I saw this on the Heart of Dakota website's forum this morning and it was a sobering thought to me. Thought I'd share here.
Did you know that if you teach your children at home you gain approximately 1,480 more hours per year with your child than parents that stay home and do not homeschool? That equates to about an extra 6 ½ years with your child.
Compared to families where both parents work a 40, you gain approximately 2,268 more hours per year with your child which works out to about an extra 18 years with your child!
(Assumptions: School Day = 8 hours, School Days per Year = 185, Awake Time per Day = 15 hours, Daycare hours per day = 9, Daycare Days per Year = 252)
We of course are very blessed to be able to have this "extra" time with our kiddos and pray the Lord blesses it beyond measure, but as Charla said on the ReACHE forum, no wonder we are so tired all the time!!!
Friday, May 4, 2012
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Monday, April 2, 2012
Coming Soon, to a Church on Spillway Road Near You
Remember that old ketchup commercial from the 70s? The one that had the tune from Carly Simon's 'Anticipation'?
Anticipation.
Antici-pa-a-tion.
It's making me wait...
Well, that was the tune running through my head as I took a little time this morning to look over the syllabi for next year's co-op classes. Oh. My. Goodness. Have you done that yet? The classes that have been posted so far look AMAZING. I am so excited about the courses for each of my boys, and even noticed one for moms.
I also noticed so many new and old names of people who have volunteered to step up and be a part of this great endeavor. Yay for them. If you are one of those people involved in any capacity, let me just thank you now. Your time and efforts are and will be appreciated, and will come back to bless you more than you can imagine right now. Thank you, thank you, thank you. If this is your first rodeo, and you are feeling a little nervous or concerned, please know that your contributions matter, and you will do just fine.
Then there are those (like me) that won't be involved in a hands-on way with co-ops. Maybe it is life circumstances...or financial...or scheduling...or philosophical. Maybe you are a little sad or frustrated, because your child is not wired for a classroom type of setting, no matter how much you wish or pray they would be. Please know that you are just as important to ReACHE. Thank YOU for being who you are and doing what you do.
If you are like me, you are probably just putting in your time and trying to survive THIS academic year. Next year might seem far away, particularly with regards to planning. And yes, you might still be just hoping to get those pesky multiplication tables memorized by then. We are working on the decade plan at our house. But, seriously, if you get a chance, check out those classes. Sign-up is less than a month away.
Posted by: C. Miley
Anticipation.
Antici-pa-a-tion.
It's making me wait...
Well, that was the tune running through my head as I took a little time this morning to look over the syllabi for next year's co-op classes. Oh. My. Goodness. Have you done that yet? The classes that have been posted so far look AMAZING. I am so excited about the courses for each of my boys, and even noticed one for moms.
I also noticed so many new and old names of people who have volunteered to step up and be a part of this great endeavor. Yay for them. If you are one of those people involved in any capacity, let me just thank you now. Your time and efforts are and will be appreciated, and will come back to bless you more than you can imagine right now. Thank you, thank you, thank you. If this is your first rodeo, and you are feeling a little nervous or concerned, please know that your contributions matter, and you will do just fine.
Then there are those (like me) that won't be involved in a hands-on way with co-ops. Maybe it is life circumstances...or financial...or scheduling...or philosophical. Maybe you are a little sad or frustrated, because your child is not wired for a classroom type of setting, no matter how much you wish or pray they would be. Please know that you are just as important to ReACHE. Thank YOU for being who you are and doing what you do.
If you are like me, you are probably just putting in your time and trying to survive THIS academic year. Next year might seem far away, particularly with regards to planning. And yes, you might still be just hoping to get those pesky multiplication tables memorized by then. We are working on the decade plan at our house. But, seriously, if you get a chance, check out those classes. Sign-up is less than a month away.
Posted by: C. Miley
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
People Who Accomplished Great Things
Students also heard from Endodontist, Dr. Dusty Watts, in our class. He talked about how x-ray technology aids his work in root canals etc. The students were amazed to see how the x-rays guide his work.
Jillian Crosby is showing her artwork she presented as a review of our Leonardo da Vinci study. She is a great artist!
The final picture is of our students getting a tour of Mission First's Dental and Medical facility in downtown Jackson. This field trip served as a follow up to our study on Florence Nightingale. Charitable work like this was what Nightingale inspired. Thanks to Brandi Crosby and Paula Stogner for helping me haul the kids back and forth. What a great group! I know they have learned about some truly great minds and people this year. It is my prayer that this class inspires them to aspire to do great things for God!
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Random Thoughts on Valentine's Day and Homeschooling
 |
| butnowwhat.com |
If any of you spend any time on Facebook, then you know how interesting certain days can be. Game days, or when somebody famous dies, or holidays. Today (Valentine's Day) is no different. Multiple pictures and posts and links that represent how the day is turning out for folks. Some post pictures of whatever gift(s) they have received, other show their kids' cute outfits or crafts, and some post YouTube videos that highlight their current thoughts on love. The winner on my news feed is Bon Jovi's 'You Give Love a Bad Name'. Yes, some of my friends have issues. :)
If we aren't careful, it is easy to fall into the comparison trap, especially for those of us who homeschool and most likely live on one very stretched salary. Sure, if we 'worked', then maybe we could afford that...whatever. Pretty wrapped present. Flowers. Night out. Cutely coordinated kids and the professional photograph to prove it. And the list could go on forever. If this is your reality today and you have been feeling in a funk, I just want to remind you that what you do is important. Your sacrifices are important, and even if no one else acknowledges that today, I want to officially do it here.
However, you may be closer to the other end of the spectrum today. You have that whole sacrifice thing down pat. You know that stuff doesn't matter, and that love should be celebrated all year, not just on some commercially prescribed day. But, maybe, just maybe, that knowledge has taken the form of judgment and superiority. Some of us homeschoolers are so good at that, aren't we? You know that internal dialogue I am talking about:
--Well, I could have new clothes, too, if I wasn't so dedicated to meeting the spiritual needs of my family.
--What a waste of money on that date night meal. At least I care enough to cook from scratch. I even make my own bread from the wheat that I grinded after I harvested it from the greenhouse the 5 year old made last summer out of recycled post-it notes that we got for free after I learned extreme couponing from the 3 Somali kids we adopted last year...
--I can't believe that momma let her girl out of the house in a dress that low-cut. Forget the fact that she is going to be alone, unchaperoned at the middle school dance. Since when did THOSE come into fashion. A middle school dance? Are you kidding me? She is just setting that girl up to get pregnant before she enters high school. I bet they don't even have parental blocks on their TVs. (I have to admit--this is the conversation that I have on a continuing basis whenever I see those Facebook photo posts).
Or, maybe you are just somewhere in the middle. You have been much more involved in just surviving this day than in giving Valentine's Day a second thought. Whatever this day represents for you, I just want to remind you that what you do matters. You matter. Your family matters. Even the ones that can't spell or read or remember to pick out their clothes or put the toilet seat down.
 |
| My favorite Facebook post of the day |
And one more thing, two Valentine's Day videos from the Skit Guys. Enjoy.
 |
| Check the Box |
 |
| Killer Marriage Tips |
Posted by: C. Miley
Sunday, February 12, 2012
I Promise, They Don't Bite
Last week was the first official co-op interest meeting for the 2012-2013 school year (can you believe it is already time to start planning for that?). There are MANY great classes on the agenda, and I am excited to see how the offerings turn out for my boys. I have one kid in elementary, one in middle school, and one in high school, so I will benefit in many ways from the involvement and sacrifice that so many of you that will be making in order to assist next year.
One of the areas that was highlighted as needing additional assistance is with the teenagers, high school in particular. It was mentioned that night, but bears repeating again--this group of ReACHE students is phenomenal. I have been around teenagers in a ministry capacity for years, and none hold a candle to these that are involved right now. And to be honest, until I had a kid this age, I really didn't think about getting involved in any capacity with this age group, because I had enough on my plate with my younger ones. But, as Kim Lepone pointed out so well at the meeting, we all have a story, and a history, and a faith that needs to be shared, and it just might be that your time and place to begin doing that is through co-ops next year. There are many opportunities, including one-time only classes. Just think about it...these are some of the amazing kiddos you could be encouraged by (taken during a recent dissection class in my garage--this month's specimen--a clam):
Posted by: C.Miley
One of the areas that was highlighted as needing additional assistance is with the teenagers, high school in particular. It was mentioned that night, but bears repeating again--this group of ReACHE students is phenomenal. I have been around teenagers in a ministry capacity for years, and none hold a candle to these that are involved right now. And to be honest, until I had a kid this age, I really didn't think about getting involved in any capacity with this age group, because I had enough on my plate with my younger ones. But, as Kim Lepone pointed out so well at the meeting, we all have a story, and a history, and a faith that needs to be shared, and it just might be that your time and place to begin doing that is through co-ops next year. There are many opportunities, including one-time only classes. Just think about it...these are some of the amazing kiddos you could be encouraged by (taken during a recent dissection class in my garage--this month's specimen--a clam):
 |
| A little apprehensive, but good sports nonetheless |
 |
| Abby enjoys the dissections a little too much. She named her clam Gertrude. |
 |
| This was the closest Callie got to that clam. |
 |
| Such concentration |
 |
| Poor, poor clam |
Friday, December 23, 2011
And They Looked Mighty Purty, Too.
Earlier this week I had the pleasure of being able to attend the cast party for the ReACHE play, The Thread That Runs So True. There were only a handful of other parents there, and I was only there because it wasn't in anyone's best interest for me to just drop off my younger two at Ceramis without my supervision/intervention/separation skills.
As someone who loves to just sit back and watch people, it was such an interesting night for me. The way the event was set up, there was one 'main' table, where most (but not all) of the cast and crew were sitting. Surrounding that table were six smaller tables, where the grown ups and most of the younger cast members were sitting, along with the older kids who weren't dropped off by their parents early enough to get a seat at the main table (like mine).
I had the perfect vantage point to watch those latecomers walk in and quickly assess the situation. You could see the wheels turning as they realized they were going to have to sit at a side table with people they would not necessarily choose to hang out with otherwise. And this was the cool part -- they did it anyway. Without rolling their eyes or complaining. No one was sitting around pouting (not visibly, at least) or ignoring the others at their table. I have been around groups of elementary/middle school/ high school students enough to know that this is not how it usually goes down in situations like this. Kids pout, and bully, and complain. They tend to wreak havoc if they are not continually supervised. They text and talk on the phone and ignore people they aren't BFFs with. Not this group. The evidence that they are being held to a different set of standards was evident. So much for that whole 'homeschoolers lack socialization skills' debate.
If you were one of those (lucky) parents that were able to drop your kid off, and were wondering how they did, rest assured that they did you proud. They were confident and well mannered and self assured. Thanks for all you are doing to train them up in the way they should go. I feel privileged to be walking through this journey with you all.
And now for a few pictures of your amazing kids, courtesy of Kim Lepone (who did a great job of pulling this all together in such a classy way):
Posted by: C. Miley
As someone who loves to just sit back and watch people, it was such an interesting night for me. The way the event was set up, there was one 'main' table, where most (but not all) of the cast and crew were sitting. Surrounding that table were six smaller tables, where the grown ups and most of the younger cast members were sitting, along with the older kids who weren't dropped off by their parents early enough to get a seat at the main table (like mine).
I had the perfect vantage point to watch those latecomers walk in and quickly assess the situation. You could see the wheels turning as they realized they were going to have to sit at a side table with people they would not necessarily choose to hang out with otherwise. And this was the cool part -- they did it anyway. Without rolling their eyes or complaining. No one was sitting around pouting (not visibly, at least) or ignoring the others at their table. I have been around groups of elementary/middle school/ high school students enough to know that this is not how it usually goes down in situations like this. Kids pout, and bully, and complain. They tend to wreak havoc if they are not continually supervised. They text and talk on the phone and ignore people they aren't BFFs with. Not this group. The evidence that they are being held to a different set of standards was evident. So much for that whole 'homeschoolers lack socialization skills' debate.
If you were one of those (lucky) parents that were able to drop your kid off, and were wondering how they did, rest assured that they did you proud. They were confident and well mannered and self assured. Thanks for all you are doing to train them up in the way they should go. I feel privileged to be walking through this journey with you all.
And now for a few pictures of your amazing kids, courtesy of Kim Lepone (who did a great job of pulling this all together in such a classy way):
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Yep, these socially awkward kids really need to come out of their shells. |
 |
  |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)