This I Know

What a whirlwind weekend!  Do you ever have a thought come crashing down upon you so suddenly and instantenously but once it settled you realized that you knew it all along?  That happened to me this weekend.

 

Jimmy and I have received a powerful confirmation that it is time for us to take our children out of pubilc schools and educate them at home.  Phew.  There.  I said it.  I know this notion is absurd to many of you and frankly the idea of implementing it in reality is both overwhelming and exciting at the same time. 

 

When the idea of homeschooling, of really actually doing it, began to feel like it fit right...kinda like a pair of jeans that I never thought I would wear but actually, when I tried them on, fit just perfectly and made me feel beautiful.... 

 

{Sigh.  If that were only the case.}  Ahem.  But I digress.

 

When the idea of teaching my kids at home began to solidfy we decided to pray about it.  Really.hard.  Throughout the course of two days we received a crystal clear answer that we needed to do it.  And once I was filled with that energy and comforted by the uninterrupted surge of rightness that consumed me I realized that I had actually known the answer all along.  The course I am about to take is one that has been laid out for me from the beginning.  Prepared.  And now complete and ready.  And I'm about to set foot upon it and venture on my Journey.

 

Don't think for a second that I'm not fully grasping the chaos and clutter and constancy of kids that will now be mine.  I get it.  Don't imagine that I am fooled into thinking that this is going to be easy and that we are not going to struggle and perhaps feel overwhelmed and irritated with eachother throughout the process.  But I have something to carry with me along the way and that is knowing--KNOWING--that this is the right thing to do and being able to move forward without looking behind.

 

Let the journey begin. 

Don't Judge. I was just curious....

Have you ever wondered what the conversations of your kids are like when they are on the phone?  I have a 10-year-old who--very much like her father--is not a phone talker.  But she has this adorable little girlfriend who calls her everyday.  I have always been curious what in the world little girls talk about on the phone.  I may or may not have eavesdropped on their conversation today.

 

If I had, however, eavesdropped this is HYPOTHETICALLY what MAY have transpired:

 

Hali: Hi, C..  Hang on while I go find the cordless phone so I can watch TV while you talk.  (No, I am not kidding.)

 

{Hali enters my bedroom looking for the cordless. I, of course, am asleep on the bed.  She cannot find the phone.  That may or may not be because it is underneath my pillow. }

 

Hali: I can't find it. 

 

C:  {Giggle giggle} So what are you doing tonight?  Maybe you or I could come over.

 

Hali: {crunching noises}

 

C:  What are you eating?

 

Hali: {still crunching} Fri {crunch-crunch} tos.

 

C: Oh!  That sounds cool.  {Giggles}  That is a really cool sound.  I have so many bruises on my feet.  There's one and then another one and, oh!  Another one!

 

H:  {Crunch}

 

C: So, do you like Ashley?

 

H: {Crunch}

 

C: Hali, are you there?

 

H:  Huh?

 

C:  What are you doing?

 

H: Watching iCarly.

 

C: Oh.  I hate iCarly.

 

H: {Crunch}

 

C:  Um...so do you like that Angela girl?

 

H:  What Angela girl?

 

C:  You know!  Angela!  In our class!

 

H:  Hang on.  I gotta get some water.

 

{C .giggling and singing to herself while waiting for H to return}

 

H:  I'm back. 

 

{About 5 minutes of silence.  I may or may not have been about to hang up until I heard...}

 

H:  Hey, C.!  Stephen is wearing boobs!

 

{What the...?  Boobs?  Did that word just come out of my Hali's mouth?  What the heck is she watching???}

 

H: {Gasp}  Soandso is about to kiss Suchandsuch!  {Hey, I don't watch the show and forgot their names!  Hypothetically.  IF I actually were eavesdropping.}

 

Mom:  HALI!  WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING??????   TIME TO GET OFF THE PHONE.  I NEED TO CALL SOMEONE!

 

H: C., I gotta go. 

 

C: Why?  I just called you.

 

H:  I know but my mom said I hafta get off.  I gotta go.

 

C:  {Huffing}  Am I on speaker phone?  If I'm on speaker phone I will never talk to again or be your friend for the rest of my life.

 

H:  Bye, C.

 

C: Bye.

 

 

And now I may or may not be wrestling with the fact that I want to tell my daughter it is rude to chew and crunch while talking on the phone.  And it is also not very polite to ignore the other person on the phone and watch TV while they are talking to you.  But if I did that she would know I was listening on the other phone.

 

Hypothetically, of course.

The Quest to Request

Since I'm home with my four and one-year-olds all day long I have a lot of time to read "BOB" books, play blocks, teach the alphabet and play in the park. What I don't have a lot of is adult conversations where I can pose the question, "What do you think?" Granted, I could ask my four-year-old what he thinks about my mind meanderings, but I have a feeling the answer would be something in the neighborhood of, "Huh? [pause] Can I go play Wii now?"

I have a fourth-grader this year. She's my oldest. I love her teacher. A lot. But I personally hand-picked her so I guess I'd better like her! I was lying in bed today thinking about her upcoming fifth grade year and wondering what teacher I should request for her when I realized that I did not know a single fifth grade teacher. Then the thought occurred to me that I could go and observe each fifth grade classroom and decide from there who to send her to. And then I had a memory.

When I was in fourth grade I remember the class being interrupted briefly as a mom was escorted into our room and the secretary explained that this is Mrs. So and So, her son would be coming to our school and his mother was going to "observe" all the classes. As a 10-year-old I remember thinking, "Wow! This kid must be from a really important family! Maybe he is a prince from another country or something!" The idea of a parent "observing" a classroom to determine which one was the best one for their child was completely foreign to me. I don't think my parents did this or even knew about that option. But I never had a teacher I didn't like.

So, my question today is, What do you think about requesting teachers for your child? Do you think it's too controlling? Too helicopter-parenty? Or is it just being an active participant in your child's education and doing all you can to ensure your child has the best possible chance of succeeding? Do you make requests for your child(ren)'s teachers? Has it always seemed beneficial? Leave me a comment (I accept annonymous, too!) and let me know what you think!

All I Needed To Know I Learned From a Lemonade Stand

My girls had a lemonade stand this summer outside their grandparents' business in a small town. I was not totally excited about the idea at first. In fact, I think Grandma was the mastermind behind it and then told them to "work out the details with your Mom." Thanks, Mother.

So the date was set. We talked about what they wanted to sell. Just lemonade? Of course not, they told me.

"Cookies, too! Thirteen different types!"

"And fudge! And cupcakes! And pickles! And hotdogs!"

Again--thanks, Mother.

Actually, they ended up selling popcorn, cookies, pickles and lemonade. And in just a couple of hours they actually made some pretty good money. But that's not all we took away from the experience.

All I Needed to Know In Life

I Learned from a Lemonade Stand

1. You don't have to be perfect in order to be understood. (they had three signs with three different spelling of their liquid sugar: lemonade, lemonaid and Lemon-Aide. Everybody knew what they meant--and most people didn't know which was the correct spelling!)

2. Sweet is better than sour. (Way more cookies sold than pickles!)

3. You can't just wait for an opportunity to come to you. You've got to go looking for it. (They stood next to the curb with their big white aprons and bright signs, yelling: BAKE SALE! COOKIES! LEMONADE! PICKLES!)

4. Show appreciation to those who are loyal. (There was a man from the feed store next door who came back three times for cookies. Mel was so happy and flattered she sent him back with free bags of popcorn!)

5. Sometimes you gotta brave the heat in order to get what you want. (And boy was it hot out there!)

6. Mom's and grandparents rock. (No explanation needed.)

7. Life isn't always fair but you gotta take what you get and be thankful. (Three kids were working the bake sale. Not all of them worked equally hard or contributed as much but the money was split equally three ways. )

8. It's okay to eat the fruit of your labors and enjoy it. But don't eat too much or you'll lose your profit!

9. Be the best you can be and let your product speak for itself. (Hello, the man came back three times AND told his friends about the cookies who also came and bought some.)

10. Hard work is satisfying and rewarding. But it's still hard work!

Why I Keep a Journal for My Kids

When my kids were really young I decided to start a journal for each of them documenting my thoughts and feelings for them as they grew up, as well as funny or memorable things they said or did. I was reading through Leah's journal today and came across an entry I thought was so funny I had to tell Leah about it. It was written just after she turned three and she's six-and-a-half-years-old now. After I read it to her she couldn't quit laughing and had to tell her big sisters the "hilarious" thing she said three years ago.

July 17, 2006

I wish your hair would grow as fast as you do, Leah! You are such a little character, always saying or doing something cute. Recently you overheard me telling Hali about the eggs females have in their body that will someday make a baby. Well, a few days later you awoke from your nap with a tummy ache. You came directly to me while rubbing it and said, "I think my baby is trying to crack out of my egg!'" It was so funny.

THAT is why I keep journals for my kids and why the idea of blogging is so appealing to me. Who would want to forget that?

The Family

"We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.
In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life.

The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.

The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force.


We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.
We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan. Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children.

“Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3).

Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness,

to provide for their physical and spiritual needs,

and to teach them to love

and serve one another,

observe the commandments of God,

and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live.

Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.

The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.

By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.

Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation.

Extended families should lend support when needed.

We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets. We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society. "

(The Family: A Proclamation to the World)

The Giver

One of my favorite things I've done with the kids this summer has been reading to them one of my all-time favorite books, "The Giver" by Lois Lowry. An excellent summary of the book is provided here. (In order to understand my feelings and emotions you may want to check it out really quick) Yesterday, during Quiet Time, as I was reading from the book I nearly broke down in tears. As four of my kids and I cuddled up together out of the couch my voice quivered and cracked as I read this:

"What is your favorite?" Jonas asked The Giver. "You don't have
to give it away yet," he added quickly. "Just tell me about it, so I can
look forward to it, because I'll have to receive it when your job is
done."

The Giver smiled. "Lie down," he said. "I'm happy to give it to
you."

Jonas felt the joy of it as soon as the memory began. ometimes it
took a while for him to get his bearings, to find his place. But this time
he fit right in and felt the happiness that pervaded his memory.

He was in a room filled iwth people, and it was warm, with firelight
glowing on a hearth. He could see through a window that outside it was
night, and snowing. There were colored lights: red and green and yellow,
twinkling from a tree which was, oddly, inside a room. On a table, lighted
candles stood in a polished golden holder and cast a soft, flickering
glow. He cold smell tings cooking, and he heard soft laughter. A
golden-haired dog lay sleeping on the floor...

...While Jonas wathced, the people began one by one to untie ribbons
on the packages, to unwrap the bright papers, open the boxes and reveal toys and
clothing and books. There were cries of delight. They hugged one
another.

The small child went and sat on the lap of the old woman, and she rocked
him and rubbed her cheek against his.

Jonas opened his eyes and lay contendedly on the bed, still luxuriateing in
the warm and comforting memory. It had all been there, all the things he
had learned to treasure.

"What did you perceive?" The Giver asked.

"Warmth," Jonas replied. "and happiness. And--let me
think. Family. That it was celebration of some sort, a
holiday. And something else--I can't quite get the word for it."

...Jonas hesitated. "I certainly liked the memory, though. I
can see why it's your favorite. I couldn't quite get the word for the
whole feeling of it, the feeling that was so strong in the room."

"Love." The Giver told him.

Jonas repeated it. "Love." It was a word and concept new to
him.

As I read that and felt the nearness of my children all around me, watched the rapture on their faces as they became a part of the story, their eyes big with wonder, those feelings and ideas Jonas learned about--warmth, love, family--seemed to swell inside of me so strongly that my eyes started to water and my voice faltered.

I thought immediately of our recent vacation we took together--camping at our favorite place in the world--and the feeling of togetherness and oneness we experienced while there. I thought of all seven of us sitting around the campfire as it cracked and sizzled and popped while they listened to me read my favorite account from the scriptures. I thought of the stillness and fulness of the mountain air at night, the comforting presence of the stars overhead and the trees all around. I remembered the feelings I felt so strongly in that moment looking into the faces of the people I loved most in the world. Warmth. Love.

I can't imagine living in a world like the one Jonas inhabited. Where Sameness pushed out every unique and special thing I love about life. Where agency and choices were stripped away. Where families were assigned for temporary functional purposes instead of created for eternal happiness and joy. And then--again--a realization floods me, one that cannot happen often enough. I am exactly where I am supposed to be-- and even though not every day is full of moments like these--what matters the most is that I am able to feel, find, teach, and show Love.