Category Archives: Homeschooling & Homekeeping

Hints for Home Schoolers – Helpful Handmaids #2 – Dryer

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I know some of the lovely keepers out there are purists, and my admiration of them knows no bounds.  They are those that hang all washing on the line – inside and out. They save tons of money. . . sigh.  I’m not one of those ladies.  I use, and love, an electric dryer.  

dryer

Yes, I even do it in the summer.  For our family and where we live – it could almost qualify as self defense.    The amount of wildlife here would guarantee that some of the laundry would succumb to some beastie activities – not to mention mulberry stained bird droppings!  Another logistical point for our dryer use – pet hair.  Only a dryer will remove cat hair from laundry.

I probably should have covered the washing machine first – but as winter is right at the door, and it will be another week before the next Helpful Handmaids post, I wanted to share how your dryer can do double duty during cold weather.  Let’s first cover the basics, that most of us already know.

  1. Medium sized loads dry faster than small or large loads.
  2. Clean lint filter between loads – and sometimes in the middle of a cycle too!  It will help very linty loads like towels dry much, much faster. 
  3. The dryer exhaust duct must be frequently cleaned – even if you have a flap closure outside – critters can still get in there, in addition to the normal accumulation of lint. 
  4. Wash the lint screen occasionally, to remove any oils or residue from fabric softeners.  I spray mine with the spray cleaner from this Hints for Homeschoolers, scrub with a toothbrush, rinse thoroughly, and allow to air dry. 
  5. Running loads consecutively will be much more economical than doing one load a day.  It takes more energy for the dryer to heat up initially.  If you put one load in after another – the retained heat from the previous load will not only dry the next loads faster – it will reduce the energy required to heat the dryer.
  6. The top of the dryer makes a nice, warm place for yeast raised baked goods to rise.  Just cover with a plastic wrap, or a clean, lint free towel – and your bread or rolls will rise beautifully.
  7. Start with the lower settings loads (synthetics) finishing with the hottest, longest running load (like towels) so that you do not risk putting delicate things into a too hot dryer.
  8. A brush that will reach into the lint trap area is a good investment.   

This next section, will only be helpful to keepers living in cold winter areas.  It involves getting free heat from your dryer!  While it’s true that dryers warm the air in general while running, we’re talking about being more proactive.  By venting the heated air from the dryer to the inside during the winter – you can capture all that warm, moist air for free! In addition – you block cold air from entering the house through the dryer vent when not in use.

conversion kit

The outdoor duct is blocked off and insulated, while the duct work itself is attached to this lint trap.  Mine sits on a shelf above my washer and dryer.  The air from the dryer is vented into the trap, which is filled with water to trap lint.   If you have never seen how this works – you will be completely amazed and how much heat comes into your home from the dryer.  Not only that – in the frigid months – the air in houses can be dryer than the Mojave desert.  The free humidity is another bonus.  

This simple contraption costs less than $20, and is even available on Amazon.  We have used the same one for over fifteen years.  Our house is large, old, and difficult to heat.  With the laundry room under the kitchen – the entire kitchen floor is toasty while the dryer is running.  It takes my husband about 45 minutes to make the change over.  In the fall, he usually does it the last week of October; and in the spring, he changes it back to outside venting in the first week of April. 

Two young couples we know, have started doing this in their tiny houses.  When the dryer is running – their central heating turns off! 

plastic mesh

I do recommend, however, that you use a piece of plastic needlepoint canvas like this, cut to fit the vent, to capture more of the lint.  Very easy to clean, and cheap! 

Happy drying – and I hope  that you may glean something valuable from these hints.  May your precious family bask in the love you have for them, and may your home- keeping reflect the love of Christ to the world.  Having your jewels snuggled into clean and soft clothing and sleep-ware,  is like a tender embrace from you.  What a blessing it is, to have a  family to do laundry for.  While you are folding and handling their clothing, warm from the dryer – pray for each of  those the LORD has entrusted to you. 

cottage in snow

Proverbs 31:21                  

King James Version (KJV)

She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

Hints for Home Schoolers – Helpful Handmaids #1- Dishwasher

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Yes, we are living in the 21st century, and we may not feel like we can relate to the Proverbs 31 woman – even though just 100 years ago, most people of modest incomes would have had a least one servant.   But, praise God – we do have handmaids of a sort – and they are our electrical appliances.  Every homeschool mom should thank God, and then her husband,  (in that order) for supplying these wonders. 

The first handmaid we will address is the dishwasher.  Are you wondering how I can devote an entire post to the dishwasher?  I do it because it is that important, and usually not utilized properly.  I am not going to make any suggestions on how to clean your machine – because there are tons of sites out there devoted to that.  What I am going to discuss is timing for efficiency, and the use for sanitary purposes.

bucket

Even though I have a dishwasher – I always have a bucket like this for adding dishes to as I’m working.  Since our home has an old farm sink – I do not have the convenience of double sinks.  The soaking bucket does the job, and can be stashed under the sink when not in use.  This pre-soaking makes scrubbing largely unnecessary, which saves the home school family precious time. 

Why then do I run those soaked dishes through the dishwasher?  Aren’t they clean already?  Visually they are clean – but I’m afraid they would not pass muster under a microscope.

handwash

Most people don’t know that hand washed dishes should be placed in hot bleach water, and then air dried to kill bacteria.  The dishwasher eliminates the need for this – but only if done with that intent.  If not done correctly – the average dishwasher is full 0f really icky invisible things. 

  1. Make sure the water is hot enough.  Run hot water in the sink first to make sure that only hot water enters the machine.  It should be a scalding 140 ° for germ killing.  Most water heaters are set to 120 °.
  2. Use a detergent with bleach.  Vinegar is not as efficacious, though it has its purpose in mineral removal. 
  3. Heated drying goes nothing towards disinfection.  Air drying is fine, and will save a little money. 
  4. If you have a garbage disposal, run it before running the dishwasher to clear the drain.  The dishwasher drains into the garbage disposal – and if clogged – will actually cause dirty water to backwash into your dishwasher. 

Develop a schedule for running your machine.  For example – I run mine three times daily:  10:00 am, 2:30 pm, and 10:00 pm.  The reason for the schedule is to prevent the pile-up.  The spacing leaves plenty of time for air drying.  The times were arrived at by working around the shower and laundry loads that compete for hot water.  And – I put everything into the dishwasher that could possibly go – and some things that might surprise you. 

  • All machine safe plates, cups, pots etc.
  • The filter basket, lid, and stem from the electric percolator
  • Pet dishes
  • Plastic and ceramic houseplant pots
  • Reflector bowls and knobs from my electric stove
  • Oven racks
  • Plastic compartments from the refrigerators (I know they say hand wash – but I put them in)
  • Toothbrushes
  • My silicone pastry mat
  • Microwave plate and plastic turntable
  • Toaster oven rack, crumb tray, and broiler pan
  • Ceramic tea pots
  • Ice cube trays and buckets

About home- made dishwasher detergent – this is one area where I do believe the commercial product is superior.  Borax and vinegar do kill some pathogens – but truly can not compare to plain old bleach.  Additionally, for whatever reason, powdered products do not dissolve properly for me.  I use generic SAM’s club dishwasher gel with bleach.  Some of the big brands like Cascade carry lines with bleach, but I do fine, and very frugally with the SAM’s stuff.  On top of that – your dishwasher will never have a funny smell after time, like many home makers complain of – because the odor causing bacteria are killed by the hot water and bleach. 

If you try to develop your own schedule and find you don’t have enough to run a load – look for things to stick in there.  This is when that sticky refrigerator compartment gets a whirl through the machine.  We have two refrigerators – and I never have trouble finding something that needs cleaning.  The idea is to prevent the pile-up of dishes that can be so disheartening as it seems to never stop.  For instance – if you wait too long between loads – you will come to the time, even every day, where you can’t get everything in there and are stuck with dishes still in the sink.  If this happens repeatedly – it means you need to adjust, and add another load time to your dishwasher schedule, so that you are never faced with that. 

AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND OF CURE!

Proverbs 31:29

Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.   

Hints for Home Schoolers – Top Ten Reasons to Home School

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I thought it might be helpful to have a simple list of the reasons why home schooling is so worthwhile. When those discouraging days come along – it will be easy to pull up the list – or even have it printed off and placed in your lesson planner –  to reinforce your resolve and strengthen you for your important work.

  1. Academics – It is an established fact that home schooled children score better on achievement tests compared with government sponsored education. Go here for the stunning statistics.
  2. Economics – Home schooling is far less expensive than private school, and the cost comparison with Government school is vast. “In Strengths of Their Own, Dr. Ray found the average cost per homeschool student is $546 while the average cost per public school student is $5,325. Yet the homeschool children in this study averaged in 85th percentile while the public school students averaged in the 50th percentile on nationally standardized achievement tests. [ibid]
  3. Freedom from peer pressure – Peer pressure is no longer just the province of teenagers. Children as young as five report being pushed to conform to a dominant child’s manipulation. Peer pressure affects everything from drugs, dating, sexual activity, STD’s, driving, alcohol, bullying, criminal activity, and world-view. “A recent Time/Nickelodeon survey of 991 kids ages 9 to 14 revealed peer pressure is more intense and at younger ages. If you have any doubts about this as a troubling youth trend review these stats carefully: 36% feel peer pressure to smoke marijuana; 36% feel pressure to shoplift; and 40% feel pressure to drink; 7% of fourth graders, 8% fifth graders, 13% sixth graders drunk beer, liquor or wine coolers in the past year. “Dr. Michele Borba
  4. Freedom from Revisionist science and history curricula – Considering that as recent as the 1940’s, public schools began the day by saying the Pledge of Allegiance and Prayer, with Bible study – one could argue this is the most important reason to home school. Do not assume that private Christian schools do not teach evolution. The fact that we are shaping future voters is enough reason to home school in one sentence.
  5. Teaching kids to work independently – The children from home school families are known for their ability to work independently, and carry this skill through to adulthood. In general, a home schooled child will have more rounded life skills than their counterparts. See here.
  6. Kids actually reach adulthood – The recent OWS spectacle is a good snapshot of what is being produced by secular education. Home school young adults are so busy generally – they could not even begin to think about wasting their precious time in such a fashion.
  7. Civic involvement – “Only 4.2% of the homeschool graduates surveyed consider politics and government too complicated to understand, compared to 35% of U.S. adults. This may account for why homeschool graduates work for candidates, contribute to campaigns, and vote in much higher percentages than the general population of the United States. ” [hslda.org]
  8. Community involvement – “Homeschool graduates are active and involved in their communities. Seventy-one percent participate in an ongoing community service activity (e.g., coaching a sports team, volunteering at a school, or working with a church or neighborhood association), compared to 37% of U.S. adults of similar ages . Eighty-eight percent of the homeschool graduates surveyed were members of an organization (e.g., such as a community group, church or synagogue, union, homeschool group, or professional organization), compared to 50% of U.S. adults. [ibid]
  9. Family preservation -The blessings of being home with your children go beyond the wonderful comforts of home made cookies.  Dr. Laura Schlessinger’s work on stay home moms is superlative and personal.
  10. Obedience to God – Home school is the only way to obey this imperative from the Lord, which He gave to Israel after they had been given the Law. “18 Therefore shall ye lay up these My Words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. 19 And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 20 And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates: 21 That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.” Deuteronomy 11: 18-21

How can you teach your children about the Lord as described in verse 19, unless they are with you all day?

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My own recipe for whole -wheat your kids will eat! (for bread machine)

  • 1 – 2/3 c. water
  • 2 tbsp. powdered milk
  • 2 tbsp. olive oil (does not need to be extra virgin)
  • 2 tbsp. sugar
  • 1 – 1/2 t. kosher or sea salt
  • 2 – 1/4 c. white whole wheat flour **
  • 2 – 1/4 c. bread flour
  • 2 t. yeast ***

Place all ingredients in pan in order listed and set machine to “dough” setting. After cycle is complete, remove dough and form into rolls. Place in two cake pans sprayed with cooking spray. I always set these into a cold oven, (they will rise even more while the oven is preheating) and turn the oven to 350 degrees; 20 -25 minutes till golden brown and bottom sounds hollow when tapped.

This is a Saturday recipe at our house. Visiting children at our table have had one in each hand, and at my daughter’s wedding last spring – the guests devoured 100 of these rolls. There wasn’t even one left!

** Only use “white whole wheat” also known as Prairie Gold. It is identical in nutrients and fiber to regular whole wheat but less bitter. I prefer King Arthur, but Kroger offers a store brand which is adequate.

*** Depending on the freshness of your yeast.

Hints for Home Schoolers – De-clutter!

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Is your lifestyle making homeschool more difficult than it has to be? Do you spend precious time looking for things when you could be being productive? I’m going to share a few of the things I learned over the years that kept me sane. We’ll go through each letter of the word de-clutter.

snail

D – is for determination and discipline. Both are required to go the long haul in your successful homeschool. If you are bogged down with too much stuff, too many activities, too little space, too little money . . . now is the time to determine in your mind to change things. Make a firm decision to pare down to the truly necessary, which will make room for things like time for meal planning, organized shopping, cleaning, and school work! Don’t wait for a special day to make the determination decision – it should be a life long commitment.

mess

E – is for excavate and eradicate. You may say, “Well. that should be obvious!” But you might be surprised to know how many families have a home school that looks something like this or even worse. Holding onto garbage, yes – some of your kids drawings are superfluous – will overrun you in no time. If you are schooling more than two, the paperwork alone can pile up dreadfully in just a week or two. Determine what is necessary to keep, and pitch or recycle the rest. Eradicate the unnecessary stuff. This also applies to clothing and groceries.

containers

C – is for categorize and contain. Even if you are blessed to have a dedicated room for school, its a very good idea to keep a separate container for each child’s work. Especially records that need to be kept to satisfy state requirements. One mom I know has a laundry tub for each of her kid’s books and paraphernalia because they do their school at the kitchen table. The baskets are slid behind the couch when school is over. No one will spend time looking for their science book if it is in their special container.

L – is for lists and labels. One of the greatest pieces of advice I can give you is the notepad one. Get in the habit of carrying a small notepad and pen in your pocket all day (I wear an apron with pockets) and you will never have to rely on memory again. It will be so simple to just jot down whatever it is, and not even skip a beat while you are pushing someone on the swing, or working fractions, or making dinner. Write it down! The other point to this section is labeling. Labeling everything, will make organizing a breeze. Even if your kids have a juice cup to drink from during the day – label it. This goes for their lists of chores as well. Each one should be written down with their name on it.

U – is for utilize and unburden. That may sound contradictory, but the two terms are connected. If you follow the ideas listed before, you will better utilize your time. By taking advantage of time saving devices like shower sprayers, certain household chores can become self cleaning. In addition – using an accredited curriculum can save hours and hours of lesson planning and stress.

timer

T – is for timers and tempers. This is another item I have in my apron pockets. By timing everything, from tidying the kitchen, to gardening, to reviewing flashcards – using a timer prevents overload. Specifically, when a child is not understanding a concept, by limiting the time to 15 minutes, you can circumvent frustration, – both yours and the child’s. In the same way, anything from ironing to penmanship practice will seem much more manageable when the timer is set. You simply don’t go past it! Even morning chores become less arduous when a simple timer is set.

technology

T – is also for taming technology. I am not one of those parents that shuns technology. But using it wisely can only be done through diligence and applied balance. IPads are being used as toddler babysitters!  One family has a beautiful tree-house which sits empty, as the children while away the hours playing video and computer games. Technology can be an incredible help in our home schools, and it can also be our greatest enemy.

swans

E – is for energize and emphasize. At the risk of sounding like your mother, I’m going to recommend that you go to bed much earlier than you think you should. When my kids were younger, I tried to hit the hay around the same time they did, because I found it was much easier for me to get up very early in the morning, while they would sleep much easier at night, not thinking they were missing out on something. There is a ton of evidence to support the idea of adults getting to sleep before midnight. Most research indicates that the hours of sleep you receive before midnight are twice as valuable as the ones after. If you do this for two weeks, you will be astounded at how much energy you have, and how much you can accomplish with half as much effort. http://www.drlwilson.com/Articles/sleep.htm

organized

R – is for rigid and relax. If you are rigid about purging you will be able to relax in your home. Rigidly purge paper, clothing, toys, and whatever else is cluttering up your mind and house. You can see by this picture that the home school can be very organized with very little money. That goes for the kitchen, attic, basement, and wherever else the stuff tends to pile up. Hooray for de-cluttering your life!! Amen!!

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My favorite basic bread recipe. 


1-1/2 cups water

1 Tbl. light olive oil

3 Tbl. honey

1/2 tsp. kosher or sea salt

2 – 1/4 cup white whole wheat flour (preferably King Arthur)

1 – 1/4 cup bread flour

1/3 cup vital wheat gluten

2 tsp. active dry yeast

Add all ingredients in the order listed to the pan of bread machine which has been sprayed with cooking spray. Use the whole wheat setting. Good for sandwiches, toast, etc. I make this more than any other kind of bread. At least three times a week. Great with just about anything, including peanut butter and jelly.

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Forasmuch as there is none like unto Thee, O Lord; Thou art great, and Thy name is great in might.

Jeremiah 10:6

Hints for Home Schoolers – Socialization?

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By far and away, the number one stated objection and obstacle to home schooling is the perceived idea of “socialization.”  Anyone contemplating or actively home schooling has encountered this phenomena.  Often a relative or friend will pucker their foreheads, and ask -”But what about socialization?”  Where oh where did this concept originate?  The Public School System!  That’s right!  Socialization and “self concept” are psycho-babble inventions of the government pagan shrines known as public schools.

lonely-child

“. . . self-esteem is a concept that was born in the school system, and it is best for parents not to overemphasize the self-esteem of their children. Professor Martin E.P. Seligman, in his helpful book The Optimistic Child, discusses how self-esteem has been more and more emphasized in schools during precisely the same years that the youth suicide rate has increased in the United States.   [learninfreedom.org]

From Dr. Larry Edward Shyers research  –  “using a “blind” procedure, found that home-schooled children had significantly fewer problem behaviors, as measured by the Child Observation Checklist’s Direct Observation Form, than traditionally schooled children when playing in mixed groups of children from both kinds of schooling backgrounds. This observational study was reported in some detail in the 1992 Associated Press article. Shyers concluded that the hypothesis that contact with adults, rather than contact with other children, is most important in developing social skills in children is supported by these data.” [ibid]

IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, CHILDREN ARE SOCIALIZED HORIZONTALLY, AND TEMPORARILY, INTO CONFORMITY WITH THEIR IMMEDIATE PEERS. HOME EDUCATORS SEEK TO SOCIALIZE THEIR CHILDREN VERTICALLY, TOWARD RESPONSIBILITY, SERVICE, AND ADULTHOOD, WITH AN EYE ON ETERNITY. 

[Thomas C. Smedly, MS]

I could regale you with countless statistics, opinions, research,  and true life stories to counter the negative claims about home school socialization, but I will restrict myself to just this very meaningful one, from former U.S. Department of Education researcher, Patricia Lines:

If I didn’t know anything about someone other than their [sic] educational background, I’d rather hop in  a foxhole with a homeschool kid than one from a public school.  The homeschool kid will be a little better educated and dependable.  It’s just the law of averages.  [The Harsh Truth About Public Schools, Bruce N. Shortt, p. 350]

family

Homeschoolers do not claim the title for close family relationships, but in my experience, I have never seen a severed family relationship in a homeschool family.  But I do know many, many  non-homeschool parents  that have children they don’t speak to, or children that don’t speak to each other, or both.  If I could just let you experience  some of the silly giggling  (laughing at themselves or something we were reading) that went on during our years and years of home school – you would pray that every child in the world could be home schooled within a loving family, instead of being daily subjected to insecure teachers, peer pressure, indoctrination, and academic discrepancies.

happy-family

Will your children be considered “unusual” or even strange by their worldly counterparts?  Probably.  Does that matter?  Not in the long run. There is a distinct difference between positive and negative socialization.   If you make an effort to involve your kids in 4H,  a home school activity club, etc., they will undoubtedly meet other “unusual” home schoolers.

IF KIDS FROM GODLESS PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE NORMAL, I SUGGEST THAT YOU AND YOUR CRITICS SHOULD BE DELIGHTED THAT YOUR KIDS ARE WEIRD.  SINCE GOD WAS REMOVED FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN 1963:

  • Violent crime has increased  995%
  • Premarital sex has increased 1,000% in 15 year olds, 300% in 16-18 year olds
  • Suicide has increased 300%
bible-study

Rather than self-esteem, the home school family is concerned with God-esteem.

Jesus first, others second, me last.

Even a two year old can memorize that. . .

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crock-pot

My go-to, super easy, lifesaving recipe for barbecue chicken!

1. Spray inside of crock with cooking spray

2. Slice one onion and place in bottom of crock.

3.  Put boneless, skinless chicken breast halves on top of onions

4. Pour some barbecue sauce on chicken pieces

5. Cook on low for 6-8 hours, or high 4-5 hours.

Everyone loves this, even little ones.  You can also substitute sweet and sour sauce with excellent results.  If you are fortunate enough to own two crock pots, throw some baking potatoes in the second crock , and you will have the perfect side for the barbecue chicken!  If you like tender skins, wrap in foil, if you like them crusty, sans foil.  Exact same cooking times  as chicken.  I served this barbecue chicken at my daughter’s rehearsal dinner, and it received rave reviews from young and old.  There is nothing like long, slow cooking to bring out the best flavor.  In addition – very low energy consumption!

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14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 Of Whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

16 That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man. . .

Ephesians 3: 14-16

Hints for Home Schoolers – Being a Keeper at Home

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Men should stop treating feminists like ladies, and instead treat them like the men they say they want to be. [Phyllis Schlafly]

3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;   4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,  5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the Word of God be not blasphemed.

Titus 2: 3-5

Let’s examine the phrase “keeper at home.” Some of what could be termed – New Age Bible Versions – have corrupted this passage to say something entirely different. Merely keeping a clean house – is not being a keeper at home. The keeper at home is something far greater than is commonly understood.

FROM THE GREEK, “KEEPER” IN TITUS 2 IS TRANSLATED FROM THIS WORD –

οὖρος

a watcher, warder, guardian

The same directive was given to Adam in the Garden of Eden – he was to“keep” the garden. It means something a great deal more than pruning! The Cheribum was to “keep” the way of the Tree of Life.  With a flaming sword, no less! The same charge is given to women for their homes. It has ever been the desire of Satan to destroy the family – and one of the ways he does this is by changing God’s Words. The NIV version changes “keepers at home” to

to be busy at home

Think I am making too big of an issue over a few words? The change in context here is of gigantic proportion! That simple change, in the NIV, as well as others, has influenced Christians for the past generation, to abandon their children to the pagan shrines masquerading as schools, and thrust women into the unnatural role of competing with men. Even our seniors are being shuffled off to assisted living, because the “keeper at home” is not there to care for the elderly members of the family.

castle

As the keeper at home – you are the guardian of your family. You are to be ever watchful for the welfare of your home, and its occupants. There simply is no more important job in the entire world. No where, and I mean no where, in the Holy Bible, the inspired Word of God, is this incredible responsibility given to men. Not in thousands of years of recorded history.

When you begin each day, have this thought in mind. You are the watcher, warder, guardian of your home. Not a mere housewife! You are the chatelaine of your castle, with all the commensurate responsibilities. Don’t let the media, politicians, or someone close to you diminish you and your desire to be obedient to the Lord. Your home is a fortress against the outside world, and you are its keeper! And the world, under the influence of the evil one, will attack with as much vengeance as an invading army. He will try to break down your door, infiltrate through a weak spot, smoke you out, and catapult destruction over the wall. The war machines you see in the above illustration are nothing compared to what he has in his arsenal.

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Ephesians 6: 11

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Ultimate Banana Bread!

banana-bread1

1 3/4 cups white whole wheat flour

1 3/4 cups unbleached all purpose flour

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon kosher or sea salt

1 1/2 cups mashed, ripe bananas (usually three)

2 eggs

1/2 cup light olive oil

1/2 cup milk

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Spray 12 cup bundt pan with cooking spray. Combine all ingredients in large bowl. Stir just until blended. Pour into pan and bake at 350 degrees for 50 to 55 minutes. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes! (very important) Turn out onto rack to finish cooling.

Now that’s what I call “instant breakfast!”

Hints for Home Schoolers – Handling the Allowance Question

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counting-money

Money, money , money – how do we teach our children the value of honest work? Today’s society is obsessed with instant gratification and reward. We’ve all encountered people with the entitlement syndrome.

Weekly allowance? There are a couple of reasons why that is not the best approach. Giving kids money, just because they are your kids, is akin to the entitlement theory. Allowance goes nothing towards teaching them the virtue of labor, and may actually cause behavior problems.

What about per diem, or daily allowance in accordance with daily chores accomplished? Again , this is not ideal. Per diem falls in the category of instant gratification. If the child feels he/she has enough money, or something more important to do – the chores will not get done. After all – why not do it tomorrow? It is amazing how quickly children can learn to manipulate their parents this way.

jar

Money for good grades? Not a good idea. The reward for academic achievement can be praise, perhaps celebration of some sort for spectacular scholarship. But the real reward for good grades should come from within the child. Knowing that you have done your best, means that the good grades are the reward.

Other things that are probably not a good idea to reward with money – self care and basic hygiene (self respect) including:

  • brushing teeth
  • bathing
  • making bed
  • putting away clothing
  • putting away toys and sports equipment
  • cleaning up after oneself in general
  • eating balanced meals (I’m not kidding, some parents pay their kids to eat vegetables)
  • good manners and courtesy
  • cleaning their own rooms, and desk area
  • taking care of any personal pets, that are theirs alone
  • setting table and clearing /washing dishes

Many home school parents feel that children should not be paid for house and yard work, reasoning that kids are obligated as family members because they live in the home, but I disagree. If I would pay a maid or lawn service, I can certainly pay my kids for doing the work while helping them learn a valuable lesson at the same time. Once you have enforced the above required list (which isn’t always easy) you can progress onto the next (paying) list.

PAYING JOBS FOR 2-3 YEAR OLD’S

  • daily emptying household waste baskets (ones that contain paper)
  • dusting low tables and book shelves ( again, I’m not kidding, their little fingers can get in all the crevices and do an amazingly thorough job)

PAYING JOBS FOR 4-5 YEAR OLD’S

  • dusting reachable surfaces
  • running a small vacuum over an assigned area
  • spraying and wiping vinyl floors with non-toxic cleaner and paper towels or bar mop towels
  • include previous list

PAYING JOBS FOR 6-7 YEAR OLD’S

  • watering outside vegetable garden
  • feeding and watering pets
  • include all of previous lists

PAYING JOBS FOR 8-9 YEAR OLD’S

  • include all of previous lists
  • brushing pets
  • scrubbing bathtubs, sinks and mirrors
  • folding laundry
  • raking
  • weeding

PAYING JOBS FOR 10-11 YEAR OLD’S

  • include all previous lists
  • cleaning pet ears and teeth
  • mopping
  • grass cutting
  • ironing
  • organizing
  • cleaning car interior

PAYING JOBS FOR 12-13 YEAR OLD’S

  • include all previous lists
  • baby sitting if you have little ones
  • laundry sorting and washing
  • washing windows
  • outside painting (picnic tables, fences, etc. )
  • garage and or barn/shed cleaning
  • this child may be responsible enough by now to “hire out” (do these things for other people ie: baby sitting, yard work)
  • inventory groceries and supplies

PAYING JOBS FOR 14-15 YEAR OLD’S

  • include all previous lists
  • food preservation (canning, freezing)
  • car maintenance (check oil, tire pressure, etc.)
  • many home schooled kids at this age will have steady outside work

By the age of 16, kids should know how to run a home smoothly, and take care of a vegetable garden and yard. Some rural kids will also know how to take care of large animals and properties. Very likely, the 16-17 year old will be working at least a part time job, and will cease being your right hand helper! And employers will be amazed at your teenager’s work ethic!

alotting-funds

How much you pay your workers is entirely based on your budget. My preference was to pay them their age weekly – $12 for a twelve year old, but some parents I know pay their kids double their ages. (they only have two kids) It really depends on how many kids you are paying! Don’t think a two year old is too young to understand the concept of money. It’s not too early to begin good saving habits as early as two. The illustration of the glass jars is to emphasize the importance of saving. Experts advise that three to four jars/banks be labeled for each child, and the earnings divided properly. Especially for giving back to the Lord.

My favorite resources dealing with money –

money-matters-for-kids

Money Matters for Kids is a wonderful book for sound money treatment based on the Bible for the 6-12 year old group.

money-matters-for-teens

Money Matters for Teens continues on for older kids, and author Larry Burkett has added another one for the 15-18 year old’s.

We used these books for book report books!

For parents that are clueless about money – I recommend Dave Ramsey’s Total Money Makeover. It could change your life, and help you live more fully for Christ. All four of the books mentioned here can be found on Amazon.

23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

Colossians 3: 23-24

Housekeeping tip! 

When our boy was four years old, he was obsessed with mechanical things, even vacuums.  We bought him a vacuum like this for his birthday, and a trip to the dollar store later – it was festooned with dinosaur stickers from top to bottom!  He was my volunteer vacuum vigilante!  He loved it until it broke, and his fascination with vacuums seemed to have died along with it.  But – I sure enjoyed it while it lasted! 

p.s. After dissection, he determined that some of the parts could be used for other things. . .

Hints for Home Schoolers – Teenagers

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To say there are different ways of approaching high school would be a gross understatement. Did I do a lot of soul searching? Truthfully – it depended on how that particular week was going. Let me just say – that my kid’s attitudes towards school in general changed after age 13. Many parents choose to leave off home school now, and place their teenagers in public or private school for varying reasons. Some cite access to team sports, insecurity over academic adequacy, the child’s resistance to home school. . .

home-school

All teenagers feel a strong need to be accepted and fit in with other teenagers.

Do not be surprised if your teen becomes resistant to home school, especially if you belong to a church that does not have a lot of other home schoolers.

You will need to get down on your knees and seek strength and guidance from the Lord, and look out for help where He might send it – in the form of a friend or home school support group. If you are committed to going the extra mile – and home schooling for high school – here are some pointers:

  • Buy and use an accredited curriculum.
  • Attend your area home school conventions
  • Open your home to your kid’s friends
high-school

Some common problems your teenager may develop:

insomnia – about 40% of teens develop insomnia related to multiple causes: hormonal fluctuations, excessive worry, too much on the plate, and irregular schedules. Insomnia can exacerbate these problems and make them seem insurmountable to a kid.

  1. Try to keep them on the same sleeping schedule all week. Cramming for tests, and staying up late at night to write reports seems like a good idea at the time to young people – but it always backfires.
  2. If your teen is working a part time job, be vigilant about sleep.
  3. Watch out for heavy eating and caffeine before bed. Teenagers love coffee drinks.

rebellion – Home schooled kids don’t really rebel the same way that kids in government schools do. But there are cases where it does happen. Unfortunately, most parents are under the misguided idea that their teens are mini- adults, able to make all their own decisions.

  1. Be very wary of church youth groups. Carefully sheltered home school kids can be corrupted in these groups.
  2. Don’t assume that everyone in your home school group is on the same page you are.
  3. Be available to talk with your teen – even if it’s the middle of the night!
  4. Kids are always on the alert for hypocrisy from adults.
  5. Teenagers need as much attention as a toddler does, even though they act like that is the last thing they want.

apathy – Some home school kids lose their desire. They don’t realize how much they will change over the next few years, and think they will always be the same. This is where parents need to pray and get creative. The important thing is to help your child feel involved with life.

  1. If your child is ambitious and a self starter – assist him or her in starting a small business. This could happen as early as seventh grade – depending on the child.
  2. An artistic child may enjoy joining a local theater group. Again- this can start quite young.
  3. A musical student, if talented enough, can audition for the orchestra of a large church, or even a community orchestra.
  4. The tenderhearted child, may be overjoyed to do volunteer work with people or animals.
  5. Is your kid academically or technologically exceptional? People will pay for tutoring.
  6. People person? Fast food restaurants, love hard working, outgoing teens.

Teenagers need positive feedback from someone other than their parents (though they need that too!) Getting them involved in something “bigger than themselves” will carry them through the toughest time of their lives. They will learn valuable life lessons, and gain life skills that will serve them for the rest of their lives.

school

“The truth is hard, but simple. Those who control government schools want your children and your money. They don’t want you sticking your nose into what they consider to be their business, and they don’t want to change. To preempt annoying parental scrutiny and demands for change, school districts make liberal use of the tools of public relations: A steady flow of glossy brochures, press releases, personal contacts, and other forms of communication are used to create an educational Potemkin Village to pacify parents. Like an illusionist’s sleight of hand techniques, pictures of new buildings, reports about the fortunes of the football team, and human-interest stories about students, teachers, and administrators are used to create an undeserved wholesome image and to distract attention from the spiritual, moral, and academic rot endemic to government schools.” [Bruce N. Shortt, The Harsh Truth About Public Schools, p. 323]

Please, please, please read this book before you even consider placing your children in government school at any age.

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Recognize at the outset, that you will spend a great deal of time driving your teens places, and at the same time, teaching them how to drive. Always remind yourself, it is better to drive your teen to play rehearsal, or to their part time job, than to not know where your child is or what they are doing! The fact is – you will feel that your life is not your own for quite a few years. But, guess what? In very short order – school years will be over. And you’ll be planning weddings and college graduations – and then you’ll be like me – mentoring the next generation of home schoolers!

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22: 6 This is a good verse for home school parents to commit to heart. Be in constant prayer, and keep in mind, that though your teen looks and sounds like an adult – they are anything but. They will not finish developing emotionally until the age of 20-21, meaning the decisions they make need careful guidance from you. Please read here about the prefrontal cortex and its influence on your teenager- and you will understand why your teen can seem so unreasonable, and why putting your home schooled child into public school at this time would not be the answer you were looking for.

Hints for Home Schoolers – Taking Care of Mom

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The exertions of home schooling will far surpass any career a woman can pursue. To ensure that the rewards are commensurate with the effort – it is essential that the teacher/ mom maintains her physical and emotional health.

mom

Every home school mom can end up looking like this mom – even on a daily basis. There are a few ways to prevent the demands of home school from consuming you, and it will require some discipline to make sure you are taking care of yourself. If you neglect certain things – teacher/mom can wind up flat on her back, which won’t benefit anyone, least of all your children. This article will address the common sources of trouble for teacher/mom, and offer solutions.

pecking-order

One problem faced by some teacher/moms is a critical family member. While this was more common in past years, yet today some well- meaning and/or controlling grandparents, siblings, or very close friends will try to make you feel as though home school will irreparably harm your children. If they are not convinced by statistics proving the excellence of home school, you may need protection more tangible. By this – I mean your husband. Here is where dad can and should swoop in and come to your defense. Next time Aunt Mary bombards  you with a home school horror story, dad can protect you from the negativity.

distracted-mom

This is a HUGE one. Electronic distractions! Do not ever get in the habit of taking phone calls and emails from friends and family during school hours. There will always be a lady from church, or even your best friend, that somehow have the idea that since you are home all day – you aren’t busy. Be firm about this. A half hour spent counseling someone on the phone will send your school day into an irretrievable mess. Not only that – it sends your kids a confused message about prioritizing. In addition, turn off your computer! Young mothers with demanding young children crave adult interaction, which sometimes leads to long hours into the night spent on the internet. Which, in turn, leads to sleeping-in in the morning. This is very self-defeating, as your hoped for schedule collapses.

dreaming

Trying to be wonder woman, and then failing will bring you down. Set realistic goals for house work – and put your kids to work! Have them do as much as possible during a set period of time. And yes- money should be paid! (this will be addressed in detail in a future post) Some jobs for kids include folding laundry, brushing/feeding/walking dog, dusting, emptying trash, unloading dishwasher. . .you get the idea. If you have pets, cook, or have a crawling baby – vacuuming or sweeping needs to be done every day. Have the oldest child do it. If you restrict yourself to the chores that are truly too difficult or dangerous for them, and have them do the rest, you’d be surprised how clean you can keep your home.

walking

Discuss with your husband what time he can give you. Meaning – when can he completely take over for one hour a day/evening to give you a reprieve. For me, it was an hour in the late evening (9:00-10:00) for a long, hot, QUIET, bubble bath. Only when I had a newborn was this routine disrupted. One mom I know has a husband who works from home (farmer). After he does his very early morning routine, he comes home and supervises the kids doing morning chores, while she takes a long, long walk – alone. She pauses here and there to do some deep breathing. You may need another kind of alone time routine. But be sure you stick to it like glue – it can save you from freaking out. Even just sitting outside by yourself with a book, or with nothing – will work wonders.

procrastination

Putting things off – anything from laundry to flashcards – will cause your home school to self destruct in very short order. I stress – dividing your day into small, conquerable sections, will keep things moving. Doing a couple of loads of laundry every day, is more efficient then waiting until your kids have no clean socks. If you automatically do the dishes while the coffee pot is brewing in the morning – you won’t be faced with a pile in the afternoon or evening. The same discipline needs to be applied to school. Putting off things that are difficult for your kids, will only make it even more difficult when they have to catch up. Enforce the reviews and rote learning NOW. Yes – they must memorize multiplication tables and a host of other things.

prayer

The single most important thing you can do for yourself, is maintain an active prayer life. Do not – I repeat – do not neglect spending time with the Lord, separate from your alone time. The larger your family and the younger your children are will affect the amount of time you have. When my family was young, I only had 15 minutes in the morning before the kids were up. Now, of course, I can spend a great deal more time. It is understandable that you don’t have much time for personal Bible study right now. But the Bible study you have with your children is of utmost importance. Spending some time in prayer and perhaps reading a Psalm will bless and strengthen you greatly for your work.

saying-no

Learn to say no. Until your kids are older, the sign-up sheet at church will have to go without your name! Some people refuse to comprehend that you are completely committed to home school, or what a huge commitment it is. Also – you are not the drop off babysitter for your sister or your friends with little preschoolers. The same goes for the people who want you to teach their children and grandchildren right along with your kids. NO!!!!!!!!!!!!

28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

Proverbs 31: 28-30

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Home made laundry detergent   

The only home made cleaners I use,  are this detergent, and my home made spray cleaner from here.  I would not go to the trouble of making detergent, if it were not more effective at cleaning, and cheaper to boot!  It’s the only thing I have ever used,  that will remove all odor from dog mattress covers.  One thing I strongly recommend, if you decide to try this, is to leave your bars of soap unwrapped and exposed to air for several days before grating.  It will make it much easier and powdery.   I also buy a huge bag of soda ash at the pool supply store, instead of the washing soda, making it even cheaper.

years-supply-of-laundry-detergent-4

3 bars Fels Naptha, grated
1 box Borax 
1 box Washing Soda
2 cups of baking soda
2 containers of Dollar Tree Oxyclean
1-2 containers of Purex fabric softener crystals

http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/08/make-a-years-worth-of-laundry-soap.htm

Hints for Home Schoolers – Afternoons

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The second installment in this series will deal with the second part of the day. We left off with the mid-morning break after Bible study. If you have little ones, ideally it could be timed with their morning nap.

racoons

The time right after the snack in the morning, is the best time to tackle your child’s most challenging subject. Different kids will grasp things at different speeds. One child may be a prodigious speller – but may resist long division. If you are schooling more than one child at the same time – give each one their toughest subject at this time. If you have the space, have them sit as far apart as possible, but not so far as to make it difficult for you to see them at all times. In this way, you can move between them, giving assistance where needed.

The curriculum we used from A Beka,  had plenty of “seatwork,” which I gave to each one to work on independently while teaching another one. This seatwork had to be completed every day, before any free time.

6. Present and assign most challenging subject to each child. Start to finish, this could take 30 – 45 minutes.

7. Take a stand up and stretch, jumping jacks, bathroom break. Depending on age, some nappers may be up now too.

8. Now would be the time for the second most challenging subject – depending once again, on the individual child. I always gave preschoolers a coloring page at this time, so they could “do school” too. This could take around 20 – 30 minutes.

9. Lunch! I always felt celebratory at this point in the day. Conquering their tough stuff first – made them feel good too. Lunch usually takes 30 – 45 minutes including cleanup.

10. Free play time. Only during the very worst weather did they stay inside. This varied, from 30 – 45 minutes. 

crockpot

Yes,that’s a crock-pot! This single device is a home-school helper extraordinaire! It can be loaded up in the morning and started before the kids wake up, or there is my method. At night, I would put everything in the crock-pot (even meatloaf) and then put the crock into the refrigerator overnight, to be started in the morning. It made the mornings a lot less hectic. Sometimes I actually started it at night, in the case of baked beans, which  cook all night.   Using the crock-pot was, and is, a life saver, seriously! Because of the crock-pot, I was able to do some things I like to do in the late afternoon, like playing the piano.

Fool proof crock pot brown rice:

  • 10 cups water
  • 4 cups brown rice (rinsed)
  • 1 Tbs. butter
  • 4 tsp. salt

Spray inside of crock with cooking spray.  Put all the ingredients into crock, give it a stir and turn on high for approximately 3 hours. 

This recipe makes a ginormous pot of brown rice, which is eaten hot as a side dish, with cheese and re-fried beans for lunch, stirred into pancake batter and muffin batter,  and remade in the crock pot in the form of rice pudding.  This method will even give good results to some of those “tough” rice mixes, containing wild and red rices, that never seem to cook by ordinary methods. 

Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

Proverbs 31:25

Next week we look at the third part of the day, and in upcoming posts are the goodies like pets and field trips!

Hints for Home Schoolers – Mornings

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As a veteran home-school mom of over 25 years, I thought it might be nice to start a series sharing some of the things I learned in the trenches. It will also give an opportunity for other home-schoolers to comment and share their experiences, as well as assist those who are contemplating home school.

Let’s begin at the beginning – that is – the beginning of the day.

Some moms like to go with the flow. I fell into that at one point, and it always led to a disorganized day. After determining in my mind to start at a specific time, (with allowances for sickness of course) it was much easier to accomplish everything.

1. I would arise at 6:00 am, (sometimes with an infant) and clean myself up, dress appropriately, and spend 15 minutes in personal devotion to the Lord. Also – care for the immediate needs of any pets.

2. Wake children at 7:00, get them cleaned up and dressed for the day, and all eat breakfast together at 7:30.

3. Spend one hour doing household chores. Age suitable – even a four year old can run a small vacuum. If the weather is warm, the garden also gets inspected during this time.

4. Have Bible study with the children. I used A Beka Bible flashcards for ages 6-13. (To say they loved those flash cards would be an understatement) Younger kids play with Bible felt books and puzzles on the floor, or Bible coloring pages seated at a kiddy table,  at the same time.  Interesting to note – when the young ones were ready to take part – they requested to sit- in with the “big kids,” and sat with rapt attention.  It was a natural transition from “milk” to “meat.”  High schoolers have independent, guided Bible study.  Bible study is the single most important part of your school day!  

5. Morning break – consisting of a light snack ( hot chocolate with a graham cracker or fruit) but it really helped us get though the morning!

Money saving idea –  A spray bottle can be filled with water to the base of the neck, then a squirt (approximately a teaspoon) of dish-washing liquid, (I use Dawn) then the rest of the bottle filled with isopropyl rubbing alcohol. This home-made spray cleaner will clean glass, mirrors, counters, tile, washable painted walls, bathroom tile, and vinyl floors – and will remove stubborn wax coatings from fruit – with no noxious fumes! I buy the alcohol in huge bottles from Sam’s or Costco. It saves a huge amount of money over store bought cleaners.  An added bonus – this cleaner is completely safe for granite counters, unlike cleaners containing vinegar or ammonia.  Will also kill mildew!

She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

Proverbs 31: 27

Next week we will cover the second part of the day.  Divide and conquer!