I wrote in a previous post that I was looking into the Robinson Curriculum. I couldn't put my finger on what wasn't clicking for me. The books in the curriculum are written for the Caucasian homeschooler. Well, that would have worked for my eight bio kids who have ancestors from England, but why would these books be of interest for my girls from Africa? They have a history, they have a heritage, and it's not the one form England.
On the other hand, their heritage is not the one that African Americans have either. My girls are African, Ethiopian to be more precise. I'm entering into an area I don't have experience in, but I'm willing to learn right along with them. I've always been interested in Harriet Tubman, Amos Fortune, Sojourner Truth, and others like them.
In my research I came across Blessed Heritage-Educational resources to foster understanding of the spiritual and racial heritage of children of color.
I've ordered:
Nuturing Christian Character Through the Black Experience. http://www.blessedheritage.com/christcharacter.html
Our Story, His-Story
http://www.blessedheritage.com/elemhistory1.html
This Far by Faith
http://www.blessedheritage.com/midhistory1.html
I've also gone to paperbackswap.com and ordered a few books that I found in Great Books for Girls by Kathleen Odean.
I'm looking forward to walking this path with my girls. If anyone knows of a child's study of Ethiopian history I would LOVE to know about it.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Happy Birthday, Little Miss
We decided on a Dance Party for Amy's party. She loved it!
Learning the cha-cha
Friday, April 19, 2013
Still Here!
I'm still here and check in on facebook ALL the time, but I don't always have time to blog. One of our sons and his family lived with us for about a month while they were waiting for all the financing and things that go into moving into a new-for-them house. What that meant for me was that I got to visit all day with my daughter-in-law and play with little Scotty Boy.
I usually have my three year old granddaughter three days a week, and sometimes more. Her mommy is in nursing school and has a lot of classes and studying, so grandma likes to help out. Little Miss hasn't felt good so she slept with grandma last night when she woke up in the middle of the night. Nothing like a little snuggler to sleep with.
I've been busy with my new toy. A carpet cleaner that my husband bought for me from Target. I know our place is dirty, simply because we live on four acres of dirt, and have a vast amount of people in and out of our house on a daily basis. But oh my!!! The dirt that came out of the furniture. Gross! Today I worked on the love seat in our room. We really need a new one, but this one is quite comfy even if the footrest part of it is broken. We share a folding chair to put our feet on.
I've been researching curriculum. I'm leaning towards the Robinson Curriculum with a little of the Confessions of a Homeschooler geography thrown in. I may teach my granddaughter next year for Preschool and Confessions looks like it has a great Preschool program.
I made a REALLY good potato and ham soup recipe. I ended up making an 8 batch pot, but boy is it yummy. I wanted to use leftover ham and this recipe came up as five stars on allrecipes.com.
Our church has been going through a transition as our pastor resigned to go back to Arkansas to take care of his brother who has ALS. My husband is on the elder board so that means extra meetings for him. We had a great farewell "day" for our pastor and his wife. They have been our shepherds for the past thirty years so it's hard to imagine our fellowship without them.
I have decided that I will homeschool the five girls next year. We are going to use our satellite school, Heritage Christian. We have been with them since my oldest son was in 5th grade, whenever that was, he'll be thirty in a few months. I'm signed up to run the Kindergarten program at a new co-op location. We have Class Days where the moms or dads teach classes for the kids. I don't have anyone in the K age range, but that will be a good thing. I'll be able to focus on all the kids, not just the one who squeaks the loudest by calling me mom.
My high school senior is still pursuing the Coast Guard. He had an appt. today to sign some medical papers, so my husband went down to sign. It's a scary time to let think about letting my son go when there is so much unrest in the world. That is when I need to remember who loves him even more than I do.
On that note, my son-in-law will be deploying into a volatile area in a few weeks. My daughter will move home for the next year while he is there. So I'll get baby Elizabeth and little guy Isaiah to love on.
I'm letting my natural color grow out, which is gray. It struck me as odd that I could trust God with my fertility, but I couldn't trust him with my hair color. My hair dresser is on board kicking and screaming, but she told me she would be on my team. We cut my hair chin length and put in more blond hi-lites. I go back in a few weeks to see where we're at and what the next step should be. I figure I'm in my 50's, a grandma, post-menopausal. I'm claiming the gray. I joined a facebook group called Gray & Proud. I had to double check to make sure I was joining the right group. (if you get it) It helps to have others who have others who have transitioned from their colored hair to their natural color.
Tomorrow we're throwing a dance party for our newest gal. She's never had a party and she's quite energetic so a dance party seems right up her alley. She's beyond excited and we should have so much fun tomorrow. My daughter-in-law is going to lead some of the dance steps and teach them to the kids. Electric slide, anyone?
I usually have my three year old granddaughter three days a week, and sometimes more. Her mommy is in nursing school and has a lot of classes and studying, so grandma likes to help out. Little Miss hasn't felt good so she slept with grandma last night when she woke up in the middle of the night. Nothing like a little snuggler to sleep with.
I've been busy with my new toy. A carpet cleaner that my husband bought for me from Target. I know our place is dirty, simply because we live on four acres of dirt, and have a vast amount of people in and out of our house on a daily basis. But oh my!!! The dirt that came out of the furniture. Gross! Today I worked on the love seat in our room. We really need a new one, but this one is quite comfy even if the footrest part of it is broken. We share a folding chair to put our feet on.
I've been researching curriculum. I'm leaning towards the Robinson Curriculum with a little of the Confessions of a Homeschooler geography thrown in. I may teach my granddaughter next year for Preschool and Confessions looks like it has a great Preschool program.
I made a REALLY good potato and ham soup recipe. I ended up making an 8 batch pot, but boy is it yummy. I wanted to use leftover ham and this recipe came up as five stars on allrecipes.com.
Our church has been going through a transition as our pastor resigned to go back to Arkansas to take care of his brother who has ALS. My husband is on the elder board so that means extra meetings for him. We had a great farewell "day" for our pastor and his wife. They have been our shepherds for the past thirty years so it's hard to imagine our fellowship without them.
I have decided that I will homeschool the five girls next year. We are going to use our satellite school, Heritage Christian. We have been with them since my oldest son was in 5th grade, whenever that was, he'll be thirty in a few months. I'm signed up to run the Kindergarten program at a new co-op location. We have Class Days where the moms or dads teach classes for the kids. I don't have anyone in the K age range, but that will be a good thing. I'll be able to focus on all the kids, not just the one who squeaks the loudest by calling me mom.
My high school senior is still pursuing the Coast Guard. He had an appt. today to sign some medical papers, so my husband went down to sign. It's a scary time to let think about letting my son go when there is so much unrest in the world. That is when I need to remember who loves him even more than I do.
On that note, my son-in-law will be deploying into a volatile area in a few weeks. My daughter will move home for the next year while he is there. So I'll get baby Elizabeth and little guy Isaiah to love on.
I'm letting my natural color grow out, which is gray. It struck me as odd that I could trust God with my fertility, but I couldn't trust him with my hair color. My hair dresser is on board kicking and screaming, but she told me she would be on my team. We cut my hair chin length and put in more blond hi-lites. I go back in a few weeks to see where we're at and what the next step should be. I figure I'm in my 50's, a grandma, post-menopausal. I'm claiming the gray. I joined a facebook group called Gray & Proud. I had to double check to make sure I was joining the right group. (if you get it) It helps to have others who have others who have transitioned from their colored hair to their natural color.
Tomorrow we're throwing a dance party for our newest gal. She's never had a party and she's quite energetic so a dance party seems right up her alley. She's beyond excited and we should have so much fun tomorrow. My daughter-in-law is going to lead some of the dance steps and teach them to the kids. Electric slide, anyone?
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Confessions of a Homeschooler
I came across Confessions of a Homeschooler website a few months ago. I love her curriculum! What caught my eye the first few visits are her USA and World Geography lessons. You can find them here. USA and World Geography I'm going to use one or the other next year with my girls.
She also has Preschool and K4 curriculum available. Since I have my three year old granddaughter throughout the week here and there I though she might enjoy the Preschool lessons. She'll do school like the big girls and start learning her letters and other big girl stuff.
She also has lessons for Art, Science, Composers, Literature and more. Go check out Erica at Confessions of a Homeschooler.com if you haven't already met her. She has wonderful ideas!
She also has Preschool and K4 curriculum available. Since I have my three year old granddaughter throughout the week here and there I though she might enjoy the Preschool lessons. She'll do school like the big girls and start learning her letters and other big girl stuff.
She also has lessons for Art, Science, Composers, Literature and more. Go check out Erica at Confessions of a Homeschooler.com if you haven't already met her. She has wonderful ideas!
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
World Autism Day
It's World Autism Day. Until today I didn't know such a day existed. When we were trying to cope so many years ago, there wasn't much awareness at all. We persevered and did what we knew was right for our son. It was hard work, but it's said that nothing worth having comes easily.
Our son had many of they triggers for autism. We induced his birth a week early hoping to avoid a big baby, his brother was 10.10 lbs at birth and the midwife thought if we went a week early maybe, just maybe he would be only 10 lbs. Well, he didn't want to come out a week early. We had the Pitocin turned up as high as was recommended and I wasn't dilating. We turned it off and went home.
We immunized him on schedule as was recommended. He would get sick after the immunizations, but we didn't catch on to what was happening. We had five other children and were just trying to get through the day. At about six weeks he ended up in the hospital with RSV. His oxygen saturation level was in the low 80's. He was immediately suctioned and placed on oxygen to help him breathe. He was on oxygen for five days. Being on oxygen for five days is another trigger.
At three he still wasn't talking. He sounded like a Tele Tubby. Having other children who talked incessantly, and then to have one who didn't talk was a blessing, or so we thought. This was a warning that something wasn't right.
At six months his soft spot closed. He received x-rays to monitor his brain growth and bone structure to make sure his brain wasn't hitting against his skull.
He didn't potty train until he was four. He wasn't being willful. He could not control his body functions.
One day we went to a bird show at the library. This show was SO BORING!!!! The bird lady wouldn't let the kids touch the birds, they had to sit perfectly still, and her information would have bored a board. My son was not able to sit in his chair. He was everywhere-on top of the chair, under the chair, around the chair, behind the chair...you get the picture. I took him out of the building to the car and gave him a spank for misbehaving. We came back in and he tried to sit still and I felt horrible.
I knew there had to be a different way. Something was going on but I couldn't put my finger on what it was.
We went to a neuro-therapist suggested by our homeschooling group. She was not someone I recommend anyone go to, but she did direct us to an osteopath because of the early soft spot closure many years before.
This osteopath was instrumental in my son's healing. He did a complete examination of him and noticed that his body alignment was off. He tested his urine for peptides. We followed up with him for about a year until we couldn't afford to keep going.
We found that he did have peptides in his urine which meant he was on the Autism Spectrum, but he didn't have classic autism. This started us on the path of a GF/CF diet-gluten/casein free diet for almost two years.
The first week his soccer coach noticed a difference, but didn't know what it was. He asked us what was different and we told him about the diet. He started sleeping through the night within days. He always woke up about one or two in the morning ready for the day. You can imagine how tired we as parents were and so not ready to get up at that time of the day, so for him to sleep until a normal time was wonderful.
Our whole family went on the diet for one month. We purged our house of anything that contained glutin or casein. I learned how to cook differently. I used potato and rice flours instead of wheat flour. This was back in the day when eating glutin free was not popular and finding stuff for a four-to-five year old boy to eat was not easy.
Our lifesaver was Lisa Lewis's cookbooks for the GF/CF Diet. Special Diets for Special Kids is the name of the first cookbook and has some wonderful recipes in it. Very kid friendly and doable.
My son is now a teenager and does very well. He still has some quirks about him. He's now learning at grade level. He takes his studies very seriously and is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet. He makes a mean chocolate chip cookie. We've come a long way from those days about twelve years ago. It was worth it. Every single recipe and decision was worth it. Be your child's advocate. You are the voice for your child. Find it.
Our son had many of they triggers for autism. We induced his birth a week early hoping to avoid a big baby, his brother was 10.10 lbs at birth and the midwife thought if we went a week early maybe, just maybe he would be only 10 lbs. Well, he didn't want to come out a week early. We had the Pitocin turned up as high as was recommended and I wasn't dilating. We turned it off and went home.
We immunized him on schedule as was recommended. He would get sick after the immunizations, but we didn't catch on to what was happening. We had five other children and were just trying to get through the day. At about six weeks he ended up in the hospital with RSV. His oxygen saturation level was in the low 80's. He was immediately suctioned and placed on oxygen to help him breathe. He was on oxygen for five days. Being on oxygen for five days is another trigger.
At three he still wasn't talking. He sounded like a Tele Tubby. Having other children who talked incessantly, and then to have one who didn't talk was a blessing, or so we thought. This was a warning that something wasn't right.
At six months his soft spot closed. He received x-rays to monitor his brain growth and bone structure to make sure his brain wasn't hitting against his skull.
He didn't potty train until he was four. He wasn't being willful. He could not control his body functions.
One day we went to a bird show at the library. This show was SO BORING!!!! The bird lady wouldn't let the kids touch the birds, they had to sit perfectly still, and her information would have bored a board. My son was not able to sit in his chair. He was everywhere-on top of the chair, under the chair, around the chair, behind the chair...you get the picture. I took him out of the building to the car and gave him a spank for misbehaving. We came back in and he tried to sit still and I felt horrible.
I knew there had to be a different way. Something was going on but I couldn't put my finger on what it was.
We went to a neuro-therapist suggested by our homeschooling group. She was not someone I recommend anyone go to, but she did direct us to an osteopath because of the early soft spot closure many years before.
This osteopath was instrumental in my son's healing. He did a complete examination of him and noticed that his body alignment was off. He tested his urine for peptides. We followed up with him for about a year until we couldn't afford to keep going.
We found that he did have peptides in his urine which meant he was on the Autism Spectrum, but he didn't have classic autism. This started us on the path of a GF/CF diet-gluten/casein free diet for almost two years.
The first week his soccer coach noticed a difference, but didn't know what it was. He asked us what was different and we told him about the diet. He started sleeping through the night within days. He always woke up about one or two in the morning ready for the day. You can imagine how tired we as parents were and so not ready to get up at that time of the day, so for him to sleep until a normal time was wonderful.
Our whole family went on the diet for one month. We purged our house of anything that contained glutin or casein. I learned how to cook differently. I used potato and rice flours instead of wheat flour. This was back in the day when eating glutin free was not popular and finding stuff for a four-to-five year old boy to eat was not easy.
Our lifesaver was Lisa Lewis's cookbooks for the GF/CF Diet. Special Diets for Special Kids is the name of the first cookbook and has some wonderful recipes in it. Very kid friendly and doable.
My son is now a teenager and does very well. He still has some quirks about him. He's now learning at grade level. He takes his studies very seriously and is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet. He makes a mean chocolate chip cookie. We've come a long way from those days about twelve years ago. It was worth it. Every single recipe and decision was worth it. Be your child's advocate. You are the voice for your child. Find it.
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