Hide, but don't Find the Skylanders

Dear Activision,

Although my four boys cannot get enough of Skylanders: your electronic figures that are sweeping the nation, if I hear another Skylander slinging fire arrows, shooting beams or digging into the ground, in this lifetime, it will be too soon. 

Today offered me a ray of hope.  My "Portal Masters"(goodness, that sounds geeky)and their cousin decided to play Skylanders, except this time it was their made up game called "Hide the Skylanders."  The boys hid Cruncher, Sunburn, Flame-Slinger, Lightening Rod, and a plethora of other Skylanders, throughout the house (microwave, dishwasher, washing machine, closet and so on. Then, they searched for their prized possessions as the hider sprinkled hints along the way.  What a peaceful old-fashioned game it was, and they played it all afternoon.  I recommend it to all of your consumers.  

After my joyful revelation that the boys were tired of being plugged into video games, two thoughts came to mind.  First, my children's grandparents depended upon simple games like Hide and Find, Hide and Seek, Kick the Can and Tag for hours of entertainment and somehow they survived.  Secondly, there is a God and I must thank Him. 

Sincerely,

Portal Master Mom 

My favorite Minnesota Twins celebrate Summer

Now that the school year has ended, I am grateful to be focusing on parenting without teaching for awhile.  The following video is an example of why having children in our lives is an absolute gift from above.  Be sure to watch this today, as my boys have reached their peak in the music industry and they will not be making regular appearances here or on YouTube after their one minute of fame.  

Summer Learning and Growing in Christ

If your children are doing cartwheels because the school year is over, but you are on your knees praying because you didn't teach everything you wanted to during the school year, you're not alone.  Don't lose sleep over this one.  The summer is a great time for catching up and an even better time for review.  The following ideas will keep your children's brains awake, this summer.  Remember, busy bodies and spiritual growth during the warm months are important too.

Field Trips

Summer provides time for the zoo, museums, a movie, sports, aquariums, arboretums, parks and family vacations. During a trip to an aquarium, families learn about lake and ocean creatures, habitat, animal interactions, and public manners.  Budgeting for tickets and gasoline to arrive at destinations is an excellent way to work on math skills.  And in the rare event families eat dinner out, we can encourage older children to add tax and tip to the check.

For most large families, family vacations are also rare.  But, when our family leaves the state, the children journal about each day we are on the road.  They record our traveling distance, comical events, and what we saw, liked or disliked.  Journal writing is encouraged through out the summer, and if I keep my request to short entries and drawings, the children usually agree to picking up a pencil.

Washington D.C.: We scheduled a tour in the Capital
 and visited museums and
Arlington Cemetery. 

Vacation Bible School

A week at church is a welcome break from the routine of home academics.  Learning about our faith with a large community in prayer, song, and activities (physical, visual, auditory, and hands-on) is what makes VBS a God-send for Christian parents.  Summer religious programs are refreshing for moms, because we receive a much deserved break from being in charge.  Our children interact with other adults and, more importantly children from kindergarten to high school.  

Read, Read, Read

Three months of summer provide time for favorite books every day.  Old favorites come off the shelf and our "library book box" is overflowing.  Perfect weather?  There is always a hammock or the beach for relaxing with great literature or even a comic book.  And, don't forget about bedtime.  After baths, my children climb into bed most summer evenings with a good book.  Sometimes Mom or Dad read with them, but we also read silently before lights go off.

Games Galore

Are you the proud owner of a messy game closet, shelf or trunk?  Much to my husband's demise, I am.  I don't mean the games that you plug in or watch on a screen.  Yes, children, there are games that come in a box that don't tweet, scream or contain characters that chomp, bounce, throw flames or stomp on one another!  And, games off the screen are actually as fun or (could it be?) even more fun than their  plug-in competition.  Don't forget about old-fashioned games like Hide and Seek and Kick the Can.

Flash Cards

I am also the proud owner of a messy kitchen drawer full of Brain Quest's Be a Know it All decks, that I use during the summer.  I was introduced to the delightful quiz decks when I taught school twenty years ago.  Teachers and parents challenge children with questions by grade or subject, then flip to the following card for  answers.  During a meal, my older children and I read questions to little ones.  I field questions to my adolescents.  As soon as each child gets three answers correct, they are excused from the table.  If one of my students is up for a challenge, they answer a handful of questions.  And if I am feeling generous, I surprise a lucky quizzer by allowing them to run off  before they help with dishes!

If you haven't seen these wonderful flash cards,
click on the image for Amazon's description.

Sports and Activities

Children's organized sports cost a small fortune, these days.  I pray several Hail Marys for peace of mind, before I write a check to cover baseball or ballet, but the benefits are worth the large price tag.  Social interaction, exercise, sportsmanship, and sacrificing items for memories are a few of the benefits of organized sports.  A family of twelve, taught our family this rule about sports: Wait until your children reach an age they'll appreciate the sport, then choose one sport for one child.  Until then, the backyard and a playdate is more than enough.  This allows children to experience athletics, but it doesn't break the bank or fill your calendar until you've run out of white space!

My little ones watched their big brother play baseball
and saw a Minnesota Twins Baseball Clinic.

Speaking of Minnesota Twins . . .  and their brother too.

Shhh. . . Be still and Listen
Ask any home educator who has adult children and they will remind you that as your children get older, most of your life is spent in the car.  If we attempt to do it all, we miss time to listen to God's plans.   How often do we make time for the gift of silence?  How often do we give that gift to our children?

My prayer for your families and for my own is that we remember that summer is a great time for learning and growing.  May we also take time to thank God for this time to refresh and be with Him in peace.

I feel Like a Woman?

The night that I let our first newborn sleep in our bed, was the best night’s sleep I had in three months.  My husband didn’t mind placing the baby between us.  My hair smelled like spoiled milk; and I was still wearing the sweat pants I squeezed into the morning before.   I couldn’t find a pair of jeans that fit over my, "When is the baby due?” belly.  Every time Eric approached me, I hollered “I have no time for you!  This child won’t stop screaming!”

“I wonder where she gets it from?” he'd whisper.

Emily understood, from infancy, that her mom was the poster child for anxiety. She challenged me, by needing little sleep.  She was a mover and shaker . . . right off the changing table . . . twice.  She was hungry . . . always.   I listened to experts who told me to feed her every three hours.  She disagreed with their schedule.

The relentless crying, the sleepless nights, and the marathon days without naps were unbearable; and Emily wasn’t doing well either.  I refused to break my feeding schedule, proudly posted on our refrigerator.  My husband would hand me Emily and beg, “Feed her!  Skip the schedule!"  I wouldn’t listen.  

One late night, as I was walking the floors with Emily, I turned on Shania Twain.  I needed to muffle out the hysterical crying from both of us, and thought some music might brighten our spirits.  “I Feel like a Woman”  filled our little house and Emily stopped crying.  In fact, she was content through the entire song. We danced our way over to Mommy and Daddy’s bed, and I gently laid her down.  Forgetting the experts rules, I nursed Emily only after an hour after the last feeding.  By the end of the repeated song she was peacefully asleep.  

After countless lullabies, hours in the rocking chair, and days of walking the floors, Emily’s perfect pacifier was nursing on demand, her parent’s bed and Shania Twain.

Fourteen years later Emily still turns Shania’s song up when she hears it.  I listen to the Virgin Mary.  Our Queen of Heaven taught me to go to Her whenever I need a nurturing example.  Emily taught me that if you invite children for evening cuddles, and listen to your heart, your children will become loving children; in the eyes of their parents, and in the eyes of the Lord. 

Vacation Bible School?

Dear Parents and Educators,

Please respond to the following questions by leaving a comment below this post.  Do you feel there are many VBS programs to participate in or choose from?   As an educator or parent, what's important to you when teaching, volunteering in or choosing summer religious programs?  If you could change anything about VBS programs what would it be?  What do you think children look forward to when participating in a VBS program?

Thank you for your answers.

Blessings,

Julia