Autumn Blog Challenges - past...

I didn't start this Autumn Blog Challenge (ABC) until Sept. 19th, so I thought I would just answer the previous prompts all in one post! Happy reading.

 

September 1 – Why have you decided to participate in the Autumn Blog Challenge (the ABC)?

I really like blogging - I love writing - I love journaling. Sometimes though, I get writer's block and need a prompt to get me through the day.

 

September 2 – What is your favorite thing about Autumn?

The color. I love the color. I'm thankful every year for my eyesight - which is hindered due to a drunk driving accident I was in as a child. I DO NOT take my eyesight for granted.

 

September 3 – What toys do you remember playing with as a child?

A doll I named Nancy, my Winnie-the-Pooh, Uncle Wiggly board game and Bonkers board game. I also had Hollie Hobbie Colorforms! They were awesome. The board was shaped like her house and then when you put a lamp behind it, the windows lit up!

 

September 4 – Have you ever met a celebrity?  If not, which one would you like to meet?

I met LeRoy Butler from the Green Bay Packers - actually I met several of the Green Bay Packers. I also met Paul Poberezny - the creator of the EAA Museum in Oshkosh, Wis.  I had the awesome blessing of meeting and talking with (and having them sign my Bible by their favorite Bible verse) the Christian band, Sidewalk Prophets!

 

September 5 – Write about a favorite play or concert you’ve attended.

The best (and my favorite) concert I attended was a Duran Duran concert in 1984.

 

September 6 – Make a list of books you want to read next year.

I'm a librarian, so there are way too many for me to list! I do want to read a Janet Evonovich book though - I haven't yet!

 

September 7 – Where were you when…?  Describe what you remember.

I don't remember - My memory has the amazing ability to block out all things traumatic. It's because of my childhood - so much trauma and dysfunction... my mind protects me with situational amnesia.

September 8 – What is your favorite, “go to” cooking recipe?

Hot dogs and rice!

 

September 9 – Who was your favorite teacher?

Mrs. Dorothy Weber from 1st grade. Ms. Ronnenberg from Creative Writing in high school. Mr. Woznicki from 9th grade English - just because he was so flippin' cute!

 

September 10 – What was your favorite subject in school?

Art, English Lit. and Creative Writing.

 

September 11 – What was your least favorite subject in school?

Accounting and Algebra - in both classes I got a D- just because I tried so hard. I should have flunked, but I did try - I even went in before and after school!!!  It just didn't click!

 

September 12 – What was your high school reunion like? If you haven’t been yet, do you plan on going?

I think I've been to 2-3 of them - the first one was alright - typically clique-y yet. The next one... a bit better and yet still the same. The third one... I went to for about 30 min. and left. I don't know if I'll attend another. I see who I want to anyway and we are all on facebook.

 

September 13 – What do you think about our current educational system?

We homeschool our children. I know that there are wonderful teachers out there - I just wish that every child could have them as their own teacher.  I'm a bit concerned about what I see in the young adults that come through the library where I'm employed...

 

September 14 – When has being right been wrong?

One of my sons told a lie - just before his birthday party. I had to discipline him... I cancelled the birthday party. He took his punishment with grace and dignity.  Discipline is right. Lies are a problem.  Then we found out from his sibling that the birthday boy didn't lie - the sibling did.  By this time the party was cancelled and there wasn't time to "re-do".  We used it as a learning experience to stand up for yourself. Say something! When there is a misunderstanding - speak up!  It was also a painful lesson for the son that told the lie - he saw what his lie could do.  It was a hard lesson for both sons and us! However, they both learned that I will keep my word when it came to following through with discipline.  We really did not have any problems (that I know of) with lying after that!

September 15 – I am a people person except for people….

... that are outspoken and angry sounding when they are "sharing" their beliefs. I wish they would just shut-up! I tend to stick up for the underdog and get angry when others are so closed minded that they can't see straight.

 

September 16 – Do you think we’ve made our lives more complicated by trying to make thing more convenient?

No, but I do think that we've poisoned our food supply.

 

September 17 – What did/do you want to be when you grew/grow up?

I had to answer this one for the SBC. In that post, I mentioned that I didn't have any dreams of what I would be when I grew up.  In about 4th grade I wanted to be an architect, but w/o any parental encouragement that one fizzled out. Then, in high school, I discovered writing. I wanted to work for a magazine agency in New York, but then I fell in love and didn't go. As much as I wanted to be in NY, I'm very happy to not be there. As much as I wanted to write for a publication, I'm very happy to be where I am. As much as I THOUGHT I wanted something else, I am so happy and content to be where I am now.

 

September 18 – What was the most profound thing to happen in your life today?

Let see, that would have been yesterday, actually! LOL Nothing profound. I had to go to the doctor due to some intestinal pain. It could be endometrioma tissues closing in on my intestines; or it could be "hot-spots" due to gluten allergy; or it could be polyps; or anything else that I don't want to think about. Future appointments are made.  However, can I please just say that on Monday, September 17th I was given notice that I will be promoted in January!!??!! YAY! I will be the new Audio/Visual Librarian in January. I will be going full-time! It will be nice to have the money to pay off my medical bills. Thank you Lord.

 

His Second Day of His Senior Year

Apparently, his first day of his Senior year didn't agree with him because he has been up since the wee hours of the morning barfing his guts out. Now it's the dry heaves and we are well on our way to mid-morning.

He said to me, "Madame Teacher, I regret to inform you that I will not be able to attend classes today."

My response: "Apparently. Now go lie down and get some much needed rest." Then I brought him a stack of videos - the one on top was a Science/Environmental Awareness video. That brought a smile to my student's face.

Ever the homeschool Mom.

First Day of His Senior Year

It's his first day of his last day of school. I'll just write about this one change, for now. We have always homeschooled the boys. Every year I give them the choice of whether or not they want to continue homeschooling. They have always told us that they want to stay home. It wasn't always that I gave them a choice. When they were little, they didn't have a choice. Around 7th/8th grade, I asked them. Then in high school - we asked them every year.  I am ever so thankful for the time we have had together.

They know how good they have it. They get to pursue studies of their choice. Focusing on what interests them versus doing seat work and waiting for 20 other students to catch-up or shut-up.  They were also able to read their Bibles at any given time.  We didn't start homeschooling because of any religious reasons, but it certainly deepened our faith.  Anyway, in addition to the subject  matter  that  they  are  interested  in,  there  is,  of  course,  the   required  Algebra,  Geometry   and  dah-dah-daahhhhn Biology.

As for my Senior, he wants to fly. He wants to read more. He is very tired and naps alot!  I told him to read good books, not the immature 'filler' books. "Read something with substance." I told him. He is in the non-fiction section now. He is also digging further and deeper into his faith.

As for me, I'm in the initial stages of a joint graduation part - for both sons. For one, it will be a few months late; for the other it will be a few months early.  A necessary adjustment because my family is coming from 2,000 miles away and I want them to be able to plan and BE HERE.  Initially, we surprised the boys with the plan of taking them and our overnight guests out for a paint ball war! It should be great fun - just need to coordinate it all, but I think the facility will do most of that.  A big cake, THEIR own band, my brothers and cousins playing along with them - I can't wait for the fun.

Now.... to just get me through this final school year of my oldest. I'll be going through many tubes of mascara. Maybe I should just invest in a good waterproof brand for this year and then again for next year when my "baby" graduates...

Raising a Modern Day Knight - Pondering #6

Your son's desires are written on his heart. When was the last time you listened to his dreams for the future? Have you helped him set the goals he'd like to make for himself? Have you encouraged him to pursue his interests? What specific things have you done to focus him in the areas which he's naturally gifted?

I know that Rick has always been musically inclined. However, I think he is alot like me - once it's "conquered" he's ready to move on.  None-the-less, we've helped him with his instruments - violin, drums and guitar, practices and exposed him to musical venues and opportunities.

Rick also likes planes. He wants' to be a pilot. So, we've introduced him to pilots we know, the EAA, the Young Eagles Program, Dodge Co. Airport had a seminar and Matt took him. We have helped him with some initial planning to save up for flight lessons and a basic timeline of how things should/could turn out for him with regards to money and schooling.

Baking is another thing that Rick enjoys - I taught him all I know, get him what he needs and let him have at it.  He's pretty dang good with the breads.

Benjamin has always had a vivid imagination and at first we thought it was more artistic, but it turned out to be creative writing. So he's writing his novel.  To encourage this we bought him a netbook for his birthday, helped him earn money towards a full sized laptop, focused his education on English and writing and found all sorts of different authors to read for exposure to different writing styles.  The biggest thing I found for Ben was NaNoWriMo This site of forums and young authors has helped to expand his horizons tenfold!

Ben is more introverted than his extroverted older brother, so finding things for Ben was a challenge. However, we found, early on, that Ben is also very musically talented.  Once this was realized we showed him different instruments, got a few lessons in him, introduced him to all of my musically inclined family & friends. His biggest achievement was being a part of a Worship team at an area church we briefly attended. That led to playing (very seldom, but playing none-the-less) at a local Christian coffee shop, in front of STRANGERS!!  He does extremely well.  He was even able to get his bass guitar autographed by a Christian band, The Afters.  This autumn I will be organizing a youth band with practices out of our basement on Saturday mornings. The goal being to play at the Vineyard (above mentioned coffee shop).

One of my final goals for the boys is to play several songs at their joint graduation party next year! I'm so excited!

When You Surpass The Education Of Your Parents

On fb, a 'poster' was shared on the lines of, "What I see, what they see" type of thing. Those are becoming pretty popular. Many of them are very funny.  There happened to be one on homeschooling. I think it's funny. However, there was a question asked, by a loved one, that I had to address.  My response follows.

"What happens when you surpass the education level of your parents?" You move on to the next level via college classes, tutors or simply by being self taught.  You find another avenue for furthering your education.  That is the goal, isn't it? To have our children SURPASS the education level of their parents.  Every parent wants their child(ren) to have a greater life than they did.  To have our children surpass our education level is a great achievement!

Calculus is NOT required to graduate nor is it required for 98% of the jobs out there nor is it required for entrance into 98% of colleges or universities. By the time calculus rolls around in a student's education - said student is almost done with their high school journey.  By the time calculus rolls around, it's time to move on to higher education.  There are college Sophomores that are just now taking Calculus. There is no time frame for learning and for higher education.

What happens when you surpass the education level of your parents? Your parents are ecstatic because they have done such a fantastic job of educating you. Your parents are ecstatic because they have done such a fantastic job educating their children that those children will ALREADY KNOW the answer to such a close minded question. 

You will know that education is not limited to a building or a curriculum.  What happens when you surpass the education level of your parents?  You get hands-on life experience from field work, from friends that happen to be professors, from anyone, from anywhere your life path travels.

When you surpass the education level of your parents you will have learned enough to love and support all of your family members in positive and loving ways.  Hopefully, you will have learned that there are millions of different ways to learn to be a self-supporting, kind, compassionate human being -- not to mention family member.  Hopefully, you will have learned how to be a supportive family member even if you don't always agree on life choices.

When you surpass the education level of your parents – and your parents are well-educated, well-rounded, intelligent, kind, honest, hard-working individuals that are not in any kind of financial or legal troubles and are not a burden on any government entity, but are the kind of people that volunteer, donate, support and care for others – I would say that you are then a well rounded individual.  That you are the wonderful type of person that this world needs more of.  I would say that you are then, the wonderful type of person that would never dream of asking such a narrow-minded and painful question because you would already know that asking such a question will hurt those that love you unconditionally.  It isn’t the answer that is important, it’s the fact that you asked in the cold manner that you did.

When my sons surpass my life's worth of knowledge and experiences - I will rejoice!

Falling Asleep in Class

Enough said.

Hey Mom just testing to see if this works

Coolness! hahaha. I'm done with school for today just letting you know that!

The next school year.

We have started our next hs'ing year.

You are a Sophomore and a Junior - 10th grade.... 11th grade.... I could hardly believe what my hand wrote. I really had to think.

It feels like just a few months ago that I took those precious Kindergarten First Day of School photos.

My heart is rejoicing and breaking all at the same time.  I am happy for you and for me. I am proud of you and me and your Dad.  I am breaking apart inside because this is a stage of my life also.  A stage that is ending.

I am also afraid of the future because I don't remember what I did before we hs'ed you. I don't remember life without reseaching and organizing fun school things!  I am afraid of the completion - of the done-ness. Afraid of the feeling of empty. I am afraid of not being useful!

What will I do with myself?

School's out.... sort of...

Ugh!! Getting you two to finish up your schoolwork is a daunting task!!! I can't bribe you with a long summer. You don't care about money enough to make it worth while. Taking away your "toys" doesn't even work for very long!!!

I keep singing Alice Cooper's song, School's Out, in my head!

So, this year, you are ALMOST done. After several curriculum requirement changes, you are BOTH still grumping about feeling sorry for yourself. It doesn't help that I've given you enough time and now nag you like mad!!!

Oh well! I can't do the work for you and I'm not very lenient with you. Actually, I've been told by your public school counterparts that I'm very hard on you academically. That's RIGHT!!! Get that school work done! Don't meet a deadline? Too bad!!! You may get one more chance or you might receive an 'F'. Your employer won't like it if you don't get the required work done, so consider schooling employment practice!!

You're both very good students and your grades are fine, but I do like to tease you so!! (You still have to get this year's required work done.... SOON!!)

Hugs,
Mom