I am taking a stand for my daughter's education!

What parent doesn't cry inside when their child has lost all interest in going to school? First grade has seemed more like a boot camp than an enriching environment. Concerned about what mught be going on, I spent the day in First Grade. There were 6 education blocks. 4 of them were reading and writing, one was math, one was science. I wondered when they have art, PE, music. It looks like they get 20 minutes of each of these activities once a week. But the good news is that the school is in the top percentile on the standardized tests! Arggh!

My first inclination was just to supplement her public education with extra-curricular activities. But by the time she gets home from school, she can do nothing but veg out. No errands with mom, no walks to the park, sometimes doesn't even want to watch a movie. Where did my daughter with boundless energy go? She comes home from school mentally exhausted. I don't care about passing any tests, but I want my child to have a love for learning. The desire to learn something new should never end. I have done all the research and I think at the start of the new year we are taking a stand to be full-time facilitators in our daughters learning. We plan on homeschooling through the school district where she will meet with a teacher every 21 days. They also pay for all the extra-curriculum activities for your child, and I have found a meet-up homeschooling group that meets for fieldtrips and activities every week. There are 8 families right here in Citrus Heights who have 6 year old daughters.

Everyone has brought up their concerns about the socialization of my only child if I educate her at home. My question is to you, would you rather have your child be able to learn to communicate with people of all ages or to fit in well with just children their age. Think about the average middleschooler, they spend the day talking with other 13 year olds, pretending to be too cool to hear what an adult has to say, then they get home from school and call other 13 year olds on the phone, maybe do some homework, then go hang out with other 13 year olds. Maybe they squeeze in some communication with their parents and siblings for some variety. Homeschool children have much more time to meet with various ages of children on field-trips, run errands with mom (I encourage her to count out the money at the register or place orders with workers), have time to volunteer to help the elderly or other needy, and learn about the society around them, not just the world of a 13 year old. I have never had someone tell me that my child is unsocial, unarticulate, unruly, or disrespectful. These weren't skills she learned at school. We are homeschooling our children from the time they are born. The only additional skills she has learned from school is what we consider bad habits. She has learned teasing, excluding others, and even how to take a punch in the stomach. Some people would refute that taking a punch is a life skill, but I think kindergarten is a little young to learn that lesson. (Maybe I will smack her around in a few years so she doesn't miss out on that life lesson...j/k) The point is that children learn socialization skills from adults not from other children who act badly. That is not to say that there aren't adults out there that act worse than children.....but that is a whole other blog post I won't get into right now.

In the meantime, I am doing all the research and will update this blog to show off the curriculum I have put together for my daughter to make her a lifetime learner not a lifetime test taking robot.

It's all about Debt & Clutter Detox

So...we have decided to bite the bullet and pay off all of our debts. This includes a major downsizing. My Mother-In-Law has been so kind to let us move in with her so we can pay off all the debt in 1 year instead of 5. Although it may not be easy, we are greatful for the opportunity and are determined to hold our head high and escape this debt prison. Since we still have 5 more weeks until our lease is up here so we are packing the right way. That is totally go through everything and only keep the necessary items or keepsakes. I am from a family of clutterers so the word "keepsake" can have many meanings. I have to mentally look at each item and ask myself a few questions. "Is this something I would replace immediately if it was lost?" "Is this something that cannot be replaced and it holds sentimental value?" Or "Should I keep this, I might need it someday?" I have found that almost everthing stuffed in a closet or drawer is in the category of the last question. Chances are...when I finally need that item, I don't know where it is so I buy a new one anyway. So you know what.......It is all gone! I am so proud of myself. You know goodwill doesn't accept all donations, and it got me thinking....if Goodwill won't take it, why in the world am I hanging on to it for? I just finished with our office and it is my new favorite room. I never knew sitting in an empty room could feel so good. Who needs stuff? It is the people you love who matter the most.

School Starts a New Year for us!

It is official, I am the parent of a first grader. It is amazing how fast the time goes by. Just when I start to think that my daughter is still my little baby, she will try a new quote out for size. You would think she is learning these things from school but then I realize that Hannah Montana isn't really the best influence. Several months ago when Eric and I were talking, my precious little daughter at age 5 told me to "Build a Bridge and Get Over it." How am I supposed to react without laughing? Yesterday while I was organizing the office I said outloud (to my usually helpful daughter) that I needed a garbage bag. Hoping that I would be getting an "I'll go get one mommy!" Instead I got a "Well you've got two hands, go get one yourself!" Oh, just one little look and she was begging at my knees for forgiveness. I am not always that powerful but you know she was just trying to see if she could get away with it. Well.....she didn't.

Other than intermittant trials for independance, I would say that I feel blessed that I have it so easy. Allison is so fun loving and loves to entertain. She has the persistance and drive to do what she wants when she wants, but I just keep reminding myself that persistance is a virtue and a desired quality of an individual....atleast when they get older. I love having a child that can express her feelings so I know everything she is thinking.....we are still working on pausing to let someone else talk for once. I could complain about little ways my child tries my patience, but then I realize that all the little things are the things I will remember the most and I am thankful for every one of them.