BETHEL - NEW ZEALAND

GUIDED TOUR WITH LITTLE BROTHER JOFFA

2012-02-05T19:32:00.018+13:00

Little Brother Joffa hopped down from the table after tea and ran to the bathroom. He carefully washed his hands and thought about what to do next.

"Maybe I should go outside - it looks like a lovely evening."

But - oh dear - on the way outside he got distracted by all the lovely threads, pins, braid and ric-rac in Mummy's sewing box.

"What is that beautiful orange stuff?" he wondered. He was just about to pull it all out and play with it but he remembered that Mummy had told him to Leave It All Alone.

"I must obey joyfully!" he said. "Obedience brings joy. Disobedience brings trouble!"
Little Brother Joffa jumped off the table and ran outside singing happily to himself.

The first lovely thing he stopped to look at was the fuschia plant. Some of the flowers were open and they were bright pink with purple in the centre.

"Shall I pull some flowers off?" thought Little Brother Joffa. "No! That would be naughty. I think I'll go and see Harry."

Little Brother Joffa had a nice plump clover flower to feed to Harry.
Harry gobbled it up gratefully.

Just then Little Brother Joffa saw Bobby so he stopped for a chat, but Bobby just licked his ear.

"What beautiful dandelion clocks!" said Little Brother Joffa.

He took a big breath and BLEW AND BLEW! All the little fluffy bits went dancing up into the air and floated gently down to the grass.

"Where shall I go next?" Little Brother Joffa wondered. "Perhaps if I climb the silk tree I will be able to get a better view."

He carefully climbed up and up until he could see all around the section.

"Ah! The strawberry patch! I'll just go and see if there are any strawberries."

Little Brother Joffa carefully climbed down the tree, ran to the strawberry patch and hunted around for strawberries, but he couldn't find any ripe ones.

Next he visited the lavender patch and spent quite a while listening to the bees and smelling the lavender.

Next to the lavender were the towering sunflowers. They were much much taller than Little Brother Joffa.

"I wonder what this is?" puzzled Little Brother Joffa.

"Ah! This is an almond in it's fuzzy jacket." He said.

"And some juicy plums nearly ready to pick - but I won't pick them. Oh no! I won't! That would be VERY naughty."

"These apples arn't quite ready yet."

"Oh! What beautiful flowers! I wonder what they are called? I will ask Mummy."

Little Brother Joffa felt rather puffed out after his tour of the section, so he toddled inside to chat to Mummy about everything he had seen.

********************************************************************************

I hope you have all enjoyed this tiny little tour of our section.

I just finished making Little Brother Joffa today - I was going to sell him on Trademe, but when I finished I was rather embarrassed about my sewing. It is definitely Family Quality - not Selling Quality.

So Little Brother Joffa won't be sold. He will live here. And I think he'll have quite a nice life.

God Bless
The Mummalady

GIVE A CHILD LOVE

2012-02-03T16:18:00.004+13:00

These two little men had a busy day and were fast asleep minutes after they got into bed.

I didn't know that our 4 year old had made a bed for his dolly - all by himself. I almost melted when I saw how lovingly he had tucked Daddy Joffa in.

Actually Daddy Joffa has been helping us discuss obedience. Daddy Joffa was going to jump out the window! He had chosen to be disobedient and naughty.

Our 4 year old listened to Mummy telling the "jumping out the window" story with wide eyes, and when we got to the bit where Daddy Joffa was just about to jump out the window he snatched him away and held him tight. He didn't want his dolly to make the wrong decision. He helped him to obey.

Obedience brings joy.
Disobedience brings trouble.

God Bless
The Mummalady

FAMILY QUALITY vs VISITOR QUALITY (subtitled An Apology To My Sister-In-Christ)

2012-02-01T19:49:00.009+13:00

It's not like we pretend to be something we're not. People that know us know that. What we show to the work is what we are.

Honest!

But one of our boys just pointed out the "Family Quality vs Visitor Quality" thing, and I have started noticing it too!

The plate of blueberry mini-muffins above were the Visitor Quality ones.

The muffins on the brown plate were Family Quality.

And they were perfectly acceptable as you can see.

My frumpy old grey and pink striped apron is Family Quality.

My floral apron is Visitor Quality.

A while back I gently admonished a friend who was wearing her old (very old) worn out dress around the house because it didn't matter - it was just family who were seeing it. I said that it did matter - her children had to look at her in that dress all day!!!

As often, when I give "good advice" it comes back to get me!

I sometimes glimpse at myself during the day and wonder what my children see when they look at me. What do they notice? It's not usually what I wear. It's what I am to them, how I love them, how I speak to them. And if I smile when I look at them.

Nobody here has ever complained about having to look at my boring old grey and pink striped, slightly stained apron.

And nobody minded the blueberry mini-muffins that had blueberries spilling out all over the place.

I'm sorry I told you off sister (I know you're reading this!) about your favourite ripped old blue dress. Your children love you and they would never have noticed.

Love you sister!

God Bless
The Mummalady

SEW A SOFTIE

2012-02-01T19:41:00.007+13:00

Well - ok , I put my sewing machine away, but I still have the sewing softies bug.

Handsewing is much easier to pick up and put down, and doesn't interfere with the children too much. However, there is a certain desire to finish a project once I start!

And then to go ahead and make three more to sell on Trademe!

Too cute.

God Bless
The Mummalady

GIVE A CHILD AN APPRECIATION FOR BEAUTY

2012-01-31T10:52:00.007+13:00

"Look baby! A precious little flower! It's so pretty. See the beautiful lilac colour with the gentle white stripes coming from the centre. See how the stripes go all the way to the edges? What are the little pieces like inside? Can you see them?"

"Flower."

"Yes, flower."

"My flower?"

"Gentle with the flower ... oops."

Babies like to REALLY explore lovely things.

Choose appropriate things for them to explore so their lives aren't full of "Don't Touch!" "Stop!" "Leave it!".

If you happen to have a priceless Ming vase (!) then PUT IT AWAY while your precious ones are little. :o)

God Bless
The Mummalady

GIVE A CHILD A PLAY MAT

2012-01-21T19:08:00.004+13:00

In the blog a few days ago, about "Breathing Space" for Mummies I mentioned playmats.

Just to show that I did NOT make my little boys fancy, clever quilts that might be seen hanging on the wall at the local A&P Show with a FIRST prize ribbon on it - here's a picture!

The green bit is often a hill or a field, the blue is sea or a lake, there's a little jetty going onto the sandy beach ... it changes according to the game being played.

The reason we had our playmats out this day was that everyone seemed to be antagonising everyone else ... well - when I say EVERYONE it was actually only the three youngest little boys, but of course, that made it feel like EVERYONE was being annoying (N.B. Bobby the Pomeranian wasn't being annoying - he never is).

So we hauled out the playmats and separated everyone - each to his own mat - and gave each a share of blocks and a bit of a lecture about being happy with what you have been given because learning to be content is an extremely valuable character quality (they are actually getting the message about that! Praise God!!).

Oh - horrors! Sorry - I've just realised the children were playing with PLASTIC toys this day! Nevermind - that's reality. Some days are beautiful open-ended, imagination-inspiring natural toys, some days are PLASTIC.

Duplo has been part of our lives for 18 years now, so it would seem a little odd if our current batch of little boys didn't play with Duplo trucks, cars, people, fences and animals.

Duplo of course leads on to Lego. And Lego - despite being VERY hard to keep contained in one area, and VERY painful to step on in the dark of night - is BRILLIANT for children's mental development, fine motor skills, play experiences ... oh ... and it's fun.

God Bless
The Mummalady

VERY POPULAR!

2012-01-20T19:53:00.004+13:00

We are still receiving orders for our very popular double-ended spoon teethers - handcrafted lovingly in our own workshop.

It's great fun to oil them and see the beautiful colours of the wood coming through.

The three above are (from the top): macrocarpa, radiata and rimu.

Just drop me an email (details on our website) if you'd like to order some - we have a PayPal account so you can order them from anywhere in the world!

www.willowcottage.co.nz

God Bless
The Mummalady

2012-01-19T20:49:00.002+13:00

The following is an excerpt from my booklet "Sunshine And Shower".

I don't know how to do clever PDF download thingies, but if you'd like a copy of the whole booklet just let me know and I'll email you the PDF.

BREATHING SPACE

“If mothers could learn to do for themselves what they do for their
children when these are overdone, we should have happier
households. Let the mother go out to play! If she would only have
courage to let everyone go when life becomes too tense, and just
take a day, or half a day, out in the fields, or with a favourite book,
or in a picture gallery looking long and well at just two or three
pictures, or in bed, without the children, life would go on far more
happily for both children and parents.” Charlotte Mason

It may surprise you, but I have found this to be a somewhat
controversial subject.

A friend of mine once attended a conference for homeschooling
mummies. She sat next to a very young lady and asked her how
many children she had. The young lady replied that she didn't have
any children of her own, but since her mother's death she had been
homeschooling her younger siblings. My friend expressed surprise
at this task she had undertaken and asked her how she managed to
find time for herself – she tried not to make it sound like she was
asking “How do you have life?”

The young lady said that her mother had taught her that “Me Time”
was very selfish but there was a time and place to learn new things
for personal benefit and the benefit of the family - and a time to rest.
ME TIME as promoted by the world is extreme, selfish and
unsatisfying. Mummy-having-a-little-space-to-herself time is restful
and refreshing. Let's call it “Breathing Space”.

I would suggest that each Mummy finds her own safe, appropriate,
God -honouring activity for herself. Something she can pick up and
do without a lot of organising or equipment when she has her
Breathing Space.

Some suggestions for Breathing Space are: taking a walk or bike
ride, art, crafts, listening to sermons or music, putting your feet up
and having a cup of herbal tea, reading “how-to”
books/cookbooks/art books/gardening books, playing an instrument
or learning a new one … Did anything come to mind as you read
this? Did some lovely thought jump inside you and want to be
written down before you forgot it? Something that you know you've
always loved to do, but haven't had the time or space to participate in
since you had children? Then write it down.

Just a warning – these things can easily become a little too important
to a mother. She can begin to begrudge the time that her children
“use up” and “take her away from” her activity. How do I know
this? Because its happened to me!

Imagine the mummy who enjoys quilt making – she decides to make
a “play quilt” for her child. How lovely! She enjoys the planning,
the purchasing of fabrics and starting the quilt.

But then, for several weeks due to unforseen events, there is no spare
time to return to the project. During those weeks she feels a little sad
about the fact that she “never has any time to herself”, she “can't
even sew a stich because she's too busy” etc.

These thoughts can breed discontent and dissatisfaction in our calling as a Mummy.
I did actually make two fabric playmats for two of our little boys –
they were not a “project” - nothing to be treasured for years – they
are rather rough and unfinished, but as a very wise man once said:

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose
under the heaven:
Ecclesiastes 3:1

and this season is not conducive to neatly-finished, beautifully
produced quilts when I would rather be using my “Breathing Space”
to do some art, reading or writing. The pleasure our little boys get
from those quilts is surely a reward and confirmation to me that the
job I did on them is totally acceptable!

Something interesting and rather concerning I've experienced and
heard from others is that the more time we spend away from our
children the harder it can be to deal with, love and train them when
we return. This subsequently leads to stress - which makes one feel
like one must have more time away, which makes it harder to deal
with the children... and on it goes.

Charlotte Mason's phrase “... when life becomes too tense...” leads
me to implore that we must be in prayer about when GOD would
have us step away for a time. We must not rely solely on our
feelings and our judgements.

However, we must not DENY the fact that at various stages of our
lives, we need various amounts of breathing space – peace, quiet,
relaxing and unwinding without constant demands from the children.

This time will be different for every woman depending on the ages
and stages and numbers of children; her husband's job and the hours
he works; an elderly relative to care for; a large vegetable garden to
keep …

As a last word on this subject – do not feel that you have to
JUSTIFY yourself to others. Your own personal breathing space is
between your husband, yourself and God. Only these three know
fully what is going on in your own specific family.

SEW - WHAT ELSE HAVE I BEEN DOING?

2012-01-19T20:35:00.012+13:00

I had just enough time to complete some sewing projects over the holidays.

A darling little dolly for a darling little friend who has named her Millie.

Some odd rabbits that are very popular with our children.

(check out that crazy blue and green paisley fabric - my mother-in-law gave it to me some years back and I KNEW I would use it for something special!).

I had a go at an odd giraffe - the EXQUISITE fabric was from a sundress that my Nana used to wear in the 60's. I inherited the dress, unpicked it carefully and have used it on very precious projects.

It kind of worked!

Our little guy calls this "Mamma's Ning" (for some reason he calls giraffes "nings").

But Daddy is back at work now, and the sewing machine has been packed away for a while - unless I decide to start adding vintage fabric Softies to our Willow Cottage range! I could be persuaded if the market was there, but realistically it takes too much time.

A BEAUTIFUL PART OF NEW ZEALAND

2012-01-19T20:35:00.011+13:00

The children love it when we have a daytrip that starts before sunrise.

Last week we had one of those trips. Lots of memories made - it was a precious day.

We stopped at the beach above at breakfast time, and the little boys got out of their pjyamas and into their clothes.

This was part of a long, long, long walk we did (the signpost was missing where we should have turned off towards the beach).

But we finally arrived at the beach. However - it wasn't THE beach that we thought we were going to! This was a little bay and we had the whole place to ourselves as a reward for the long, long, long walk!

We pretended we were settlers arriving in New Zealand, being rowed ashore from the ship with our case of belongings and having to walk up the beach towards the inlet. What was it like back then? What amazing courage those settlers had.

I don't think the hands of man could ever make anything this beautiful.

I had to take a photo of this flower because the colours amazed me! The front of the flower was beautiful, but the back was absolutely GORGEOUS!!

God Bless
The Mummalady

TIME FOR A SONG

2012-01-10T04:21:00.002+13:00

A great songwriter, a wonderful song and a subject worthy of praise.

Let our praise to You be as incense

Let our praise to You be as pillars of Your throne

Let our praise to You be as incense

As we come before You and worship You alone.

As we see You in Your splendor As we gaze upon Your majesty

As we join the host of angels And proclaim together Your holiness

Holy, Holy, Holy Holy is the Lord Holy,

Holy, Holy Holy is the Lord

By Brent Chambers © 1979
Scripture in Song.
ARR. ICS. UBPO
(Admin. By Maranatha! Music)
CCLI#178041

GIVE A CHILD A CUDDLY TOY

2011-12-31T18:59:00.002+13:00

The local op-shop had a rack of four items of clothing for $1. I found a lovely striped skivvy there, washed it, cut it up and made this little guy for our little guy.

He loves him!

The Mummalady

BEING A HELP MEET

2011-12-13T17:54:00.002+13:00

I have one of my copies of "Created To Be His Helpmeet" out because I'm going to let a friend borrow it (the other copy is currently being borrowed by someone else - it's a VERY popular book).

I flicked through the book and saw this bit that I didn't remember but it was a timely reminder:

"God is not looking for happy women to make them into help meets for good men. He is looking for women willing to be true help meets to the men whom they married, so He can fill them full of joy."
Page 97

and then

"Ask God to help you know and appreciate your man. Pray that God will give you the wisdom and grace to share your man's dreams so it will always be you that he dreams about."
Page 98

Blessings
The Mummalady

THE KNITTED CAT

2011-12-12T10:54:00.003+13:00

I've never been a particularly "cat" person, but our new kitten Charlie is so beautiful and wonderful.

Our oldest said "I know why you like him Mum".

Keen to hear his thoughts I said "Why is that?"

"Because he looks knitted - all home made and home spun."

He's right.

And it helps that Charlie is a little darlin'.

Blessing
The Mummalady

GIVE A CHILD A BEAUTIFUL TOY!

2011-12-12T10:44:00.004+13:00

Daddy made this beautiful recycled Rimu posting box for our littlest one. He loves it!

He likes to slide the lid on and off, he likes to post EVERYTHING through the biggest hole, or if he's feeling up to the challenge he will post the items through the most appropriate hole!

We regularly go around the house and find new things for him to post through the holes so the game has new challenges.

It's a wonderful toy that we cherish and will take care of so our grandchildren can play with it in years to come.

Let us know if you'd like a box like this, so you can collect beautiful things to post through the holes. :o)

Blessings
The Mummalady

ABOUT THE 25TH OF DECEMBER

2011-12-09T11:37:00.003+13:00

When we first started looking at the whole Christmas thing we went back to
the very beginning and found that actually it STARTED out being pagan, so
not surprising that it's been taken back by the pagans!

What we have found out is that some pagans had some sort of terrible festival
on the 25th of December, so the Catholic church came along and more or less
said "let's claim this date for our own, and tidy it up a bit, and pretend
it's a Christian thing."

Then they said "We know! Let's say that the 25th of December is the day we
celebrate Jesus' birth!"

If they had said "Let's call the 25th of December JACOB DAY or ISSAC MASS or JOHN THE BAPTIST DAY" (or something else) then people MAY have said "God has not said we should
celebrate this day - why are you creating this day?"

We don't know what real Bible-believing, God seeking Christians said back in those days, but the 25th of December turned out to be a real success (especially
amongst those SELLING things!!!!) and was taken up by most people.

Even to the extent that they ignored this warning from God:

"For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not."

Jeremiah 10:3 and 4

When we read this we looked at each other in surprise and wondered HOW we
could have missed it before!

I think the whole "The Real Reason For the Season" and "Let's give Christmas
back to Jesus" sort of thing is a smoke-screen really - it makes people feel
cross with The World for making Christmas so commercial and frenzied and
Santa orientated, and people don't see that the whole 25th of December
started out pagan, and then was created/changed by the Catholics who are a
very dangerous cult (we have just finished reading a historical fiction about John Wycliffe who was a man brave enough to teach God's pure, undefiled word in the face of persecution from the very powerful Roman Catholic church).

There are actually many reasons we were happy to stop being involved in
Christmas - one was the stress of presents, another was the children getting
too many things at once and having an appetite for more and more ... the
biggest one for me was because I was so excited by the lead-up to Christmas,
always have been ... and then on Christmas afternoon I feel very low, like
it's all over for another year and what's the point of even going on.
Well, not quite that depressed, but because I'd been so excited then I would
tend to fall rather flat and find it very hard to get going again.

We haven't had any celebration on the 25th of December for several years now.

This year we have made a count-down calendar marking off the days until
Daddy's holiday starts. He is home for three weeks (and has a list of jobs
to do which is about six weeks long!!!!).

We really feel that God does not want our family to celebrate Christmas, so
that is the bottom line. We ask God for His direction, His guidance and His
wisdom which is going to be FAR superior to our own wisdom! And we want to
obey his direction and live in the peace of his guidance.

Blessings
The Mummalady

HEDGEHOG

2011-12-08T14:35:00.002+13:00

Out for a drive in the country, we saw this fellow walking along the side of the road.

What a treat to see one actually walking! The children were amazed at the length of his legs.

We have a game called "Hedgehog" that your family might like to play.

First you make up a story with gaps in it.

i.e., "Mr Popple looked out of his ..... and saw that the next door .... was leaning heavily over the fence and threatening to drop on his shiny new ...."

Then you make a whole lot of cards with words (adjectives and nouns) on them such as "soggy toast" "rotten egg" "beautiful rose" "squeeky wheel" etc. Make sure you have a lot of cards that say "hedgehog". That's why the game is called Hedgehog.

To play: Hand out the word cards. Mummy or Daddy reads out the story, and when you come to a gap in the story have one of the players read out their first card. When you get to the next gap, the next player reads the words from their first card etc

i.e., "Mr Popple looked out of his squashed banana and saw that the next door feather duster was leaning heavily over the fence and threatening to drop on his shiny new hedgehog."

The same cards can be used with many different stories. Made by you, or borrowed from elsewhere.

If we have enough requests we might package this game up and sell it! But in the meantime we just enjoy playing it ourselves. The children are always asking for another story to use with the cards.

Enjoy!

Blessings
The Mummalady

PINK!

2011-09-26T18:33:00.005+13:00

Savvy marketers know that if they make a product in pink then it will sell to someone who might not ordinarily buy one.

Like a pink computer, a pink cellphone, a pink camera ... I'm not a super-consumer but I have those things!! Two years ago I bought the computer - 2nd hand and a real good bargain. The cellphone was purchased nearly 4 years ago with flybuys points, the camera was an "old model" about three years back so it was marked down by $100 ...

I am still amazed that God provides all our needs (food, air etc) - and often he provides things we don't necessarily NEED but he knows we will like.

And he gave me this photo of this beautiful magnolia flower.

It was free.

It's made by God.

And it's pink.

Gorgeous.

Blessings
The Mummalady

PRECIOUS PLAY

2011-09-24T17:40:00.004+12:00

This little boy loves the dolly Mumma made. When I look at the dolly I see the mistakes I made with the head, the lack of stuffing in the chest ... but he doesn't see any of that.

He watched me making the first dolly for his big brother, and then patiently waited for his own. When it was finished he named it "Daddy Joffa". We don't know why!

Yesterday we had a lovely walk together as a family - Daddy Joffa had to be wrapped in a blanket because he didn't have any trousers. :o)

So this morning I made some snazzy purple stripey trousers and because Daddy (the real Daddy) was home keeping the little ones busy with a project I was even able to find time to make this baby carrier for our little man to tote Daddy Joffa around in.

He loves it!

Blessings
The Mum

LOVE IN UNEXPECTED PLACES

2011-07-15T06:05:00.004+12:00

This hard-boiled love-heart gave us a smile and helped us to remember to spread a little more love around.

Blessings
The Mummalady

NO READING AT THE TABLE!

2011-06-25T17:54:00.003+12:00

NO READING AT THE TABLE is a very fine and sensible rule.

Trouble is, when nobody else is sitting with you it can be boring getting breakfast into you, and so if your book isn't borrrowed (from The Library, or from a friend), then maybe it's ok ... maybe?

We have lunch together as a family normally (except Daddy - he's at work), and tea is ALWAYS together - around the table - which apparently is quite unusual in today's culture.

But breakfast is often taken in shifts while other family members are using the bathroom, or doing chores.

And when children are brought up with a vast but carefully chosen selection of books, it's kind of comforting and a bit of luxury for our 15 year old to sit for 10 minutes, reading quietly while he chews on his muesli.

Blessings
The Mummalady

DOING ART AGAIN!

2011-06-23T15:04:00.003+12:00

I'm not afraid to get messy, and that's a blessing for a Home Educating Mumma.

Sometimes, of course, living in a small space with 6 children we get FAR TOO MESSY - and that's a sign to de-clutter, tidy up, organise - all hands on deck type thing (we get seriously messy and cluttered sometimes - believe me!).

But on the particular day shown above we had the table clear (!) so we thought we'd do some art! We got out the nice soft pastels - drew a design - and then painted over with lovely swishy, puddly watercolours.

We are aware that the fun is in the DOING not the end result, but we still end up with heaps of pictures to put up on the pantry and laundry doors!

For the LONGEST time I have been meaning to get Mona Brookes book "Drawing With Children". Well - I've finally bought it and have finished thoroughly reading the introduction and the beginning lessons and have taken the children through the first lesson.

It was great fun, and we are very, very excited about doing further lessons. So right now I should not be on the computer, I should be sitting with the children in the lounge, fire lit, rain falling on the roof doing some more ART!!

Blessings
The Mummalady

WE'RE STILL HERE!

2011-05-09T18:48:00.004+12:00

Yes, it's been a while since we posted - there are a couple of reasons for that.

Number one: We've been busy. Had friends staying actually. What a blessed time we have had - for eight weeks!

Number two: Our internet connection has been slow and getting a blog posted takes a LONG time which leads me onto number three.

Number three: I have been cutting down a lot on my computer time - some days I am only on here for minutes! Sometimes a half an hour ... not more than that.

The Mumma of our visitors and I had long discussions about the computer stealing time from our families - the horrible THING that happens to Mummas when they are on the computer and they ignore the children, or brush them off with a "wait a minute" type of comment.

So I've been teaching our 17 year old about running our family business on-line - he's getting the hang of it.

And in the meantime Daddy has been busy in the workshop with a couple of orders. The stool in the photograph above was designed by a client and made by Daddy.

Better go and get my precious little ones into bed. I am turning the computer off right now and will go and read to them instead.

Blessings
The Mummalady

Collections

2011-03-11T19:02:00.013+13:00

Once upon a time a not-so-small boy found a discarded old toy in an op-shop toy box.

"Wow! One of those!"

"What is it?" asked Mummy.

"A Smelly Belly - they had them when I was little."

Apparently he'd wanted one when they were the Latest Thing - some years back, but at $6 each this Mumma had decided they were not a wise purchase.

Especially because they came inside a plastic egg, so you could never tell what sort of Smelly Belly you were getting inside. That's a nasty marketing scheme if you ask me. Introducing the children to gambling.

But now that Smelly Bellies are not so popular, they can be found in the bottom of op-shop toy boxes all over the place! And there is no gambling involved because you can see what you're getting!!

So, now that the not-so-small boy has a little money of his own, he rummages in the bottom of every op-shop toy box he comes across rescuing more Smelly Bellies. He likes them. They generally cost 20 cents. Ah well - could be worse.

And if you were wondering - the beautiful wooden shelf unit is available from Willow Cottage!

Blessings
The Mummalady

QUIET GAME

2011-02-17T11:40:00.002+13:00

Collect lovely things.

Store them neatly.

Bring them out from time to time.

Ensure your children play with them respectfully.

Put them away for another day.

You will be providing, facilitating, modelling good stewardship, training ... and being a great Mummy. :o)

Our 3 year old was playing this game quietly by himself for about 20 minutes.

Blessings
The Mummalady

INCIDENTAL LEARNING

2011-02-13T16:20:00.003+13:00

I never knew there was a name for it. But that's what we've been doing, more or less, for the last 17 years.

Incidental Learning.

And it works.

The children learn incidentally. Almost accidentally! But they sure learn.

My job I've realised, my calling - other than a wife to my darling is Mummy and FACILITATOR.

Did I spell that right - better go and google it ... yes, not bad - but why did I doubt?

And there's a funny thing too, excuse me while I run off on a rabbit trail.

Today we were blessed to meet with some folks from our church in a "small group" setting where people get to talk and share. The group leader asked a question and immediately an answer came to my mind, but I kept quiet because I thought it might be the WRONG answer.

Now that actually is pretty bad, because there was no WRONG answer, but why did I feel that way?

So I sat and had a little think about it, and I KNOW that it's because of the way I was schooled. I was indoctrinated with the idea that there is a right answer and a wrong answer. There needs to be. Otherwise how does the teacher know if you pass the test.

And that's funny - yes, because for the last 15 years or so (our first little guy didn't start speaking till he was 2) I have encouraged the children to "think outside the square" and to discuss all options etc etc ...

So much so in fact that the first time they came across a "multi-choice" quiz they were hard pressed to give an answer because it could have been "a" or "b" depending on how you looked at it.

Great Stuff.

So back to my precious job as a facilitator - I gather, store, keep neat(ish), and bring out lots of equipment and fun stuff as appropriate (as small as a library card, as big as a heavy old hand-cranked Singer sewing machine!).

I watch the children for signs of interest, I discuss, I ask them questions. And it's completely natural when it's and intrinsic and exciting part of our lives.

So I was delighted to find it had a name. Incidental learning. I like that.

And the photo? One day we were reading the account of the Tower of Babel from Genesis. While Mummy was reading the little boys were making a tower of blocks. After we finished reading they started to make a city of blocks which lead to Mummy reciting "Block City" by R L Stevenson.

And then it reminded me of the old City of London so we talked about how the buildings were so squashed in that the upper levels of the houses were almost touching across the street, and the Great Fire, and the plague and "bring out your dead" ... all this had been from MY incidental learning. I don't remember any of it from school.

I had, however, just finished reading a book about William Penn so I had gathered some information from that.

So facilitators need to be available to learn things for themselves at times too, to pass on to others.

It's never boring.

It's hard, but never boring!

Happy Facilitating.

The Mummalady

TEETHING BABIES

2011-01-24T11:49:00.007+13:00

A very good friend of mine has organised some sales for us to Australia. (She's very clever too - please check out her website)

We are excited to be "international" now :o)

Our Willow Cottage Double-Ended Spoon and Triangle Teethers will be flying over to Australia to be chewed on by little Australians. That's lovely.

So while we are talking about teething babies (and while the memory of last night with a crying little man not going to sleep for hours and hours ... and walking up and down ... singing ... putting him in the swing .... is still very very fresh in my mind) I thought I would just share a few teething hints that we've used over the years.

We have used Weleda Teething Powder - just a little on a spoon and into baby's mouth. We also give this to older children whose teeth are hurting - either losing teeth or getting new ones. However, our current little baby is dairy-free and because this powder is in a lactose base we're better off to use our next choice:

Naturo Pharm Teethmed Relief Spray. After a little research and discussions with people I still really don't know where I stand on the sometimes controversial topic of homoeopathic remedies. But I include this spray on my list because it seems to work very well, and gives babies relief.

Another great idea is to give baby a clean cloth to chew on. Or you can wet a corner of a facecloth (boiled water if baby is very little, or if your water is not the best). Squeeze facecloth out and put into a plastic bag in the fridge (freezer if baby is older). When the facecloth is cold (frozen), take it out of the bag and give it to baby to chew. Remember to replace the cloth with another so you have one for later.

Distraction is a wonderful tool too. Playing a game with baby, reading to them, clapping and singing (we were doing our Cozy Time this morning and singing and dancing. Every time the children stopped singing and dancing our baby started to cry again because he remembered his teeth were hurting him).

Baby Carriers! Teething babies OFTEN want to be held. All day. Use a sling, a frontpack, a backpack, a wrap ... whatever you have and whatever you find to be comfortable. If you have a baby carrier that pinches or hurts your back then please try and find something else. Unless you have a very bad back/shoulders/neck then there is usually some sort of carrier that will work for you and your baby. Ask my friend! She knows heaps about baby wearing!!!

An indoor swing is a fantastic resource. We have a wooden, rope and canvas swing which we were blessed to find at a fundraiser sale and it's had so much use.

Daddy has put big strong hooks in the doorway so children can swing inside. Heaps of fun, and it's been used for teething babies, and children with a fever etc. If a sick child is happy to swing quietly we just tuck their feet up into the swing when they fall asleep and leave them there! We keep an eye on them of course!

Babies who are dribbling a lot may get a very sore rash on their chins. Dry it carefully and apply a little Tui Bee Balm - this is a natural and very effective barrier/healing balm.

Dribbling babies don't need to wear bibs all the time to keep their clothes dry - some parents like the look of a bandana worn cowboy style.

Oh! Have I mentioned Willow Cottage Double-Ended Spoon and Triangle Teethers???!!! Very effective, safe and absolutely beautiful to hold and feel.

We think our Amber Teething Necklace works too. One day I had forgotten to put our (then) 2
year old's necklace on. He was scratchy and horrible all day. When Daddy got home he said "Hasn't he had his necklace on?". Why did I forget?!?!?

We purchased our necklace from Nadine28 on trademe. Here is one of her current auctions.

We don't give our babies solids until they are around one year old, so they don't have rusks or anything till then. Our latest baby has had a little food - some avocado and some slippery elm, but he's not really very keen and I'm happy to wait till he's older before introducing food properly.

Also - MUMMY MILK! Mummy Milk has natural God-made painkillers!! Let your baby nurse as often as they want. Ensure that Mummy has a good, moderate, healthy diet with no alcohol, drugs or anything nasty (like caffine or chocolate... sorry! but these things are not good for babies!!!!!!!!) :o)

I'd just like to add here the most important thing we can do for our babies and children, from pre-conception onwards; when they are well, when they are sick, when they are happy, sad, disappointed, hurt, confused, irritated ... always - pray for them, pray WITH them, and tell them that you love them. You love them so very much, and that God who made them, and knows them so well loves them even more.

Please let me know if you have any other hints to help babies cope through this very painful time.

Blessings
The Mummalady

TUI BALMES

2011-01-19T11:58:00.003+13:00

Here's a picture our oldest son did to celebrate the fact that WE ARE NOW SELLING TUI BALMS!

Roll on over to our website www.willowcottage.co.nz and have a little look at the range of Tui Balms we stock.

Totally natural, effective, pleasant to use and very cost effective.

And yes - Bee Balm is just the thing if you find yourself suffering from a little sunburn.

Blessings
The Mummalady

A LITTLE WHITE LIE? A LITTLE BIT OF IMAGINATION?

2011-01-19T11:44:00.004+13:00

Little girl and a brother stayed home with Daddy, while Mummy took some of the other children to a country craft fair.

When Mr 5 got home from the fair he was keen to tell about what he'd seen.

"There was a man selling soap ..." he was struggling to recall, " ... and a man with no shoes selling the stuff that he put on my bee sting ..."

I think, at this point, he realised that even though there was a lot to see, he hadn't remembered much at all.

So - to make the story more interesting he "invented". He lied.

" ... and there was a big fat man with poppy eyes selling dog hair!"

His older brother had a strong visual image of this, so he kindly drew it for us. He reckons that city-folks might buy the dog hair to scatter around their inner-city apartment rugs to give their home a "country-fied" air (he was remembering the story someone told us about people in the city buying spray-on mud to decorate their 4-wheel drive vehicles ...)

So we had a discussion about saying things that weren't true.

Some people call them "embellishments".

Actually they are lies (like pretending your 4-wheel drive has been off-road, and that you own a dog when in fact you don't.)

Black and white. Truth and lies.

Mr 5 now knows that if he wants to say something that isn't true because he thinks it would be funny he needs to say "And I think it would be funny if there was a big fat man with poppy eyes selling dog hair ..." or whatever his funny thought would be.

Truth is important. God said so.

Blessings
The Mummalady

GIVE A CHILD A SCARF part 2

2011-01-08T17:46:00.004+13:00

We're still using our beautiful silky scarves!

This time I looked at some little wooden napkin rings we had, and a sudden idea popped in to my head.

These two pirates had a fine game, and their "pirate hats" stayed on!

We just need to get Daddy to make us some swords now, our pirates have decided they want to be soldiers .... watch this space!

Blessings
The Mummalady

GIVE A CHILD A BONGLINE

2011-01-08T17:40:00.005+13:00

A bongline? What's a bongline?

String a line up - washing line, skipping rope, anything you have spare.

Hang up some items that make a nice noise when you hit them.

Give your child a stick, and instruct them that they should TAP the items on the bongline - make sure they understand that they are not to TAP the chickens, dogs, brother, sister ...

Our favourite tune on this bongline was Old MacDonald. Very musical :o)

I'm glad this is an outside game. :o) :o)

Blessings
The Mummalady

GIVE A CHILD A CAN AND A BALLOON ...

2011-01-08T07:46:00.004+13:00

Not all children do this - but it's wonderful when they do!

We had a book from the library about musical instruments. Little girl read it. The next minute she's hunting in the recycles box for a tin can.

"Where are our balloons?" she said.

"May I have some sellotape please," was next.

She went outside to the driveway and chose some little stones.

The stones went into the can.

The balloon was cut, and after a few false starts and discarded balloons, this beautiful instrument was made.

She then had to make two more for two little brothers who were watching the construction.

You can either make "music" by pinging the balloon on the top, by tapping it with something, or by shaking the can and listening to the sound of the pebbles inside.

These instruments were popular for many days - the rougher the child, the shorter the life of the instrument of course! The 3 year old's instrument was the first to break. Followed closely by the 5 year olds one!

So the pebbles went back on the driveway.

The cans went back into the recycles box.

The balloons went into the bin.

And everyone agreed that it had been great fun.

And all I did was give a child a can and a balloon.

It's precious when things work like this.

Blessings
The Mummalady

Too Cute!

2011-01-05T18:43:00.004+13:00

Mummy Chicken is actually a grandmother this year, but she is still having her own chicks!

She chose a beautiful sheltered, quiet spot under some bushes in the shade to sit on a whole clutch of eggs. We don't know how many there were, and we're not sure how many have hatched - at least four that we've seen.

This beautiful little cute yellow chick just popped out to say peep peep.

We will watch her tomorrow and see if she takes her chicks out for a walk.

Just thought I'd share because we are still excited by the miracle of new life.

Blessings
The Mummalady

GIVE A CHILD A PILE OF LOVELY THINGS

2010-11-30T18:03:00.006+13:00

Did we ever report back to you with our "Bug Town" project?

As a reminder, here is the "Bug Hilton" that we saw at EcoFest.

And HERE is OUR version:

Not quite as tidy, but extremely habitable for lots of lovely bugs nevertheless.

We have been careful not to touch it since making it, but we're watching keenly to see what emerges.

Blessings
The Mummalady

GIVE A CHILD A WASHING MACHINE

2010-11-30T17:59:00.004+13:00

We have the BEST toys for our children!

Little Baby Muffin Man loves to watch the clothes going around. I wonder what he's thinking.

Blessings
The Mummalady

DE-CLUTTER

2010-11-30T08:09:00.003+13:00

A wise mother-of-many once told me that if we have well-meaning friends and relations then we should de-clutter EVERY WEEK!

We had left it a bit long I think.

I encourage everyone to have a really good mental attitude towards STUFF. Some stuff is good and useful and helpful. Other stuff is annoying, cluttering and hard work!

We like "living with less" but we still have a lot of STUFF. But an ecletic home educating mummy will find that it comes with the territory. It's great to have books, and paper, fabric and art supplies ... we need to keep them tidy, USE the art equipment instead of hoarding it, and constantly cull out the rubbish.

The old 3-box system works beautifully for de-cluttering. One box for keeps, one for give-aways and one for throw aways.

The give-away boxes can be taken to the Re-Use shop, or charity shop on your next trip out.

Like we did.

And we felt so much lighter on the way home. :o)

Blessings
The Mummalady

A LITTLE STORY FOR WIVES

2010-11-21T06:01:00.006+13:00

Imagine there is a man you admire for his intellect and his eloquence – Professor Clement Peacefilledman. He is a great scientific mind, a speaker, a debater, a well of knowledge and inventions. His research into specific aspects of natural health show him to be extremely industrious and blessed. He is a man of God, steeped in the word and led by the spirit.

You have followed The Professor's studies, books and lectures for many years and agreed with all he says, and been blessed greatly by his works.

You have an opportunity one day to meet The Professor!

His personal assistant of 10 years has contacted you and asked you to follow them around for the day, helping to set up a conference in this area. Of course you leap at the chance and spend much time in mental and physical preparation.

The day comes. You meet the assistant, a capable, friendly man who obviously admires The Professor. The gentle, reverent way he speaks about him shows his love and respect.

The assistant directs you to your first task. Your mind is on the job so you don't get it wrong, but your head is spinning as you await you first meeting with the Professor.

As you work in the busy auditorium, helping to set up the stage you turn and see The Professor. He is sitting in the front row of the auditorium listening to his assistant with a look of calm confidence, smiling and nodding. His assistant is respectful and relaxed, going through a long page of instructions, with a few questions here and there – never addressing The Professor by his given name - Clement – always “Sir”. The assistant quickly notes down any thoughts The Professor may share, and any questions or requests. The assistant stands and smiles and thanks The Professor, as he goes to work on that list.

Maybe this is your chance to meet The Professor? You start down the steps from the stage, but you notice that The Professor has dropped to his knees and is deep in prayer.

Realising that this is not your appointed time to meet The Professor you tip-toe back up the stairs but are SHOCKED to hear a screech ring out across the auditorium:

“CLEMENT! Have you fed your budgie yet? I can hear the thing halfway across the carpark from that cramped little campervan. I told you we should have hired the six-berth. My neck is killing me from sleeping in that tiny bed. You'd think by now someone would have realised that you can't possibly be relied upon to make a decision on those sort of things. Mind you, I suppose I'm the bigger fool – married to you for 40 years and still letting you make the arrangements. And here's me giving up this whole week to travel with you and attend these lectures which I've heard hundreds of time when I'd rather be at my Women's Retreat. The speaker this year was someone I SPECIFICALLY wanted to hear and she won't be back in New Zealand for another two years.”

As the shouting gets closer you see a tiny little woman striding down the aisle of the auditorium, waving an umbrella and holding a book.

“And you went and forgot these didn't you. Ha! It was only 20 minutes ago you said you'd need an umbrella today for that bit in your talk. My, my. What you'd do without me I just don't know. And I don't suppose you've had your tablets today have you? Humph ... Just as I thought, here you are then. I saw some of the bottles were open on the bench - but you'd got distracted half-way through hadn't you. So I don't suppose you can remember which ones you HAVE taken? Can you? Hmmm? Here you are then. Yes, yes I've got a bottle of water for you ...”

The Professor, by this time, has risen from his knees and is standing, head hanging, mumbling something and putting out his hand for his umbrella, book and tablets.

It's too hard to watch. You turn and walk away.

How could she? Doesn't she realise what a wonderful man he is? How blessed? How full of the spirit. Filled with wisdom and using his gifts for the glory of God?

Doesn't she see?

Eph 5:33 ... and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Blessings
The Mummalady

SUDDENLY IT IS SUMMER

2010-11-19T18:39:00.002+13:00

Winter was over, it was spring for a week or so and now suddenly it's summer!

Poppy has shed her winter coat and looking decidedly thinner. The photo above was taken while she was still trying to get rid of all that beautiful natural insulation.

We haven't had rain for a while and I believe that is causing a lot of problems in the farming and horticultural world. Our grass is looking very thin and whispy whereas normally we have thick fat green blades this time of year.

Might be having to buy water this year! We know the Lord will provide though - whether he gives us rain, or money to buy water. According to His perfect will.

Blessings
The Mummalady

FROM THE BLUEDORNS

2010-11-19T18:22:00.002+13:00

During this time of intensive research for the book our family is writing on Home Education, I am able to revisit lots of old "friends".

One of these is "Teaching the Trivium" by Harvey and Laurie Bluedorn.

Just thought I would share a few portions as time permits.

Here's the first one:

... If there were some simple but accurate diagnostic test to assess whether the mind is physically ready, we might recommend them. As it is, the best test we know of on the market is the parental assessment - the homeschool hunch - a carefully designed method whereby mom and dad, after working with the child, come to agree, "yep, he's ready for this," or "Nope, we're going a bit fast, we'll hold back a little here." Please notice that the parent is being trained through his process as much as the child. We suspect this was the original design.

From Chapter 10 - page 290
Used with permission from the Bluedorns

In New Zealand "Teaching the Trivium" is available from Hefnet on sella or trademe

Blessings
The Mummalady

POTATO CAGE

2010-11-11T07:28:00.000+13:00

It's not that we're afraid the potatoes will escape!

We need to keep our potatoes safe from our chooks.

Since we let our chickens go free-range we are having so much fun. It's a much healthier idea to let the chickens go free, but pen the vegetables in.

This potato cage was made from bits and pieces around the place, some compost we'd made - some compost that wasn't ready yet, and some soil.

After constructing it we left it open on one side and the chickens helped themselves to any goodies they wanted, scratched it around, spread it, composted it ...

Then the yucky little doggie came trotting out happily with a mouthful of something mucky ...

We will put the potatoes in the soil today, under the compost.

As the plants grow we will throw hay onto them to encourage more growth.

I will take some more photos later in the season to show how this experiment is working!

Blessings
The Mummalady

GIVE A CHILD A HOMEMADE GAME

2010-11-03T15:27:00.000+13:00

To some people it might just look like some bits of cardboard with numbers on them ...

But to us, this is a valuable game that teaches and reinforces:

- number recognition

- taking turns

- following instructions

- making neat piles of cards

- understanding rules

- matching numbers

- waiting patiently while other people learn

- laughing together

- congratulating each other

- waiting till other people have finished the game before starting another.

Not just a few bits of cardboard.

Blessings
The Mummalady

GIVE A CHILD A PIECE OF DIRT

2010-10-29T18:24:00.001+13:00

These two have made a "garden" with a "plant" in it.

Even in a suburban garden you can allow your children a bit of dirt.

Unless your child is extremely interested in horticulture then I suggest you just leave it to them to build and plant their garden by themselves.

Those who REALLY want to learn will search through gardening books with you, choose seeds, discuss how to make successful potting mix ...

Just provide the equipment and stand on the sidelines ready to assist when asked.

Blessings
The Mummalady

WHAT IS IT?

2010-10-29T16:46:00.000+13:00

Actually it's a plant.

But we think it looks rather like a little mouse climbing into our wee vase.

Does anyone know the name of this plant?

It also looks a bit like the end-halves of mice we find around the place here. Seems the cat doesn't like to eat the end with the tail on it.

Or is he kind enough to leave the bit with the tail so we have something to hold when we throw it into the compost?

Blessings
The Mummalady

WILLOW COTTAGE ONLINE STORE IS UP AND RUNNING!

2010-10-25T19:00:00.000+13:00

I am so very excited.

We now have the website sorted out and our first items for sale!

Please wander over to our Willow Cottage website and have a little look around.

Our products are made RIGHT HERE in our own workshop.

They are designed by a Mummy and Daddy team who understand the need for quality, durability, usability and style!

And - along with our blog here we hope to encourage and equip others in their quest for a gentle, natural lifestyle.

Each item has been designed because there was a need for it in our family. All goodies have been tested and approved :o)

We are ready to take orders!

Thank you for looking.

Blessings
The Mummalady

100 POSTS?!

2010-10-23T11:09:00.000+13:00

WOW!

I just realised I have made 100 posts!

I never thought I had that much to say.

Thank you Lord for this tool where I can communicate with so many people that I've never met.

Thank you for the opportunity to share truths that you have revealed to me.

**********************

There are many more posts in the pipeline, and I have some special guest writers coming up soon.

Thank you to all those who read and comment (to my regular, most supportive comment-makers I LOVE YOU SISTERS!).

Keep returning!!

Blessings
The Mummalady

GIVE A CHILD A JOB TO DO

2010-10-23T10:55:00.000+13:00

There have been studies done on what we already knew.

Children love doing jobs.

There is no need to go into all the technical terms they use for what happens in a child's mind and heart when they work - you just look at their faces. Listen to their conversation with you. They love working!

This little guy was only two-and-a-half when this photo was taken. He loves to cut carrots and apples.

Let me share how to teach a little one to do this job:

1. It's much easier if you have a child-sized table (like the ones we sell through Willow Cottage! As I write this the first table is being made for sale.)

2. It's also easier if they have a stool or chair the right size for them! (same!)

3. Have a chopping board and a sharp knife the right size for them. (we don't sell the knives sorry!)

4. Show them how to cut slowly and carefully, keeping their fingers out the way. They must cut the piece off and then push it to the side.

5. Show them how to keep things neat, and keep their working area tidy.

6. Help them to clean up afterwards.

And that's how.

But you already knew that didn't you!! It's good to be reminded of these things though.

We were just blessed by having some wonderful visitors staying. Just before they left for their new home Daddy cut some kindling for them to take with them. Several of the boys were out there watching, and collecting all the pieces to pile together. The visitors' little two year old guy presumed the kindling was to take into the house, so he collected a handful and very purposely toddled over the driveway, and with a big smile came into the kitchen and handed me his bundle of kindling. I was so touched by his diligence and thoughtfulness. His Mumma and Daddy have done some good training. :o)

Many blessings
The Mummalady

GIVE A CHILD A BIG BROTHER

2010-10-14T18:22:00.000+13:00

This is so precious to me.

17 year old playing quite naturally and happily with his 3 year old brother. They are real buddies.

I'm told this is quite common in home educating families.

I am so blessed. Thank you Lord for this family.

Blessings to you too
The Mummalady

GIVE A CHILD A SCARF

2010-10-14T15:49:00.001+13:00

Silk scarves are SO much fun.

Hunt in your local op-shop for some lovely colourful scarves for children of all ages!

Baby loves to

* chew them

* scrunch them up in their chubby little fists

* play "peek-a-boo" and "where has teddy gone?"

and

* roll on them after bathtime - feeling the silk on their skins.

Toddlers and older children may like to

* throw them

* wrap things in them, playing "presents for everyone!"

* make them into parachutes

* tents for teddies

* royal capes

* dessert headwraps

* bedding for a baby doll

* wrap to carry baby doll around in

* sling for a "broken arm"

* bandage for playing doctoring

* blindfold

Let their imaginations soar!

Blessings
The Mummalady

GIVE A CHILD BAKED BEANS

2010-10-08T17:42:00.000+13:00

Once upon a time (this is a true, sad story) there was a little girl (we'll call her "S") whose Daddy worked full-time, and her Mummy also worked full-time. However, the happy thing was that Mummy and Daddy and S (who was 6 years old), at the time of this story, all lived in the same house. Unfortunately, some time later that wasn't the case.

The normal family routine was: Daddy left for work early in the morning; S got up and had breakfast with her Mummy; Mummy took S to school; later in the day Mummy went to work.

At the end of the school day a friend of mine (let's call her "L") collected S, along with L's own girl and boy, from school. They all went to L's house and played till it was time for S's Daddy to come and pick her up.

S and her Daddy would have junk food for tea; S would fall asleep in front of the TV around 9 or 10 o'clock and her Daddy would carry her to bed.

This whole thing was very, very sad to me.

But it got even sadder.

One day when S's Daddy came to pick her up from L's house, L and her family were just about to sit down to their tea.

"Can I stay here for tea?" asked S.

"No." said her Daddy.

"Why? I want what they're having."

"Come on. We're having McDonalds," said the Daddy.

They left, and L felt very heartbroken.

What was L's family having that S wanted so badly?

Baked beans on toast.

L and her family didn't have a lot of money, but they had a lot of love and time for each other. Maybe it was the love and the time, not just baked beans that S wanted.

I often think of that story when we have baked beans on toast.

I thought of it the other day when we had a lovely home-laid egg and baked beans on toast, so I took a picture to show the world, and encourage everyone to give lots of love and time to our children.

Blessings
The Mummalady

HE WAS LISTENING!

2010-09-29T17:57:00.001+13:00

We enjoy using this "Bible Stories to Read" book by Rod and Staff, with accompanying colouring book available in New Zealand from Creaky Corner. After reading a story from this book we read the account from the ACTUAL Bible - King James Version.

Mr Five Year old was listening to Mummy read the story of Samson.

Being five, he is going through that rather grizzly stage where little boys like all the gruesome details of history.

He was rather intrigued by the Philistines taking out Samson's eyes.

"Argh!" he said greatly horrified and interested at the same time. "Those terrible Philistines!"

Later on, I was wondering how much of the story he remembered.

Mummy: "Who was the story about that we read earlier?"

Mr Five: "Samson."

Mummy: "And what happened?"

Mr Five: "They took his eyes out."

Mummy: "Who took his eyes out?"

Mr Five: "Um ... ah .... " (look of intense concentration on his face ....) " ... ah ... " (a sudden smile and eyes sparkling " The Philistyrenes!"

Clever boy.

Blessings
The Mummalady

GIVE A CHILD SOME CRAYONS

2010-09-26T06:50:00.000+13:00

There is something very satisfying about using crayons.

Coloured pencils are neat and tidy, felt pens are dense and often messy (especially if you are 2 years old) - but crayons are soft, responsive, versatile and smell good! Especially Honey Sticks crayons made from beeswax!

A small child does well to have only a few colours of a good quality, and a shallow tray to put the crayons into. Teach your child to respect all art equipment, and to put it away when finished.

Borrow some books from the library on crayon work - or art with pastels - to give you some ideas if the children are looking to you for help.

And have a go yourself!

Happy crayoning.

Blessings
The Mummalady

BLANKET TIME GAMES

2010-09-24T12:42:00.000+12:00

As mentioned previously, our family love our reading aloud sessions.

But its sometimes a problem to keep the little ones quiet when we read aloud.

NOT NOW!

Mummy has devised the following scheme.

Take some shoe boxes.

Put stickers on the boxes (we have two boys using this system at the moment so we have 1A 1B, 2A 2B, 3A 3B etc)

Put a collection of toys in them (1A may have three wooden blocks, a car, a tractor, a small doll; 1B may have some polished stones, a wooden bowl, a basket, a silk scarf, a small boat ... )

It goes without saying that we DO NOT put these type of things in our boxes - whistles, drums, clicky cars ... although some children have a knack of making ANY toy noisy! If that is the case, just keep training. :o)

Store the boxes in order.

When reading time comes put a blanket down for each child (not touching each other!) and say "Blanket time!!"

One child is the "A" child.

The other child is the "B" child.

"A" child gets box 1A

"B" child gets box 1B

They sit nicely on their blanket, and wait while Mummy puts the boxes down.

Mummy gets comfy and says "You may open your boxes".

Mummy reads, the other children draw, colour etc and the little boys play with the toys in their boxes.

When "A" child has been through all the "A" boxes (we have eight) he becomes the "B" child, and goes through all the "B" boxes.

The boxes do not come out unless we are reading, so the toys stay special.

The children also have a pillow or cushion on their blanket, so if they don't want to play with the toys they can cozy down and just listen to the story.

Blessings
The Mummalady

NEAT LITTLE WOODEN GAME

2010-09-24T12:36:00.000+12:00

When our children were around 8 months old, till they're about 2, they've always liked the game where you carefully put the rings onto a post.

In the past we've had plastic ones that get broken.

But putting my "natural" thinking cap on I came up with this alternative which has been fun for everyone!

I found a "coffee mug tree" and asked a handy passing saw-user (one of the big boys) to saw the sticking out bits off.

And now when we do our op-shopping we are on the lookout for any sort of wooden rings: curtain rings, or napkin rings etc. Quite hard to find, but exciting when we find them.

Blessings
The Mummalady

WE HAVE A HEN AS BIG AS A DOG!!!

2010-09-24T12:24:00.000+12:00

That's right - our hen is the size of a dog!

Sometimes you can't believe everything you read.

Sometimes you can't believe everything you see.

In this case, both my words and photograph are truth.

But a wise reader will use DISCERNMENT and, hopefully INTELLIGENCE in processing the information I have shared here: that our hen is, in fact, as big as a dog.

This reminds me of the importance of teaching our children to be THINKERS!

With a sense of humour too - very helpful :o)

Blessings
The Mummalady

MATHS GAMES!

2010-09-14T11:27:00.000+12:00

Maths doesn't give me a headache any more!

When I was in school "maths" was something I didn't understand.

Well - sometimes I understood it briefly, but as soon as I got home and looked blankly at the page of questions I doubted that I had any intelligence at all!!

I was blessed to have a Dad who worked through my homework with me, and made it a bit more understandable.

Right now our oldest two are doing maths that is REALLY beyond me - but that's fine - Math-U-See has a DVD where kind (and funny) Mr Demme explains each new concept. And best of all - Daddy is overseeing the boys maths!!!!

So I get to play fun games with the smalls at maths time.

"If I have 16 walnuts, and I wanted to divide them up equally into the four compartments of this wooden tray - how many walnuts would I have in each compartment?"

Blessings
The Mummalady

MORE ARTWORK!

2010-09-10T15:02:00.000+12:00

It was time for Mummy to do some art!

Inspired by a wonderful post by Harmony Art Mom - I had a go at the same sort of effect using our new block crayons.

These crayons smell wonderful (they are beeswax) and can be used in so many lovely ways.

First I did the background colour using the sides of the crayons, then doodled around with some spirals and flowers.

Little girl did one too.

Then, while I was cooking tea and seeing to little boys all at the same time I ruled lines on the back of the picture. Well, I tried to rule the lines, but got it all wrong and had to re-rule them!!

Then I cut the picture into little pieces.

NOTE: This is not the same as when our 5 year old cuts his artwork into little pieces! Those pieces normally end up on the floor/ in the bin / stuck to something - or being quietly chewed by the dog under the couch.

Because I was in a hurry (I usually am!) I didn't set the pieces out to make sure they looked good BEFORE I glued them. Setting them out is a good idea. I just figured it would look ok as long as I didn't have lots of the same colour together. :o)

Blessings
The Mummalady

MAKING BREAD

2010-09-10T14:46:00.000+12:00

It is so much fun now that our little girl is getting older!

She was very excited to make bread this week, and she did most of the work.

Of course it wasn't really "work" it was just Great Fun.

We started mixing the bread in our cake mixer with dough hooks, but eventually had to get it out and knead by hand as the recipe called for 6 cups of flour and we knew our little mixer would not be happy trying to mix that amount!

Kneading was made MUCH easier by using this lovely kneading board that Daddy made for us. And you can see that Little Girl is using the table Daddy made too - it's far more pleasant and more efficient for children to have sturdy, workable tools to suit their size.

Here's a close-up of our lovely kneading board - it is excellent for rolling pastry and biscuit dough out too.

If you would like one, and are not able to make one yourself we will be selling these in our business, Willow Cottage, very soon!

After I took the photo above I realised that now the world can see we have no cupboard doors and drawer fronts in our kitchen!! But we are blessed to have a kitchen. :o) So who needs cupboard doors!

The smaller loaf was completely gone by the end of afternoon tea - the boys loved it!

We saved the larger loaf to show Daddy, and enjoyed it with jam after tea.

Blessings
The Mummalady

GIVE A CHLD SOME PAINTS

2010-08-28T09:27:00.000+12:00

Imagine you were a child again.

And someone gave you some lovely art equipment.

Nobody told you to BE CAREFUL! DON'T SQUEEZE SO MUCH OUT! DON'T WASTE IT!

And you have a fantastic time. :o)

A few years back I had a book out of the library that encouraged me to Do Some Art! (very good book in some aspects but sadly, not so good in other ways).

I imagined what it would be like to walk into an art studio, and have someone say to me "There you go! Feel free to use anything you want! Play! Have fun!"

I was so enthused by this prompting, that I got all our 3-D paints out and we had a FANTASTIC time with them - we used them all up!

Of course, we need boundaries - we don't paint the deck, the dog, or PURPOSELY put paint all over our hair and clothes ...

But we really shouldn't use the word WASTE when it comes to art.

A child who is bored with art, or looking for attention in the wrong way, or left to themselves when they want company and direction may WASTE things - but the child who is engaged and enthralled by the materials and the process should be encouraged to USE all those goodies - paints, glue, paper, cardboard.

YES it's messy.

YES it requires set-up and clean-up.

YES it's much easier and better for everyone if you ALL set-up and clean-up together which requires training.

BUT PEOPLE!!!! I encourage you so much - GET BUSY WITH ART!!!!

If your child wants you to work alongside - be there.

If your child wants to be silent and uninterrupted - give them space.

If your child wants you to sit and watch - give them the gift of your time.

The "mess" that we made on coloured card with our 3-D paints that day, was carefully sorted out, and I kept the most pleasing artwork.

And the other day I dug out those 3-D paint splatters and look what we produced.

Blessings

The Mummalady

GIVE A CHILD A MATCHBOX

2010-08-27T14:17:00.000+12:00

A lovely game to get the children out hunting for tiny little items in the garden.

How many different sorts of things can you find to fit inside a matchbox?

Miss Seven decided she wanted to draw some of those beautiful little things.

The fantastic selection of coloured pencils are Faber Castell - these are the best pencils we have found. Please don't buy your children cheap, scratchy pencils!!!

Blessings
The Mummalady

GIVE A CHILD SOME BELLS

2010-08-27T14:16:00.001+12:00

We thought that five months old was just the right age for baby to have his first instrument.

The best part of this game, apparently, was pulling the socks off his feet!

Blessings
The Mummalady

GIVE A CHILD A JUG

2010-08-27T14:11:00.000+12:00

When we provide beautiful things for our children (like this lovely chunky pottery jug) our children may surprise us with what they will do with that item.

What a work of art!

Blessings
The Mummalady

ECO-FEST

2010-08-21T14:10:00.001+12:00

Little girl, Mummy and baby have just come back from the Eco-Fest. It was great!

Some of our favourite things:

We met the lady who made this DVD. We had previously borrowed the DVD from the library and the children loved it - so we bought our own copy. Highly recommended viewing!

This fantastic creation is something we would like to make (our little girl wants to call ours "Bug Town."

Here is the website for more information.

Bye for now

Blessings
The Mummalady

WHAT A LOVELY DAY

2010-08-18T17:18:00.000+12:00

Had a trip out to visit a settlers cottage.

Beautiful.

:o)

Blessings
The Mummalady

USING OTHER PEOPLE'S PHOTOGRAPHS

2010-08-12T18:01:00.000+12:00

Dear Readers

It has just been brought to my attention that when you copy a photograph from the internet it is considered stealing.

But isn't anything on the internet for public use? Any thoughts??

Should I go back through my posts and take off the pictures I have used from the internet - like the one of the snake skin, and the baked potato etc etc ...

I wonder if there is a situation where you can actually use these photos without it being considered "stealing".

The picture above is our own. It's an advert for our friends!

Blessings
The Mummalady

DECORATE YOUR HOME

2010-08-07T15:49:00.000+12:00

Is your home lacking colour and personality?

Get busy with the paints, crayons and coloured pencils!!

Then stick the results up for everyone to see. :o)

Most of all - remember to have fun when you are doing art with your children. Encourage them not to focus on the "end result".

Let them choose which pieces they'd like stuck on the wall (or in our case - the laundry bi-fold doors), which pieces can be cut up and used for cardmaking, which pieces will be put into their Notebooks, and which pieces are not so precious and can be thrown away.

Blessings
The Mummalady

MAKING A BOOK

2010-08-05T09:36:00.000+12:00

We found a book in the "free" room of the local Re-Use shop.

The pictures were lovely but as I read through the story I realised that the little girl had a bad attitude towards her father, she complained, and worst of all there were references to occult things.

So I cut the pictures out, glued them onto paper and made up my own story. The little girl now loves her family, prays with her father and gives thanks to God when her prayer is answered in a way that she could never have imagined.

The presentation isn't the best, I know it would have looked nicer typed up, and the binding certainly wouldn't win any prizes - but often the children don't care about presentation.

They love this story and it has been read many times since I made it.

Blessings
The Mummalady

KNIT A BALL

2010-08-05T09:25:00.000+12:00

We've had fun knitting balls just recently, so thought I would post a photo of how you construct these balls.

I used the pattern from here.

Lovely that there is no sewing up to do!

Blessings
The Mummlady

BEAUTIFUL HYMN

2010-08-05T09:17:00.000+12:00

GIVE A CHILD SOME STICKS

2010-08-04T15:03:00.000+12:00

Daddy made the children some sticks to play with.

The younger ones made fences for animals and a some simple towers.

When the little ones went to bed the big boys had a go with the sticks.

Clever boys!

Blessings
The Mummalady

FIRST STEPS!

2010-08-04T14:56:00.001+12:00

Our business has now officially taken its first step!

We have purchased the domain name: www.willowcottage.co.nz

This is very exciting, but also a little scary as we step out into cyberspace and try to figure it all out.

Our first products, beautiful wooden baby teethers, are happily nestled in a box of tissue paper, waiting to be purchased.

Blessings
The Mummalady

RECENT RESEARCH SHOWS ...

2010-08-03T07:54:00.000+12:00

The above image is a picture of Miss Charlotte Mason - from this website: http://www.squidoo.com/CMbasics

Hi readers.

I just wrote an email to someone, and thought I would post some of the thoughts I shared with her.

One of our children just turned 17. He is mostly self-directed in his education - learning Japanese, still doing maths and handwriting etc. He is also designing a webpage for our family business which we just purchased the domain name for! He's been homeschooled since birth.

And having just been blessed with a new baby, I believe it is profitable for our family if I spend time researching and learning about new/different educational ideas and seeking encouragement in our home education journey.

I've been researching many different educational styles - so far I have studied Charlotte Mason, Montessori, Steiner/Waldorf, Reggio and am now looking at Thomas Jefferson Education.

Whilst Montessori, Steiner and Reggio have some wonderful ideas I also see some of their philosophies as very dangerous. And whilst I admire Charlotte Mason's philosophies and ideas I realise that some are way beyond my capabilities!!

I must also say that having read (several times!) The Fallacy Detective by the Bluedorn brothers, it has opened my eyes to many fallacies and (sometimes) outright lies that people either unknowingly, or knowingly insert into their research and philosophies.

This is a very, very interesting field to study (when I have time!) and I'd like to give a presentation to some of the Mums from our group towards the end of the year.

I will be publishing my findings on this blog when they are in a readable state!

In the meantime if anyone wants sound advice on how to raise and educate children I recommend reading the Bible - this is our first and last word on the subject. This book has no fallacies, no lies and can be trusted to stand for ever.

Blessings
The Mummalady

Benjamin Zander on music and passion | Video on TED.com

2010-07-28T08:43:00.000+12:00

Benjamin Zander on music and passion | Video on TED.com

LOOKIE HERE!

2010-07-18T14:53:00.000+12:00

Later on this year we are going to start a family business selling lovely natural things that we have made.

This beautiful little item here will be for sale!

The need for this stool came about because we have children wanting to go to the toilet by themselves, and then they want to drag the stool over to the bathroom sink to wash their hands.

Many stools are too big and heavy, and often Mummy has to bend over to pick up itl!

So, this Mummy, tired of bending over and picking up stools to drag around for her darling children, designed a handsome looking, light-weight stool *** WITH A HANDLE! ***

No more bending over!

Daddy went out into the workshop, found a spare piece of Rimu, and VIOLA!! Isn't he a clever Daddy?!

The children LOVE to drag this around the house using it in the bathroom, and the kitchen, and the lounge, and the bedroom ...

Just thought you might all like a look at one of the beautiful, exciting items our family will be producing and selling.

(Any advance orders??!!)

Blessings
The Mummalady

WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY

2010-07-18T14:47:00.000+12:00

Oh what a wonderful, wonderful day
Day I will never forget
After I'd wandered in darkness away
Jesus my saviour I met
Oh what a tender, compassionate friend
He met the need of my heart
Shadows dispelling
With joy I am telling
He made all the darkness depart

Heaven came down and glory filled my soul ...

If you don't know this hymn then take the time to look it up and learn it. :o)

Blessings
The Mummalady

BIODEGRADABLE?

2010-07-14T11:22:00.001+12:00

This morning I tripped over a pile of clothes next to Little Boy's bed.

As I brushed my teeth I contemplated whether I would pick them up - or get him to do it.

Just then, the Lord gave me an idea.

I went into the lounge and found Little Boy playing happily with blocks.

Mummy: "You know how a snake sheds his skin?"

Little boy (putting down blocks and giving me his full attention): "Yes."

Mummy: "The snake just slithers out of the skin and leaves it there - and he can do that because it's biodegradable - it will break down and disappear into the soil and the earth."

Little boy (full of interest). "Yes! That's right!"

Mummy: "Well sweetie - God made you to be a little boy, not a snake - and when you slithered out of your clothes last night and left them on the floor they didn't biodegrade, and they won't disappear, so you need to pick them up and put them in the washing hamper."

Little boy (slightly let down that a conversation started with such promise - talking about snakes and shedding skins- turned out to be a lesson on tidyness): "Oh, ok."

Blessings
The Mummalady

ANOTHER BIRTHDAY ROLLS AROUND

2010-07-13T18:51:00.000+12:00

Dear readers

If you have been with me a while you may remember our family doesn't like Big Deal Birthdays for our children.

We had a lovely day last week when one of our little boys turned 5.

Here is a picture of our outing. Yes it was cold - it's the middle of winter! But we had a great time. The location was created by God. It is extremely beautiful. Thank you God. :o)

Blessings
The Mummalady

WHAT IS ROBBING YOU OF PEACE?

2010-07-13T08:55:00.000+12:00

1Sa 16:16 Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.

Matthew Henry says:

“Let us have a cunning player on the harp to attend thee.” How much better friends had they been to him if they had advised him, since the evil spirit was from the Lord, to give all diligence to make his peace with God by true repentance, to send for Samuel to pray with him and to intercede with God for him! then might he not only have had some present relief, but the good Spirit would have returned to him. But their project is to make him merry, and so cure him. Many whose consciences are convinced and startled are for ever ruined by such methods as these, which drown all care of the soul in the delights of sense.

****

"Peace with God by true repentance ..."

If we are unsure what to repent of please pray: "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24

Pray that the Lord will reveal to you anything in your heart that is black, anything robbing you of joy, anything that is getting in the way of true peace, peace in Christ Jesus. Repent of that blackness, that sin, that habit, thoughts, feelings ... whatever the Lord reveals to you. Repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as your saviour. And be saved.

Amen
The Mummalady

FRUGAL HOME EDUCATION

2010-07-02T16:07:00.000+12:00

Someone just asked a group of us "what is your best hint for frugal home education?"

And so I thought about it.

And I came up with this:

My best hint is to pray for satisfaction and contentment with what the Lord has given you - and pray for your children to have this contentment and satisfaction too.

BUT as a home educating Mummy it is still our responsiblity to facilitate learning and provide resources, and so we pray that the Lord will open our eyes to exciting and wonderful ways to use what we have, and the things that come along cheaply or free.

For example, if you find some little baskets, or lovely wooden bowls in the op-shop (or re-use shop) for say $1 each - that would be a sensible purchase.

Make sure they are not junky horrible bowls or baskets, and ensure that they are a pleasing shape and size.

Next time you are at the beach have the children collect shells or some lovely rounded stones etc. The children can wash them when they get home (make sure none of the shells have little creatures living in them!) then put them baskets to be played with carefully.

This idea can be used for seed pods, autumn leaves, acorns - all sorts of lovely natural (FREE!) goodies that are so much nicer to play with than over-priced expensive plastic faddish junk.

Blessings
The Mummalady

THE LORD'S HANDMAID

2010-06-20T06:04:00.000+12:00

Here is a note I just wrote to my friend for herself and her daughter, and also for my own precious little girl.

**********************************************************************************

Hannah longed for a baby, but the Lord had not opened her womb. And so she had no children.

God's Word says she was in “bitterness of soul” meaning she felt a deep distress and sadness.

And she “wept sore.” Which means she cried intensely.

When she prayed she said

“O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life ...”

Do you notice what she called herself?

She was God's handmaid.

And we remember another special woman in the Bible who also humbled herself before God and called herself God's handmaid:

Luke 1:38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.

So what does it mean to be a “handmaid”?

Webster's 1828 dictionary says:

HAND'MAIDEN, n. A maid that waits at hand; a female servant or attendant.

What does “wait” mean in this sense?

I think it means: “To pay servile or submissive attendance. To attend to. To be ready to serve.”

How can we have a heart and an attitude that is submissive to God? To be ready to serve Him?

John the baptist said: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John had already given God his whole life, but he wanted to give even more.

And in Matthew 16:25 Jesus says: “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever
will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”

So maybe if we want a heart and an attitude that is quick, ready and happy to serve God we need to think less of our “selves”. Get rid of all selfishness.

Paul, in Philippians 2:4 says: “Look NOT every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”

That's where we remember:

J Jesus first
O Others, then
Y Yourself

This is not the recipe for a life of drudgery and pain. The Lord blesses obedience to Him in ways we can never, with our limited human mind, even conceive of!

As mothers and daughters we are blessed having people around us all day to practice this on. We can serve everyone quickly and happily.

Too hard! I hear you cry. Yes - it is very difficult in our own strength, but entirely possible with the Holy Spirit working within us.

And when we serve others we are serving God.

I want to be the Lord's handmaid. Do you?

The Mummalady

FUN GAME TO MAKE

2010-06-19T14:22:00.000+12:00

This is a fun and easy game to make.

Collect some lovely little items from around your house (or from your box of "lovely little things" that you keep for times just as these!). Say seven of each item.

Carefully hot-glue one of the items to the top of a peg.

Get some nice big tweezers. Put everything into a lovely wooden box, a tray, or a little basket.

When child would like to play this game they:

- tip all the items out neatly

- put the pegs onto the ice-cube tray

- then use the tweezers to put matching items into the holes of the ice-cube tray.

Great fun!

This is one of those games that's easier to make if you keep your eye out for goodies each time you visit the re-use shop or opportunity shops (or if you are in America I think they are called Charity Stores).

We have another game coming up during the week if we find what we are looking for during our next op-shop visit.

And I'd like to share a system I have worked out to keep little boys busy when we do our reading-aloud sessions.

Watch this space!

Blessings
The Mummalady

TOO HARD? NOT WITH THE LORD.

2010-06-15T12:36:00.000+12:00

A friend of mine buys honey in bulk because their family doesn't eat sugar. I admire her, but I never thought I could take sugar out of my diet.

It's in just about everything we buy, and if you don't put sugar in a lot of the things you cook at home then they just don't taste right!

However - at 5 weeks pregnant, after eating a biscuit I felt very sick. In fact a pregnancy test showed "negative", but I knew I must have been pregnant because I felt sick when I ate sugar!

It was the same with my last pregnancy. So I was off sugar. All forms of sugar. And yeast. Not good for my system. See my last post about what I could eat that didn't have sugar in it.

I have subsequently learned about CARBOHYDRATES that TURN INTO SUGAR after consumption, so that is something for me to do some homework on. :o)

Adding sugar to things is not good for us. And even worse for diabetics.

I am not diabetic. But I suspect that I get gestational diabetes. My blood tests were all good because I didn't eat any sugar.

During those long 9 months when I couldn't eat so many things that I wanted to eat (couldn't have a sandwich, no pickle on the one brand of cracker biscuits I found with no sugar in them, no sauce, no prepared stock or soup, and definitely no sweets, cakes or chocolate!!).

I admit that my attitude was bad for a lot of my pregnancy in relation to my food. I would be positive for a while, eat well, concentrate on those things I could eat, prepare food to nibble on to stop myself feeling so sick, but then I would get hungry, sicker and tired and my attitude would slip.

And now, nearly three months after the birth of our beautiful baby things have returned to "normal" in my system, and I can eat sugar and honey again. I have repented to God for my bad attitude because I can clearly see what a huge blessing it was that I felt sick when I ate sugar. If I hadn't been sick it would have been so much harder to stop eating sugar. But the effect on the baby and my body could have been terrible.

Quite a few people have asked me HOW I managed to stay off sugar. It wasn't in my own strength. I couldn't have done it without the Holy Spirit working within me. I praise His glorious power, and stand amazed that I serve such an awesome God.

When God allows us to walk through the dark valleys He is there.

And when we soar over the mountain tops He is there.

I encourage anyone who is going through a dark valley in their life - give it all to God. If He doesn't want you to be there in that dark valley He will lift you out. And if He has a purpose for you to be there, then rejoice in the dark and hold onto His hand.

Amen

The Mummalady

SUGAR-FREE FOODS

2010-05-28T13:59:00.000+12:00

During my last two pregnancies I went through a time of being sugar-free and yeast-free.

I admit that my attitude, at the time, wasn't very good. It's hard to be chirpy when you have morning sickness for 34 weeks. But that is no excuse for being grumpy!

Anyway - I found it very hard to satisfy my hunger (you get hungry when a baby is growing inside you -funny that!) with non-sugar items (lots of veges had too much sugar, and all fruits were out-of-bounds).

There is sugar hidden in all sorts of places, and I could taste it, and felt sicker if I ate it!

Here is my list of things I COULD eat, even when I felt sick, published out there in cyber-world in case it blesses someone else (and for me to refer back to, should we be blessed with another baby!).

cashew nuts
cashew butter
brazil nuts
pancakes
fried egg
cold hard-boiled egg
baked eggs
Proper Crisps (made in Nelson)
pikelets
cold cooked chicken (made by me so that I knew it was cooled and put in fridge quickly)
cold grilled chops
scones
Naan bread and Mountain bread chips (made by me)
Quick Cooking oats (porridge) made with Rice Milk and cinnamon on the top
Mozerella cheese
processed cheese slices
Rice Cakes and Corn Thins with cottage cheese on
rice and vegetables
pasta and potatoes cooked in stock (make own stock - purchased stock has sugar)
baked Pita bread (check no sugar in the Pita Breads)
homemade soup with homemade stock (no mushrooms when yeast free)
if you are not yeast-free you can have toast and butter and toast and cashew butter
baked potatoes with cheese and butter and some salt and herbs
mashed potatoes
mashed potato fritters - cold mashed potatoes, cheese, egg, flour, herbs and salt

A recipe for half-way decent snacks I devised:

grind: brazil nuts, cashew nuts, sunflower seeds, almonds - mix with melted butter and a bit of Carob powder, add a smidge of Xylitol if you can take that (Xyliol is a NATURAL sweetner that you use pound for pound the same as sugar. It's easier to use than Stevia in my opinion, but I have used both in the past). When all is mixed together press into a sandwich slice tin, and put in fridge. When cool cut into small squares and put in the freezer. Eat one at a time. :o)

I will come back and add to this if I remember anything else.

If any readers have suggestions then please let me know!!

Blessings
The Mummalady

SEEING ALL THE GOOD THINGS

2010-05-23T15:38:00.000+12:00

We have been watching Andre Rieu on Youtube and have borrowed a DVD from grandparents which the children have enjoyed.

His DVD where he is on the way to New York is very interesting! I recommend it as a great "behind the scenes" look at this amazing man and his orchestra. It is rated PG, and there are some bits which I needed to fast-forward as I didn't want the children watching, but other than that it was fantastic.

One evening during a before bed chat, our 7 year old daughter said she'd like to have a life like that - travelling and playing music.

I shared with her that when they make a program like that they show the good parts of the lifestyle.

I really do believe that the members of Andre's orchestra genuinely enjoy playing and touring with each other - that's clear to see, and I have heard from a lady who has attended 25 of his concerts that each concert is wonderful!

But I think each of those performers spent many, many years learning their instruments, practising and tears, auditions, disappointments, separation from loved ones due to touring and performing in different cities - all part of a normal life, but none shown on the program. And I don't blame them. They can't follow orchestra members their whole lives showing the ups and downs! But when a child doesn't see that, they can't imagine what is involved.

Without our discussion, our beautiful little 7 year old could have still thought that their whole lives were full of laughter, playing together beautifully, looking out for one another and enjoying every moment of their lives.

That happens to us sometimes too when we look at the life of a friend or someone we have just met. They seem to have it all together. They are wonderful, their furniture matches in their lounge, their piano is in tune, their car doesn't leak when it rains, their children never show disrespect, a house so big there is room to spare ... whatever we perceive as successful.

But we're not there behind closed doors with them. We don't see loneliness, frustrations, years spent on constant heart-tying and training with their children, the worries about overdrafts and loans ... people can carry any sort of issues that the world never sees.

I will endeavour to keep my attention focused on my own life, the place that God has put me right now, to serve and worship Him. And I will keep my eyes and my heart fixed on Jesus Christ - my saviour, my protector and the reason I live.

Blessings
The Mummalady

READING OUT LOUD

2010-05-23T15:17:00.000+12:00

We love reading out loud in this house.

The baby loves it (we think), the 2 year old, 4 year old, 7 year old, 14 year old and 16 year old love it. So do Mummy and Daddy. And the dogs. And the cat.

We read the Bible, picture books, poetry, novels, lots of non-fiction, instruction books, the back of packets of food ... but we are very very careful about what we read. There's a lot of bad stuff out there, and we don't want rubbish running around our heads.

Reading as a family is special - even if sometimes it is difficult. Not everyone wants to sit still while we are reading. It takes forward planning, discipline and consistency to train children to play a nice quiet game while we read out loud. But the benefits are huge!

Our favourite characters develop voices, and often we have a favourite line from a book.

Oft quoted verses include:
From Marguerite de Angeli's "The Door In the Wall" John-Go-In-The-Wind's mother says "I'll bake thee a bannock".

Again, Marguerite de Angeli's "The Black Fox of Lorne" (where I had to do a Scottish accent for a lot of the dialogue - I kept lapsing into Irish, Welsh and Yorkshire, but the children didn't mind too much!). One character (McCrone big nose) only appeared for two lines, but both of them we love: "Meat - is it?" and "Indeed. Indeed."
And another character from that story - Gavin of Lorne "So! Ye be twain! Two cockerels from a double-yolked egg."

From "Jenna's Journal" written by me - Bren the bully-girl says "Get lost rich girl. These are mby trousers." For some reason that line (and the "blocked-nose" voice that it was read in) have become a classic around here.

Henty's books always have something in them that we laugh at. "The Young Buglers" had the African character Sam who referred to himself as "dis coloured gentleman." And he often used the term "dis chile" (our baby is often affectionately called that.)

"The Cat of Bubastes" (which are currently reading for the second time) has Tylus the baddie: "Wrech! Do you dare to murder the High Priest of Osiris?" after which he is dealt with by our hero Jethro.

"Long Way from Chicago" and "A Year DownYonder" by Richard Peck has the very colourful character "Grandma". One of her best lines: "Boys is bad news. Girls is worse."

Our 16 year old reads to The Smalls. Our 7 year old reads to the other Smalls. Daddy reads the Bible to the big boys before he goes to work. Mummy reads to everyone when they will listen.

If you don't read out loud to your family then start now!! Don't know what to read? Try Proverbs! Or the Gospel of Luke. How about some of the good A A Milne poems, or Robert Louis Stevenson? Read heaps of good non-fiction about animals, plants, places in the world, famous people ...

Read!

Blessings
The Mummalady

READING GAME

2010-05-23T13:16:00.000+12:00

I picked up some fantastic star-shaped Post-It notes on sale the other day.

The Lord leads me to bargains, He provides the money and then He gives me great ideas for things to do with what He's give me! I can't imagine home education without God.

These star-shaped Post-Its have turned into a fantastic reading game.

I have written the names of familiar items on them - one item per sticker: wall, door, Daddy's boot, drawer, desk etc. Every so often I give one to our little 4-year old he needs to have a go at reading it, then stick it to the item.

Because they are genuine Post-It notes they have good adhesive which actually sticks (some of the cheap imitation ones don't stick!). And they don't leave marks on walls or furniture (but you might like to try it someone inconspicuous just in case!)

I made some stickers for a little friend too and I hope she enjoys them.

Bye for now
The Mummalady

RAISING GODLY TOMATOES

2010-04-15T11:08:00.000+12:00

I haven't posted for a while. Things have been a little busy as we have celebrated the arrival of our 6th child, and Mummy has spent time resting and getting to know the new one.

My post for today relates to this website written by a mother of 10:

RAISING GODLY TOMATOES

I am thoroughly enjoying going through each page of her book (she has graciously and very kindly put all her book onto the internet). Whilst I would love an actual "paper" copy of her book (easier to read!) the computer will do for now. :o)

This lady has such a lot of sound wisdom to share. She is very astute in her observations, and she enjoys being a mother.

Check it out if you get a moment.

Blessings
The Mummalady

HANDWRITING HINTS

2010-03-19T07:30:00.000+13:00

Once again from Practical Pages (see article below and link in the sidebar).

Handwriting information at Practical Pages

If you haven't already subscribed to this lady's wonderful website and updates then I suggest that you do so now!!!

Blessings
The Mummalady

PRACTICAL PAGES - RECOMMENDED SITE!

2010-03-16T09:29:00.000+13:00

If you visit this wonderful site:

http://practicalpages.wordpress.com/

or go straight to this page:

http://practicalpages.wordpress.com/2010/03/15/fine-handwriting-needs-fine-muscles/

you'll find a wonderful list of ideas that I have copied below.

I highly recommend this site, and if you subscribe you will be sent regular emails with great links to projects to download and use.

I am very thankful that this wonderful lady has the time and kindness to share her ideas and thoughts with the world :o)

We love it!

Blessings
The Mummalady

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Here are some games and activities that will build up upper body gross motor muscles:

Wheelbarrow races on hands while someone holds feet

Hanging on rings on the jungle gym
Throwing and catching big beach balls
Playing swing ball
Swimming
Jumping with a skipping rope
Bowling

Now for some fine motor activities and games:

Squeezing clay, putty or plasticine
Placing clothes pegs along a ruler or around a container
Tearing paper - first colour a square paper with big crayons, then tear into tiny squares, then glue these pieces on to a picture
crunching paper into balls
Opening fingers with elastic bands on them
Finger actions with songs
Kneading bread dough
Rolling and making biscuit balls
Picking vegetables and pulling stalks off strawberries/ tomatoes/ shucking corn
Drawing in pudding mix on a plastic cloth/ salt on a tray/ shaving cream on window or mirror
Cutting with scissors
Tying knots, bows, shoelaces or rope
Doing buttons, zips, press studs, hooks and eyes, cuff links and fasteners
Screwing and unscrewing bolts and nuts
Lacing with card and shoelaces
Beading with cotton reels and thick thread

IDEAS FOR TAPES FOR CHILDREN TO LISTEN TO

2010-03-02T16:39:00.000+13:00

We love to listen to tapes!

But - most of the stories available on tape are not the sort of thing we would like our children to listen to.

We have made our own tapes, and shared the idea with others.

The picture above is the type of little tapedeck that our daughter loves to carry around with her, and she can listen to it in the car, or in bed without disturbing others.

These tapes are very comforting for the child when they are unwell, or if they were to have to spend time away from home for any reason.

I encourage you, if you are going to make tapes for the children, to make copies of precious ones. Tapes can be easily spoiled - especially if 2 year olds start playing with them, not understanding how special they are. :o)

And keep the tapes carefully labelled, and put up high in a safe place. Probably best if the children only have one tape at a time to listen to.

One Mum came back to me and said her boys were loving listening to the tapes too - and what else could they make recordings of?

So that set me thinking, and I've come up with the following ideas.

If you have more to add PLEASE let me know, and we can share ideas!

1. Pieces of scripture. Short bits or very long passages. Spoken or sung.

2. Other songs you sing WITH the children, so they can hear Mummy and their own voices.

3. Months of the year, and days of the week.

4. Spelling words.

5. Character Training lessons - available from the link shown in the sidebar. On your tape you can sing the song, read the scripture, ask the children questions and get their answers all on the one tape.

6. Interview Daddy and ask what he loves best about the children.

7. Interview Grandparents - prepare a set of questions first i.e., where were they born? what subjects did they like at school? what was their first job? was there a war on when they were small?

8. Tape all your favourite poems from all your favourite books.

9. The Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes and the fruits of the spirit.

10. Catachism

11. Books of the Bible

12. Read the whole book of Proverbs a little at a time onto one specific tape.

13. Times tables.

14. Give Grandparents (or other supportive older person) a stack of the child's favourite books, and have the Grandparent read the books onto a tape.

15. Keep one tape aside marked "Diary". Occasionally put this tape into the tapedeck and chat with the child about things they have been doing, places they went etc.

16. Read a short story onto the tape, then have the child narrate the story back onto the tape.

17. Long chapter books you will read to the children at bedtime - you may need several tapes - be sure to label them correctly as you tape them - i.e.,
RAILWAY CHILDREN Side 1, Tape 1. then
RAILWAY CHILDREN Side 2, Tape 1.
And the next tape will be
RAILWAY CHILDREN Side 1, Tape 2 etc

Blessings
The Mummalady

PAPER DOLLS

2010-03-02T14:17:00.001+13:00

Just had to share this great site for paper dolls.

Very simple, with easy to colour and cut clothes.

Our little ones are having a great time with these.

PAPER DOLL LINK

Blessings
The Mummalady

CHARLES SPURGEON QUOTE

2010-03-02T13:51:00.000+13:00

Talking about John Piper again - we were listening to a biographical message about Charles Spurgeon , delivered by John Piper, and were impressed by the following quote:

"In comparing one ministerial identity with another he reminded other pastors that at the last supper there was a chalice for drinking the wine and there was a basin for washing feet. Then he said,

"I protest that I have no choice whether to be the chalice or the basin. Fain would I be whichever the Lord wills so long as He will but use me ... So you, my brother, you may be the cup, and I will be the basin; but let the cup be a cup, and the basin a basin, and each one of us just what he is fitted to be. Be yourself, dear brother, for, if you are not yourself, you cannot be anybody else; and so, you see, you must be nobody ... Do not be a mere copyist, a borrower, a spoiler of other men's notes. Say what God has said to you, and say it in your own way; and when it is so said, plead personally for the Lord's blessing upon it" (see note 69).

And I would add, plead personally the Lord's purifying blood upon it too, because none of our best labors is untainted. But the danger is to let the truth paralyze you with fear of man and doubt of self."

We would suggest that this message is not just for pastors, but for all who will share God with others.

John Piper's audio sermon is found here

And the transcript is found here

Blessings
The Mummalady

JOHN BUNYAN

2010-02-26T15:09:00.000+13:00

I first heard this amazing poem, written by John Bunyan, in a wondeful talk given by Corrie Ten Boom.

It seems John Piper has also.

Read what Mr Piper says:

"I was listening to a talk by Corrie Ten Boom yesterday and heard her recite a little poem by John Bunyan. It's one of the best statements I have ever heard about the difference between the law and the gospel. You'll see how it relates.

'Run, John, run, the law commands
But gives us neither feet nor hands,
Far better news the gospel brings:
It bids us fly and gives us wings.' "

Just wanted to share.

Blessings
The Mummalady

SONG FOR YOU

2010-02-24T14:04:00.000+13:00

This has been on my mind to share.

A song we like by Keith Green.

There Is A Redeemer

There is a redeemer,
Jesus, God's own Son,
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah,
Holy One,

Jesus my redeemer,
Name above all names,
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah,
Oh, for sinners slain.

Thank you oh my father,
For giving us Your Son,
And leaving Your Spirit, 'Til the work on Earth is done.

When I stand in Glory,
I will see His face,
And there I'll serve my King forever,
In that Holy Place.

Thank you oh my father,
For giving us Your Son,
And leaving Your Spirit, '
Til the work on Earth is done.

Amen
The Mummalady

ANOTHER LINK!

2010-02-13T08:15:00.000+13:00

Here is a beautiful site to encourage and inform mothers.

Well worth a look.

mothering advice

Blessings
The Mummalady

A BEGINNERS GUIDE TO HOME EDUCATION ... PART FOUR - FINAL PART!

2010-02-12T18:23:00.000+13:00

And now here's the final part in our series :o)

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(The above image is a "Melissa and Doug" jigsaw puzzle. We like the quality and most of the subjects of these puzzles, but unfortunately because they are manufactured in the US they are very expensive to ship over here!)

**************

Home education on a shoestring is entirely possible – you might use your Bible, some simple art supplies, library card, book fairs and op shops, a dictionary and supportive, enthusiastic friends.

Later you can add: a computer, your own library of “how-to” and good non-fiction books (animals, plants, geograph etc), more art equipment, puzzles, games, tools (not toys!), musical instruments etc.

There is no mystery to educating children. It is not necessary for parents (or grandparents) who wish to educate their children to “do a course” or “get some qualifications”.

It is necessary to love your children. To want to be with them. You must learn to “read” your children – watch their faces to see if they are frustrated with something, or maybe they are stubbornly refusing to do something that you know they can do, but they might need a gentle push in the right direction.

An excellent relationship with your children, with healthy communication is extremely rare when your children are away from you for many hours at school where they will form relationships dependent on teachers and peers.

My advice for those considering homeschooling is to pray, seek and listen to the Lord's will for your family, ensure a unity between husband and wife - and then go for it! Soak yourselves in the Word and keep feeding yourselves spiritually until you are overflowing with joy and confidence. This joy does not come from ourselves – it is a beautiful gift from God!

Seek God's wisdom in learning what sort of family you are – structured/relaxed? Do you enjoy paperwork? Nature walks? Are any of you arty? Talkative? Hands-on? Bookish? This helps you to start, and then extend your areas of interest.

The Lord has chosen each and every member of your family and put them in exactly the right place for that family. Each family is a team that should not be split up for the purpose of education.

****************

Blessings
The Mummalady

ANOTHER LINK!

2010-02-11T13:15:00.001+13:00

Just found this via Homeschool Freebie of the Day.

Lots of ideas and encourgement here.

Check it out when you get time!

http://practicalpages.wordpress.com/

Blessings
The Mummalady

A BEGINNERS GUIDE TO HOME EDUCATION ... PART THREE

2010-02-09T16:20:00.000+13:00

The above picture is a collection of wonderful Enjo fibres. We have our own collection that we use on a daily basis to keep ourselves and our house clean. For more information visit www.enjo.net.

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We have the freedom to come at a subject from all angles. We read “living books” full of rich characterization and history. We do not use dull, dry text books filled with facts and
figures to try to remember. The children enjoy and retain so much of what we learn that they will bring the subject up again some time later, and more learning goes on as they extend their knowledge base very naturally.

Over the past few years I've considered using a purchased curriculum – something that will tell us what to do every day. But it hasn't suited the style of our family – and I realised that a curriculum is SOMEONE ELSE'S idea of what your family should be learning.

With prayer and seeking we have found resources and ideas everywhere. And none of it has to be expensive! We DO use a purchased maths course, and for science too now that the older children are learning biology and physics, but we still work a lot with reading library books and using the internet for many things.

We don't separate our learning into “headings” like history, social studies, environmental studies etc. We learn so much that overlaps into multiple areas – if we had to put it all under headings it would kill the enjoyment!

We have never “schooled at home”. We don't need to!

Our home education is a total lifestyle where the children are playing, working and learning all the time. It is very natural and heaps of fun.

In the past I've struggled with teaching the children to do housework. It's quicker, easier and more effective to do the job myself – but I have learned that's not the case in the long run!

I am doing a lot better in this regard with the younger children – taking time to foster a healthy attitude towards work in their minds. I believe it is a disservice to our children to allow them a lot of play time while Mum does all the work for them.

Life is about work – and work isn't a terrible thing. A healthy attitude towards work makes the work enjoyable and satisfying. Spare time and play are a reward after the work is completed. And with our lifestyle we have adequate time for both work and play.

Daddy has learned to slow down when he does jobs around home, and to watch out for three little interested people who always seem to be standing right behind him holding his tools as he works.

***************

That's all for Part Three, log in at a later date for the final part in this series :o)

Blessings
The Mummalady

A BEGINNERS GUIDE TO HOME EDUCATION ... PART TWO

2010-02-02T16:04:00.000+13:00

Part two ...

It should not be the child's decision where they go and what they do – parents are responsible for their children and should prayerfully and lovingly make the decisions. This is not what the world teaches, and it took me some time to become comfortable with that truth. I hear many mothers who would like to try home eduation for various reasons (some of them to do with negative social issues their child is facing day after day when out of the home) say “But he/she really loves going to kindy and playing with all her friends.” (or preschool or school). Teaching our children to make decisions is a vital part of learning, but they should not be making major decisions about where they spend their days, and who will be influencing their thoughts and attitudes.

Another lie I believed was that our boys needed to learn to deal with other children by themselves. I realise now that is definitely not the case.

So from the start I knew that we would homeschool, somehow. My husband had a few reservations as he knew nothing about home education, but he knew me well enough, and was confident of the relationship we both had with our boys to know that we could continue with what we had been doing. I had to ensure that I informed my husband of things I learned, and how the boys were doing, as we believe the husband is responsible to God for the whole family.

So what DID we do during the early years? We read a lot, took walks together, went to the library, the park, the playground, lots of puzzles, games, making huts, collecting boxes and cans and making things, moving furniture to make cozy reading areas, memorizing scripture and poetry, simple maths games, learning letters and a tiny bit of handwriting practice from time to time, collecting things – acorns, feathers, shells, stones, gardening ... spending lots and lots of time together.

We have five children now (2 years up to 16 years old) and a baby due in a few months.

As each child has approached their sixth birthday (the legal age in New Zealand for enrolment in a registered school) we have applied for, and been granted an exemption from schooling by the Ministry of Education. This gives us official permission to educate our own children.

At this stage of the journey we still play a lot, read a whole lot, learn household and life skills together, do art, talk about a lot of issues. Over the years we have added a few text books that the older boys work through, foreign languages, more handwriting, notetaking, dictation, writing letters to people, Greek and Latin, oral spelling and a few other bits. These studies have come quite naturally, and from resources that the Lord has lead us to.

We work a lot on attitudes, character qualities, relationships, the pursuit of wisdom vs knowledge, household and life skills. We believe that when these children grow up they will have the ability to add to and learn new skills - but their own character qualities, attitudes, relationship/life skills are the ones that will make their lives healthier and better for those around them.

Over time I've had my doubts about whether we were doing “enough”, but with prayer, discussions with my husband and advice from more experienced home educating mothers I have been reassured that we are doing fine. Yes, there will be gaps in their learning – but the important thing is that these children love to learn, they know HOW to learn. We are not filling their minds with facts and figures so they can pass a test.

. . .

watch out for part 3 coming soon!

Blessings
The Mummalady

BOOK LIST

2010-02-02T15:54:00.000+13:00

I've been asked to put my "Booklist" here for viewing.

This is a very rough list of what we like reading and have on our shelves, but it gives an idea of our tastes.

SOME OF THE BOOKS ON OUR SHELVES

King James Bibles

Living Bibles

Websters 1828 Dictionary

Strong's Concordance

Character Sketches Vols 1, 2 and 3 from ATI

Dr Jay L Wile: Apologia Science books

Steve Demme: Math-U-See curriculum

Rod & Staff: Many reading books and some workbooks

Learning Lanuage Arts Through Literature – (Old Editions) Red Book and Yellow Book

English From The Roots Up

Bible Discovery Worksheets

McGuffey – some books from the 1838 series

Andrew Pudewa Writing Course B

R M Ballantyne: The Coral Island, The Gorilla Hunters, Martin Rattler

M DeAngeli: The Door in the Wall, The Black Fox of Lorne

Bob Schultz: Boyhood and Beyond, Practical Happiness and Created For Work

L V Davidson: The Secret of Woodside Cottage, Tony's Temptation, Peter Joins In

Dorothy Canfield: Betsy

Captain Marryat: Children of the New Forest

Paul White: Jungle Doctor series

Corrie Ten Boom: The Hiding Place, In My Father's House, Amazing Love etc

Autobiographies and Biographies of missionaries and Christians throughout the ages

Michael and Debi Pearl: To Train Up a Child, No Greater Joy Vols 1,2 and 3, Created to Be His Helpmeet

Raymond and Dorothy Moore: Better Late Than Early, Minding Our Own Business

R & J Hess: A Full Quiver

Vicki A Brady: Basic Steps to Sucessful Homeschooling

Charlotte Mason: Homeschooling Series Vols 1,2,3,4,5 and 6

S McDonald: Raising Maidens of Virtue

L Bouke: Infant Potty Training

Martha Peace: The Excellent Wife

Dr H C A Vogel: The Nature Doctor

Ray Comfort – many books

Ken Ham books

Steve & Teri Maxwell: Keeping Our Children's Hearts, Preparing Sons to Provide for a Single
Income Family, Homeschooling with a Meek and Quiet Spirit

Sarah Maxwell: books from the Moody family series (saving up to buy more of these excellent books - in New Zealand available from CES Books)

H & L Bluedorn: Teaching the Trivium

H & N Bluedorn: The Fallacy Detective

Arnold Pent: Ten P's In A Pod

Karyn Warburton: Baby Sign Language

Old 1970's children's Readers Digest reading books

"HOW TO" BOOKS: Cake decoration, napkin folding, gardening, landscaping, cooking, flower arranging, art and craft, model trains …

OTHER MISC NON-FICTION: People, places, animals, technology
Old Guiness Book of Records (pre 1990)
Old Ladybird books on people and places in history (very popular books)

MAGAZINES: Electronics, Creation, Above Rubies, Keystone, National Geographics, Look & Learn, Real Robots (with some pages stuck together as there is some very graphic yucky stuff in there).

Not technically ON OUR SHELVES as these are downloaded onto the computer:

G A Henty books - our favourites so far: Cat of Bubastes and Wulf the Saxon.

Blessings
The Mummalady

A BEGINNERS GUIDE TO HOME EDUCATION

2010-01-29T19:49:00.000+13:00

I have written this "Beginners Guide" for a friend who is compiling a wee booklet to give to people asking her about home education. This is happening a lot, so she thought it best to be prepared with something written by some Mums who have been home educating for some years now.

I will publish it in parts - and here, for your enjoyment (hopefully) is Part One. :o)

OUR JOURNEY IN HOME EDUCATION

In 1993 I gave birth to our first baby. I was surprised at how protective I felt about this beautiful little boy. I didn't want him to be away from me, which sometimes made me feel a little trapped, but as time went on I learned to enjoy this new relationship.

By the time our baby was 1 year old I was advised to look ahead and consider putting his name down at a pre-school. I felt a little ill thinking about it. Why should someone else have my baby for hours a day – watching him grow and change, playing with him, teaching him and interacting with him?

And then I heard about home education – or homeschooling. I was filled with excitement about it! Who could I talk to? What did I need to do? There were so many questions.

I got a phone number of a lady who was homeschooling her 13 year old son and spoke to her. She put me on to someone else. Eventually I visited that family as I was intensely curious as to HOW you could do this wonderful thing – and what sort of children would it produce?

Our visit was WONDERFUL. The children were respectful and polite, and talked to me in a relaxed manner about the bulbs they had planted in the garden. The mother was warm and friendly.

I was filled with hope, excitement and encouragement.

But as time went on, and many of my friends were taking the “traditional” route of pre-school, playcentre etc I felt bad that maybe our boys (we had two by this stage 2 and 4 years old) were missing out on “something” by not attending pre-school or kindy. So I gathered courage and visited a playcentre session one day, and a kindy another day. I didn't like it, but I kept my feelings to myself (which I thought was the right thing to do) and watched the reactions of our oldest son.

He was overwhelmed by the noise and activity level. His usual ability to concentrate and enjoy a task was gone – he was frustrated by having to deal with the behaviour of the other children. We were all so relieved to go back home and pick up where we left off that morning – reading, playing, being together.

Check in later for Part Two.

Blessings
The Mummalady