| Author | |
MacBeth
Forum All-Star
Probably at the beach...
Joined: Jan 27 2005
Location: New York
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2518
|
| Posted: Jan 09 2007 at 7:42pm | IP Logged
|
 |
|
alicegunther wrote:
Someone call MacBeth and tell her we are ready for that second pot of coffee . . . .
|
|
|
This made me laugh so hard...somewhere in the vault at college there is a chemistry thesis dedicated to me for "always getting the coffee at the right time." It's what I do!
Glad to see all these new faces here! When I'm not making coffee, I'm usually in the woods or at the beach, but I can be found in "The Great Outdoors" and "It's a Great Big World." I'm like the National Geographic with coffee stains. 
__________________
God Bless!
MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
MacBeth's Blog 
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
teachingmom
Forum All-Star
Virginia Bluebells
Joined: Feb 16 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2120
|
| Posted: Jan 09 2007 at 9:28pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
MarilynW wrote:
| For those of you who are local - I have NEVER driven on I495!!!(we save all our long distance field trips for weekends when dh is home) OK - I have admitted it - a lot of people make fun of my "problem with highways" - must be because I only got my drivers licence when I was 24 - we lived in France and England and I either rode my bike or took public transport. |
|
|
This is funny compared to my memories of growing up here and driving on 495 to get to and from my "behind-the-wheel" driver's education classes when I was only 15 years old! It was a bit scary, but got me over the fears for sure. Although it seems that people are driving so much faster and less carefully nowadays than when I learned to drive, so I understand your desire to stay away from the beltway. (Do I sound like an old lady, or what?!  )
__________________
~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
KellyinPA
Forum Pro
Joined: Dec 22 2006
Location: Pennsylvania
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 123
|
| Posted: Jan 09 2007 at 9:35pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Good Evening Ladies,
The children are "nestled" so here I am  I was reading thru this thread earlier today but wanted to have some "uninterrupted" time to chat. I'll bring the herbal tea since it's after 10 pm here.
It's been fun "meeting" all of you, I've been around since sometime during Advent when I found the forum either thru Dawn's or Elizabeth's blogs. I love it here.
My husband,Tim, and I have been married 26 years. We have 5 sons and 1 daughter. The boys are 24, 22, 19 (all with birthdays in the next two months)and 5 and 5. Our daughter is 15. I have homeschooled all the children at one time or another. Right now our daughter attends private Christian school and I'm planning on homeschooling the twins for the foreseeable future.
I found Charlotte Mason through reading "For the Children's Sake" when my two older boys were in early elementary and fell in love with this style of homeschooling. I used it exclusively with my almost 20 yo son when he was homeschooled in third and fourth grade. Now I get a chance to not only USE the CM method with my twins but actually attempt to live a lifestyle of "real learning" (thank you, Elizabeth!
Oh, and we live in South Central Pa, (somewhat close to those in MD and VA) where we actually saw a brief snow showere today!
__________________
Blessings,
Kelly
mom to 6 blessings
the abundant life
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
rm4mrfrus
Forum Pro
Joined: March 27 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 282
|
| Posted: Jan 09 2007 at 9:49pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Well it is way past bedtime here at my house, and we just finished our Sanctity of Life meeting that we hold here for our parish. I made some cranberry scones for the meeting and we have quite a few still in the basket so I will put them on the table for those of us who stay up late and need a snack!
Boy this thread is moving at the speed of light! Wow! I am enjoying all the wonderful things I am learning about my friends here.
Molly- My parents just moved this year to a retirement community in the Fredericksburg area. We were visiting them last week and went to the new Marine museum. (dh is a prior Marine) What a nice area. How is the Catholic bookstore there? I looked it up and wanted to get over there (we don't have one where we live  )
Maria B-HELLO!!! Don't know if you remember me but I am Beth's friend!! How neat to see you here! My kids are ITCHING to get up there to see your newest nephew! (and the rest of the gang!)
Well, I really need to be doing some work for our prolife meeting...we have only been around since Sept and so far we have hit the ground running, but it does require late night work! Our parish is chartering a bus for the March for the first time this year and as of tonight, we already have 35 people signed up to go!!  We were worrying that we would not be able to fill the bus and it would be a bust (last year only 10 people from our parish went on a neighboring parish's bus and 1 of them was our pastor and 4 were my dh and 3 of our kids!) So this is a pretty big step for our parish! Now the next thing we need to do is fund raise because we are not charging anyone to ride...just taking donations. So far we have gotten a few donations and our group has fundraised $600 but need to get around $1500 because our priest is paying for all the rest out of his own pocket!! We want to be able to reimburse him asap!
I am really enjoying reading everyone's thoughts!
__________________
Hollee married to dh in 94,
ds(96), dd(97), ds(00), ds(02), ds(03) and dd(05)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Carole N.
Forum All-Star
Joined: Oct 28 2006
Location: Wales
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4484
|
| Posted: Jan 09 2007 at 9:55pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Sorry I am stopping by so late ... sometimes life gets in the way of the best intentions!
I would have brought some coffee, but I think MacBeth has made that second pot. I love coffee. Jenn, tell me about your new coffee maker because I think that is what I would like for my birthday! I am torn between the coffee maker with the carafe and the one that makes both coffee and espresso (my dh loves espresso).
I have my coffee shipped to me from my hometown--Austin, Texas. It is a small shop called Anderson's Coffee on 38 1/2 Street (for you Texas girls). The beans are roasted at my order and then shipped to me UPS. I receive it in 2-3 days and promptly place it in the freezer, grinding it each time I need a fresh cup! 
Let's see, I came here by way of Real Learning, then to Elizabeth's blog. This forum has been a lifesaver for me in my homeschooling journey. We started homeschooling just before my oldest ds entered kindergarten. Our priest was not happy about it (there is a Catholic school here), so I have been the rebel without a clause (no pun intended) for several years now. My ds is now in the 8th grade (if you have to do that sort of grade leveling), and turning out to be a pretty well-rounded Catholic boy.
There are not many Catholic hs here in the heartland of Oklahoma. When I first started, there were several families and a lot of community. But most have moved to other locations (job changes) or have placed their children in school. So I have become very isolated.
But I have only grown stronger in my conviction that homeschooling is the answer for our family. This forum (and many of the accompanying blogs) has only strengthened my conviction. I am glad to be a part of this forum and to meet all of you lovely ladies who have already helped me so much. I hope that someday I will be able to return the favor.
Well, I need to go now. Alice, I will try to stop by again soon. I will bring a pot of Sulawese Kolasse with me and perhaps some White Pear Tea (my dd loves tea time). And, of course, some tea cookies. 
__________________
Carole ... in Wales
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
alicegunther
Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 28 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1992
|
| Posted: Jan 09 2007 at 9:56pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Hello again, everyone! May I just tell you how much I am loving everyone's suggestions on what to bring to the table! Your goodies, even if only in my dreams, are making me smile from ear to ear.
I hope it will be OK if I jump in on a bunch of topics:
Jenn wrote:
I forgot to mention I live in Northern Virginia, in Manassas. Despite all the people on these boards that live in close proximity, I still feel isolated. And I think many of us have that same feeling, mostly because being a SAHM and homeschooling you are creating your own island, especially if you have littles. I tie myself down to be around for naptime, dinnertime and bedtime. That cuts down on times to spend with other people. I'm blessed to be around siblings and my parents, but then again, that limits time to make new friends. |
|
|
Jenn, it is so easy to feel isolated when your oldest is three. When Agnes was that age, I did not attend many functions at all. I was blessed beyond words to have Lissa as a neighbor, but then we moved and she spent a couple of years in and out of the hospital with Jane (who had Leukemia, but is now beautifully healthy and happy, praise God!) We were by ourselves a great deal of the time back then. It is almost hard to remember now, yet I do remember it and remember praying for companionship, especially for her.
When your little boy is a bit older, his social calendar--and yours--will fill up. You will meet mothers you do not yet know now, and it will be great. That is not to say that you should not be looking for ways to reach out to local friends now, but I want you to know there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Lisa wrote:
| Husband and I settled down and started our family directly out of high school, where I graduated by the skin of my teeth! That is one of my biggests struggles on this board, I don't have a 'higher education' and I often feel very inadequate. I'm so glad I got over those feelings and jumped in though, I've 'met' so many delightful women here. |
|
|
How very, very wonderful, Lisa!
And you should not feel intimidated. A degree is only a piece of paper. My mother did not finish high school, and she is brilliant. My father in law is one of the smartest and most successful men I know, and he does not have a college degree. Someone who can write as articulately and engagingly as you has all the skills you will ever need, and we all benefit from what you contribute.
Molly wrote:
| Sometimes, tangents are fun! |
|
|
I couldn't agree more, and I'm glad you think so! By the way, dears, so many of you said such beautiful things to me specifically. I can't begin to thank you and appreciate all of you and your warmth more than you know.
Diane wrote:
think I'm both an old-timer and a new-timer here. I may hold the record for lurking---I joined the CCM list back in 1999, when I only had one 6yo. During several years of reading, I posted there only a handful of times. I moved over to this board when it began, but it still took me over a year to register and begin to post sporadically. Although I have battled my insecurities about belonging here in the past and even recently, I have found that whenever I do reach out, I am always warmly and lovingly received. I guess I finally decided that these friendships are worth the risk involved---it's much better than loving from afar. |
|
|
Diane, you are one of the best writers out there (seriously, you are great), and I cannot believe you could ever feel insecure with all that talent. Still, God has gifted you with sincere humility and that is a beautiful thing.
I really loved your story about Charlie, by the way. So beautiful.
Diane wrote:
| One thing I love about internet support is that we are not bound by time or space. We can all join the conversation whenever we can steal the time and still be a part of it. But one thing I do not like is that it sometimes feels like I am talking in a pitch black room, especially when no one responds to a post. I don't know if others in the room are smiling and nodding or rolling their eyes and shaking their heads or if no one is even in the room at all. Now I know that no one here would really roll their eyes and shake their heads at me, even in the dark, but once in a while that naughty little voice in my head whispers lies. I try to keep it in perspective and remember that there are many, many posts that move and touch me, make me laugh or cry, and I don't have the time to respond. If we responded to everything, we would really never get off of the computer. So, I try to believe the best about your reactions to me, and I'm sure the best is how you truly are. |
|
|
We all feel this way sometimes. Actually, the post that began Candleside Chat was written and deleted a couple of days ago, because I feared that such a haphazard, no direction post might not go over. Then I decided to try again the next morning. The "please respond" at the bottom was written with a true concern that the post might go unanswered, not because the moms reading it wouldn't care, but because it is was too vague to answer. It is good to know vague flies well around here!
Oh, and I have to laugh about not being bound by time or space. Dh was off for quite some time after Christmas, and we developed a terrible habit of working late together on our computers. Almost every night, I had an email or pm from someone (usually on the west coast) asking me what I was doing up at 2 am! It was so funny (not to mention heartwarming) to have the whole country looking out for my rest! Now those are true friends!
Lorri wrote:
Because our air force base is located in one of the worst neighborhoods in DC, we have a HUGE homeschooling population here. We have our own Catholic homeschooling group on base, too. We usually go to Mass on Fridays, then have lunch together in one of the rooms at the chapel. Sometimes we have something academic or craft-y planned, other times we just have "game day" for the children. |
|
|
These are the perfect, low pressure, fun homeschooling events we love most. When Mass is involved, the whole endeavor is graced. I wish our hs'ing group could swing Mass together more often.
Maria A. wrote:
And Irene, how wonderful that we added baby girl number six to our families at nearly the same time! Jenn Miller, I am in Bristow, just 4 miles from the heart of Manassas.
I have 7 children right now, six daughters ages 12 to 3&1/2 months and one son, age 8. |
|
|
Wow, Maria, except for the ages of our sons, our children are perfectly evenly matched in age and gender! Wouldn't I love to meet you???
Julia wrote:
We are using mostly AO. I love AO but I find that it is not overly conducive to moms who are hsing more than one child. When my ds starts Gr.1 we will try to do history and science together. Even though my two oldest are only 18 months apart, academically they are about 3 or 4 years apart. My dd has been reading now for almost 4 yrs. My ds could care less about learning how to read or even to have me read to him. So the books that I would read to my dd would be way over ds' head.
Maybe I am making this more difficult than it needs to be. I just don't know how to make it simpler :) |
|
|
I would make it simpler by choosing just one Ambleside (or Mater Amabilis) level to do, adapting aspects of it for the younger children. Read history, literature, poetry, religion, geography, and science together, without trying to do several levels at once. Give each child his or her own math and writing assignments, and you will have success. You will be amazed at how much the younger child is listening and picks up. (Often the non-readers have the best comprehension and skill in narrating.) It is the one room school house approach, I guess. This would make a great "Real Learning" or possibly "More the Merrier" thread.
We also really like letting the younger ones work on puzzles or draw while I read. They drink it all in quite well that way.
Dawn wrote:
| Could I take my coffee to go? I'll be back soon - and I'll bring the gingerbread muffins!! |
|
|
Of course, dear Dawn, but hurry back!
Nancy wrote:
Don't worry about the reading gap. Boys often read later than girls, and he may just need time to be more ready to read. He will listen as you read to your other children, never fear (ds 14 eavesdrops all the time, and dd 9 does the same). It's perfectly OK to read while he tinkers with Legos or something. He'll still absorb something.
Another thing we've done is read the same thing illustrated by two or three different artists (like, "A Visit From St. Nicholas" AKA "The Night Before Christmas"). The kids really enjoyed comparing the illustrations and deciding which they liked best. |
|
|
I really like this idea, Nancy. It is fun to compare different versions of the same book. I remember doing something a bit like this years ago when I would get several copies of a familiar fairy tale (say Sleeping Beauty or The Ugly Duckling) and read them for comparison and distinction. Kids love this sort of thing.
Marilyn W wrote:
And... ok I am actually going to admit it.....I tend to only do fairly local activities because I do not like driving on major highways, and I always find quieter longer routes. For those of you who are local - I have NEVER driven on I495!!!(we save all our long distance field trips for weekends when dh is home) OK - I have admitted it - a lot of people make fun of my "problem with highways" - must be because I only got my drivers licence when I was 24 - we lived in France and England and I either rode my bike or took public transport. |
|
|
I hear you, Marilyn. Homeschooling forced me to become a highway driver, but I didn't learn to drive until I was THIRTY, and it took me several years after that to must the courage to try the Long Island Expressway.
Jordan wrote:
So far, I have two children: Elizabeth is just about four and Jonathan is 20 mo. My husband is in the Air Force and we are currently living in Germany and have been here for 10 months. Although there are many Americans here, it is still easy to feel isolated. I am feeling especially homesick after a seven week trip to the States that we just enjoyed. I love the ease of internet friendships and hope these forums can be a source for lasting friendships as children grow and families move.
My children are very young and so I don't have the homeschooling experience that most of the other women here have. I wonder if anyone else would be interested in discussing the particulars of the early years (ages 3-5) in preparing for a Catholic CM education. I imagine most families here have older children too so the trasition to K and 1st grade is more smooth. |
|
|
You will be amazed at how rapidly you become very experienced in this and CM is so perfect for little ones. Start them on nature journals, take walks every day, read great books, Bible stories and the Catechism, listen to music, start them on crafts and handwork, and you are done--painlessly!!!
I think this question would make a good thread for either "Loving the Little Ones" or the "Real Learning" forum. Please consider posting it there as well as here, because I know there are moms (including myself) who would like to pursue that in depth. We have discussed it here before, but I think it is the kind of thing that needs to be brought up again from time to time as a refresher.
Lissa wrote:
I keep telling her the same thing! She could make a 4Real pilgrimage, for real! |
|
|
Wouldn't I love it??? A Real Learning pilgrimage is just the thing. I will take MacBeth along to play Sacajawea, and we'll start from Elizabeth's house in Virginia to beat the third great American path to the Pacific (the first being Lewis and Clark's and the second yours). Just call me Meriwether! How's my spelling on Meriwether? It doesn't look right, does it?
MacBeth wrote:
This made me laugh so hard...somewhere in the vault at college there is a chemistry thesis dedicated to me for "always getting the coffee at the right time." It's what I do! |
|
|
Oh, this is so true, so very, very true. Now if only you were here in person now. I could use a cup.
Oh and friends, another example of the 4Real Forum in action. MacBeth was in and out today with not one, but two envelopes of Blessed Chalk and Incense because she read on a thread how much I wanted them to mark our doors. Now I'll be able to do Jenn's mother's Epiphany devotion! Are we blessed in this group, or what?
BTW, I tell you this not to gloat about living near MacBeth (well, not exactly to gloat), but because I think it helps to connect the dots and bring us all closer when we see who's who, who lives where, what is going on behind the scenes. When I search inside my heart, these little tidbits are truly my way of bringing you in and confiding in you. Please know how much I wish MacBeth had brought every single one of you with her!
__________________
Love, Alice
mother of seven!
   
Cottage Blessings
Brew yourself a cup of tea, and come for a visit!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
alicegunther
Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 28 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1992
|
| Posted: Jan 09 2007 at 10:00pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Irene, Kelly, Hollee, and Carole,
We were writing our posts at the same time. I am popping out of here now, but will look forward to coming again later.
__________________
Love, Alice
mother of seven!
Cottage Blessings
Brew yourself a cup of tea, and come for a visit!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
teachingmom
Forum All-Star
Virginia Bluebells
Joined: Feb 16 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2120
|
| Posted: Jan 09 2007 at 10:25pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
msclavel wrote:
Oh, this thread is so lovely! And there are many of you I know in northern VA. Maria B., how is your sweet Lucy doing? Diane, chocolate! Good idea. And Irene, how wonderful that we added baby girl number six to our families at nearly the same time! Jenn Miller, I am in Bristow, just 4 miles from the heart of Manassas.
I have 7 children right now, six daughters ages 12 to 3&1/2 months and one son, age 8. |
|
|
Hi Maria A!
What a surprise to find that you are msclavel here. I had noticed your username, this is the first time I'm placing you. Congrats on your new little girl. There sure are a lot of us here who have girl-heavy families!
Ladies,
This Candleside Chat is beginning to really feel real now. My family was part of a homeschooling co-op science class (maybe four years ago now?) through a Torch group near here. Maria A., Maria B., and Diane were all part of it with me. And we all found our way here separately in the years since.
__________________
~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Jen L.
Forum All-Star
Joined: Oct 18 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2148
|
| Posted: Jan 09 2007 at 10:41pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thanks for starting this thread, Alice! What great fun to just chat this way (or to "listen in" as I've just done for 3 pages).
I have 3 kids - Ben (11), Gracie (9) and Mary (6) plus 2 in heaven. We pray that we have more, but try to remember that God knows best.
We live in Northen VA also. I have lived in only 3 homes my entire life and they are within 5 miles of each other. I think this is especially rare around here.
As for driving on the beltway, I too did it when I was taking Behind-the-Wheel at Annandale High School (I went to St. Mary's Academy in Alexandria but the public school was where driver's ed was available and free). I still remember the first time because I was shocked that the instructor was sending me on on to the highway so soon. I date myself now by telling you that that was in 1981!! (Note: my big sister BIKED on the beltway before it was opened - we grew up about a mile from it)
It is late, but perhaps some of you are in the mood for a decaf Irish Coffee?
__________________
Jen
dh Klete,ds (8/95),dd (12/97), dd (11/00), and ^2^ in heaven
"...the best state in which to glorify God is our actual state; the best grace is that of the moment..." St. Peter Eymard
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
teachingmyown
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 20 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5128
|
| Posted: Jan 09 2007 at 10:56pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Jen,
When did you graduate from St Mary's? I went to O'Connell and graduated in 87. My older brother went to BI and graduated in 83. My little brother graduated from Annandale in the early 90's. (Isn't that terrible I can't remember the year!)
I grew up in Pinecrest. Same house from birth until I got married.
Hollee,
I am embarrassed to say that I haven't been to the Catholic store in Fredericksburg. My dh and I ran a Catholic store out of our home for a few years, so I still have inventory. Besides, I heard it is one of those too small for 7 kids type of stores. I am a big internet shopper these days.
How was the Marine Corp Museum? We haven't gotten there yet.
Well, I may as well grab another cup of tea. Emily (8 months) fell asleep nursing in my arms two hours ago for about 5 minutes, then woke up to fill her diaper and is still feeling quite perky at the moment. Not me, though!
__________________
In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JodieLyn
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 12234
|
| Posted: Jan 09 2007 at 11:06pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
trying to respond here again but for now I must go dance to johnny cash.. my 5.5 week old likes the rhythm at about this time of day.
__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JodieLyn
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 12234
|
| Posted: Jan 10 2007 at 12:16am | IP Logged
|
|
|
There.. got her danced to sleep for a few.. I'm typing fast
Julia - just about everyone has to move from teaching 1 to teaching 2 children (unless they jump in with teaching more than that to start).. so I doubt anyone would think it silly.
Lillian - I think teaching reading is one of the biggest hurdles.. so much else depends on that skill. Even without special circumstances you can find yourself in interesting situations.. my oldest could make no sense whatsoever of phonics.. we've managed the reading (and she loves it and reads on her own and all) now we're trying to tackle the writing and spelling (how DO you do that when they can't really sound out words???)
Julia and Nancy - I love reading aloud to the kids when I can get to it (sometimes life rolls out of control before we can stop still and have it happen) it's amazing the things that they'll listen to even while fiddling with other things.. my rule is I need quiet.. I just can't shout out a story over 6 noisy kids but I don't limit other things they do if they can be quiet about it. My two oldest were 8.5 and 7 when I read The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe to them.. and they were absolutely hanging on my every word... And that seems to be the key.. read things they'll like even if the age level is a bit beyond them (sometimes you might have to edit while you're reading though) I know one mom who reads science type stuff to her older son.. he didn't really care much for the stories but start reading to him about animals and how and where they live and he'd get hooked. So sometimes it's just revamping your expectations on what to read to get them interested. Oh and Julia - don't worry about "reading over" a child's understanding.. they can understand A LOT more than they can express or read for themselves.. I target a good portion of our reading to the upper end of the ages.. but even the littles tend to listen and pick up what they can.
Alice - thank you for the suggestion on the Rosary.. not sure how that would work here.. you see.. my house is pretty small.. not quite 1100sq ft.. but if you could perhaps tell me more? I also am a convert to Catholicism (coming up on 9 years now) and some of the things I see mentioned I haven't had any experience with at all.
I don't think I ever did mention how we came to be homeschooling.. I ran into the concept in college.. I was a Childhood Development Major.. and between that and my experiences with the bureaucracy of public school growing up.. it sounded pretty good to me so we've been headed that way since before our first child.
Diane - I just wanted to agree with you on a board not being bound by time and space.. it' s soooo nice to be able to sit and visit when I have the time instead of trying to arrange my time to suit everyone else. Especially with my dh's horrid work schedule (or lack there of) gives me adult conversation in the evening even when he has to be gone.
Jordan and Nancy - the flexibility of homeschooling is SUCH an asset. We're not military.. rather dh is a wildland firefighter.. talk about mixed up schedules that are the antithesis of public school schedules.. with homeschooling we actually have time to be a family instead of everyone running every which direction.
Hollee - I so often end up "finishing up" many things "after hours".. I found that I can stay up late several nights and then the next night go to bed as soon as I get the kids in bed to make up for it. Before starting the cycle over.
Whew.. I think I managed to hit the main things I wanted to respond too. Dh took the second dance so that I could finish up. Sure helps when the 2 yr old doesn't nap and goes to sleep when the rest go to bed.
__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
TracyFD
Forum Pro
Joined: July 22 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 313
|
| Posted: Jan 10 2007 at 4:23am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Garlic-Lemon tea, anyone? My husband made it for me last night. I am fervently trying to get over a sore throat/cough. I sensed I was keeping my husband awake with a coughing spell and got up - it is 4am here!
I am relatively new here too - my dc are 6, a new 5, 3 and we're due in May. I don't have a whole lot of experience to share, but love lurking. What a gift y'all have for sharing! Really - here on the forum and those of you who blog - thanks for taking the time to share what you do. I am continually edified.
Hello Oklahomans! I miss my home state! I grew up in Sapulpa, near Tulsa and attended TU. I am in MN now, somewhat isolated as a Catholic HS mom in this particular town. I do happen to be acquainted with Margaret in MN and am so happy to see her blogging and sharing her experiences and talents. What a wordsmith!
D.C.ers - I was once a summer intern in DC and thought I was going to die every time I rode in a cab. I understnad your resolve not to drive within the beltway. And those in Germany - I thought I was going to die on the Audobon. The summer I was in Europe I was in the process of coming back to the Church and memorized many many prayers in the backseat of my cousin's jeep!
Well, our HS is currently stalled. We took two weeks of Advent for reading/baking/crafts/decorating. One week off for Christmas week, a funeral and pink eye. Another week off when I had family from OK visit for dd 5th b-day and more pink eye. And this week I ended up sick. In the meantime the youngest two love playing all day and my eldest is asking for more FIAR. We seem to never have time for it bc it takes her FOREVER to finish her math lesson and LA worksheets. So, I think when we start up again she will have short lessons in math and LA (a la CM) with a timer and what she doesn't finish will be homework. Hopefully then we can get on to more real learning!
I am looking forward to two hs talks this month. One is Carol Joy Seid (Protestant, I know, but loves teaching with literature) and one in the Twin Cities at Holy Family (anyone here going?). Hopefully they will be the shot in the arm I need to get going again!
I had better get back to bed. BTY, how would I go about creating a signature for the end of my posts?
Tracy
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Bridget
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Michigan
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2198
|
| Posted: Jan 10 2007 at 5:38am | IP Logged
|
|
|
TracyFD wrote:
And those in Germany - I thought I was going to die on the Audobon. The summer I was in Europe I was in the process of coming back to the Church and memorized many many prayers in the backseat of my cousin's jeep!
BTY, how would I go about creating a signature for the end of my posts?
Tracy |
|
|
Tracy, we honeymooned in Germany and rented a car specifically so my DH could drive on the Autobahn. It was not the highlight of our honeymoon for me!
To create a signature click on settings at the top of your screen, then click on edit profile. You'll see the signature part a little ways down the page.
__________________
God Bless,
Bridget, happily married to Kevin, mom to 8 on earth and a small army in heaven
Our Magnum Opus
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Bridget
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Michigan
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2198
|
| Posted: Jan 10 2007 at 5:41am | IP Logged
|
|
|
alicegunther wrote:
BTW, I tell you this not to gloat about living near MacBeth |
|
|
I would gloat if I lived near MacBeth and got to see her in person...
__________________
God Bless,
Bridget, happily married to Kevin, mom to 8 on earth and a small army in heaven
Our Magnum Opus
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JuliaT
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 25 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 563
|
| Posted: Jan 10 2007 at 7:12am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Due to posting on and reading this thread, I have overcome a mental block in regards to reading and doing school with more than one child. I have been struggling with this for quite a few months but in the span of one day, I have made a breakthrough! Thank you all for helping me see the "light."
I have always read separately to each child because I thought the 4 yr. old wouldn't be able to understand the book that I was reading to the 7 yr. old. This seemed to take the joy out of reading aloud. It also seemed to defeat my purpose of homeschooling, which is to do things together as a family. Last week, I was reading The Adventures of Winnie the Pooh to my ds. I decided to let everyone listen in. Throughout the day, I found myself looking forward to our reading time.
Armed with your encouraging words, I decided yesterday that we would read my dd's book altogether, too. We climbed up on our couch. We just bought a new couch. This couch was made for read alouds. You just sink down in when you sit in it. It is so comfy. Anyway, I put some toys on the floor for my youngest to play with (my ds was away having daddy time) and began The Shakespeare Stealer. By the time we started our second chapter, my youngest was cuddling with us, listening to the story!
Thank you so much for this thread and for 'talking me through' my dilemma!
Jen--I, too,feel very isolated with our hsing. We live out in the country in no man's land. We are the only hsers in this area. When my oldest was of pre--school age, I was a bit worried about being so isolated from everyone else. I prayed about this. This year, my prayers have been answered. In our closest town, which is 45 min. away, there have been more people hsing this year. So we have started a support group. We are still very small but I am praying for growth, especially that there will be more children my children's age. This group has been an answer to prayer. Just give it time and prayer, maybe your situation will change.
Blessings,
Julia
mom to 3(7,6,4)
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Juliainsk
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
St. Ann
Forum All-Star
Joined: Oct 20 2006
Location: Germany
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2137
|
| Posted: Jan 10 2007 at 7:23am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Bridget wrote:
TracyFD wrote:
And those in Germany - I thought I was going to die on the Audobon. The summer I was in Europe I was in the process of coming back to the Church and memorized many many prayers in the backseat of my cousin's jeep!
Tracy |
|
|
Tracy, we honeymooned in Germany and rented a car specifically so my DH could drive on the Autobahn. It was not the highlight of our honeymoon for me!
|
|
|
Oh my gosh! I get so stressed on the Autobahn! Dh does all the driving on the longer trips, but prefers the american way of driving and usually doesn't exceed 130km/hr. One discovers a lot about german character on the Autobahn!  I learned to drive at 15 in a drivers - ed. class in high school. We learned defensive driving. Germans learn at 18yrs OFFENSIVE driving, and have to pay thousands of Euros for the course! That is what I tell my dh, anyway.
__________________
Stephanie
Wife and mother to Hannah '96, Maria '99, Dorothea '01, Helena '03
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
guitarnan
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Maryland
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 10883
|
| Posted: Jan 10 2007 at 7:36am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I guess I'm weird. I love to drive. Maybe it's because I grew up in Southern California? I used to love driving along Pacific Coast Highway with the radio blasting. I can't say I love driving on the Beltway, but after 2 tours in Italy (with my dh, Terror of the Autostrada) and lots of Euro-driving under my belt, I'm not afraid of anything except black ice and carjackers. I tell folks I don't have time to wait for dh to get home to take me places...sometimes the Navy sends him off for long, long trips!
I'll drive on the autobahn any day of the week. It's the German LOCAL driving that terrifies me!
So...come along...bring your travel mug for your tea...I'll drive!
__________________
Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JennGM
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17702
|
| Posted: Jan 10 2007 at 7:39am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Ds is waking up and our breakfast and morning routine is about to commence....so my apologies for not quoting or answering everything.
First of all, I hope I didn't sound whiney about isolation. I think I used the wrong word, because that sounds like I'm feeling sorry for myself and our situation. I enjoy the female and family friendships but really, my cup is full, it overfloweth. I enjoy these times to just stay at home and be together.
I do go to All Saints. There is a homeschool group which one of my sisters belongs. She's also the PE coach for the group. But since I'm not an official hser yet, I'm not involved right now.
My coffeemaker isn't that special...anything would be an improvement to an old Mr. Coffee. My main objection was that the coffee keeps cooking on the burner. I'm sensitive to smells, and I just couldn't stand the taste or smell of old coffee. It would permeate the house. Alice has a grand coffee maker, from this thread. We went with the Grind and Brew Thermal Cuisinart because it fit my needs. Costco had a good deal, too.
teachingmom wrote:
MarilynW wrote:
| For those of you who are local - I have NEVER driven on I495!!!(we save all our long distance field trips for weekends when dh is home) OK - I have admitted it - a lot of people make fun of my "problem with highways" - must be because I only got my drivers licence when I was 24 - we lived in France and England and I either rode my bike or took public transport. |
|
|
This is funny compared to my memories of growing up here and driving on 495 to get to and from my "behind-the-wheel" driver's educations classes when I was only 15 years old! It was a bit scary, but got me over the fears for sure. Although it seems that people are driving so much faster and less carefully nowadays than when I learned to drive, so I understand your desire to stay away from the beltway. (Do I sound like an old lady, or what?! ) |
|
|
Marilyn, you are not alone. My sister does not drive on "roads with green signs" and lives in this area. She knows her limitations, so she's a wise cookie.
My aunt hates driving on the freeways, but she does in a pinch. Her method on the on ramps is to say a Hail Mary, close her eyes and merge. So I drive her if I can.
My mil doesn't drive on highways either. She accidentally went on the ramp of an Interstate near her house, and panicked. She stayed on the berm (sp -- it's a new word I picked up from my dh from western PA) of the road until the next exit, going about 20 mph!
My sister had total empathy for her.
Jen L...I want that Irish coffee! Can you come over sometime soon? One of these days we really need to meet!
__________________
Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JennGM
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17702
|
| Posted: Jan 10 2007 at 7:40am | IP Logged
|
|
|
teachingmyown wrote:
Jen,
When did you graduate from St Mary's? I went to O'Connell and graduated in 87. My older brother went to BI and graduated in 83. My little brother graduated from Annandale in the early 90's. (Isn't that terrible I can't remember the year!) |
|
|
Molly, did you know Frank Nava at O'Connell?
__________________
Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
|
|
Forum Locked) 
4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Candleside Chat
