My little artists

Kids love to create.  They love to make things and are curious about so many things.  Look at that little guy, trying to paint his body, and then the camera. LOL.  My sweet little children.  They bring so much joy to my life.    I need to stop trying to control things so much that I don't let them create and try new things.  I need to let them use their creative sides more.  I use to do more crafts and fun art projects.
Where did that side of me go?  I am hoping to get that person back.  Maybe once I get over this nasty cold I've had for ever.  I keep hoping I'll be over it so I can be more fun and creative.  Lets hope that that day will be today!  I'll feel better and start getting into schooling more.  Teaching and letting them teach themselves.  

Judging a book by it's cover...You NEVER know what's inside until you pick it up and read it.

  So our first (Official) week or so of school has been going pretty well.  We've only had one child, on the first day, freak out cause they didn't want to do book work.  But other than that and me being sick, the kids are doing really well.  I however, have been sick for the past 2 weeks.  It's not just one sickness, NO, it's been one thing after another.  I'm trying to stay positive and keep on swimming, but some days I feel so Uggh, that it makes everything seem dark and lonely.
  Well, so my 5 y/o has been wanting me to take him on a date.  He had a chance, about a month ago, but chose another prize, and let his other sibling go instead.  Since then I've been so sick and not up to going out, that I kept putting his date off.  He felt so bad last week, when I canceled on him, that this week I decided to take him to see a $ movie.  I felt that since I was sick, that was the safest thing to do, to avoid tons of people. And we could get McDonalds on the way there.
  Anyway, I'm not 100% certain, but while we were on our date, and while we were waiting in the foyer for the movie to start, (K was gonna pass the time playing on the game machines they have there.  Well, of course he got bored pretty fast.  But didn't want to wait in the car.  We had finished our meal in the car before going in the theater, and K didn't wanna stay in the car any longer), I of course checked my phone.  My sisters had messaged me on FB and I was reading their comments.  While reading my comments I heard the lady that worked there say, "Get off your phone, honey".  Now, if I wasn't feeling so sick, (did I mention my ears have been plugged?) and out of it, I probably would've turned around to see who she was talking to, and then told her off.  Well, if she was talking to me, I would have gave her a piece of my mind. Or told her off as well as I could have being sick. But, now that I am thinking about it, I'm pretty sure she was talking to/about me.  And now that I am realizing it, I have a whole bunch I wish I could say to her.
  Yes, I could go back and see if she is working, and show her my 5 kids and me dealing with them all by myself.  And maybe, explain my whole life situation so she won't be so judgmental towards me.  But I'll just rant on here, and then I'm sure I'll feel much better.  :)

  Anyways, I'll write a few examples of things I would like that lady to know.  

  To the Lady at the Dollar Theater...
Yes, to you, it probably looks like my son and I don't speak much.  To you it probably looks like I'm always checking my phone.  But do you know what has really gone on?  Did you see me struggling with my 5 kids these past couple of weeks, teaching them in our home, getting them to do their work and not fight with each other?   Feeding them, and dressing them.  Making sure they are all well. All while I'm feeling so sick, and emotionally and physically tired.   Every day having my children say, "Can we go to the park?", "When are you gonna take me on a date?", "Can we go to the dollar store?".  Each time I have to respond, "I'm too sick", "I don't feel well", and "Maybe I'll feel better tomorrow and I'll take you".  Among many other responses.  But today, I felt really bad, and I really did want to spend 1 on 1 time with my 5 year old.  So I told him I'll take him to a movie.  While my body felt like staying in, staying warm, and getting rest, so I can get better.  So you see, I forced myself out the door, took him to McDonald's, bought him that happy meal he's been wanting.  Got to the theater earlier than expected so we finished our dinner in the car.  Only checking my phone to see if it was time to go in.  Of course with the attention span of a 5 y/o he was ready and excited to go in.  I told him we had tons of time, but he insisted.  So we went inside.  He looked at the games, got bored of them quickly, while I used the restroom, had a coughing fit and waited. And here we are, waiting for the movie.  I check my phone.  My son and I with minimal conversations.  (What is there to talk about with a 5 year old?  Especially in public.)  So you see, we have many times, in closed doors, and a few in public where we talk. All electronics aside.  I am with him and his siblings 24 hours a day.  7 days a week.  The only time I get completely alone is if I'm on a Girls night for a couple of hours, or when I send my kids to Church for 2 hours.  Now, can I ask you, do you think I'm always checking my phone?

  Ok, that is my long, only in my head response.  :)  That is what I would love to say to anyone who looks at me and even thinks, she should get off her phone and spend time with that kid.

  So for a more condensed version.

  Lady, I am a mother of 5, I do home school.  This is my few seconds and rare mins I have to check my messages/phone.  I've been sick, but felt bad that my 5 y/o didn't get his date with me last week.  So knowing I could avoid crowds, and to have less contact with people, we came here, to see a movie together and spend some time, alone. I'd rather be at home, warm and getting better.  But my son is very important to me and I want him to know I love him.

  That's still probably more than what I would have said.  I probably would have just stared blankly, not knowing what to say, and then would have said something like, "Huh?", then stammered something like, "Oh ya, I try not to look at my phone, especially while out with my kids." "I've got 5 kids, so it's kinda hard to check my phone while I'm out and about".

  Oh well, who knows exactly what I would have said.  But just realizing that she might have been talking to me gets me really bugged.  Please, when you are in public and see a mother on her phone.  Don't be to quick to judge.  You don't know her story.  She probably has been through hell.  You can't be the judge.  Just love her, offer her help, especially if she's shopping with 3+ kids.  Love her before you judge her.  Or him. :)  Being a parent is tough, even before cell phones etc.  :)  Or should I say especially before. LOL  I am truly grateful for our modern world.  I can only imagine how hard it was being a parent/mother before we had pinterest, email, cell phones.  Even before microwaves, vehicles, running water, heaters!!! CHORE MONSTER, etc., etc., etc!!  I LOVE my kids and I am truly blessed to be able to stay home with them, to teach them and spend all my time with them.  They are my life.  I am so grateful to my husband, who works his butt off, so I can be home with my 5 munchkins.  Thanks Hubby!

  Thanks for letting me rant... or at least reading my rant.  It's definitely a 1st world problem.  But like all people, and all countries, we need to stop judging, and just love!

That is all.  Good night!

Break?

  Right now it is officially "summer break".  Although, being a mother and a home schooler, I still try to find many times and ways to continue to teach my children.  Some times those ways are the best.  Some of my children learn better when I teach that way.  So whenever there is a teaching moment, I try to take that moment.  Even while we are outside playing with chalk, or ball.  There is always a time to teach.
  So really, we shouldn't really have a break from school.  Being my kids teacher, I do like to give myself that break. But with unschooling it definitely works out, that I'm still teaching them but I'm also getting a little bit of a break this summer.

  Next week we will be going to Vegas and St. George for a little family vacation.  I hope to have many teaching moments while were there.  We'll also be there for Denver Snuffers lectures.  Maybe we could listen to the talks and teach our children as well.  I'd like to take them to the talks but with how young they all are I don't think they'll sit very long at all.   We'll see how it goes.

 

A little about my back story

If you're asking me, "Why I decided to Home teach my children", this may be your answer.


 When I was a young girl I HATED going to school.  Every week it was a battle to get me to go out the door.   I'm not 100% sure why.  Maybe I blocked all the reasons.  Maybe there's no real reason.

 I do however, remember a few occasions when other kids teased me.  My mom recalled a story I told her after school one day, about how I stood in the middle of a puddle while other children stood around me, trapping me in the puddle while they each splashed me.  I do not recall that story at all.  There are some stories I prefer to keep trapped in my head where no one else can hear the horror.  Maybe one day I will share, but as for now I will keep them to myself.  Maybe those are the actual reasons why I hated school.  I guess we'll never know for sure.  :)  I will share that I was teased that I liked one of the "nerdy" boys in my class.  I felt that was saying that I was a dork, and a nerd as well.  Looking back I don't think that boy or even myself, was even close to being nerds.  At the time, of course, I believed those "mean" kids.

 Before my parents decided to pull me out of school someone suggested to them that they have a police officer drive me to school everyday.  I'm sooo glad they didn't do that!  Another suggestion was that I should be assigned to raise my hand since I NEVER even to this day like to make comments or answer questions.   I'm also glad they didn't do that!

 I was and still am to some degree "SHY".

 That was a label I HATED!!

 Just because a child hasn't blossomed into who they are to become, when everyone else thinks they should, doesn't mean they should be labeled, unless it's a label called, SMART, WONDERFUL, LOVELY, SPECIAL.  Labels of encouragement.  Usually children grow out of their "shyness" or other labels.  Give it time, patience and most of all LOVE!  The brain is amazing.  Whatever you or others tell your brain, it'll believe it, and eventually you will too.   So even if someone is stupid or shy, I suggest keeping your comments to yourself!

 I feel that sometimes, when a child is continually labeled something even if it's true, or not, they subconsciously feel unloved, or not good enough.   Or even other feelings and emotions that they may or may not know they have.

 I know, you're probably thinking, "Heidi, your kids are shy, why not send them to school to socialize?" or "your kids are shy because they do home school" Or whatever you may be thinking about my children.  Doesn't matter!  :)  Because I know who they are!  I know who is more reserved and introverted than the other.  I know that with time, patience, love, guidance and good examples my children will be who they were intended to be.  They will blossom into who The Lord wants them to be.  If I shape them and teach them and guide them. They will be who they are.  And no matter what anyone may label them, or say about them won't matter.

Why I chose to HS

I have no degree, I haven't been schooled on how to teach.  Why then, do I teach my children?  My entire reasons why is unknown.  I do it because it's what I feel is best.  Best for me, best for my children.  I feel that they need me.  They need their mother.  Am I the best teacher?  NO.  But I am their mother.  I know them best.  I know their style of learning, what's best for them individually.  They are my children and I know them.  If I struggle the Lord helps me to know what to do to pass the struggles.  Is it easy?  NO!  Definitely not!  Do we fight and argue?  Of course, who doesn't?  But we work through our struggles.  We learn to get past them.  We learn and grow.

I Love my children, with all my heart.  They are my life!  They are my everything.  I want to be there for them.  Through thick and thin.  I want them to know that I am here for them whenever they need me.  Whenever they are struggling.  I want to teach them all I can now before they go out into this world.  Now is when they need me.  Now is when they want me.  I want to teach them everything I know before I send them out to "build their houses", to face the big bad wolf.  I want to prepare them for life.  They will have plenty of "life" experiences in their lives.  In due time.  I want to "shield" them while they are young.  :)  Keep them under my wing before they take their first flight.

So why do I do HS?  They are only young once.  I will never have this experience with my child ever again!