Depression: Sorrow without Hope

I'm keeping it real over at Home Educating Family Blog.

As I write this, Robin Williams has been dead for over a month. His suicide brought depression out in the open for a short time. It demonstrated that you can not always spot a depressed person by looking at them from the outside.

But depression and suicide has touched our family more directly. Just last year my husband and I attended the funeral of a young husband and father who committed suicide.

A few years before that, a family member had to deal with the suicide of her husband.

In both, not only did the suicide catch others by surprise, the depression did as well.

To be honest, depression has affected us even more intimately. You see, I have dealt with depression throughout my life and have considered suicide.

There. I am out. How about you? Are you willing to bring your depression to light?

Read the rest HERE.

Celebrate Italian Heritage Month

Check out my latest at HEDUA!

America has been called the melting pot because so many different cultures have contributed to its development and continued success. As a result, we have many different “heritage” and “history” months like February being African-American History Month and Hispanic Heritage Month in September.

Not to be forgotten,

October is Italian Heritage Month!

Integrating Science into other Subjects

Find out how I integrate science...

I have written before about Ways NOT to Teach a Science Lesson. Today, however, I want to encourage you to teach science. But, I want you to teach it with a different subject.

Integrating science with other subjects shows how they relate.

Science is not just something extra we learn but is part of our hobbies, our history, and our daily lives.

Read the rest HERE.

HEDUA Blog--Money Saving Apps

I'm over at HEDUA today!
Make sure to check it out.

HEDUA Post: Beware Homeschool Dads

Have you heard that punctuation matters? The same is true of the title. It could be “Beware! Homeschool Dads!” or it could be “Beware, Homeschool Dads!” The first would mean to beware because there are homeschool dads. You know, like “Watch out! Dog poop!” The second set of punctuation would mean for homeschool dads to watch out like “Watch out, Waldo!”

This article will mention both.

Read the rest of the article HERE.

Easter Monday Mess

Today is Easter Monday for those who follow the liturgical calendar. For the rest of us, we probably have the traditional post-Easter Monday mess to clean.

Easter or Resurrection Sunday celebrations often leave behind their own remnants that require clean up or dealt with.

Ham

Yes, some of us actually have ham left over. Speaking of cleaning up, I’m not sure where the habit of eating unclean meat for the day we celebrate the resurrection of our Savior who happened to be Jewish came from, but there it is

Read the rest HERE!!

4 Ways NOT to Teach a Science Lesson

I'm over at Home Educating Family today...

I don’t know about you, but sometimes it is hard to get a science lesson in our schedule. While I enjoy science, it has often been put on the back burner to the fundamentals of math, language, reading, etc. Science even tends to come in a distant second to history in our home.

Surely, I am not the only one.

Just because I often do not find time to do a science lesson, does not mean my child is in a science deficit. I have just figured out some ways to get science in without formally teaching it. (Tweet this!)

I get science in by using ways NOT to teach a science lesson.

- See more HERE

Catechism 101

My post at Home Educating Family today is about catechisms. Hope you find it useful!

What is one goal that most parents have in teaching their children.

Most parents want to pass on their faith to their children.

What has been a fundamental process parents have used historically?

CATECHISM.

What is Catechism?

C — Catechism is a group of questions and answers that deal with the doctrines of the faith. It is generally used to teach children and new believers.

- See the rest at: HERE

Remembering Segregation

Here's my latest article for HEDUA. It's about my mom!

If you have read some of my other posts, you know I love to celebrate holidays. Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. While he may be controversial in certain circles, there is no denying the impact he had on ending the wrong of segregation.

Living Through Segregation

It is hard for our children to understand segregation–thankfully so. In fact, a lot of you reading may know about segregation but not fully grasp what it would be like to live in that manner. However, not realizing or understanding it can lead to not appreciating what those who came before us accomplished or experienced.

A few months ago I took my mom to tea at a local mansion. It was a belated Mother’s Day activity. Interestingly, those sharing our table were all mothers and adult daughters roughly in the same age groups. We were having a lively discussion that somehow turned to the subject of segregation and each of the elder lady’s experiences.

- Read the rest at: http://hedua.com/blog/remembering-segregation/#sthash.mowc0cJP.dpuf

Moving Home & School

We are going to be moving this week. It's been a little overwhelming. We no longer have a minivan, so we can't carry as much to storage with each trip and of course, we can't move any of our regular stuff in until this weekend.

I was facing a January full of moving, homeschooling, Cubbies, and homeschool group.

Thankfully, I shared my load with ladies at church which brought a quick response of prayer. Also, other mom's jumped in to take over my responsibilities in the homeschool group this month. A big blessing was the encouragement and advice I received.

Then I felt a little ashamed because I had actually written about moving for the Home Educating Family Blog before!! Apparently, I needed to relearn what I wrote!

See if you can glean from it the first time as I review it!

We recently had the challenge of moving. It was not a planned move, and we only had two weeks’ notice, so challenge is the correct word in my opinion!

Thankfully, it was during the summer. We do not “officially” school during the summer, although a lot of learning takes place. The fact that we were free of formal educating, of course, added in our transition. Here are some things I did before we moved to prepare us for next school year after the move.

• Remember that living skills are learning skills. My daughter was old enough to help with the move somewhat. She learned how to put boxes together. She helped pack boxes and had to consider how to actually place things in a box and not just toss things in a box! She observed the strategy in packing what you need least first and what you need most last. Life skills are education.
• 
  

- See the rest at: http://hedua.com/blog/moving-home-and-school/#sthash.jC4NRVWi.dpuf

Empty Arms at Christmas

I have written about this previously on my blog, but this version I updated for the Home Educating Family Blog.

Infertility during the Holiday

I have written previously about the burden the infertile bear during Mother’s Day. That holiday is a fairly obvious challenge for those who cannot be a mother. What is often unrealized by the masses is that there are other celebrations and days that may also strike hurt, fear, and shame into the heart of those dealing with infertility.

Most know that Christmas can be a bittersweet if not downright sad time for some people, especially those dealing with loss. Most losses are more obvious;:a job, a home, a spouse through divorce. Of course, there are also those dealing with a loss because of death. In fact, I know of a young husband and father who recently killed himself. That is definitely going to be a hard loss for his wife and children to deal with this whole holiday season.

Another loss is to miscarriage. To lose (although, thankfully, not forever) a child during a time that is celebrating a birth can be amazingly painful. I am sure most could empathize with individuals going through that.

The Pain of Infertility

Many, however, overlook the loss of another group of people because it is not as obvious: the infertile. Most don’t think about how Christmas could be painful to someone going through infertility. Miscarriage is the loss of a baby. Infertility is the loss of the hope of a baby. Loss is loss and grief is grief, but the loss of a hope is too intangible for some to consider or recall, especially when busy with celebrating the holiday.

- See more at: http://hedua.com/blog/christmas-infertility/#sthash.7cxARrG9.dpuf

Homeschooling for Hanukkah...continues

Last Monday, I wrote an article for Hedua about Hanukkah. If you don't know what Hanukkah is about, that article is the place to start.

But I didn't merely write about it. We been doing it!

First, we've been working on a free lapbook from Homeschool Share. Find it HERE. It includes history and traditions. We've really enjoyed it. We are not done yet since we chose to complete it over the whole eight days!

We have a mini menorah and have been lighting it each night.We made potato latkes using leftover Thanksgiving mashed potatoes. We used this recipe. I know it is technically not a latke but it was close. (Hint: be patient and use less oil than I did.)

We made our quick and easy donuts.


We still need to make and play with a dreidel, but there is time!

Homeschooling for Hanukkah

Eight Crazy Nights

During this time of year, it is not uncommon to hear the humorous song about Hanukkah and wonder the why and the hows of those “eight crazy nights.”

Those eight crazy nights of Hanukkah remember a great historical and spiritual event, which even Jesus celebrated (John 10:10).

The Cool Thing God Did

We tend to forget that there was a whole period of time between the Old Testament and New Testament. It was during that time that the Greeks, Syrians, and eventually Romans came to control Palestine.You can read about some about this historical time for yourself in the Books of the Maccabees in the Apocrypha or the historical works of Josephus.

Now, before I scare you off with deep historical studies, let me simply share the cool thing that God did.

- Read the rest of what I wrote at: http://hedua.com/blog/homeschooling-hanukkah/#sthash.mhqNUcmC.dpuf

  

The Math of Manners

My latest piece over at Home Educating Family.

Dating sites use all kinds of math equations and algorithms for matches. Did you know that there is a math equation which leads to manners? A friend explained it to me a few years ago.

An Equation for Manners

I was in amazement that people commented on my daughter’s manners. We had been to a craft fair, and numerous people had complimented me on how she routinely said please and thank you without the usual parental prompt. It is kind of a sad commentary on things that good manners are noticed and not assumed, but I digress!

A few days later, I commented to my then four-year-old daughter that she has nice manners. I asked her if her momma had taught her manners in homeschool. She replied, “No.”

- See more at: http://hedua.com/blog/the-math-of-manners/#sthash.VkLAFOOF.dpuf

Will the Real Mexican Independence Day Please Stand Up?

Okay, first a disclaimer. This is NOT a Mexican flag in the picture. It's the Italian flag. I didn't have anything to do with that part!

Today is NOT Cinco de Mayo

I just wanted to make sure that point was clear. Today is Mexican Independence Day, however.

A lot of people think that Cinco de Mayo (May 5^th) is Mexican Independence Day because it is a big ta-doo here in the United States.

In Mexico, however, Cinco de Mayo is a regional holiday not a national holiday. It commemorates the day a rag-tag group of Mexican farmers defeated the proud and professional French troops at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Today, in Mexico, it is celebrated in the state of Puebla. Here in the United States, it has become a day to celebrate Mexican heritage and culture.

That is why a lot of people get confused.

Read the rest at: http://hedua.com/blog/mexican-independence-day/#sthash.KE8UoBAy.dpuf

Remedial Home Economics for Busy Homeschool Moms

Home economics is not a subject on which I am well-versed.

Sure, I took the obligatory home economics classes when I was in school. I sewed a dashiki. I needle pointed a small picture. I made a sugar egg with a scene inside. You know, really practical stuff.

At home I picked up a little, but really was not expected to do much. You see, I was raised by perfectionistic grandparents. The fact they were my grandparents meant I was spoiled well-taken care of. The fact they were perfectionists meant I heard, “Just let me do it!” a lot. After all, why should they have me do it when they would just have to do it over again correctly?

So now, I am in a position to teach my daughter home economics. As a homeschooler, I know that this can count not only as a needed life skill but also for homeschool credit. Either way, I want her to have better skills than I do.

- Find out what I recommend at: http://hedua.com/blog/home-economics-homeschool-moms/#sthash.Bn1HYR9l.dpuf

Homeschool Learning & Summer Fun

Today I'm heading out for some intentional summer learning at a nature park. Find out what I have to say about summer learning over at my post at the Home Educating Family Blog.

Summer Learnin’ (the Musical)

When I think of homeschool summer learning, I cannot help but sing…

 (Picture Danny and Sandy in Grease)

Summer learnin’ had me a blast

Summer learnin’ happened so fast

I can learn outside of school

I can learn and still be cool

Summer days learnin’ away, including those summer nights

Uh Well-a well-a well-a huh

Tell me more, tell me more…

Okay, I will. I will tell you more about summer learning.

First, let me give you my definition of summer learning. Summer learning is any intentional or unintentional activity or event which causes learning during the summer.

I know. It is profound. It is deep.

Let us further define the definition.

- See more at: http://hedua.com/blog/homeschool-in-summer/#sthash.EehO1ZYp.dpuf

Add Award-Winning Reading to your Homeschool

Today, I'm over at Home Educating Family Blog. Come join me!

The Benefits of Homeschool for One

Photo Credit: Home Educating Family Blog

Today I'm over at Home Educating Family Blog. Come check out my article!

A Brief History of Homeschool Style

Today, I'm posted over at Home Educating Family Blog. I recommend it for a laugh on tax day!