The Olympics are here and I am out.  I have always had a love for the Olympics and my husband always says he knows that every 4 years I check out and it is true.  I have been sitting here, in my bed, since 7:15 this morning watching the Olympics and I imagine that will be repeated a lot in the next couple weeks.  Oh, I plan on living (I managed to finish planning Sierra's school year while watching the fun), but I also plan on hunkering down and watching.  It helps a lot that this year I am getting PAID to watch the Olympics.  I cannot believe it!!

But, I digress...I will post on here when I can, but, for the most part, I will be gone.  I will be cooking and will post (but pictures will be sketchy...I will be watching as I cook).  I will be getting out of the house at times (church, errands.....CHEESECAKE FACTORY TUESDAY FOR NATIONAL CHEESECAKE DAY, etc), but I just do not know how much blogging I can do while watching the action!!

So, we are, as most families are out there, Phineas and Ferb fans...so, to copy one of our favorite characters:

Sandra's out, PEACE!

My daughter is starting 8th grade, officially, in September and I already feel the stress of her future planted squarely on my shoulders.  There is an over-abundance of information out there and I find myself getting overwhelmed.  The advantage of public school is they have the whole schedule already planned out...they know what is required to graduate and move on and they push their students along on that path.  The disadvantage, of course, is whether or not this plan is the right plan for my kid and is the pace too fast or too slow.

I am just starting on this journey of what my daughter will need in the next 4-5 years of school and find myself getting so irritated.

Here are some facts:

1. She will, in no way, do anything in the science field.  She will not become a scientist nor do lab work or anything else in this field.  It is not her thing.  As I prepare for 8th grade science and ALL that she has to learn there (Physical Science), I wonder in what realm she would need to know how to figure out the density of a cloud.  Oh, some of science I can see as relatively useful...types of clouds could be interesting, though I, honestly, do not remember one bit of that from my own education.
   
2. As is the case with science, my daughter will not be a mathematician.  She has no interest in math equations. I see validity in math, but not so much in knowing algebraic equations.  I mean, when is she ever going to need know the quadratic equation?  Basic algebra could, possibly, be useful.  Basic geometry might be something she MAY use.  But, why spend time on these subjects.  I would rather her take a course in accounting, a subject she would get a lot of use out of.  Rather than a full year's credit of Algebra 2, I would rather her take a full year's credit of Economics...understanding the stock market and social security and 401K.
3. I see the validity in Language Arts programs.  Let's face it, too many of us (myself included) have issues forming proper sentences.  My biggest downfall is the use of then and than.  I think it is important that she reads books...well-written books.  I think it is VITAL that she learn to spell properly.  
4. I would like to see more emphasis put on communication and less on science and math (well, with math, I would be ok with a certain level of math if it were USEFUL math).  I like the idea of speech and communication with some emphasis on leadership.  To me, these are far more valuable in the real world than learning how to dissect a frog (when has that ever been useful)...don't even get me started on dissecting the earth worm.
5. I don't even know if Sierra is going to go to college.  A year ago, I would have said yes, without any doubt.  There are so many pros and cons given me as advice on the subject of college.  My view is, it is not for everyone.  I have a friend whose son wants to be a mechanic.  That's GREAT!!  He knows his interest and he can pursue it.  Now, if Sierra did so choose to go to college, is there any doubt in my mind that she would succeed?  No doubt in my mind, she would succeed.  She is determined and tends to conquer whatever she puts her mind to.  But, she has been talking, lately, about wanting to go into the ministry with an emphasis on using her art skills to help children...maybe in an art therapy realm.  She is also interested in participating in a Christian Leadership Program that is a year long program when you graduate as well as missions.  I applaud her aspirations.

It drives me crazy...all these courses she is expected to take that have no point in her future.  As a homeschooler, I have felt such freedom in choosing what my kids need and do not need....tailor making their programs.  But, I feel helpless in these later years as I feel I may be forced to have her take courses that will frustrate her and me and will be useless to her present and future.

Any insight is appreciated.  I am just getting my feet wet in this. I know many parents who, at this point in their kids' education, would just throw their hands up and put their kids in school.  This is not an option for us.  First and foremost, Sierra has absolutely no interest in returning to school.  She has been there and sees no redeeming qualities in it....and I agree.

School supplies are out and for the first time in my LIFE I am excited!!!  I can't wait to get some....oh, who am I kidding, I have ALREADY!!!

For 8 school years I have had to buy school supplies.  I have had to get my school supply list and grind my teeth at having to buy boxes of kleenex, baby wipes, construction paper, markers, and such.  Oh, I understood the what and why of everything, it could just be frustrating.  Many things are cheap (10 cent glue) and others expensive ($4 special lined writing paper x 4)...and not every store would have everything needed, so multiple trips to multiple stores.  Inevitably, I would miss something that I just could not find and kick myself for not buying the packs the school sold.

And then...at the end of the year....I get none of it back.  Oh, I might get a pencil or two...might get the pencil box...if I am lucky I might even get a binder back.  

Last year was very frustrating because I bought all the supplies and than my son decided he was ready to be homeschooled 2 weeks into school....all the supplies I bought were lost (or, to make myself feel better, donated).

This year, though, I get to make my OWN list.  I get to figure out what I need and watch my kids use them.  Binders...I need them...but guess what?  I can reuse them NEXT year...and the NEXT year...and so on.  YES!!!!

Today, I went to get a binder and a 3-pronged folder and watched as mom's scowled as they looked for folders and such on their lists...but I smiled with joy.  It was fun.  I would've scooped up MORE supplies, but in my need for order, I do not want to buy unnecessary items...or fall short.  So, I need to look at our work, subject by subject and make a list.  One of the advantages to planning out the year ahead of time is knowing what will be done.

Also...another beautiful treat....skipping the backpack and lunch kit aisle!!  One year, I bought Sierra a personalized side bag that cost over $30.  The next year, she decided it was too "kiddish" and she got a $30 backpack...a month later SHE decided that she was ready to be homeschooled.  This year, $0 will be spent on backpacks or lunch kits.  And don't get me started on back to school clothes!!

Add to this excitement....tomorrow....I am going to our local (kind of) homeschool store to sell a couple items....and BUY some curriculum for Sierra (I hope so, anyway!).

Modern Homeschool Mom....OR.....Geeky Homeschool Mom??  Can I be both??

Do you remember, when you were a kid, those nights every single year that the world would almost stop...everyone would get home from work on time...meals would be eaten....popcorn would be popped...and the whole family would gather around the tv to watch an epic movie together.  Oh, not just any movie...those movies that would replay every year, like clockwork.  At Easter, there was The Ten Commandments.  At Halloween, It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown.  At Christmas, Charlie Brown Christmas, Rudolph and Frosty.  And, I cannot recall what time of year it was but the annual viewing of The Wizard of Oz.

This was, of course, before dvd players made their way into just about every home.  Now, they do still play on tv...though I think "The Wizard of Oz" plays on TNT which some of us may or may not have, but with dvd players, there is no need for us to, collectively, stop to enjoy these epic movies along with the nation.  I kind of miss those times.  The simplicity of not having it all at my fingertips.

I thought about this last night.  I went to the library and was perusing the available dvds and saw "The Ten Commandments" and thought...WOW, I have not seen this movie in about 10 years.  I thought about how I would sit with my dad every year to watch this epic movie...sitting in awe as Moses helped build the awe inspiring temples in Egypt....the burning bush...the plagues...the parting of the sea.  My kids have never seen it and, even now as I checked it out of the library, I am watching it on my own because we just don't seem to have 3 hours to devote to it.  It is kind of sad.

We watch "The Wizard of Oz" every couple years or so (I was thrilled to be able to see it last year in a movie theater for only $1).  The Christmas and Halloween movies we see yearly, but on our own time.

But, I remember back when I was a kid and it was a big deal.  No homework.  No doubt just about every tv in every home was tuned in to one of these epic movies on one of those epic nights.

I love cake.  LOVE it.  Cheesecake.  Chocolate cake.  Lemon cake.  German chocolate cake.  Coffee cake.  Pound cake.  Creme cake.  Strawberry cake.  Pineapple upside down cake.  You name it, I love it.  And, if I have cake, you better believe I am going to eat it.

My favorite cake in the whole world is the one in this picture.  It is served at Cheesecake Factory and is called Raspberry Lemon Cream Cheesecake.  It has the perfect blend of creaminess, sweetness, and tartness (is that a word?).

But, what does cake have to do with homeschooling?  Well, when you hear the term "you can have your cake and eat it to", how often does that actually mean real cake?  Of course, I am going somewhere else with this term.  I do believe you CAN have your cake and eat it to....literally and figuratively. 

Yesterday, out of curiosity, I watched the made for tv movie, Cyberbully.  It was a movie about a girl in high school who got an account on a social website kind of like facebook and how rumors about her started to spread online that spilled into her school life.  People started saying the most awful things about her and it eventually drove her to attempting suicide and she could not deal with the pressures created by the lies.

This is, of course, an epidemic.  Bullying, cyber or otherwise, has been on the forefront of the news for the past couple years as suicides have risen.  I was, myself, a victim of bullying in school.  Jr. High and High School were torture for me and I contemplated suicide myself many times.  I fantasized about the easiest, least painful way to end the pain.  In the end, they were just fantasies and I never attempted anything, but my teen years are a blur of pain and confusion...never fully understanding why I was a target for so many hateful words and actions.

As I watched this movie, I wept with the teenage girl as she experienced the pain and confusion of not understanding why she was targeted and I thought of all those naysayers out there that say we should not try to protect our children so much when we decide to homeschool.

I think if you talked with any homeschooler, you will find that one of the many reasons they decided to homeschool their children was to provide a safe haven for their children to grow and mature.  And what is wrong with that?  What is wrong with protecting our children?  Isn't that part of our job description?  It isn't just about protecting them from bullying...but protecting them from a plethora of issues that run rampant in the school system.  Protect them from exposure to bad attitudes, gossip, bullying, sexual contact (in any form), pressures from adult teachers, pressures from peers, distractions, bad music, bad tv, etc.

Sierra had a thing with a girl from school once.  From about 3rd grade to 4th grade there was a girl who had a vendetta against Sierra and would torture her (getting her little friends to join her).  It really affected Sierra, making her question her every move, not wanting to do anything that would make this particular girl have more fuel.  I talked to the teachers about this and their response was disbelief because this other girl "was incredibly sweet and a great helper in the classroom".  I was in shock...did these teachers never go to school?  Did they not understand how mean girls could be?

So, what does all this have to do with cake?  Well, society will tell you that kids need school for social growth and they need school for educational growth...they need to deal with social issues.  Well, I say you can make a cake mix that is delicious, and creamy, and sweet that will not make you put on those extra pounds that you do not want or need in your (or your kids) life.  It takes a bit of work, you will need to make the cake from scratch...but we all know, homemade is always better than store-bought.

You start off with an education program tailor made to your child's needs, not some thrown together plan with artificial flavors and preservatives.  If your child is slower in one area and faster in another, you tailor their program for that.  Next, you throw in, for extra flavor, social activities.  This is where the flavor can be enhanced to such a degree that nothing ever tasted sweeter.  There is nothing quite so satisfying as the peace of knowing who your kids are hanging out with and what their values and beliefs are.  It is sweeter than the sweetest sugar without all the carbs.  Oh, sure, once in a while, you may find a sour one in the bunch, but you can deal with that and move on.  And to top off this fine dessert, you add on a covering (a fondant type covering, if you will) of Jesus and you know you cannot go wrong.

There is something to be said for providing a safe haven.  There is something to be said for taking our time molding our children for a life in the world instead of dropping them into the kitchenaid mixing bowl of public school and not knowing what ingredients are being dropped in and mixed on high speed.  Taking our time with a recipe...not adding ingredients too early or too late...fine tuning the recipe....it makes for the best cake you have ever tasted.

Oh, and for an extra bonus, at the end of this month, Cheesecake Factory is celebrating National Cheesecake Day by offering, for dine-in only, half price slices of cheesecake.  Does it get any better?  The kids and I will be at our local restaurant indulging in a slice or two...  Try the Raspberry Lemon Cream Cheesecake...it is INCREDIBLE!!

I have been so quiet, on here, lately.  Oh, I have posted a recipe or two, but no real blog posts.

It's not from lack of wanting to post anything, in fact there is a particular subject matter that has been grieving my spirit for a long time and I have wanted so bad to post something about it, but something has been holding me back.

You see, this particular subject matter is particularly sensitive because it is something that can offend some friends and relatives of mine.  I struggled with it for a while, but decided, it must be said.  I don't mind offending or ruffling feathers when I think it is just and right.

But, something has been holding me back.  I prayed about it.  I have composed what I would say in my head, but when I go to type it, it doesn't come.  It occurs to me that God is staying my hands.  He is saying, "I got this."  This morning, I realized that as troubled as I have been, God is much more so...but He is also in control.

Too often, we Christians can jump on the computer or TV and start spouting off opinions that may have a foundation of truth to it, but the delivery is just all wrong and the message gets lost in the shadow of self-righteousness.  God gets lost.

So, on this subject, I will heed God's decision to keep my hands from typing my rant and will let God deal with it the way He wants to deal with it.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. 

Isaiah 55:8

I have been homeschooling now for close to two years.  I am, by no means, an expert.  These past couple years, though, I have made many observations and many of them make me sad.

One of the key arguments homeschoolers will hear against the idea of homeschooling is the lack of socialization the kids will get when they are out of a classroom environment.  I have read SO many articles that argue that the only way for kids can really learn to socialize in the world is to be in the classroom with other kids their own age.  I have read just as many articles debunking this theory.

A sad reality that has become abundantly clear to me is that, while I do agree that socialization in the classroom setting is not the best way to go...or even a good way to go, I also believe that we, as homeschool families, are doing exactly what we got away from schools for in the realm of socialization.

Socializing my son has not been an issue.  He is, first of all, a boy.  It's just easier for them.  Secondly, he is still young.  He has not reached those awkward years.  You can drop him in the middle of a group of kids (strangers) and within minutes, he will have already made a best friend.

My daughter, however, has been a tougher case.  I will take her to events involving kids her age that are homeschooled and I will inevitably get a call or text "come get me".  The kids who come to these events are just not "like her".  She does not fit the picture of a "homeschool teen", a fact that I thought would be a non-issue.  I mean, we are all Christians, right.  But, over time, I noticed a definite divide.  The only kids participating in these events are different (not in a bad way...just different). 

The thing is, I know that there are teens/kids out there that are homeschooled  and more "like" Sierra, but I wonder...where are they?  Where are the ones that fit into Sierra's kind of different?  It has bugged me for a long time.  I don't get it.

The sad truth is, as I am finding out over time, is there are so many homeschool families out there that feel shunned by the homeschool groups because they do not fit in their ideal of what a homeschool family should look like.  Maybe their daughter's have one too many piercings in her ear or maybe she wears *gasp* tank tops.  Maybe the son likes to wear his hair in a mohawk.  Whatever the case, I have spoken to several families who have given up participating in any kind of group setting because they feel judged.

I can tell you that my daughter gets judged herself.  She is 13 years old and is very pretty.  She has confidence in herself.  She wears makeup and spends time styling her hair.  She is fairly shy which gets taken for snobbery.  She gets prejudged from not being "one of the crowd".  How can this be??  Are we not a Christian society??  Shouldn't we welcome everyone??

The other day, I went to church and sitting in the lobby was a group of people that look like they were a part of a biker gang.  The men had long hair and beards...bandanas around their heads...the men and women alike were dressed head to toe in black leather.  My first couple seconds reaction was "what in the" and I stopped and smiled...it was a beautiful site.  Good for them for coming and feeling confident in coming in their own skin and not putting on a front to impress others.  

But, here we are as a Christian Homeschool Organization turning our noses up at kids because they do not look like a homeschooler should look like.  We put on airs about how accepting our children are, but I do not believe this to be so.  I know there are more of us out there and I just hope they can find a place to belong.  Sierra found a place at church.  She is blossoming there and does not feel unsocialized, but before she started getting involved in church, she definitely felt the sting of rejection.  Lucky for her, she has a best friend who also feels the sting of rejection, so they have each other to socialize with.

There is a missed opportunity, though, for these groups to really grow in numbers and grow spiritually.  Get to know those kids and parents that may not look like you...you might find that they (we) have more in common with you than you think.