Mom vs. the Dot: Making it COUNT!

A friend calls in the middle of the day to make sure I am okay. I was fine - I was at a playdate.  Why the concern? There was a gunman at a gas station near you, just an hour ago. Local businesses were on lock-down to protect the safety of their employees. I was terrified and dumbfounded. We live in small town America, and we've got people of all sorts.  I just didn't think it was possible that we'd have a crazy gunman less than a mile from our house. Immediately, I was thankful for my friend who called to check if we were alright.  Then I thanked God we weren't home at the time, and that we weren't fueling up the car at the wrong time. Then I started thinking of what we would've done if we were home at the time.  We would lock all the doors and head to the basement where there are very few windows.  All our lights and t.v. would be off so it would appear that no one was home.  What would I tell my children so they would not be scar...

A few years ago, when we had just one child, my sister-in-law asked to have her spend the night with her kids (the cousins).  I thought she was crazy.  Why add another kid to the chaos?  I thinking the cousins were ages 3, 2, and 2. When we had our second child, she asked to have them over for playdates and offered to keep them overnight.  What in the world?  It was all I could do to keep up with my two.  Did she have some superpower I knew not of? I wanted in on this action, but only if it was a sure thing .  I have recently discovered the reason why she asked for and welcomed more kids at her house: More kids make life easier...at least on a temporary basis. (Here's a picture of us with our 3 and our niece and nephew many moons ago.   At that time, I couldn't imagine having 5 kids in the house on purpose.)    What?   Now you're the crazy lady! (I'm sure that's what you're thinking) But it'...

Many things in life are hard. Taxes are hard. Figuring out your new insurance is hard. Parenting is hard. Choosing Jesus is easy. It's like this.  Jesus did all the hard work of living and dying for us, paying for our sins through his death on the cross.  In doing this, he gift-wrapped lifetime forgiveness of sins and is offering it to any person who says, "Yes.  I want that.  Thank you!" It's that easy.   You don't have to know theology.  You don't have to be a pastor or belong to a certain church. Or speak a certain language or read a specific version of the Bible. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. He remembers creating us and thinks we're pretty awesome.  So much, in fact, that he wants to forgive every wrong thing we've ever done. Grown-ups like to make things hard.  We make up rules and classes and books and standards to get to heaven.  We add all this stuff to salvation, bu...

Last week, I had to take care of my mom. For the first time. I find it ironic that the same woman who changed my diapers, fed me for 18 years, laughed with me through my early mom foibles, and provided wisdom when the kids were sick - she needs me now. She was a nurse for many years.  She helped people have babies, took care of the elderly, watched scads of monitors, made people comfortable, and walked millions of miles up and down hospital halls, tending to her patients. Every time I had a baby, she'd come and stay with me a few days.  She'd catch me up on the dishes and laundry, hug and cuddle my babies, then travel back to Ohio.  I always had a warm, comfortable feeling when she was there.  I wasn't alone.  I could do this.  I would make it through this parenthood thing.  Mom was only a phone call away. Last year, my mom caught an illness that is yet to be diagnosed.  She is on all sorts of medicines and on oxygen all the time....

We received confirmation that our letter was received about a week ago.  Yesterday, a big yellow envelope arrived in the mail.  I can't wait to sign and return the consent form. It's really happening!  We're really doing it. The most amazing thing has happened since I posted To Test or Not to Test? and Signed, Sealed, Delivered .  People are sharing their stories with me.  Growing up with dyslexia, or having a child or relative who struggled in school and later found out they were dyslexic.  Adults who have struggled with dyslexia their entire lives, but have figured out ways to accommodate their needs so they can be successful in their fields despite difficulties.  Did you know Charles Shwab is dyslexic?  Yeah.  And many other famous people you would never have thought had a difficulty in their lives. Recently, I reconnected with a friend and was told that their school district refused to test her daughter until she was in 3rd grade...

I admit it.  I made a big mistake. I took my wants-a-puppy-more-than-anything girl to the local animal shelter. My original plan was to line up some way for her to volunteer working with animals for two reasons:  1) to see how much work they require and 2) to become comfortable around animals. We read up about volunteering at our local animal shelter - the only requirement I saw was that volunteers under age 18 needed an adult with them.  No problem.  I was going to do that anyway.  It took me all week to reach an actual person on the phone to ask a few questions before we went over to the shelter.  In the meantime, my daughter and I were psyched up for our visit to the shelter.  We were going to help take care of the animals.  Yay!  During my phone conversation, I was informed that all volunteers must be over 13 years old.  Oh - major bummer!  She cried when she found out we couldn't volunteer with them. So I did the n...

( decorating the fridge to look like a snowman = fun! ) As promised, here are 3 Things I have discovered that make homeschooling a lot more fun and way less drudgery: 1.  REWARDS!!  What kids wants to do page after page of math work with no end in sight?  Or any other subject for that matter?  Last year, I started using rewards and have seen a great improvement in motivation to get the work done. Certificates - I bought these certificates at the Dollar Tree.  I think there are 50 for a dollar.  I set a goal for my child, and when they reach the goal, I write out the certificate.  We have different goals for each child.  Each goal is attainable, but they have to work for it.  I think it helps develop a good work ethic.  It's like working toward a paycheck or a raise.  Put in the work and you will be rewarded.  The certificate is worth $1.00 or can be cashed in for something worth a dollar. Some rewards they lik...