Yesterday afternoon was a sad one for Maria, our middle child. The baby was crying because of a terrible diaper rash, and Maria attempted to console her with a big hug and words of encouragement. The baby would have nothing of it – only mommy would do. Being a fairly flexible child, Maria sought out her other sibling, the older one. “I’ll help you build your lego ship, Christopher!” she proclaimed with enthusiasm. But the older boy, having had too... Read more
Just as we were speaking about the Atlantic article on how adult children find themselvs “unhappy” while nothing is wrong in their lives,I was really struck by this statement from the adult son of a man who sacrificed his own life to save another son from drowning. “He knew that joy is best found not in the pursuit of pleasure, but in the execution of responsibility.” Wow. I will warn you that it is rather a sad story, but if... Read more
This year, we planned in advance to have our son to miss the last 4 days of first grade. Why would we do such a thing? Our family had the opportunity to take a wonderful 10-day trip to the northeast, and it was too good for even this rule-following mom and dad to pass up! We squeezed in Princeton reunions, visits with both sides of our family, a wedding, and a trip to the town where we began our marriage... Read more
How to Land your Kid in Therapy Is it possible to do too much as a parent? I believe it is absolutely possible. Letting your child win every game, get a trophy, or award after every sporting event, a ceremony or official performance for every accomplishment, and generally building up his self-esteem at every opportunity, seems to be the rage these days. But will these practices lead to adult happiness? Do they develop virtue in our children? No and no. ... Read more
Here on the Gulf Coast, people are starting to talk about hurricane season, which runs June through November. The last couple of years were fairly uneventful, a much-needed break after the devastation of Hurricane Ike in 2008! Although I saw my fair share of natural disasters as a child – Hurricane Bob in Boston and a blizzard while living in Istanbul (the city’s first in 100 years!) come to mind – Ike was my first hurricane experience as an adult.... Read more
Family Read Aloud List The Wheel on the School by Meindert DeJong All of A Kind Family Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard Atwater Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator by Roald Dahl Gooney Bird Green by Lois Lowry Mercy Watson Series by Kate DiCamillo Charlotte’s Web by EB White Meet Kirsten Abe Lincoln by Ingri and Edgar D’Aulaire Mrs. Piggle Wiggle by Betty McDonald Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Brink My Hippo Has the Hiccups by... Read more
Here is a list of some of the books which Peter read this year. He is 9, but many of these are at a higher reading level, he is a serious reader. Many of these make really good family listening as audio books. Everything Roald Dahl Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson (Ambleside — with Mom, challenging, and for school) Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery (Ambleside) Anne of Avonlea Anne of the Island The Little House books by... Read more
Thanks to B-Mama’s comments on theme reading this summer, which is, to me, the best part of homeschooling which school kids can do with their families, I thought I would start to share some of my own book lists. I have been putting this off for years because I wanted to pretty them up, but something is better than nothing! I am going to add a new category and perhaps eventually we can even add a tab for this topic,... Read more
Here on the cul-de-sac, school work has to end for the summer, because once the neighbors are sprung from school it is too hard, and almost cruel, to try to keep my children at their desks. We learned this last year, and we learned it together, so the older ones have worked hard to stay on track so that our 36 week curriculum would finish up in mid June. Guess what? Tomorrow will be our last day of school! I... Read more
Man, did I need a boost this morning. I was a regular, old crab apple upon waking. The kids felt it as I was annoyed during breakfast. GG felt it as I was frantic, trying to get him and M out the door for their morning. Ugh. I felt awful. In steps my Adrenaline workout this morning. It was fun, social, and endorphin-rich. Thank you, Lord, because you know I need friends and health to remind me of who I... Read more
Building Cathedrals
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In