His favorite cooking activities are cutting veggies and shaking spices. He is such a big helper!

Yesterday we were cooking Jambalaya. As I was cutting onions and he was chopping a bell pepper with his butter knife, I watched him put the knife down and reach for a jar that looked like it was full of gold wrapped candy!!! Yummmmmmy!

He got excited as he unwrapped the golden cube and popped it into his mouth… I have NEVER seen such a confused little face! His expression was one of suprise, terror and disappointment as he realized that this was NOT a golden candy cube… it was chicken bouillon!!!

Teeheehee!Fun times!

New Mom

We had a new-to-the-group mom visiting with us. All the rest of us were veteran homeschoolers. I won the prize for the oldest…no wait, the one with the longest homeschool history….yes, that sounds better and keeps us off that subject!

And the sweet new mom has not even started her adventure yet! Isn’t she wise to come and learn all she can before she starts?  Her oldest is only 3 and she came to learn about homeschooling before it is time for her to start the awesome task of teaching her children at home. But wait! She already is teaching them. This is what we reminded her…the all wise and knowing ones….she has been their teacher since they were born and nothing changes when they become school-age. She does not suddenly become inept, ignorant or inadequate just because they turn 5 or 6!

We also talked about the new Homeschool Study that has come out. Wow! Can I just say that again? Wow! This research shows the results of homeschooling and public schools and we are proving that we can do a really good job.

Now, let me just go on the record that we are NOT anti-public school.  I have two wonderful sisters-in-law and many friends that are teachers at our local public schools. These ladies are very dedicated, wonderful teachers. I think their job is complicated by the system and so many other factors. They really do have one of the toughest jobs around.

And let me go on record with this; they have a job that I don’t think I have the mental stamina to do. I mean, teaching my own kids is one thing. But teaching all those other children…well I couldn’t commit to doing that. They are strong women!

Now, back to the study. In short, where the public schools are only able to hit about the 50th percentile on testing in most all subjects, homeschoolers hit 85-90th percentile. Now this is regardless of parents level of education, family income, size of family, etc. This is really a strong, strong affirmation of all the hard work that parents have committed to each child for as long as 18 years each.

Because you know, homeschool moms have a tough job too. And I have heard many school teachers say it is a job that they wouldn’t take on for themselves. Why you ask? One reason is because it is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. You know, no summer break, holidays, weekends off.

We take on full responsibility for how the kids’ education will turn out.  No chance to share the responsibility with the school system or teachers that they encounter. Can’t blame anyone but ourselves.

But, you  know what? We also don’t have to share the credit! Yippee! That is right. Our children’s educational successes are a direct correlation to our daily commitment to educate them in all things. Now, don’t feel lowly if your child does not score in the 90th percentile. Not everyone is created to be an academic whiz.  In our family we have the bookworm-academic-types and the entrepreneur-let’s-get-on-with-real-life types and the artistic and musical types.

Remember it is just an average. But, yeah. The affirmation of this study is great. You know, since we don’t get affirmed with a paycheck and all.

So, what exactly caused my check-with-reality? This beautiful birthing story. No, it is not a friend’s birthing story as it would have been in the past. It is the daughter of my friend! Ha! How old does that make me feel? Well, maybe even older than when my daughter birthed my beautiful grandson two years ago. More on that in a bit.

As a Le Leche League Leader for many, many moons; I have read stories by the old-wise-ones concerning breastfeeding and birthing as it related to their grown children and grandchildren. But as a young mom, I just could not really wrap my brain around the reality that it would happen to me.

Really Now! No one ever told me that my children would really grow up. It just seemed impossible during that flurry of busy-ness where it seemed that nothing ever really got accomplished besides a lot of nursing, laundry, an occasional bath and maybe even a good meal every now and then. But, I suppose a lot of growing up was happening. sigh.

Well, here I am with a completely new identity and I don’t even know when exactly it happened. I am still learning to embrace the ‘new me’. These days I rarely think of birthing or breastfeeding when comparing to the all-consuming thoughts of yesteryear!

Don’t get me wrong, I like the new me and she showed up just in time; because I don’t think my back and joints could walk a sick toddler around all night anymore. But I am also sad that it is over. It was such a sweet, sweet, precious time even if it was busy, busy, hard work.

So, I spend my days homeschooling my three daughters, running our websites, helping Caleb with his lawn care business, and renovating old homes with him and my husband for rental property partnership. Yes, it is busy, busy, busy…but oh, so different.

Yes, I am the Old Mom in this blog venture. My daughter is the New Mom. And sweet little Aiden made us so. It is a good change after all!

No, I’m not “hatin’” on my child, I’m just occasionally put out that he is such a  mamma’s boy at this age. I typically can’t sit down for more than 2-3 minutes before he’s tugging at me to hold him, play with him, etc. I can’t even sit on the toilet for 20 seconds most days- in a flash he’s at my toes, ankles and then the toilet paper roll. Ah!

Stupid, why don’t I get a play pen? I have one. Then use it! Hm, no. I don’t mind using it occasionally when absolutely necessary, like when I’m mopping or using cleaners in places he can reach. But I can’t stand to put him in it any more than that, I feel it is cruel to use it as an every day escape for mom when baby should be learning by exploring freely, not screaming to be let out of a cage.

Have you guessed that I’m claustrophobic yet? Yep, just a little. But that doesn’t have much to do with not using a play pen. I believe that babies should learn the appropriate physical boundaries with familiar inanimate objects very early in life. How are they supposed to learn what is fun to play with, which chairs to pull up on and that an oven gets hot if they are constantly thrown into a prison of navy mesh and stuffed animals? Er duhhh, they don’t. They don’t because the second they pull a book off the shelf or drool in the dvd player it’s off to the play pen!

So, why did I buy a playpen? I didn’t. Huh? It was a gift. I truly appreciate it too, I am just reeeally disturbed by the amount of overuse and abuse of many different types of baby gear and technology.

That is my rant for today… It took me all day to write this tiny piece of a blog, but I don’t care. Not too much. I am occasionally annoyed at the amount of time things take, or that I have to schedule things for a babysitter, but I am always more ecstatic that my baby is exploring his world and loves his mamma… and hopefully won’t have an abandonment complex after all my ranting!

Oh yes, during my many breaks, naps, feedings, cleaning, cooking, exploring and blogging sessions I got my photos printed. Yes!

Goodbye!