Having the Confidence to Homeschool

I think one of the greatest hurdles I had to get over was the concern I would not be able to adequately teach my Ladybugs.  Granted I teach piano and voice, I do have some pedagogy classes under my belt, I've taught in a classroom setting, and I was always a very bright student.  However, it is difficult to transfer that into successful teaching of my own daughters.  

We are very lucky, because in Michigan there are not the same restrictions with homeschooling as there are in other states.  If you are interested in which states require what you can click here: HSLDA

I began to consider if I was any less intelligent or educated than those with degrees in teaching.  And I realized that even though I never took education classes at a college, or special pedagogy classes, or classes designed to help organize and manage a classroom, I have been teaching for over 20 years.  I have taught Kindermusik, group piano, theory, choir, music at a K thru 8 school, private piano, and vocal training.  Plus I have been the music director for multiple shows, and an accompanist for many different situations.  I have a lot of teaching experience.  Maybe I have not taught reading, or history, or astronomy, but I have taught my children about our world, and how to take care of themselves and others.  I have taught them many MANY things in their little lives, so why not add a few traditionally school taught subjects as well?

The other thing is education doesn't make a person better at their job.  I have had some really HORRIBLE teachers in my past, as I have blogged about before: CLICK HERE

The point is: I can do this.  And I am confident this is the right choice for my Ladybugs.

The Netflix Binge

Santa Clause gave our family a new Blue Ray player for Christmas, and thus we got Netflix to join in the fun.  At first Jim and I watched old Twilight Zone episodes, and had fun introducing the Ladybugs to Jem and old Spiderman episodes.  Then Jim and I enjoyed the newest season of Arrested Development, and also journeyed through seasons of Breaking Bad.  However, upon the completion of Orange is the New Black, I have found myself obsessed with Parks and Recreation.

I will admit that season one was fair if not poor in its execution, however, by season two Parks and Rec found its rhythm.  Each night we watch four episodes, give or take, and I cannot get enough of the characters.  I feel as if they are part of my world and we are all friends.  I have become a binge television viewer.

 
Binge watching seasons of television shows makes me wonder if I would be as obsessed by the series if I had to wait a week for a new episode.  Take Lost for example, I think my brain appreciated the week between episodes.  I was able to discern through the information presented, and determine what I thought was the real story.  Lost gave such fantastic cliffhangers that if I binge watched the show I may have not been as satisfied with the plot.  However, I have to state that the finale was really horrible and in no way how the series should have ended.  Breaking Bad is similar to the intensity of Lost, with its plot twists and turns and the deep character development.  After a couple of nights of watching episodes, I am compelled to watch a documentary or two.

In the same vein, I truly believe that my obsession with Parks and Rec would not be near as so if I had to wait a week between episodes.  Instant gratification is something I'm not used to, but something I am getting very comfortable with.

   

When we gave up our cable television a couple weeks ago, I was afraid that I would miss it.  Truth is, I don't.  Probably due to the fact I am currently obsessed with Parks and Rec.  However, it is so convenient and inexpensive to watch through an antenna and through a service like Netflix, I cannot imagine ever needing cable again.  

I remember the summer we got cable installed at our home.  I was eight, and my sister and I spent countless hours watching and rewatching Grease 2.  At the time, I had no idea what was being suggested in "Lets Do It For Our Country," nor did I find it repulsive that a person would have to change his identity to impress the cool girl.  I also remember watching The Incredible Shrinking Woman that same summer, as well as shows about circus acts from the 1800s.  I have been trying for years to find a youtube video of Lavinia Warren, General Tom Thumbs wife, singing "Beautiful Dreamer," but I have never been able to find that song Kelly and I remember from the show.  

That was when cable was new and exciting, and possibly fifty stations (maybe).  There was no recording, there was no pausing to go to the bathroom, and there was no rewinding to see a scene again.  I remember nine years ago when I was pregnant with Zoe, I was encouraged to get a DVR.  The DVR really did change the way I watched television, but I must say Netflix has revolutionized how a watch a television series.  No longer do I need to purchase the entire season on DVD, nor do I have to set the DVR to tape a particular show.  I simply search for the title and start the viewing process.

I wonder how many people binge watch like me.  Maybe this has been going on for years, and I am just now jumping on the bandwagon.  But, believe me, I cannot imagine watching TV any other way.

The Past Meets the Present

Today the Ladybugs and I have exactly two weeks of summer vacation left, and I am slowly coming to terms with starting a new school year.  In fact, I start teaching piano and voice next Tuesday, which means I only really have a week left of lazy summertime.

I have made some changes in the design of my homeschooling space - moved furniture, altered the placement of the existing furniture, and have begun to wrap my brain around a full week of homeschooling. I was even lucky to look through our curriculum, and set up a high level schedule for the school year.

Zoe and Evie's Kindergarten teacher came to visit us today.  She brought all over Evie's papers and such from the end of the school year.  I had contacted her through email and phone back in March, but I now realize that she wasn't avoiding me but just trying to save her own job, and/or finding a new one.  The school situation was heartbreaking for everyone involved, including her.  This woman, whom shall be called Barb, has always been a fantastic supporter of mine.  In fact, she was pleased to announce she will be teaching homeschool art in her new home art studio.  I'm really excited for her - and us (even though we already signed up for a fall art class, there is always future possibilities).

As much as I enjoyed our brief visit, I started having panic attacks last week as I remembered the hell my family experienced at school last year.

It has now been almost five months since I pulled the Ladybugs and quit my part-time job as music instructor at their private Christian school.  Some felt I left as a result of the blog post from February 25th: Not My Kid, in which I described the bullying that was taking place at the school.  Some parents sent beautifully written letters and note cards about how they will miss me and my family.  But most have never spoken to me, and have physically avoided me in grocery stores and other public places.  However, the sad part is that even after I was bullied by parents and my Zoe was bullied by students, I was bullied by the administration of the school.  I was not certain how other teachers felt, but I was pleased to have the opportunity to talk to Barb.
 
Barb suffered a lot of heartache herself, as she had been at the school for a very long time.  She was the matriarch of the school, and she also taught art classes.  The Kindergarten thru 8th grade classrooms have been replaced by a larger preschool, but Barb was overlooked for the job.  She definitely deserved the opportunity, but the administration was as narrow-minded as always.  They had their chosen few to run the program, and Barb did not fit their plans.  From previous conversations with the preschool teacher, I knew she didn't think Barb taught enough in her Kindergarten classrooms.  In fact, I'm not certain the preschool teacher even liked children, let alone parents.  The preschool matter was a difference of opinion, but I know that the school closed because of the group of people who wanted to expand the preschool and, thus make money for their already wealthy church.

The past is a chapter that I am happy to close, but I'm not sure why I always feel so horrible ending relationships with people.  Maybe it is that I hate to have people end relationships with me.  Regardless what is the reason for my feelings of remorse, I am going to acknowledge them and continue to move forward.

Here are two pictures of my homeschool area:

To My Grandma

Earlier this year I wrote a story for my Grandpa Brown's 90th Birthday.  Click here to read: The Knights of Bedford Street.

The book of stories from family and friends was a success.  Therefore, in May, my family did another book for my Grandma Brown, who was turning 85.  I never put my story on this blog, and since it is a good recollection of my past I would post it today.  Enjoy!

If God had intended us to follow recipes,

He wouldn't have given us grandmothers.

~Linda Henley

My family memories are sprinkled with a dash of Texas Sheetcake, a pinch of Deviled Eggs and a splash of Spaghetti Salad.  My Grandma Brown knew how to throw a party, and still does to this day.  She loves a reason to bring her family together, and what better way than to dangle yummy food in front of them while you are at it?

When I was little, I would often ask to help bake cookies, or cut vegetables for dinner.  My mother would lose patience quickly, because I had this habit of not listening to her directions.  Throughout the years, many tears were had in that kitchen of ours.  However, I was lucky to have two grandmothers who allowed me to express myself in the kitchen, even if I wasn’t completely paying attention.

My very favorite memory in the kitchen with my Grandma Brown was when my sister, Kelly, and I learned the fine craft of bread making.  I remember that we made the bread from scratch – no box mix for Grandma Brown.  She also mixed everything by hand, which was extremely exhausting.  We had to stir one way so many times, and then the other way the same amount of times.  And it seemed to go on FOREVER!  I remember getting flour over everything (especially ourselves), and I also remember learning how to kneed the dough the proper way.  I have been lucky to share the proper dough kneed with my husband, Jim, and my Ladybugs, Zoe and Eva.  There was a lot of laughter while we kneeded the dough, and waited for it to rise.  I was so happy to be allowed to have a true hands-on experience. 

Of course (I’m sure it is no surprise) we were not quick or efficiant in our doughy masterpiece.  I do not recall the temperature of the oven, what container we baked our bread in, what we ate for dinner that evening, nor can I tell you how the bread tasted.  However, the memory of that experience has remained in my heart all these years later. 

Happy Birthday to the quintessential grandmother: my Grandma Brown!

A snip-it from Through Her Eyes

There were three odd jobs my mom always requested of my sister and me: 1) watch for KMart or Sears commercials for a particular photo package, 2) keep an eye out for The Fuller Brush Man, and 3) look for Wandering Jehovah’s Witnesses.  My mom had us watch for commercials from Sears or KMart photo studios, and I still have the package memorized: 1 8x10, 2 5x7s, and 16 wallets.  Usually twice each year there were sales on that package, and the commercials often came during the breaks on PBS.  I remember Amyre Makupson talking about the upcoming 12 o’clock WKBD news, and then we were blessed with a commercial for the desired picture package.  It was always a fight between my sister and I to whom reached my mother first.  Quite often my mom would not have seen the commercial and thus she would not have the phone number necessary to make the appointment.  After awhile I would memorize the phone number as well, so that I could tell my mom where to call.  I truly loved commercials. Sometimes ask me to recite the Lee Press-On Nail commercial from the 1980s.  

My mother also loved having a visit from The Fuller Brush Man, as he always had new room fresheners, or special brushes, and sometimes she would sharpen her knives.  He was a novelty to my sister and I, because he pushed a cart down the block calling, “Fuller Brush Man!”  The only other service that made us known of their presence was the Ice Cream Man, however, in that case it was a rowdy rendition of “Pop Goes the Weasel.”  However, none was as mysterious as the wandering duos of Bible-carrying Jehovah’s Witnesses.  Even though they weren't selling pretty brushes, nor taking our picture, these people were fascinating just the same.

July Wrap-Up

This month was one of making decisions.  I made the decision to get the pelvic floor surgery, and I decided to homeschool the Ladybugs this fall.  This is a huge decision for me, as I am hoping I can handle it.  I also started writing my memoir about my time with Bonnie.  It is a memoir of love and friendship, and I have tentatively titled it, "My Faith Through Her Eyes."

Now for the updates"

Goal #1: Read all seven Harry Potter books on my new Nexus 7 tablet. Read as much as possible.

I spent the majority of my free time writing the memoir.  I read a few memoirs, preparing for my writing. I was also consumed with researching homeschool curriculum.  

Goal #2: Reclaim my body - mentally, physically, and emotionally.

As I mentioned above, I got the pelvic floor surgery.  Unfortunately I don't feel as if the leaking has decreased, and I am very depressed about my body and how it works.  I have an appointment tomorrow to speak with the doctor, and I hope things can be explained then.  Losing sight of hope.

Goal #3: Give more.

The donation for July (and August) was to The Henry Ford, which includes the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village.  The Village is a sanctuary for me; that is, when there isn't a special weekend or event happening.  I am calmed by the simplicity in the living and inventions that made life easier.  It is a lovely place to visit, even a few hours, and the donation provides our family with free visits all year long.  

This year has been one of upheaval, but we continue to forge ahead into the unknown future.