, climbing, and running. Among the students were a duck, a flying squirrel, a fox, and an elephant. These four were highly motivated, and wanted to get good grades, so they all tried very hard.
The duck did fantastically well in swimming and flying, but he lagged behind his classmates in climbing and running, so focused special attention on those two subjects. However, his feet became so sore from trying to run and his wings were so bedraggled from trying to climb that by the end of the year he not only failed both those subjects, but made C’s in swimming and flying, which had once been his two best subjects.
At the beginning of the school year, the squirrel was first in his class in climbing and running and was second only to the duck at flying. But as the months wore on, he missed so much school from catching pneumonia in his swimming class that he failed everything.
To make matters even worse, because the squirrel constantly squirmed and chattered in class, and had difficulty paying attention, he was diagnosed with a learning disorder. The squirrel eventually was placed in remedial classes and had to be medicated in order to continue with his school work.
The fox was a natural in his running class and scored well in climbing and swimming, but became so frustrated at his inability to get good Grades in flying that he began assaulting his classmates. He even tried to eat the duck. His behavior was so disruptive he was expelled from school. He fell in with a rough crowd and eventually wound up in a center for animal delinquents.
The elephant, meanwhile, developed low self-esteem because he couldn’t do well in any of the subjects. When he sank into clinical depression, his therapist persuaded him to try a different school that focused on subjects such as lifting and carrying. The elephant was disappointed, because careers in lifting and carrying were not as prestigious as careers in flying, swimming, climbing, or running. Even though he always felt inferior, he managed to make a decent living and support his family.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Article by Chris Davis
written by Chris Davis, formerly from Elijah Co.
If you have been a recipient of my eNewsletter or if you have heard me speak at a conference you know that I have a concern about the shift I have seen in the reasons families choose to homeschool. I would like to take this opportunity to bring us back to what I perceive to be the reason God began this movement over 20 years ago.
Our good friend Rob Shearer once told me something which I will paraphrase as follows:
bw children2 About 20 years ago, a group of parents began to feel a deep desire to have their children grow up at home rather than in an institutional setting. Thus began what is now referred to as the Homeschooling Movement. These early “homeschoolers” my friend refers to as Pioneers: parents who knew God wanted them to take total responsibility for raising (including educating) their own children. These Pioneers were determined to have their children home during the day in spite of the difficulties (and sometimes the dangers) this decision created.
During this Pioneer stage, there was another group of parents who heard about the benefits of homeschooling, but who decided to wait to see if the Pioneers would be successful before becoming homeschoolers themselves. These my friend called Settlers. Once the Settlers were convinced of the benefits of homeschooling, they joined in. However, unlike the Pioneers, many Settlers weren’t sure they would homeschool for the long term so they simply copied the public schools’ curricula and sequencing methods just in case it turned out that homeschooling didn’t work for them. And, if it didn’t, their children could be mainstreamed back into “school.”
By the late 1990’s public schools were receiving such negative publicity, and homeschooling such positive publicity, many more parents began to consider homeschooling as a viable alternative. They knew little about homeschooling except that it had to be better than the public school. These families my friend called Refugees: parents who were escaping a negative situation, but with no real understanding of what they were doing or why; nor did many of them want to know. They simply wanted their children to be educated as if the children were “in school” but without the negative context they perceived existed in the public school setting.
As I have described the three kinds of homeschoolers above, you may have noticed a very subtle, yet most important, difference between the Pioneers’ main desire (to have their children grow up at home) and the main desire of the other two groups (to provide a better education, or a less negative context for their children).
The reason I entitled this article, Homeschooling Is Not About Education is because I think we have a tendency to lose sight of or, perhaps, we have never really understood why we were led to homeschool. I draw this conclusion because what I hear as most homeschooling parents’ primary concerns are issues such as, “Will this be the best curriculum for my child?” or “How do I know I’m going to cover it all?”
onlogLet’s take another look at this thing called “Homeschooling.” We all know one or more families whose children would greatly benefit if their children were not in a public school setting. Yet, these families don’t bring their children home. We feel truly blessed to believe in homeschooling and we don’t understand why everyone doesn’t see the obvious benefits. Why do friends and relatives keep sending their children to “school”, anyway? Why do we seem to be among so few who are willing to do this?
I would like to offer my opinion as to why we have become “homeschoolers” and so many others have not: I have a conviction that a historical time is approaching for which a certain “kind” of person will be needed in this nation; indeed, in the world. When this time will come, I don’t know, but my sense is that it will come soon. What I do believe is that God has needed a very specific context within which He can grow up this particular kind of person. And, since a lot of these “persons” are needed, God has asked a lot of us to become homeschoolers. What is this context? It is simply a place where the hearts of the fathers have been turned toward their children and the hearts of the children have been turned toward their fathers. It is a place where children are raised to become proficient at the specific giftings, talents, and callings God has placed within them since their creation.
This is the context which every homeschooling family has the opportunity to create. Yet, what disturbs me is that homes-SCHOOLING has become the primary focus of so many of these families. Homeschooling parents are prioritizing something quite different than what was in the heart of God as expressed in the hearts of those early Pioneers when they brought (or kept) their children home during the day.
For those of you who have “brought the school home,” let me suggest that you rethink what you are really doing with your children. Do you ever consider what kind of person this little boy or girl is to become by the time he or she leaves your home? Have you ever wondered if God Himself, has placed some very specific talents, giftings and callings in this youngster that He expects you to discover and promote during the child’s stay with you? Do such things determine your family’s priorities, weekly schedule or the curricula you purchase?
Or as you look toward the “finish line” of your child’s time at home, do you simply buy a graded curricula and spend your days plowing through it, because you think the highest purpose of your parenting is to see that your child receives the best education you can provide so you can one day say, “My son has a good job.”
If the answers to these questions are something like, “I don’t know”, or, “I don’t want to think about it,” then you may be a “homeschooler”, but I think you’ve missed the point.
Even Pioneers can slowly become Refugees. The very word “homeschooling” can cause us all to forget that what we are doing is not about home-SCHOOLING but about creating that context in which we assist God in raising the little ones in our homes to become His men and women who are truly prepared for what is going to happen in their own generation. To be like King David whom God did not identify as a man “with a good job;” but as a man who “served his generation well.”
If you have been a recipient of my eNewsletter or if you have heard me speak at a conference you know that I have a concern about the shift I have seen in the reasons families choose to homeschool. I would like to take this opportunity to bring us back to what I perceive to be the reason God began this movement over 20 years ago.
Our good friend Rob Shearer once told me something which I will paraphrase as follows:
bw children2 About 20 years ago, a group of parents began to feel a deep desire to have their children grow up at home rather than in an institutional setting. Thus began what is now referred to as the Homeschooling Movement. These early “homeschoolers” my friend refers to as Pioneers: parents who knew God wanted them to take total responsibility for raising (including educating) their own children. These Pioneers were determined to have their children home during the day in spite of the difficulties (and sometimes the dangers) this decision created.
During this Pioneer stage, there was another group of parents who heard about the benefits of homeschooling, but who decided to wait to see if the Pioneers would be successful before becoming homeschoolers themselves. These my friend called Settlers. Once the Settlers were convinced of the benefits of homeschooling, they joined in. However, unlike the Pioneers, many Settlers weren’t sure they would homeschool for the long term so they simply copied the public schools’ curricula and sequencing methods just in case it turned out that homeschooling didn’t work for them. And, if it didn’t, their children could be mainstreamed back into “school.”
By the late 1990’s public schools were receiving such negative publicity, and homeschooling such positive publicity, many more parents began to consider homeschooling as a viable alternative. They knew little about homeschooling except that it had to be better than the public school. These families my friend called Refugees: parents who were escaping a negative situation, but with no real understanding of what they were doing or why; nor did many of them want to know. They simply wanted their children to be educated as if the children were “in school” but without the negative context they perceived existed in the public school setting.
As I have described the three kinds of homeschoolers above, you may have noticed a very subtle, yet most important, difference between the Pioneers’ main desire (to have their children grow up at home) and the main desire of the other two groups (to provide a better education, or a less negative context for their children).
The reason I entitled this article, Homeschooling Is Not About Education is because I think we have a tendency to lose sight of or, perhaps, we have never really understood why we were led to homeschool. I draw this conclusion because what I hear as most homeschooling parents’ primary concerns are issues such as, “Will this be the best curriculum for my child?” or “How do I know I’m going to cover it all?”
onlogLet’s take another look at this thing called “Homeschooling.” We all know one or more families whose children would greatly benefit if their children were not in a public school setting. Yet, these families don’t bring their children home. We feel truly blessed to believe in homeschooling and we don’t understand why everyone doesn’t see the obvious benefits. Why do friends and relatives keep sending their children to “school”, anyway? Why do we seem to be among so few who are willing to do this?
I would like to offer my opinion as to why we have become “homeschoolers” and so many others have not: I have a conviction that a historical time is approaching for which a certain “kind” of person will be needed in this nation; indeed, in the world. When this time will come, I don’t know, but my sense is that it will come soon. What I do believe is that God has needed a very specific context within which He can grow up this particular kind of person. And, since a lot of these “persons” are needed, God has asked a lot of us to become homeschoolers. What is this context? It is simply a place where the hearts of the fathers have been turned toward their children and the hearts of the children have been turned toward their fathers. It is a place where children are raised to become proficient at the specific giftings, talents, and callings God has placed within them since their creation.
This is the context which every homeschooling family has the opportunity to create. Yet, what disturbs me is that homes-SCHOOLING has become the primary focus of so many of these families. Homeschooling parents are prioritizing something quite different than what was in the heart of God as expressed in the hearts of those early Pioneers when they brought (or kept) their children home during the day.
For those of you who have “brought the school home,” let me suggest that you rethink what you are really doing with your children. Do you ever consider what kind of person this little boy or girl is to become by the time he or she leaves your home? Have you ever wondered if God Himself, has placed some very specific talents, giftings and callings in this youngster that He expects you to discover and promote during the child’s stay with you? Do such things determine your family’s priorities, weekly schedule or the curricula you purchase?
Or as you look toward the “finish line” of your child’s time at home, do you simply buy a graded curricula and spend your days plowing through it, because you think the highest purpose of your parenting is to see that your child receives the best education you can provide so you can one day say, “My son has a good job.”
If the answers to these questions are something like, “I don’t know”, or, “I don’t want to think about it,” then you may be a “homeschooler”, but I think you’ve missed the point.
Even Pioneers can slowly become Refugees. The very word “homeschooling” can cause us all to forget that what we are doing is not about home-SCHOOLING but about creating that context in which we assist God in raising the little ones in our homes to become His men and women who are truly prepared for what is going to happen in their own generation. To be like King David whom God did not identify as a man “with a good job;” but as a man who “served his generation well.”
Thursday, October 1, 2009
The Mayards!
We went to the library yesterday afternoon and picked up a pile of great books. There's this one book called "bats at the library". I thought we might read about bats as i'd seen them hanging upside down like ripe figs on the trees in the botanic gardens. They looked so cute. We had also read "Stellaluna" that day too.
We were reading through the books when dad rang. Ollie ran to pick up the skype phone and said hello, a-gong at the airport, no, a-gong not at the airport, a-gong in taiwan, and so forth in his monologue. Then dad asked him a few questions and i just saw him nod and say 'yep, yep, yep, i think'. It was so much like a real conversation, except i'm not sure he understood the questions dad was asking him.
Then it was my turn to talk to dad so Oliver picked up this bat book and started flipping through the pages. He runs over to me and points to a page and says excitedly 'Mayards!! Mayards!! Mayards!!' and I say 'oh that's nice' in an offhanded way without in any way understanding what he was saying. He keeps pointing to this picture and keeps saying Mayards! and i say, oh you mean Madeline? or Magnet? He's pretty frustrated at this point so i just take the book and read it from the beginning. It's a story about bats who get into a library at night and start reading books. They imgaine themselves to be characters in books. There's a page where little bats are crossing a road with the policeman blowing his whistle. The illustration from "Make way for ducklings", except with bats. The Mallards are the ducks in that story. I wouldn't have noticed it at all had Oliver not pointed it out to me. When we got to that page, i laughed and said "AH HA!" so you mean the MaLLards!
This was definitely a 'we must homeschool' moment. Such precious moments in your life that you miss out on when you send them off to school. Shared book memories. I love that. We have memories based on books. At the library Ollie heard a mother reading "We're going on a bear hunt" to her boy and he wandered over to listen. Then he took the book when they'd finished with it and wanted me to read it to him. It's so comforting to have books that you remember. He still remembers it from when we read it over and over and over when he was about 18 months old.
We were reading through the books when dad rang. Ollie ran to pick up the skype phone and said hello, a-gong at the airport, no, a-gong not at the airport, a-gong in taiwan, and so forth in his monologue. Then dad asked him a few questions and i just saw him nod and say 'yep, yep, yep, i think'. It was so much like a real conversation, except i'm not sure he understood the questions dad was asking him.
Then it was my turn to talk to dad so Oliver picked up this bat book and started flipping through the pages. He runs over to me and points to a page and says excitedly 'Mayards!! Mayards!! Mayards!!' and I say 'oh that's nice' in an offhanded way without in any way understanding what he was saying. He keeps pointing to this picture and keeps saying Mayards! and i say, oh you mean Madeline? or Magnet? He's pretty frustrated at this point so i just take the book and read it from the beginning. It's a story about bats who get into a library at night and start reading books. They imgaine themselves to be characters in books. There's a page where little bats are crossing a road with the policeman blowing his whistle. The illustration from "Make way for ducklings", except with bats. The Mallards are the ducks in that story. I wouldn't have noticed it at all had Oliver not pointed it out to me. When we got to that page, i laughed and said "AH HA!" so you mean the MaLLards!
This was definitely a 'we must homeschool' moment. Such precious moments in your life that you miss out on when you send them off to school. Shared book memories. I love that. We have memories based on books. At the library Ollie heard a mother reading "We're going on a bear hunt" to her boy and he wandered over to listen. Then he took the book when they'd finished with it and wanted me to read it to him. It's so comforting to have books that you remember. He still remembers it from when we read it over and over and over when he was about 18 months old.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Muswellbrook
Went to Joshua & Ashlee's wedding. On the way up had to stop very frequently as Ollie is a carsick kind of kid. On the way back we put stickytape on his bellybutton as Kim had suggested it. It may have worked as he wasn't as sick, but I dont know. Mum said that she's heard of that trick before, but you need to put salt on the sticky tape.
Went to see the doctor for my stomach pains. He said it was gastritis. Anyway, Steve walked the boys home. He had a very interesting conversation with Ollie about it. Where is mummy?
Mummy at doctors (Steve)
Mummy sick?
yes mummy is sick. Mummy has a sore tummy (Steve)
Put sticky tape on mummy's tummy?
Wedding was beautiful. Lovely to get away, spend time with parents & Chris.
Went to see the doctor for my stomach pains. He said it was gastritis. Anyway, Steve walked the boys home. He had a very interesting conversation with Ollie about it. Where is mummy?
Mummy at doctors (Steve)
Mummy sick?
yes mummy is sick. Mummy has a sore tummy (Steve)
Put sticky tape on mummy's tummy?
Wedding was beautiful. Lovely to get away, spend time with parents & Chris.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Homeschooling Conference
Steve and I went to the Diana Waring homeschool conference in Kogarah today. We listened to 3 talks - The well-kept secret of a biblical home education, Exposing the wizard of Oz, Raising world changers. They were all very inspiring and encouraging. I browsed the stalls and got to touch and feel some curriculum. I have a very good feeling about this. It is going to be fun! We were sorry that we weren't able to go to the Saturday one.
Mum & dad met us at Kogarah station so we could drive home together.
Mum & dad met us at Kogarah station so we could drive home together.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Aunty M's Song
Once there lived a little robin
outside a kitchen door.
He wanted so to go inside
and hop up on the floor.
oh No! said Robin's mother
you'd better stay with me
For little birds are safer
sitting in a tree.
I don't care said Robin
as he gave his tail a fling
I don't think that old folks know quite everything
So into the kitchen fastly
and quicker than a wink
a great big cat had caught him
because he didn't think.
Once a little trap was baited
with a little piece of cheese
It tickled so a little mouse
It almost made him sneeze.
And old grey mouse said "danger!"
Be careful where you go.
Oh Nonsense said the little mouse
I don't think you know.
Mousie walked in boldly
for nobody was in sight
First he took a nibble
Then a great big bite
And the trap snapped fast together
Faster than a wink
It cost poor mouse his life you know
because he didn't think.
Now listen little friends of mine
Who hear this little song
Cant you see what trouble comes
from simply doing wrong
So why not take a warning
from mouse and robin's fate
and let's begin our thinking
before it is too late
Read the Holy Bible,
it will teach you right from wrong
Give your heart to Jesus
Sing this happy song.
Then when Satan comes to tempt you
Just turn to GOd in prayer
For he is there to help you
For God is everywhere.
outside a kitchen door.
He wanted so to go inside
and hop up on the floor.
oh No! said Robin's mother
you'd better stay with me
For little birds are safer
sitting in a tree.
I don't care said Robin
as he gave his tail a fling
I don't think that old folks know quite everything
So into the kitchen fastly
and quicker than a wink
a great big cat had caught him
because he didn't think.
Once a little trap was baited
with a little piece of cheese
It tickled so a little mouse
It almost made him sneeze.
And old grey mouse said "danger!"
Be careful where you go.
Oh Nonsense said the little mouse
I don't think you know.
Mousie walked in boldly
for nobody was in sight
First he took a nibble
Then a great big bite
And the trap snapped fast together
Faster than a wink
It cost poor mouse his life you know
because he didn't think.
Now listen little friends of mine
Who hear this little song
Cant you see what trouble comes
from simply doing wrong
So why not take a warning
from mouse and robin's fate
and let's begin our thinking
before it is too late
Read the Holy Bible,
it will teach you right from wrong
Give your heart to Jesus
Sing this happy song.
Then when Satan comes to tempt you
Just turn to GOd in prayer
For he is there to help you
For God is everywhere.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Blessed be Your Name
This morning as I was in the bedroom changing, I heard Ollie in his cubby (blanket draped over a chair) singing "You give and take away, you give and take away, you give and take away (repeat a few more times, maybe 20?)" and then finally he sings "Still, my heart will choose to say, Lord Blessed be Your Name"
And I was so encouraged. And it was so cute. So adorable. So gorgeous. This shrill little repetitive voice. He did eventually get to the point of the song.
My son's singing tells me to say "Lord Blessed be Your Name" even when i am in the wilderness.
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
And I was so encouraged. And it was so cute. So adorable. So gorgeous. This shrill little repetitive voice. He did eventually get to the point of the song.
My son's singing tells me to say "Lord Blessed be Your Name" even when i am in the wilderness.
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Today's Funnies
Oli: I got flower. It for mummy. (Mummy was sad and in a bookshop reading and browsing when daddy texted this to her).
Matt (Pointing to random object): GOOK!!!!
Steve says we're like characters in Dr Seuss. Ollie saying "Yook" and Matty saying "Gook" and us saying (in normal human English) "look".
Matt (Pointing to random object): GOOK!!!!
Steve says we're like characters in Dr Seuss. Ollie saying "Yook" and Matty saying "Gook" and us saying (in normal human English) "look".
The Preschool Letter
It finally came in the mail. I had anticipated it and we had talked about it. We were leaning towards not sending Ollie to preschool next year. But when the letter was in my hand, it was like my child was being accepted for a scholarship into a private school. Or the acceptance letter to a selective school. Or my acceptance into medicine at UNSW. The question then resurfaced: How could i not send him to preschool? It was only for two days (Thursday and Friday), it was near our place and Steve's work, it was a short day (9-3pm), and he would probably enjoy it.
We prayed about it. I asked my homeschooling friend for prayer. We asked Steve's parents for prayer. We prayed some more. I know that it is not a big deal. It's only preschool and maybe in a year's time I can look back on this and laugh, but at the moment it is an Important Decision. I saw all that I would miss if i didn't send him - more reasons: it's a great Christian preschool. The teachers are Christian. They are evangelical. They have small classes. It would give me 2 days of break. He would have friends. He would have a sandpit to play in. It would be a loving environment.
I agonised over this decision. I really did. Even though we had ALREADY pretty much decided against it before.
In the end it was really a point where I needed to make a commitment on homeschooling. If i was going to homeschool, then why did i need to send him to preschool? Preschool only has an advantage to prepare him for real school.
I have felt really convinced (& maybe convicted) about homeschooling. Particularly in this last week being on prac at a Public School, which is a 'good' public school, but not in my view. I definitely do not want my children to go to a public high school, so why a public primary school, and why a preschool?
I finally rang the preschool and took him name off for next year.
It was liberating.
I feel okay about it.
On the way home from high school (my prac) I had a moment of epiphany. The letter of acceptance really was like a letter of acceptance to a selective school/private school/medical degree. And you know what? If you were to ask me now what i would do with all those prestigious offers that I had accepted in the past (the best girls selective school in the state, the best girls private school, the best medical degree), I would GIVE THEM UP - In a heartbeat. Yes. I would give it up. There are MUCH more important things in life. And they were never the important things in my life. Had i not gone to a selective school and instead been homeschooled, I would have learnt so much more. I would have been much happier. I would have known what I wanted, which did not include doing medicine and instead would have included maths and having delightful boys. Which i do have now, but I did take a rather roundabout way of getting here.
We prayed about it. I asked my homeschooling friend for prayer. We asked Steve's parents for prayer. We prayed some more. I know that it is not a big deal. It's only preschool and maybe in a year's time I can look back on this and laugh, but at the moment it is an Important Decision. I saw all that I would miss if i didn't send him - more reasons: it's a great Christian preschool. The teachers are Christian. They are evangelical. They have small classes. It would give me 2 days of break. He would have friends. He would have a sandpit to play in. It would be a loving environment.
I agonised over this decision. I really did. Even though we had ALREADY pretty much decided against it before.
In the end it was really a point where I needed to make a commitment on homeschooling. If i was going to homeschool, then why did i need to send him to preschool? Preschool only has an advantage to prepare him for real school.
I have felt really convinced (& maybe convicted) about homeschooling. Particularly in this last week being on prac at a Public School, which is a 'good' public school, but not in my view. I definitely do not want my children to go to a public high school, so why a public primary school, and why a preschool?
I finally rang the preschool and took him name off for next year.
It was liberating.
I feel okay about it.
On the way home from high school (my prac) I had a moment of epiphany. The letter of acceptance really was like a letter of acceptance to a selective school/private school/medical degree. And you know what? If you were to ask me now what i would do with all those prestigious offers that I had accepted in the past (the best girls selective school in the state, the best girls private school, the best medical degree), I would GIVE THEM UP - In a heartbeat. Yes. I would give it up. There are MUCH more important things in life. And they were never the important things in my life. Had i not gone to a selective school and instead been homeschooled, I would have learnt so much more. I would have been much happier. I would have known what I wanted, which did not include doing medicine and instead would have included maths and having delightful boys. Which i do have now, but I did take a rather roundabout way of getting here.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
No children!
by Edgar Guest
No children in the house to play--
It must be hard to live that way!
I wonder what the people do
When night comes on and the work is through,
With no glad little folks to shout,
No eager feet to race about,
No youthful tongues to chatter on
About the joy that's been and gone?
The house might be a castle fine,
But what a lonely place to dine!
No children in the house at all,
No fingermarks upon the wall,
No corner where the toys are piled--
Sure indication of a child.
No little lips to breathe the prayer
That God shall keep you in His care,
No glad caress and welcome sweet
When night returns you to your street;
No little lips a kiss to give--
Oh, what a lonely way to live!
No children in the house! I fear
We could not stand it half a year.
What would we talk about at night,
Plan for and work with all our might,
Hold common dreams about and find
True union of heart and mind,
If we two had no greater care
Than what we both should eat and wear?
We never knew love's brightest flame
Until the day the baby came.
And now we could not get along
Without their laughter and their song.
Joy is not bottled on a shelf,
It cannot feed upon itself,
And even love, if it shall wear,
Must find its happiness in care;
Dull we'd become of mind and speech
Had we no little ones to teach.
No children in the house to play!
Oh, we could never live that way!
No children in the house to play--
It must be hard to live that way!
I wonder what the people do
When night comes on and the work is through,
With no glad little folks to shout,
No eager feet to race about,
No youthful tongues to chatter on
About the joy that's been and gone?
The house might be a castle fine,
But what a lonely place to dine!
No children in the house at all,
No fingermarks upon the wall,
No corner where the toys are piled--
Sure indication of a child.
No little lips to breathe the prayer
That God shall keep you in His care,
No glad caress and welcome sweet
When night returns you to your street;
No little lips a kiss to give--
Oh, what a lonely way to live!
No children in the house! I fear
We could not stand it half a year.
What would we talk about at night,
Plan for and work with all our might,
Hold common dreams about and find
True union of heart and mind,
If we two had no greater care
Than what we both should eat and wear?
We never knew love's brightest flame
Until the day the baby came.
And now we could not get along
Without their laughter and their song.
Joy is not bottled on a shelf,
It cannot feed upon itself,
And even love, if it shall wear,
Must find its happiness in care;
Dull we'd become of mind and speech
Had we no little ones to teach.
No children in the house to play!
Oh, we could never live that way!
Saturday, August 8, 2009
These precious years
Valerie Bendt writes, "Our children don't need special programs. They need us. These little ones are so precious. it's important that we give them lots of hugs, cuddles, and books read on laps. it's important for them, and it's important for us. They won't be little forever. Let's not one day regret that we did not spend more time enjoying our preschoolers".
Ollie will be 3.5 years old next Feb. The right age to start preschool. I've had him on the waiting list at a preschool near Steve's work since he was 6 months old. They're going to send me a letter offering a place (i think) in a month or two and I'm supposed to respond and let them know if I want to take the place or not. If they don't send me the letter, then all is good as there won't be any choice to make and he'll be at home with me. Even if they do have a place for him, at the moment I'm more leaning towards turning it down (yes, everyone will be horrified, what no preschool? What about socialisation?!?). The only reason I will have for sending him to preschool is if I need a break (health reasons, another baby etc). It won't be for his benefit. I don't think that any preschool program can ever compare to anything I could do at home with him. Even if i didn't formally do a 'program' he would be so much happier at home. We'd be able to do what we wanted. We'd be able to spend this lovely year together (with Matty too, and daddy) just being together. We'd have relationship. Why would I give away the best years of my child's life to someone else? We could do crafts, though Ollie doesn't much care for that at the moment. We could cook. We could read. We could explore. We could have so much fun!
I don't understand why people think that a preschool 'program' is so important. They are 3 for goodness sakes! They don't need to know the alphabet. They don't need to be able to cut or hold a pen correctly. All these formal academic skills are nothing compared to other skills which are important for a child to have which they're not going to teach you at preschool (What with 2 teachers for every 15 children?). I want our children to be firstly obedient to their parents. Then i want them to have skills that contribute to family life, eg. knowing how to do age appropriate chores. I want them to enjoy reading and learning.
Ollie will be 3.5 years old next Feb. The right age to start preschool. I've had him on the waiting list at a preschool near Steve's work since he was 6 months old. They're going to send me a letter offering a place (i think) in a month or two and I'm supposed to respond and let them know if I want to take the place or not. If they don't send me the letter, then all is good as there won't be any choice to make and he'll be at home with me. Even if they do have a place for him, at the moment I'm more leaning towards turning it down (yes, everyone will be horrified, what no preschool? What about socialisation?!?). The only reason I will have for sending him to preschool is if I need a break (health reasons, another baby etc). It won't be for his benefit. I don't think that any preschool program can ever compare to anything I could do at home with him. Even if i didn't formally do a 'program' he would be so much happier at home. We'd be able to do what we wanted. We'd be able to spend this lovely year together (with Matty too, and daddy) just being together. We'd have relationship. Why would I give away the best years of my child's life to someone else? We could do crafts, though Ollie doesn't much care for that at the moment. We could cook. We could read. We could explore. We could have so much fun!
I don't understand why people think that a preschool 'program' is so important. They are 3 for goodness sakes! They don't need to know the alphabet. They don't need to be able to cut or hold a pen correctly. All these formal academic skills are nothing compared to other skills which are important for a child to have which they're not going to teach you at preschool (What with 2 teachers for every 15 children?). I want our children to be firstly obedient to their parents. Then i want them to have skills that contribute to family life, eg. knowing how to do age appropriate chores. I want them to enjoy reading and learning.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Reading
This morning Ollie picked up the huge Harper Collins treasury and started reading "Caps for Sale" using the pictures to make up the words. He knows the story well so that helped too. He said to Matt, "Come here Mashew, come and do reading". I love it when he 'reads'. While he was reading away, I quietly went and got the camera and took a video of it without him noticing otherwise he would stop and come over to my side of the camera to look at the picture.
I am a book snob. Particularly when it comes to children's picture books. I will not read (in general) books that come from TV shows eg. Bob the builder books, Sesame Street etc. I will read and buy (or mooch) books that deserve re-reading multiple times. Books that can be read over and over again with new things to discover on each re-reading. Books that have good sentence structure. Books that challenge, inspire.
Yesterday he was taking pictures of me with his Thomas toy camera and he was happily snapping away when he said "Mummy, focus!". IT cracked me up because that's what I say to him all the time especially when I'm taking a photo of him. He doesn't like to look at the camera.
I am a book snob. Particularly when it comes to children's picture books. I will not read (in general) books that come from TV shows eg. Bob the builder books, Sesame Street etc. I will read and buy (or mooch) books that deserve re-reading multiple times. Books that can be read over and over again with new things to discover on each re-reading. Books that have good sentence structure. Books that challenge, inspire.
Yesterday he was taking pictures of me with his Thomas toy camera and he was happily snapping away when he said "Mummy, focus!". IT cracked me up because that's what I say to him all the time especially when I'm taking a photo of him. He doesn't like to look at the camera.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Speech
Ollie and I saw the speech pathologist for the first time last October, so this was a follow-up session. I wanted to see her mainly for the drooling. I have no issues with Oliver's speech. I don't even think we should have gone last time, but Ollie didn't really know his 20 (Or was it 50?) words by 2 years old, and I mentioned it to the ECHN and thus we got the speech appointment. Really I should have just relaxed. Only in hindsight with 2nd child who talks superbly for his age can I say that.
I can understand what Ollie's saying most of the time, or what he wants to say. Actually Steve understands him a lot more than I do, but we get by. He's got this tendency to say "I want that thing, that Thing". I never know what "thing" refers to, but I've noticed that I use the word "thing" a lot. Also he says "I think" at the end of sentences a lot. Random sentences. Steve and I both do the "i think" thing, I think.
So anyway, the speech path said that his speech normal. A relief, even though I knew it was. It's just nice to get a professional to say that. I don't know why. Why do I need someone else to tell me that my child's okay? Throughout the session today I was so nervous (I have exam-anxiety). Wondering if Ollie would say the right things or if he would just be obsessed with doors, other distractions. He said the right things most of the time. Well at least enough of the time to let the speech path know that he was okay. I am so relieved that I don't have to go to speech path sessions every week. Or rather relieved that his speech is progressing normally.
She said for the drooling problem to use star charts. Yes I could try that but I don't know if that would motivate him. We're supposed to give him a star everytime we see that his mouth is closed. Or i've been thinking, maybe he's drooling because he's got nose problems and has to breathe through his mouth so he keeps it open.
I can understand what Ollie's saying most of the time, or what he wants to say. Actually Steve understands him a lot more than I do, but we get by. He's got this tendency to say "I want that thing, that Thing". I never know what "thing" refers to, but I've noticed that I use the word "thing" a lot. Also he says "I think" at the end of sentences a lot. Random sentences. Steve and I both do the "i think" thing, I think.
So anyway, the speech path said that his speech normal. A relief, even though I knew it was. It's just nice to get a professional to say that. I don't know why. Why do I need someone else to tell me that my child's okay? Throughout the session today I was so nervous (I have exam-anxiety). Wondering if Ollie would say the right things or if he would just be obsessed with doors, other distractions. He said the right things most of the time. Well at least enough of the time to let the speech path know that he was okay. I am so relieved that I don't have to go to speech path sessions every week. Or rather relieved that his speech is progressing normally.
She said for the drooling problem to use star charts. Yes I could try that but I don't know if that would motivate him. We're supposed to give him a star everytime we see that his mouth is closed. Or i've been thinking, maybe he's drooling because he's got nose problems and has to breathe through his mouth so he keeps it open.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Ah-men
Matty learnt to say 'AH-men' pretty early, especially when he figured food came after it. He started clasping his chubby little hands together, along with the ah-mens, faster than you could shovel porridge into his wide mouth. Today he and Ollie were playing at some game and Ollie said to him in an authoritative voice "You need scissors to cut that" or some random comment. Matty said enthusiastically "Ah-men". Who knows what that meant. Then when Steve was doing prayers with Ollie, Matty cruised around the room saying "Ah-men" at various points in time. I don't know how he knows we're praying. Or probably not, as demonstrated by the above example, he also says it in relation to non-prayer related sentences.
Ollie in his new red PJs and Matty in his Thomas ones, on the mattress before bedtime building towers with the blocks and Matty knocking it down and Ollie telling him not to. Ollie saying "Mummy, Mashew throwing blocks on the ground" and Matty throwing the blocks on the ground and giggling. It was hard not to laugh. This kid thinks its hilarious whenever something falls to the ground.
I've started reading My Little Blue Book with Ollie. We do the reading from the bible first, then read the associated story from the Blue Book. I came across it on Bookmooch and mooched it to have a look. I love it so much that I've mooched some other coloured books for later. The idea of reading the real bible to young children was one that I came across just recently. A blogger wrote that she read the bible to her newborn, her 2 year old and 4 year old, so I'm trying it out with Ollie. Would like to at least do it for the duration of the stories in this book. It is a lovely book about a set of twins who are preschool age. Their parents tell them these bible stories and apply it to their lives in a very simple way. I think it's pitched at Ollie's level. There is a short prayer at the end of each page. We've never had a devotional book, but I have flipped through a few at Koorong. This is the first one I've liked the look of. I particularly like the reference at the bottom of the page to the actual bible verses so we can read it.
Ollie in his new red PJs and Matty in his Thomas ones, on the mattress before bedtime building towers with the blocks and Matty knocking it down and Ollie telling him not to. Ollie saying "Mummy, Mashew throwing blocks on the ground" and Matty throwing the blocks on the ground and giggling. It was hard not to laugh. This kid thinks its hilarious whenever something falls to the ground.
I've started reading My Little Blue Book with Ollie. We do the reading from the bible first, then read the associated story from the Blue Book. I came across it on Bookmooch and mooched it to have a look. I love it so much that I've mooched some other coloured books for later. The idea of reading the real bible to young children was one that I came across just recently. A blogger wrote that she read the bible to her newborn, her 2 year old and 4 year old, so I'm trying it out with Ollie. Would like to at least do it for the duration of the stories in this book. It is a lovely book about a set of twins who are preschool age. Their parents tell them these bible stories and apply it to their lives in a very simple way. I think it's pitched at Ollie's level. There is a short prayer at the end of each page. We've never had a devotional book, but I have flipped through a few at Koorong. This is the first one I've liked the look of. I particularly like the reference at the bottom of the page to the actual bible verses so we can read it.
Babies don't keep
Song for a Fifth Child by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton
Mother, O Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing, make up the bed,
Sew on a button and butter the bread.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.
Oh, I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,
Lullabye, rockabye, lullabye loo.
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo
The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew
And out in the yard there's a hullabaloo
But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo
Look! Aren't his eyes the most wonderful hue?
Lullabye, rockaby lullabye loo.
The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow
But children grow up as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.
Mother, O Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing, make up the bed,
Sew on a button and butter the bread.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.
Oh, I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,
Lullabye, rockabye, lullabye loo.
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo
The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew
And out in the yard there's a hullabaloo
But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo
Look! Aren't his eyes the most wonderful hue?
Lullabye, rockaby lullabye loo.
The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow
But children grow up as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Oliver turns three
I had planned to start homeschooling Oliver when he turned 3. We bought him the sonlight P3/4 curriculum for 3-4 year olds. It came in a big box fed express from the USA. It was very exciting (for me).
However my understanding and views of homeschooling have changed quite a bit since I first thought about the whole homeschooling idea. He has turned 3 and we are going to continue what we have been doing ie. going out on excursions, cooking, pottering around, going to the park, and doing lots of reading. We do lots of reading. I know I am very priviledged to have a child who enjoys reading. I love reading and I love reading children's picture books and this is one of my favourite parts of being a mother; reading to them. Snuggling up on the couch under a blanket with a good book. Bliss.
Since Matty has been having a decent post-lunch nap, Oliver and I read for a while at that time. Then we read for half an hour to an hour before bed at 7pm. That's a decent hour or more a day on a good day. Some days we aren't at home during the day, or we go to sleep early, or we're just not really in the mood for reading. Then we don't do it. So this isn't what we do every day, but what we do most days or what I'd like to do. Anyway, that's my plan for the rest of Oliver's 3rd year. To keep reading. Reading lots and reading good books and reading the bible together.
However my understanding and views of homeschooling have changed quite a bit since I first thought about the whole homeschooling idea. He has turned 3 and we are going to continue what we have been doing ie. going out on excursions, cooking, pottering around, going to the park, and doing lots of reading. We do lots of reading. I know I am very priviledged to have a child who enjoys reading. I love reading and I love reading children's picture books and this is one of my favourite parts of being a mother; reading to them. Snuggling up on the couch under a blanket with a good book. Bliss.
Since Matty has been having a decent post-lunch nap, Oliver and I read for a while at that time. Then we read for half an hour to an hour before bed at 7pm. That's a decent hour or more a day on a good day. Some days we aren't at home during the day, or we go to sleep early, or we're just not really in the mood for reading. Then we don't do it. So this isn't what we do every day, but what we do most days or what I'd like to do. Anyway, that's my plan for the rest of Oliver's 3rd year. To keep reading. Reading lots and reading good books and reading the bible together.
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