Giving up math...

Making the decision to have a child is momentous.  It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.  ~Elizabeth Stone

My oldest son (8.5) has always used Horizons math, and I've always sat with him. For the last three+ years, I have been his math teacher. Sure, we had lots of times filled with whining, complaining, tears, and discipline. But there were even more days when I could see that light bulb flicker on when he finally understood a difficult concept, when we would laugh over funny counting mistakes, and the many, many tickle breaks we took. Good memories, over all.

My son is excited that he gets to start Teaching Textbooks (TT) math on the computer next year. He loves to sit and do the samples online and he thinks it's going to be SO fun! I'm happy that he's excited, because really, it's about the learning. He loves to sit and watch those math courses on public television. I think it's so funny that he really enjoys seeing advanced math problems worked out when he doesn't really know what they are talking about, but it's fascinating to him. Sitting with mom doing math worksheets just isn't cutting it for him. So, next year things will change.

On the one hand, I'm happy that it looks like TT will fit him perfectly. Plus, I'll be teaching three next year, so to have my oldest almost completely independent with math is a relief. If things work out like I think they will, my middle child will also use TT the following year. Then I'll only have one child doing math worksheets with me. Again, part of me is relieved by that....

...but then there's mommy. Today mommy wants to sit and cry over the growing up of her little children. Mommy wants to keep doing daily math worksheets with each of her children until they're 50. She sees switching to Teaching Textbooks math as the first step out the door and wants to bring life to a screeching halt. I don't want to let go, I don't want to give up Math. It's the first step to giving up so many other things.

Wiping my tears and getting my emotions under control so I can be rational...

It's going to be okay. This isn't the first step... the first step to my child's independence happened the moment he was able to live outside the womb... and we've been taking little steps in that direction ever since. That's what the parent/child relationship is all about. We grow together, we teach each other about life and God, and at just the right time, he has to spread his wings and fly... even if mommy has to give him a little push... it must be done. And it's good. And the cycle starts all over in his own life as a brand new chapter in mine begins. And we get to teach each other about those things, too.

I'm laughing at myself now. All this over a little math? I mean, he's only 8 for goodness' sake! It's not like he's leaving tomorrow! Plus, I'm still going to have to check his work every day... not to mention all the other subjects I still have to teach him.. and my other two kids... for the next 15 years. The boy can't even do his own laundry, cook his own meals, or get to bed on time without my help. Get a grip, mommy.... it'll be a LONG time before you get a break.

Mama's Fave Crock-Pot Meal

image credit

 I'm cookin' a roast & veggies in my pot today, but a post from a friend made me think of (and share with her) my favorite Crock-Pot meal, so I thought I'd share it here, too.  I hope you make it and love it!

Creamy Chicken Italiano
Jen's Version

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1 envelope dry Italian dressing mix
8-oz pkg. cream cheese, softened
10 3/4-oz can cream of chicken soup
4-oz. can mushroom pieces, drained (optional)

1. Place chicken in slow cooker.
2. Sprinkle dressing mix over chicken.
   
3. Break cream cheese into pieces and place on top of chicken.
   
4. Spoon canned soup on top of the cream cheese.
   
5. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.  (If I use frozen chicken, I'll start the crock pot on low at 6am and it's ready when I get home at 5pm.)
   
6. When it's all done, I take the chicken out and use a whisk to mix what's left in the crockpot... chicken juices and the cheese mixture. It makes a GREAT sauce!
   
7. Chop up the cooked chicken and add it back into the sauce.
   
8. Serve over hot buttered noodles or rice.

Yumm-o!

Homeschool Moms' Winter Summit

This past weekend I attended the Homeschool Moms’ Winter Summit.  It was my first time and I wasn’t sure what to expect.  I was pleasantly surprised, to say the least.  Upon entering the Atrium at Crossings Community Church, I noticed the sweet, peaceful atmosphere.  You could tell some major prayer had gone into the weekend and the sweet Spirit of God had definitely, faithfully, shown up.  I expected to hear veteran and retired homeschool moms speak about their experiences and give their best wisdom, and that did happen, but I did not expect to take a swim in the deep things of God.  I mean, I had been to a homeschool conference before, but this was more like a women’s retreat.  There was PLENTY of laughter to be had, but the time we spent hearing, seeking, and speaking with the Lord were often, deep, and sweet.  The leaders and speakers were wonderful, real, honest women who shared their [great and small] successes, failures, and heartaches.  We laughed AND cried… a LOT.  It was a refreshing time in the Presence of the Living God, and, Lord willing, I will definitely attend again.

Life and Language Arts

This week we are back to school after being off for the month of December.  Our holiday season was much more relaxed since we didn't have to worry about school in addition to everything else.  My house is a mess (as usual), and the Christmas decorations are still up ('til Saturday), but we are back on the ball with lessons, including a whole new plan for Language Arts for the rest of this school year.

We've used Sonlight for just about everything since the very beginning, but the last year or so, I haven't been happy with the Language Arts (LA) program.  It frustrates me for some reason, and the kids hate it.  I stuck to it this year because I really wanted to like it, but finally decided last week that we really must change.  I mean, why punish ourselves day after day?  So, for the rest of this year we are using grade-level LA workbooks that I bought at Barnes & Noble for just under $7 each... plus Explode the Code phonics and some of the creative writing prompts from Sonlight.  We'll use Sonlight's spelling, too, since that's what we have right now.  The current plan for next year is for Seth to use Switched-On Schoolhouse for LA3, and for Caleb to use Lifepac LA2.  I just really like a concrete, straightforward LA curriculum better than Sonlight's natural learning approach.  Of course, we're still using Sonlight for just about everything else, so I'm still a huge fan!

Have a beautiful day!