Reader's Turn: Tell me the story

Today, I think I want YOU ALL to write the caption or a story for this picture.

Here is the backstory.

These are MY toys.  My children beg to play with them and they always get a "NOPE."   Here is the post I wrote about these gems.

The other day I grabbed my pile of recipe cards (which rest on the shelf below my toys under my oven hood) and I saw this:

It really DESERVES a great story or a fabulous caption but I am deciding to let you my readers take a stab at it.  :)  So, have at it.  Did Princess Lea smack Hans one?   Did the fumes from my cooking do Hans Solo in?  Is it some sort of escape plan?

You tell me.....

Leave me a comment and let me know what YOU think is going on here (BUT KEEP IT FAMILY FRIENDLY PLEASE).  :)

Spring Cleaning MYSELF??? Huh?

Today I am either lazy, I am just plain worn out or I might be trying to re-gain control of the crazy world around me.

Regardless.....

Today I am going to re-post a wonderful article (with permission) from The Get Organized Wizard Newsletter.  I found it to be a great article.  You could receive such wonderful things in your inbox as well if you click HERE and sign yourself up.

Now onto the article..... after a required introductory diddy.  Here you go.  I hope you enjoy.

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Get Organized Wizard newsletter shares ideas and strategies for organizing your life, achieving your objectives and being your best. Get yours now at www.GetOrganizedWizard.com.

7 Ways To Spring Clean Your Self

By Michele Connolly

With a change of season upon us, now's a great time for a spot of spring cleaning.

But instead of focusing on the external environment, let's start with ourselves.

By tidying up mental habits and self-talk on the inside, we can make life a lot more happy and ordered on the outside too.

Here are 7 simple but powerful ways to spring clean your self.

1. Raise Your Offense Threshold

You can liberate a great deal of energy by choosing not to get offended by things people do or say.

Most of the time, people don't mean to be rude – they simply choose the wrong words, or are distracted, or are having a bad day.

And on the rare occasion that someone does intend to be mean, it's more about their own pain than you. Happy people aren't nasty!

You'll save yourself a good deal of energy and distress by choosing not to take offense. That's more energy for achieving your goals!

2. Go On A Complaining Diet

This one is challenging, but well worth the effort.

Unhappy about the way things are? Do something to fix it, ask for what you want, but don't complain.

Your friends having an ain't-it-awful party? Change the subject, offer a different perspective, but don't join in.

Take the energy you would normally sink into complaining and take action instead.

You're more likely to get what you want, to feel empowered, and to be more fun to be around. :-)

3. Tell Everyone – Including Yourself – That You're Organized

If you're always telling everyone how chaotic your life is, it's time to try singing a different song.

Pretend you're organized, tell yourself you're organized, and if in doubt, ask yourself what an organized person would do. You'll know the answer!

When you tell yourself how disorganized your life is, you give yourself a narrow range of options for handling your life. Add the (for now, possibly fake) idea that you're actually pretty organized, and you get to pick from a wider range of choices.

If you're going to create a self-fulfilling prophecy, you might as well choose one that works for you.

4. Install a Worry Switch

If you're a worrier, then you'll love this.

The thing about worry is that it sucks you into an endless loop. You can't solve the problem with worry, yet you can't stop worrying without a solution, so you stay stuck in pointless rumination.

As long as you're engaging with unproductive thoughts, there's no way out, so you have to short-circuit the conversation.

One cool trick is to picture a worry switch in your mind. When you find yourself repeatedly re-hashing old worries, simply the flick the switch to the off position.

It sounds simple, but because it avoids words it can be extremely effective. Try it!

5. Only Splurge If It's Really Worth It

This goes for time, calories, money – everything.

Only go all out for things that really matter to you, and say a gentle but firm no to everything else.

Don't buy things you don't need or love, don't overeat desserts you could take or leave, and don't commit to time-consuming projects you aren't passionate about.

Put your time, money, energy and life where it matters to you.

6. Give Everything An Extra 10%

Let the change of season be a signal to raise your game.

Give an extra 10% to your work, your family, your exercise program, your decluttering project – everything you do!

You will not collapse from exhaustion or shatter into little pieces.

If you adopt the preceding five strategies, then you'll already have gained a lot more energy and motivation.

And chances are that upping your effort level across your life will liberate even more power reserves. You'll see what you're capable of, once you mobilize resources toward goals and priorities instead of complaints and worries, and it will spur you even further.

7. Do Something You Enjoy Every Day

If you aren't already doing something that makes you happy each day, add that to your agenda right now.

It could be a crossword puzzle with your morning coffee (a favourite of mine!), a fun playlist to listen to on the way home, a bubble bath or glass of wine at the end of the day, time to read in bed before sleep.

Choose something that refreshes you, or just makes you happy, and do it every day.

A happy, relaxed you will be a better partner, parent and friend, and a more productive worker - so don't begrudge yourself this one.

Decide which of these seven strategies you want to implement, and get ready for a new season. Let's start clearing those cobwebs!

[Image by quinn.anya]

© 2011 Happiness Strategies Pty Ltd.

Want to use this article on your web site or in your e-zine?
You're welcome to! Simply include this complete paragraph:

Get Organized Wizard newsletter shares ideas and strategies for organizing your life, achieving your objectives and being your best. Get yours now at www.GetOrganizedWizard.com.

Want to read more articles like this one?
Come and check out Michele's Get Organized Wizard Blog

Wordless Wednesday - Cross Pollination

Cross Pollination

How do I do it?

My Favorite Hank the Cowdog Song

by John R. Erickson

[I wish I could let you listen to the music....but I can't find it on-line.]

How do I do it?

 (Me thinks it was secretly written by a mom)

When I take a notion to swim me an ocean,
Or climb me a mountain,
Or kill me a bear,
I’m never distracted or frightened or acted
upon by your everyday worries or cares.

Chorus:
But how do I do it?
I don’t know
I just don’t have any idea
I just do it!

Because of my job as the Head of Security
I must fight monsters, and coyotes, and coons,
I rarely get whipped,
Seldom bloody my lip on the fist of subversive and criminal goons.

Chorus

And speakin’ of women,
Did I think to mention
That I have a lady not too far from here.
Miss Beulah, the collie,
She loves me, by golly,
And often has spasms when I get too near.

Chorus

I reckon if God was inventing a bod
That was certain to drive all the women insane,
He’d probably demand that I sit down and
hand him a list of the things that have
brought me my fame.

Chorus

I can’t explain it,
Can’t be specific
But it would be that I’m just...
Terrific!

 Lyrics from:  http://www.hankthecowdog.com/lyrics/index.htm

Snowball....

FIGHT!!

Ready?  Get set....

 

Thursday I had a blast throwing snowballs at my children and watching them charge away from me shrieking.
Oh wait!  That doesn't sound very good does it.  (giggle)
I also decided that I love being the mom because I can make up rules like....
1) Snowballs are not allowed to be thrown at mom.....
even if mom throws them at you.
(snicker)

GO!!!!

 

It was really fun.

Re-loading.

Re-loading.....

NOT the mama!!!

Pow!

POW!

Pow!

And then little brother was fed up with being the target
and pulled out the BIG GUN..... begging little sis
"Please Gracie, Please, PLEEEAAASEEE, help ME!!"

REVENGE???

Godly Reactions

So the other day I heard of some hubbub occurring about something to do with something which has just rilled up the community where this topic is being discussed.

How's that for descriptive?   I am purposely being vague because I have no interest in starting the discussion on the current debate, argument, discussion, or otherwise divisive talk.  Besides that the issues I want to discuss occur in every community on a frequent basis including............*GASP*............ our church communities!

This current situation prompted me to start pondering about how we humans tend to respond to adversaries and how ruffled our feathers get when the ideas of others do not line up with our own. 

I wanted to take some time to talk about this topic and my reflections.

WARNING: IT IS MORE LIKE A SESSION FROM A WOMEN'S RETREAT OR A MINI-SERMON!!! 

Mostly, I just needed to remind MYSELF of some things, some scriptures and some ideas and I thought perhaps posting it here might help someone else refocus as well.

Here are some of my musings.  Please note, the benefit to having "musings" is that they are not always perfectly ordered and thought through completely.... they come as they come.

1-   During the Transfiguration God speaks and says: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”   This always grabs my attention.  The disciples were getting distracted (and who wouldn't with Elijah, Moses and Jesus before you dazzling whiter than ever).  They were even distracted with Godly things, impossible and amazingly good things, yet God states "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!"   Perhaps we THINK the arguments are beneficial.  Perhaps we feel very strongly that the other person is WRONG, Wrong, wrong....  I chose (or try to remember to chose) to LISTEN TO JESUS.

So if we are Listening to Jesus as God told us to, what did Jesus teach what did he say?

2-   Because we have no iphone videos of the entirety of Jesus' life we must accept that there are multiple interpretations to the word found in the Bible.  Translation is tricky when there are no spaces or punctuation (as in the original greek).  Interpretation before, during and after translation can get even trickier.  There are MANY genres in the Bible and sometimes it is tricky to determine what sections are to be interpreted as prose, which as eyewitness fact, which as allegory, which as prophecy etc.  Because it is so tricky we have schisms and divisions in the midst of Christian believers.  EVEN in Biblical times these schisms existed and here is what Jesus had to say about it:  “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”--- “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us.  Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward."   Mark 9:38-41

 Perhaps some of the previously reported "hubbub" is not as pure as the situation that Jesus addressed.  Perhaps some see the information being taught (on EITHER SIDE) could potentially lead others astray.  None-the-less, if we listen to Jesus and do what he says then we will become a servant and we will offer water to those who belong to the Messiah (and who do not).   IF THEY ARE NOT AGAINST JESUS THEY ARE FOR HIM.

3-   Jesus is ultimate judge.  I do not need to judge.  I need to be convicted in my faith and live it out as Jesus tells me to do.  The judging is up to God.  I am not protector of the world (Praise the Lord!!!) I am a mere servant who is commanded to be faithful.  Here are some verses:

Isaiah 2:4

He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples.  They will beat their swords into plowshares and their  spears into pruning hooks.  nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.

Matthew 25:32-36

All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent upon anyone.

 I like to think that this passage is also telling us to research our own stuff out and that being dependent upon others includes not blindly trusting what ANYONE says without searching "IT" out and holding it up against what Jesus tells us.


4-    And then there is OUR RESPONSE.    We first need to know what Jesus says.  We then need to know and TRUST that Jesus is judge and we need to know our convictions and live them out.  We then need to guard our responses to others who do not hold our own convictions.


I could talk until I am blue in the face about how many times in just the last few months I have been hurt by people who have expressed their opinion (assumptions) of me and my life because I do not think and believe as they do. I have been seeking each situation out with God as it happens and he has been confirming that I am just fine.  I have been hurt by those on the conservative right, I have been hurt by those on the liberal left and I have been hurt by some in between.  I could not possibly please all of them, nor do I want to. It has been greatly puzzling to me how so many people have spewed out their angry words and actions from so many different angles in such a short period of time. 

As I nurse my wounds I read the Word.  I listen to teaching that I believe to be true.  I memorize scriptures that shape me and help God to refine me (even when it HURTS to not do things MY WAY or the FUN WAY or the EASY WAY).  I trust God.  I pray for where my convictions shall lie and then STAND STRONG in my convictions despite what others tell me..... unless it is God using someone to whittle me a bit more into his image.   Yet, I know that not everyone in the world thinks EXACTLY as I do.  I do not cast them into the ocean with a stone on their neck.....Jesus is Judge.  I love them whether they are like me or like an enemy.  I serve them (or should) and I lift them up in prayer.


Here are my two favorite, and two of the hardest, verses that I turn to frequently when others speak against something that I don't agree with.  They are the litmus (or should be) which helps me determine what to say.


Philippians 2:14-15

Do everything without complaining or arguing so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable ---if anything is excellent or praiseworthy --- think about such things.

If our words do not adhere to those passages, do we need to say them?  Ought we say them?  What good would it be if we say them?  Can we walk away from the discussion which is not creating excellence but is looking more and more like a pile of muck from the barn?  The longer the pile sits the hotter it gets and actually begins to burn the contents within and any flesh that it touches.  Why would we stick our hand in a pile of composting manure that is over 100 degrees?  We wouldn't!  So why would we step into a conversation that looks near exactly the same?


Jesus tells us in Mathew 5 (39) But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.  He then tells us: (40-48) And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.  If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.  “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

 BE PERFECT, THEREFORE, AS YOUR FATHER IS PERFECT.

Until we ARE PERFECT, do we really have room to demand others to live up to our own convictions?  Do we really have space to criticize others?  Should we not be examining ourselves and working on ourselves?  Must we really strike back when Jesus tells us to serve and love?

I know I have more work to do.   

If you are trying to figure out where you might need work ... the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-38) is CHOCK FULL of challenging teachings of Jesus.  This side of heaven I can not imagine a reading of that section that does not lead to conviction for change in some aspect of the reader's life.  I just don't think it is possible.

Let me leave you with one last passage.  The world is filled with so much negativity and it is sometimes hard to filter it all out and see the good.  Here is a great verse that always redirects my path.

Philippians 4:4-7

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be known to everyone.  The Lord is near.  Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made to God.  And the peace of God WHICH SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

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I need to take a wee moment to express my gratitude to Jesus for a girl who is currently napping and two boys who are playing together with toys and their active imaginations in the MOST AMAZING WAY.  They are working through their differences, they are both giving and taking, they are amazing me at how well they are playing together so that I might type this post out in one setting without being continuously interrupted with the need to intervene.  Thank you Jesus.  Thank you.

Artistic Pursuits - A TOS Review

Recently, as a member of The TOS Homeschool Crew, 

our family received
An Introduction to the Visual Arts: 
Art Instruction Plus Master Works including Ancient Art

Grades K-3 Book One
written by Brenda Ellis
Published and sold by ARTistic Pursuits
out of Northglenn, Colorado.

This book presents fun and varied art lessons that teach artistic expression, presents art history, introduces new art materials and techniques while not dictating to the child what and exactly how they should create their works.

Other than gathering supplies, there is no prep time involved in the projects for this book.  The parent reads the chapter, discusses the questions and works on the lesson together.

We thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I highly recommend this book for young elementary students and the next book in the series is already on my homeschool wish list.

Each book sells for $42.95. 
Click HERE to read more.

Materials are not included and can readily be found at craft & art stores or  pre-packaged bundles may be purchased through Artistic Pursuits.
Click HERE to see a list needed for this book.
Click HERE to learn more about the art supply packs, for all levels.
Click HERE to learn more about Art Supplies in general.


So, now that you know I LOVE IT, 
let me tell you more and show you some pictures.

Artistic Pursuits was written specifically for homeschool 

and independent study students.

• Preschool children enjoy kids art activities that encourage exploration of art materials and their world.
• Kindergarten and Elementary art instruction combines art history with hands-on art projects.
• Middle School and High School art students learn about artists, art history, and art techniques in both drawing instruction and painting instruction. 

The K-3 Book One, that our family received, spends 32 full lessons focusing on: What Artists Do, What Artists See and Where We Find Art.

It uses some very fun materials that were new to our family such as: Ebony sketch pencils, soft chalk pastels, oil pastels, water color crayons, clay and then construction paper, tissue paper and miscellaneous tools found around the home.

Let me guide you through a typical lesson:  Lesson 1

 In lesson one students learn about how artists put things together in order to create something new.  It discusses that music, dance, theatre and visual arts all make up THE ARTS.

Lesson one then goes on to look at composition by leading the children through a guided observation of Pieter De Hooch's The Courtyard of a House in Delft, 1658. 

I LOVE the way this book guides the parents and the children INTO beautiful artwork. REAL ART!  I personally feel like I was not taught how to examine artwork and do not feel confident to teach anything related to non-craft-type art.  I am SO THANKFUL that this curriculum takes the time, even at this young stage, to introduce what WELL DONE art work looks like and invites them to look deeper into the work.  Their is no need for research or prep time, the questions and comments are listed in easy to read questions and statements.   Unless the family wants to research a piece of art further one just needs to read the book.

Here is the painting and discussion questions as they appear in the book:

 

Lesson One then finishes with a composition assignment using the Ebony Sketch Pencil and a Sketch Pad.  The assignment encourages students to draw something they have seen recently and then to include the surroundings.  It then goes on to describe why an Ebony Sketch pencil is special and shows examples of how you can make lines thinner, thicker, darker or lighter by the way you press down while drawing.

Before this lesson, Otto drew only ONE stick figure per page.  If there was anything else it was fire from a dragon's mouth or it was a sword held by a knight.  This curriculum met him where he was and allowed HIM to choose the subject of his work.  

The curriculum teaches the art concepts and gives suggestions but the child is in control of what he draws:  KUDOS ARTistic Pursuits!

Another favorite part of this book is that each project page is illustrated by a picture of original work that was created by a child.   The caption tells what the artwork is and the first name and age of the child who drew it.  

The samples are NOT MASTERPIECES done by child geniuses but are great examples of what a child close to the age of my own children can do.   My boys were encouraged by these samples because they were a bit better than their own drawings but they did not leave my boys feeling defeated, rather they felt similar results were actually attainable.  :)  Seeing work just a bit better than their own made them feel confident to try.

 Here are the pieces that Otto (6.5) and Abram (4) drew for this assignment:

Abram (4) drew about our dog on the left, then jumped into Imagination with super heroes and monsters on the right.

Otto (6.5) did a great job at incorporating all he saw, even if his perspective is interesting.  The vertical lines are the poles to our porch, outside. The rectangles in the middle is our sliding door with the cat climbing up the screen and everything at the bottom is INSIDE the house.

Before I show you more of our Art, many of you are probably wanting to see all that is included in this book.  Click HERE and scroll to the bottom where it says "Contents" for a list of topics and art forms. 

Throughout the course of An Introduction to the Visual Arts K-3 Book One we were able to try out new Art Mediums.

Otto used his Imagination using Water Color Crayons (Lesson 2):

Castles, dragons, knights, swords.... can we say B.O.Y?

With more experience he then used the water color crayons again to draw/paint a dragonfly using a calendar photograph as inspiration 

(Lesson 5).

 We then created animals as we explored the concept of Form 

(Lesson 12):

Abram's Dinosaur

Otto made a dog.

 Next up was European Cave Art (Lesson 18) using brand new chalk pastels:


Then we dove into some clay we had around home and made some Bas-reliefs.  (Note: lesson says to use red or gray self hardening clay.... If we do more we might make this purchase but for our experimental purposes our green clay worked.) (Lesson 23-Near Eastern Bas-relief):

Lesson 25 (Etruscan Wall Painting) talks the parent and child through the process of using a light to create a silhouette.  The shadow was traced and then the student colors in the profile using oil pastels.  This was a new medium as well and Otto claims the jury is still out as to whether he likes these or not.

Sometimes the colors (nose/lips) are different than they seem.

We also made Mosaic (Lesson 28- Byzantine Mosaics) masks and look forward to doing all the other lessons in this wonderful book soon.

 Artistic Pursuits offers books from preschool through Highschool.  

These books present a thorough and well planned scope and sequence which covers Art Elements, Art Composition, Art History and Media Types.   You can learn more about their approach throughout the age levels HERE. 

Much information is given at the website's FAQ section, click HERE.

 If you would like to read more about the authors of ARTistic Pursuits click HERE.

You KNOW I LOVE THEM but 

why don't you hop on over and check out their website today?

Don't just take my opinion though, please check out what other TOS Crewmates have to say, click HERE.  

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Disclaimer:  I am a member of The Old Schoolhouse 2010-2011 Homeschool Crew and receive free products and services in exchange for a thorough and honest review.  Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews.  My reviews will always reflect my honest opinions, findings, beliefs and experiences on the products and services that I receive.

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Cookie Pie

A few weeks ago I saw a recipe on Facebook that our esteemed TOS Crew Captain, Heidi from Reviews and Reflections, posted for a yummy looking cookie pie.

Here is that lovely recipe.

 Looks yummy, doesn't it.

Well.  I wanted one....but I don't follow recipes very well.   

IN FACT I RARELY EVER follow recipes.....  I tweak!

Why would I make a recipe with convenience ingredients and white flours when I could make it better??

I was also craving peanut butter!!!  ;)

So, first I whipped up a pie crust:

1/2 cup butter

1 cup flour

1/4 tsp salt

1-2 Tbs cold water

Use pastry cutter and butter knife to get butter into pea sized chunks. Add flour, keep mixing until entire mixture looks like small chunks.  Add in water and stir with a spoon until it is mixed.   (Here's my favorite part)  Dump into a pie plate and with clean hands squish it against the walls of the plate until it evenly covers the plate.    

I have tried rolling crust and I JUST CAN'T DO IT!!  

CAN'T!  

So why try when you don't have to??

Crisp the crust in a 400 degree oven.

Then I mixed up this delightful cookie mixture:

 3 cups of rolled oats (home rolled are the best)

1/3 c of whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup white sugar (next time I will do 1/2 cup of honey instead)

1/2 cup of butter

1/2 cup of shortening

1/2 cup of peanut butter

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups of chocolate chips

 

Dump cookie dough into pre-baked pie crust....

 BUT...

BE VERY VERY CAUTIOUS not to OVER FILL your pie crust.

OR...

When you stick your head in to peek at how it is doing you will find this....

It's funny too.  I ALWAYS have a drip pan under everything I bake.  I just KNOW MYSELF and KNOW the likelihood of ME making a mess.

I am thinking you only want to fill it 1/2 full or maybe 2/3??

I actually made the dough flush with the pie crust....   

Obviously I was not thinking about the purpose of adding baking powder, baking soda and eggs.  LOL

I then over baked it as ALWAYS!

(Hubby teases me that if I write a cookbook it should be called "Cooking On High" since I REALLY like to get distracted and end up carbonizing much of what we eat.

I made cookies with the rest of the dough.....although it was VERY hard not to just EAT THE DOUGH!!!

Bake at 350 degrees until the cookie is done.  

Slice up and serve.

Please pretend it is not burnt.  :)

I would imagine that a scoop of ice cream would make this perfect!!  :)

Life Skills --- A TOS Blog Cruise

The Old Schoolhouse hosts a TOS Blog Cruise.  Each week there a new topic introduced for TOS Crew members to write on and then on Tuesday you can click THIS link and cruise around from one TOS Crew Member's blog to another reading about the topic of the week.

This week's question is:  

How do you teach Life Skills in your homeschool?

At first the vision of older kids learning about checking accounts, money management, laundry & dishes, house cleaning, driving, and so forth popped into my head.   I initially thought that my children (ages 6.5, 4 and 2) are too young to learn such LIFE (thinking grown up) skills.

Then I remembered that we just started to give out allowance.  Shortly after that I remembered, DUH, that our boys do chores every day OUTSIDE despite what nasty weather might be occurring.  Oh.... I guess I DO teach life skills on the homestead!

So here are the skills I can think of and what we do with them.

ELEMENTARY MONEY MANAGEMENT
Our boys get $1/week for doing their chores without complaining.  $1/week for behaving well and doing what parents ask the first time with good attitudes and my oldest can earn $1/week when he chooses to sit quietly in church without playing with quiet toys. 

Abram is putting his in his wallet.  Otto is being thoughtful about where to put his money.

Each week Hubby hands out the cash but the boys need to make some decisions.  They can put all or part of the money in one of three places.  1) their wallet to spend at the store when we get to one (once every few weeks when we have time) 2) their peanut butter jar bank to save for a bigger purchase some other time or 3) in our family THANKFULNESS jar which is then given to our church for offering or is saved for some other ministry.

ACTIONS SOMETIMES HAVE CONSEQUENCES
We have rules.  When the rules are broken the toy involved goes to Toy Jail.

Sometimes sentences are short.  Sometimes they are more like life-sentences.  When a toy is taken away the child nearly always goes to break (time-out) and must tell us what should have happened instead and how to make better choices next time.  We are hoping to teach our children that even at very young ages using our words instead of negative actions is a beneficial choice. We are hoping to teach them that retaliation does not pay and that we can problem solve alternative ways to express our opinions. I know some adults that have not yet mastered some of these techniques.  It is our goal as parents to teach our children how to express what they want, how to try to get what they want and what to do when they do NOT get what they want so that their actions, words and responses to others are God Honoring and POLITE, yet very wise.

CHORES
I wish I had pictures.  If I had not fallen yesterday and my back were not currently spasming I would go out and take pictures..... instead you will have to wait for some other day when my back is happier.  :)

My 6.5 year old and 4 year old have farm chores.  YEP.  I have met teenagers who do not have chores and I have talked to parents who can't seem to get their older children to DO their chores.  We decided that as early as 2 our children would have chores.

My 2 year old feeds the dogs/cats (inside) in the morning.   My 4 year old feeds these animals at night.  Then, every morning (rain, sleet, snow, cold, or super hot) my boys "suit up", grab their water jug or their chicken bucket and they go out to "do the chores."   My 6.5 year old started with the eggs... which he has now passed down to his 4 year old brother.   The four year old opens the chicken coup, goes inside, tosses the scraps and then gathers eggs and brings them carefully (hopefully) to the house for mom to clean and put away.  The 6.5 year old gives our 3 meat rabbits food, water and occasional treats.   (I'm pretty sure both boys dish out love to the rabbits and the big four legged critters as well.)  Hubby takes care of the big animals (sheep and cow) for now until Otto is a bit older.

The boys also help in the fall when produce is ripe.  They help pick green beans and help to carry cucumbers and zucchini into the house.

We look for ways (old fashioned ways) that they can help out around the homestead., like helping Hubby carry small pieces of wood and helping him to stack a little bit.  We EXPECT they do what we ask and that they do their daily chores without complaint.  They do NOT "get out" of doing chores because of bad weather.  We remind them that the animals still need their breakfast.  It it is raining we give them a jacket with a hood and we time their chore time between showers.  If it's snowing, they go.  If it's a blizzard they wait until it passes or we let them off the hook that day for which they are always physically very thankful........since this happens so infrequently they understand the blessing of this gift to them and they grasp that it is NOT FUN for mom and dad to do extra on these brutal weather days.

DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS FOR THE FUTURE
Someday I hope to let go of my own issues and let my children help with other household chores.  Right now I am stuck in the "it's faster to do it RIGHT myself" mode.  I have tried to do laundry with Otto but the big clothes seem to exhaust him, he is a perfectionist, it is frustrating for both of us and he just doesn't seem ready.  (Perhaps,  *I* am the one not ready.)   

Dishes....well.... Hubby doesn't even help with these, the kids can not reach to put them away and changing that would require MAJOR WORK on my part of which I do not have time for right now.   I am trying to remember to have them clear their spot, putting their dishes into the sink....but when *I* get super behind on pots and pans there are times when we can't find the sink because of MOUNT WASH ME rising up from the porcelain basins.  :(   Likewise, more often than not the dishes in the dishwasher are clean but not put away so we are not able to put supper dishes away until mom empties the washer.... which puts us back at the beginning where I stated that my children can't reach the dishes and that I don't have time to re-arrange my kitchen to assist them with this.  *sigh*  Perhaps this summer.

I think we have a good start to teaching them life skills.  This week we have a trip to the city planned where they will get to spend their money.  I am hoping that I can talk SOMEONE into holding onto the money in their wallet and save TOWARD something that they REALLY think is cool.  So far they have wanted to buy $1 items that break in a day. With time, right?

How do YOU teach life skills to your children?

Aesop's Fables Volume 1 by Brillkids- A TOS Review

Recently, as a member of The TOS Homeschool Crew, 

our family received Aesop's Fables Volume 1

By

Aesop's Fables Volume 1 is a pack of 5 stories designed for children "ages 3 months and up."  Each book (closed) measures 10.25 inches wide by 7.25 inches tall.  The pages and soft covers are beautifully illustrated in color and are printed on thick laminated-like glossy paper. Each book has approximately ten pages which usually contains one sentence (8-12 beginner reader words).  These word containing pages are aways on the left side page.  The pages on the right side of the book contain the illustrations to the stories.

What makes these wonderful books different than any I have ever seen is that they contain a lightly illustrated flap which covers the illustrated page while the words are being read.

 Gone are the days when a child complains that you are covering the picture with your arm while you are reading and pointing to the words on the word page.   This book also prevents a child from guessing words based on the picture he is looking at.

These books are designed to help children focus on the words but not be deprived of beautiful pictures, these books offer the best of both worlds.

I need to tell you that the first time I pulled these out to try on my "mostly reading" 6.5 year old I expected push-back (we WERE reading after all).   I expected complaints about us covering the pictures up and expected for us to read ONE book in that first setting.  I was excited that Otto did not want to stop until he had read through FOUR books!!!!

Otto and I have a history of conflict while reading books with illustrations.  He REALLY doesn't like me pointing to the words while we read because it distracts him from the pictures.  Also, there have been a few arguments when the words on the page did not EXACTLY match the picture.  He has told me several times that *I* have the word wrong.

These books from Brillkids are AWESOME.  The flap takes away our struggle to look at the words instead of the picture but I found that my pokey reader was reading amazingly fast and fluent as he carefully rushed to get past the words so that he could SEE the pictures.

We also found that the thick laminated pages are also "Gracie Proof."  Gracie (2) is into coloring everything and anybody in reach.  These books unfortunately did not escape her washable markers...........BUT the marker washed right off the thick glossy pages with a damp rag.

I LOVE THESE BOOKS.

Not only are they books fun for a new reader, but with every set comes a redemption code which allows you (after signing up for a free Brillkids account) to download these stories with animation and sound onto your computer.

I would highly recommend these books to families of young children everywhere.

Aesop's Fables Volume 1
sells for $50.00
but is currently on sale for $37.50.
That breaks down to $7.50 per book.

Aesop's Fables Volume 1 contains the following titles:

• The Lion and the Mouse
• The Fox and the Grapes
• The Fox and the Crow
• The Boy Who Cried Wolf
• and The Turtle and the Rabbit.

Also available on the Brillkids Website is access to the Brill Forum, downloadable e-books, worksheets, flash cards and early readers.

Brillkids also sells a Little Reader Program that teaches babies to read.  The TOS Homeschool Review Crew reviewed this earlier in the year.
CLICK HERE to read the Little Reader reviews.

Brillkids will also soon be launching Volume 2 of their Aesop's Fables Readers. Volume 2 will contain: The Goose and the Golden Eggs, The Dog and The Bone, The Crow and the Jug, The Wind and the Sun & The Ant and the Grasshopper. Watch the Brillkids website for it's arrival.

Don't just take my opinion though, please check out what other TOS Crewmates have to say, click HERE.   

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Disclaimer:  I am a member of The Old Schoolhouse 2010-2011 Homeschool Crew and receive free products and services in exchange for a thorough and honest review.  Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews.  My reviews will always reflect my honest opinions, findings, beliefs and experiences on the products and services that I receive.

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