I have to fight him to wear a tie; a kerchief he puts on no problem

I'm the mother of a Tiger Cub. Could the name be any cuter?

NO. It couldn't.

First grade loot being ordered. Last year I taught Liam in the carpeted, third floor playroom. I loved the thought of having a designated classroom but it wasn't practical for us. Ewan always tried to sit in Liam's lap at Liam's desk; it was just annoying. We're back at the dining room table and I've turned the bottom shelves of the china hutch into homeschool storage. We don't have as much room down here, but it's much more practical (and waaay easier to clean up after art). Plus, I can tie Ewan to a chair. Not really. Sort of.

 

Pumpkin oil. Liam says he learns better when "the air is tasty."

 

If you're in St. Louis, you can watch me start my parenting segments on CBS affiliate KMOV Channel 4 at 6:45 a.m. live with a 9 a.m. replay. For those not in the area, the website will stream the video at some point, when I have the link I'll post it.

Abandon regular lessons, ye who enter here

ARGH! Avast there, mateys! T'day is National Talk Like a Pirate Day, arrrrgh. Te celebrate, me hearties 'n me went and had us a roast beast at Arrrrghbys.  T'was nuttin' finer. Aft, all hands pillaged fall clothes loot at Target and me drunk a hogshead of coffee at the Starbuck's. We studied about pirates, learnt their speak, and tonight me 'n me hearties will watch the tales of Jack Sparrow whilst wearin' our plastic eye patches and the "Pirates of the Caribbean" dress- up kit Liam got for he's day o' birth.

A pox on ye for not at least utterin' an ARRGH t'day!

How to use 9/11 as a lesson

This morning we didn't turn on cartoons while breakfast was made; I turned it on the news and my boys watched the 9/11 memorials. They asked questions and those questions were answered to the best of our parental abilities. And Liam asked how people who claim to love God could hurt people. I told him that it's because people have free will and they choose to harm others. God does not act maliciously. People do.

My uncle once remarked that religion is one of the greatest evils. Others have remarked at how many have died fighting for God.

Selfishness is the greatest evil. Using our free will to glorify ourselves rather than to honor God is the biggest evil. Saying that we're fighting for God when we're really fighting for our own agenda is the biggest evil. God's name has been used as a fake shop front for many shady actions.  Sadly, this is also the reason people decide to hate religion: not because of God's actions, but because of ours. Every religion, every denomination is guilty of it. Those who scam in God's name share this trait.

That's how I'm using 9/11 to teach today. How are you using it?

I'm also playing this track today, reggae from a Hasidic Jew. Totally awesome and the lyrics couldn't be more appropriate:

Loading the Starting Gun

I go away for one Labor Day weekend and OF COURSE that's the weekend I get a frillion comments. When ClubMom told me about putting this post in their newsletter I didn't even think about the response because my brain was still on summer vacay. I apologize to those who had to wait for me to get back and fire up the laptop to post your replies. I'm still reading them - and the e-mails. The timing was perfect; Liam's curriculum arrives at the end of the week and next Monday he officially begins first grade. Reading responses from all the homeschooling moms, or even the ones who just think it's cool, was like attending a support group meeting. Except for the few insan-o comments I had to delete because of the 25-cent swear words.

Or the comments from those who are all "parents who homeschool are putting their kids at a disadvantage." Really. If only the statistics supported that theory, and I've provided many links in current and archived posts which go into greater detail. The point is this: if you don't like homeschooling, if it's not for you then it's not for you. Just as Abba is not for me. The end! I always feel like I'm defending homeschooling. At the store. At the playground. Sadly, around family, even. Every week, and it's always against those that are just freaked out but what they don't know; this blog also takes a hit via comments and mail every week from such people. I want to take a break from that and focus on actual homeschooling. So please be advised I'm so tired of debating my family's choice. So tired that I can't even read it if someone espects me to respond to something. If you can't not be all derogatory and judgmental in your comment or e-mail, then know it won't get posted or acknowledged. I'm refining my focus a bit. I'm in the process of reorganizing my sidebar content to include Q&A links if you've a serious question.

Pfbbbt. Anyway. I wanted to highlight some of my favorite responses thus far. From Kontessa:

I am blessed to know other parents that think this deeply about thsi childrens education ... Sometimes we just need a moment to question, to feel, and remember why it is we do all this.

and from Nadine: 

Our children should get nothing less than the best than we can give them. If we have the ability to give them a good homeschool environment then we give it to them. If we can provide them with a good private school environment then that is what we provide them or should our public school system be what we want then we should put them there and demand it give the best it can to our children. Our children are extentions of ourselves to the point that they become their own independent individuals.

and Judi: 

I've gotten to the point in my homeschooling where I do what I can and confidently lay the rest in the Lord's hands. He can make up my deficits.

and these words from Peggy: 

Remember, it's not just what they learn in the textbooks; we can continually learn whatever, whenever, but it's what they become as adults that is most important.