I just got tired of "thinking about it"

Earlier this spring, I began to consider homeschooling Mia and Chloe for 1st grade. There were many things that led me to start the Googling...it's a slippery slope when that begins.

At first, it was all about what I wanted to "shelter" them from...not-so-great-teachers (rumor has it that the 1st grade teachers are not stellar at our neighborhood school); the influence of certain "mean girls in the making"; conversations that I wasn't ready to have with a 6 year old (see this post); the knowledge that anything pertaining to Christianity in the public school is put on the back burner, if not mentioned at all (Mia and Chloe came home having learned more about Hanukkah and Kwanzaa traditions in December than Christmas); etc...

Then, after my Google-fest, I realized all of the things I wanted to have them learn...I want them to have a deep knowledge of core subjects, not just shallow learning to quickly move on because "we have standards and data that need to be met and test scores that need to be reached." I want them to learn that learning does not just take place in a classroom and that it doesn't occur only between bells.

I really like my girls and enjoy being around them. They are funny and are smart as whips.

And, like I've told all the folks in the neighborhood (talk about the "rumor mill"!) that are asking me about the whys and hows of my decision, I just got tired of thinking about it and needed to make a decision one way or the other. If it works out, great...if it doesn't, then they can go back across the street to our neighborhood school (I've heard the 2nd grade teachers are great!).

I'm not Amish, and I'm not trying to be one of the Duggars (which is what I thought homeschooling was all about)...I'm just trying to give my girls the best education possible.

I know that I will be as challenged in this new adventure as they will be, but I am excited to see where it takes us.

My Mia

Before I was even pregnant with our twins, we went on a trip to Asheville with some close friends. My friend, Kellie, and I went shopping and we went into this little baby and children clothes shop and the cute lady working there had her daughter with her and I remember this precious little blond headed girl and her name was Mia. Immediately, I fell in love with the name. I knew that if I ever had a girl, Mia would be her name (who knew I would have 4 girls and would NEVER get to use my boy name, Charlie). Anyway, I digress...after looking the name up in a baby names book when I eventually did get pregnant, I found out that Mia means "mine" and it is also a derivative of Mary (a nod to my sweet hubby's Catholic background) and is also a derivative of Michael, Kevin's middle name. So many connections...

Well, "my" Mia, loves to please. She literally thrives on praise.

Earlier this week, I got very sick with some sort of infection (maybe sinus?) and I was out of commission for practically 2 days. I thought our family would turn into a Chick-Fil-A chicken nugget with the amount of nuggets they ate in those 2 days. So, last night, I was BACK. No more sick people in this house...no ma'am. This calls for a veggie stir fry.

Well, I made this amazing stir-fry with Gardein "chicken" for me and the real thing for the kids and Kevin. As soon as the girls came to the table, the tears welled up in their blue eyes and I just looked at them and said, "this is dinner...I just spent 45 minutes making it if you don't eat it or complain, my feelings will be so hurt." I am hoping that the Catholic guilt is genetic from my husband. I told them that they had to eat a taste of each veggie and eat all the chicken and the rice. So, Chloe, did just that (no more, no less)---did I mention she's a rule follower? An hour later, Mia and I are still sitting there.

Mia and Chloe had just had their swim class before dinner and Mia all of a sudden started complaining that her eyes were burning...(that's funny because as you were watching Scooby Doo, and I was cooking, they were fine). Then Quinnlan (who had not been to swim class) starts saying her eyes are burning. The 2 year old cracks me up.

So, I told Chloe to go and pick a candy from our "Candy Bucket" to put in her lunch for the next day and Mia is on high alert at that.

So I told her (calmly---even though I am so bugged) that she has to eat her broccoli, at least, and the chicken and the rice. So, she begins to eat the broccoli and...shhhh...I think she likes it! She ate the whole thing and I was going absolutely nutso! I'm hugging her and swinging her around and telling her proud I am of her and she is just beaming from ear to ear. Finally we fell on the kitchen floor with her in my lap and I just showered her with praise. She glowed as she picked out her candy for lunch and was still glowing as we went to bed...an hour past bedtime.

One more precious thing about my Mia...She has begun asking the most conscientious questions. Kevin will come in at the end of the day and she will sincerely ask him, "How was work today, Daddy?" or when we go out to eat she'll say, "How is your burrito, Mommy?"

I could just eat her up. She is growing into the most wonderful little girl.

I am so blessed.