Saturday Morning Strawberries and Flea Market Adventures
Are you the type of person who likes to stay at home and relax on a Saturday or the type who wants to get out and explore? While I appreciate occasional relaxation, exploring gets my heart pumping. I crave adventure and love nothing more than the chance to get out and see new things, experience new sights and sounds, and try something interesting. I guess you could say I’m a bit of an adventuress. Even with 4 kids in tow, I hate to be cooped up. We put a lot of mileage on our truck.
My tiny helper 
A beautiful bounty of strawberries
We had a blast at the St. Augustine U-Pick Strawberry and Vegetable Farm last weekend and ate all of the produce we purchased. I asked the kids if they wanted to head down to the farm and stock up on some more strawberries. They bounded to the truck excitedly. Our pals next door needed some more strawberries too and came along. It may be 40 minutes or so down the road, but it’s worth the trip!
The strawberries were even larger, jucier, and plumper than last week and practically burst from the bushes. The kids went crazy gathering them and our basket was soon overflowing with saturday morning strawberries. We also gathered some spinach (complete with a caterpillar, we found out at home), tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, and radishes. Four bursting-full bags of produce sounds about right to start off our week on a healthy note. Yum!
Anyone need a suit of armor?
The St. Augustine Flea Market is situated right next to the farm. Flea Markets aren’t usually my thing, but my neighbor wanted to check it out and I’m game for just about anything. There was stuff to look at everywhere! The kids’ eyes were the size of half-dollars as they took everything in. It was busy and there were scores of people, new smells from vendors and shops, and thousands of things for sale all around us. The flea market is surprisingly large. I wasn’t sure quite what to expect and wasn’t disappointed. While there was definitely a lot of random stuff, we would some interesting things too. The girls got 6 new dresses in great condition for $5 total. Alex found a lovely glass necklace for $3. I discovered a beautiful, handmade bird house for $10 and thought it would look perfect in our flower bed. I think this was even better than a garage sale. While I wouldn’t go back often, it was a neat experience!
Alex shows of her necklace and one of her dresses
My new bird house
The kids were nice and tired from our morning adventure. By the time we left, the sun was high and hot. 93 degrees already and it’s only May! We were all hot and sweaty and ready to go home for lunch (which included lots of strawberries). Most of the kids are resting, sound asleep in their beds. Derek, like his mom, gets excited from our adventures and isn’t tired at all. I hope the other kids are dreaming peacefully of their new experiences. I think it’s awesome to introduce kids to all the interesting things the world has to offer. One never knows what they might see or experience next.
An amazing collection of fresh produce for healthy, growing kids!
Lunch! Strawberries and sugar are amazing on a hot Florida day!
Related articles
- Why Go to the Grocery Store When You Can Go to the Farm? (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
Sometimes a Challenge is a Gift in Disguise :-)
Two years ago today, we welcomed a baby girl into this world. She was induced so that she could meet her daddy just before he left for a long deployment. I was scared about raising her alone. I didn’t know how I would survive a caring for a newborn with no help… and three older kids to care for. I remember that when we found out we were expecting, I was terrified. The pregnancy was certainly not expected. Our first deployment as a family was right around the corner and the timing couldn’t have been worse. Who would be there when I had the baby? Who would help me out if I had to have a c-section? It was a big deal. Do you know what is amazing? Looking back, it wasn’t that big of a deal after all. I looked at it as a hurdle to conquer…. when in reality it was a gift. Bella has grown into a beautiful, sassy, smart, creative, and VERY energetic little girl and I can’t imagine life without her. There were moments of intense frustration, but there were many more moments of joy, amazement, and bliss. If this isn’t a lesson to leave things in God’s hands, I don’t know what is. There isn’t anything you can’t do. There isn’t anything that is impossible or too hard. If you let God take charge, it will be just fine.
I need to remind myself of this daily. I am a planner and a worry wart. It’s hard to let go and not know what will happen next. I think that’s part of growing up and developing spiritually. Sometimes a challenge is actually a gift in disguise, and sometimes that gift comes wrapped in pink ruffles and a diaper. 
Today our little lady turns two. She’s a handful, but she’s one of the most loving little girls I know. She loves to he held (on her terms) and adores her baby dolls. She loves frilly dresses and digging in the mud. She never stops moving and has a whole lot to say. Bella was the perfect child to finish off our family and I thank God every day that things worked out as they did.
Say a little prayer
What have I learned in the process? It’s not impossible to survive deployments (and all the workups!). It’s hard, but not impossible. I learned to be fiercely independent and to do things for myself. I became a better mother. I learned to have more patience and to appreciate my kids more. I learned to search for strength from within– and from God– when things get tough and how to fix practically anything.
Hubby can’t share this big day with us, but that’s okay too. We’re a family no matter where he is. I’ve learned to be more flexible and to accept that sometimes things don’t work out exactly as I’d like. I was miffed when I found out he’d miss her birthday, but learned to accept it. There’s no point being mad at Hubby for things he can’t control. We’ll celebrate with the great friends we have here and know Hubby’s celebrating from afar. There will be many more birthdays where he’ll be home, I’m sure. Plus we can celebrate together later, right?
I’ll say the taboo: being a military wife sucks sometimes. It’s really hard to explain to a child why daddy missed their birthday but was home for their sibling’s birthday. The kids get emotional and moody and don’t understand why things have to change so much. But do you know what else? It’s also great. I love my Hubby and am extremely proud of what he does. The challenges can be overwhelming, but we always overcome them. Always. No military wife knows what she’s getting into when she marries her man. It’s impossible to know what it’ll feel like to go through deployments and separations. It is hard. I’m thankful for those who have reached out to lend a hand… or an ear.. along the way.
If you’re facing a deployment and feel overwhelmed, fear not. It will be hard. It will be scary. But it will NOT be impossible and it will not last forever. Soon you’ll be together again and it will be a memory. If you need support or have questions about surviving deployment, email me! It will be a challenge, but sometimes a challenge is a gift in disguise. You’ll soon discover that you’re made of much tougher stuff than you ever imagined. Two years from now, will it really seem so bad?
American Parents Are Losing Their Rights… And Don’t Even Know It
Image via Wikipedia
This is just a short post to share a video a friend of mine posted on face book. Most American parents believe that they should control how they raise their child. Unfortunately, this couldn’t be farther from the truth. Check out this 36 minute video to learn how much government encroaches upon your rights as a parent:
http://www.overruledmovie.com/
American parents are losing their rights, and they don’t even know it. Stand up for what you believe is right.
I am completely in support of a Constitutional amendment protecting the rights of parents. Are you?
Sign a petition at:
https://www.thedatabank.com/dpg/385/personal2.asp?formid=signup
Related articles
- Overruled: Government Invasion of your Parental Rights (wife2dondi.wordpress.com)
- “Parents Don’t Know What’s Best For Their Children” – You Must Read This! (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
Three Kids with Hammers and Nails= Three Unique Dinosaur Creations and a Roaring Good Time
Woodworking teaches kids to follow directions, enhances fine motor skills, teaches patience, boosts self-confidence, and results in a creation they can be proud of. That is why we love Lowe’s Build-and-Grow workshops Today my three little builders created ferocious T-rexes. They had so much fun!
Even Derek is an avid builder!
What do I do next, Daddy?
Look who is building without crying!
My most beautiful builder
Hubby was home today and I talked him into coming to help with the class. He came and tried convincing me he’d be most helpful walking through the store with Bella. That would be helpful, but not as helpful as directing three children with a woodworking project. I brought snacks for Bella and while she wasn’t happy to be in the stroller, she did stay there and eat her snacks. Three young children each building a rather complicated project is quite a challenge!
Each child laid their supplies out in front of them and we all read the steps together, one at a time. Hubby and I helped the kids line up their parts and start the nails, then the kids nailed them the rest of the way. We did one step at a time and made sure everyone was done before moving to the next step. This teaches the kids to work together and also to be patient. They talked each other through the more difficult parts of the project. They also worked on sorting and size comparison to find the correct size nails from their bags.
The project was a bit complicated, but we made it through without having to re-do very many parts. The only child who was a bit to anxious to get ahead was Alex, who nailed the wrong piece of dinosaur onto the wrong side of the wrong part. Ooops. Mom fixed it and told her to listen and wait for the rest of the kids to finish.
Ethan's "Special" Dinosaur
Look what we made!
The kids were all very proud of their dinosaurs and covered them with stickers. Like their own personalities, each child’s dinosaur was all very different. Bella wanted her own dinosaur too. Perhaps in a few months we’ll let her try as well. That seems super young, but Derek began his first woodworking class at age 2 when Hubby was deployed. It’s a fun and important part of all of their educations.
The best part of the class is that each kid comes home with a new, free toy. They’ve been playing with their dinosaurs for the last few hours now, roaring happily and stagingbattles between the warring tribes of dinos. I think it’s a win-win situation. They learned a lot AND they have something new to play with.
If you haven’t tried Lowes’ Build-and-Grow Workshop, you definitely should. It’s free, twice-monthly, and so much fun. Next month we’re going to make valentine’s boxes and race cars. The kids get certificates and badges each time as well. The boys have the bad habit of pulling their badges off their aprons, but Alex has developed quite a collection. You can sign up online for their free classes. It’s so much fun! Perhaps we’ll see you there.
This is so cool!
Our Herd
Related articles
- New Experience #3: Build and Grow (52brandnew.wordpress.com)
Learning Science is Way More Fun as a Family
Hubby is one of the smartest guys I know, a real mine of scientific information. He blows me away with the random and detailed things he knows on a regular basis. He’ll talk about the great scientific conversations he’ll have with the kids when they’re teenagers. Teens? Really? I didn’t listen to my parents when I was a teen. Maybe I was just rotten, but I think that’s pretty normal. These conversations need to start young if he wants them to listen to him (possibly) when they’re older. I halted his train Friday. “Babe… you need to be having these conversations now! Bring it down to an elementary level and engage your kids. We’re a homeschooling family. You’ve got to start now!”
He did. Alex and Hubby had an awesome hour-long discussion about space Friday night. They were both exhilarated afterwards! Alex knocked my socks off by talking about nebulas and black holes without any guidance. That kid is a smart cookie and retains so much of what she learns! To continue the fun, we headed to MOSH Saturday morning. Hubby hadn’t yet seen their Matter and Motion exhibit and I thought he’d have a blast doing the experiments with the kids. I was right! The kids love having Hubby around and learning with him.
A big surprise was the impromptu lesson on dams and water flow Alex and Hubby had at the water table in the kids play area. He taught her so much, things I never would have thought of. It was so awesome watching them bond and learn. Learning about science is way more fun as a family!
The Giant Tree House in the Kids Area is So Cool!
Here comes trouble!
Hubby helps Bella down from the tree house
Learning science with Daddy!
All the kids had a blast exploring the exhibits. The museum was very empty, so Bella got to walk and I think she touched every single thing she passed at least twice. Thank goodness for hand sanitizer! She was soaking wet too, after having found the water table. She refused the water coat and kept pouring it all over herself, despite numerous scoldings. Oh well. She didn’t even seem phased that she was all wet. Next time I need to remember a change of toddler clothes!
Bella the Explorer
Bella wants to do experiments too!
So big!
We treated the kids to Sesame Street‘s One World, One Sky in the Planetarium. It was much more age-appropriate and engaging than the last show. The characters were old favorites and the songs were great. The basis of the show is that Elmo and Big Bird meet Hu Hu Zhu from China. Although they live far apart, they see the same stars and can look up at the night sky and remember each other. My kids loved the trip to the moon the most. All 4 of them were actively engaged. With our membership, it was only $10 for all of us. Totally worth it!
Waiting for the planetarium show!
Mommy and Bella
We stopped by Friendship Fountain to watch the music show synchronized to Christmas music. It was a gorgeous, sunny day. At 75 degrees, it didn’t feel much like Christmas but it was a heavenly morning to be outside. The kids love the fountain and the view of downtown Jacksonville no matter how many times we go. I do too.
Downtown Jacksonville
After 8 Years of Marriage, We Still Love Spending Time Together!
How'd my baby get so big?
Learning is so much fun when we do it as a family. I hope the kids have some phenomenal memories when they grow up. I don’t know too many kids who get to do and see as much as they do. I hope that our next duty station has as much to offer. I think I may finally have fallen in love with Jacksonville. It’s going to be hard to leave next year. At least the memories and friendships we’ve made will last a lifetime.
A House Full of Cousins Makes for a Magical Thanksgiving
Living across the country from family can be pretty hard, especially around the holidays. I don’t even know the last time we were able to be home in Washington for Thanksgiving. That’s life. Yet when my brother and his wife moved east over the summer, we were excited to be within driving distance (albeit a long drive) to family. Mike, Ashley, and the kids drove down to visit us for Thanksgiving and it was awesome. Thanksgiving 2011 was the best yet. Holidays with friends and neighbors are great, but nothing beats a house full of cousins!
The kids all played together from sunup to sundown. It was like they’d never been apart. They ran through the house and played until they dropped at the park next to our house. The boys loved being chased by Uncle Mike! My brother is so great with kids. They absolutely adore him.
Cousin Emily, 16 months
Bella plays at the park
Cousin Anthony, Age 3
Derek loves his Uncle Mike
Bella and Uncle Mike
I'm Thankful for My Amazing Hubby
Dinner was fantastic, and so much easier with my helpful sis-in-law to help! We put together a full spread in no time. Our main masterpiece was a tur-duck-hen. Yes, they actually exist. My hubby found it at the commissary. I was very uncertain about trying something so… so.. different.. but it was actually really good!
Bella, Ashley, and Emily
The Girls
Thanksgiving Dinner
The cousins had such a blast visiting. After a late lunch and lots of play, everyone was ready for naps. Everyone that is except the little girls! The adults visited and watched tv, then the ladies went on a nice brisk walk through the base to burn off some turkey.
Our visit was way too short, but it was a ton of fun. I can’t wait to get the cousins together to visit again soon. These are the memories I hope they cherish always.
The boys hang out at the little table
Derek, Age 3
My girls
Fun and Games at the NAS Jax Military Family Carnival
Once a year, NAS Jacksonville hosts its Military Family Carnival and offers families a day of free family fun. Although small, all the rides, games, and concessions are free and the carnival is exceedingly popular.
Last year we went toward closing and were one of the few people there. This year, the lines were packed until closing. We drove by once after a lunch on the town and decided to try again later (it was insanely busy!) Daddy took the oldest two kids back around 4 pm and it was still jam-packed. They made their way through the crowds and enjoyed some rides.
The rides were fun, although the hordes of unsupervised, pushy, and screaming kids were disappointing. Where are parents nowadays? The carnival was fun, but could be a whole lot better. First, parents could watch their kids and keep some semblance of control to avoid the madness. Secondly, the carnival could be held at one of the larger fields on base to avoid such crowding. The Military Family Carnival is fun, but not something I’d drive across town for.
Love, Loss, and Remembrance: Keeping the Memories of Great-Grandparents Alive for a New Generation
Wilfred Sarkkinen in Uniform, World War II
If there’s one hard thing about growing up, it’s watching those you love grow old. The circle of life is a vicious beast. Family is more important to me than anything else in this world. It was very hard last week when our Family Patriarch, Wilfred Sarkkinen, passed away at the age of 88. After all, he’s been around for my entire life. He lived next door throughout my childhood and was one of the first people we visited every time we went home. Although we knew it was coming, Grandpa’s death touched me more deeply than I ever thought it would. It was the first time someone close to me died.
What really surprised me was how deeply the loss of Grandpa Wilfred touched my 6-year-old, Alexandria. I didn’t really consider her feelings at first. She didn’t know him well, after all, and I thought I was keeping my emotions well-hidden when she was around. Then, Friday morning, she asked if she could begin school by journaling. What she handed me 30 minutes later brought tears to my eyes:
“One day my great Grandpa Wilfred died.
Derek kept on saying “Can we fix him?”
Momma said “God will fix him up in heaven. And he won’t come back to Earth.”
I felt sad hat he had died, because we didn’t see him very often.
And I felt uncomfortable because I didn’t know anyone that had died before.
It felt kind of scary.
It was hard to sleep.
Grandpa Jim called us when he died.
He was very sad.
Grandpa Wilfred was very sick.
It is sad when people die.”
Those are some pretty intense feelings coming from a six-year-old. Death isn’t a topic we ever really broached before, and now it was staring us in the face. It’s not that we avoid anything unpleasant. It’s just that in my 26 years of life, no one that close to me has passed away. I was lucky, I guess. No one Alex knew had ever passed away either. This was new and intensely emotional for us. We bought some last-minute tickets and prepared for our trip. My husband came home from a training mission and I left. Saturday morning, Alex and I boarded a plane and flew clear across the country to Washington State.
It was our first trip just the two of us. She was unusually quiet and lost in her thoughts. We were so happy to see the rest of our family, even though the reason we were together was tragic. My brothers flew in from all over the country. I think Alex was a little overwhelmed by Grandpa’s viewing and funeral and all the visiting surrounding the events. Grandpa Wilfred touched so many lives. The church was packed. His funeral ripped my heart in two. I know he’s so much better off now and he looked to be so much at peace. His pain and suffering was gone.
The hardest thing for me was realizing that I couldn’t get lost in mourning. I had this bright-eyed little girl who needed me to be strong. She needed to remember her Great-Grandfather for the strong father and leader he was and the only way that would happen would be if I kept his memory alive for her. Alex saw firsthand how the strength and bonds of family can pull us through even the darkest times and how we’re there for each other no matter what. That’s what I wanted her to remember: love, strength, and family. It wasn’t just about my feelings of loss and sorrow, but about helping her through her feelings. I don’t think she’ll ever forget.
It’s so important to me that Alex remember and respect her Great-Grandparents. They have such stories to tell. If they had not lived, we would not be here. My Grandfather was wounded in action during World War II and was awarded the Purple Heart. What would have happened if he had died from his wounds? I wouldn’t exist, and neither would my daughter. Elders do not get nearly enough respect in our culture. If we could just stop and think for a moment how much our past affects us today, I think it would blow people’s minds.
To remember Grandpa, my dad and I are putting together a memorial DVD. It’s a great way to heal and to commemorate a life well lived. I want to keep Grandpa’s spirit alive for his grand-children and great-grand children. I want them to know what he was like and the amazing obstacles he overcame. I want them to have a link to the past and to know where they came from.
Our visit home was full of sorrow, but also joy. Grandpa Wilfred gave us one last gift. He brought us all closer than ever before. We kids have grown up and have lives of our own. We live far apart and don’t see each other often. Grandpa’s passing brought us all together under one roof again and let us bond and realize how much we truly love and cherish each other. Life gets busy and we forget what’s really important sometimes.
Wilfred Sarkkinen in Uniform, World War II
He wrote letters home every day during WWII
Grandpa's Purple Heart
Grandpa's Bronze Star
Grandpa Wilfred and Grandma Dory with the first of their 12 kids
This is how I remember him, in his rocking chair
Grandpa and Grandma, several years ago
Grandpa Wilfred with Ethan, 2007
Grandpa Wilfred Reuben Sarkkinen was born on September 28, 1923 in Gackle, North Dakota. He was one of four children and had three sisters. Wilfred graduated from Gackle High School in 1941. He was drafted into the Army and served in World War II, when he was wounded in action. He received the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.
Wilfred married Dory on September 3, 1949 and lived in Minnesota. He worked as a mail carrier for many years. In 1969, the family moved to Southwest Washington, where he lived until his death. Wilfred and Dory had 12 children and multiple grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They were married for 62 years. He was a lifelong Christian who believed strongly in his faith. He was a moral light for all of us and someone we always looked up to.
Grandpa Wilfred Sarkkinen died on October 19, 2011 in Vancouver, Washington after a short illness. He was survived by his wife, one sister, his children, and over 100 grand and great-grand children. He was 88 years old.
Dad and Kent Before Grandpa's Funeral
Mom and Dad
Mom with Mike and Kent
All together again to pay our respects to Grandpa Wilfred
Alex, Auntie Laura, and Counsin Anthony before the service
Here is a link to his obituary: http://obits.columbian.com/obituaries/columbian/obituary.aspx?n=wilfred-reuben-sarkkinen&pid=154228992
“I Can’t Wait To See What Happens Next!”
My Baby Derek
No matter how early morning may come or how much coffee may be required to get the wheels rolling, a homeschooling-mama’s work never really ceases. Not that I’m complaining. I love it. It’s just that this morning seemed to come particularly early today. Just as the early morning sun’s rays began to lighten the room, my soon-to-be-5 -year old son Ethan rushed into my room. “Good morning, mama!” He was fully dressed and donned a shinning grin.
Me (groggily): “Morning, Ethan. What are you doing up so early?”
Ethan: “I can’t wait to see what happens next!”
Me: “What on earth are you talking about? It’s 6:30 in the morning. Why are you up?”
Ethan: “Is it time for school to start? I can’t wait to see what happens next! Can we do math now?”
Next, Derek came barreling into my room. He’s always smiling and full of life. My turbo-charged preschooler came to a screeching halt at the foot of my bed and started dancing around excitedly, “Monkey see, monkey do, monkey does the same as you!” He fell to the floor laughing, his brother rolling his eyes in despair. Well, Tuesday’s fingerplays must have left a mark on him.
Ethan: “How about some reading, mom?” (If you ignore your little brother, he’ll go away, right?)
Derek: “It’s lion day… raaaar!” Three-year-old Derek crawls around the floor pretending to be a lion. He pretends to bite Ethan’s leg. ”Raaaar! I live in the jungle!”
Ethan: “We didn’t do enough math yesterday, mom. I can count backwards from 100 by 10′s. 100…90…80..70 (and so on).
Derek: “I’m three! I turned three yesterday!” (Actually, his birthday was in July). “I am a three-year-old lion. I like giraffes. Maybe I am a three-year-old giraffe. I eat leaves on giant trees.”
Ethan: “30…20…10…”
Me: “All right. I’m up. But…. let’s at least wait until after breakfast to start school.”
The boys ran from the room laughing, racing to the breakfast table to get the day started. Alex is already downstairs playing “The Bear Went Over The Mountain” on the piano for the millionth time and Bella is in her crib, “Hi!!!!!!!”
It looks like it’s going to be another beautiful… and enthusiastic…day in the jungle.
Top 5 Reasons Why Homeschooling is Bad (Warning: Extreme Sarcasm Ahead!)
Image via Wikipedia
With the homeschooling movement growing 15% each year and social acceptance blossoming, some educators are on the offensive. They scream about the “socialization problem” and the lack-of-credentials held by home educators. They demand that higher regulations and restrictions be imposed immediately and that the homeschooling steam train be brought to a screeching halt. To help them out a bit, here are the top 5 reasons why homeschooling is bad. This list is for any parent considering homeschooling as well as those who have been doing it for years. (DISCLAIMER: You’re about to enter an extreme sarcasm zone. Nothing you are about to read should be taken seriously. )
You Have To Spend a Lot of Time With Your Kids
If you don’t enjoy spending time with your kids, homeschooling is not for you. Who in their right mind wants to spend so many hours a day watching their child learn, discover, and grow? Who wants to deal with that same child through every struggle and difficulty? The terror! Outsourcing childcare from the earliest days of life is simply what we do nowadays. School hours are parent time, blissful hours of child-free time in some cases and hectic hours of work-madness in others. Regardless, the fewer hours a day you spend with your children, the higher your sanity levels. So what if you miss those little milestones and memories. It’s not like they grow up too fast or anything.
Your Kids Will Be Smarter Than Their Peers
Survival of the fittest ended with industrialization and equality is the American way. Who gives parents the right to give their child an academic head-up on their competition? If American kids are failing academically, yours should be too. Sure, the Chinese are learning math and English practically from the cradle, but that won’t impact your baby in any way, shape, or form. You don’t want your child to feel un-cool, now do you? It’s not fair to provide your beloved junior with all of your resources. If their peers aren’t learning Latin, French, and physics, yours shouldn’t be either. It’s just not right to make your child stand out to the college admittance officers at that Ivy League School. Imagine how much it’ll hurt your neighbor’s feelings when their slacker-son doesn’t get in as well.
Your Kid Won’ Be Attending Cool Keg Parties
You just don’t see homeschooled teens partying all night at unsupervised, beer-infused keg fests. Those homeschooling parents are simply too involved in their kid’s lives. These helicopter parents are suffocating their children’s growing identity. It takes too much effort to infuse morals in wild pre-teens and teens. These poor kids are probably dragged to church on Sundays too. There should be a law against that. We should just let our kids be kids, no matter what the consequences. They’ll have so many great memories, forever preserved on Facebook for the viewing pleasure of their college admittance officers and future employers.
You Have To Put In A Lot of Time and Effort
We’re all busy. Work is insane, life is crazy, and the primetime hours are packed with delectable television programming. Who wants to spend sacred moments planning lesson plans and researching curriculum? Who wants to maintain a portfolio of their child’s scribble-scrabble, let alone an attendance record? It’s much better to ship our offspring off to school every day and not think twice about it. Who cares if they won’t start learning a foreign language until high school? It’s America. We speak English. Who cares if their math skills are minimal and can’t compete in the world market? That’s what calculators are for. Who really wants to spend the time and effort investing in their child’s future if someone else can do it for them? I’m just saying… “me time” is for me. Sure, my children’s school years are a relatively small percentage of my total life and are pretty important, but I can’t afford to miss this season’s TV lineup!
Your Kids Will Turn Out “Weird”
Now, you don’t want your child to be different, do you? Doesn’t everyone want their teenie-bopper daughter to be boy crazy and name-brand obsessed, living in a techno-world of texting and moral-free, parent-ignoring bliss? Every boy should know the fine arts of wedgie-giving and locker-room potty mouthing. Every young teen should be fluent in the finer-points of sluttiness and human sexuality. Who wouldn’t want their kid smoking pot and skipping class? Who wouldn’t want their kid to experience bullies first-hand and stumble through cliques and peer pressure during their formative years? Depriving your child from these rights-of-teenage passage is simply inhumane.
DISCLAIMER: In case you missed it above, this article in no way reflects the author’s true beliefs about homeschooling. It should be read as a satire.
Maggie Goes On a Diet… To Get Friends and Make People Like Her….
Maggie Goes on a Diet Cover From Amazon.com
What sorts of books do you let your preschool kids read? Here’s one for you: “Maggie Goes On A Diet” by Paul M. Kramer. Maggie is an obese 14-year-old girl who is unpopular in school. In order to get back at the other kids, she goes on a diet and loses the weight. As she gets skinnier, students start liking her and she makes friends. The author says he wrote it for teens, but Amazon.com lists this rhyming picture book in the 4-8 years age bracket. What teen would read a rhyming picture book, anyway? Who in their right mind thought this was a good message for kids? Lose weight so people like you? I don’t think so.
My husband and I heard about this book on CNN and couldn’t believe our ears. Why the heck should young kids read—or be read—books about losing weight? This is destructive to their developing self-esteems. Girls tend to become weight conscious anyway. To tell them that losing weight will make them popular makes matters worse.
I’m certainly not against healthy eating. As parents, it’s our responsibility to feed our children healthy, nutritious, and balanced meals. If obesity is a problem in our homes, families can make changes to their lifestyles by preparing healthier meals, cutting out junk food, and exercising together. Under no circumstance should young children be told to “diet.” This is a very body conscious country we live in and we do not need to worsen this problem. I heard on CNN that 80% of girls think about dieting by the time they are 10-years-old. As grown women, we think about weight, dieting, and body-image every day! It’s about time we stand up and end this garbage once and for all.
How about instead of teaching our children that they need to lose weight or look a certain way in order to be popular, we teach them to love themselves for the people they are? How about we teach them to be proud of their gifts? Why does Maggie have to be skinny to develop a positive self-image? The book’s summary states, “Maggie has so much potential that has been hiding under her extra weight.” What the hell? This is a terrible, terrible message to teach to our kids. In my humble opinion, Maggie should find friends who like her for the person she is and she should focus on discovering her passions and strengths. Our potential doesn’t “hide” under our weight.
I’ve written a lot of book reviews over the years, and this book receives my most scalding critique. Do not waste your money or time on it, and don’t damage your children by reading them this garbage.
Related articles
- ‘Diet’ picture book for girls: Bad message or positive? (msnbc.msn.com)
- Outrage over rhyming ‘diet’ book for kids (parentcentral.ca)
- Outrage Explodes Over Rhyming ‘Diet’ Picture Book (abcnews.go.com)
- Outrage explodes over rhyming `diet’ picture book (sfgate.com)
- Outrage explodes over rhyming `diet’ picture book (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
But…. What About Socialization?
Where did the idea come from that homeschooled kids are socially incapable misfits who can’t play with other children or properly interact in society? It’s a sad stereotype, and one that is blatantly false. Yet the stereotype lives. “But…. What about socialization?” a well-meaning neighbor asks, a look of concern and pity on her face. “Aren’t you worried that your child won’t know how to… fit in?”
Let’s take a look at this word: socialization. According to Dictionary.com, socialization is “a continuing process whereby an individual acquires a personal identity and learns the norms, values, behavior, and social skills appropriate to his or her social position.” Let’s examine this closely. Someone who is socialized is on a journey of self-discovery, learning about what is and is not acceptable behavior and what is expected out of them. Socialization is everything we teach our children from the moment they are born: how to share, when to say please and thank you, not to push and bite, how to wait in line patiently, etc. Socialization occurs every time we’re at the playground and we teach our children how to share space and play equipment with other kids, how to speak kindly with others, and how to be considerate even when others are not. Socialization occurs when we’re at the grocery store and teach our children not to run through the aisles, throw produce, push past people, or yell and shriek. Socialization occurs when we take our children to the library and teach them to sit quietly during story time, to treat books with care, and to be quiet and considerate. In other words, socialization occurs every second of every day.
Another common definition of socialization is “visiting and hanging out with friends.” I don’t know where the idea came from that socialization can only occur within the confines of a schoolroom. Yes, socialization does occur there, but it is limited. I want my children to laugh, talk, and make friends. Yet, this didn’t really happen in public school. In fact, Alex was in trouble nearly every day for talking! There’s not that much time apart from recess where kids can freely talk and visit. Even during lunch, Alex was frequently told to stop talking (she’s a big talker, I have to admit) and eat. It’s not like she had much time to visit. She did work with other kids on projects, but purely social time was rare.
Homeschooled children socialize every single day. They play with children at the playground. They have friends over and go to their houses as well. They play and talk with children at classes and museums. They have many friends at their homeschool groups and co-ops, where they not only get to work on projects with others but also have time to forge lasting friendships. They have friends in their neighborhoods and friends in their clubs. There’s no shortage of kids to interact with. Alex in particular has developed much closer relationships with children outside of public school than she ever did in school! A bonus is that, as parents, we get to know her friends and her friends’ families. I think this will be particularly helpful when Alex is a middle-schooler and a teen. I want to know a bit about her friends. I want to know what influences are affecting my daughter. I will never try to control her group of friends, but I do want to be more than on oblivious bystander. In this world of drugs, alcohol, and vice, wouldn’t you?
We have a large family, so my kids always have each other to hang out with too. We have lessons on acceptance, team-work, and consideration every single day. There aren’t too many “alone moments” in our house! My kids have awesome relationships with each other. When we started homeschooling in the early summer, I noticed that the kids really started getting along better. They learned to work together better and accept each other’s differences a whole lot more than they did before. Whereas they “tolerated” each other before, they’re now great friends. The kids also socialize every time we leave the house. They socialize with people in the real world daily, at the grocery store, the bank, the mall, the farmer’s market. They learn to politely interact with people of all ages. They learn how the world around them works and what their place in the world might be. Isn’t that what socialization is all about?
Back to that definition, a socialized person develops a personal identity. I think homeschooled children truly have an advantage here. When figuring out who they are, a homeschooled child is free to truly be themselves and follow their passions. They don’t have to dress in a particular way or try to impress the cool kids. Girls don’t have to choose between being pretty and being smart. My daughter is really into math and science now and I dread the day someone makes fun of her for this. I avoided those topics in school because I wanted to part of the in-crowd. I regret that now. Even though I was at the top of my class, I acted “dumb” and “blonde” to be cool. I do not want that for my girls! I don’t want them to be bullied or made fun of for their passions and beliefs. Sure, this could still happen, but it’s much less likely. Bullying is a huge problem in American schools. Turn on the news and it’s likely you’ll hear about a case of bullying that led to a suicide. Tragedies like this happen much too frequently. Even when it’s not that extreme, bullying does severe damage to a child’s growing sense of self. That is not the type of socialization I want for my kids.
I have met more than one homeschooled child who was introverted or who was socially inept. But do you know what? I’ve met more than one public-schooled child who fits those same descriptions. Some people are naturally introverted and/or awkward! That’s life. I do not see droves of children coming out of public schools with impeccable manners either, able to politely interact with people of all ages. Neither public schooling nor homeschooling are the definitive answer to creating well-socialized and respectable citizens. What it comes down to is this: parents. Good socialization depends on good parents (or guardians). Parents who are involved in their child’s life and development and teach them what it means to be a considerate, involved, and moral citizens will likely end up with a great kid regardless of their schooling choices. Parents who are uninvolved in their child’s life may not have such good results. Children who end up as criminals, drug addicts, gang members, or alcoholics were “socialized” too, you know. I don’t care if you homeschool, unschool, public school, or choose private schooling: Parental involvement is everything. What type of socialization is your child getting? What outside influences have affected him or her today? Do you know?
What are you doing in your life right now to socialize your child? How are you helping him or her develop their unique sense of self and become an educated, caring, and capable citizen of tomorrow?
PS:
One of the best books I’ve read on this topic is The Well-Adjusted Child: The Social Benefits of Homeschooling by Rachel Gathercole. This book is packed with great examples and statistics and refutes all of the most common misconceptions regarding homeschooled children and socialization. Whether you have questions about socialization or have family members who do, this is an awesome read. You can find it at your local library like I did, or check it out at amazon.com ( http://www.amazon.com/Well-Adjusted-Child-Social-Benefits-Homeschooling/dp/1600651070/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b).
Jacksonville’s Gem: Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens
If you ever travel through Jacksonville, you absolutely must check out the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens at 829 Riverside Avenue. Located along the St. Johns River, the museum was built on the site of a historic Jacksonville mansion and houses a fantastic art collection, has two acres of spectacular, walk-able gardens (one Italian Renaissance garden, one traditional British garden), and boasts an amazing children’s art center. We’ve spent many mornings at the Cummer this summer and won’t tire of it any time soon.
Wednesdays are field trip days at our house, so after two hours of the basics (math and reading), we loaded everyone up in the trusty Sienna and headed out on the town. Our first stop was the library, a weekly favorite. This is the last week of the Jacksonville Public Library’s Summer Reading Program and the kids were excited to turn in their reading logs and get a prize. They each got a new book to keep and loaded up their library bags with new treasures to borrow as well. My kids are serious about their books and check out at least 30 new titles a week. Even Bella chooses her own books now!
Our next stop was the Cummer for some hands-on art before lunch. We made self-portraits and built sculptures. We painted amazing original paintings (and printed them!) and read books in the little lounge. We explored shapes, colors, and textures, and searched for our favorite pieces of art. Alex and Ethan made postcards with self-drawn pictures of Florida to send to Grandma and Grandma. All the kids rediscovered the wonders of mixing paints to create new colors and danced in the dark room where their colorful, moving images appeared on a projector screen in front of them. Bella showed more interest in the touchable art that she ever has before, walking slowly along the display and carefully examining and touching piece.
We only spent an hour there today, but came away with three self-portraits, two post cards, and 6 “original masterpieces” for the refrigerator! We also grabbed a flier about their weekly art classes and look forward to trying them out this fall. The kids are all sleeping peacefully now, their brains tired and their tummies full from a special Chick-fil-a lunch on the town. Hopefully they wake up nice and refreshed for some afternoon reading time and a few more at-home learning adventures.
Our New Adventure: Homeschooling!
Kitchen Science!
School starts in Duval County next week and I’m nervous. Why? It’s not because of early morning bus drop-offs or conflicting schedules. It’s not because of intense homework loads or childcare issues. I’m nervous for an entirely different but great reason. We began homeschooling our 4 children this summer and love it. It just seems so much more real now that they won’t be joining their classmates in the bus-line! This fall marks our official début as a family of homeschoolers.
We happened upon homeschooling this spring as a last-ditch effort to turn our son’s behavior around. Ethan has social anxiety disorder, among other things, and was placed into the local public school‘s “mixed abilities” preschool class to help him overcome his difficulties. After six months in school, he was a changed child… and unfortunately not in a good way. Rather than improving, my normally docile son had become aggressive. He hit and kicked his teachers when asked to do simple things he didn’t like to do. His temper tantrums were out of control. I was being called at home because of behavioral issues several times a week. Not only that, the boy who was so confident in naming his letters, colors, and shapes suddenly couldn’t seem to name any of them anymore. The boy who had been in speech therapy for so long was becoming extremely difficult to understand when he spoke, perhaps because he was modeling his speech after other severely handicapped classmates (I’m not sure exactly the reason). Finally, in mid-spring, the problem hit a terrible peak. I was driving home one afternoon when I got a call from a familiar number: the office. The problem was not so expected. Ethan had been put in time out for throwing a tantrum and had started an electric fire by sticking something into an uncovered outlet. The fire had been quickly put out and no one else was hurt, but Ethan had burned his arm quite badly and I needed to pick him up right away.
I was in a blind panic and drove across town as quickly as possible. His teacher relayed the story again, including the fact that she couldn’t possibly watch every kid at every moment and stating that it was “both of our faults” this happened. My son could have been killed while in her care. He did know better, but I don’t blame him for being improperly supervised or for his classroom being improperly childproofed. My husband and I had discussed what we should do about his deteriorating behavior for a while now and this sealed the deal. Ethan would be homeschooled. We had a lot of work to do.
I’ll have to admit, I wasn’t particularly thrilled at the prospect of homeschooling Ethan. I didn’t want to deal with his intense issues 24/7. I enjoyed the break from him and his tantrums. Yet, what we were doing wasn’t working. Public school was definitely not the answer.
We plunged into homeschooling head first. The first few weeks were rough, his outrageous behavior getting on my last nerve. Then something miraculous began to happen. Ethan’s outbursts decreased dramatically. He started smiling more. With help from his behaviorist, he began engaging and really enjoying learning. After a few months, most of his troublesome behaviors had vanished. He was learning. He was thriving! He didn’t act out aggressively or cry and scream when things didn’t go exactly his way. The difference was night and day. The Ethan of today is practically unrecognizable from the Ethan of 6 months ago.
When school let out for the summer, I began homeschooling my older daughter Alexandria as well. She’s a very advanced little reader with a passion for learning. She had fun at school, but was always bored out of her mind and getting into trouble for talking. She was the “teacher’s helper” because she was too far advanced. She wasn’t pushed to learn anything further either. This summer we tried something new. I let Alex learn at her own pace. The results were amazing. We did school each morning of the workweek, learning grammar, phonics, math, social studies, science, piano, French, geography, and more. We read hundreds of books and went on lots of great field trips. We made learning fun and challenging and had an absolute blast together. Alexandria exploded academically. Her expanding vocabulary and knowledge base blow me away.
My husband and I had a revelation. We had stumbled upon something big. We did our research and discovered that other homeschooling families were having similar successes. Homeschooling is becoming an increasingly popular alternative to the failing public school system and homeschoolers are thriving. They do as well as or better than their public school peers across the board. According to HSLDA (The Homeschool Legal Defense Association), homeschoolers score in the 85th percentile on national achievement tests while public school students score in the 50th percentile. Colleges are seeking them out. They’re entering the workforce as well-educated, well-rounded, capable, and self-motivated citizens. Was this really an option for us?
We had a ton of questions. How would homeschooling work with my husband’s busy work schedule? How would I juggle teaching and my own writing career? How could I successfully integrate the younger children into the school day? How would our lives change, and were we ready for these changes?
It turns out, it’s super easy to homeschool in the state of Florida. Simply write a letter of intent, send it to the proper office, and you’re set. At the end of the year, have a teacher evaluate a portfolio of your child’s work. We began searching for curriculum and choosing a wide variety of materials. We dove into homeschooling and found out that it was a great match. The children love their school time and we’ve had countless fun, productive, and memorable mornings this summer. We’ve become involved with our local homeschooling community and have made some great new friends. Not only are the children learning more than they ever would in our local public school, but we’ve also become closer as a family. I’ve learned how to enjoy spending time with my children a whole lot more than I used to. The children have learned to enjoy each other’s company more as well.
We’ve discovered that there’s a whole new world out there that doesn’t involve public schooling. I don’t have to worry about music, art, or PE being cut from my daughter’s school. Funding and budget cuts aren’t a problem. I don’t have to worry about bullies or peer pressure (too much anyway). I know who my children’s’ friends are and what their families are like. I can help my children reach their true potential in this amazing day and age. With the internet and a city full of classes and social activities, there’s a wealth of knowledge right at our finger tips.
This is the story of how one busy, bustling military family came to be a family of homeschoolers and the lessons we’ll learn along the way.
Related articles
- Homeschooling FrAnTiCs (multipurposemom.com)
- Introducing the How to Home School Guide – A Tool Written By Homeschoolers for Homeschoolers (prweb.com)
- Homeschool Planning: Back to Homeschool (thehappyhousewife.com)
- Announcing a New Resource Dedicated to Homeschool Fiction (prweb.com)
- Applying College Well : Tips for Homeschoolers (education.com)
- Do Parents Have a Right to Homeschool? (education.com)
