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Country Homeschool in the City
Jan. 5, 2009
I Did It!
I finally took the plunge and got the laser eye surgery done! It was something I dreamed of for a while, then thought I'd do for my 30th birthday - but then chickened out a bit and sort of "forgot" about that plan. Well, just 4 3/4 years later I did it! My sister and I both had it done on the same day (although we didn't see each other there), New Year's Eve. By the 3rd day, I was told I was legal to drive and to carry on. It is amazing. Some things are still a bit blurry but I can see without glasses! Yay!
I am soooooo thankful! And thankful for the snowfall that is giving DH some snow clearing work - paying for the expensive surgery!
FarmMom |
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Dec. 15, 2008
Lapbook Crazy
We are entering into the homeschool craze of lapbooking. Not so much for DS (although he exhibits some lapbook envy), but DD and I have done an addition facts one, a Little Red Hen lapbook and she really wanted to learn about Canada so we've started a non-conventional style for that one (piece of posterboard about 11" tall, with 3 pieces of cardstock stapled on top, red on the outside, white on the inside and the white one overlaps over the red ones. On the white one, she traced a maple leaf and wrote: Canada Lapbook by DD and coloured it. Today we discussed how Canada fits in with the continents etc. and the coat of arms that go with the country, province and municipality.
I have cut all the pieces for a music one for her and DS is envious of that one. DD's are, of course, easier, and his needs to be more advanced, more like a mini-office as a resource. His music theory is now getting beyond me - I have to think WAY too much to be of any help. Oh well. The time had to come at some pt!
FarmMom |
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Dec. 10, 2008
A New Christmas Carol: God Made Jupiter
Angels We Have Heard on High was playing in the car as we drove to piano lessons. DD shushed her brother claiming that she wanted to learn the words to that song. She sang with great gusto, "Gloria . . ." and then when it came to "in excelsis deo." she came up with somtehing else. I couldn't understand the last word and asked her if she knew what it meant. She said, "Isn't it a planet or something?" And I realized, she was singing, "God made Jupiter" instead! She says it sounds like that.
FarmMom
PS ate a roast from #801 today. She's a good cow. |
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Nov. 28, 2008
Where Does Your Meat Come From?
DH and I decided we could try having some of our meat animals butchered and then sell the meat from home. This is legal, providing the meat is butchered/packed by an inspected place. We really weren't getting any $$ for sheep or beef and he tried raising some bulls for a few months and then selling them but we saw no benefit there.
I did my research . . . I posted it on facebook and was amazed how many people responded, wanting our farm-raised meat. Okay, next step, send the animals and go into the unchartered territory of arranging for my "custom kill" (sorry to any vegetarians) and what I wanted wrapped and how it was to get done. The sheep went in first. Sheep #1 was about 2 years old so his prospects were pretty low, Italian sausage and ground. Sheep #2 was about 9 months old and would have all the yummy cuts. I already had Sheep #2's racks spoken for.
When we brought in our beef, I was able to visit our sheep and while it probably sounds gross, I think it was good for me to see where all this was being done. Having been a city girl, thinking about where my food, especially meat, comes from is a fairly new undertaking. I arranged for the beef, trying to figure out how much 25lbs of pepperoni really is, and went home to make room in my freezer for the sheep.
I then started researching prices. Oh my goodness! Sheep are expensive and they travel soooooo far! From Australia mostly! I could not find any local sheep anywhere! And as I stood in Costco, looking at the wrapped sheep, I wondered where the sheep grew up, were they healthy? Did their owners care for them? And then I realized how little we really know about something we put into our bodies! I don't want to get crazy about this but really, why can't I get meat from an animal that was raised nearby? Australia? Like there are no sheep in Canada? I don't think so!
I've also started wondering where the food I eat at restaurants comes from too. Again, don't want to end way out in the left wing or something but gee, I think I'm probably the 2nd generation to really have no clue where my food comes from. I think my Grandma had some understanding in her day but now, things are so convoluted and labels are misleading (like the BC Hothouse sticker on the peppers, with "Made in Mexico" underneath. BC in Mexico? How is that? Well, BC is NOT British Columbia, it is Best Choice! eek!) and what about the fruit that comes from South America but the majority of the cost is the packaging and processing so they can say "Product of Canada"?
So enough of that . . . today I cooked some of the sheep I had known its entire life. I didn't get too grossed out about it and I talk about it matter-of-factly to the kids and DD actually asked what part of the body the sausage comes from . . . I think it's healthy that they know. Anyway, my first time cooking lamb and I made an amazing (if I do say so myself) gyro-type meal from it and also cooked 2 of the lamb Italian sausages and mmmmmmm. So good! The kids were thanking me AND the sheep!
FarmMom
BTW DD has had to do her "6 minutes" twice now. She hates it. I told her that was the idea. |
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Nov. 2, 2008
6 Minutes
I've been struggling trying to find a way to deal with DD's volatile words that she will spew at DS. And DS, being 5 years older and so kind-hearted, puts up with them for the most part, but they really do hurt him. Not having grown up with any siblings, I'm a newbie at this whole sibling relationship thing but I know that I do not want these words flying around my house!
The other day the idea of washing her mouth out with soap actually seemed like a very good idea. Today, though, we had an impromptu family meeting about it and decided that when she starts acting up and saying mean things, DS is to tell her that those words are not appropriate and he doesn't want to hear them. If she continues, he's to tell one of us and leave it at that (I do not need a lengthy list of the words, they usually are, "I hate you!" "You're the meanest brother ever!" - and these were while he was helping her clean her room!). Then, one of us will put her in a corner for 6 minutes at which point she needs to apologize. If it happens again, she gets spanked.
Putting her in her room would do no good so I think the corner will do the trick.
When things like this come up, it is confirmation for us that having her home for schooling is one of the best ways to raise her to be all she could be. Nurturing her character is very important to me.
On another note, I have learned that she is a very independent learner. This came up first with piano. She does not like me to be there while she practices but she will ask me if she has a question so now I just let her be and she is doing wonderfully! And enjoying it! Also, she prefers that when it comes to schoolwork. Unfortunately, she doesn't read overly quickly but I'm sure once that picks up, she'll do well, and prefer, to do it on her own.
And here is another time I feel blessed to homeschool them, she can work on the things she enjoys. She loves artsy things, loves to play the piano, and violin, was teaching herself the guitar (and she's 6!), with a bit of guidance from her brother. She loves to sing and dance and create. If she wasn't home, she wouldn't be able to have all these experiences and let her talents be explored. I sometimes wonder how DS would've done if he were HS from the start. He was so academically focused, and was reading when he was 2 but I wonder what other things I could've fostered in him if he had had the time to explore more. But I suppose the biggest thing is that now he is free to grow in knowledge and character.
FarmMom |
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Oct. 13, 2008
Getting Back
Living on the same property as my in-laws, people think we'd be naturally close. Um, no. Case in point . . . every year my MIL would have this thanksgiving dinner, the last 7 or so years at a hall where her dad lived. Last year, after he died, she emailed to say she wasn't doing the dinner. I actually breathed a sigh of relief - it meant we'd have a yummy dinner with my family!
Well, a few days before thanksgiving she emailed to say she WAS doing a dinner. What??? I told her we had plans and heard nothing.
This year, we heard nothing about Thanksgiving dinner. DS talked about keeping a piano piece ready just in case. I found out my MIL asked DH for the tenants of the mobile home (where we lived before the house)'s phone number to invite them for dinner but our invitation never came.
DH came home from milking and yes, there had been a full dinner there. His sister, BIL, the tenants (he thinks), and the pseudo-grandmother. But not us. Not our kids . . . I was actually a bit hurt but this is her way of getting back at us for last year, I guess.
You never know what you'll get with her. It was either last year or the year before she decided last minute that she would not do Christmas eve as had been the custom for 30+ years. No thought of the grandkids or anything. sigh.
Although I doubt I'd ever play the mind games she does, her treatment of me and as a result, her son's family, has taught me exactly how I do NOT want to be as a MIL - even if I do not really like my child's spouse!
FarmMom |
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Oct. 11, 2008
Family Pictures
It's been 3 years since we had family pictures done and I've made friends with another homeschool mom who takes amazing pics. I asked her if she'd do ours and she agreed and I was so excited. You see, this is a woman who can make a pair of plastic green crocs look good on a beach. Can make a flower look like the perfect bathroom picture . . . can make one of those stick-a-quarter-in-to-see-far-away machines look amazing . . . yes, this indeed was the person I wanted to shoot our family : )
We all dressed in jeans and sorta matching tops (colours at least did not clash). The kids and DH have cowboy boots. I do not. Very sad for me and I believe Crystal got a picture of them all showing off their boots and me pouting.
Well, I just saw a few of the pics on her blog and I LOVE them all, even the one of ME! Who'd have thunk?
I always marvel at the gifts God has given people and I feel giddy over her gift and am thankful to have the pictures of my little brood (even if Lenny, the dog, wanted to sit facing me, butt to Crystal).
FarmMom
I think I'll look for some boots on ebay. |
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Oct. 9, 2008
On the Sunny Side of the Street
What beautiful weather October is bringing us! The air definitely has a chill now, but after a dismal summer, this fall has been wonderful - too bad we can't grow corn NOW! First year in eons w/o the corn cash-o-la coming.
A few weeks ago we took our RV (dubbed the Pan Pan Squash) for our first roadtrip in its 1977 splendor. Repairs had to be made on the way, as can be imagined. Fuel leak, sink leak . . . starter problems (nothing a hammer can't fix when in a pinch). I'm thankful DH can do all these things. Although, if he couldn't, we wouldn't have purchased such a beast!
Anyway, we wanted to take the kids up the coast and to see the island where my Grandma grew up and where DH's grandfather had a summer home, ironically enough. I went everywhere I have always been told not to . . . well, okay two places, both reserves. And I found I was related to most of the people on one reserve, not even the band the family was supposed to be part of! An amazing experience to a) go to the band office, b) plunk down a picture taken off another band's site with a picture of my great-grandma and her siblings as children, as well as their dad and have the girl at the desk point to one of the sisters and say, "That's my granny's grandma." I think we both stopped and looked at each other - this meant we were related!
We fondly recount adventures of our newly discovered "Second cousin Larry" and how DH and DS got to ride in a helicopter to see the power plant work going on on reserve land! What a treat! And that all these women are built like my grandma, mom and aunt . . . and they're all the same height too! It's funny, being raised w/o my biological father and his family, I did the standard adoptive child "searching" thing. We learned about this in a course we took about adoption, children will often search for others they look like. Well, when I met my father's family and saw others that shared similar traits, I finally felt a bit settled. Then, at the reserve to look into eyes so my like my own and speak to others that looked so much like my grandma and aunt, well! There was no denying family! Matt even said that as he looked at the women he thought, "I know that hair."
The one that looked most like my aunt asked what traditional food we'd tried. I was tickled to be included! She gave us candied smoked salmon. mmmmmmm. Sooooo good!
Our blessed Pan Pan trip! Not far from home but full of discovery.
FarmMom |
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Sep. 8, 2008
Jesus in the Clouds
Admittedly, DD has not gotten the Christian education DS got as a youngster but she does surprise us sometimes with her understanding. Being a child, I guess she's just more open to listening and hearing than adults.
Well, a few weeks ago, we were moving 2 ex-4-H heifers out to be bred. It was sort of a momentous occasion because, well, they were last year's 4-H calves and their time had come. I told DD to stand by the blackberry bushes while we went by. I guess we forgot her there and since I've trained her to always stand where I put her when I'm doing something potentially dangerous, she does stay put.
I little while later, I went and got her and she was all sad and started to cry as she related how she had been forgotten. I felt horribly! It had been a fair amount of time and she had been such a good girl to stay there the whole time and not sacrifice possibly scaring the animals by yelling out to us. We patched it up and continued with our evening.
Well, fast forward about 2 weeks to Friday night when DD and I were picking blackberries and she brought up being left there while we bred the heifers (AI if you are interested.). She told me how she was so lonely and looked up to the clouds and she knew Jesus was in the clouds. She said it was like He told her she wasn't alone.
This was just one of those moments and because she hasn't had all the Christian education all these years, it made my heart sing as I knew she didn't get this thought from anyone else, it came from her heart.
FarmMom |
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Aug. 29, 2008
House Repairs
I hear the "light sanding" going on in the kitchen. Everything is drywalled and mudded - I can't wait for the painting and then for it all to be done!
My first plan will be to unpack everything in the school room and get that organized. Oh, it will be glorious! We will be cutting back on some nonessentials this year. No more theatre for the kids, DD has said she wants to stick with Highland dance, providing it's not so late in the day. It's been at 5pm the last 2 years and she says she's just not "jumpy" at that time of day. Here I gave her the out to quit but nope, she wants to keep going. Well, okay then. She is good at it.
DS wants to take fencing at our local Parks and Leisure centre and maybe woodwork. He says he wants to try new things this year and while he enjoyed pottery and painting, would like to see what else is out there, hence the fencing and woodwork. DS is starting grade 8 this year so Medieval times is part of the curriculum and fencing will be a nice additive!
I have decided not to start a girls group at church this year. I was constantly running last year and after this summer, have realized I need to slow down too. 4-H will wind down in the fall, only to start up again in the new year and really, bang for the buck, 4-H really gives a lot back to my kids and our family.
It's been a crummy year for selling at the Farmer's Market. I don't even know if we made back what we've put in yet for supplies - let alone for weeding, of which we have definitely NOT earned back : ( But I guess that just goes with the "cash crop" territory. So I will need to cut back more this year and see how it goes. It is a blessing that we get piano paid for through homeschooling.
Been watching RVs on craigslist and finally the 1970s ones are coming available under $4000. We will probably jump at one of these as it'll be something our family can enjoy and will sure come in handy for the fairs. We hope to go look at one on Monday or Tuesday for around $3000.
My mom hasn't been feeling well for the past week or so. Says she feels worse than she did 15 years ago. This morning she sounded much better so I pray that lasts. She's been so well for so many years, you forget what the illness is really like.
FarmMom |
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Aug. 27, 2008
Granola Granny
DS has named me Granola Granny. Not sure how I feel about it as I am just 34! But anyway! I am spinning wool like a fiend, sewing up a storm etc. Today I pondered, out loud, how much wheat I'd have to plant to supply enough flour for our family. Too bad wheat doesn't grow in this area but you never know.
And then today I took DS to a large-chain electronics store to buy the Lego Indiana Jones Wii game with his gift certificate he got for coming in 3rd for a 4-H cancer ed display and I realized that I am completely not used to malls anymore! The store was overwhelming. Too big, so much stuff. Reminded me of shopping at a Target with a woman from Kenya (although she had been here for 8 years, but she still felt wonder at seeing the aisles of stuff).
We looked around in the mall too. I realized that DD has barely been to a mall (except our very small one-level icky mall) her whole life! You know, I don't think I mind becoming a Granola Granny. Maybe he could call me Granola Gal instead.
FarmMom |
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Aug. 3, 2008
Surprise Baby Goats
DS went down to the barn to feed his calf and called us to tell us that the goats and Dolly (sheep who thinks she's a goat as she was raised with DD's goat, Crosby) were out. He called back a few minutes later to tell us that there were two newborn goats in the pen!
Turns out their mom is Mocha, our herd matriarch (and geriatric goat). Surprise! Unfortunately, they are boys so won't be staying with us. I've been thinking about doing meat goats - gotta put braces on the kids' teeth somehow! 
FarmMom |
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Jul. 25, 2008
All the Pretty Horses
Not sure why I chose that title. Gotta update since my last entry:
1. we had a housefire. DH woke up to the sound and, with God's help, put it out with a garden hose. Even the firefighters were surprised. Started with a motion sensor light and some pieces of wood he put up against it. Guess the light stayed on. We were about a minute away from losing most of our house (about the difference in time from when DH woke up to the window burning out, smoke coming in, and the alarm going off) and about 3 minutes away from losing the whole house. We praise God for his protection.
2. 4-H continued on and we did our first local fair as a new club. It was awesome and crazy fun. Our 18 or so kids in the club are the best! I spent a lot of time sewing curtains and putting together signs.
3. I really wanted a rosette - never had one so I entered many "Special classes" to get a rosette : ) I won for the bread and a special blueberry apple bread that is sooooo good! I also got the Sr. Aggregate award. I wish they'd call it something else, it makes me feel old.
4. The weeds are overtaking. I think we'll have to cut the corn patch in half next year and not do so much. Sigh. We just can't keep up. I hear that it takes one person full-time (that's farmer full-time, not regular 9-5, weekends and holidays off. Farmer full-time is sun-up to sun-down 7 days a week!) to look after an acre of organic garden. We have about 2 acres and DH still has cows to milk, things to fix and hay to make and while admittedly I don't go weeding as often as I should, I don't have a lot of free time to get out there in the not-so-hot time of day and weed.
5. Our income tax changed by about $3000 on paper, not in reality so we lost our cheaper medical/free dental for the kids option. I really had to try not to cry about that one! This is the year for braces for DS. I know it'll work out, God's always provided but it was a shock.
6. It's been 2 months since the fire and I just got my kitchen nook back, unfinished, so in DD's b-day pics you can see studs and drywall-less walls in the background. Oh well.
7. Back to the fair. DD showed a calf and goat for the 1st time and did so well! The goat was a bit of a handful but she got 3rd out of 5 for her first ever show in Dairy! I was beaming! DS didn't show too well but that made him give his all in a fitting competition (where you make your calf ready for a show) and he won! A huge rosette and a bag of show supplies! He was tickled.
8. Realized I've gained probably 18 lbs since my biological father died. ack, if only I could get ride of the hole I fill that way!
So that's my update. I've been pretty good not complaining about the construction but I'm tired of it now. I can't find anything and that, in itself, causes stress.
FarmMom |
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May. 29, 2008
I Have Decided to Let 4-H Educate my Kids
We've been finished school for a while already. We really have no academic worries over here so that's good. I finally feel that, now that we're finishing our 3rd year homeschooling, I've found my way. I know what I want to do, I can balance the ludicrousness of our public education demands and the enrichment my kids crave. With those things in mind, I have decided that next spring, 4-H will educate my kids. Why? Well, I am shocked with the enrichment it gives! Here's my plan for next year:
We will conduct the beginning of our year much the same, all the basics, quite academic, some fun in between : ) This is how I scheduled my University years too, LOTS the fall semester (maybe 21 semester hours) and then a lighter spring (12 semester hours, or 4 full classes). When I lay out our school plan, I will make sure all our learning outcomes are done and then, come March, we will start tapering off the "traditional schooling" and while I'll want DS to continue with Math and 2nd language, we'll wrap up any units, language arts etc. Then he will be set free into the world of 4-H.
First up will be speeches. That'll be considered more part of school next year. This year he spoke about guinea pigs. He researched, did a rough draft, final draft, practiced, tweaked etc. He went as high as a Jr could go, the Regionals! And although he didn't place there, that was pretty good for a first time effort - having never even seen a speech be done before and being led by myself and other 1st time 4-H leaders!
Then, Demos will come up. With these, the kids work in pairs and have to show, in 8-10 minutes, the completion of a skill or product. This year, he worked with another boy and they did a magic trick, and how to make the kit to do the kit. They also went on to Regionals (very good for the other boy who was super shy and reluctant to be in front of others but like many other 4-H kids, got confidence super-quick). DS also did a demo with a girl who is over 13 and so is a Senior. This meant he was judged as a Sr. and they also got to Sr. Regionals. Whoa, fish outta water there! But anyway, it was a TONNE of work to do one, let alone two. The teacher we are enrolled with came to the District Jr. Demos and saw DS do it and she was blown away; had never seen anything like that and was amazed.
And after that are Educational Displays. Here's where you get beyond working up the ladder where the top two speeches and demos at the club level move up to Districts, top two at districts move up to Regionals and if you are a Sr, the top two move on to Provincials. With the educational displays, you can work alone, as a pair, or as a group but they are usually judged at fairs and you can show your one display at many fairs. You also win prize money : ) We have a large fair that offers special incentives (they have sponsors) if you do an educational display on cancer. I believe there are 10 prizes to a local electronics store, gift cards of $400, $250 and down to about 6 cards at $75. Now, I saw the cancer displays last year at this fair and I'd have guessed there were maybe 6 in total so we have a few keen kids who are intending to take advantage of this and do displays on that topic.
DS is in two projects this year, Dairy and Gardening. And surprisingly, he loves gardening! I have NEVER seen him so engrossed and working so hard! It was amazing! He was the human rototiller! And since the woman leading gardening truly loves it, and since her husband deals with bugs in greenhouses, and they don't have kids of their own, they have been awesome at teaching and inspiring DS!!
Next year, I don't know if he'll choose to do two projects again. I think he likes the gardening more than Dairy but Dairy is more fun at the fairs and he's a pretty good little showman.
DD experiences all these activities as well. Not the speeches and things like that, although she may choose to do one next year. Usually cloverbuds (kids ages 6-8) don't do those things but we encouraged the kids to do demos this year and 2 of them did a pseudo demo!
So yup, next year, since I am a leader, I will use 4-H to educate my kids!
Well, the kids are wearing the Egyptian crowns they made and I need to take pictures!
FarmMom |
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May. 14, 2008
Public School Confirmation
Long story short (or shorter): DD's dance teacher has a daughter in grade 1 in a local public school. Year starts out with 2 changes of teachers (1st teacher goes on mat-leave in October, mat-leave teacher comes back in the new year, so 3 changes up to now).
2nd teacher tells H (mom) that it is a problem her daughter isn't too interested in colouring. um, yeah, well, it's not a fine motor skills problem, it's personal preference - and unfortunately, it makes it hard for the teacher if a child won't just sit and colour carefully, preferring to rush the unpleasant job.
Things starting piling up all spring, E keeps getting 7/7 on her spelling tests but the teacher doesn't commend her hard work (it IS hard work for her, they work on it!), instead she says, "Sometimes it's better to pay attention in class than get 7/7 on a test." Then, the report card comes. Since E's in elementary school, it's just a matter of meeting the expectations, exceeding them, or not meeting them. Apparently, according to her report card, she's meeting them all. BUT then H finds out that E's only in level 9 in reading and that she needs to be at 17 by the end of Grade 1. What??? "Is this a problem?" she asks. And well, yeah, it is, but don't worry about it. The following week E's been promoted to level 11. So, do you think of it as E's progress has been overlooked until the mom mentioned it or that they bumped her up to appease the mom? Who's to know?
So H asks me where she could get her daughter tested for reading. I ask my public-school-teaching-friend (thanks Pablo!) and she tells me that yes, this would be a problem to not be close to level 17 because w/o that, she's not meeting expectations. She gives me some tips and I go back to H Apparently at their last parent/teacher/vice-principal meeting, they told her not to help their daughter at home, don't get a tutor, they didn't want that, it would cause her too much stress etc., and this seems to be told to other parents too. On the plus side, E is happy to go to school but H says even that worries her - she's a bit "too" happy. Like she doesn't do anything all day, just plays.
I'm listening to this thinking, "Man! If this were a religious school I'd be saying, 'Cult!' get out of there! You know, let us teach your child, we'll handle it, we'll brainwash her . . ." But it's not a religious school or a cult, so it's only some really odd doctrine of schooling - discourage learning at home and yet not remedy a problem when a child is not meeting the expectations of your program.
I hung up thinking, yet again, how perfect homeschooling is for us. Feeling for H because I was in a similar situation with DS's school before we pulled him and how scared I was to take on homeschooling, how the teacher and elementary coordinator (who did the gifted testing on him) told me that they feared for his development because he did not enjoy PE, and perhaps ruin my son, cause him social problems or in some way cause him to not grow into the man God intended. But now I see how all things do work together . . .
FarmMom
note: he only hated PE at school. PE at our co-op was great, floor hockey at Cubs was fine, horsebackriding, geocaching, archery, swimming, bike riding, climbing trees . . . he just didn't like having to skip rope a few times a week or run laps around the field, picking up popsicle sticks when he passed the teacher. What fun is that? |
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May. 6, 2008
Next Year
Yes, I always plan ahead and think about things.
So, we've decided to nix Sparks and Cubs and we all feel good about that. I am speaking to a lady at church about starting a Gems program at our church and she's very interested. I hope for that on Monday afternoons.
DD still has dance (Highland) and while she often complains about going, she's actually really good at it and it's good for her.
Both kids will be in Jr. Theatre next year (from September to February) and I'll probably put them in some homeschool art classes as well.
So, this leaves piano. DS will continue in grade 4 piano but DD . . . this is hard. She is doing amazingly and has progressed quickly and is probably a year or two above where her brother was at this age. She's always been pretty musical, I knew that when she was still in the womb. Soooo, the conundrum is that she's been in piano since she was 4, this is her 2nd year. Was I kidding myself? I guess 'cuz we started DS at age 4 in Music For Young Children, I just figured we'd give her a go. She does well, is really good at it but sometimes it's a hassle for me to get the practicing done. As it is, I don't really help her much all week and I guess I feel guilty about that.
Also, there's an amazing girls' choir that has a branch that meets locally. There is a chance they'll have a choir for 6 yr olds next year (usually for that one you have to travel kinda far, and I'm not into that). I am extremely picky about my children's musical education. I love the piano teacher because she has taught them musicianship along with the piano. Her knowledge is great and it is confirmed each time DS enters a festival (got Gold for both his pieces this year) or does his exams. So my thought is, do I let her take a year off piano and do choir instead or do we continue with just piano or do both piano and choir. Today we ran into the choir director on our way out of Sparks and I wasn't sure if DD recognized her but when we got in the car she asked me if I was putting her in choir next year. I asked if she'd like that and she said she really would.
So, there's the balance question. If she had her way, I think she wouldn't do dance but maybe do both piano and choir. I want her to do dance because it's good for her and she really excels at it. She often complains on our way out there but seems to enjoy the class, the teacher is great, and she does enjoy competing. There is a chance there won't be a choir for her age group here next year so that would solve that.
Oh yes, and not to forget 4-H. Now that's a program that suits both kids and I don't mind pouring into.
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Apr. 29, 2008
A Sign of the Future Generation
Tonight was Sparks (Girl Guides for 5 & 6 yr olds). This age group is really not my favourite and I just don't quite see how I've raised 2 kids to not pick their noses and to have some semblance of manners and respect for authority and yet, I'd say 1/4 of the girls there are lacking in those things. It is very tiring. Tonight, we made crafts for our mother's day tea next week. You've got some kids that keep coming up to you, "What do I do now?" etc. etc. but will wait quietly while you get things ready. And then you have the little center of the world kids who announce at every moment, "I'm done! What do I do now?" And if I don't respond (because I have 14 other girls to help with the crafts and some are actually waiting, this child'll come right up to me and thrust her work in my face and bellow in my ear the same thing. grrrr. I could go on and on but I think you get the idea. This particular child is just extra patience-demanding on my part. I really do like manners and it's apparent she doesn't have to have any at home. But that's just one child.
The majority of them, really, are pretty good but those 6 or 7 (of 15!) really wear a person out! The need for instant gratification is so great it can be overwhelming! Inappropriate talk, being loud to get attention, not listening etc. And it's hard for me, liking discipline, to come in on year 2 for some of the girls where chaos reigned the year before and the girls all get swallowed into a giant twister of misplaced energy. Just not my style. Are the girls happy, yup. Am I, nope, not so much.
So I came home and DH asked me how it went and he said I looked a little wild-eyed. I told him that it was a very stressful crafting session. I must say, I find these Tuesdays least enjoyable. I told him that the kids just have no manners and need to be the centre of attention and he said, "Is this a sign of the next generation?" and you know, I think it might be. Over time, there have always been bratty, selfish kids (think Nellie Olson) but it just seems now that kids don't even KNOW how to behave, they are given so much they are not thankful for anything and there is little, if any, respect for adults or authority. And yes, this is what I am seeing in Girl Guides. No offence to Guides, the program is quite nice for a secular program, but kids in general - it doesn't seem like maybe you get one obnoxious child in a group, it's more like more than 1/2 are!
I think had I come into an organized group, it would've been doable but I was thrown into a group that is totally opposite my personality, with leaders who are fine with the way it is and the chaos that ensues. But it does confirm my choice to homeschool, gee whiz, DD gives me enough lip and run for my money - can't imagine what she'd be like hanging around kids like those full time!
Like the old saying goes, "They say it takes a village to raise a child . . . (add homeschool part) . . . well, I've seen the village and I don't want it to raise MY kids!"
We will finish this year, it ends early June and I can't wait! And I've already ordered, and had delivered, the Keepers of the Faith program for both kids and so we'll do that. Also, I intend on starting a homeschool Gems program in the fall. Just nice, well-adjusted, respectful homeschool girls. Ones that assume to call me by my Mrs. FarmMom name (I'm sure they'll end up calling me by my given name but the point is that the respect for authority is already there). Will these girls have attitude, sometimes misplaced? Of course! Will they sometimes not want to do what we are planning? I'd imagine so! But regardless, I know that the foundational blocks with these girls have been set in place and that with some guidance, they can be put back on the right path. Ah, what a relief that'll be!
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Apr. 17, 2008
Oh the Fun
A few things since my last post:
1. I had a birthday and it was lovely. Nothing fancy, nothing special but two surprise lambs were born!
2. Walked 14 kids through doing 4-H demos for the first time. Well, 1 girl had done one before but the rest of us, including leaders were new at it. DS did awesome, he actually did two, one as a Jr. with another HS boy and one as a Sr. with Karen (DS's actually a Jr., will be for another 2 years but was judged as a Sr. with Karen). DS will go to District Demos for both Demos on Saturday. As a Jr, he and Josh did how to make a magic set, The Escaping Blocks; and as a Sr. he and Karen did How to Sew on A Button.
3. The menagerie under my back deck is getting funnier. Started with Biscotti bunny, then we got Crosby, the baby goat so DH set up a pen and we let Biscotti live with Crosby. Now Crosby thinks he's a bunny. That's sort of okay but Biscotti thinks she's a dog. Then, we added Dolly, one of the b-day lambs. She's clueless about where she fits in but she's very sweet. Not as quick to drink a bottle, but sweet nonetheless. When we dump in a scoop of grain, Crosby and Dolly race to the bin and along comes Biscotti, who weasels her way in and sits IN the bin!
4. I came to a decision about Sparks (Girl Guides for K-Gr. 1). I purposely became a leader so that I could monitor what was going on and really, the program was okay - just it really lacked the spiritual part of my life. And of course the leader with her satanic-emblem necklace sort of deterred me. Anyway, I will probably start a Gems group for DD and some other HS kids. I think keeping it during the day with HS kids, will keep us with other like-minded families. I know quite a few HS kids who have been disheartened by the two-facedness of the girls in Gems and quit (you know, learn about things but not have the ability to apply it). As well, I will do the Keepers program with both kids. Pins earned for everything from memorizing the books of the Bible to archery to rocketry to basketry! There's more than 300 of them and I won't be obliged to follow any program's rules. I'm hoping a few more families will do it too so we can join up to do some projects together.
5. I watched in wonder as my 5 yr old DD prepared her 4-H Speak and Show (sort of a glorified Show and Tell). Usually the young ones don't do any public speaking but I figured, at the club level, if she wanted to do it, she could. She and another young girl did them. Well! DD must've been paying attention to all those speeches because she blew me away with her hand gestures, knowing how to address the crowd. I sat there, mouth open, in shock. Of course, when the time came, most of that flew out the window but the pt is, she has learned quite a bit just by being there for the meetings and public speaking!
6. I am pleased to see my kids interact with consideration with each other. I know this would not be so if they were in school.
7. All these demo-practices for DS meant I had some time to make a new friend with Josh's mom. I appreciate her and enjoyed our times together.
8. We still would like to get an RV. Figure it has to be about as old as us for us to afford. Went to see an '83 but couldn't quite afford that one : ( Oh well, never know what'll turn up. Hmmm, speaking of that, Ingrid, can we borrow the silver hot dog for the PNE again??
9. Proud of DS in all his accomplishments. Proud too when a dad mentions to me how nicely confident DS is. Oh yes, proud of DH and his negotiations with the workers and "higher ups" that have chosen to cut our farm in half to put in a bridge connector. DH does well and earns respect wherever he goes.
Well, there are lots more little things but tomorrow the cousins come for a quick 1 night stay and I'm still waiting for DH and DS to come back from a movie extra ($$ to go in the kitty for the RV).
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Mar. 29, 2008
Goat in the House
Now it's hard to remember what my last post was about! Oh well, main news is that Crosby the goat is still bottle fed and under my back deck. DH added another goat, one of the 4-H kids, who didn't seem to be thriving. The other night, DH enticed Crosby up the stairs to visit me in the den and have his bottle. For a family who didn't give their kids bottles, this whole bottle thing is very new!
I did even less for Easter this year. DS wanted to make sure at least we'd have some sort of hunt. Seeing as we have Easter chocolate left over from LAST year, I didn't want to give them that so I hid some $$ in eggs, and a few chocolate eggs. I hope he wasn't disappointed! Sometimes the expense of all these extra things just isn't feasible. We have a homemade version of the Resurrection Eggs so we did those. A friend made them and the kids like them. I put them all in a basket and then we all picked 3 and read through them in order. DD is really understanding now.
I've been struggling with the whole Girl Guides/Boy Scouts thing. DS has been in Cubs for 2 years (or has it been 3?) and DD did Sparks for her first year this year. It's *fine* but I find volunteering with children in a program that is not like-minded with our beliefs hard. Sigh.
Yesterday we had a funeral for a longtime family friend (meaning DH's grandparents were friends with the family) and the widow was the one very instrumental in helping me with the arrangements for Aunt Mabel's funeral.
Last night DS did his 4-H speech for regionals. He didn't place in the top three and while I think he was disappointed, for his first year doing a speech, he did awesome! We're proud.
And I guess that's it for now.
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Mar. 15, 2008
4-H
We have now delved into the world of 4-H. Last year was DS's first year but unfortunately, the leaders weren't the greatest. This year, we started our own group and I share the A-leader's job with a fellow Farmer's Market board member who is passionate about teaching kids gardening. We started a Community Club so we have 5 different projects under the umbrella of our group: dairy, goat (yay for DH!), gardening, cooking and cloverbuds (for ages 6-8). We have shocked everyone by having 18 registered members the first year (plus two 5 yr olds who can't be registered but are younger siblings and so come along for the cloverbud ride.). It's going really well.
I am amazed how much 4-H offers homeschooled kids. They do speeches, demos, educational displays, judging and a whole slew of other things that we count as "school". What an opportunity! Surprisingly, we had one girl register with us along with 2 older neighbours of hers and then I found out she was homeschooled too. My co-leader is now a homeschool-convert (she doesn't have kids of her own) and she is blown away by how the hs kids seem to see everything as a learning adventure and want to learn. Refreshing for a change.
In a few hours, we expect to have the goat and dairy kids come down to the barn for "training". Of the 18 kids registered, only 3 actually come from farms (DS and another pair of siblings). For the "urban" kids, they were all thrilled to pick projects and when some of them found out they could do dairy or goat by borrowing ours, well, they were ecstatic!
With 18 kids the first year, I'm thinking we'll be outgrowing my house by next!
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