Living On A Budget

Many homeschoolers tend to be one income families, which means the budget tends to be tight, perhaps a little tighter than others. Over the years the one thing I have heard often is how can I afford to homeschool?

The biggest fear I think is how to transition from two incomes to one. Or, if they already live on one income how to afford curriculum and perhaps added expenses of homeschool groups, gym classes, music/instrument classes, etc.

Well first, determine what is truly needed and what is icing on the cake! Homeschool groups, gym classes, other types of classes and enrichment is nice, but it's really not necessary. If you can't swing it you can't swing it. There are plenty of ways to get connected with others -- it might mean you going out on a limb, reaching out to locals, and suggesting play dates.  This can be scary if you don't know anyone, but with social media it makes it's easier to find people.

Civil Air Patrol

Did you know there is such a thing as Civil Air Patrol open to all youth? I didn't know either until recently!  WP has been talking about her post-high school plans and that made me hit the keyboard and start googling and researching. That is how I stumbled upon the Civil Air Patrol.

We went and checked out the local squadron last night. WP made a rocket got to know the cadets some and has decided to go back next week.  They require you to go to 3 meetings as a visitor before you are allowed to join. So last night was visit 1 -- so if she goes back the next 2 weeks she can officially join.

Time Management; Self-Motivated

One of my goals with my children, now teens, is to encourage self-motivation and time management. I want them to be able to handle their own time. I feel this is an important life skill and sometimes they have to "fail" in order to get it.

We have been schooling now just over a month. My daughter has been told every Monday for the last several weeks to get on my computer to see her assignments and what is expected from her for the week. I use homeschool tracker to help record and keep track of our school records.

Anyway, this last week I decided NOT to say something to her on Monday. I decided to just let it be and see what happens. Well, nothing! Nothing happened. She did nothing in terms of school work and on Thursday night I think a light bulb went on because I got asked: "Mom are we going to do school at all this week?"

Simple Woman's Daybook: October Edition

For Today

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Looking Out My Window: It's a breezy day. The fall colors are starting to appear on the trees.

I Am Thinking: How am I going to pay for my son's college? We are very proud of him getting accepted into the program and college he wanted. We just have to now figure out how to cover the cost.

I Am Thankful: That as for right now both kids seem to have some post-high school plans.  I'm not sharing my daughter's plans right now, because she has to flush some things out. However, I'm glad that she seems to have a plan.

Educated Mothers

Please present me the lady who decided, being prefectly educated, to have seven, eight, nine children - President Emmanuel Macron, President of France.

I realize that I might be late to the game on commenting on this, but it is something that just came across my social media feeds today. I might only have two children, but I'm friends with many well-educated women, who have seven, eight, nine or more children and they have been posting and commenting on this.

Seeing I hadn't seen or heard anything about this before my friends started to share pictures with the #postcardsforMacron I decided to look into this. What did the President of France say, why did he say it, where did he say it?

Reading Is Delayed

It's typical for homeschooling parents to freak out, get worried when their children show any kind of delays in learning such as reading. I know I have when it comes to my daughter, now 16, and her reading skills, or lack of reading skills in the early years.  We were told many things over the years. One year we were told convergence insufficiency and with some studying up on it I applied some multisensory learning.

While it helped, some we still didn't make any real measurable process at least not process in my eyes. She grew older and I grew even more leary that I wasn't going to find something that would help her learn to read. I remember at one point, I just downright frustrated with the lack of process that I just basically gave up. Well, not really -- seeing I still went in search of yet another program and ways to help her. However, I do remember clearly telling her something along the lines you have to do this, you have to apply yourself, it's on you now.  It was at that point I found sight phonics and basically had her do it daily. She went through the program nearly twice.

What is happening to the Church?

Sitting at Mass this morning and it was sad to realize that the church is actually empty. I don't know if it's the scandal, in general, that is the cause, our priest not being able to connect with families. I don't know.

Not only is Church empty, but the school associated with our church is closing as is half dozen others locally -- they are going to combine to make one school. Half a dozen Catholic schools have such poor enrollment that they have to combine to have one full school.

Reflecting on the school closing: Why? Why is enrollment so low? Is it the cost? I don't think totally, seeing all the other non-Catholic Christian schools are doing well. So what is it?

Well, as someone that has taught Religious Education over the years, therefore have access to the school and classrooms,