Reston Mom

Ask RESTONMOM - 9/4/08

Dear Restonmom,
"Help! My husband and I are interested in learning more about homeschooling our girls for next year but after googling the internet, we are more confused and scared than before! Are there any sites that you recommend? How "hard" is homeschooling when you are NOT a trained teacher?! We need you!" - Heather

Dear Readers,
   I felt that I could best answer and help Heather in a personal email and since I have also already written a few posts regarding homeschooling, I won't be posting a detailed answer to this particular question at this time.  However, your own comments are desired and welcome...as are additional questions regarding this topic.  I will return to this topic at some point in the future, so anything you might like to add or inquire about will be helpful.   Thanks!
   

Squeeze-me mittens by Ouef

Apparently, these aren't new - last season, maybe? But, they were new to me and had such the "awwwwww!" factor that I couldn't help posting about them.  My husband's comment - "So, if it's cold enough outside for an adult to be wearing mittens, shouldn't a little kid have their own pair on?"   Yeah, but I'd be tempted to buy these just to hang from the hooks in my entryway to remind me of the preciousness of holding little hands.

National Baby Safety Month

September is National Baby Safety Month.  Each year, approximately 2.5 million babies are injured in accidents at home.  Many of these accidents are preventable.  MySafeHome.org  is just one place where you can go to learn how to protect your little ones...but the trick really is diligence and consistency.  I know it is easy to get lax or claim "oh, just this once...."    I was hoping that you, dear readers, would oblige us and share either an item of safety gear or resource that you found especially useful or a story about child safety or preventable injury?  I can't wait to hear from you all!

Birthday wishes for my husband

This Labor Day, was also coincidentally, my husband's birthday. We had a great time celebrating with family and eating LOTS of really good food! (Sweetwater, baby!)
If you want to get to know my family, then you would have to know that Matt plays more than just a periphery role as husband and father...but rather, his role as husband and father are a powerful and vital force in shaping our family into who we want to be.  I am so grateful everyday for his wisdom, love, guidance, and support and for his obvious care and concern for us.  He is always intentional and invested in what is going on with the kids and with me, in taking care of business, and in being a respected role model.  He is a wonderful leader and friend to our children.  I have felt so privileged to be his wife and have really grown personally from his partnership.  This past year was wonderful and I am looking forward to celebrating his life again after another great year to come.  I hope that this year will be full of good surprises, overwhelming blessing, laughter, and love for him.    Love you darlin'!

The learning is on!

So, it's been two days of home-centered education and Hope is doing really well.  Right now, her favorite is math.  When we came home from our group meeting on Wednesday, their daddy had a little "happy first day of school" gift of pens and sticky-pads for them. This is, of course, what happens when you give sticky pads to kids (there are more if I had panned over too):

And here is Hope proudly wearing her "Kindergarten Rocks!" tee, which was sent to us compliments of Very Meri - where I recommend you go to check out some great t-shirts designed by kids for kids.

Boobie Buddies Breastfeeding Dolls

I couldn't decide whether I thought these were creepy or not.  Don't get me wrong, I'm all for breastfeeding and helping younger children to understand....but, even though it may not be as politically correct or teach the benefits of mother's milk to little girls - I still might rather that my daughters feed their own baby dolls from a bottle.  It seems to me that the "natural way to role play" might be by placing the baby doll under their own shirt (Hope used to do this), but it seems a little strange to roll play with someone else's bosom, including a busty mama doll.  Maybe not.  Am I alone in feeling this way?

First Day of School

Today was Hope's first day of school - I can't believe it!  It is a little strange to think that I have school-aged children.  Our CC group meets every Wednesday and with this being the first, we decided to let it kick off our school year.  I thought maybe I'd be very nostalgic or have some interesting emotions at the start of school, but I've discovered that one plus of homeschooling is that it's not as emotionally charged (at least for me)...we are very excited and I was not nervous or sad about sending the girls off for the day because there isn't the same separation.  However, there is the same amount of responsibility on part of the kids and I'm a little anxious to see how Hope responds to an organized program of learning.  We bought her first book bag and lunchbox - of course, she picked out ones that are both covered with large colorful images of Tinkerbell (not my first choice, but oh well, she was so happy that I just had to give in and let her be a kid) and school supplies.  All of our curriculum materials have arrived and we are ready to get started. Today went great, I was so proud of both girls! Maddie went to her little 3yr. old class and didn't cry when I left her with new people.

Tomorrow we're learning at home...here goes!

Mama Exposed 7

To deal with life we create systems...little routines that get things done.  Some of my systems are really great, some are really terrible and then there are those that actually work just fine but were developed out of necessity breeding a bad habit and desperately need reworked. Mine is dishrags.  I refuse to use sponges in my kitchen, but rather choose wash rags for dishes and wiping down surfaces.  Each rag only lasts about a day (sometimes less) and is replaced the next morning and sent to the wash.
Enter: the basement. 
First let me apprise you of the situation: unfinished, dark, prone to crickets, featuring the laundry machines at one far end, a mixture of random musical equipment/stage equipment at the far opposite end, and every bit wall shelving and floor space between the two collecting storage items, tools, craft materials, donation items, etc... It is a place I would never let you see, already a catch-all, unwelcoming space it's worth another "mama exposed" post in and of itself.  The door is located just outside my kitchen.  Therefore, when a kitchen rag gets smelly or in need of washing, I inevitably just open up the door and throw it on the stairs because I don't want to walk all the way down and over to the laundry for one silly rag.  The next time I go down, I pick up the rags and bring them with me.  So, as often as not, there is some dirty, nasty rag sitting on the basement steps.  Even I am grossed out by this, but it's become such a habit and it works, so I haven't re-worked the system.
I need some suggestions: It's not acceptable to leave the rag upstairs because they get smelly and I like to wash them frequently.  If I put a bucket or something on the stairs, then I am less likely to take the rags down and wash them as frequently, I'll wait until the bucket is full and by then the odor is overwhelming.  I don't want to commit to disposable rags because of cost effectiveness and environmental friendliness. I can't seem to break out of this disgusting rut.  Any ideas? 

silence

As a result of an infraction, both of my girls were sent just before two o'clock to their bedroom to stay there until dinnertime.  Maddie is sleeping and Hope is quietly reading to herself.  The house is eerily silent downstairs.  An hour has passed and I almost don't know what to do with myself.  A busy morning has left me tired, but now that I actually have the opportunity to relax...I'm finding it difficult. 

puckering up to Burt's Bees

I have long been a fan of Burt's Bees chapstick...oh how I love that minty goodness!  As a result, I've tried every other Burt's Bees lip care product available.  Some have been winners and others not so much - BUT, now I have a new fave!  I'm much more of a lip gloss girl than a lip stick girl, so you know I had to give their new Super Shiny Lip Gloss a try and now I'm a fan.  The "Nectar Nude" shade offers tons of shine, a hint of natural color, and a subtle citrus fragrance and flavor.  I'm ditching the five other glosses I've collected in my purse for this one and reapplying frequently.