Life's lessons: Your never too old

Never explain--your friends do not need it and your enemies will not believe you anyway.
Elbert Hubbard (1856 - 1915)
This quote is all to true! Here lately it seems that I have had to learn this. (a long with other things) It doesn't matter what you say to explain yourself. If someone is a true friend they will take you as you are and go on. If the person don't care about you other than the casual "Hello" then it doesn't really matter what you say. I guess it's true what my grandaddy use to say, " You are never too old to learn."
And boy have I ever been going through a learning process here of late. I guess it's a middle age thingy! LOL!

Quote of the Day -

Andre Gide - "Be faithful to that which exists within yourself."
To me this quote hits home! Because what exists within yourself is so important! I'm glad I found this quote because it is exactly what I needed for today & maybe will help someone else also!
Hope you have a Happy!

My vent for today

I haven't been online much this week or able to much of anything else I normally do. My niece that drives me crazy at times got her a job. So, I baby sat her 2 little ones this week. I love the boys to death, but I do not want to keep them all summer. I had 1st ask my MIL if they could pay me for the summer to help me pay for my kids Home School material this fall and she told me flat out no. She said, that she was going to put them in day care. (Oh, my niece lives with maw maw and maw maw raised her- another long story) It sorta pissed me off, but on the other hand I really don't want to be tied down all summer either. She never helps my husband and I. She has her favorites and we aren't on the list. (The women has funny ways and all that is another long story) -(I could write a book about my life and have started a few times but life gets in the way. HA! Ha!) So, Thursday when my MIL picked up the boys I told her she needed to call the Day Care by next week. Well, on Friday when she picked up the boys she told that my niece had to work this week end and was off Monday and Tuesday. Oh, hold up! You said you were putting them in day care. She just gave me that funny look and walked out. The only time the women or my niece calls me is when they want something and I don't think they should expect me to baby sit all summer. I get so sick of my MIL but don't really know what to do. She is my husband's mother. He feels the same as I do, but they have always treated him different and he wont stand up to them. They don't respect my home schooling either and that makes me mad. I guess because I'm home they think I can just drop everything to meet their needs. I told my husband that this fall had to be different and I really don't know how to handle it but I'm getting tired of my husband, kids and myself always being on the back burner. His mom don't like me home schooling either but they are mine and she can kiss my grits! I just wish I had the nerve to tell her so, but if I did, I don't really think it would make much difference.
I guess I'm through venting. Now I can smile!!!!!!!!!!!
kitten

I'm a BAD momma. NOT!

This week end the kids and I worked so hard in our yard and garden plus my mom's yard that we didn't do school lessons Monday. We did swimming lessons! And after that we all pitched in and done or chores for the day. I guess if you judge me with your point of view or standards of how I should school my kids then I guess you would considered me of being a bad mom. But in my point of view I don't see it that way.
When I 1st started home schooling I thought I had to go with the standards of the Public point of view, but I found that don't work for us. In my point of view, you can have all the book knowledge in the world and still don't know how to deal with what the real life will throw at you once you get out of Momma and Daddy's house and sometimes them little twist that hit you before. To me life skills is just as important. Most kids that are in the public school system has so much stress to live up to this standard, home and peers that they are so stressed or they don't get taught how to do some of your most important things to live life. Example: How to cook, take care of their home, enjoy life, how to deal with life stressers, ect and ect. Example: There is a lady I know that her 16 year old daughter could be a good example, plus I have a niece that could be another. Okay, this 16 year old-She is in Color gaurd, Band, works and is expected to keep on the national honor roll. That is all good and all, but here while back this little girl got so stressed that got cutting herself to release pain. (I don't understand, but) Instead of the parents understanding, getting her help or trying to show her how to deal with stress, they pulled in the strains on her a little harder. Her mom sit right here yesterday and told me she didn't know what her little girl was going to do when she gets out on her own because her grades have went down a little (A's & B's instead of all A's)plus she said her daughter did not know how cook, wash her clothes, so on and so forth. She had the nerve to tell me she wished her little girl was more like my kids! I looked at her a little stupid and said how do you get that? She told me that my kids knew how to cook, clean house, take care of themself, and so on and so on. Well, you don't have to be a home schooler to teach that, I said, before I thought. She just looked at me funny and changed the subject. I guess what I'm trying to say is people (mostly family) Just because we don't school on the standards of Public school they don't think I'm doing my job as a mother. Well, PS DON'T work for us.
kitten

Mother's Day

Yesterday and Saturday was very wonderful and peaceful. Saturday I finished filling up our new pool for the kids and while I was doing that I weed-eated the yard. After the kids played for a few hours in the pool we went to my mom's to take her mother's day present and clean out most of her flower beds. (I guess the kids and I will go back this week and finish her flower beds since she isn't able and she is stroking over how awful they look, Plus part of homeschooling right now has to do with taking care of gardens). After that My husband , little girl and I went to his momma's for a visit while our boys went on a spend a night. While we were waiting on her to get home we stopped by Bask in Robbin's and got a Reece's peanut butter sundae. (Them things are almost heaven!) LOL! After we left her house we went to Pizza Hut for super. Sunday started off a little slow but I'm not going to complain about that. When KB and I got home from church the boys came home and spent all day working in our yard. Boy! Does it ever look so much better. After we got through with yard we all took a swim and then my husband put some steaks on the grill. When the steaks were done we all came in got baths and eat. Then my middle child decided since they haven't gave me a physical present he would make me a cake. It was kinda funny, he wanted to do it all by himself without me and I let him. After he had mixed the mix for 2 mins he came in and said, momma the cake is too runny. I went to go check and started asking him questions of what exactly he had done. I thought he would be fine without me since I help them all the time, but bless his heart he read the water as 1 and 1 1/3 but it was 1 1/3. I tried really hard not to laugh and told him to get out the other cake mix and we would do 2 cakes. So I showed him his mistake but assured him it was okay and told him it just showed me I was double blessed and loved. So, that was my mother's day week end. Kinda laid back, in the yard instead of the house and fun, but now I have got to get the kids and myself back motivated to finish remodeling the house. HA! Joy! Joy! Happy Happy! Joy!, but it will be so nice to get my house back together.
kitten

Dyslexia! Dyslexia! Dyslexia!

I have 3 kids that have dyslexia. You can not really tell with my oldest thou. But my youngest 2 seem to struggle to no end. I'm not complaining about my kids, for real, but I wish it was easier to help them. I feel so helpless sometimes. I can see the world around me getting more aware of kids with dyslexia and I think its great! But there is a big BUT! My but is that they do all these conferences to make parents and teachers aware, but no real help. Yea, if you got money coming out your ears you can get help, IMO. I was getting help with mine, but now our insurance will not pay for it. They also have a lot of materials you can buy and use at home, but again MONEY is the issue. There was 2 teachers here in our local area that went back to college to help the kids in our local schools. The Superintendent told these teachers that the school didn't want to deal with those kind of kids. What? These kind of kids are over all smart, high IQ's for most. They just have to learn a different way of learning and if dyslexia a learning disability why don't we have more resources or help that is affordable. To me these kids already feel different and with the right help can be something really great! But no!
Okay! I laid in the bed most of the night with this on my mind and was going to write all this glorious stuff this morning and now I have forgot 1/2 what I had on my mind. So, I guess I'll end my rant, but still wish there was more help out there because these kids (mine and others) are very precious and have a lot to offer if they just had a chance.
This might just be a problem in my area because of where I live, but I really wish I could do more to help my kids.
kitten

Our Bike ride today

OmGosh! I think I have lost my ever loving mind! I took the kids on a 6 mile bike ride this morning with A LOT OF HILLS! I made it thou, but next time I'll know not to take so many hills till I get in better shape. It did help my anxiety level thou. When I was a teen I ran all over Pontotoc. I was in cross country and that my excape time, but I forgot how many hills and how steep they were till today. Now if we can just make it a daily routine everyday before school and before we tutor an hour a day we all might feel much better. I just hope I stick to it and get use to the hills! LOL~~

My new Hobby

Here lately I have found a new hobby/sport. It's bike riding! Yea, for real! I really enjoy it and it has helped me cut down on smoking and I know it will help me loose the weight I need to. My only problem is everyone is always calling on me to help to do this and that and I'm afraid it's going to get to the point where I can't ride like I need to and want to. My kids are really into also so that's a plus. I know my mom has been sick (COPD-serve), but she has got where she thinks I should be there everyday on her time. I don't mind helping mom, but I wish she wasn't so picky over every little thing. I know she is worried about her health, so am I, I know she is not want to give up her independence, bills and so on and so forth, but when someone else needs me she gets jealous and if I don't do as she wants then she gets mad. I do love her, but between her and others in the family I don't always have time for my self. I told someone this morning if I was to catch up with my self I probably wouldn't recognize my self! HA~ I'm really not complaining about my mom and sorta am about the others, but I just wish my whirl wind of a life would calm down enough for me some me time. I also hope that this bike riding thing really helps me with my stress, weight and smoking and don't fade out like I do with so many other things.
kitten

wandering about my son getting is HS Diploma

Earning Your High School Diploma - Mississippi

Mississippi's minimum requirements for graduation are as follows:
4 credits English/language arts
4 credits mathematics
3 credits science
1 credit U.S. history/constitution
0.5 credit economics
0.5 credit U.S. government
1 credit additional social studies
1 credit physical education
7 credits oelectives
Recommended college prep courses include:
4 or more credits English with an emphasis in composition and usage
2 credits foreign language
3 credits mathematics (algebra and geometry)
2 credits laboratory sciences (biology, chemistry, or physics)
1 credit U.S. history or world history
2 credits social science
1 credit electives
This is what is recommended in Mississippi.
Is a GED as good? Some say yes and some say no and I say I don't know. I really would like for him to get his HS diploma. I'm going to call a school in Memphis, TN for I can help him get his diploma. I'm also wondering what electives you can earn in HS. I know Art, Bible and Music, but what other I'm not sure but would like to know. I also wonder about labs. How does one get lab time in Home school?
Here is our list for next year:
Geometry ( Hoping to buy Math U See)
World History 2 Konos
Here is what we will cover in History

The Big Picture
ROME
The Roman Republic
The Roman Empire - I
The Roman Empire - II
The Life and Times of Jesus Christ - I
The Life and Times of Jesus Christ - II
The First Hundred Years of Christianity
Roman Britain
The Early Church in the West
The Early Church in the East
The Fall of Rome and the Germanic Tribes
Early Britain
MOSLEMS
Muhammed and the Rise of Islam
The Muslim Invaders of Europe
CHARLEMAGNE
Charlemagne
VIKINGS
The Vikings
THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE
Byzantium
MEDIEVAL TIMES
The Norman Conquest
The Papacy
Feudalism
The Crusades
The Monastic Tradition
Cathedrals
The Growth of Towns and Cities
Medieval Science and Philosophy
The Growth of Government
The Black Death and the Hundred Years War
Pilgrims, Travelers and Trade
The Warning of the Middle Ages
Marco Polo
CHINA
China I - Ancient History and Art
China II - Medieval History and Religion
China IV - Modern China
Review I
Review II
LITERATURE LIST
Julius Caesar, by William Shakespeare
Augustus Caesar’s World, by Genevieve Foster
The Bronze Bow, Elizabeth George Speare or Quo Vadis?, by Henryk Sienkiewicz
City Of God, by Augustine
Beowulf
Stories of King Arthur
Tales of the Arabian Nights
The Song of Roland
Norse Mythology
Murder in the Cathedral, by T.S. Eliot
Robin Hood (many authors including Howard Pyle)
Ivanhoe, by Sir Walter Scott
Saint Joan, by George Bernard Shaw
The Canterbury Tales, by Geoffrey Chaucer
English comp 2
Biology (not sure from what book yet)
Typing (Computer)
Spanish2 and some Latin
He will also be doing more Art, Bible and music to finish the second part of what we did this year.
As for this year his credits are:
English Comp 1
World History 1 - Konos
Literature
Earth Science
Bible
Art
Geography
Algerbra 1
Some computer (Typing)
Spanish 1

Home School T-Shirts

I thought of using this one for the kids. The 1st one be DJ, The 2nd KB and the 3rd be JB.

I thought to use this one for me without my name and either use the same picture for my husband or find him another picture of a panther or something, but I really like this one.

The kids asked me here while back if we could make Home School shirts for when we go on field trips and such for we will match. I this could be a good idea since I have already gave us the name, Kitten's Home School. This is what I was thinking of the design and I would like opinions if possible.

Okay, I was think of putting Kitten's Home School on front on the left upper chest. And for the kids on back I pick out a picture, which I will show, with their names under the picture I feel best fits them. And for my husband and I I have chose the same on the front but with a different picture.

How I was going to make the shirts is either use paint for the front or make a design from the computer and print off and iron on. I already have the pictures I think I'm gonna use on my computer and I'm gonna iron them on.

So if you would be so kind let me know what you think.

Thank You bunches!

A day of spazzing

I know I keep spazzing over my son that is doing High School, but maybe if we make it through I'll be able to calm down with the other 2. HA!
Sometimes I wonder if I had started home schooling in the beginning I may not spazz as bad, but I didn't so I got to just suck it and deal with it and CHILL! Yeah Right! But I really do.
I'm really glad that I have the support of some wonderful ladies on the Denim Jumper. They have help me more they ever know through my crazy days and not just in home schooling. It's good to be able to talk to other moms (even if we are miles apart) about anything and everything. (well almost) It makes me feel good that I have these ladies that go through some of the same things as I do.
Well, I guess I got this little spazzing rant off my chest and feel better. I know! I know! One day at a time!
kitten

Quotes of thought

The greatest mistake you can make in life is to continually be afraid you will make one.Elbert Hubbard
Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortunes; but great minds rise above them.Washington Irving
Our greatest glory consist not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.Oliver Goldsmith
Wherever we look upon this earth, the opportunities take shape within the problems.Nelson A. Rockefeller
What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?Vincent van Gogh
Try not to become a man of success but a man of value.Albert Einstein
Men do less than they ought,unless they do all they can.Thomas Carlyle
Let thy words be few.Ecclesiastes 5:2 from Words of Wisdom
Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true.Leon J. Suenes
The power of imagination makes us infinite.John Muir
Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.Confucius

Socialization and Mainstream society

Someone shared this on the board I visit everyday. I thought it was funny and thought I would share with all~LOL!!