Meltdown

Well that was odd. 

My Little Bit, my joy, my laughter, just had a meltdown.  An honest to goodness meltdown.

Over creative writing. 

If you go over here, I talk a little bit about how we've been approaching our creative writing this year.  Today's prompt was to tell the story of Halloween from the point of view of a piece of candy.  Little Bit got confused, and told me about her favorite type of candy.

I'm trying to be more... well, strict is not the word, but more regulated on school work.  While homeschool is great at adapting and identifying problems as they occur, I don't want to be so lax that I just give them a passing grade no matter what. 

So, I asked her to do it again, correctly and using the prompt.

She broke down.  Great big fat tears. 

So I'm back at the drawing board on my plans for today.  This seems to have been a pattern this week, where she freaks out if she thinks the work is too difficult for her.  I guess my job as her mother and her teacher is to determine if it is too hard, if it's just her learning style, if it's the almost 2 week break, just what is it that caused her to break down.

I'm going to go do some research on 2nd grade writing skills while she takes a nap.

Or maybe I'll go take a nap.

Hugs,
Melinda

Five Minute Friday: Laundry

I'm going to try something new.  There's a linkup called Five Minute Friday where you write about the given topic for five minutes. 

Oh, I think I've already broken one of the rules.  I think you aren't supposed to edit.  And I've backspaced and corrected spelling more than once.  lol  It's my nature.

Today's topic is Laundry.

Laundry list
Laundry soap
Have to do the laundry
Clean it all up
Teach Boo how to do it correctly
Fold it
Put it away
Don't like laundry

Those are all my thoughts.

Laundry was one of the chores I hated to do growing up, because it was never done.  Growing up in a house with hoarders, it just seemed to pile up and pile up and just it was always there.

I'm trying to teach my children how to not let the laundry pile up.  Maybe that makes me a bit OCD.  Maybe that's just me trying to prevent heartache for my girls.  I don't know.

Well my 5 minutes is almost up.  My good morning alarm has just gone off to start school, so I need to wrap this up, so we can get Bible class started.

Thank you Lord for giving me laundry.  It means I have enough clothes ....  for something.  I forget the rest of the saying.  My sleep deprived brain isn't functioning very well.  Pray for our school day!  lol

Hugs,
Melinda

Watch your mouth!

Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 

This verse has really been speaking to me recently. I find that I am not building others up, but letting unwholesome talk out of my mouth. If I have hurt you with my words, I am sorry. If you hear me being hurtful, please say something. 

I want to be more like Jesus, and talking bad about others isn't the right way to do it. 

Humbly,

Melinda 

Homeschooling Benefits

Okay, so I thought I would spend a bit of time talking about some of the benefits of homeschooling.  Things that you might not realize or think of until you're in the midst of them.

1. Time - as a homeschool family, we are not as bound by time as others are. 

For example, Boo wanted to run a Halloween race this year.  I've been trying to incorporate some training into our mornings.  But with the change in season, and the fact that sunrise continues to get later and later, we're having to run later and later.  But that's okay.  Because she doesn't have to get up and catch the bus at 6:30 in the morning.  So we run when the sun is up.

2. Helping - otherwise known as serving.  We have more opportunities to serve in a way, because we aren't as bound by time (see number 1) as others. 

For example, my dad has been sick.  We recently got the opportunity to travel to Nashville to help him out for awhile.  But instead of staying only a week, when he needed us to stay longer, we were able to help.  If we weren't homeschooling, I don't think I would have been able to go, let alone for so long.

Of course, getting back into our normal schedule and routine has been a bear, but that's a whole different post!

3. Adaptability.  I think this is the one that I've understood a bit better this year.  Boo for the longest time wanted to be a fashion designer.  I explained that she needed to learn about art, and how to draw, and how to critique other's designs, and she needed to be studying fashion.  She didn't want to do that however.

This past year, she decided she wanted to be an author.  So, I've been encouraging her to write.  We do creative writing, we have writing prompts, and I got a curriculum that is solely focused on helping students with their writing.  It's coverstorywriting.com in case you want to look at it.

The difference in her attitude towards school work is AMAZING!  Learning to adapt her school work to her skills and desires has already paid off in leaps and bounds.

That's all I can think of at the moment. 

If you homeschool, what are some of your favorite benefits?

Hugs,
Melinda

Security Concerns

Due to some security concerns I've had in blog traffic and download activity, I have decided to take off all pictures of Little Bit and Boo.

Call me paranoid if you want, but thank you for understanding.

Hugs,
Melinda

How can an introvert be brave for God?

I'm an introvert. 

That may come as a shock to some of my friends, but really, I am.  I can force myself to be "extroverted" at times, but then I go through long periods of really not wanting to be around anyone at all.

On a really bad day, I don't even want to leave the house so I don't have to talk to anyone.

And yet, I've always wanted to be a missionary. 

So the question that's been rolling around in my head is, how can an introvert be useful to God?  How can someone who has trouble talking to people be brave enough to share their faith with others? 

How does 2 Timothy 1:7 apply to me?

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

 

 Maybe I should look further into that chapter.  Verse 8 starts off like this:

So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord.

Is that it?  Am I ashamed?  I don't think I am.  Continuing on into the verse, it says this:

 And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News.

I'm not certain, but maybe verse 8 applies directly to Timothy.

But continuing on to verse 14, the Bible says this:

 Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.

 Is that it?  Do I need to guard the truth? 

I'm still struggling with this question.  I don't know the answer.  Hopefully, prayerfully, God will grant me the courage to be brave for Him.

Until then,
Hugs,
Melinda