Greeting and Salutations!
This spring is going to be quite the crazy one. My older son, Jy is attending the local technical collage, one county over, the downtown branch. And he is not a larger city downtown driver yet! So, Monday through Friday we find ourselves downtown for anywhere from one to three hours. Thankfully, the public library is only two/three blocks away. So, we park in the school garage ($1.50 no matter how long) and walk over. It has been fine so far, but currently we are having nice winter weather, about 35/40*, so it's fine to walk over. Hope it stays that way....
The younger two kids, who are still homeschooling, Jk & Kt, are getting a bit of an education outside of "normal" homeschooling. They have to pack backpacks & lunches each day now. I'm not going to just leave them at home, sure they can work pretty good by themselves, but this is the perfect time to get totally devoted to school (and blogging). Plus, I don't think it's a bad thing for them to learn just how nice it is to NOT have to do this everyday for 13 years. My older two attended school for a few years, and although they were young, they do have some recollection of doing it, and both liked NOT have to anymore, once they were homeschooled. So, here's another unexpected lesson the our true teacher, life, has tossed our way.
When I first started homeschooling, I got asked the "what, no school?" question, A LOT! I don't get it so much now. But, as you know, it can get really annoying when people ask you that all the time. I started to answer "the world is our classroom & life our teacher" or "sure there is, this is ___ : recess, economics, field trip, ect." But, I have to admit, I often just was so annoyed with people, I would be rather snarky and say things like: "Wait! What are you guys doing here!? I thought I told you to stay at school!" Or "how on earth would I know" or "I suppose so" And, then there's the BIG question everyone wants an answer to, "What about socializing ?" I really began to hate that one. My answer to that became "exactally." That was it. Nothing else. Because, the number one reason I do homeschool is for socializing my family properly. I mean come on, where in the real world do you spend 9 hours EVERY day with people who are within one year of you? Only in school. Nowhere else. Not out shopping, not at work, not at the doctor's offices, not at church. Nowhere. One of the things most people really like about homeschoolers is the fact that they can get along with pretty much anyone of any age. My kids are all great with people of different ages, as long as someone is not a jerk, they have a great time hanging out.
Now, when people were honestly curious about homeschooling, I would take whatever time I could to answer their questions. But most people only want to question you're whole idea of teaching your kids. I think a lot of brick and mortar school parents feel guilty when them come across a homeschooling parent. After all, I'm giving up everything to stay home and teach my kids, and they aren't. The thing is, I am a super firm believer that not everyone should homeschool. I think anyone who wants to to CAN do it, but that doesn't mean it's for everyone. It is a huge commitment, and not all parents can do it, and not all kids should either. It's just something that everyone has to decide for themselves. This is America (at least for now, but let's not get political) and we have the freedom to choose. As long as you are trying your hardest to do everything you can for your kids, you are a good parent. At least in my book. None of us are perfect, we will all make many, many, many mistakes parenting our kids, but all we can do is try our best.
To be very honest here, the only parents I don't like are the ones who say things like "I could never spend so much time with my kids. I couldn't stand to be with them all the time. I can hardly wait to get away from them each day." Ect. Why on Earth did you have them in the first place? Yes, we all need a break from time to time, and not everyone has the patience to spend the amount of time it takes to homeschool, but you should still like to be around your kids. And want to spend time with them.
So, for us, homeschooling is the way. When the kids reach highschool they get a choice, so far, they all wanted to continue homeschooling (although my oldest might have been happy going to a brick and mortar school. At least that's what she says now, but I think she was happier at home, issues and all). I'm pretty sure my last one, who is middle school age right now, will want to stay home as well. And it's what makes us all happy.
After all:
"This is school Mr. Potter. Not the real world." (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - by J.K Rowling)
Blessings'
MamaAthena
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
Back again
Well, I'm back again. If anyone missed me, I'm sorry. :( But, for some reason, I don't think anyone missed me. Maybe you will someday.
Can't use any excuse about where I've been this time. I was mostly lazy and sick. Had a flu run through the house. Not fun. Ended up starting school a week later than we wanted to, so now I feel like I'm super behind. Even though I know I'm not. I'll chillax in a day or two. But I hate that feeling, don't you? We all have it. Some more than others. It took me about 12 years to really relax (for the most part) about whether or not the kids were behind. I already had a highschool graduate at that time! So, if you're worried about being behind; don't. You're not alone, and remember, your kids will figure it out as long as you teach them HOW to learn.
So, today I want to talk about my New Year's present. I had a great Christmas, got nice gifts, even got my c.d. I wanted, even if it hasn't come yet. But, on New Year's eve, eve, I got a new member of the family. A hamster! Wasn't really planned, but it just worked out. That is usually how we get pets. You see, this past year I had to put down my two pets. A wonderful cat named Griffin, and a sneezy little English Spanial (not a Cavalier Spanial) named Haggrid. Griffin was over 15 years old and just reached the end. No one knows how old Haggrid was, as we found him, and thought at the time he had a year, or two TOPS!, left, so when we couldn't find his owner, we decided to keep him. He and I fell in love with each other. Five years later it was time for him to go. He really couldn't walk anymore.
I have a philosophy that everyone should have their own pet (if financially doable, if not, one pet for the family). Not only do animals teach things like responsibility, they teach love. They become part of the family. A true friend who will always love you and always listen to you, even when no one else will. Animals don't judge you, just love. Everyone needs that. As parents, we have to judge what our children are doing so we can teach them right and wrong. But pets simply don't. They just offer comfort and companionship. We parents need that too. You know you are judged by someone somewhere, especially if you homeschool. Your pet dosen't . So, if you don't have a pet and have been thinking about it, get one. Take your time and research what you would like to get. Talk to friends who have different kinds, take in foster pets, and find your next family member . (Avoid large pet stores if possible, for dogs, cats rabbits and large birds, like parrots. They usually come from puppy mills. The smaller pets, like mice, hamsters and gerbil , usually come from people around the community or the back of the pet store. Humane society usually have all types of pets to adopt. But, look around. You never know where YOUR pet will come from. I personally think getting the right pet for the right person is more important than where they come from. But, adopt if possible.)
So, back to my hamster... He is a pet store hamster and as such, he was sold a little too early. Hamsters should be sold at 6 weeks at the YOUNGEST! My best guess was he was actually only four weeks old. We like to go to the pet store and 'pet the fuzzys and fluffies' from time to time. It's just fun for us, and this time I ended up bringing one home. We have had lots of hamsters over the years, and already had most of what we needed. All I had to buy was the hamster and some food. But it was my husband who said I should get him. The right pet will come your way, expshally if you are not looking for him. There were actully two that I really liked, but Syrian hamsters don't do well in groups as adults, so I chose one. The one that kept crawling into my hand and staying there.
So, now I am the proud mom of a teddy bear (I think he's part teddy bear and part fancy -- which are both syrian hamster types) male hamster. His name is Tomoe (toe-moe-a). It's Japanese. Because he was so young, and small (I think I picked the runt), I have been giving him kitten formula, yes, you can give a hamster kitten formula, it's what you should give them, and we even had it in the house (when we 15yo son's rabbit, she needed some formula too! LOL) For the first week, he would drink it from the dropper and then curl up and sleep on me. For more than an hour. I never had a hamster do that, and I would say I've had about 12 or so in my life! Got some great photos! Now he doesn't really sleep on me, he wants to explore too much. Since he's about 6 weeks, that's prime get into trouble time!
I have been reading up on hamsters and learning a lot of new information on them that i never knew. Like just how much room they really need. Once it was thought that a small 10 gallon tank would be enough, that's about the size of all the comershal cages you can get (w/o the add ons). But that's not enough. You need at least twice that size for one hamster! No wonder they were always chewing up cages and trying to escape. They were board! Makes sense. So, I will be bildin g a bigger cage for Tomoe. Out of plastic storage bins. Looks pretty easy, takes about a day to do it. And I am looking forward to designing and filling it with lots of toys.
Having him has really helped my sorrow over loosing my two pets. The rest of the pets we have, are sweet and loving, but they are not mine alone. As I said before, have one that is all yours really makes a difference in people's lives. And Tomoe is making one in mine.
Well, that's long enough. I will have more later this week.
Blessings,
MamaAthena
Can't use any excuse about where I've been this time. I was mostly lazy and sick. Had a flu run through the house. Not fun. Ended up starting school a week later than we wanted to, so now I feel like I'm super behind. Even though I know I'm not. I'll chillax in a day or two. But I hate that feeling, don't you? We all have it. Some more than others. It took me about 12 years to really relax (for the most part) about whether or not the kids were behind. I already had a highschool graduate at that time! So, if you're worried about being behind; don't. You're not alone, and remember, your kids will figure it out as long as you teach them HOW to learn.
So, today I want to talk about my New Year's present. I had a great Christmas, got nice gifts, even got my c.d. I wanted, even if it hasn't come yet. But, on New Year's eve, eve, I got a new member of the family. A hamster! Wasn't really planned, but it just worked out. That is usually how we get pets. You see, this past year I had to put down my two pets. A wonderful cat named Griffin, and a sneezy little English Spanial (not a Cavalier Spanial) named Haggrid. Griffin was over 15 years old and just reached the end. No one knows how old Haggrid was, as we found him, and thought at the time he had a year, or two TOPS!, left, so when we couldn't find his owner, we decided to keep him. He and I fell in love with each other. Five years later it was time for him to go. He really couldn't walk anymore.
I have a philosophy that everyone should have their own pet (if financially doable, if not, one pet for the family). Not only do animals teach things like responsibility, they teach love. They become part of the family. A true friend who will always love you and always listen to you, even when no one else will. Animals don't judge you, just love. Everyone needs that. As parents, we have to judge what our children are doing so we can teach them right and wrong. But pets simply don't. They just offer comfort and companionship. We parents need that too. You know you are judged by someone somewhere, especially if you homeschool. Your pet dosen't . So, if you don't have a pet and have been thinking about it, get one. Take your time and research what you would like to get. Talk to friends who have different kinds, take in foster pets, and find your next family member . (Avoid large pet stores if possible, for dogs, cats rabbits and large birds, like parrots. They usually come from puppy mills. The smaller pets, like mice, hamsters and gerbil , usually come from people around the community or the back of the pet store. Humane society usually have all types of pets to adopt. But, look around. You never know where YOUR pet will come from. I personally think getting the right pet for the right person is more important than where they come from. But, adopt if possible.)
So, back to my hamster... He is a pet store hamster and as such, he was sold a little too early. Hamsters should be sold at 6 weeks at the YOUNGEST! My best guess was he was actually only four weeks old. We like to go to the pet store and 'pet the fuzzys and fluffies' from time to time. It's just fun for us, and this time I ended up bringing one home. We have had lots of hamsters over the years, and already had most of what we needed. All I had to buy was the hamster and some food. But it was my husband who said I should get him. The right pet will come your way, expshally if you are not looking for him. There were actully two that I really liked, but Syrian hamsters don't do well in groups as adults, so I chose one. The one that kept crawling into my hand and staying there.
So, now I am the proud mom of a teddy bear (I think he's part teddy bear and part fancy -- which are both syrian hamster types) male hamster. His name is Tomoe (toe-moe-a). It's Japanese. Because he was so young, and small (I think I picked the runt), I have been giving him kitten formula, yes, you can give a hamster kitten formula, it's what you should give them, and we even had it in the house (when we 15yo son's rabbit, she needed some formula too! LOL) For the first week, he would drink it from the dropper and then curl up and sleep on me. For more than an hour. I never had a hamster do that, and I would say I've had about 12 or so in my life! Got some great photos! Now he doesn't really sleep on me, he wants to explore too much. Since he's about 6 weeks, that's prime get into trouble time!
I have been reading up on hamsters and learning a lot of new information on them that i never knew. Like just how much room they really need. Once it was thought that a small 10 gallon tank would be enough, that's about the size of all the comershal cages you can get (w/o the add ons). But that's not enough. You need at least twice that size for one hamster! No wonder they were always chewing up cages and trying to escape. They were board! Makes sense. So, I will be bildin g a bigger cage for Tomoe. Out of plastic storage bins. Looks pretty easy, takes about a day to do it. And I am looking forward to designing and filling it with lots of toys.
Having him has really helped my sorrow over loosing my two pets. The rest of the pets we have, are sweet and loving, but they are not mine alone. As I said before, have one that is all yours really makes a difference in people's lives. And Tomoe is making one in mine.
Well, that's long enough. I will have more later this week.
Blessings,
MamaAthena
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