Strength For The Day

My Sword and Shield

In general, it seems that lately that spiritual attacks have been happening more and more on the home front of families. Unfortunately, the computers have made it convenient for the enemy to slip in through the Internet via e-mails and even comments on blogs. I am finding it harder to discern the true intention of people when a blog comment is left or gossip surrounds a situation. Unfortunately, I have also realized that it isn't just affecting me. It is also affecting a lot of you. So, I thought today I would share some encouragement.

Since I can not know exactly what is going to pass by me during the day, I have learned to be obedient (whether I feel like it or not) and bring my life under submission to the Lord early in the day. As a stay-at-home/homeschool mother, life seems to happens as soon as my feet hit the ground... So, I need to be prepared and armed for anything. Therefore, I share with you that by admitting our weaknesses before Christ in the morning, and putting on our Armor Of God, we will be guarded against the enemy and fully armed and prepare for the day.

Here is how I define each piece of armor and how to use it in prayer... I hope it encourages you to use the Word of God for your own spiritual battles and strength. May it bless you today.

Ephesians 6: 11 "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles (tactics/methods) of the devil."

Ephesians 6: 10 - 20 - The Whole Armor Of God

The Helmet (Eph 6:17) - Protection of your mind - emotions and thoughts
The Breastplate of Righteousness (Eph 6:14) - To live a right life with the LORD
The Shoes (Eph 6:15) - Living a life of peace and walking in peace with the LORD
The Shield (Eph 6:16) - Having confidence in Christ for protection
The Sword (Eph 6:17) - To be able to recall the scripture in order to kill the attacks of the enemy
The Belt (Eph 6:14) - To live for the truth
Prayer (Romans 8: 26, 1 Sam 12:23, 1 Thess 4;17, 1 Tim 2:8) - Keeping in prayer does the following:

Defeats the enemy

Saves lives

Restores life

Strengthens the believer

Heals

Accomplishes the impossible

Imparts wisdom

Reveals the Will of God

Lessons learned while playing Trivial Pursuit

Remember the Trivial Pursuit craze? (Am I dating myself??) It hit in the mid-80s and we must have received 2 or 3 editions as gifts. My kids grew up playing this game. We would play as a family and typically my eldest and my husband would go head to head until someone got an easy question for the win!

As they got older, however, I began to dread playing. Inevitably they would miss a question that they should have known. All of a sudden what should have been a fun family game became a display of the gaps homeschooling had obviously created...and of my shortcomings as a teacher. Sounds like fun, huh?

As my boys got older and left the home, I realized life was going to be like that game and I needed to deal with it. It was unfair and unreasonable to personalize every "wrong answer," poor decision, or misstep they would make. I had to let go of the responsibility and let them become adults in their own way.  This is a toughie for moms, especially homeschooling ones.  When we have carried the weight of their education for 20 plus years, to learn to lay that down can be a challenge.

I think what would have made it easier would have been to face the reality and regret earlier on in their education.  I needed to face the fact that their education would be imperfect! (Regardless...) All I could do was my best and believe that God would fill in the gaps.  I learned many things as an adult I probably should have learned in school, but for whatever reason, I didn't. No harm done! It would be the same for my boys. This realization will bring you great freedom to relax and even enjoy your kids more.

So, if you struggle with the fear and pressure of giving your kids a perfect education, feel free to let that go. They will make mistakes when they are older, and it will be no reflection of your ability, your commitment, or your love for them. It's just life...

Need A Resource and Support?

I wanted to invite you to view a completely new website of mine that is dedicated to encourage the homeschool family. This website is an all inclusive homeschool site full of FREE information for every educational subject matter, family support, and much more. It's called Weblink Education. The websites debut is today... please come by for a visit.

http://weblinkeducation.com

I also want to invite all you Bloggers. If you stop by my blog, you can enter a contest and win a Amazon.com gift certificate!!! It's all in hopes of getting the word out about my new homeschooling site.

http://homeschoolblogger.com/socalval

Enjoy!

Home Education Week is coming!

Next week, I am hosting Home Education Week on my blog, in honor of Nebraska Governor Dave Heinemann's proclamation which sets aside March 30- April 5 as Home Education Week. It will be a week to appreciate what home education has brought to us, share stories and find encouragement. Please consider participating!

Beat The Burnout

Burn out. It's a non-four letter four letter word in homeschooling circles and it's more common than you may think. If you are suffering burn out, you are not alone! Research has shown that most homeschooling moms, at some point(s), have or will experience homeschool burn out in some form.

The causes of homeschool burn out can be many and varied. Burn out for the homeschooling mom can stem from things such as maintaining too rigorous a schedule, pushing children beyond their abilities, not paying enough attention to her own needs, lack of variety, too much variety (extra curricular activities), or it could yet stem from something that you just can't put a finger on; a border-less, shapeless and otherwise non-descript feeling of general overwhelmedness, the real source of which seems almost undetectable.

Though the origin can vary greatly from person to person, from what I've read the symptoms seem to be fairly consistent; overreaction, extreme irritability, feeling overwhelmed, crying easily, the feeling that you "just can't do this anymore" or that you may be "ruining their lives" in homeschooling, yelling, getting frustrated easily... the symptoms can even manifest in physical ways like overeating and/or a lack of appetite.

I know that I have been experiencing some of these symptoms and I am trying to pinpoint the causes and address them. There are several things that one might consider changing in order to combat this phenomena that, like so many other things, might start as a small annoyance but can easily, left unattended, grow into a monster that can cause major life disturbances such as marital discord and even depression/anxiety and other health problems. In short, not taking burn out seriously can make life miserable for you and your whole family.

Following are some ways that might help to turn the tide of homeschool burn out and bring you back from the edge to a point of stasis, or even better to a place where you once again remember why you chose homeschooling in the first place -- a place of enjoyment even. I know that's something that I want for myself.

• Take a break - Sometimes taking a few days off to just catch up on house work, to go out for nature hikes, to visit the science centre or to just hang out and be a family can be the ticket to rejuvenation.

• Change your schedule - Since either planning too much or not having enough variety in the school week can both be problems, the solution of changing your schedule could also go one way or the other. If you find that you are overwhelmed with the amount of activities and meetings and commitments that you and/or your children have, cut what you can out and definitely learn to say no to more. It's easy for homeschoolers to feel that they have to pile on the extra curricular activities to make up for the supposed lack of socialization due to not being in a traditional school setting, but unless your children never leave the home and have no outside connections to speak of this is not really the looming problem that it is often made out to be. And it's certainly not reason enough to stack your schedule to the max, leaving you feeling like you are tied more to your day-timer than you are to homeschooling itself. But perhaps your children have very little in the way of outside involvement. To counteract your burnout brought on by lack of variety you may consider actually getting involved in one or two things that take you out of the house like sports, art classes or club memberships. Just be careful with how far you dive in! You could end up at the other end of the burn out pool!
  

• Plan Fun and/or quick and easy Meals - That hour just before meal time can sometimes be the most stressful time of the day and we often add to it by laying guilt on ourselves if we are not putting a picture perfect meal in front of our brood every single evening. When you've been schooling all day, catching up on random bits of housework, disciplining and running people about to their various commitments, thinking about dinner can sometimes just be the cherry on top -- or should I say the cherry bomb? We combat this by once or twice a week eating less conventional meals that are quick and easy. And this does not mean they must be replete of any health value.

Some of our favorite fun or quick meals include:

• Layer bean dip - no meat. We pour a bunch of corn chips in a big bowl, I quickly layer refried beans, sour cream seasoned with taco seasoning, salsa, lettuce, cheese, olives, scallions and avocados sliced up. This is a fun "Friday" dinner for us where we will just throw down a table cloth on the living room floor and eat while we watch a family movie.

• Asian salad with BBQ chicken. You can either buy a kit for this (Costco has a great broccoli one which includes dressing and crunchy noodles) or you can throw together your own using bagged shredded cabbage or broccoli, the dressing of your choice and some chicken. My husband cooks ours on the BBQ, leaving very little work for me.

• Mini Pizzas. We will use anything from pitas to bagels to English muffins to do this. A quick tomato sauce, some cheese and a few veggies for toppings do the trick.

• Breakfast for dinner. This is one of my kids' favorites. They love it when we can have "short order" breakfast for dinner. A quick Eggs Benedict (with a mock hollandaise sauce) is one of their favorite breakfast for dinner items. Throw in some fruit or some asparagus or broccoli which don't taste at all bad with it and you have a delicious balanced meal.

• Get Dad involved wherever possible if he's not already - Is Dad a history buff? Is he very gifted at Math? Can he listen to a child read or recite memory work? A half an hour in the morning before he leaves or in the evening after the dinner hour devoted to helping one or more child with a certain aspect of school -- whether it just be listening to an early reader, discussing a chapter or a book that a child has read, helping with a fun project or experiment can make all the difference between sanity and desperation for a homeschooling Mom. Dads can help to avoid homeschool burnout, which effects more than just the happiness of his wife, by claiming part of the responsibility and load in teaching the children. After all in "the old days" fathers were often in charge of training the boys in particular in a trade so the education of the children was not always left solely to the mother but was a joint effort. It's a work in progress but finding a good, healthy division of labor in the education of our children is something that my husband and I are always working towards. The agreement we have that this job of educating our little portion of the next generation is not only my own but a joint one has eased my emotional burden a great deal.
  

• Allow the Kids to work independently whenever possible - As my kids get older I am more and more aware of how important it is that I raise self-starters and independent workers. My oldest is in grade three now and something that has eased my burden a lot is allowing him to choose what thing he does next each day and then letting him go at it. Though he still requires lots of input from me and I help him whenever he needs it, his ability to work independently has made focussing my attention on my kindergartner that much easier. Letting loose the reigns a bit in this way can be nerve wracking at first but ultimately very freeing, not to mention the life skills that self-starting and independent work instills in our children.

So if you are experiencing burn out, which seems to be quite common at this time of year, with winter coming and going in stints, take some time to pinpoint the origin of it and then guiltlessly make the necessary changes for the betterment of your family life (yes, even if this means reneging on a prior commitment or two) and get back to the position of being able to answer the question of "Why do you homeschool?" with this as part of your answer, "Because we love it!"

Hello from the Homeschool Encourager

I’m excited to introduce myself…I’m a retired homeschooling mother of two. My boys are 21 & 23 now. I’ve been writing and speaking as the Homeschool Encourager for the past 5 years. My devotional, the Weekly Word, is sent every week just to bring an encouraging word to homeschoolers.

I live in Colorado with my husband and my cat, Rosco. I currently work full-time, and have for 5 years. Before that, as a homeschooling mom, I worked many part-time jobs and did childcare in our home for more than 10 years. I graduated both my sons through homeschooling, and currently one of them works full-time in youth ministry and the other is a worship musician. I am very proud of my sons and who they became through the process of home education. I’m also thrilled at the relationships and friendships that have developed within my family as a result of spending many quality years together.

I love sharing what I learned and experienced with other moms, and also to bring a reality check when needed. I pray that I can offer some fresh and helpful words to readers of The Well Drained Mind…and am very excited to be a part of this great community!

Sue Brage
The Homeschool Encourager
http://www.homeschoolencourager.com/

Boggle Blessing

I think often homeschool moms have moments of wondering if they are really making a difference or accomplishing what they should be. It seems to me that there is a perfection syndrome out there, I have suffered from this often. Our families are often looked at more closely than others and sometimes we get to feeling like we have to have the picture perfect family. We all know this to be an impossibility! I have often felt a failure but God gently reminds me that He is faithful to accomplish the work in our lives if we are only obedient to Him.

I have struggled and struggled over the years to teach my dyslexic child and often wonder if we are even making any progress. I know it is even more difficult for him than for me to deal with this. One morning God showed me once again how faithful He is!

I caught a glimpse of an amazing site and was extremely blessed!
My dyslexic son was sitting at the table with a Boggle game and one of his younger sisters. What were they doing? He was teaching her the letters of the alphabet and how to put them together to make and spell words!!!! My son does not read on grade level yet and has many problems with writing and spelling, but he was using what he did know to teach his younger sister!! He doesn't like reading but he doesn't hate reading either and he loves his sister enough to take the time and teach her!

Thank you Lord for showing me I am making a difference!

How are you doing?

It seems like so long ago now that I first began this blog. The blog has grown a great deal in the last year. I love the perspectives and encouragement that is being shared here on a regular basis. I want to travel back in time with you a bit to some past posts and thoughts that have been shared and ask you how you are doing in "maintaining a sense of self," that theme on which this blog began.

You may have read this often:

"This blog is about how to maintain a sense of self in this all encompassing life altering decision we have each made, for all manner of reasons, to homeschool. There are plenty of blogs out there devoted to being a Mom. There are plenty devoted to the challenges associated with homeschooling. But I think there are few where many voices can speak to how we can maintain and grow as individuals through this process. This is not a message board. It is not a place for rants. It is not a place to talk about your kids and their accomplishments. (That's what personal blogs are for.) It is a place to share common struggles but more than just that. Hopefully all contributors will carefully aim, in their posts to help others in their pursuit of personal growth (be that spiritual, emotional, continuing education, physical, social etc...) whether that be through helpful insight, stories of personal victories or probing questions that make us think about things from a new angle."

It is, as you probably can tell, what is prominently on display at the top of the sidebar. It really does summarize the aim of this blog. As I sit here and read through my first post to this blog, I am reminded of my original purpose all the more. I am forced to ask myself if I am taking my own advice and if I am setting and achieving personal goals.

So my question to you also is, how are you growing in these areas? Also, how are we as a community of bloggers doing in maintaining this theme on this blog? Just as it's ever so easy for us to "lose ourselves" to our job titles (be they out in the corporate world, on various committees, in politics or at home), I think it can be difficult to let a blog with the word "homeschooling" in the title (okay... the tagline) not really be all about homeschooling. So I'm calling us all back a little bit to remember the original purpose of this blog because really, there are enough blogs out there about homeschooling.

How are you doing? Not how are you schooling... How are YOU growing? Are you meeting personal goals? Are you even setting them?

Here are some past posts from the last year that maybe can help us to assess where we have been and how we are doing as far as personal goals and personal growth.

• OC Sitcom Mom once asked us about our personal reading goals
• Randi once shared with us a resource for self-education as well as an encouragement to boldly take on and try new things.
  
• Mrs. Guthrie encouraged us to sieze the day.
• Kendra shared with us some of her passions that help her maintain a strong sense of self.
• I (Nan) once posted about starting and maintaining an exercise regimen.

Those are only a few of the many ways we have encouraged and been encouraged to not forget ourselves through the daily grind that sometimes can feel a bit like a meat grinder!

So, how are you doing?

What's Working for you?

I thought you all might like to see what I am doing over at my blog and join in.

I’m going over all the things I had planned to use this year, child by child, and discussing what is working and what is not.

If you‘d like to do a post like this just leave a comment on my blog. I love to see what has really worked and what got tossed aside.

Want to join? Come on over and then post your own ‘What worked’ post!

The Beginning of Wisdom

This quote by William Butler Yeats grabbed me the other day:

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."

And then I forgot about it, or stuck it away in the back of my brain. So it could soak and get mulled-over and then jump again to the forefront of my mind. Yanked, like so many puzzle pieces, and forming again into a conscious thought as I carried out the practical reality of caring for the basic needs of my child.

The child who sat with me today was my only daughter, just wanting company and comfort for her aching tummy. Or maybe it was me who decided to quit with the cleaning already.

All the CLEANING!

And picking-up, and rushing-about, performing the all-important MOMMY tasks. To just stop for a bit and take time to sit with her.

I read a bit from her favorite book. Then picked up homework from my class with the Church Ladies. I asked if she'd like to help me. Her tummy-ache seemed to disappear as a smile spread across her face and she said "Could I?" Which caused a smile to creep across my face.

I read the narrative from this book and she looked up each Bible verse and read aloud to me. So I could answer the workbook questions and listen as she gave me her child-like thoughts. It was so easy and effortless; this exchange of wisdom. From Mother to Daughter and back again. From THE WORD OF GOD into each of our minds, trickling down to settle in our hearts.

In the window seat, on a snowy-cold Saturday, snuggled under a comforter.

No workbooks, no whiteboard, no calculators or ants-in-our-pants. Just the beginning of wisdom, for both of us.

As Myrna Alexander says, wisdom enables us to “live life with skill, like an accomplished craftsman who creates something of lasting value – in this case eternal. Our brief-as-grass hours are filled with decisions over the details of living. Proverbs gives explicit counsel about how life should be lived for our own good, as well as that of others. This book makes us aware that God will be glorified through even our smallest action. Thus, Proverbs lifts everyday life once and for all out of what man calls ordinary into the extraordinary of permanent significance.”

Isn't that a powerful reminder that wisdom from God is all a person will ever need to enjoy a truly successful and fulfilling life?

But what does it look like for me to truly believe God is wisdom’s source? That in Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge? Colossians 2:3

It means I need to shift my focus from time to time. From fretting over workbooks and great works of literature. Or always trying to replicate a system of education that is broken beyond repair. To filling the pails of my children, one cup at a time, with more of the water that gives Everlasting Life. Filling their pails to overflowing and leading them back again and again. Until they've memorized the well-worn path back to that spring of life. So much so, that they may find their way alone, one day, to quench their thirst and offer a cup to a dark and thirsty world.

And guess what else happened? A new fire began to burn within ME. Sparked by the embers that began glowing the very day I was inspired to teach my children in the way they should go.

Yeats may not have intended such an outcome when penning his thought-provoking quote. But I'm grateful to him for helping me understand its application to my life just a smidge more today than I did yesterday.

The Gift

At our house, we don't do the tradition school year schedule. In fact, we don't hold to a "normal" school day either. For that matter, we can pretty much end our studies by noon each day. We love it. Having that extra time during the day leaves us with many opportunities to get out and breathe some fresh air... but as you know, toting children around with you during school hours gets a little sticky at times. Many occasions we'll get the traditional question "Why are your kids not in school?" Which leads me to give my reasons for homeschooling. Unfortunately, if you have homeschooled for any time at all, you know all too well how your response can bring raised eyebrows and opinionated comments. However, every once in awhile you'll meet a lady who desperately wants to know more about your life and how homeschooling fits into your home. It is at that point I will open my heart and share...

I want to encourage you to do the same. Even though your passion will be infectious to those seeking the same ideals, just remember one thing... There will always be a hundred people who will agree with your decision to homeschool and a hundred people who will question your decision. But be encouraged... you've been given a gift.

You see, I believe that homeschooling is a calling on your life. For some it may be for a season, for others a lifetime. Yes, homeschooling your child is a personal choice and a sacrifice that should be noticed by everyone you meet (giggle); However, in reality, we are no better than the parent who has entrusted their child to a school facility building. Simply, we have chosen a different education stature for our children, for our own personal reasons. Now, don't think that I don't know that your decision doesn't come without a price. Homeschool mom's know all too well the sacrifice we have to make for our families. We may not drive the newest car or take elaborative vacations every year ~ and we all know that the bottom of our purse change will always go towards manipulative tools for math. Simply, we are rich in unity. Blessed with the opportunity to dwell with our children 24/7. That is our gift for homeschooling. I wouldn't trade it for the world. It's a hard decision and I understand your frustration at times. But I commend you homeschool mom's for making those sacrifices - even the ones that no one notices.

So, be encouraged today as you take that next step in your homeschool journey. Take your calling seriously. Pray for wisdom and strength. You've made a good decision...

Now rest in that decision and go hug your babies.

Congratulations Ladies!

Our little corner of the internet is going to be highlighted in the 2008 Spring Issue of Home Educating Family Magazine. Yes, that is a real live, in print magazine!

You gals made that happen!

And one of you lucky ladies will be hearing from me soon as one article from the blog will be chosen by the managing editor of the magazine to be featured!

Congratulations! And keep up the awesome work of encouragement that you have been doing!

Keeping It Real

Not your normal kitchen table...

Not your normal day at school...

I broke out our dry erase board again... We didn't use the board to go over sentence structure or to list our spelling words... no, we used it to keep the peace during school. You see, your child doesn't need to take classes in a school building in order to learn how to drive their teacher crazy... nope! I believe they are born with that talent!!! Naturally bred.

With that in mind, my mommy senses should of been more alert to the forthcoming, but they weren't. It was the flying pencils that finally caught my attention. So, I decided to take action - No more silly business! Unfortunately, I don't have a large home to designate a room to school (our kitchen table does just fine) so our school area is limited. However, I have learned how to turn our every day kitchen into an awesome school room! On this crazy, pencil flying day, we actually got creative and added this nice little divider between classrooms (that's sarcastic, you know). On one side there was the fifth grade room - and on the other side was second grade. The preschool department was taking a nap. Well, much to my surprise, this handy dandy dry erase board helped keep the peace during school time. I mean, lets keep this real... when we're desperate for peace in the classroom, you get creative. It worked! The talking was limited and work was actually completed!

Wow. Who would of thought there were so many uses for a dry erase board!!! I might just keep this little divider up for the remainder of the school year



http://just4homeschoolfamilies.com

Taking A Step Back

Homeschooling has great rewards... one being that
"No Child Will Be Left Behind"

This week marks our one-hundred and twenty-second day of school. Wow! We go year round at my house. It seems to work best for the brains I have living here. It is actually a great schedule we developed. I teach a total of 179 days a year, as required by the state - but I split those days up into six weeks on (of teaching) with two weeks off between. Of course, summer months brings about six weeks of vacation, but we are always starting up in July sometime.

Being that we are more than half way through our school year, I can take a step back and make sure that no child of mine is left behind wondering what it was they learned. After reviewing test scores and verbal quizzes, I realized that it would be best to stop where I am with one child and concentrate on certain areas before moving forward. Of course, from experience, I have learned that the first six weeks of any new school year is spent in review (even in the public schools) ... but I want to get a jump start on that. So, I am taking a step back now.

I went to Barnes and Nobles yesterday and gathered a bunch of simple educational activity books. As you know, "practice makes perfect" and my son needs a little practice on a few things. Seriously, what I bought is not new school material, but rather fun colorful on-grade-level workbooks of stuff my son should have, or has already, learned this year. Review and practice. Of course, I mostly purchased books that reviewed things I know he struggles with. Isn't it great to homeschool? This is one of the benefits - being able to take a step back when you need to.

I encourage all those homeschool mom's out there to not be in a rush with education. Try not to compare your child to the neighbor's kids or relatives. Every child is individual in their learning. As homeschooing moms, it is a joy to be able to cater to our children's learning patterns, and learning abilities, and find what fits best for them. Be confident in taking steps back - evaluate where they are and make changes where changes need to happen. Teach your children well.

I also invite you to join my Yahoo group. It's a safe place for homeschool mom's to trouble shoot with each other. It is dedicated to support and encourage the homeschool mom.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/just4homeschoolfamilies/

A Career Woman

Last night the family sat down and watched an episode of The Walton's, remember that old tv show? It is a good show that would do many good to revisit! There was a scene where Mary Ellen is sitting with Grandma. Grandma wants to show her how to crochet and Mary Ellen says, "Oh, Grandma, I don't need to know how to do that I'm going to be a career woman." Grandma in return says, "Who ever said being a wife and a mother was not a career!"

My husband and I replied in unison, "THANK YOU!"

Where have those days gone? Today if you stay home to raise your own children you are seen as less of a woman. I submit to you that those who fulfill their God given role as a keeper at home are the real career women! It is a place to excel and in so many diverse areas. I am a teacher, spiritual leader to my children, nurse, cook, cleaning lady, economic major, gardener, organizer, hairdresser, clothes presser, piano driller, chauffeur, disciplinarian, and on and on and on.

I believe this is not only the most diverse career, but also one of the most difficult, because to truly excel you must possess many character traits that are not easy to come by and not easy to maintain. Things such as humility, patience, integrity, and consistency. You must be able to withstand pressure from the world, of those telling you to go and make something of yourself, implying that you are nothing if only a wife and mother. It is often a thankless and unappreciated position.

Not only is being a keeper at home one of the most diverse and most difficult careers it is also the most rewarding. Not monetarily of course, I do not get a paycheck. I do not think anyone could afford to pay a keeper at home for all they do. It is by far the most blessed position one could find! You receive the blessings of the Lord. When living a life according to His plan, you are blessed. You have freedom, I am the queen of my castle. It doesn't even have to be a big castle. I am blessed with joy, satisfaction, fulfillment, love, contentment, a thankful family, and a bunch of smiling faces! No paycheck can beat that, no praise of man can even come close.

It is also the most important job. Who is preparing the generation of tomorrow? Not only to be good citizens but to be godly citizens! There is eternal significance. It does NOT take a village to raise a child, it takes a committed mother and a father!

So I ask, "Who said being a wife and a mother is not a career?"