As I posted not long ago the 'school issue' takes up much of my thinking time lately. This is something I'll probably be posting about a lot in hopes that writing about it with declutter my brain a little. Anyways, this morning in the shower (where I do my best thinking) I was weighing the idea of homeschooling my children...again. There are two things that I was really mulling over this morning.
The first is how much fun we could have with the subjects I enjoy. History being always my favourite and to this day one of my favourite things. I'm a book reading, history lover and I have no shame about that. Geeky or not I love history, in particular English history. I'm so passionate about the subject I imagine how it might and hopefully would rub off on the two kids. As a kid I always found my favourite and best teachers were the ones who loved what they were teaching. I've worried a lot about whether I could be a good teacher, teaching something I love though, I would enjoy that and I'd like to think so would the kids. As a good homeschooling friend has pointed out several times, we could get completely absorbed in a period of history. We could tie in maths, science, English and even cooking to our history lesson. A entire unit absorbed in the Romans or the Middles Ages or Regency period. Jewish history ties is to all these eras and we could look into the impact of these periods of history on our people. As you can probably tell I absolutely love the idea of teaching history to my children. I have to say this gets an extra check on the pro side of my pros and cons list.
The second thing that I was pondering over in the shower probably won't sound so nice. I love my kids beyond measure, them along with my husband are the best thing to ever happen to me and the most important but the fact of the matter is sometimes they drive me crazy. I'm not sure if I have the type of patience I would need to be a homeschooling mum. The same homeschooling friend has said to me 'it could be the best childhood or the worst.' I'm worried the latter would be the case. I'd like to think I'm not a terribly cranky mum but it would dishonest of me if I didn't say some days I'm most definitely not 'Mother of the year' material. I want Sari and Lev to have a happy, carefree and wonderful childhood and I'd be devastated if that wasn't the case because of me.
All this thinking and analysing is because I'm terrified of making the wrong choice. I realise that if one doesn't work out then we can simply change our minds. However I don't like the idea of starting a school or begin homeschooling and then upset Sari by changing my mind after she's settled in. I went to ten different schools growing up mostly all attended before I graduated the fifth grade. I don't want that for my children. Stability is such an important thing for young ones. I feel like I'd be doing both kids a disservice if I did that. Thank goodness Sari is still only two and half, Doug and I have some time yet before we make a final decision.
Tuesday, 25 September 2012
Wednesday, 19 September 2012
My Reflections
Well it's that time of year. The time when as Jews we are suppose to reflect, forgive and ask forgiveness from those we've wronged in the past year. I hope I am forgiven if I've offended any of you, my readers and my friends (who are probably the only ones who read this blog.)
Indeed, the people I must and have apologised to are my husband and my two children. They are the ones who cop my bad moods and see all my imperfections. Sari at two and a half, has at least a basic understand of apology and forgiveness. I am a mum who will say 'I'm sorry' to my toddler when I'm in the wrong. This usually happens when I've snapped at her or lost my patience. I think it shows a healthy amount of humility and let's Sari know that everyone makes mistakes and that apologising for those mistakes is the right thing to do. Children follow our example. If I am honest with my children hopefully they will learn to be honest with me. I have no desire for my children to think I'm always right. It would only hurt and confuse them when they figure out I'm not. So I believe in owing up to my faults.
For now Sari's understanding of the ten days of repentance, Yom Kippur and the importance of this all is still lost on her but in the future I hope that both kids will take advantage of this time of year to sit down, reflect and hopefully move foward with improvement. I read somewheres an idea that I believe is a great way to represent wiping the slate clean each year at this time. Take the kids down the beach, grab a stick and close to the water write in the sand your past years mistakes in one word summaries. Once a word is written watch as a wave sweeps it away. I think this a fantastic way to bring home the idea of forgiveness.
I hope you all have an easy fast.
Indeed, the people I must and have apologised to are my husband and my two children. They are the ones who cop my bad moods and see all my imperfections. Sari at two and a half, has at least a basic understand of apology and forgiveness. I am a mum who will say 'I'm sorry' to my toddler when I'm in the wrong. This usually happens when I've snapped at her or lost my patience. I think it shows a healthy amount of humility and let's Sari know that everyone makes mistakes and that apologising for those mistakes is the right thing to do. Children follow our example. If I am honest with my children hopefully they will learn to be honest with me. I have no desire for my children to think I'm always right. It would only hurt and confuse them when they figure out I'm not. So I believe in owing up to my faults.
For now Sari's understanding of the ten days of repentance, Yom Kippur and the importance of this all is still lost on her but in the future I hope that both kids will take advantage of this time of year to sit down, reflect and hopefully move foward with improvement. I read somewheres an idea that I believe is a great way to represent wiping the slate clean each year at this time. Take the kids down the beach, grab a stick and close to the water write in the sand your past years mistakes in one word summaries. Once a word is written watch as a wave sweeps it away. I think this a fantastic way to bring home the idea of forgiveness.
I hope you all have an easy fast.
Monday, 17 September 2012
Rosh Hashanah already!
Where did it go? Maybe it's because I was pregnant for most of it and sleep deprived for the last few months but it seems 5772 passed by in a blur. Last night after lighting our yom tov candles and eating a delicious meal hubby made via our new bbq, we talked about our goals for the next year. I have a few and I'd like to share them. Hopefully by writing them down for all my readers I'll be able to keep to it.
Firstly I want and need to be more patient and in extension take some time to 'smell the roses'. As a parent of a toddler (almost preschooler) and a baby I so often feel like everything has to be rushed. Meals are rushed, outings are rushed, even getting the kids to bed at night seems rushed. That constant rushed feeling is affecting my enjoyment of my beautiful family. As a result of always rushing around I seem to have become a bit impatient. So this year I'm going to slow down. I don't have to say 'yes' to every invitation. I'm going to take my time with things. That includes being more patient with Sari when she's having a tantrum. For the most part they are so lovely and the occasional bad day or even bad hour shouldn't take away from that. They are only this age once after all and it'll be gone in a flash. I want to be able to look back and remember how gorgeous they are and how amazing each stage they go through is. Not feel as though I sped through some of the most wondrous years of my children's life.
The second thing is I'd like to get down to my pre-pregnancy weight. Lev is only four months but I need to find a way to get some more exercise in so I'm not feeling so terrible when I look in the mirror. This is for me. Hubby, God bless him, loves me just the way I am and the kids certainly don't care that I can't fit into my old jeans. I'm not aiming to be skinny even but just to be at a healthier weight. Recently we've had a bit of a overhaul in our diet and no doubt that will help. It's something that would make me feel better and if I'm feeling more positive that can only be good for my family too.
Thirdly, I'm determined to get our house in order, furniture wise. We need a new lounge, coffee table and a cot/toddler bed. Hello Ikea! We seem to have had terrible luck with lounges. We've been married only 3 and a half years and started out with mostly second hand furniture. The problem with second hand is it's already seen its' better days. So after some shopping around we want to buy a brand new one. Not anything incredibly expensive but something that will last long than 18 months. We also need, in the next couple weeks in fact, a cot that can turn into a toddler bed. Lev has quickly outgrown the bassinet and as of right now Sari is definitely not ready for a big bed. I'm sure by next year she will be but until then the solution seems to be another cot. By the time she's big enough for a single bed Lev will get a couple years out of the toddler bed.
I'm sure there are a very long list of things I could come up with but three is good number to commit to. I'll be sure to keep you all updated on how I go keeping to mine. What's on your list heading into the new year?
L'Shanah Tovah everyone! I hope you have wonderfully blessed and sweet year.
xx
Firstly I want and need to be more patient and in extension take some time to 'smell the roses'. As a parent of a toddler (almost preschooler) and a baby I so often feel like everything has to be rushed. Meals are rushed, outings are rushed, even getting the kids to bed at night seems rushed. That constant rushed feeling is affecting my enjoyment of my beautiful family. As a result of always rushing around I seem to have become a bit impatient. So this year I'm going to slow down. I don't have to say 'yes' to every invitation. I'm going to take my time with things. That includes being more patient with Sari when she's having a tantrum. For the most part they are so lovely and the occasional bad day or even bad hour shouldn't take away from that. They are only this age once after all and it'll be gone in a flash. I want to be able to look back and remember how gorgeous they are and how amazing each stage they go through is. Not feel as though I sped through some of the most wondrous years of my children's life.
The second thing is I'd like to get down to my pre-pregnancy weight. Lev is only four months but I need to find a way to get some more exercise in so I'm not feeling so terrible when I look in the mirror. This is for me. Hubby, God bless him, loves me just the way I am and the kids certainly don't care that I can't fit into my old jeans. I'm not aiming to be skinny even but just to be at a healthier weight. Recently we've had a bit of a overhaul in our diet and no doubt that will help. It's something that would make me feel better and if I'm feeling more positive that can only be good for my family too.
Thirdly, I'm determined to get our house in order, furniture wise. We need a new lounge, coffee table and a cot/toddler bed. Hello Ikea! We seem to have had terrible luck with lounges. We've been married only 3 and a half years and started out with mostly second hand furniture. The problem with second hand is it's already seen its' better days. So after some shopping around we want to buy a brand new one. Not anything incredibly expensive but something that will last long than 18 months. We also need, in the next couple weeks in fact, a cot that can turn into a toddler bed. Lev has quickly outgrown the bassinet and as of right now Sari is definitely not ready for a big bed. I'm sure by next year she will be but until then the solution seems to be another cot. By the time she's big enough for a single bed Lev will get a couple years out of the toddler bed.
I'm sure there are a very long list of things I could come up with but three is good number to commit to. I'll be sure to keep you all updated on how I go keeping to mine. What's on your list heading into the new year?
L'Shanah Tovah everyone! I hope you have wonderfully blessed and sweet year.
xx
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