Two Birds and One Stone

Oops, Peter is too tired for lunch!

I've been thinking about "killing two birds with one stone" lately. The myriad of tasks Moms have to see about each day can overwhelm us if we review them mentally one at a time.  How will we EVER get it ALL done? Seems the more we have to do the easier it becomes to double our efforts. The more responsibility we have, the better our "two birds with one stone" aim gets.

Let's try to build these lincoln logs just
like the picture in this book.

Here are some ways it happens around here:
You'll notice that often way more than two birds are getting tagged here...

Seth and Peter making peanut butter.

• Peter was given the job of putting over-ripe bananas into a zip- loc bag to freeze for smoothies. "Z-i-p-l-o-c" was a mini phonics lesson printed right on the bag and we talked about preserving the bananas they wouldn't go to waste too.
• Seth was assigned to read "The Story of Money" to Joe and Pete. They all learned while Seth focused not only on the subject but on ready clearly as to be understood.
• We often bake "for Math" for the younger children. Recipes must be at least doubled and sometimes quadrupled around here. Followed with cleaning up.
• Snuggling in bed last night with Peter (5) we played at rhyming words and opposites. It went on for a long time too...much longer than a planned "session" of such an activity would have.  No stress...just cuddles, giggles, rhymes and opposites and some of those quite silly! Our school knows NO hours!
• Evenings our family often enjoys watching movies, lectures, and what Pete has dubbed "docu-enemies" together.
• We play word games like "Scrabble" which serves for a little "school" and relaxation mixed together.
• We usually cook five gallons of soup, stew or chili at once.
• Our children convert our living room into a department store. This counts for Math as they buy and sell and make change with real money. The room must be left nicer than when they started so there's a bonus there.
• Lunchtime turns into "Restaurant" play with the kitchen window screen removed and order given through it. So rather a boring lunch time, playtime, counting money again, and serving are done.
• We eat outside when we can...there's alot to talk about out there, it keeps the inside of the house clean(er) and we often notice things that need to be done outside (especially if Dad is home for that meal)
• Joe and Ruth both need work on number facts so they do flashcards together.
• Science, social studies, geography and history are subjects we do all together. Specific assignment pertaining to these subjects, such as writing, are given according to the grade level of each student. For instance while an older student writes a report and younger one may only need to draw a picture.

Everbody making applesauce, even the company!

Mary drew this from the photo above it...good eh?

My reason for sharing this is to point out that school at home is a completely different thing than school at school.  It helps so much to separate our minds from what we grew up with. I'm not sure I even like the term "school" all that much anymore. I prefer "Learning" for it defines what takes place everywhere, all the time.  Home-learning happens around the clock. Yes, we have specific blocks of time where formal study takes place, basically from 9 until noon. But, you'll see our children doing all sorts of learning outside of that box. They'll be doing "P.E" things like playing basketball, riding horses, playing soccer, jogging, racing,bike riding, roller blading, snow shoveling, snow boarding, sledding, long jumping, climbing trees...the list goes on. By the way, have you ever noticed that the school system has to add the word "education" in order to justify teaching certain things? Imagine a class called just "Physical"? or how about "Sex" or "Multicultural"? That would never fly... a sex class! indeed! But, that is exactly what is being taught, don't be mistaken...ask a high school student! Children that learn at home have more time to learn. Ever wonder why the neighbor kids come home from spending 6 or more hours in the government school with....HOMEWORK? Most of the time there is spent in just managing too many unruly children in one place at one time.

"After" school activities include things like: Bible study, prayer, letter writing, helping the elderly, babysitting, gardening, animal husbandry, drawing, crotchet, writing, sewing, baking, gourmet cooking...this is another list that goes on and is.only limited by the children's imagination, really.

Dad and Ruth working with Mystique.

Joe and Pete showing little Bennett their pet chicken, Snow.

God equips parents to teach and train the children He gifts them with. There will always be enough time and energy to do His will. He can show us how to double our efforts. Let Him help you think outside of the "school" box and let learning happen, naturally and always. 

After "school" art class

David did the impossible. He killed the Giant Goliath with ONE little stone. But the power of God was in his effort and it succeeded. When it was all over he gave God all of the glory when he proclaimed: "God has given you into my hands".

Aspirations

   There are so many things I want to do..so many things I want to be. I'd like to be good at whatever I do and that takes time; time to study, to learn ,to practice and to become proficient.

I want to be a great photographer (I can't even find my camera) and take pictures with focused subjects and blurry backgrounds.

I'd like to be a midwife, helping people bring their children into the world safely and peacefully and joyfully.

I want to grow a bountiful, beautiful garden with plenty of food for my family and friends

I'd like to get some Icelandic sheep and raise them for fun, fur and meat.

I'd like to get a spinning wheel and learn to spin...especially wool that I've harvested

I'd like to have a soap and candle company and sell beautiful soap and candles in little gift shops and farmer's markets.

I want to read and understand and remember the old testament. I want to memorize lots of the New Testament.

I want to write a gospel tract called Lies/Truth to pass out to high school and college kids.

I want to witness on the college campus and invite the kids to a home-cooked meal.

I want to go away for the weekend with my husband and just enjoy each other but not miss or worry about the kids.

I want to lose 30 pounds (at least) and be able to keep up with anyone else in my family hiking or bike riding

I'd like to bake different bread than everyday bread, like sourdough, french, bagels or english muffins

I want to have a beautiful flower garden (with no weeds) and a lovely yard where I can spend time with my family and friends

I'd like to paint with watercolors and try charcoals too

I want to be the best teacher I can be; organized, patient and competent. I want my children to love learning!

I'd like to share what I've learned in fellowship with other like minded women, especially to encourage young women to be faithful wives and mothers...that God will reward their service.

I want to go back and erase the mistakes I've made but I can't, so I want to make the best of the time I have. I'd like for my relationships with others, esp. my husband and children to be the best that they can be.

I remind myself of the song..."There never seems to be enough time to do the things you want to do once you find them"

The main thing I really want is to please my Lord Jesus. I want to hear him say someday "Well done, my good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord"  By His Grace I will keep my priorities straight. I will each day do the thing that pleases Him. And if little by little He grants me some of the desires of my heart I will rejoice that He saw fit to do so. I do not deserve anything. I have no right to "my time" or "chasing dreams". I have enlisted in His service and my first and foremost calling is to love and complete my husband and to teach and train my children to Love the Lord our God with all of their Hearts, Minds and Strength.

Lord, you said you would give me the desires of my heart. That means that you will put the right desires in there.  Help me to do what's important to You.  My times are in Your Hands.

Home-Ec Days

Every now and then, probably at least once every two weeks if not more often...We have what I call a "Home Ec" day...

Pete's boots

These are the days like today when I wake up and assess our house and schedule and realize that we need to learn and "do"  much more than "school". A "home" can only take so much "school" before an intervention is necessary.


Most of our school kids have been sick all week. On top of that we've had water seeping into our basement calling for three days of shop vac duty to be performed bi-hourly,  yielding three 5 gallon buckets each round that had to be hauled outside and dumped. That kept us busy. On top of that a few 25 lb. food bags got a bit wet which prompted me to can beans, which is a whole other story. And on top of that Grace has been our of town and Hannah hasn't been home much. 

Joe's boots

 So, today is a Home-Ec day. We will catch up on laundry, clean up the mud-room, put away the beans and canners, vacuum (thoroughly), eat three meals, store away all of the rainy-day sick bed toys and books, clean the bathrooms again etc...

  I do not like categorized learning; as if we only learn while seated at a table with a book and pencil. Learning happens all the time and is actually a way of life. This morning, I sat in the quiet with Peter, my 5 year old, and had a long discussion about the seasons. I asked him  questions and told him all about the changing seasons and what each one brings. The other day I told  Joe that since he's better we can get back to "school" and he replied "Why can't we just go outside and do something"? He really learns better by doing...after all he's only 8 and he's a BOY!

All muddy-time for a bath!
I love Home-Ec days. My girls think of all sorts of things to do that "count for school" depending on their bent. Some like to clean and organize, others will get into baking. They are eager to get the house in shape...all motivated by the freedom that not "having to DO school" brings. I have them record everything in their daily logs- they like to see how much they can jot down in there. Children need to know how to do more than push pencils. They must know how their clothes get clean, what is takes to make a meal, where all of the garbage goes (and comes from), that it takes wood to build a fire, that toasters get really full of crumbs that need to be cleaned out (especially at our house--we are huge toast lovers here), that little brothers LOVE mud and make messes and that Mom isn't the only homemaker living here. We practice all of these "lessons" daily, of course, but it's much more fun on Home-Ec days! 

Who I will include in this depends on how dire the situation. Including only the younger children allows the older ones to press on with their studies while they have the chance to learn new skills. Once the basics are covered we will be free to sew, write letters, blog, draw...whatever... inspired by our now tidy, clean, uncluttered home! And tomorrow or next week when we resume our school schedule we will be able to find the right book, sharpen our pencils, walk through the mud room all over again. At least for a time.