Why I homeschool

Oh sure, there are days when I want to pull my hair out and think "Why am I homeschooling?" and then I'll be given a glimpse of hope and it's all worth it. Last year, I felt like I was just homeschooling for fun with one child, but this year with 3 homeschooling and a baby added into the mix, I'm having to start being more realistic and creative, seizing every opportunity as an "educational opportunity", which, I'm sure most things are at this age. Nevertheless, I am a perfectionist. Having a not so good start to the week, I was discouraged. Sandor and I were beginning a language lesson on the oral usage of the phrase "It is I" and proceeded to role play. I had him knock on the table, I said "Who is it?" and he was to say "It is I" (because we all know "It is me" is improper grammar, right?!). Anyway, he went into hysterics over this and couldn't stop and wanted me to repeat it over and over and over again. Whoever knew school could be so funny?

Then there was the somewhat saddened statement by my 3 year old of "We didn't do school today." We were out running errands and at the doctors today. Wow, didn't know she missed it that much. I'll have to remember that next time.

Or at the dinner table when I'm trying to get the kids to eat, and I look over and instead Sandor is giving the kids a writing lesson. It is so fun when they start teaching the younger ones. Gotta try that with reading! They're writing away, and suddenly Sandor points out "And that's how you write "Sisters not allowed" as he proudly displays his sign. Kids will be kids, and no, he didn't quite spell the word allowed right.

But the most precious words of all are the words uttered by my 3 year old when I pass by the room and the older ones talk about what they want to be when they grow up, and she answers "When I grow up, I want to be a mommy!" Okay, sometimes she adds in there "and a princess", but I still think that's wonderful. So often, our society seems to demean the career of "motherhood" as if it were suited for women that were uneducated, unenlightened, or just plain were forced into it, as used to be the case. I know being a nurse that it is so easy to tie your identity to a career and feel like your role is meaningless if you're not in the workforce or don't have something to define you, as if a homemaker is not enough. I hope my daughter always looks highly on the career of motherhood, and I know that I'm going to do my best to make sure she sees just how wonderful it can be!

9 months

Our little baby is growing up. We just took Elsa in for her 9 month doctor visit. She measured in at 27 inches and 16.7 lbs. I was contemplating whether or not to even take her in (after the 4th child I've become more "relaxed" in my parenting style!), but I'm glad I did. She hasn't been too enthusiastic about eating so far. Who would blame her for being content to nurse exclusively on demand. But she hasn't grown much in the last 3 months and her weight is now below the 10th percentile, so they're concerned about a possible iron deficiency. So I lugged all 4 kids across town to the hospital for a blood draw and she did excellent, poor little thing. Also went to the grocery store to stock up on the food items highest in iron that are perfect for finger food (can we say beans, beans, and more beans). Even got a little lesson in there on reading nutrition labels with Sandor. We found out which beans have the highest iron content, and that wow, they really fortify kids cereal with iron! So, I'll attempt to feed her again. My guess is she may be small like me, fine for a girl. The doctor said babies usually decide what they're going to be (little or big) around 9 months old. Sandor is going to be towering over me by age 7 at the rate he's growing. He pretty much eats more than me now! They grow up too fast, I'm just glad that I get to stay home and soak up every minute of it!