What Kind of Person do You Want Your Children to be When They Leave Home?
I was listening to a podcast a few weeks ago. I can’t remember what kind of podcast it was (maybe a homeschool one, maybe a parenting one), but the speaker posed a question that got me thinking: What kind of person do you want your children to be when they leave home? I’m sure I’ve been asked the question before; I just don’t think I’ve ever really thought too much about it. Actually, I probably have thought about it. Subconsciously I knew what I wanted my future kids to be. I understand that my kids won’t <<POOF>> become these things just because they leave the house. The list has to…
My Educational Vehicle
There are many different kinds of vehicles—cars, trucks, and vans; bicycles and motorcycles; and boats, planes, and trains. Each vehicle also has a different purpose. Some are just for transportation while others are more for enjoyment. Some vehicles are fast, others are slow. Some vehicles provide access to places you would otherwise not be able to get to. Similar to the various types, speeds and purposes of vehicles, my educational journey has had a variety of methods and destinations. My favorite type of vehicle is one I don’t have to drive. I’d rather go along for the ride than be the driver. My high school education was much the same.…
Call to Adventure
Are you familiar with the Hero’s Journey? The hero’s journey is a cycle or pattern that every hero goes through and where the hero ends up changed or transformed. Joseph Campbell studied myths from all over the world and published a book about his findings explaining how each story represents the hero’s journey. Check out this short video to learn more about the cycle. Our homeschool group is focusing on the hero’s journey this year. We kicked off the year learning about the call to adventure. The call to adventure often comes with a threat or a challenge to overcome or a problem to solve. Sometimes the hero stumbles on…
The Last 90 Days Challenge 2019
2019 is almost over, which means the New Year will be here sooner than you think. For most people, a new year means new goals and intentions. It sometimes also means spending the last few months of the year doing whatever you want. Have you ever decided that your diet would start on Monday then unintentionally (or intentionally) eaten everything unhealthy you could get your hands on because you knew it would be the last time you would be able to eat it? The end of the year is like that—eating junk because you’ll set healthy eating goal in January, moving less because you’ll set an exercise goal in January,…
6 Things About Fall
Fall is one of my favorite seasons. In no particular order, here are the best things about fall. PumpkinPumpkin muffins, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin smoothies, pumpkin soup. Almost anything pumpkin (except regular pumpkin pie) tastes yummy. Cooler WeatherThis means I can go hiking, take the kids to the park, lay in the grass, and not drip a bucket of sweat just to walk to my car. Leaves Changing ColorThe colors are so beautiful. One of my favorite memories is being in Chicago in October right as the leaves had changed. It was a joy to see all the different trees. Another fun thing about the leaves changing color is that when…
Does Mom Work?
6 years ago I threw a parent temper tantrum because of something one of my kids said. And even though we all learned from the experience, it wasn’t the last time I got hurt and angry because of what they said. But I’m pretty sure I never threw a tantrum like that again. Over the years, I’ve had to learn patience and give a little grace and choose not to be offended. I guess it’s part of being a mom. Actually, it’s really part of being a person. People say hurtful things. I like to believe that they just don’t know any better and are doing the best that they…
My Day in a Haiku
I’m the first to confess that I’m not much of a writer. It’s probably because I don’t really enjoy it. It also might be because I’ve defined myself that way. So let me rephrase that first statement. . .The more I write the better I become. I write every day in hopes to get better. I write to remember my day and show gratitude. I write to reflect. I write to get stuff off my chest. I write to help me be more intuitive. But the biggest reason I write is because I want to learn how to express my thoughts better and to inspire others with my words. I…
Go S.L.O.W. with your Children
Years ago I listened to a parenting audio and was recently reminded of it. Since I remember loving it, I decided to pull it out and listen to it again. The speaker shared at acronym that helped us remember how SLOW down and be a better parent. Below are some of the principles I loved from it. Serve Them As parents we serve our children from the minute they are born. We take care of their physical needs (feed, clothe, bathe, shelter), help them with chores and homework, give them rides to and from places, and do all kinds of other things for them. Another part of serving is teaching…
What is Say Go Be Do?
Years ago I listened to an audio by Tiffany Earl entitled “Say Go Be Do”. I’ve actually listened to it several times over the years. It’s one of those classics that you can get something different out of every time you hear it. Recently I found the book that Tiffany wrote based on the same concept. She shared a lot of the same concepts and ideas in the book that she shared in the audio, but expands on them and gives more examples. It’s a short book and worth the read. What is Say Go Be Do? Tiffany got the concept from reading a book about Suzuki, a Japanese violin…
15 Things I am Grateful For
Part of my nighttime routine is to write a list of things that I am grateful for. I’ve been consistently writing in my gratitude journal for almost a year. I first heard of the idea years ago in “The Slight Edge” by Jeff Olson. He says that writing down 3 different things you’re grateful every day will, over time, make you happier. Through the process of searching for the positive, you begin to rewire your brain to see the world in a different way. You become more aware of the good. I more recently heard about the importance of being thankful from Rachel Hollis when I participated in her last…
