Ok, so, I've been stressing a little bit about Maggie and what all she's "supposed" to know and be able to do by this age being that she is a little more of a challenge to teach than Nate has been. So tonight I thought I'd google some advice or suggestions of other homeschooling mothers and see what they had to say about my situation:) I think the Lord was paying attention because the first blog I came across that addressed this issue was such a refreshing blessing! It brought me back to "why" I homeschool and the beauty in teaching our children at home! Thought I'd share...

"Childhood shouldn't be a race.So here, I offer my list of what a 4 year old should know.
She should know that she is loved wholly and unconditionally, all of the time.
He should know that he is safe and he should know how to keep himself safe in public, with others, and in varied situations. He should know that he can trust his instincts about people and that he never has to do something that doesn't feel right, no matter who is asking. He should know his personal rights and that his family will back them up.
She should know how to laugh, act silly, be goofy and use her imagination. She should know that it is always okay to paint the sky orange and give cats 6 legs.
He should know his own interests and be encouraged to follow them. If he could care less about learning his numbers, his parents should realize he'll learn them accidentally soon enough and let him immerse himself instead in rocket ships, drawing, dinosaurs or playing in the mud.
She should know that the world is magical and that so is she. She should know that she's wonderful, brilliant, creative, compassionate and marvelous. She should know that it's just as worthy to spend the day outside making daisy chains, mud pies and fairy houses as it is to practice phonics. Scratch that-- way more worthy.

But more important, here's what parents need to know.

That every child learns to walk, talk, read and do algebra at his own pace and that it will have no bearing on how well he walks, talks, reads or does algebra.
That the single biggest predictor of high academic achievement and high ACT scores is reading to children. Not flash cards, not workbooks, not fancy preschools, not blinking toys or computers, but mom or dad taking the time every day or night (or both!) to sit and read them wonderful books.

That being the smartest or most accomplished kid in class has never had any bearing on being the happiest. We are so caught up in trying to give our children "advantages" that we're giving them lives as multi-tasked and stressful as ours. One of the biggest advantages we can give our children is a simple, carefree childhood.

That our children deserve to be surrounded by books, nature, art supplies and the freedom to explore them. Most of us could get rid of 90% of our children's toys and they wouldn't be missed, but some things are important-- building toys like legos and blocks, creative toys like all types of art materials (good stuff), musical instruments (real ones and multicultural ones), dress up clothes and books, books, books. (Incidentally, much of this can be picked up quite cheaply at thrift shops.) They need to have the freedom to explore with these things too-- to play with scoops of dried beans in the high chair (supervised, of course), to knead bread and make messes, to use paint and play dough and glitter at the kitchen table while we make supper even though it gets everywhere, to have a spot in the yard where it's absolutely fine to dig up all the grass and make a mud pit.

That our children need more of us.

We have become so good at saying that we need to take care of ourselves that some of us have used it as an excuse to have the rest of the world take care of our kids. Yes, we all need undisturbed baths, time with friends, sanity breaks and an occasional life outside of parenthood. But we live in a time when parenting magazines recommend trying to commit to 10 minutes a day with each child and scheduling one Saturday a month as family day. That's not okay! Our children don't need Nintendos, computers, after school activities, ballet lessons, play groups and soccer practice nearly as much as they need US.They need fathers who sit and listen to their days, mothers who join in and make crafts with them, parents who take the time to read them stories and act like idiots with them. They need us to take walks with them and not mind the .1 MPH pace of a toddler on a spring night. They deserve to help us make supper even though it takes twice as long and makes it twice as much work. They deserve to know that they're a priority for us and that we truly love to be with them."

Pretty awesome advice, right?!:) I thought, beautifully written.

Thank you, Lord, for the privilege of being mom and a teacher!

Love ya'll!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Gobble Gobble:)

"But if anyone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need and refuses to help- how can God's love be in that person?" 1 John 3:17

I know you've heard me say (or whine and cry) to you in the past 6 years about the struggles we've faced financially, about how hard it's been for our family to live day to day, pay check to pay check, not knowing if we'd have enough to make ends meet each week... and to be honest even though times have been hard, I know that God has taken those times and used them for the good. He's definitely humbled us and shown us the important things in life and I might add, we've never gone hungry! So, we're blessed!:)

But, God has really opened my eyes to the fact that there are so many out there right now, hurting. It's not just our family.... you see it everywhere. Times are getting tough again for alot of people. Groceries are sky rocketing, gas is like gold these days, and new clothes are becoming a luxury! People are striving to make ends meet each week and alot of times, if you're like us, those ends don't meet!

And, so my reason for writing this post is challenge you to become more aware of those around you that are hurting. If you have a roof over your head, a warm bed to sleep in at night, clothes to put on without holes in them, groceries in your pantry, and gas in your car... You are sooo blessed.

It's so funny to think back to when Britt had a high paying career, I would thank God for the "new" car we got or the "new" jeans I bought, or the fancy vacation we were able to take, now... I thank God for a warm bed to sleep in at night, I thank Him for the loaf of bread and gallon of milk in the kitchen, I thank Him that my kids are healthy and I'm able to stay at home with them and teach them.... I know I can't change peoples' hearts, but God can. I pray that you will take some time to notice those around you... at work, school, church, in the grocery store.... pay attention to their needs and share with them the blessings that God has given to you.... Be a blessing to them!

Love ya'll! Strive to be Different!