Why Handicrafts?

Every year I get out the "school stuff" and start planning the new year. One subject that I always spend a lot of time planning is handicrafts. Why handicrafts? Shouldn't I spend more time on planning mathematics and grammar than all that time spent on handicrafts? My children have spent hours knitting, weaving, embroidering, and making everything from clothing to puppets to house wares and toys. Why all of this crafting?

"Handicrafts, such as knitting and crocheting, are exceptional activities for integrating thoughts, feelings, and actions. They can be tremendously harmonizing and healing if we do them consciously and consistently." (Home Teacher's Process Manual - Oak Meadow)

Making time for crafting with children is a vital part of the learning process in our home. So many skills can be learned easily through the process of handicrafts. Knitting, for example, is an excellent math activity. Many times I have had my daughter knit before a math lesson. It is amazing how it centers the child, gives them focus and attention, and prepares the mind for formal lessons. Handicrafts are a very academic pursuit. Learning about the process of gathering wool, washing it, combing it, spinning it, and weaving it is easily a lesson in Social Studies, History, and Science, as well as handicrafts. Children who see how things are made, where they come from, and how they become what they are, have a much better concept of life. Clothing doesn't come from a store, it is grown, sewn, etc. The academic benefits are only a very small part of the importance of handicrafts. I believe the best part about it is the therapeutic value. We so easily forget that children can get stressed, busy, and over stimulated. Handicrafts offer a way of calming the mind and heart. The repetitive motions, the joy of watching yourself create something new, it is all balm to the soul. If you have never tried handicrafts with your children, give it a chance. One of the easiest ways to start is to purchase the Klutz Kits for children in knitting, pot holder making, or whatever else takes your fancy. The directions are easy even if you are a beginner.
Happy Crafting!

Squirrel Rescue!

I am again reminded of how "learning experiences" will find us at any given time, we just have to be on the lookout. While our family enjoyed a walk along the river near our house this morning, we discovered a baby squirrel. The squirrel had fallen from the nest, was near death and was covered in ants and other bugs that were moving in for a meal. My children were horrified and immediately began pleading for the baby. "Isn't there something we can do?" My husband and I felt sure that death was close, but wanting to make sure the children had no hard feelings, agreed to take the squirrel. We cleaned off the insects and took him home in a sock (the only warm thing we could think of). Once at home, we treated the wounds with peroxide, made a warm box (plastic bags of hot water with soft cloth on top), and called Carolina Wildlife. A short trip later, the little squirrel, now called "Sam", was the latest patient at the wildlife clinic. At Carolina Wildlife, we discovered that Sam was actually Samantha. She is now given a 50/50 chance of survival. She was under the hot lamp when we left. She has other baby squirrel brothers and sisters to adopt her, and when the time is right, if all goes well...she will be released into the wild with her adopted family. My children were ecstatic. Their rescue was a success. They even pointed out that whether Samantha makes it or not, they will have done the right thing and have made her last days comfortable (and not left her to the ants). Though this wildlife escapade interrupted my plans for the day, I am proud. I am proud of my children and their empathy for all of God's creatures. What a great way to kick off another year of homeschooling.

5th Grade and Kindergarten

It is time to start a new school year. Addie is in fifth grade now and Whit is in kindergarten. We had a "summer school" session this year, so we are starting the school year with a six week term already behind us. It is a relaxing feeling to know we will not have to rush. Addie will go to summer camp for the first week of August and then we will dive in.
The children don't like long breaks from homeschool. I have decided the breaks are more for me than for them. We took the month of July off and within a couple of weeks, they were asking when school was going to start. I guess we can all appreciate the rhythm of routine. The school supplies are out in stores, and although I recognize the shameless commercialism, I dearly love school supplies. New erasers, new notebooks, markers that actually work and crayons with the point still sharp. August is a very nice time of year.

Shaque D'Amour

I am one of those terrible parents that lets my children stand and peer over my shoulder as I watch youtube. Where else can you get those great music videos from the songs I grew up with?
In this way, the children came to see the music video for one of my old favorites, "The Love Shack". (You gotta love the B-52's!)
"You see a painted sign at the side of the road that says, 15 miles to the love..........shack!"
At one point in the video, you get a glimpse of the sign in front of said shack. The letters spell out "Shaque D'Amour". I don't know if this is really "the love shack" in french (I didn't pay that much attention in French class.), but whatever the origin, "Shaque D'Amour" became a buzz word at our house. When we finally moved to our artsy downtown apartment, it was instantly dubbed the "Shaque D'Amour". And a great little shack of love it is, too! The Rivendell homeschool has officially relocated. The children have never lived anywhere except in our "little house in the suburbs", so the shaque d'amour was a whole new world. We can now walk short distances to all sorts of delights. Parks with great playgrounds, groovy shops and coffee houses, the corner drugstore, and more are only a brief walk away. The street is lined with lovely old trees. Gluten free and organic groceries can be purchased from two different natural grocery stores mere blocks from the shaque. The fall has brought new things for all of us and we are meeting the new challenges with love. I can't think of any better name for our new home. The circumstances of the past year have been very trying, but I am hugely blessed with my loving husband and children. The shaque d'amour is living up to its name and life is good.

Spiderman or No Spiderman, That Is the Question...

The children don't watch TV (only DVD's that we own), we don't have any spiderman books, he has never seen the movie, so, how did this superhero swing into our home?
Despite our best efforts to encourage wholesome toys and quality resources, the web slinger somehow crept in. My son sees him at the store and somehow, instinctively knows his name. He shoots webs from his wrist and runs around pretending to swing from buildings. I held out at first, steering him to wooden toys, swearing off Toys R'Us, and trying to avoid the merchandising as best we could. Finally, I succumbed to the t-shirt. I don't want to be remembered as the Mom who would NEVER buy the shirt he wanted. So, spiderman has come home to roost - or should I say come home to crawl? While I still avoid the plastic toys and refuse to let my son watch the violent movies or cartoons, he has the t-shirt.
Have I sold out?
I prefer to think of it as choosing my battles. A little superhero play is good for the ego and spiderman is probably the lesser of superhero evils. I still am very frustrated by the marketing of violent movies and their merchandise to little kids. But, I am trying to find my balance in this, as in everything else.
In the meantime, I hope that indulging the urge to sling webs may let the fascination run its natural course, and dare I hope, die a natural death? I see how he loves nature, wooden blocks, and books, so hopefully a little superhero action is just a piece of the puzzle.

Addie at her 1940's Mystery Party

In the middle of chaos...

The last year has been a crazy time of trying to get the house on the market. And then, after much work and anticipation, the house went on the market and ...
nothing.
So, here we sit waiting with the house staged and everything perfect for showing. It makes for a pristine home and is very trying when you like cozy clutter and homeschool.
So, we are back to the books, even though I had packed them up and hoped we'd be moved out by now.
I think I should write a book about homeschooling in chaos. Suprisingly, the children are doing very well. They take it all in stride and keep learning - even when my idea of organized is challenged by selling a house.
Whit is starting his kindergarten year and is all excited about learning to read. He has memorized, The Spooky Old Tree, and reads it to us. I really need to get that on camera. It is adorable.
Addie is in 4th grade this year and has taken off with a bang. She is reading books so quickly, still writing a lot, working on her piano skills, and loving the math.
While I can't wait to be more settled - I am trying to enjoy the moments as they come and go.
It is still a great journey, even with the curves and hills!