What She Said

You know, Nutmeg, I think maybe we were triplets.

Because what she wrote, I felt.

Every last word.

Every single year.

For the past twelve years.

And somehow we've made it this far anyway.

Mine is a God of infinite Mercy and miraculous Goodness.

Without a doubt.

Wait a Minute...

I just realized something.

How can Elena, who has been homeschooled all of her life, have 138 friends on Facebook?

Isn't she supposed to have socialization issues?

There's something fishy going on around here...

Snow Day!

This is what we found on the kitchen table this morning.

Around midnight last night, my oldest daughter Elena happily abandoned her AP World History to bake these cupcakes in celebration of the news that her outside classes for today were cancelled due to the impending ice storm. Because...you know...why sleep when you can bake? (I'm afraid she has inherited my propensity to exhibit night owlish behavior, much to her daddy's chagrin.)

Of course, the ice storm did not, make that, should not have impacted our studies at home. As a homeschooling friend of mine used to say to her kids, "When the snow is so deep that you cannot make it to the kitchen table, then I will cancel school." In theory, that is my theory. But, well, Daddy also got to stay home today, and that snow was just so darn inviting. We did do some basics (piano, math and reading), meal preparation and clean up(Home Ec.), lots of outdoor play (Phys. Ed), and then hours of shoveling driveways and sidewalks for neighbors (Vocational Training).

All in all, a very full day of real learning. And they thought I cancelled school. ;)

You Know You're a Decent Homeschooler When...

...you're watching your daughters' first basketball game of the season and, after studying the scoreboard for several minutes, your six-year-old turns to you and says,

"So, they skip count?"

Blessed Are the Pure in Heart

This morning we were reading the tenth chapter of The First Christians by Marigold Hunt, and we came across Paul's words to the elders of the church in Ephesus: "Remember how our Lord said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" Nastia immediately responded, "Well, that sure is true."

I had to smile at the appropriateness of her comment. Nastia is my child with a heart of gold. Giving seems to come as easily as breathing for her. She is the one who chooses her cookie based on what she thinks the others will want, always leaving the best on the plate. She's the first to surrender her turn at something for a younger (or older) sibling, even when it's something she's been anticipating with joy. When someone's birthday arrives, she doesn't just search her closet for a worn, unwanted toy to offer as a gift---she wraps up her favorite horse instead. While it's true that she doesn't seem too attached to possessions, it's more than that. She simply delights in making other people happy.

If only we could all understand our Lord's words as my sweet Nastia does.

The Simple Gifts

Lately, for some unknown reason, every time Mariana leads her Hail Mary during our morning decade, she accidentally slips into a Southern drawl and then breaks into the giggles. I know I shouldn't encourage this sort of thing during prayers, but it's hard not to smile when you witness your toothless Chinese-American daughter pronouncing her "blessed art thou" as if she were living in the heart of Alabama. As if the lisp were not enough. God bless her for the joy she brings me.

*************************************************************************

This morning as I was reading our American history lesson aloud, Charlie (4), donned in his Notre Dame baseball cap as always, interrupted me to ask, "So, Saint Nicholas lived and died long before Saint Hilda?" "Oh yes," I replied, stabbing at the dark and frantically trying to remember who Saint Hilda was and when it was that we read about her. This kid is going to make me work hard to educate him, I just know it.

Real Learning?

If your seven-year-old reads over your shoulders as you are composing a new blog post, does that count as reading practice for the day?

Just wondering.

She did amazingly well.

St. Bernadette's Vision, A Narration by Nastia

Today we finished reading Bernadette, Our Lady's Servant together as our morning read-aloud. It was especially meaningful, having made a pilgrimage to Lourdes last April. We could picture the scenes perfectly because we had prayed at the grotto and stood inside the Old Jail. What a blessing.

I asked the middle girls to write or draw a narration, and this was what Nastia (10) wrote:

Bernadette's sisters were going to gather firewood, but Bernadette could not go because she had a cold. Her sisters were off. Bernadette asked if she could go along, but her mother said, "No." But then she said it was okay if she kept her shoes and stockings on, so Bernadette said that she would keep them on.

When she got to the grotto, the others had already run across to the other side. Bernadette threw stones into the water to make stepping stones, but they sank right away. She started to take her shoes off when a soaring gush of wind blew. Bernadette looked up and then she started to take her stockings off and she heard another gush of wind.

Then she saw the most beautiful lady Bernadette had ever seen. She fell onto her knees and took out her rosary and started praying. And that's the story of Bernadette. She had seen the Blessed Virgin.


Not bad for a little girl who spoke nary a word of English five years ago. I find it so interesting to discover what they remember, what made it into their little hearts. We started reading the book a couple of weeks ago, so I was amazed how many details she remembered from the first chapter. I also was a bit surprised that she included no information beyond the first chapter. I suspect she ran out of steam, since it took her quite a while to write it all down.

Nevertheless, she remembered the crucial part: She had seen the Blessed Virgin.

Music to a Home Educating Mother's Ears

"Oh my gosh, Latin class was so much fun today!"

I kid you not. These were Elena's exact words today as she jumped into the van to race off to choir practice. This is the girl who had no desire to study Latin a few weeks ago...and was not exactly thrilled that I enrolled her in an online class anyway. Sometimes Mom knows best, and thankfully this was one of those times.

My secret: Lone Pine Classical School

It's been worth every penny. And then some.


(What do the boys think, Marianne?)

Reflections of Love

I've been reflecting on what Monday's post reveals about my evolution as a mother. And not just that I haven't read the Nativity story to my four-year-old often enough.

There was a time when I never would have shared that story with anyone outside of my family, certainly not with other homeschooling mothers. I would have been embarrassed that my almost-five-year-old would have made such a ridiculous statement. Surely, at almost-five, she should know that Jesus was never named Pocahontas, if I'm doing my job and she's capable of learning.

Somewhere along the road of my childhood, I became somewhat performance-driven, and my self-worth was centered more on how well I did what I did than on who I was (or as it should have been, to Whom I belonged). I was a shy and quiet kid but bright enough to play the game of school quite well. My grades earned recognition and gave me an identity to which I clung. I don't think my parents caused this by putting too much emphasis on my performance---it was simply a by-product of the nature of school and competitive ranking.

When I left school and work (paid work) behind and became a mother, there were no longer any As or honor rolls to bolster my ego. There weren't any more positive work reviews or promotions from my social work supervisors. There were just dishes and laundry and a baby. I've written before about how good housekeeping is not exactly my forte...so I depended on the baby to reflect my worth.

And what a baby she was. She was bright and beautiful and absolutely perfect in every way. She was our only child for eight years, and as those years passed, she excelled in pretty much everything she did. We adored her and were oh so happy in our little family. I can honestly say that I have always loved her unconditionally and that my love would have been no less had she been less gifted.

But I also know that I rather enjoyed the compliments I received on her behalf....because I received them as compliments to myself as well. Oh, did she make me look good.

Our good and gracious Lord knew that I needed to get past this nonsense if I were ever to grow in holiness. And so He gave me children who were every bit as bright and beautiful, but a bit lacking in the area of perfection. He also allowed my first daughter's adolescence to show me that, contrary to previous beliefs, she is lacking in that area as well, but not nearly as much as I am.

It has been a slow and somewhat painful process for me---frustrating and so very humbling---this letting go of wanting to look good, of wanting my kids to look good. I remember with shame how quick I was to tell people that Valya and Nastia were newly adopted, lest anyone suspect that I was the one responsible for my daughters' social faux pas. In doing so, I made it quite obvious that I was truly only responsible for my own.

We all face such a temptation (straight from you know who) to compare ourselves and our children to others and want to come out on top, or at least not at the bottom. As mothers who educate our children at home, we are not immune to this. Several years ago when my sister-in-law was struggling to teach her oldest to read, she asked me how it was possible that every other homeschooled child she encountered was advanced in reading, according to his or her mother. I do think we are a bit more honest about it now as a whole.

Maybe I'm mellowing with age or maybe I've been forced to become more accepting through adoption or maybe the gift of being with my children all day every day has opened my heart and eyes a bit more. It's probably a mix of the three and then some, with lots of grace thrown in. But I find myself worrying less about how much my children know and more about how much they are loved. Thanks be to God, I'm focusing more on their beauties and strengths and less on their little (and big) imperfections. Deep down I'm acknowledging that they are not solely a reflection of my success or failure but that I must be a reflection of His Love. Always and in all ways.

And so I can laugh and rejoice in the sweetness of my almost-five-year-old when she calls Jesus by the name of Pocahontas. I can take her precious face in my hands and kiss her on the nose and love her all the more. How I would love to peer into her little head and find the connection that caused the confusion for her. For I know that she knows who Jesus is and how He was born and most importantly, how very much she is loved by Him.

And I'm thankful that I do too.


P.S. In spite of all these nice words I just wrote, I must say that I am slightly uncomfortable that not one single person has commented to say how cute or sweet or funny my Jacinta is. I promise you that I have told her the Nativity story many, many times and that she really does know that the name of Mary and Jofess's baby was Jesus. Honest.

Just How Long...

do I let this go on? It's 11:46pm here, and my thirteen-year-old is downstairs working on The Global Puzzle with her grandfather. Earlier I told them that I would probably come down at 8am to find them placing the final piece...but I WAS JOKING! They have shown no signs of letting up.

I'm torn. They are both relishing some precious one-on-one time, and they are engaged in a worthwhile educational endeavor, after all...........

But it's 11:48pm, for goodness sakes! On a "school" night, no less! Exactly how long can I allow this to continue as a conscientious mother?

Oh...wait a minute...they're coming up and calling it a night. Whew.

Ah, the dilemmas of a mother who is truly, truly blessed.

Treasured Times with my Teen

Since we were blessed with a somewhat sunny day, Grandma and Grandpa gathered the five youngest into the van and headed for the Duck Park. That gave me a few uninterrupted hours with my firstborn. This sort of golden opportunity doesn't come along too often, so we made the most of it.

We began with several rounds of Geography Games. My kids enjoy using this website almost every day to practice their geography, but they love it even more when they can compete against their mom. Today Elena and I decided to refresh ourselves on US capitals. Our biggest giggle of the day came when I was absolutely stumped trying to remember which state belonged to Columbus. (I spent the first eighteen years of my life in Ohio!) The pressure of the clock got to me.

Then we finally cracked the cover of Beowulf, which I've been wanting to do for oh so long. Elena's been begging me to let her read it herself, since we rarely get time to read together and she knew she needed to finish it this year. But I've insisted on waiting, both because I miss the shared experience of our read-aloud time and also because I know I'd never get around to reading it on my own. I have to admit that I've been putting it off, afraid that it would take too much concentration from me. Well, it did take some concentration, but I have to say that we both enjoyed it. I appreciated the beautifully lyrical writing, and Elena is always up for a good heroic narrative.

We quickly worked through some dictation passages from Eragon, so easy for me thanks to the Boomerang from Bravewriter. After that, we finished our afternoon by eating lunch together in front of a DVD. I'm hoping that Annie's Shells & Cheddar made the Joy of Science a little more palatable for my non-scientifically-minded daughter, but unfortunately I'm not convinced she'd agree. However, she does seem to like critiquing the presenter.

All in all, it was a very treasured afternoon with a beloved girl who is growing far too quickly. I find myself, once again, thanking God for the precious gift of home education. Hoping not to sound too dramatic, I have to say that each day with my kids is truly another jewel in the crown of my life.

Our Last Day of Soccer

Today was the last day of the soccer season for our family. The local Army Garrison provides a fabulous sports program for the American kids here in Brussels, and we're so thankful our girls have the chance to play. The season only lasts for two months, but after trying to coordinate four girls on four different teams using three different locations for practices and games, I am more than ready to be done, especially with the days getting shorter and colder.

Sometimes I wonder if it is worth it. All of the carpool logistics, the late dinners, giving up Saturdays for games. Growing up in my family, we didn't play organized sports until high school, except for my brothers who played Little League in the summer. Soccer season seems to impose a rush and a frenzy that I try to avoid in our family. So, I wonder...

And then I look at my kids. And I see that they are being challenged, they are thriving, they are happy. Soccer has been good for them. It has given them the chance to develop some athletic skills, to learn about sportsmanship and teamwork, and to spend more time outdoors, getting fresh air and exercise. They have made some great friends on the field, and they have become better at paying attention and following directions. And they are just plain having fun. (except when Nastia has to play goalie ;)

Today I realized one more benefit to soccer that simply adds icing to the cake. We have been blessed with some tremendous coaches, who have been excellent teachers and role models for my girls. They have been caring and encouraging in every way. It has really helped me as a mother to gain a new perspective of my children, to see them anew through the eyes of their coaches. These devoted individuals are able to find gifts and strengths that I sometimes miss and to find joy in the quirky little traits that often drive me batty. They have offered me a fresh peek at the wonder and beauty of these precious little souls I love so much.

So, is it worth it? Absolutely. Besides, Mei Mei and Valya both scored goals today. Not much beats the smile that follows that moment of glory.