Heidi just learned that the color white reflects the sun. Therefore, it is the coolest color to wear in the heat of summer.
Today she wore a solid white shirt and solid white shorts.
Tomorrow she's wearing a different solid white shirt and a solid white skirt.
I wonder how long this trend will continue?
Yesterday I asked Celeste to put away her rest mat (for naps in Kindergarten) and she put her hand on her hip and forcefully announced, " I am NOT using that rest mat anymore. It has STARS on it and NO ONE has a rest mat with stars. I am NOT using that thing. I HATE it!"
So, I calmly reasoned, "Celeste. You only have 3 more weeks of school. I'm not buying you another rest mat. You can use this one until school is out."
She wouldn't hear of it. "But, MOMMMMMM! What if I have to REPEAT Kindergarten? What, then???? I am NOT using that rest mat for another year!!!!! I HATE that rest mat!!!!!"
So, I asked her, "Celeste, do you really think you're going to repeat Kindergarten? Do you WANT to repeat Kindergarten?"
Her response: "Well, if I do repeat Kindergarten, at least I won't cry on the first day again!"
And then she went on to talk about how she used to cry in Kindergarten and the rest mat issue was forgotten.
Problems are so easily solved when dealing with a 5-yr-old.
But, I can just imagine how a similar conversation might play out in a few years:
While stomping her foot and FREAKING out, Celeste screams, "I am NOT wearing Heidi's prom dress! She wore it LAST year! NO ONE wears dresses with sequins anymore! I HATE that dress!!!!"
I calmly respond, "Celeste. You're only going to wear the dress one time. You and Heidi look very different. No one will ever notice. We'll find you a new necklace to wear with it. I'm not buying another prom dress that will only be worn one night! "
And, from there I'm sure it will just get UGLY!
So, I will treasure these 5-yr-old "crises" while I still can!
So, I calmly reasoned, "Celeste. You only have 3 more weeks of school. I'm not buying you another rest mat. You can use this one until school is out."
She wouldn't hear of it. "But, MOMMMMMM! What if I have to REPEAT Kindergarten? What, then???? I am NOT using that rest mat for another year!!!!! I HATE that rest mat!!!!!"
So, I asked her, "Celeste, do you really think you're going to repeat Kindergarten? Do you WANT to repeat Kindergarten?"
Her response: "Well, if I do repeat Kindergarten, at least I won't cry on the first day again!"
And then she went on to talk about how she used to cry in Kindergarten and the rest mat issue was forgotten.
Problems are so easily solved when dealing with a 5-yr-old.
But, I can just imagine how a similar conversation might play out in a few years:
While stomping her foot and FREAKING out, Celeste screams, "I am NOT wearing Heidi's prom dress! She wore it LAST year! NO ONE wears dresses with sequins anymore! I HATE that dress!!!!"
I calmly respond, "Celeste. You're only going to wear the dress one time. You and Heidi look very different. No one will ever notice. We'll find you a new necklace to wear with it. I'm not buying another prom dress that will only be worn one night! "
And, from there I'm sure it will just get UGLY!
So, I will treasure these 5-yr-old "crises" while I still can!
Mark's Mom gave me a book a few years ago that I just picked up and read again. Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse. A 14-yr-old girl tells her story of living in the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression. It is such a beautiful piece. It's won several awards. Go check it out- you can read it in an afternoon!
We rented 2012 this weekend after it was highly recommended to us. I've decided that the director and screenwriter must have meant for the entire movie to be metaphorically interpreted. At least that would explain:
I usually like John Cusack, so it was a real disappointment for me.
I don't know how it ended because I fell asleep.
- the predictably lame script
- the terrible acting
- the repeated, implausible, narrow escapes from sudden death of the actors
I usually like John Cusack, so it was a real disappointment for me.
I don't know how it ended because I fell asleep.
I love making smoothies. Especially after working out in this humid climate. I've really perfected them so they're super tasty and very low cal. Here's how I made today's smoothie:
8 oz. cold water
1 1/2 cups frozen mango
1/2 packet Greens to Go
Blend until smooooooooothe! Very simple, right?
Drink 8 oz for a 75 calorie treat or drink 16 oz (like me!) for a 150 calorie meal!
8 oz. cold water
1 1/2 cups frozen mango
1/2 packet Greens to Go
Blend until smooooooooothe! Very simple, right?
Drink 8 oz for a 75 calorie treat or drink 16 oz (like me!) for a 150 calorie meal!
My kids attend public school. They ride a bus and are gone for 8 hours of the day. Some days I miss them, but not every day. I'm so happy for the real-world, real-LIFE experiences they gain from attending school away from home. Away from Mom.
I have a lot of friends who homeschool. I've watched them and admired their dedication to their kids' education. I'm impressed by most of them and sometimes think I'm missing out. But, then I remember all of the things my kids have learned from attending school away from home. And it makes me glad.
1. Adult Mentors
My girls have teachers who have built UP their self esteem. There's something very special about sincere praise from an adult outside of the family. Maddie's artistic and leadership talents have been praised by many of her teachers and this has helped her be even better. I know if she was only getting this praise from Mark and I that it wouldn't mean as much to her. Heidi has received countless compliments on her writing skills. She beams when her teacher praises her for this and it makes her strive to be a better writer! She tries harder and does her best. Thank you teachers, for helping me improve my girls' self image! Thank you for encouraging them to be better!
2. Developing Independence
We don't feel our kids can ever really decide who they are unless they're away from Mom and Dad. We help them define and develop themselves mentally, socially, emotionally, and spiritually- but they're not really tested until they're away from us. They are learning to deal with bullies, gossip, varying religious and political beliefs, unfair/unjust real-life situations and we feel this doesn't bring them down b/c our home is a haven away from the world. Instead, we think these experiences strengthen them and help them learn greater independence.
3. Spiritual Growth
I've heard public school referred to as "Godless" and I have to disagree. While study from the scriptures isn't part of the curriculum, God is most definitely a part of my girls' schooling away from home. We happen to be blessed to live in the Bible Belt where teachers talk about Christ at Christmas and where prayer is still a part of large group activities. But even if this were not the case, my girls discuss their beliefs with their close friends. Since Madylin's baptism, she's received the gift of the Holy Ghost and relies on His influence daily. Each of my girls have talked about reaching out to classmates who are feeling sad or have their feelings hurt. Celeste has learned tolerance and forgiveness after dealing with a bully in her class. I am grateful my girls have the opportunity to leave the nest and learn to "live in the world, but not of the world."
From my own public schooling experience, I have no doubt that my testimony of the Gospel was strengthened by going to school. I didn't show my spiritual side to my parents. I felt vulnerable and kept it hidden from them for the most part. At school, it was a different story. I remember standing up to my friends on the issue of abortion and bearing testimony of Sabbath-day observance, morality, honesty and the temple. I was able to do that b/c I knew these classmates well enough that they felt comfortable sincerely asking me. I don't think I could have had those kinds of experiences if I hadn't been around those kids 5 days a week. Their questions tested me and helped build my testimony- separate from my parents.
4. A Variety of Teaching Methods
Madylin is 10-years-old and can multiply double digit numbers in her head. Like 24 X 87. No joke. She's not a math whiz. She doesn't even like math very much. But, her teacher taught the class several different ways to multiply and let them choose the method they preferred and now Maddie gets it. I would have taught her 1 way to multiply- the way I know how. Her teachers are constantly trained and re-taught ways of improving their teaching methods. When would I ever find time to do this? How would I even know where to look? Or how would I even know that I needed to look? I just don't think that one mind or one personality can replace what many minds and personalities can. The girls regularly come home with phenomenal learning experiences they share with me. I'm grateful that I don't feel the pressure to be in charge of all of that by myself.
Let me make it clear that I'm not against homeschooling. I think it can be a wonderful way to educate children. I am most impressed with a relative of mine, Connie who has been successfully educating her son at home for many years. The last time I saw Martin, I was so impressed by his vast knowledge and effective communication skills. Connie is an inspiration to me.
With that said, I am also clearly not against public schooling. I am ever grateful for talented teachers who influence my children for good. I'm grateful for other children who treat my kids with respect and help them experience the joys of friendship. I'm grateful for a bus driver who cares enough to call me when my kids aren't on the bus for a few days, to make sure everything is okay. I am thankful for art, music, and p.e. teachers who expose my children to the varieties of life and not just those things I think will be of interest to them.
I'm not going to make any blanket statements about home or public schooling. There's not a "one size fits all" approach to educating children. However, I am pleased with my girls' public school experience so far and wanted to sing its praises.
I have a lot of friends who homeschool. I've watched them and admired their dedication to their kids' education. I'm impressed by most of them and sometimes think I'm missing out. But, then I remember all of the things my kids have learned from attending school away from home. And it makes me glad.
1. Adult Mentors
My girls have teachers who have built UP their self esteem. There's something very special about sincere praise from an adult outside of the family. Maddie's artistic and leadership talents have been praised by many of her teachers and this has helped her be even better. I know if she was only getting this praise from Mark and I that it wouldn't mean as much to her. Heidi has received countless compliments on her writing skills. She beams when her teacher praises her for this and it makes her strive to be a better writer! She tries harder and does her best. Thank you teachers, for helping me improve my girls' self image! Thank you for encouraging them to be better!
2. Developing Independence
We don't feel our kids can ever really decide who they are unless they're away from Mom and Dad. We help them define and develop themselves mentally, socially, emotionally, and spiritually- but they're not really tested until they're away from us. They are learning to deal with bullies, gossip, varying religious and political beliefs, unfair/unjust real-life situations and we feel this doesn't bring them down b/c our home is a haven away from the world. Instead, we think these experiences strengthen them and help them learn greater independence.
3. Spiritual Growth
I've heard public school referred to as "Godless" and I have to disagree. While study from the scriptures isn't part of the curriculum, God is most definitely a part of my girls' schooling away from home. We happen to be blessed to live in the Bible Belt where teachers talk about Christ at Christmas and where prayer is still a part of large group activities. But even if this were not the case, my girls discuss their beliefs with their close friends. Since Madylin's baptism, she's received the gift of the Holy Ghost and relies on His influence daily. Each of my girls have talked about reaching out to classmates who are feeling sad or have their feelings hurt. Celeste has learned tolerance and forgiveness after dealing with a bully in her class. I am grateful my girls have the opportunity to leave the nest and learn to "live in the world, but not of the world."
From my own public schooling experience, I have no doubt that my testimony of the Gospel was strengthened by going to school. I didn't show my spiritual side to my parents. I felt vulnerable and kept it hidden from them for the most part. At school, it was a different story. I remember standing up to my friends on the issue of abortion and bearing testimony of Sabbath-day observance, morality, honesty and the temple. I was able to do that b/c I knew these classmates well enough that they felt comfortable sincerely asking me. I don't think I could have had those kinds of experiences if I hadn't been around those kids 5 days a week. Their questions tested me and helped build my testimony- separate from my parents.
4. A Variety of Teaching Methods
Madylin is 10-years-old and can multiply double digit numbers in her head. Like 24 X 87. No joke. She's not a math whiz. She doesn't even like math very much. But, her teacher taught the class several different ways to multiply and let them choose the method they preferred and now Maddie gets it. I would have taught her 1 way to multiply- the way I know how. Her teachers are constantly trained and re-taught ways of improving their teaching methods. When would I ever find time to do this? How would I even know where to look? Or how would I even know that I needed to look? I just don't think that one mind or one personality can replace what many minds and personalities can. The girls regularly come home with phenomenal learning experiences they share with me. I'm grateful that I don't feel the pressure to be in charge of all of that by myself.
Let me make it clear that I'm not against homeschooling. I think it can be a wonderful way to educate children. I am most impressed with a relative of mine, Connie who has been successfully educating her son at home for many years. The last time I saw Martin, I was so impressed by his vast knowledge and effective communication skills. Connie is an inspiration to me.
With that said, I am also clearly not against public schooling. I am ever grateful for talented teachers who influence my children for good. I'm grateful for other children who treat my kids with respect and help them experience the joys of friendship. I'm grateful for a bus driver who cares enough to call me when my kids aren't on the bus for a few days, to make sure everything is okay. I am thankful for art, music, and p.e. teachers who expose my children to the varieties of life and not just those things I think will be of interest to them.
I'm not going to make any blanket statements about home or public schooling. There's not a "one size fits all" approach to educating children. However, I am pleased with my girls' public school experience so far and wanted to sing its praises.
So, apparently orange is the color of the day. Or, at least MY color of the day. I got a free coupon to try out a spray mystic tan at the salon and I left feeling beautifully bronzed. When the girls came home, Madylin shrieked, "Mom! How did you get so tan?? And so skinny??" I felt pretty good. She even asked if we could go somewhere so she could show me off. This 33-yr-old was feeling like a hot mama!
But, as they say, all good things must come to an end, and I'm afraid my brush with vanity took a wrong turn. My beautiful bronze has faded to a very orangutan orange.
But, as they say, all good things must come to an end, and I'm afraid my brush with vanity took a wrong turn. My beautiful bronze has faded to a very orangutan orange.
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