Guard Your Heart, Folks

A few years back I had a blow out with a very good friend.  Well, I thought we were great friends, until I learned they were sneaking into our house, stalking us, and putting our family in an uncomfortable place.  But before that revelation, I wrote this:

When I think about the circumstances and how it happened, it had been a long time coming.
Little things here and there I'd question in my head but not out loud. 
The comments like "oh I don't tell my husband about that" (My husband and I are a strict no-secrets couple, so this bugged me), "I sneak...whatever it was, usually money from the checking account, food, etc.", "I texted with so-so today, he's going to come over when my husband is gone next week.  Don't tell anybody if you see his car here."

That last one put me in a place that I couldn't stay.  Things had to change. 

 

Once we had the monumental argument that ended our friendship, I was upset and I cried often about it. My husband would try to console me and say don't let her get you down. Don't give her that control over you. 

I wish I had known how to be an assertive Christian back then.

I really didn't want to, I was trying very hard not to, as a matter of fact.  Being passive, and non-confrontational is more acceptable and comfortable in some situations.
The truth is that even when we try really hard not to be influenced, we are still affected by other people.  

It's just a fact that people have more control over us than we'd like to admit. Dang it.  It can be something as little as a friend talking about a like or dislike and that plants that little seed in our head that we now like or dislike the same thing.
If we spend too much time around negative influences we eventually take on their attributes and become negative ourselves.
I know this because it's happened to me so many times, and I'm not one who is easily influenced.
I try to be careful about who my kids hang out with and how much time they spend together.

Now that we are homeschooling it's not as big of a deal but it is still something that we try to monitor.  It has nothing to do with how good or bad of a kid they're around, and everything to do with giving them time to explore themselves and really find out who they are.

I know how easily I am affected by others even though I have had years to get over it to learn to cope and to be my own person.
I've learned that this is normal. We really can't do anything about it except moderate the time you spend with others and watch what kind of people we are spending time with.  Watch what type of magazines you read, newsfeeds you frequent, etc. 

 

To put it simply: Listen to your gut, follow your instincts, check yourself often, and please guard your precious heart.

Homeschooling at the Grocery Store

Hello All!
Today I wanted to share with you my Quick Tips for homeschooling at the grocery store.

Toddlers/Preschoolers:
Ask them the colors of the fruits and veggies. 
Ask them to identify various foods. "Do you know what this is?"  When they get it right, praise them AND say back the name of the food.  If they get it wrong, still tell them the name of the food "Close, it's actually a ____"
"This is a B-B-Banana.  What letter does BANANA start with?" "What was the last sound you heard when I said the word banana?"

Elementary:
Read Labels "What brand is THIS yogurt?"  "What flavor is this?"
Read Isle Labels. "What isle number is the cereal in?  Cereal starts with a C-e-r-...Can you find it?"
Simple Math:  "These are 4/$1.  How much would one cost?"

Older Kids:
Pricing-
Have them weigh cantaloupes, melons, bananas, etc.  "This cantaloupe costs 80 cents per pound.  Can you weigh it and let me know how much it will cost?"  If you have one that struggles with two step math facts, work with them.  Bring a notebook and pencil so they can work the problems out right there in the store.
"How many pounds of meat will we need if we are serving XX people and each person eats about half of a pound?"
"I'd like 36 oz. of cereal.  How many of these 18oz boxes would I need to get to equal 36oz?"
Keep these older kids reading too! 
"Hey can you read the ingredient list to me on that jug of orange juice?"
"Can you check to be sure there isn't any Red #40 in this box of crackers?"


I know there are tons of other ways to learn at the grocery store, and I am so thankful that we have a grocery store who gladly accepts our homeschoolers coming in and taking their sweet time to explore and learn.  The manager has even given us an impromptu field trip to the back of the store to see the boiler system and how they heat the store!

I try to take the kids during non-peak hours, so we aren't holding anyone up.  An hour before closing is usually a pretty slow time.  We avoid the hours of 4-7, because it's just swamped then!

Do you have any Schooin' in the Grocery Store tips to share?  Post them in the comments section!

DIY: Convert a Standard Kid's Bike Into a Balance Bike

 

 

Not to brag, but I really love teaching kids to ride their bikes, and most of the kids love learning too! 
One of the quickest ways to teach them to ride without training wheels is to first teach them to balance.

In order to learn balance, they need to be able to reach the ground.  Remember that when buying a bike.  That's super important.  Don't buy a bike too big for your child, or you're just asking for trouble.  Yes, I know it's tempting to save a few bucks by buying a larger one they can use for a little longer, but it's usually not worth it for their safety, and for their comfort level.

We have a tiny blue bicycle I picked up from a garbage pile a few years ago.  It was actually pink at the time, and maybe even from the 70's.  Even though it clearly looked like garbage, my heart whispered that it was special.  So I brought it home, and with the help of my brother and my husband, we refurbished it. 

I think I've taught 7 kids to ride without training wheels on that bike.  The first day or so we work on balancing by just using their feet on the ground, no peddles.  Then once they get going pretty smooth that way, we incorporate the peddles.  Works every time!

I'm sure you've heard of the craze with Balance Bikes, right?  I personally love them, but think they are WAY over priced.  Now to be honest, we did just get a  Strider No-Pedal Balance Bike for our youngest daughter, because we couldn't modify one on our own to be short enough for her.  And because we got a crazy good deal on it that I just couldn't refuse (Thank you Strider and Amazon!).

But just for fun, we made one for our son!  He's 7 and has been riding the neighbor girl's balance bike every chance he gets for a year, so I knew he would actually use this. 

We converted his old $40 Wal-Mart bike into a balance bike in about 15  minutes, using a super helpful YouTube Video.  You can find used bikes EVERY WHERE.  Facebook, thrift stores, garage sales, etc.

 

I could try to write up steps for you, but honestly this guy covered it so well that I'm just going to direct you over to him:

Mom Needs Shoes, Boy Needs Attention

So there we were, a family of 5, hauling butt through a parking lot so I could make an impromptu stop at the shoe store, and still get everything done on my errands list.

 

In our Circus Operation we had:

• A dad head up, looking forward, strutting his stuff with a new haircut.
• A preteen holding her phone and glancing down to check it every few seconds
• A toddler in a stroller trying to pull her socks and shoes off (ugh, yes, of course she was successful.  Would you expect anything less from that girl?).  It made it pretty funny when we walked in and the clerk at the shoe store gave a sad look down at our toddler with no shoes. 
• A frazzled mom (me)
• A carefree little guy who shouted out: 

"Hey MOM! Do you want to take a picture of me sitting on this rock?"

 

Did I WANT to?  Well, to be quite honest, not exactly.  I already felt guilty dragging everyone along while I looked for new tennis shoes, which I hadn't bought in at least 5 years.  I just wanted to get this over with!

I took a breath, smiled and choose to say "Of course I do!  Hop up there!"

He did, I snapped they picture with my cell phone, it was over in 10 seconds and we kept moving along.  His fun tank had been filled and he was SO HAPPY.

 

 

I recently became aware of the alternative to "Fake it Until You Make it" & that's this: "Fake it Until You Become it".

5 years ago, actually even 3 years ago, or perhaps just 1 year ago I was a very different person than I am today.

I've been realizing how much I like who I'm becoming through these little changes and moments of saying "yes" and choosing "patience" and "grace".

 

Surround yourselves with encouragers, choose to say yes, and above all, just keep breathing.

Mothering isn't easy or picture perfect, even when you're the type that nurturing comes naturally to.  I can assure you this though:

 There are no moments of ease and glimpses of picture perfect. 

 

 

I'd love to hear your happy moments, if you're willing to share.   

Life Hack: Opening a Diary Lock Without the Key

Just a friendly #parenthack, #lifehack or whatev, in case you find yourself in the same predicament I was in this morning.  The rounded end of a bobby pin will pop these little locks open, easy peasy. 

How To:
Stick the rounded end of the bobby pin into the lock.
Give it a little turn or jiggle. 
It should slide the lock right open.

Now you know!