11 Nov

Thursday Thanks Tank #53

Posted By: Missy  //  Category: Thursday Thanks Tank

Every week, I try to take a few moments to think about the blessings in my life. It looks a little different each week, but I can always find something to be thankful for in the little, everyday moments of life.

~This week I am so very thankful that God kept my mother-in-law safe. Last Saturday, my MIL was painting and she was on top of an extension ladder that kicked out. She rode the ladder the entire way down; 12-15ft. She ended up with a slightly lacerated liver, 2 broken ribs, a broken wrist, broken toe, sprained wrist, sprained knee and a lot of bumps and bruises. I am thankful that she rode the ladder down and did not completely fall off the ladder onto the concrete floor below.

~I am thankful for the care and the treatment that she received at the hospital during her stay. The entire staff at the hospital was completely and utterly awesome.

~I am thankful for the beautiful souls of the friends who stepped in to help me during my time of need. I am thankful for the friend that watched my daughter (literally) all day. She kept my daughter happy and entertained for 12 hours while I spent the day at the hospital while my MIL had surgery on her wrist. I am thankful for the wonderful friends who made freezer meals for me to take to my MIL to have in her freezer as she continues to heal. I am thankful for great friends that prayed continually for my MIL and our family during this time.

~I am thankful for family. Sometimes you do not know or understand how much you care for them until an accident happens.

~I am thankful for the grace and understanding of my bible study ladies.

~I am thankful for the transparency and integrity of a specific woman who shared her story today.

~I am thankful for coffee. It has kept me going this week during many days of little or no sleep.

~I am thankful that McDonald’s brought back the McRib sandwich, even if it is only for a limited time. Yes, I realize it is not a healthy choice, but it is definitely a guilty indulgence and one that brings back many memories.

~I am thankful for God, His love, His grace, His forgiveness, His presence.

~I am thankful I was able to share a few precious moments with my oldest son this morning. He woke up early and he was upset that Daddy had to go to work (he thought he should be staying home because he was home from school.) To help calm him, I told him he could bring his blankie and come and snuggle with me in my bed. He fell back to sleep and I just lay there looking at my sweet boy as he slept. Our days have been quite tough lately and many of his behaviors have been getting progressively worse with each week. I am thankful for those stolen moments when I am able to remember how much I really do love him despite all of the daily chaos.

~I am thankful for prayer.

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10 Nov

Guest Post~ How Could Your Child Benefit From Home-Schooling?

Posted By: Missy  //  Category: guest post, homeschool

As you all know, I am not homeschooling at this time. However, I am still a very strong supporter of homeschooling and I believe that each family should do what is best for their family, regardless of what the popular opinion is. My friend Anne, over at Homeschooling 911, has been homeschooling her children for over 20 years. Because of that, I asked her to guest post on what some of the benefits are for a child who is being homeschooled. Thank you Anne!

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When parents begin to consider whether or not to home-school their children they understandably have a lot of questions.  My website, www.homeschooling911.com, is devoted to helping prospective and current home-schoolers find answers to their questions about home education.

One of those questions might be: what are the long-term benefits of home-schooling?  Having home-schooled for over 20 years I may be considered uniquely qualified to answer that question!  So here are just some of the many benefits I have found as I have home-schooled my children:

  • Imparting my values: Home-schooling has allowed me to ensure that my children are soaking up my values.  Children are like sponges and if parents think that they are not being taught values at school, whether in the classroom or in the hallways or on the playground, they are sorely mistaken.  And yes, you can spend time after school attempting to undo or un-teach the values which are contrary to your own but I would rather spend my time teaching my values rather than undoing the work of others.  To those who would say, “why not expose your children to other people’s values?” I would say simply, “Because they are my kids.”  God did not give me these kids in order that I would raise them according to someone else’s standards and frankly, according to the Bible – which is my standard for parenting – God holds me accountable for what I allow my children’s tender hearts to be exposed to.  They are not some kind of social experiment, they are MY CHILDREN.
  • Family bonding: Home-schooling offers an opportunity quite unlike any other in its ability to forge bonds, not only between parent and child, but also between our children.  When children go off and spend the better part of their waking hours for virtually their entire childhood outside of the family unit, it is only natural that the family becomes less and less important.  And that is a sad fact of our modern life.  On the other hand, when we keep our children at home it gives them the opportunity to be deeply involved in one another’s lives and that is a very happy result of home-schooling.  To give just one example from my own life: my youngest child was born when my three other children were 17, 14, and 8.  My daughter (my oldest) lived at home while attending college and she and my oldest son are basically my youngest’s second mom and dad.  The impact they have had on his life is immeasurable.  In addition, they had valuable experience that will help them when they start their own families.  The benefits of home-schooling just keep adding up.
  • Time: There are lots of ways that home-schooling benefits you  and your child in regards to time (as in, if you don’t want to get up at 6 a.m. – then don’t!)  But in regards to long-term benefits: home-schooling allows your child to have the time to pursue interests he would not otherwise have time for.  It’s not unusual for 16-year old home-schooled students to already own their own businesses.  There is simply a lot of time that is wasted in the typical child’s day, whether that is the time spent getting back and forth to school or the time that is spent while teachers deal with disruptive students (not yours of course!)  Home-schooling allows for an efficient use of your child’s time, especially as they get older, which then allows them to actually invest their time in activities that interest them and can lead to a variety of opportunities.
  • Socialization:  Yes I said it!  Socialization.  The one “silver bullet” that people always think they can derail home-schoolers with.  The fact is, there is nothing natural about children spending 13 years (at least) confined in a space (often called a “school”) with people who are exactly the same age as they are!  Where else in life do you find this?  I rest my case.  My children have learned, through being home-schooled, how to interact with anyone from birth to 100.  I’m sure they could interact with someone over 100 but they have, as yet, to actually meet someone who has made it to that milestone.  But seriously, my 8-year old will talk to anyone…and frankly he loves senior citizens (didn’t want to be politically incorrect by saying “old people”).  He makes friends everywhere he goes, regardless of their age.  THAT is socialization.
Frankly, these are just a few examples of the long-term benefits of home-schooling.  I could cite more.  But what I would rather do is encourage you to home-school so that you can experience those benefits for yourself!
Anne Galivan is a home-schooling mother of four who has been home-schooling since 1990.  She shares her experiences on her blog: www.homeschooling911.com/blog/.  Her focus there is to help prospective and current home-schoolers find answers to their questions about home education.  Should you have any home-schooling questions for her you can contact her at: anne@homeschooling911.com.

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