Is This Normal?

We need to be careful you guys! We need to be watchful at what is happening to our kids through all that is going on. What is becoming normal to their precious little eyes? With all that has been finally coming out in the media about human trafficking, we need to be aware of how these things happen. It is a HUGE problem. 

Everyone keeps talking about the "new normal". I get it. Things have changed. Although I desperately do not want what life is like now to be the norm, I understand that, for now, this is the way things are. Since the middle of March, we've been dealing with Covid and it has come to be seen as normal for people to be wearing masks. Pretty much everything, at least here in New York State, was shut down so there was really nowhere to go besides the grocery store, and we all did that as minimally as possible. 

Then the 14 days to flatten the curve (which has been flattened BTW for several months now) dragged on. Businesses, at least the ones that weren't basically forced to close their doors permanently, started to find ways to open. So now, we start emerging again, with our faces covered, and our children's faces covered. Now, this post is not about how much I hate masks and think they are useless so I won't go there. However, we've semi gotten used to seeing people with masks without thinking anything of it. 

Then, some activities started up. Some churches started re-opening...THANK GOD! And now, it is considered normal to get your temperature taken before entering certain places. Everyone seems to have gotten a touchless thermometer. I have one that works great. When my kids are sick, I like to check their temp while they sleep and not worry about spreading germs from kid to kid. If you want one, I highly recommend this one:

Now, I do struggle with this a bit, but I know that at least in our area, if you aren't doing this, the state will shut you down, so I get why people are doing it and I am thankful in many ways that some of my kids activities have found a way to be open so our children can do something semi-normal and see their friends. I just want to be very clear about that. 

But this....THIS...WHY? I was scrolling through Facebook yesterday and something just struck me. I saw an advertisement for little girl going into school. She was wearing a mask and her teacher/administrator was taking her temperature in the middle of her forehead with a thermometer that is shaped like a GUN! How many of our kids are getting used to this scene? Face covered, being obedient, standing still and letting someone point something straight at their head. This is not the picture that I saw but you get the point.

This is not normal and it should never be. If you are working with children and are using a thermometer on them that is shaped like a gun (and maybe you didn't realize it), please please please, find something else to use. 

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Spaceships and Community helpers

Just a peek into our day today. Addie is learning about Community helpers in Kindergarten...isn't she cute? Last week, she learned about Firefighters, this week was police officers and next week is the mailperson. She is loving it.

With the community helpers in mind and because today is September 11th, we also talked with out kids about the reality of what this date means to our country. We must never forget what happened and what our "community helpers" did for us that day and following! 

Also, on a lighter note. Levi made a spaceship to work in today....because....he had to think of something to do while sitting there not doing his school work! ha!

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Camping Fun

A week ago we randomly decided it would be fun to go camping again (we went in July) next weekend (Labor Day). Of course, there weren't many sites available to choose from but we found a campground and had a great weekend together.

Sometimes we need to just get out of the house, away from the computers (well...actually I had to bring one to write a paper at night while the kids were sleeping), and all the lights and just enjoy each other.

We really had a great time and now it is our goal to buy a camper....because I think I could do this often if it didn't require setting up a tent and 7 camping cots every time!

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Day 1 of Homeschool---Dreams vs. Reality

I think a lot of people who actually want to homeschool have a picture perfect idea of what it will be like in THEIR house. ha! I know that even after homschooling my kids for 5 years prior to this, I still get this picture in my head. This is the year. I will be organized. They will follow my schedule. They will do the chores I assign and life will be great. 

I always have this happy picture of myself helping my kids with their work and we are smiling and enjoying our time together. 

I work tirelessly to make sure everything is set up just right. That they can find their books and know where to turn in their work to make for minimal interruptions of myself and the hubby while we are trying to work. 

These are actual pictures from my house! 

If you like our bookshelf, I highly recommend it! The cubes are bigger than the normal size and it comes in a variety of colors! https://amzn.to/2RPulTj 

But this is reality. It is messy. It does not always go smoothly. Sometimes it does though. It does not always come with smiles. Sometimes it does though. It does not always come with good attitudes. Sometimes it does though. It is so so hard but so so rewarding. When your kids are home with you all day, you learn things about them that you just do not know when they are at school all day. You learn how they learn. 

This year is not what I planned but I am determined to make the best of it, enjoy as much time as possible with my children and to obey what God's plan for us is this year. We will need His grace and mercy, patience and forgiveness for sure.

"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it."

                                                                            -Proverbs 22:6

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