Helping Bring a Baby Home

As some of you may know, Christie and her husband (Satisfaction Through Christ) were chosen to adopt a brand new baby girl a couple of weeks ago, so they've been fundraising to bring her home!  We're excited to say that the 10:10:1 campaign ended this past Sunday and they met their $10,000 goal with $19 to spare...in 10 days!!

So, their next goal is $6,000 by March 12!  In order to help them meet that goal they are doing an online auction of items donated by some amazing people!

So, make sure you hop on over here (or click the pictures below) and check out these awesome items they have up for grabs in their first auction....more to come!  All winning bids will go directly towards their adoption expenses!

Classy Homeschooling

 

The more I look into homeschooling my child, the more I realize that I want to do what I call "classy homeschooling." When I say classy, I don't mean my kid needs to wear Abercrombie and be dressed in the latest styles and hang out with children who come from the best families. No, that's not it. I mean that I want to have my child to be well rounded and be able to fit in anywhere, anytime, with any culture, and with any "class."  I want my child to be able to take care of himself well, dress well, and know how to present himself and his beliefs in an appropriate yet meaningful manner.  Do I know how to best do this? Not yet. But I refuse to be remiss and allow him to not fit in anywhere, to not be able to communicate fully, and not know how to dress appropriately, speak appropriately, and have full confidence due to a full education.  I feel that classy homeschooling must an intentional education decision.

Neon Fanny Pack via TheForgotten
Culottes via EqpStyles
Mom Jeans via Fashion Binge

Why Might I Consider Some Homeschooling "Not Classy"

Oh come on!  Anyone with eyes knows that stereotypes exist for homeschoolers.  I was the stereotype in the 90's.  I wore culottes (otherwise known as a hideous skort), had a bright odd colored fanny pack, wore "mom jeans" (at age 8 - 15), and to top it all off I was shy, very shy.  Refer to the Why I Was a Geek graphic to the left in case you are unaware of these references.  It was a hard phase for me.  Some stereotypes are true, just not all the time.

More importantly than not fitting in with fashion, I did not fit in socially.  I had to catch up when I went back to school in 8th grade.  I am sure my classmates can attest to my awkard behavior as I learned how to dress like others of my age, communicate well, and even how to implement good study habits.  I hadn't needed to take notes, write down assignments, or study for tests while homeschooling.  I simply learned, read, and did school at home.  However, it isn't classy to get to school and not be able to relate to your peers.  It isn't classy to have no idea how to adapt to a different culture.  Fundamentally, I found that homeschooling, the way I did it as a child, was a challenge for me as I moved forward with my life.

Now, many things are different.  The awkard parts of the eighties (that I was cool enough to bring into the 90's) are finally gone, but still homeschooling and homeschool families have a stereotype.  Some do not fit in, not because the families do it contentiously, but many just don't think it matters.  After hearing my story, let's consider that it does matter if homeschooled children have the ability to fit in to society.  No clones, no lessening of creativity, but rather children need knowledge of fashion, communication, study skills, and other skills that are often considered outside of the realm of basic homeschool studies.  From this, you may agree that some methods of homeschooling are not classy.

So Other Schools Have Class?

Let me be clear.  The public school system is not teaching children to be classy either.  Many private schools want to teach children to be classy, but pump out brat after stuck up brat.  While some may think I am picking on homeschool families, I'm not.  Very few school systems, either home, private, or public, are adequately preparing kids to expect the best of others and of themselves.  Teaching kids to thrive in any environment has become somewhat of a lost art.  Children are told to either focus too much on academics, too much on home life, or too much on being cool.  Where is the balance?

Does Classy Curriculum Exist?

I have been searching online for Pre-K materials for homeschooling as well as browsing the various blogger's sites who homeschool their children.  Our homeschooling materials need to be well presented, interesting, and hold to some standard to be worthy of being integrated into our curriculum.  I have seen so many materials that do not serve a direct purpose or materials that suggest some of the most boring projects I have ever seen in my life.  While I don't want to teach my child to be picky, I also don't want to teach him that everything has equal value.  Classy curriculum can be found, but it is necessary to say no to the materials that are of little value.

My idea of classy homeschooling means taking the basic suggested list of subjects and bumping it up a notch.  We shouldn't try to meet the expectations of a school system that creates adequately educated individuals, instead we want to use our minds to take the adequate and create the best.  The best is different for every family and every child.

Here is a basic list of subjects, what would you add on to this list for "classy homeschooling?"  Now that I've presented what I consider to be classy homeschooling, what materials have you found that fit in this category?  Are you implementing classy homeschooling?

Art
Religion

Computers

English:

Vocabulary
Reading
Writing
Communication

Geography
Health and Safety

Hygiene

Manners
Mathematics
Science
Social Studies

Note:  If you have been in any way offended by my focusing on  some of the faults of homeschooling, please be aware that I am fully considering homeschooling my family.  With all of the shortcomings that can be found within the general homeschool community, the benefits FAR outweigh the disadvantages.  Also, my explanation of the faults come from my personal experience of being homeschooled in 1st grade and 4th through 7th grade.  With my challenges, I find that it was a beneficial time in my life that taught me many things.

 

Underneath Your Nose

While a lot of the things I write about on this blog are serious and are about Designing Life intentionally . . . I'm all about having fun intentionally too! Here's a clip of my son and I having fun with his Mr. Potato Head.

Underneath Your Nose Featuring Mr. Potato Head

How NOT to Keep your Children Busy and NOT Keep Their Time Occupied

I know what it’s like to feel like an overwhelmed, underappreciated, and overworked mother.  Sometimes circumstances, attitudes, and accidents all compile until all we can do is survive.  It’s time to stop just surviving and start thriving as mothers.

I’ve noticed a trend on Pinterest lately.  Link after link is dedicated to keeping children busy and keeping their time occupied.  While I am fully understanding of the parents who need to find games and activities to help their child deal with certain circumstances such as riding on an airplane/car for hours, but these new pins on Pinterest aren’t for that.  These new pins are for pacifying, placating, and getting children out of a parent’s hair, as if children were pests.  It’s time for parents to pay attention and stop pacifying their children.

I propose a change of focus.

Here is my list of ways to NOT keep your children “busy” and NOT keep their time “occupied”:

1.  Plan activities to benefit your kids, not to benefit you

Instead of just giving children a bowl of rice and some measuring cups to keep them busy with a task (I mean, doesn’t anyone remember how it felt to be given “busy work” at school?),  purposefully think through why you are doing it.  Are you doing it to help your child build their pouring skills or are you trying to gain time for yourself?  If we are constantly focusing on how to get more time for ourselves, we are not spending enough time focusing on our kids.

2.  Schedule a set “me” time that does not involve fighting for your time

Every mom needs a little time to do things for herself.  I simply propose that this is not done at the expense of her children.  We shouldn’t feel the need to escape on a regular basis, instead we need to feel the freedom to take a little time, use a babysitter, request a husband sitting day, or take the kids over to a friend’s house.  If you feel like you are fighting to stay sane, need to escape, or must get away then you are in a mindset that needs to be changed.  You don’t have to just barely survive, thrive!

3.  LOG OFF

Ouch, I know this suggestion will sting a little.  However, it’s true.  If you are trying to find ways to keep your children busy because you want to read everyone’s posts on Facebook, browse all of the new pins on Pinterest, and read all of the blogs you are following, then your butt needs to LOG OFF!  Do you want your child to have a memory of a mother who is constantly sitting in front of the computer (or on her iPhone) and does not want to connect with them because she is constantly connecting with millions of online persons?  NOT ME!  I want my son to remember an ENGAGED, FOCUSED, and PLEASANT mom who cared about him more than I cared about my blog, my Etsy, my Pinterest boards, or my Facebook page.

4.  Make a Schedule

Don’t just use your time as a parent.  Plan your time.  Without a plan, we are not the type of mothers that we want to be, we just exist day to day.  Plan to be the parent that you want to be instead of letting yourself fall into the trap of being exhausted, surviving, and merely dealing with each situation that arises.  You are better than that and your child deserves more than that.

I believe that our children deserve better than being given busy work.  I believe our children deserve a responsive parent who will shut off technology in a heartbeat to make their child feel important, special, and loved.  I believe our children deserve a parent who is engaged enough to notice bad habits, bad dreams, and to realize when their child is in need of a little encouragement.  If you agree, get this blog out there to other parents who need to hear this.  In this day and age when technology reigns . . . TAKE BACK the reigns and use technology instead of letting technology use you.

Brooke Shambley

Concerned parent, loving mother, and a few other cool things that are less important than my boy