Pressing On

Have you been dropped into homeschooling out of the clear blue? Amidst all the chaos that's going on and managing your own anxieties, are you secretly freaking out about middle school math? Are you angry that this is now on your plate? Are you concerned about your relationship with your child, and how in the world you are going to get them to do school on top of the other stuff you already can't get them to do? Totally been there. Last week. Last month. Last year. And those years have turned into fifteen years of homeschooling four kids. We've schooled through, moves, deaths, cancer, attitudes, babies, teens, and now I can add a pandemic to the list! It doesn't always look pretty, but it can be done! So, where do you start? Do you just crack open the computer on Monday and let them go to it? Welllll, I suggest maybe not quite . I've put together the top three emergency tactics I would employ if I suddenly had a child at my table needing an education, but...

Ok, this has to be one of the top recycling projects ever. The good thing about having 4 children is that there is almost always one that loves you, no matter what you've said or done. It's not always the same one, but there is at *least* one.  This particular one is frequently effervescent with her expressions of love and it's a wonderful thing.  It's just the way God made her :) I've really been thinking about the special gifts we have each been given. They are easy to see when you live with a passel of children.  Some of us are sparkly and bubbly, some of us have a quiet, deep love. Some of us have a sense of humour or a logical mind and some are gifted with a drive to get things done.  We can't have it all, you can't be both quiet and bubbling over all at the same time and one is not better than the other, just different. One of the best things about being a parent is the privilege to encourage children to grow in their own way. It's endles...

The phrase "Happy New Year" always plays in my head in the form of the old ABBA tune: "Happy New Year Happy New Year May we all have a vision now and then  of a world where every neighbour is a frieeeend..." The song was released in 1979:  "it's the end of a decade,  in another ten years' time, who can say what we'll find,  what lies waiting down the line,  in the end of '89" I remember listening to that song when 1989 seemed a loooong way off. Not to mention (party like it's) 1999. And 2009.  Weirdly, 2019 *doesn't* seem far away at all. That MUST be a sign of middle age. As much as I love ABBA (and I do!) I like this unknown author much better: Another year I enter Its history unknown; Oh, how my feet would tremble To tread its paths alone! But I have heard a whisper, I know I shall be blest; "My presence shall go with thee, And I will give thee rest." What will the New Year bring me? I may n...

This post has nothing to do with cancer.   : ) You can't immediately tell from this picture but this is "home".  Ours was the first house built on this new street.  Six years ago, almost to the day, we moved into a brand new home with my mom after a very long and harried year of plans, realtors, finance disasters and general all-around stress. We had long wanted to move closer to family and finally took the plunge in 2008 by making a MAJOR move across a large body of water.  A lot of things can change in 6 years.  My Mom is gone now (see this post ), the street is a childhood utopia with great families and lots of space to play, and the kids don't look like this anymore:  In fact I have 2 teenagers now! (which I'm really loving by the way).  So anyway, just a little happy anniversary to us. We have been so happy since moving here. It has been a wonderful blessing in every way!

Well I'm almost a week post-treatment and I've managed ok.  I've felt crummy, but not terrible. My spirits are a little low.  I think where it's getting me is just staying home too much. I'm just not going anywhere, seeing anything, seeing anybody. I don't feel quite up to being out, but the (teeny) social butterfly in me is suffering for it. I'm really NOT a socialite, but for my own good I need to not sequester myself at home as much as enjoy it. For example I didn't make it to church on Sunday because I thought I might get there and be too tired  to drive home, thus the prudent decision was not to go. Unfortunately that meant I didn't get to see my wonderful church family and be encouraged by their love and care nor be a support to them, which is equally if not more important. I hate being bogged down by my own "stuff" all the time, it just gets really old really quick. It is good to bear one another's burdens. Being a homebo...

So further to my last post which was an introduction to pondering the questions that are frequently directed at me, I thought to start with the most basic: "4 kids!  Wow."    I don't know if you can hear the tone of that "wow", it's not a "wow!  That's amazing!  You're so lucky!".   More often than not it's more like, "wow, that's insane"  But really the question is "WHY?" , why would I inflict this kind of existence on myself?  Why?  (I cannot answer for others with "larger" families, so no generalizations allowed :)  and I certainly mean no disrespect for those with small families, so I hope no one's feelings are hurt.  Disclaimer complete.) I freely admit my family size is reactionary*, completely based on my family experience both growing up and as an adult.  I ended up being an only child at 6 mos, after my adopted brother drowned at age 2.  My parents had adopted the 2 of us aft...