Nothing gets me anxious like the thought of our girls growing up. Yesterday, our oldest passed her driver's test; she is now a licensed driver. And the youngest was right on her heels getting her driver's permit.
Of course with power comes, "Mom I'll be back later!" Yep. Shortly after we arrived home the oldest announced she was off to the library to return some books.
I know what you're wondering. "Are you (mom) okay with this?" Do I have a choice? No. Did my heart skip a beat with that announcement? Of course it did. And it didn't beat normally until she arrived back home...safe and sound.
I know years from now I'll look at this time and think I was just being silly. But living it in the here and now. I don't think its silly. I worry. I'm a Mom. Worry is what we do. Right?
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
Thursday, February 21, 2019
A new season of homeschooling
When we first started homeschooling, I was asked frequently, "how long are you planning to homeschool?" I always said I hoped through high school. I wasn't always sure we'd make it.
Here we are with our oldest a senior in high school and the youngest in 10th grade. Y'all. I blinked. How did we get here? So many math lessons and arguments about English (them not wanting to do it). And yet here we are. We are on the cusps of change.
The oldest has been accepted to the only university she applied to. She choose it because it is the only one in the state with the masters program she wants and she had no desire to leave the state. We are currently waiting to find out how much she is getting for a merit scholarship. Proud doesn't cover it, but I'll leave it at that.
Our youngest is currently studying for the PSAT and SAT for the next school year. She has yet to decide what she wants to do in life, but she is preparing in case she decides to go to college. This year she is taking two math courses to get caught up. Again, proud.
Our view on homeschooling may be unique. It may not be, but honestly, I'm not sure. It feels different. My initial reason for homeschooling was to protect my kids, not shelter. But for protection. There are some crazy people out there in the world and I didn't think a five-year-old is prepared for them. But that is my own opinion.
John and I have tried to teach our girls about the world. We talk about so many of the subjects that other parents (even those in public school) don't or won't talk about. I know college will still be a shock; it was for me and I graduated from a public school. But I am hoping our girls are strong minded enough to protect themselves once they are in college.
I'm working on letting go...somewhat. I am trying to not panic when they want to do something on their on. In a few months, I will have no idea what the oldest does or eats daily. It is so difficult after all this time to toss them into the world and see how the fly. But. {sigh} I'm working on it. I have no choice. Unless...does anyone have a time machine I could borrow?
Here we are with our oldest a senior in high school and the youngest in 10th grade. Y'all. I blinked. How did we get here? So many math lessons and arguments about English (them not wanting to do it). And yet here we are. We are on the cusps of change.
The oldest has been accepted to the only university she applied to. She choose it because it is the only one in the state with the masters program she wants and she had no desire to leave the state. We are currently waiting to find out how much she is getting for a merit scholarship. Proud doesn't cover it, but I'll leave it at that.
Our youngest is currently studying for the PSAT and SAT for the next school year. She has yet to decide what she wants to do in life, but she is preparing in case she decides to go to college. This year she is taking two math courses to get caught up. Again, proud.
Our view on homeschooling may be unique. It may not be, but honestly, I'm not sure. It feels different. My initial reason for homeschooling was to protect my kids, not shelter. But for protection. There are some crazy people out there in the world and I didn't think a five-year-old is prepared for them. But that is my own opinion.
John and I have tried to teach our girls about the world. We talk about so many of the subjects that other parents (even those in public school) don't or won't talk about. I know college will still be a shock; it was for me and I graduated from a public school. But I am hoping our girls are strong minded enough to protect themselves once they are in college.
I'm working on letting go...somewhat. I am trying to not panic when they want to do something on their on. In a few months, I will have no idea what the oldest does or eats daily. It is so difficult after all this time to toss them into the world and see how the fly. But. {sigh} I'm working on it. I have no choice. Unless...does anyone have a time machine I could borrow?
Monday, February 18, 2019
Sometimes Crazy just works
I have to admit when I first read Mari Kondo empties her pocketbook daily, I thought she was a bit crazy. Then I was at Target trying to pull out my wallet from all the junk that had piled into my bag since I cleaned it out the week prior. Maybe. Just maybe...she's not so crazy. With all the purging, I knew I had an empty box. One afternoon I plunged into the deep end and dumped everything out of my bag.
Now, remember, I had not completely finished my closet. I spent the next half hour rearranging my closet so I would have a shelf for just purses. I did have them in a hanging system on the rod, but it was behind the door and there was no space available for a box. Plus, I'd been toying with the idea of getting rid of it anyway. Out it went. An empty shelf was created and low and behold, a box filled with everything I usually carry in my bag at some point.
I have been using this method for about two weeks now. I love it! My bag is always clean. I can change bags depending on where I'm going or just my mood. To be honest, I only have five bags but they range in sizes so depending on what I need for the day I have choices.
I have a long way to go to finish organizing. Some days I am overwhelmed by it all. Then there are the days when I look at something and smile. And think, "that brings me joy".
Now, remember, I had not completely finished my closet. I spent the next half hour rearranging my closet so I would have a shelf for just purses. I did have them in a hanging system on the rod, but it was behind the door and there was no space available for a box. Plus, I'd been toying with the idea of getting rid of it anyway. Out it went. An empty shelf was created and low and behold, a box filled with everything I usually carry in my bag at some point.
I have been using this method for about two weeks now. I love it! My bag is always clean. I can change bags depending on where I'm going or just my mood. To be honest, I only have five bags but they range in sizes so depending on what I need for the day I have choices.
I have a long way to go to finish organizing. Some days I am overwhelmed by it all. Then there are the days when I look at something and smile. And think, "that brings me joy".
Sunday, February 3, 2019
Tidying Up with Mari Kondo
If you haven't read her book, I'm sure you've heard of it. John and I started reading it last spring. Just in time for me to purge some a bunch of homeschooling items at a Homeschool Expo. I thought I had read the entire book. Turned out I was wrong. I finished it last week.
John and I watched her Netflix special in January. While we don't follow her exact approach, we did come away with a few things in our toolbox. First, don't try to purge other people's items. Just because you don't love something doesn't mean no one else does either. If it is your personal item, purge away! If it is a communal item, then (in our house) everyone has to agree to let it go. Sounds scary, but it works for us.
Mari Kondo wants you to pile all like items in one space to go through. I admit we did not gather ALL of one item together to see the big pile. I know we have a ton of books; we homeschool I think it is written in the by-laws, "thou must own a ton of books". We started with our homeschool books and I let go of a lot. The rest of the family had been ready for years. I was not ready to let go of my "little" girls. (Still not, but that is a different post.) I have not gone through my personal books yet. But I am going to take this piece of advice, "hold each item". Does it bring you joy? Books are my love. I have quite a few from my childhood that I personally will never part with (our girls will have to decide on those when I'm gone). I think holding each one will help me. I hope so anyway.
Clothes were another thing we did not make a huge pile to sift through. John still has not actually gone through his yet. I went through the closet first, just my things. I kept a few things I don't love, because I don't have many clothes that fit well. Those that do fit well got to stay. My dresser was different.
My dresser has six drawers. Honestly, I was using half of one daily and three others. Now, I am using five! I did take Mari Kondo's advice on putting all like items in one space. I had a jacket for exercising in the coat closet so I moved it to my new exercise clothes drawer. My sweaters moved from our closet to a drawer, folded nice and neat and on their sides so I can see each one easily.
Have we finished purging our home? No. Do I expect to be finished soon? No. At the end of this process I am hoping to be able to look around any room (or closet) in our home and feel peaceful. I get that feeling now with the few closets we've completed. I am getting there at my desk. (I had paperwork from 2006!) This is not a quick fix. Nor is it easy. But so far, it has been so worth it!
John and I watched her Netflix special in January. While we don't follow her exact approach, we did come away with a few things in our toolbox. First, don't try to purge other people's items. Just because you don't love something doesn't mean no one else does either. If it is your personal item, purge away! If it is a communal item, then (in our house) everyone has to agree to let it go. Sounds scary, but it works for us.
Mari Kondo wants you to pile all like items in one space to go through. I admit we did not gather ALL of one item together to see the big pile. I know we have a ton of books; we homeschool I think it is written in the by-laws, "thou must own a ton of books". We started with our homeschool books and I let go of a lot. The rest of the family had been ready for years. I was not ready to let go of my "little" girls. (Still not, but that is a different post.) I have not gone through my personal books yet. But I am going to take this piece of advice, "hold each item". Does it bring you joy? Books are my love. I have quite a few from my childhood that I personally will never part with (our girls will have to decide on those when I'm gone). I think holding each one will help me. I hope so anyway.
Clothes were another thing we did not make a huge pile to sift through. John still has not actually gone through his yet. I went through the closet first, just my things. I kept a few things I don't love, because I don't have many clothes that fit well. Those that do fit well got to stay. My dresser was different.
My dresser has six drawers. Honestly, I was using half of one daily and three others. Now, I am using five! I did take Mari Kondo's advice on putting all like items in one space. I had a jacket for exercising in the coat closet so I moved it to my new exercise clothes drawer. My sweaters moved from our closet to a drawer, folded nice and neat and on their sides so I can see each one easily.
Have we finished purging our home? No. Do I expect to be finished soon? No. At the end of this process I am hoping to be able to look around any room (or closet) in our home and feel peaceful. I get that feeling now with the few closets we've completed. I am getting there at my desk. (I had paperwork from 2006!) This is not a quick fix. Nor is it easy. But so far, it has been so worth it!
A Year?!
Actually, it has been more than a year since my last post. Too many things have happened to even attempt to catch up.
Both girls have started high school now. Yes! Both of them. I can hardly believe it myself. Our school year has started a bit bumpy from this and that. My Mom breaking her hip was the biggest. I was not prepared for our new school year when it happened in June, so that set us back a bit. Then of course, there was the Battle of the Books at the library and all the rehearsals for "Anything Goes".
We went to our second Comic-Con this weekend. This one was here in Columbia and much smaller than our first (MegaCon in Orlando). But it was fun. The girls actually went in costumes for this one and we had fun seeing all the vendors and their wares.
Today, we had a family reunion. My Mom's Father's side of the family. As the years go by these reunions get smaller and smaller. My generation just does not seem as interested in knowing the extended family like our parents' generation. The best thing today was my Mom's cousin Brenda gave me her pie recipe. It is an egg custard, which I didn't think I'd like but tried it a few years ago anyway. It is so delicious! And today she shared the recipe with me. How lucky am I?
Both girls have started high school now. Yes! Both of them. I can hardly believe it myself. Our school year has started a bit bumpy from this and that. My Mom breaking her hip was the biggest. I was not prepared for our new school year when it happened in June, so that set us back a bit. Then of course, there was the Battle of the Books at the library and all the rehearsals for "Anything Goes".
We went to our second Comic-Con this weekend. This one was here in Columbia and much smaller than our first (MegaCon in Orlando). But it was fun. The girls actually went in costumes for this one and we had fun seeing all the vendors and their wares.
Today, we had a family reunion. My Mom's Father's side of the family. As the years go by these reunions get smaller and smaller. My generation just does not seem as interested in knowing the extended family like our parents' generation. The best thing today was my Mom's cousin Brenda gave me her pie recipe. It is an egg custard, which I didn't think I'd like but tried it a few years ago anyway. It is so delicious! And today she shared the recipe with me. How lucky am I?
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