Annie's Circle Time

Hey Kendra- I wanted to email and thank you for your blogging, and all the encouragement and the practical advice you share. I've been meaning to email for quite some time, but part of July, all of August and even some of September was the nasty morning sickness. I felt better in September and did some serious catching up. I read through your postings about Circle Time and it sounds like a great way way to add in some things we’ve not been doing (like singing hymns, reading the Bible together, and praying. . . yikes! the very basics!) and be a little more formal about a few things we’ve been enjoying (Five In A Row, Story of the World). One very nice and unexpected thing that happened as I was sorting through materials and planning the school year was that I realized how much I truly love teaching my children! As I was ordering books that I’d read with my older children, to read with my younger child, and the materials I will be using with my older children, I found myself in tears remembering all the happy memories and anticipating making new ones! :) I intended to email last week with our Circle Time order. . . I figure I need to keep it to about an hour. Our children are 7, nearly 5, and 2, so most of this will go well (I hope!)

Calendar

Weather

Pledges (American flag pledge, Alaska flag song, Christian flag pledge)-- one per day

Silly Song of the Day-- one child picks each day

Hymn of the Week (going sequentially through our church's hymnal)-- watch on youtube

Prayer

Bible reading from The Early Reader’s Bible-- one story per day

Letter of the Week, following the Handwriting Without Tears Letters and Numbers For Me order, using games such as Hide and Seek with letter puppets, Letter Fishing, Memory, and Alphabet Go Fish; Steck-Vaughn Phonics Readers Alphabet Set, Alphabet Art, and I Know the Alphabet book

Five In A Row Story of the Week

Story of the World Story of the Week

And now for the hard part of this email. The reason I did not email as planned last week (or start school on 10/5 as I had also planned) was that I miscarried early Sunday morning (10/4.) I was about 16 weeks and had NO idea before it happened. Our midwife came over to be with us at the time and that was so helpful. Our baby was a boy, and we named him Shelomith (meaning peaceful.) I am recovering physically fairly well. Emotionally, it's been (and will be) hard. I think it would be helpful to get back into our routine, so I am hoping to start Circle Time tomorrow, and gradually bring on the other topics I'd planned. I wanted to ask you to pray for me and my family as we make this horrible transition. Thank you again. annie ♥ Please pray for Annie and her family as they recover from their loss. ~Kendra

Circle Time, Educating at Home, Life with Preschoolers, ResourcesKendraNovember 2, 2009 Comments

When Little Siblings Squabble

Hi Kendra- Just want you to know that I have appreciated your blog and wisdom more than I can tell you. Thank you for all the time you put into it! Being a mother of 8 I am sure that you have children who don't get along occasionally, and I am wondering how you handle this. I have a 6 year old daughter who is a peacemaker (usually) and a terrific help to me and a newborn. I also have 2 boys age 4.5 (Daniel) and almost 2 (Sam) who fight everyday. Somedays all day long. Of course, this makes homeschool difficult. But more than that, I am at the end of my rope. I don't know how to help them get along. I have talked to them (at least Damiel) about what God desires from them. We have prayed together. We have disciplined in various ways. Both of the boys are guilty, each enjoying provoking the other. Daniel often gets angry about the discipline, and to be honest, so do I. I am praying for God to help me. Sam, though just as ornery, will usually try to reconcile with his brother by giving him a hug. I know I can manipulate the situation in different ways to help them get along better, but we wouldn't really be dealing with the issue. I want to help them get along and really love one another. I know they do love each other. If Sam is hurt he wants Daniel, or if I leave the house, then Sam clings to Daniel and the Daniel truly comforts him. So, I am sure this is all normal stuff. I know it will eventually (hopefully) pass. I just want to handle it well, and I am at a loss! Any ideas? Thanks again, And God bless you and your family, Merri ♥ Hi Merri- Sibling squabbles are so tricky, but because yours are so young, they’re even trickier. Hard to really speak to their hearts at those ages, so I think you need to communicate your expectations by your actions. First of all, I would not let them out of my sight. Don’t put them in a room or a play situation by themselves until they’re mature enough to handle it. In this way, you are “tomato-staking” them , and discipling them. If they have a falling out, you are right there to correct and show them the right way to handle the conflict. Secondly, I would make sure they have some time apart from one another each day. If they are no longer napping, or even if they are, separate them for naptime or a quiet hour. Use a little reverse psychology and tell them they aren’t allowed to see or talk to each other for the whole time, but you'll let them know when they get to play together again. You’ll get a break, they’ll get a break, and absence makes the heart grow fonder ;) Blessings- Kendra

Life with Preschoolers, Training Little OnesKendraOctober 23, 2009 Comments

Fisher Price Stack and Roll: One of Our Favorite Toys

Right before we went on vacation, I bought a set of these Fisher Price Stack and Roll Cups, thinking they'd be a nice way to entertain our two little guys while in the rental house. They didn't disappoint, and in fact they even gained the attention of everyone older than the two littlest.

The cups nest into one another when inverted, click and stack together when right side up, can be rearranged, filled with little items, counted, and rolled. At such a reasonable price, they've been a winner here, and they get used every single day.

Life with Preschoolers, Resources, ReviewsKendraOctober 21, 2009 Comments

I'm an Enabler

Sometimes getting in the play yard to keep the baby happy is the only way I can read aloud to every one else in peace.

Educating at Home, Life with Preschoolers, Training Little OnesKendraAugust 21, 2009 Comments

Praying the Scriptures For Your Children

We named our third daughter an unusual name, much beloved from a family friend. That sweet friend recently sent me a book that has been wonderful food for thought. The book is Praying the Scriptures for Your Children, and was written by Jodie Berndt.

I have been contemplating regeneration lately. You know, it isn't our work, it's squarely Christ's. We were dead in our trespasses (Ephesians 2) but He breathed life into our lifelessness and He will do the same for our children if they are His. Jodie writes: "The sooner we realize that it is not about what we do but about what God does, the sooner we will stop focusing on ourselves and our shortcomings, and begin focusing on God and His power. Likewise, the sooner we quit worrying about doing our part, the sooner we can start rejoicing in the fact that God is doing His part. And the sooner we can recognize that God is at work, the sooner we can jump in and join Him."

My To-Do List and Expectations

Raise your hand if you're a lover of lists. Don't you adore crossing something off after you've accomplished it? Me too. However, in this current crazy season of my life, my to-do list has had to morph into something that matches my reality. I fondly remember the days when all of my children took an afternoon rest, or at least a quiet time. They do now, too, but the two little guys are on slightly different schedules so there's only an hour when they're both down. I do rest for an hour or so, but I also need to capitalize on the sleeping babies and spend time helping the older kids with school. What this means, practically, is that my to-do list has become sort of a running "extra projects" list rather than a day-to-day list, because the day-to-day just doesn't vary all that much. I use this printable check list for the daily stuff. You can alter the fields for your own use. Then I add and delete things from the ongoing to-do list as necessary. Currently the list is: 1. Where are my jeans? (I have one pair in my current size and they're nowhere to be found) 2. Fill in names on family tree as far back as possible (This project could go on for years) 3. Paint- girls’ accents (This one is particularly pathetic. A friend is doing the painting for me. All I have to do is buy the paint, but I haven't even done that yet) 4. Sew hammock and cabana pillows (I'm not a good seamstress. I've put this off for months, but the hammocks are now on the back porch and I really can't ignore this any longer) 5. Hang shells from andy’s office (Too long an explanation) 6. 5yo Kindergarten doctor visit, 16yo tetnus booster (I know, it only takes a phone call...) 7. Find videos to send to Shane (ummm... find them... ) 8. TOS reviews (Due June) 9. Christian’s Stocking to Sandy (all I have to do is send this to a friend but...) And now a word about expectations. Years ago, maybe when I had five children or fewer, I could look at this list and know it could be tackled in a week's time. Now, however, the tyrrany of the urgent is where I spend most of my time, and so this list has become just an ongoing thing that continues to grow faster than it shrinks. If I were to expect to finish the list in a more timely manner, I would be frustrated, angry, and ready to throw in the towel, perhaps blaming homeschooling or any other number of things to which God has called me at the moment (like two babies, 14 months apart). One thing I can say God has taught me over the last year is to make my expectations match my reality. Actually, more than that, I have no expectations. I don't expect time to myself, time to complete projects, family members who remember my birthday, dinner to come out well, perfect kids, or my haircut to be stunning. As a result, when any of those things do work out, I am utterly surprised and delighted! How can you change your expectations to meet your current reality?

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