Revisting Resolutions

I have been noticing on so many blogs folks mentioning that they don’t even bother with resolutions. I find this really surprising, and a little depressing, actually. Since I admire many of those who have discarded resolutions, I wonder if it is because they have narrowed their view of resolutions, ignoring the process.

Resolutions are a statement made after serious self-analysis. They are made as a commitment to want to change those things that we wish were better in ourselves. It does not have to be something life altering, but life bettering. Even the smallest changes, added up over the years, will result in a better you!

Making a serious mental evaluation of your life and labeling those things that could be better. Everyone can find something that they wish was better. Resolving to walk the dog more or take the time to read quality literature aren’t dramatic, but will enrich your life. Maybe you wish to resolve to commit less to outside activities, or not volunteer so much. These things all start with small steps of better choices, which come from an awareness ever-present since you have made a resolution.

If big changes are needed, I often take steps in outlining them. Resolutions can be done in stages, which will help one gain confidence from success as I add to them. Cold turkey is not for most.

Last year, I decided our sugar intake was too high and we needed to change it. I resolved to cut/limit soda drinking for the family. Each month, we reduced it from one a day, to every other day, to one a week, and for me, none at all. Our taste buds have changed as well, and we all feel much better about it.

This year, I am now attacking more sugars personally, as well as white flour. I am introducing the family to the changes gradually as well. We are going to bake more, and eat pre-packaged snacks less. We are introducing multi-grain pastas and multi-grain breads . By the end of the year, we will have drastically different eating habits that are more healthful.

Another area excellent for resolutions are personal finances. Last year we focused on paying off high interest credit cards. Instead of wasting money on weekly movies and dinners out, we limited that to a few times a year. We took the money we saved and paid down the cards, one at a time. Surprisingly, we were able to add $100’s to our payments , and successfully paid off FIVE cards, and raised our credit score dramatically.

Educationally, we dumped Saxon math, and switched to other programs that were better suited and have my kids tolerating math again. (I wish I could say they love it, but tolerating is better than despising any day! ) We started reading poetry together and got back to discussing current events, all things that had fallen to the wayside when we let life get too busy.

As good as we may be, there are always things we can do to improve our life, and those around us. Take some time to consider this for yourself!
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Also, a shameless plug for a friend- she is selling a great lot of children’s science resources on ebay this week, so take a look!

My own Happy Feet

Most people who know me do not know that I had been quite serious about dance when I was younger, so serious that I began college as a dance major. I had taken specialty classes in the summers at conventions that trained dancing school teachers, and I received my diploma at sixteen. Once in school, academic subjects appealed to my mind more, and I found great joy in anthropology and psychology and hung up my tap shoes.

I must say, I have missed dancing, especially tap. I realize now that dance was one of the most joyful pasttimes I ever had, and it was somethign that truly fed my soul. Yet, I am no longer the lithe little thing I once was, and being so focused on the kids, I never considered picking it up again.

Today while grocery shopping, I ran into my dance instructor. She practically jumped me, wrapping me in a hug. She has just moved her studio to one that is three times the size, as her adult daughter is now teaching along side her. Apparently, they had been trying to find me, as she is planning a reunion class for some of her favorite students from the first years of her business. She then told me she would not take no for an answer, and will be setting up classes for us old-timers next week.

I cannot tell you that I feel twenty years younger just thinking about tapping again. I wonder why I never thought about it before, as I cannot stop grinning. Why is it that we toss aside those things we love when life gets busy…for that is when we need it most! The review in June is also timely, because it gives me even more added incentive for the healthy lifestyle changes we are implementing for the entire family. Knowing that I will be on stage again is surely going to keep me from the sugar!

I am off, popping in the Happy Feet soundtrack and dancing like no one is watching!

Signs of winter

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Originally uploaded by all4reagan.

We had a little sign of winter today at our pond, as we found part of the shallow end frozen, yet the aerator was still going strong. It made for such a cool photo.

If you are in the Northeast United States, you might be suffering from winter withdrawl. You see, we are now on our 19th day of abnormally warm temperatures for winter. As a girl who loves the cold, and does not don a winter coat unless the temps are in the single digits…I am quite melancholy about having a warm holiday. It just does not feel proper to be walking around in t-shirts while delivering Christmas cookies. My plants are confused as well, as my rhodedenrons are budding…not good!

So, this sign today is hopefully one of cooler nights to come. We want to play in the snow and actually need our mittens and scarves. Besides, I have enough firewood for a decade at this rate.

For all of you enjoying the snow, make an angel for us!

You’ll never guess what Girlie is into now…

Did you ever have one of those moments when one of your children have developed a hobby on their own that knocks you socks off? Girlie has done it again, and I had to share.

For the last two weeks, she has been spending quite a bit of time on the computer, playing Furcadia and other such games. Since it is holiday break, I was allowing it as a way to decompress. Occasionally, she would call to me to double check spelling. Odd, but she is very trustworthy, so I did not question.

Last night, she and I went to Barnes and Noble to use her gift card, and then to see a movie together. (BTW, Holiday is an adorable movie, and Jude Law is yummy!) She shared with me that she has not been gaming all the time, but has been writing a novel with one of her online friends!

A novel? She explained that the two of them are taking turns posting on a Digimon writing board, and are creating a story together. They already have plans to spend New Year’s Eve in a writing marathon, since they are too young to date and want to have fun. She then babbles on and on about storyline and character development. I am in awe!

When we get home, she takes me to the site and I am totally blown away. The writing is creative and clever, and the vocabulary usage wonderful. As youngsters, there are certainly a fair share of grammatical and spelling mistakes, but it is really solid writing. I print out what they have done so far…21 pages, and am so completly bursting with pride. Again, Girlie has overcome the odds and has found a way to become a writer, despite the dyslexia.

More than anything else, I am thrilled that she is developing into more and more of an unschooler as she grows. She found this hobby, and is writing with more passion and commitment than I could have ever created with assignments. I, too, am going to follow her lead, and use her own writing to work on improved spelling and punctuation. To encourge her more, I promise to have their book edited , printed and bound into books for each of them, when they are done. She beamed, rushing to her own computer to tell her friend.

I check in on her a little while later, and she is typing away, working on a new page. She jumps up to hug me and thank me. She also asks if I can help her find work, so that she can save up over the year for a big purchase. “What could you want that is so big?”

“Every real writer needs a laptop.”

She never ceases to amaze me!

Treasured Friends

This holiday week has brought me some special gifts…visits with some treasured girlfriends, with whom I have been friends since high school. Both had returned to town for the holiday, and for the last two days I had lunches filled with laughter. There were trips to our favorite yarn and gift shops, and hours of catching up. These visits center me, and leave me smiling for weeks!

One thought we all touched on was despite how many nice people we come across in life, there is a fear of being a real true selves with them. Far too many folks out there are not strong enough in their own sense of self to allow you to just be who you are, without judging or trying to change you. Loyalty seems to take much longer to develop and it is much easier to keep walls up, for protection.

I find this so very true in real life, sadly. I used to worry about it, but doesn’t distress me as it had in years past. Maybe I have matured enough to not need to become friends with everyone I meet. Perhaps I have realized that having a handful of true friends is far better than dozens with whom you have to show only your half-self. I am certain that through blogging, I have found a huge amount of like-minded support, from wonderful folks whose intent is to help and not hinder, and I have now set my standards higher in my real time interactions.

Today, I want to send a cyber thank you out to all my blogging buddies, many of whom I have not yet met, but who have filled my days with laughter and comfort greater than I could have imagined. You guys rock!

Wednesday in Verse

In honor of our second semester focus on poetry, we have been doing some poetry reading in our free time. Those we especially like, we will be posting on Wednesdays. This one seemed very fitting for our first post….

The Death of the Old Year
by Alfred Lord Tennyson

Full knee-deep lies the winter snow,
And the winter winds are wearily sighing:
Toll ye the church bell sad and slow,
And tread softly and speak low,
For the old year lies a-dying.
Old year you must not die;
You came to us so readily,
You lived with us so steadily,
Old year you shall not die.
He lieth still: he doth not move:
He will not see the dawn of day.
He hath no other life above.
He gave me a friend and a true truelove
And the New-year will take ‘em away.
Old year you must not go;
So long you have been with us,
Such joy as you have seen with us,
Old year, you shall not go.

He froth’d his bumpers to the brim;
A jollier year we shall not see.
But tho’ his eyes are waxing dim,
And tho’ his foes speak ill of him,
He was a friend to me.
Old year, you shall not die;
We did so laugh and cry with you,
I’ve half a mind to die with you,
Old year, if you must die.

He was full of joke and jest,
But all his merry quips are o’er.
To see him die across the waste
His son and heir doth ride post-haste,
But he’ll be dead before.
Every one for his own.
The night is starry and cold, my friend,
And the New-year blithe and bold, my friend,
Comes up to take his own.

How hard he breathes! over the snow
I heard just now the crowing cock.
The shadows flicker to and fro:
The cricket chirps: the light burns low:
‘Tis nearly twelve o’clock.
Shake hands, before you die.
Old year, we’ll dearly rue for you:
What is it we can do for you?
Speak out before you die.

His face is growing sharp and thin.
Alack! our friend is gone,
Close up his eyes: tie up his chin:
Step from the corpse, and let him in
That standeth there alone,
And waiteth at the door.
There’s a new foot on the floor, my friend,
And a new face at the door, my friend,
A new face at the door.

Happy Boxing Day!

What a gloriously perfect morning to sleep in…a rainy day after Christmas. My hope is that you all had a lovely holiday, full of comfort and joy.

We had a pleasant time at the family Christmas eve dinner, and I wonder if my post on holiday gifts was read by the family. For the most part, we received lovely gifts this year. There was still the regifted clothing for Girlie from one, but it was a lovely skirt and sweater in spring colors that she can actually wear! I got the candles instead of Scout, and lovely they are.

The stars must have aligned perfectly… although I now wish I had something funny to report. There is hope, though, as my father is out of town and we will exchange with him next week. Last year, I got a garden hose nozzle.

Our family holiday was relaxing and wonderful. I made our traditional brunch using my mother’s waffle recipe and sausage and apples. It is odd how making one of her special recipes lets me feel close to her more than a decade after her death. I have so many happy memories of waffle parties growing up, and I love taht we do this. We opened gifts, and everyone was thrilled with their bounty. We watched movies, read, and then watched the Eagles kick the Cowboys’ collective ass (the only rivalry that still gets my dander up).

This week, I will not be blogging much, as it will be filled with more holiday fun. Big Daddy is taking the week off, and we will be visiting with a few friends who are back in town .

I hope you all are able to take the time to recharge, and enjoy your loved ones this week.

Gift Receiving Etiquette(or how not to swear at the relatives)

Everyone has at least one horrible shopper in their family, or if you are like me, quite a few. This presents challenges for most people to maintain composure. I enjoy shopping for the perfect gift for each person, whatever my budget may be, and love it when the gift truly pleases the giver. I was so thrilled, as an only child, to marry a man with a large extended family, and imagined wonderful exchanges of thoughtful gifts.

After a decade, I have learned that with most of his family, this is not the case. Yet, I sometimes wish I could somehow address those instances of crappy gift giving. Since I can’t stoop to that, I can at least appease myself by sharing the Christmas joy with all of you. The following are all TRUE stories…I couldn’t make stuff up this ridiculous.

Offender #1- The Cheapskate
This person repeatedly buys your gifts on the scratch & dent shelf at the local drug store, yet will go on and on about the wonderful and expensive gifts they have purchased for others. (Only the handle is broken off, but you could glue it). After exhausting all avenues like gift suggestions and price limits that they set and then defy, you inevitably receive your pack of Bic pens and a pair of socks. Of course, this is the wealthiest of relatives…making a multiple six-figure income.

Offender #2- The Airhead
This person never takes the time to match the gift with the giftee. This is evidenced in her giving your eight year old son a candle and potpourri centerpiece, and thinking she did an excellent job because the candle is blue, to match his eyes.

Offender #3- The Scrooge
This person constantly gripes that your kids have too many toys, movies, books, ______(fill in the blank) and he will just put $25 a year in the bank for their college education. I try to explain that I would rather he try to let his grandchildren see a little effort in shopping for a gift, and that I would worry about replacing the $450 he would have saved for them over 18 years. His first attempt was to buy my seven-yr old daughter a cupcake pan, because she likes to eat them. ( I have since decided to not push the issue, and let him just put the money in the bank. )

Offender #4- The Secret Demon
This is the person that buys your children the noisest toy on the market year after year. The Furbies, the Wacky Sax, the singing Elmos, the drum sets and pianos– they give their loud bounty with delighted, evil smiles. Especially loved is when the toys start to come alive in the child’s toybox at 3am, and the said offender laughs happily. How cute. Luckily, the kids wanted the toys gone then and quickly donated them.

Offender #5- The Judge
This person gives you gifts to “help” you remember all your weaknesses, with lovely comments. “SO you can get your floors cleaner,” while you open a Swiffer wet jet, or “You have been gaining weight,” as you open a book by Dr. Atkins. ***This person was stopped in their tracks after I retaliated with two books of my own…addressing the hyprocricy of alcoholism and Christianity and the DaVinci Code. She has been giving lovely candles ever since!

Offender #6- The Proud Regifter
This person tells you with pride that the gift she just gave you was from someone else, or had been the property of her dead mother. She will also tell you what about it she did not like enough to keep the item for herself, and instead pawn it off on you.

After a decade, these situations have become the funny stories that I share with my girlfriends. Tomorrow evening, we will be having our traditional Christmas eve get together. I promise that, if there are any funnies this year, I will post them after Christmas.

I found this wonderful post from the Yarn Harlot today, in which she lists great gift suggestions for knitters (and crocheters). Maybe if I hand these letters out next year….

Winter Reading Challenge

I am thrilled to take part in the Winter Reading Challenge, as “winter” and “reading” have always been synanomous for me.

My list is divided into four categories:

Non-Fiction:
A History of God by Karen Armstrong
Closing of the Western Mind by Charles Freeman
THe Well-Educated Mind by Susan Wise Bauer
Sailing the Wine-Dark See:Why the Greeks Matter
by Thomas Cahill

Fiction:
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
In the Company of the Courtesan by Sarah Dunant
Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier

Children’s:
Catherine Called Birdy by Karen Cushman
Door in the Wall by Madeleine L’Engle
Bridge to Teribitha by Katherine Patterson
Julie & the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair,
The Last Battle-all by C. S. Lewis

and, if time permits:

Classics:
Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton
Summer by Edith Wharton
Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray

I am hoping to challenge my kids to also take part, although they seem to have no trouble finding time to read! I will publish their lists once they have made them.

Homeschool Resolutions

Many people around the globe are pondering resolutions lately, trying to select one this year that will help them bring about positive life changes. The echoes of “exercise more”, “eat better” , and “quit smoking” are often overheard.

We have a habit in our homeschool of making educational resolutions. I support this exercise because I love what leads up to it…open and honest self-evaluation. The kids discuss the areas in which they recognize a need for improvement, and we then brainstorm ways to help them meet their goal.

Scout has resolved to step beyond just doing his work to doing it as well as he can. This is huge! It shows real maturity that he can finally recognize the difference in this, and his wanting to change it thrills me.

Girlfriend has resolved to write more, in an all-encompassing manner. She has asked me to add writing instruction to our work at home, as the class she is taking at the learning center isn’t giving her enough work to write daily. She wants to do more practice in poetry. She also wants more copywork assignments, as she is still working very hard to learn cursive, a real challenge for a dyslexic. I love that she has chosen her weakest area to be her focus, and is wanting to attack it on so many levels.

I have made a homeschool resolution as a teacher as well. Now that we are halfway through our year, I reevaluated what has been working well, and what is headed to the ebay sale pile. It is ridiculous to just keep using something that is not a good fit simply because we have purchased it. If I had ordered a sweater that arrived with a too-tight neckline and a few inches too short to cover my navel, I would not try to make it fit! I will apply the same principle to our homeschool.

We have dumped Girlfriend’s Apologia’s Zoology, as neither of us could wade through one more minute of the incessant religious rhetoric, as well as the plans to use the Botany book by the same author in spring. We have found unit studies on genetics and biotechnology I found on the internet. Genetic trait inheritance is her chosen science fair project, so these units are perfect. In spring, we will be using Dinah Zike’s Great Science Adventures- World of Plants to finish up our biology studies this year. Friends own a nationally acclaimed peony farm, and have offered to all us to have some hands-on study of creating hybrids, etc, so it should all tie in nicely.

Scout and I are, for the first year, quite happy with the direction he is taking in all his subjects. We have decided that he needs to add in some grammar review and some editing practice, which we will accomplish with a few simple workbook pages here and there. He is wanting to work more at translating the work he does around merit badges, expanding and exploring those subjects more deeply.

I am also committing myself to learning Latin. Scout’s tutor, thrilled to see that I was trying to teach myself at home, has invited me to join the class for free. I am very excited, yet nervous, as I have become aware that my capacity for learning languages has been greatly altered over the years. My brain is just so full of adult thoughts that I am having to study twice as hard to get myself to remember the same conjugations, etc. Yet, I do enjoy it, and I feel very good after each study session, as I know I am practicing what I preach and they recognize it.

I encourage you to think about making a few homeschool resolutions with your family, and I’d love to hear about them!