Mom's Minute Mondays: A Note from the Author

Dear Readers,

It has come to my attention that some question the relevance of this blog. This blog's purpose is to be uplifting and encouraging to other home school moms. When out in the marketplace, we all encounter those skeptics who will ask us "why aren't our kids in school". They sneer at us and don't understand what we are all about, and others persecute what they do not understand. Whatever the reason, we need to connect as a unifying subculture.  As mom's we want what is best for our children. Most of us home school because of this mission. Statistically, we have more home school moms that are christian than any other religious sect, and many home school their children to incorporate our religious ideology into our curriculum. With that being said, I think a devotional would be completely appropriate, advertisements for mom's night out, or an endorsement of an uplifting book also would be appropriate.


Let me know what you think! We all need encouragement, and I simply hope to give us a place to look for it.

Sincerely,
Laurie Epps

The Sleeping Beauty will offer an outreach performance on Friday, October 26, 2012
Tickets are just $10.

Sleeping Beauty is a timeless ballet, and transports the classic fairy tale of Princess Aurora. This is not your Disney Aurora, but instead the traditional ballet that is brought to life through dance. These familiar characters will delight you with suspense, wonder, and awe. This enchanting production will fill your school age children, and their parents hearts with song, excitement, and grace.

Sleeping Beauty provides an excellent teaching opportunity in English/Language Arts, Social Studies, Math, Science, Music,  Visual Arts, Physical Education, as well as, Character Education (drama). To reserve your seats, for this special 10:30 a.m.  performance you may contact Carolina Ballet Theatre by email at: outreach@carolinaballet.org or by calling (864) 421-0940. Groups and family tickets are available.

http://www.carolinaballet.org

As a former educator, I can tell you that children benefits greatly from the arts. They learn to look at things in a new way, and it helps them express their creativity. For proper development, it is so good for all of us to stimulate that part of the brain.  I know that it has helped me throughout my own life, and I can create almost anything if I have a model or manipulative. 

As Carolina Ballet Theatre celebrates it's 40th Anniversary Season there are an increased amount of outreach performances scheduled. Let the stage take you!

Two Homeschoolers Playing Cards

Mom's Minute Mondays

We all have moment where we feel overwhelmed by our lives, and we get caught up in the busyness of it. Take time with the word, or at least to spend some quality time that is just for you.



The Write Conversation : Weekend Worship—Peaceful Paths for Troubling Thoug...: Every word of God is true. He guards those who come to him for safety. Proverbs 30:5 I love being outside, but I’m no...

Field Trip Fridays

My favorite way to watch my children learn is to watch them interact with things. They all respond to the hands on approach to learning. I know that even personally, if you show me something, let me touch it, I will remember it forever.

One of my daughters is a ballerina. I also studied ballet when I was young. I can tell you that as a former dancer, you remember the dance not just with your mind, but with your feet. The same is true when you knit. You don't just remember the stitches arbitrarily, your hands remember how it feels.  Intrinsicly I know how it feels to do the stitches correctly. Usually, it just feels wrong when you make a mistake.

With schoolwork, we often make the fatal mistake of forgetting the most basic way of learning. If you experience it, you will know it. That is why I encourage you to get out there with your kids and experience nature, a museum, or a historical site. You will be amazed at all the wonderful things you will learn together.

 

 

Our First Field Trip

 

It was a rainy day, and my youngest was getting quite antsy. Since her big sister had rehearsals all day, I decided to take her to the Upstate Children's Museum. For hours she was entertained with her own sense of discovery. Even the youngest tykes, have an inexhaustible list of things to play with and explore. Best of all, it was just about the same cost as a movie.

 

 



My youngest daughter playing in the Toddler Lily Pond

 

There is even going to be a Homeschool BOO!seum Day on Wednesday, October 24, 2012.

For more information contact The Children's Museum of the Upstate at: http://www.TCMUpstate.org  or call (864) 233-7755.





Life Imitates Art

~I encourage you to write about what you see

Tacky Tuesdays

Tuesdays column is dedicated loosely to the arts and crafts. It is part of what makes homeschooling fun.  In our homeschools, do we cut art first from our curriculum? No, never. This has been such a joy through my years of homeschooling.  Next week, you'll find the crafts we're doing as a family and I hope that eventually we can add your posts as well. They can be seasonal, or just art to do on a rainy day. Have a favorite cookie recipe? We'd love to hear from you, because edible art is so fun since you get to gleefully eat your mistakes.

This is my daughter creating a puppet at the Upstate Children's Museum. 

Mom's Minute Mondays

Hi. My name is Laurie Epps. I have been homeschooling my daughter since 2005. In the past seven years I can say I've had good days and bad days. But we all do, but we can't let discouragement get the upper hand. We are trying to cultivate what is best for our children, and we shouldn't abandon our own needs to achieve that goal.  There are days where the discouragement and lonliness are overwhelming. But that is where this blog comes in. I'd love for you to share your aneqdotes, words of encouragement, and ideas with us. Together we can do this. It is all about how you approach it sometimes, or perhaps you need some "mommy" time. Users are welcome to advertise their mom's night out functions and support groups on my blog. Together we can do this.

Bible verse of the week: So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. —1 Thessalonians 5:11

Looking for Ideas

I am so excited about my new blogspot. This is designed for homeschool moms and dads to feed off each others ideas.  Let's talk about what is great about homeschooling. For my family, I have loved the flexibility of homeschooling.  We can submerge ourselves in a unit study, or take a fun day as long as it is educational. The ideas are endless. So let's start the conversation!

Topics will include:  Mom's Minute Mondays, Tacky Tuesdays (Arts and Crafts), Wordless Wednesdays, and Field Trip Fridays.

If you have anything else you think would be FUN please email me through my blog, and we'll try out some of your ideas. This is your blog too, so let's start the conversation!

My official first blog should kick off on Monday, October 8, 2012.