Harriet Tubman Studies

A few weeks ago I took my youngest daughter to see Harriet, the movie about Harriet Tubman.  It made a strong impact on her.  She loved it, saying it was one of her favorite movies.

Seeing Harriet

I almost didn’t take her.  She can be sensitive and I worried about violence in the movie.  But, I decided that at nearly 13, with me and her grandmother present, she would be okay if we encountered scenes that were too much. 

The movie was pretty tame, but the story was beautifully told.  We left the movie inspired and with a deeper understanding of this heroic woman. 

Yesterday, we went to the library.  It was time for my girl to choose some new topics for her homeschool studies.  She went into the library with Oceanography as a plan... except she has read all the library’s books about oceanography in the children’s section.  She also has read most of the weather and storm books, everything about horses, and much about different animals.  

I told her to browse around and see if any topics caught her eye.  After a few minutes, she pulled out a book about Harriet Tubman meeting Sojourner Truth.  

“I want this.”  She said, her eyes lighting up. 

“Oh ya, you wanted to learn more about Harriet Tubman.”  I responded as I remembered her excitement after the movie.  

I then went on the library’s catalog and looked up all the library’s resources about Harriet.  We came home with a few books and a movie about Harriet Tubman.

Then I remembered that I had watched the movie Hidden Figures without my daughter, and I went in search of that movie to show her.  I love showing her movies of intelligent, strong women.  (I also secretly hoped the love of math would be an example for my math-challenged girl.) We watched that movie this evening, and she enjoyed it also. 

This is a lifestyle of learning.  This is delight-directed learning, following interests and inspirations wherever they lead.  

It’s also the first time my daughter has picked a major that wasn’t something to do with science.  She is studying the Reformation for history right now once a week, so watching her choose a person was very different for her.  

I love that she felt that curiosity spur to life in her.  For a while, I had begun to fear her love of learning was fizzling our while I was busy doing coursework for college.  I had returned to preplanned lessons While working on my own education. My daughter complied, but the mention of “school time” was bringing out the old groans of dread.  

I struggled to get to the library in a timely manner last year because we were so busy.  The fines were ridiculous.  We literally quit going entirely for six months.  For now, I won’t let my daughter check out as many materials at a time.  We’ll just have to be more diligent about keeping up with due dates and make more frequent visits.  

I just couldn’t watch her love of learning fizzle again into duty and dread.  

Beauty and The Beast

Our little town is a cool little place sometimes.  Besides the public school plays and the local college that puts on productions, we have two theater groups.  Two!  One is for children from after they complete fourth grade until they begin high school.  My oldest two daughters participated in that group for a few years.  My youngest will get to join next year, and she is super excited!

Then we have the other theater group.  Open to all ages, the local talent never ceases to amaze me and others.  This year's production was Beauty and the Beast.  Megan, my little drama queen, was the salt shaker. 

This is her third play with this theater group.  She has such a good time.  I think she learns a lot.  There is a lot of down time, a lot of learning stage terms and choreography.  Sometimes, there are impatient adults (including mommy, as I wait), and differing personalities.  But Megan simply loves performing.

Here is Megan performing a dance routine.

There are experiences I want my children to have, and one of them is the feeling of working hard and seeing that hard work pay off. For Megan, showtime is a payoff.  She loves the music and all the energy.  She has been blessed to act with her aunt (Mommy's sister) for all three years. The memories in that alone are priceless!

Megan loves acting with her Aunt, who played Belle this year!

All of Megan's sisters came to cheer her on! 

She made this Daddy proud!

Play Practice and Algebra

The last two weeks have been made up of two things: play practice and algebra.  Megan is in a local theater's production of Beauty and the Beast.  She has acted with this company for the previous two years.  It is a lot of work and even more waiting around, and we always think of quitting.  Okay, I think of having her quit.  The endless practices wear me out since I have to be with her the whole time. Somehow, on opening night, Megan comes alive and loves every moment.

The play is this coming weekend, which os right before we begin our school year. When Megan isn't at play practice, she wants to watch endless television.  This is a sure sign that our summer activities are boring.  It is hot, so playing outside isn't much fun.  

Megan in her "town-person" dress.

Mom hasn't been much for entertaining her because I have been going through endless Algebra lessons.  My placement test for college is in a few short days, and I am determined to do as well as I can.  Since my SAT and college classes are a bit old (cough, cough), I need to take the placement test.  I've already accepted that of I need a refresher course, despite years of homeschooling, I'll be positive about it.  Math is my struggle.  After all, I paid for my high school girls to have the program that taught the lessons for me.  Now I am using those programs to remember all that math I learned long ago. The sample tests have me doing well in everywhere except Algebra.  Yep... That was my arch enemy in high school also.  

I find that I am okay with whatever challenges are placed before me.  I have longed to go back to college for a very long time.  I don't expect it to be easy.  I am a little nervous about keeping up with college and homeschooling, without letting my time with the Lord suffer.  I'm expecting it all to require more organization skills than I have ever used .  

All is ready for homeschooling and college to begin except for purchasing some school supplies.  Pencils, paper of all kinds, pens, and a calculator for me so I will quit killing my phone battery.  I have planned out the girls courses for a year!  We will take life and school one day at a time. 

Summer Library Day - Animal Lady

Our local library puts on an awesome summer reading program.  Once a week the children get to see a program that brings books to live.  A couple days ago was the first show.

We call her the Animal Lady.  She works for a state wildlife rescue agency.  She brought in all sorts of animals for the children to see and learn about.  This thrilled Megan because she loves reading about amphibians and reptiles and wild animals. 

Holding a baby crocodile was a huge highlight for my animal lover!

This program is a favorite among the children.  The Animal Lady brought in a rabbit, a python, the baby crocodile, a huge beetle, and more.  

Harvest Fest

Megan was thrilled to join friends for a local Harvest Fest.

Attending the Feast of the Hunter's Moon

It was a cold, somewhat damp, but fun day as my family joined with my sister's family by her home for the Feast of the Hunter's Moon.  Feast of the Hunters’ Moon is a weekend festival and historical reenactment held each fall on the first weekend of October, at the present-day site of Fort Ouiatenon, a replica 18th century French military and trading post in Indiana.

My sister has been a few times, but it was the first time for our children.  It was chilly and started raining before we left, but it was still educational and fun.  I thought it was awesome, but I love history and anything that helps it come alive.

Megan and her cousin, Kaden, buddies up for the activities.  They got to watch blacksmiths heat metal with coal fires, make homemade paper, and saw a log with a two-person saw.  The period costumes were amazing! 

My sister and I sampled some parched corn, which was unique and delicious.  We also had some amazing roasted corn on the cob and homemade apple cider. There was many treats we didn't try, like buffalo burgers. Everything is cooked over an open fire, as it would have been in the 1700s. 

One of my older daughters, Tasha, and her husband joined us for the Feast.  We had a great time walking around together, even though it was chilly. 

I have been looking forward to this for several weeks.  I have felt like we needed to be doing more as a family.  It is tough with financial limitations and a teenager working and differing schedules to get the time together.  However, we enjoyed being together. Doing something most of us had never done before added to the adventure. 

The Lesson I Wasn't Seeking

As a homeschooling Mom, I desire to give my children a variety of experiences. I long for them to try a little of this and that, so that their education is well-rounded.

A couple months ago we enrolled our youngest in soccer.  She had never played before, but wanted to try the sport.  Her older sisters had all played, and most of them had loved participating.  One daughter didn't like it, and only played a couple years.  

My youngest could never play where we lived previously because the games were on Sunday's. They conflicted with my husband's work schedule and church.  Last year we were too late to enroll her.  

It seemed like a good idea.

It became clear from the beginning that this might not be as great as I thought.  Megan is right, but a newbie.  Megan gets better and better as she plays, but it is obvious she is still learning.  

What causes kids to treat others poorly? What causes coaches to be critical and annoyed with a new kid instead of encouraging and, well... Coaching?  What causes the other two girls on the team to exclude one, to call names, to make me feel this has been a big mistake.

"That's kids."  

I was given this as a response, and I don't buy it.  The attitude is that my daughter should just learn to deal with bullying like she has done something wrong instead of the reverse. My daughter is upset, because she so wanted to play soccer, and didn't expect that other people would be mean.

It's been weeks of feeling excluded and being called names by the two girls, one of whom is the coaches daughter, of being yelled at by the coaches and the other children for not knowing or understanding a game that was new to her.  Yesterday, she reacted.  She got angry and threw a ball.  Of course the coaches immediately lashed out at her.  One of the girls tried to lunge for my daughter, after she had kicked my daughter, but the coaches grabbed her... And hugged her. 

I usually sit right at the practices.  This time I had sat in my vehicle where I could observe unnoticed.  Without realizing I was there, I couldn't hear the soft words, but I could hear the yelling.  I saw my daughter, running and trying so hard to fit in and be a part, and then left alone as the kids excluded her and yelled at her.  She would look to the coaches for direction, and she was ignored instead.  

I was so ready to be done.  One of my older daughters said to just pull her, or she would hate soccer.  I'm more worried that my girl, that isn't around peer pressure and bullying (sisters don't count) on a daily basis, will lose something special.  

Being bullied changes you.  I know adults that are still haunted by bullying they endured.  I know that being bullied leaves a person raw inside, and similar situations will bring anxiety.  The argument is that children need to learn to deal with this type of thing so they can deal with it later in life.  

I'm not sure that is correct.  Dealing with many other types of people is one thing.  Dealing with an unfair situation where bullying is not only tolerated by the coaches, but the coaches are not much better... That is not what an eight year old should endure.  

Right now my husband and I plan to be a LARGE presence at every practice and game.  We plan to present a united front, and if the situation escalates, pull our daughter from the team.  We plan to support our daughter.  We also plan to make sure our daughter knows how to respond appropriately to situations where she is treated poorly.  In other words, no lashing out and no ball throwing!  

We also plan to encourage her, since the coaches haven't learned the importance of building up instead of tearing down. Maybe she got cruddy coaches this year, and next year will be better. Maybe we will move on to something else.  No matter what, my husband and I won't stand by and watch an eight year old girl get bullied. 

I still want to pull her from the team.  The protective instinct says to get my little girl out of a situation that is not good.  However, I've agreed to wait it out for a bit and take it a practice and a game at a time. Despite it all, my daughter loves soccer.  She is learning, but she likes playing. She may hate how her teammates and coaches treat her, but she likes the sport. It is because of that reason alone that she is still there.  

Learning Self-Acceptance

Who am I?

I have learned that I have to like who God created me to be.  The things I do and like and believe have changed over the years.  My personality traits and quirks have been toned down here and there by the leading of the Holy Spirit. 

My Sis and my Meggy

Earlier this evening my youngest daughter and baby sister got to act and sing together in the musical, Oklahoma.  It was the final night, and the entire cast was fantastic.  My sister is amazingly talented.  My youngest already loves the stage.  

My oldest daughter is also a lover of the stage.  She was in theater for years and sings worship on stage nearly every Sunday.  

My next three daughters love singing, but didn't like acting all that much.  Singing is a love most in my family share, but being in the limelight is not everyone's cup of tea... And that's perfectly fine. I hope all of my daughters know that who they are, who God made them, is beautiful and precious, whether they are singing on a stage or teaching teens about Jesus or working with an autistic boy or has a heart and plans to help abused children or loves writing stories.  God did not make us all the same.  He equipped each of us with different talents and gifts. 

My Daughters

I can say this wholeheartedly about my own children or my sisters, but I struggle believing it about myself sometimes.  I don't think very many people have told me that who I am is is special and good.  

I sometimes think, "Why don't I enjoy singing and acting on a stage like my sister and daughters?  I'm not overly shy.  I like singing.  I don't think I'm horrible at it.  It looks like fun. Why am I different?"

I wonder what it would be like to be told by others how they enjoyed something that I worked hard on and accomplished.  I'm sure that, if things in the past had been different, I could have been different.  But I was the girl that moved a lot and had trouble making friends.  I was the loner that found friends in books when I was so lonely at yet another new school where very few would talk to me.  I was the awkward girl with the frizzy curls and glasses and unstylish clothes. 

I wonder sometimes "What if..."

My husband and me on our Anniversary last year.

And I realize that I wouldn't trade a thing. I am not shy because I had to meet many different people growing up.  I am not intimidated meeting people from different backgrounds or education levels. Moving like a gypsy, going to four high schools in four years made making friends difficult, but it helped me to be me.  I can homeschool with confidence because  I know that friends are nice, but peer dependency often isn't.  I want my daughters to be who God made them, not who they think will help them fit in or be popular.  

God gave me an inquisitive mind that loves to read and research. He allowed me to move often to give me a love of different people and places. 

Me and four of my girls

The Butterfly Effect says to change one thing would change everything.  While there were things I didn't think I would survive while in the midst of them, when I see each of my very special daughters or my amazing husband, I would change nothing.  

It took me awhile to get my heart right with God.  I'm still a work in progress in many areas. I think He sees each of His children the way I see mine. I think He sees their gifts and talents as wonderful, whether they are on a stage representing Him or serving Him in a way that doesn't bring the applause. 

My husband with our youngest

I was very proud of my youngest tonight, and I told her so.  She had worked hard and it showed.  I wondered at that moment if I had conveyed to the others how proud of them I am, whether their gifts take them to a stage or not. My intention is for them to know, and I believe in living intentionally.

At the same moment I wondered if I had let my daughters feel my love and joy for who they are, God showed me that He feels the same about me. He created me, through the innate traits He placed inside me, to the environments He allowed me to be in to mold and sculpt me, to the moment His Spirit led me into a relationship with Him and I was reborn.  I am still me, but now those things that are me, He wants to use for Him. 

Me

I love that my sister gets to have a piece of her dream.  For awhile I felt as if God had taken away my dreams.  But I feel as if He is placing new dreams in my heart.  I probably won't ever be on stage, singing under the lights, hearing the applause.  That's okay. I'll cheer on those that love it and bring me joy watching them, with the knowledge that God's plans for me may not be the same, but they aren't less.

While In Alaska

My girls are in the middle of their missions trip to Alaska.  I have received random photos from them.

Kim and Jasmine, working on the coffee shelter.

They are excited to be building a coffee shelter since coffee runs through the veins of this family.  

Laura, working hard.

They have had mild weather so far, but today I heard they had a winter weather advisory... In June!  They are also dealing with 22 hours of daylight.  

Jasmine, having some private time.

They will be home Sunday.  I'm missing them and will be happy to have them home.

Laura

And They're Off...

Three of my girls are headed to the airport to fly to Alaska for a short-term missions trip.  I am so proud of them, and nervous too!

Laura, Kim, and Jasmine - Alaska bound!

I pray for their safety.  I pray that God touches each of their lives in a major way.  I pray that he fills their hearts with His love for others.  

I know the experience will be educational.  Laura has never flown before.  Neither Laura nor Jasmine have seen the Rocky Mountains.  Kim went on a missions trip to Alaska a couple years ago when she was in college.  It touched her greatly. 

Kim standing on the Bering Sea in Alaska in 2013.

I am so excited for them, even as my mommy heart cries out in prayer and already misses them.  

First Piano Recital

The girls (pictured here with a friend) had their very first piano recital on Monday.

They played at the local Care Center (Nursing Home).  It was such fun!

I was taking video.  My mom was taking photos.  Unfortunately her camera messed up and we didn't get any pictures of Megan playing.

The girls all did great, despite nervousness.  It was a great first experience!

Seven Years, Seven Lessons - Lesson 2

 Give Experiences

I think one of the greatest ways to learn is to do.  Now, it isn't the only way to learn.  I learn in many ways.  I read a lot, and reading, for me, is kind of like doing.  There are some books that draw me in and I feel like I actually know the characters.  I can picture them in my head, like a movie.  However, this doesn't happen naturally for everyone.  Some learners literally have a tough time doing if they can't see it themselves and do it for themselves.  For example, Laura struggled with learning how to count money when we simply used her math curriculum.  A few days of "playing store" with her older sisters, and it clicked.  As she had to add up the money for purchases and give change, she understood.  She never struggled with counting money again.

Playing Store

Giving our children experiences is very important.  I would love to give them more experiences.  My high school girls are going this summer on a missions trip to Alaska.  I know this will give them many experiences that they would never get by reading a book.  I traveled around a bit as a child and even more as a young adult, and those experiences of living in other states and meeting many different people from all over the world and of different cultures was wonderful. 

A couple of years ago, we made a couple trips to Missouri to visit my oldest daughter as she was in College.  We drove through St. Louis and the beautiful Ozarks.  That experience was great for my girls, to visit a different place.   The older ones have gotten to travel to various States, and it is always an adventure they enjoy.

One of our trips to St. Louis, Missouri

In our homeschool, there are times where it seems as if we are doing a lot of seat work.  I try to come at education from a few different ways, so that my children aren't simply learning from one way.  I add in movies and videos when I can because I have a daughter that learns best this way.  However, even for the ones that learn best by reading, I think doing and watching is important.  The workbooks and computer curriculum may offer them a precept upon precept way of learning, building and repeating.  Adding in experiences adds a deeper level to learning, teaching them how the material applies to their world.  The information becomes personal as they physically interact with it.

Seeing the trains inside and out.

For example, we visited a train museum a few months ago.  The girls got to climb aboard old trains and see them from the inside as well as the outside.  

Up Close and Personal with Old Trains

Over the years, I have tried to find experiences for my children.  I want to add more, and sometimes I have to be creative.  I may not always have the funds for travel, but I still wish to give my girls some hooks to hang the information on that they are learning about.  Many times we just look for things in our world that provide more experiences, without being overly expensive. 

Some experiences aren't "field trips".  Some of the best experiences are learning by doing.  For instance, every summer two of my daughters participate in Teen Mission.  Teen Mission is a group of local churches that ban their youth groups together to do service projects over a one week period of time in the local area.  They paint houses, build wheelchair ramps, do yard work or gardening, or whatever else needs done for those that may be elderly or handicapped and can't do this for themselves.  This has given my girls new skills as they have been a part of a team effort to serve our local community.

My husband loves music and plays bass.  My oldest daughter is a worship team leader.  All of my children love music.  My younger girls are learning piano.  Some of the greatest experiences they have gotten to have is going to concerts.  From choir concerts at the local school to professional concerts, my girls have gotten to be a part of a lot of it.  Recently the girls got to go to the Rock and Worship Roadshow with Jamie Grace, Matt Maher, Tedashi, Group 1 Crew, David Crowder, and Mercy Me.  We don't go to a lot of concerts, as they can get expensive with a larger family. However, it is almost always an experience. 

Traditionally, when we think of giving our children experiences, we think of Field Trips.  I look for opportunities to do these, and they usually don't coincide with what we have been studying.  However, I refuse to miss an opportunity just because we might be studying something different that year.   Here are some examples of field trips that we have taken:

The Traveling Vietnam War Memorial.  The Girls found their Great-Uncle's name.

A trip to Arkansas 

Visiting a local farm

Jasmine getting to visit the White House

We try to get to a local zoo at least once a year.

We've gotten to go boating a time or two.

 

 

Visiting the Children's Museum is always fun.

We loved the Creation Museum, and Jasmine's first camel ride.

Visiting the 1800s log cabin, post office, schoolhouse, and blacksmith

I could go on and on, as we love visiting places and seeing them personally.  Giving children experiences doesn't have to cost a lot.  Just live your days with them.  Take them to the store with you.  Go hiking with them.  Homeschoolers tend to believe that ALL of life is school.  I may use traditional materials for school, but the learning doesn't stop when we are done with our lessons each day.  If you see all of life as an education, then you begin to see the world differently.  You begin to see that VBS over the summer as an experience, that festival two towns over as a way to introduce a culture that isn't your own, that reenactment as a way to show them history come to life, that house project as an experience to teach your children a skill they didn't know. 

Most homeschoolers live on one income.  Money for experiences is slim, and usually a sacrifice.  Make them count.  Give them plentifully.  As the weather turns nice this Spring and summer, turn off the television.  Go to the park.  Take the kids to an outdoor concert... or have them put one on!  Plan a day away where you can go visit the next state over.  If you can't afford to go far, then watch for local things happening in your area: a play, an outdoor movie, a festival.  Eat before you go and take a few bucks for a lemon-shakeup or cotton candy.  Make memories with your children.  We go blueberry picking every summer, and have a blast. Your children will be richly educated by having parents that long to create memories, to spend time with their children, and to show the love of Christ.  God will open unbelievable doors.