Homeschooling?

I started thinking about homeschooling my children after my second year of being a middle school teacher. There were so many needy children who could not read properly for their grade level. It was very challenging to try to meet their various needs, while still stimulating the kids who had higher reading levels. I realized how it's like that in many classrooms, and many teahers admit that they teach to the middle of the bunch. Not necessarily challenging the brighter kids, and not slowing down for the students who just couldn't grasp what was going on.

It's very easy for kids to slide through the cracks and just skate along through school, never having learned anything.

I'm not exactly sure if I want to homeschool, but it's definitely a strong possibility. My husband is not on board with it yet, citing socialization and such. I guess we'll wait and see when our son is older.

I read an article in the newspaper about how about forty percent of Georgia's eighth-graders had failed the math portion of the CRCT. And seventy to eighty percent of sixth- and seventh-graders had failed the social studies section of the test.

Many parents are outraged at these scores. It does make you wonder about how well schools are really educating students.

Happy Friday!

I'm so glad that it's Friday. I've had a hectic week filled with doctor's appointments and running various errands. My son has been a little under the weather with allergies, and today I have nowhere to go.

I'm so glad.

My plans are to focus on organizing different areas of our house, and attempting to get some reading done. I waited until the baby was sleep last night to try to read the first chapter of the work at home book, and I fell asleep a few minutes later.

I look forward to working at a leisurely pace. I hate rushing around, like I've been doing this week. I have to work on my time management skills.

Encouragement for work at home moms

I seem to go on an up and down roller coaster with my work at home experience. Sometimes, I'm really optimistic about it, other times, I'm truly discouraged and contemplate returning to work.

But, I try to focus on the fact that God wants me to be at home, and I just have to have faith and keep working hard to be successful with earning money from home.

I picked up a book today, and I read through a few pages and it seems like an inspiring read. It's entitled, Work @ Home: A Practical guide for Women who Want to Work from Home. The author is Glynnis Whitwer. I'm excited about reading through the book and receiving insight and encouragement on this journey.

Dresses/Skirts

For the past month or so, I have been wearing more dresses and skirts, both maternity, and just larger sized dresses, and I must admit I feel more feminine when I dress that way.

I suppose that should be self explanatory. But, not necessarily so, because it's rare for me to see young ladies wear dresses/skirts a lot.

It's interesting, because when I was in high school, or maybe it was college, I realized that I preferred wearing skirts and dresses as opposed to jeans and shorts. But, it wasn't because of modesty or the fact that it was more feminine, but because it was way more comfortable. With properly fitting dresses and skirts, I felt my body could breathe better, and it was just roomier and more comfortable. Although I enjoy wearing jeans, oftentimes they feel restrictive after a period of time.

I realize that when I go out now, people look at me differently. It's like they notice me more, but in a very respectful way. It's probably also due to the fact that I'm noticeably pregnant. I've even had guys to stop me and compliment me on how nice I look. They preface it by saying that they do not mean to be rude or disrespectful, but they just couldn't help but tell me how nice I looked.

I think that my feminine attire kind of inspires people. It sounds kind of weird, but I remember being inspired by ladies that I saw who looked really feminine and pretty in what they were wearing.

There is just something beautiful about being truly feminine and carrying yourself in a lady-like, feminine way. It makes me feel good when I go out to know that I'm presenting my best self. Not in a flamboyant way, but just simply feminine, and taking care to make sure that my hair is neat and I have a touch of lipstick on.

It's amazing how beauty inspires people. And there is beauty in being feminine, kind and lady-like.

Prime Time Love

I watched a bit of the Tyra Banks show today, and Deion and Pilar Sanders, of Prime Time Love were guests on the show. He is a former pro athlete and she is a former model, turned stay at home mother.

I enjoyed the part of the show when he said that he is a PROvider, with emphasis on pro. He said that he is old school and believes that his woman should not have to work outside the home. Her job is to take care of the home. He said that his own mother worked two jobs to take care of him, and he did not want his wife to work, because it is his job to take care of her.

When asked if she would return to modeling, Pilar said she does things here and there, and Deion went on to say that he did not want his wife hustling to try to make money modeling. If opportunities come to her, that's fine, but he doesn't want her hustling trying to have a modeling career.

I respected that he understands his role as the provider for his family, and wants to take care of his wife and family. Just because a man has a lot of money doesn't mean that the man wants to take care of his family. There are wealthy men who desire and encourage their wives to work, even though they can fully afford for her not to.

I just thought it was an interesting tidbit to share from the entertainment world.

Stay at home daughter

I was reading a thought provoking interview here about a young woman who chose to forego finishing college and chose instead to be a stay at home daughter. I thought that it was really interesting.

When I was in high school, I was very focused and hard working academically. I was determined to attend a prestigious university and have a career. I wasn't sure what kind of career I wanted, but I knew I wanted to be successful- have a career and make good money. Ironically, I met my now husband when I was a senior in high school, and my focus changed.

I had been accepted to my number one choice for college, but strangely enough, now, all I could think about was being a wife and mother. Period. I could have cared less about college, grades, career, etc. It boggled my mind that my focus changed so quickly.

I attended college anyway, and my freshman year drifted by in a haze. I was not my usual focused self in the classroom. My heart just was not in it anymore. All I wanted to do was get married and have children in a few years.

I kept my hidden dreams tucked away in my heart, for fear that my friends would ridicule me. But, as the years passed, I met more and more young ladies who felt the exact way that I did. They simply wanted to be homemakers, but, in our culture, you're supposed to get a degree and have a successful career.

Anyways, I said all that to say that I applaud young women like Lindsay, who have made the bold decision to stay at home and prepare to be a wife and mother. I don't regret going to college, but I definitely think that more value should be placed on young women learning how to be excellent homemakers, and serving in their home. I am inspired by women who choose to go against the grain and truly follow where God is leading them.

High Tea Society

I love the beauty, tranquility, and experience of taking afternoon tea. I enjoy visiting various tearooms, and checking out the decor and finding cute little things to add to my home. I've learned of a great organization, The High Tea Society, that gathers girls from the inner city of D.C. and they learn etiquette and how to be a lady and such while having afternoon tea.

What a wonderful organization, and I think it would be really useful in other cities as well. There's something special about going to a beautiful tearoom, being dressed nicely and enjoying afternoon tea with friends. I think it's a great way to encourage femininity in girls.

I wish the organization much success, and I hope that many girls are reached through this program. Their website is www.highteasociety.org .

Detachment

I don't understand why some people are so intent on separating mothers from their children, and trying to tell young mothers how to mother.

I know that I'm a young mother, and I don't know everything, but I think I do a pretty good job. But, there have been individuals, namely in-laws, who continue to disparage the fact that I continue to breastfeed, although my son is 7 months old. That's too old, in their opinion, to be breastfeeding an infant.

Then, of course, I should be using my college degree and have a career, and leave him in daycare. After all, that's what they did, because their children needed "socialization." Please, someone tell me, how much socializing can infants do amongst each other? They can't walk over to each other and hang out and have conversations. I'm amazed at the lengths that some people can go to separate me from my child.

Now, I'm dealing with a relative, an in-law, who continues to pressure me to allow my son to stay with her alone, without me for at least two or three days. I feel VERY uncomfortable with this. She's making me feel like I'm being selfish and overprotective, because I don't want to spend a full day or night away from my 7 month old baby!!! Am I the only one who thinks this is ludicrous? Plus, she lives in another state! Granted, it's about 2 hours away, but still.

Maybe I do appear rude in her eyes, but for right now, that is just how it's going to be, until I feel a strong conviction to do otherwise. I just knew I was the one who delivered the baby via C-section, and has unsightly stretch marks to prove it. You would think this lady was the actual one to give birth to him.

I just can't believe how determined a person could be to undermine how I mother my son.

By the way . . .

It's a GIRL!!!!!!! We found out the other day, and I'm so excited! A little princess will be joining our family. I am so happy!!! It will be interesting to see how life will be with a one year old son and a newborn daughter. Fun, I'm sure:) . . . and exhausting . . . but, I can't wait!!!!:)

Wisdom from college girls

My son was born in September of 2007. My husband and I had eagerly anticipated getting pregnant, even though it was soon after our wedding, and technically, the "smart" thing to do is wait at least 2 years after marriage to begin your family.

Anyways, we were so excited through the whole pregnancy and with the birth of our son. After him, I wanted to wait at least a year before trying to conceive another baby. But, that didn't quite happen.

At my 6 week checkup, the doctor asked me about using birth control and I went ahead and agreed to take it, not really sure if I would use it or not. It felt weird when I held the paper bag containing the pills. I felt so. . . wrong. It's like I was telling my yet-to-be-fertilized children that I didn't want them. I know that probably sounds really crazy, but that's how I felt.

So, I ended up not using them. And just relied on breastfeeding as my birth control. I did my research and found that you can't go more than four hours without breastfeeding to not get pregnant. This lasts up to six months, but can go on longer. Unfortunately, I went back to work part-time to teach, while my husband was with the baby for five hours each day when he was almost 3 months old.

My cycle returned two days after I started working. I should have tried to pump while at work, but it was very inconvenient to do so, since I didn't have a classroom of my own.

Surprise, surprise . . . though not really. So, I ended up getting pregnant while also having a 3 month old baby. The weird thing is, I felt so embarrassed about it. I felt like I was an unwed mother or something, because I was pregnant so soon after giving birth. I didn't tell anyone for awhile, because I didn't want to hear a lot of negative comments.

My parents had mixed feelings about it at first, but then were happy later. The interesting thing was when my mother told me she told my sister, who is a 19 year old college student.

My sister was ecstatic that I was pregnant. She told all her friends about it and they were just as excited as she was. When my sister relayed to them that I didn't want people to know, they said what she said to my mother when my mother told her,

"But, she's married. Why would she feel embarrassed? It's not like she did anything wrong."

And, they are right. I shouldn't be embarrassed. Here I was caught up in what I knew others would say about it happening so soon, and my younger sister put my pregnancy in it's proper perspective. It's a blessing from God, and I am very thankful for it. I eagerly anticipate the arrival of my precious baby, and I know not to ever lose sight of what a blessing I have.