Your Man Will Appreciate This

Dad Life from Church on the Move on Vimeo.

Oh my lands, this is too funny! I hope it makes you giggle.

Table Chores

Every morning after breakfast, we

• wash our breakfast dishes
• clear the table
• take the placemats outside and shake crumbs off
• sweep off the table w/ a hand broom
• wipe down the table

Then we do seatwork at the table. After lunch, we

• throw away our paper plates (it's a lunch thing) & wash forks if used
• sweep the kitchen and dining room (each child has their own day)
• take the placemats outside and shake crumbs off
• return placemats to the table

The remainder of schooling happens on couches, beds, floors, and outside. No tables needed.

After dinner, we

• wash our dishes
• take the placemats outside and shake crumbs off
• 1 child puts away leftovers; 1 child washes pots & pans (typically only my beloved crock-pot); the rest of the kids put away clean dishes and tidy up the rest of the kitchen

Going Places

It took me way too long to realize this, but I have finally come to the conclusion that we can't get all (and by all, I mean "any") our school work done on the days we go places. For instance, when we plan to go to the aquarium at 10am, I shouldn't attempt to get math done beforehand.

This summer, we completely missed out on going to our beloved church library because we were too busy schooling. It never occurred to me to reschedule our day around the library's schedule (only open 9-noon two days a week).

Well, it finally did! We now do Bible over breakfast and that's it before our outing. The only thing the kids have to do is clean up their dishes, get dressed, and brush their teeth. Chores will happen later. School will happen later, if we get to it.

With low expectations come plenty of opportunities to praise and much less stress!

Girls Rule!

This never fails to crack me up, and you have no idea how many times I've seen it! If I had a nickel. . .

My favorite part is "Girls rule! Pumpernickel!" Pumpernickel, because, well, duh, it's a super fun word to say!

Bayberry

The health benefits of bayberry are mainly for the treatment of colds, coughs, fever, and similar flu-like ailments and symptoms. It is also a powerful herb to help women relieve the symptoms of a heavy menstrual period.

Bayberry extract has also proven helpful with digestion and helping to cleanse the liver of harmful toxins, as well as promoting increased circulation. It is also an astringent herb and helps to strengthen the immune system. It helps to fight bacterial infection and parts of the plant can be applied to the skin to treat symptoms of itching, sores, and even hair loss. Usually this is done as a poultice made from bayberry and other useful herbs.

Bayberry can be taken as a tea, powdered in a capsule, or in tincture form.

What If They Want to Go to Public School?

If one or more of your children, when they get older, want to go to public school will you allow it?

I recently got this question in an email and I'd love to know how you all would answer it. When I get a question like this, I generally like to know more about why the person is asking what they're asking. So, I replied:

Why do you think they will want to go to public school when they are older (hypothetically speaking)?

The reply was a fast one: That's easy. Because they'll be teenagers!

So, what do you say? Would you or wouldn't you allow your child to go to public school? Do you think your child will want to be out-schooled when they are older? Why or why not?

Super Fun Book

Just picked up this book at the church library and the kids have not stopped poring over it. From the back cover:

Look-Alike Land is a magical spot

Where everyday things look like what they're not

So challenge your eyes and challenge your mind

The harder you look, the more you will find.

A chair that's actually a hair comb, a piece of toast, and 4 chess pieces. Logs by the fireplace are actually cinnamon sticks tied with a rubber band. Cobble stones are really kidney beans.

This book is so fun! You've gotta check this out. Adding this to my repertoire of dentist visits books.