Under Three Only!
Submitted by kim on Mon, 06/21/2010 - 21:17 in Homeschooling
A young mom sent me an email stating, "I've worked out a schedule that should go well for schooling the children, and have my husband to help me on the off days. My biggest concern is HOW DO I SCHOOL WITH A TODDLER??????" Capital letters and multiple question marks are original and speak of her desperation. 
Some thoughts on the subject:
Make sure your toddler is on his/her own schedule. Make use of nap times to do your most intense one on one subjects. For our family, that always seemed to be the reading lesson with those budding readers, but maybe in your home it is math or hand writing. Keeping that toddler's belly full and his body well rested will be to everyone's benefit.
A Fox Called Expectations
Submitted by kim on Sat, 06/19/2010 - 14:06 in Character Building
I was looking through some old files recently and ran across a letter I wrote to my daughter her first year of college. A young man was showing some kindness to her, but was not very clear on his intentions. I wrote about her expectations and how dangerous they could be:
Hospitality
Submitted by kim on Wed, 06/16/2010 - 09:22 in Homemaking, Recipes
If you read just one book on opening your home to others, read Practicing Hospitality, The Joy of Serving Others by Pat Ennis and Lisa Tatlock. You won't just want to read it, you will come back to it again and again. While Rich and I have always been convicted that our home should be a center of ministry, this book gave me the "how to" of hospitality in many practical ways.
Library Day
Submitted by kim on Sat, 06/12/2010 - 11:08 in Homemaking, Homeschooling
Library day was a huge highlight of our week when my children were little. But it wasn't without some stress. Trying to keep little ones quiet, finding quality literature that you are willing to read your children, managing an infant in a car seat, keeping track of toddlers who need to hold hands, and carrying a bag of books and a purse can make the whole experience not worth the energy. Add in a 1st or 2nd grader who can read EVERYTHING and it just might seem easier to stay home!
Men at Work
Submitted by kim on Mon, 06/07/2010 - 14:58 in Homemaking
If you read the About Me page, you learned that I have six sons. You probably assume there is a husband in that mix as well. What you don't know is that my husband's eighty-nine year old father also lives with us. I live with a lot of men! One of my constant struggles as a woman of God is finding that line between honoring the men I live with, honoring their role as leaders, and yet also training my sons in the things they need to learn, like chores.
