I’m A Mother First

Our days move along like a river; turbulent and challenging, and then slow and quiet.  One minute things seem to be moving along at a nice and restful flow and then without warning I am interrupted with chaotic pandemonium.  
This is especially difficult when we are schooling. Today has already started off with a BANG... broken sink faucet that took over an hour to fix, fights among children while Kalyn and I are trying to take care of the problem, hurt feelings (mine)...
Today brings up why my last Home Education Pillar is very important to me;
I am a mother first.

Home educating is a responsibility I have, just like I am responsible for our meals, and other areas  of our home.  And some days it is so hard to deal with the interruptions.  I like to do our school schedule from 8 - 12 noon.  And I feel really frustrated when this gets messed up.  
Yesterday, one of my darlin’s had an emotional breakdown that pretty much took up 45 minutes of our school schedule.  But what helps me at these times is to remind myself that I AM A MOTHER 1ST.  And I really do love Motherhood!  
And, if I could I would develop this thought a little more, but there are several little interrupting darlin’s that are misbehavin’.  So I need to go mother.
So my last thoughts on this....
Of course you love your children, but make sure that you love your career of motherhood too! 

“It’s not enough to love our children; we must love motherhood!  It is only when we embrace motherhood that we enter into the joy of it and begin to experience the fullness and anointing of motherhood that God intends us to walk in.”  Nancy Campbell

Family Culture and Home Education

I was thinking about the next Pillar in my Home Education, Pillar VI.  And the word culture kept coming to my mind.  I began to think about the word, it’s definition and how it applies to us.  I have read often that “education is an atmosphere”  from many of Charlotte Mason’s works.  (6. When we say that "education is an atmosphere," we do not mean that a child should be isolated in what may be called a 'child-environment' especially adapted and prepared, but that we should take into account the educational value of his natural home atmosphere, both as regards persons and things, and should let him live freely among his proper conditions. It stultifies a child to bring down his world to the child's' level.)

(Random bird picture)

And, being a mother to children who are home through adoption, I have heard and read about exposing my children to their past cultures (China, S. Korea, etc.).  When most of us think of “culture”, we usually think of other countries than our own; Asia, Mexica, for example.  We think of what “makes” China “China" or Mexico “Mexico”.  So for China we may think of their way of living, customs, traditions, art, music, religion, beliefs, practices, language and the geography of the country.  We might think of the differences in appearance like eye shape or skin color.  
I have come to believe that I must be intentional and thoughtful about my “Family Culture”.  What do I mean by this and why is it a pillar for my children’s education?
It’s funny how you grow into some thoughts without realizing it....
Family Culture, to me, would be defined as what makes the Hassoldt’s the “Hassoldt’s”....our way of living, our customs and traditions, art or music that we enjoy, our religion and the beliefs that define us, even our language and where we live.  The thing that is really cool is that each person in a “family culture” adds something. 
Here’s an examples from our oldest son, Jace.  Home educating that brilliant child was a challenge, but it was also an amazing time of growth and learning for me.  His desire to learn and know pushed me every day to learn and know, and because of him, I fell in love with learning.  I had NEVER loved school...if you have read past posts, you know I was a “failure” in school, but teaching Jace taught me that I could learn and I loved it!!!  As Jace got older, he fell in love with Jazz music.  So like everything else he loved, we immersed our family in Jazz.  Many nights were spent as a family dancing, singing and just enjoying each other to some of the best of Jazz music.  We studied some of greatest best music voices and players of Jazz, the time period when it was born, where it’s influence came from, the art that resulted, and all things good related to Jazz.  Jace painted an awesome Jazz picture above his bed and we even named our little dog “Bluez”.  
See, his love for Jazz became part of our family culture.  Kalyn’s love for poetry followed, and Caresse’s passion for herbs and medicine’s.  Kiana is quite the artist and it brings such beauty to our home.  I love photography and Steve, honestly!!! - I even asked him - likes to fix things!!!  Each of these become part of our family culture.
Also, I really do love other cultures, and so that is an important part of our daily lives.  Of course, having children who were born in so many different places gives us an excellent opportunity to celebrate and learn about their birth countries.  We are re-studying China, since Asher is waiting for us there.  However, we talk and learn about all countries, because we believe that all people are made in the LORD’s image and are valued and precious.  This is also part of our family culture. 


Now, not to throw you, but here is an interesting definition of “culture” from the Webster 1828 dictionary (which is my favorite dictionary):
"Culture:
1.  The act of tilling and preparing the earth for crops; cultivation; the application of labor or other means of improvement. 
2.  The application of labor or other means to improve good qualities in, or growth; as the culture of the mind; the culture of virtue.
3.  The application of labor or other means in producing.”


Isn’t that interesting...some words stand out to me...growing, improving, producing....
As I consider my "Family Culture”, I must also reflect on this questions:  “What acts of preparing, what works or labor do I need to do to cultivate a “Family Culture” where each one of us can grow, improve and produce for THE LORD’S GLORY.  Because the most important part of our family culture is that we follow Jesus and believe the whole Truth of the Bible.  Ultimately, this guides me every day.  And as my farmer grandfather use to prepare his field to receive the cotton crop, so I must thoughtfully prepare my family to receive the Seeds of Truth...from the Bible.  
My Home Education is part of “who” we are and I have the privilege to use it as a tool to cultivate our family culture. 

I encourage you to think about your family culture and ask the LORD to help you cultivate a home that nourishes the growth of every one in your family, and don’t forget to nourish mother!!!!
loves!!!

Pillar V - Home Education

This pillar of my Home Education is easy!  Make it FUN.  

I can’t always make every subject fun, but there are so many ways to enjoy our school time.  So here goes with some of our favorites!

My children absolutely are addicted to these trivia games.  You can find the Professor Noggin’s card games here and BrainBox games here.  By the way the above links take you to 2 of my favorite places to find fun things for the children.  I make wish list and then pass them out to our families for birthdays and Christmas.  I would rather the children have one good toy that they will really enjoy than a dozen that are cheap and thrown away within a few weeks. 

GAMES, GAMES AND MORE GAMES.  The children love fun games, so I keep my eyes open for anything fun that also has teaching or strategy value.

Here are five favorites:

1. Yamslam

2.  Set - One of Kalyn’s favorites

3.  Blokus

4.  Sequence (original), or Sequence Numbers

5.  Mexican Train Dominoes or just dominoes or cards

Enjoy nature walks as often as you can!  We will take a favorite book, or nature journals and pencils along.  The children always enjoy these times!!

Take advantage of the unexpected.  When we were camping this last month, we found an unexpected mine that the owner (above) loved to talk about.  He made his presentation so interested and then afterwards we bought rocks.  I wasn’t expecting this learning opportunity, however, it came, I seized it and the children loved it.  

Now, I want to hear how you make teaching fun?  What are some of your favorite family games? Share, share!!! And have fun!!

Pillar III For Home Education - Structure

I tried, really, really tried to get to that laundry yesterday, however, for several reasons known only to my dog, I only got one small load done!! 
BUT, the good news is that I am in Greeley with Steve and Keshawn for the next few days.  While Steve works during the day, I will work here at the hotel getting my new school year planned out.  

This is what Kalyn threatened to do if the children are not good for her while we are gone (poor darlin’s...I gave them a good ol’ Texas size talkin’ to!!). 
O.K., no more procrastination...
"How do we, as home makers and mothers get the house work done and the school work; how do we still give time to our little children and how can we organize their time so that we can home school the older ones; how do we meet the needs of our families and can we balance everything?”
I am now more convinced than ever that we must ask the right question.  So often I have struggled to balance every thing and I’m not even sure what that means except to may be be super woman in every area, EVERY DAY.  There is no “perfect” here.  There is real life though.
I think that the right question is “How can I minister to the needs of my family and others today?”  Now I know that this is broad, so lets look a little closer.  I have some guiding scriptures to help me with my mission as a woman, wife and mother. 
The Bible tells us that “we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Eph. 2:10)  I like this...it makes me feel valued to know that the LORD has good work for me to do each day. 
I am encouraged to “see that I fulfill the ministry that I have received in the LORD.” (Col. 4:17)  I have a purpose - A MINISTRY from the LORD!
I have a call to bold endurance in my ministry - “For God gave me a spirit not of fear, but of power and love and self-control.” (IITim. 1:7)
And my favorite promise to my mother’s heart - “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.  You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.” (bold from me - II Cor. 9:10-12)
I have found and truly believe that we will “succeed” better if we look at our days and times as seasons, just as a farmer does.  And that is where the 3rd Home Education Pillar comes into play.  We must structure our work.  My structure will look different than yours, but we all need structure to reach the goal of sowing bountifully and reaping bountifully (II Cor. 9:6).
Now to some “hows”.  
For the little ones....O.K., well, when the LORD blessed us with 4 children all practically the same age, I lost my mind, ummm, structure.  Lately though, I have looked at some ideas from Montessori and used some of those idea (or asked family to buy certain things for birthdays and holidays).  I bought trays and will set up “stations” at the table, where I can watch them.  One tray may have magnets, another beads to string, or buttons to sort.  I have bought those veggies trays at dollar stores so that the children can sort things into different compartments.  Of course, play dough is always a favorite, as is painting (which depends on MY mood, not theirs!).  I want to start reading to them more than I have been.  I have never start “school” till the children where 7.  I just give them tons of enriching things around the house to play with...puzzles, Legos, Play Mobile, pretend play, etc.  However, this year, I am thinking of doing a pre-school curr. with the little 4 just so that I can structure some time with them. I’ll let you know what I find. 
Honestly, it has been hard with so many little ones.  And I must remember to “meet their needs” also.  This is not easy for me, as I get really “flustered” by all the interruptions.  However, it is those interruptions that I need to see as signs to stop and look and my child, hold them if needed, or listen.  An older friend said something I have never forgotten.  She said us younger mothers get way to worked up about “what to do” with our children.  She said she just did life with them under her feet and included them in what she was doing.  I have always been encouraged by that.  
A sanity saving structure that I adopted a long time ago, and it has not changed in years is this; we focus on home education from around 8 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.  We then have lunch, and the little ones must lay down for “nap" at 1:30 or 2ish.  They don’t always nap, but they do know to stay in bed and be quiet till about 3 or 3:30.  That time is my “quiet” time and the other 5 know to respect that, or they have to lay down too.  The older ones (usually the high school age children) do some more of their school in the afternoon since their education requires more time now.  I keep lots of educational and fun games around and the children are alway pulling those out.  I call that “informal” education...not really planned, but I purposefully keep enriching and “educational” things around the house for the children to do.  
Well, this is long again, so I will post more on structure in the next day or two.  I hope this is helpful to some of you.  Please let me know if you have any thoughts or questions!

The Question I Dreaded (Hi Amy, Anita and Jodi)

See, I would rather show you this...

...my happy campers...

...not this...

...unorganized garage and laundry..

THIS...

...delightful, helpful daughters...

...not this...

...LOTS of dirty smoky coats.

THIS...

...a serene, peaceful mountain photo...

...not this...

...overflowing LAUNDRY...

This is nice, don’t you think?

But, not this...

...yes, MORE laundry.

I will leave you with a “happy” picture!

I know that you are wondering, what does all this have to do with my title....”The Question I Dreaded."  I’ve been avoiding it, but I did promise that I would answer any “Ask Away...Children’s Education” questions. 


Here’s a hint from these three precious blog friends questions....


Amy said...

Well, honestly- I could use ANY help and don't even know what to ask because - I am THAT lost. LOL But I am going to try it anyway- gotta start somewhere right? Right now, just trying to figure out what I do with the little ones while working with the big ones? How do you manage to get all of the housework done AND the school work? Any tips on that? :) THANKS!

A. Gillispie said...

Yay! Second year homeschooler here, and we haven't found our perfect groove yet. My biggest issue at the moment is how to manage teaching time with my big ones (3rd and 4th grade) with my little ones (3 and going on 5)? It's complicated because I work from home (at least 6-8 hours a day). Not sure how to meet everybody's needs, so if you have any advise, I'm all ears!

Anita

Jodi said...

Shonni -Amazing!! 17 years - you must have begun homeschooling when you were 5! :)
How do you balance everything! :) With the possibility of jumping into HS my middle schooler, I am very nervous - any tips to keep him focused and interested in learning, would be great!! :)

Did you see the common thread?  The question that I have dreaded is “How do I do it all?"
So, as I was thinking about my Home Education Pillars (see here and here for pillars I and II), I knew that Pillar III is Structure!  Amy, Anita and Jodi brought up some very important things to consider in Home Educating our children!  How do we, as home makers and mothers get the house work done and the school work; how do we still give time to our little children and how can we organize their time so that we can home school the older ones; how do we meet the needs of our families and can we balance everything? 
Now, the reason I have dreaded the “How do I do it all question” is that I don’t want anyone to think that I have all the answers  - I don’t.  And each of us is different, with differing strengths and differing weaknesses.  What works for one doesn’t work for another. Believe me, I have tried to “do it” like others because it was working for them, and it didn’t for me, because my personality just couldn’t “do it” that way.  
However, I hope that my many years of mistakes and successes can help each of us find the structure that works for US in our families as we minister to them each day.
So, I promise, I will answer this question, but no kidding, I HAVE GOT to go start some laundry.  So be lookin’ back here tomorrow!