Our first speech meet Last year February, my then-2nd grader participated in a speech meet. For her age group, she was supposed to recite a 12 line poem. It was her first time ever reciting a poem at one of these competitions, so we really didn’t know what to expect.…
Tuesday was the first official day of Spring. It seems like it’s been forever, but really, there’s only 90 days between season changes, at least according to the astronomers. But winter when you homeschool can be rough! Though we aren’t as exposed to colds and flus, when mom gets sick,…
Are family traditions too hard to create? Or do we just not recognize every day activities as a “family tradition”? For some reason, we seem to think that family traditions require planning, fanfare, and must be a Big Deal. Family traditions, apparently, are to families what the Grand Gesture is…
Family traditions are important. My fondest memory of my childhood is about my grandfather. He drove a transport truck for as long as I could remember, and his route took him past my home, even though they lived 2 hours away. During the summer, he would pull in to see…
I’m exhausted. I’m so tired, I’m falling asleep while in the bathroom. I think I need caffeine on IV!! I’ve been functioning on about 5 hours of sleep a night for the last 7.5 months, and it has been grueling. I no longer feel tired. I’m not sure if that’s…
For the past five years, I have been reading a series of books to my oldest daughter. When she was younger, we read every night. But now, we have a set aside time once a week for reading. We both look forward to this ritual. Not only do we enjoy…
Mornings are not my friend I am not a morning person. My circadian rhythm is firmly stuck in night owl mode, so I struggle with mornings. I’m groggy, I’m sleepy-eyed, and I don’t move all that fast. It’s hard to get started first thing in the morning, and I often…
New Year’s Resolutions I always have this sense of expectation whenever a new year rolls around. I have this idea that “This time, I’ll do it right.” I feel all kinds of motivation to do things differently. And that’s never true. Deep down, I know it’s not true, but I…
2018 is officially here. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to start my year with a bang, and get my act together. I need to review my organization systems. Its time to declutter, tighten up, and straighten up, so that my time is better spent on things that…
I don’t normally post my personal struggles and feelings. I like my privacy and I want to protect my children. But, I know sharing my own story helps others. And that, ultimately, is my goal. It’s the middle of December. Everywhere you look, there are sparkles, colors, and smiles. My…
