Ok, this is suppose to be a blog about our life as homeschoolers and the other crazy stuff we do so here's a post just for that. I am giving some history for my new readers and then telling about a new road we have recently started traveling. I am also seeking your help in guiding us down this road.
I started homeschooling in 2004 when Oldest was in preschool. That was my first mistake. Not that starting with preschool is wrong but it was for us. Both of our boys are adopted. Oldest was finally place with us after a long court ordeal in the summer of 2004 right around his 4th birthday. I jumped right into homeschooling because I didn't want to give DCFS any reason to doubt to us. In August of 2004 my father-in-law was diagnosed with terminal cancer. In November we moved closer to my father-in-law and spent a good deal of time in his home helping with his care. In April of 2005 we moved into my father in laws house and within two weeks he went home to be with the Lord. In June we made the adoption final and in the fall of 2005 we moved out of my father-in-laws to another rental. By this time I had started kindergarten. I knew we had gotten behind and I was stressed over everything. I felt like I had spent two years running in a hamster wheel and I was ready to settle in. I wanted everything to run smoothly and go right. Well we hit a brick wall instead. Oldest showed lots of intelligence but he just wasn't retaining information and I took it as laziness or rebellion. He was somewhat rebellious, which we knew was caused by the stress of the last 5 years of his life, but instead of helping I fear I made the situation worse. I believe I had unrealistic expectations of him because I had unrealistic expectations of myself. My in-laws all homeschool and we have several friends who homeschool and they make it look so easy. It is not always easy. For me, even after 6 years, it is still not easy!
Each year I saw us getting further behind with Oldest and I vowed that would not happen with Youngest. I didn't push Youngest and tried not to have as high of expectations but I went the opposite directions. Because I continued to have problems with Oldest retaining information and he would not stay on task when given seat work, Youngest somewhat fell to the wayside. Now starting our 6th year of homeschool we are behind. Oldest is in 4th grade with 3rd grade math and Youngest is in 2nd grade. Oldest should be in 5th grade and Youngest should be in 3rd grade. I am sad that a lot of this is due to me. I am not a scheduled person, I have dealt with a lot of health issues and I sometimes pushed the school day aside. Not all of this is my fault. I believe Oldest would still be behind if I had stuck to a strict schedule but Youngest I'm not so sure about. Each year people told me it would get better and easier and it didn't until last year. Things did go a bit better last year. Oldest was still not retaining information and seeking out all of my time and Youngest struggled with reading but we kept to a much better, although still relaxed schedule, and we completed the year on time. Oldest and I have had more tears and fights throughout this homeschooling adventure than I care to admit but I think we are finally finding some level ground.
At my urging, and sometimes, begging Hubby allowed me to have Oldest tested for a learning disability. He has been diagnosed with ADD. We have not started any medications as I am not confident that is the road to go down. I have heard such horror stories and have verbally stood against medication for a long time. My stand has always been that I feel ADD is overdiagnosed or diagnosed to early to appease the public school teachers that don't want to deal with children being children. I know that it is a real disease and that it needs to be dealt with but when a child is 6 weeks into kindergarten and has never been in a school environment I find it hard to believe that it has to be ADD/ADHD. I also know that it is a genuine thing and needs to be treated. We have waited 6 years to have Oldest diagnosed and I am somewhat surprised at the diagnosis is but I am looking into it. I have been reading Driven to Distraction by Edward M. Hallowell and it has opened my eyes to many things. Oldest is not overly hyper. He can get overstimulated when he is excited and have a hard time coming down to a normal excitement level but he's not really hyper in general terms. He daydreams, forgets everything, and goes about whatever he wants to do whenever he wants to without thought to what he is suppose to be doing. I did not realize that his impulsivity was a symptom to ADD. While reading the book, I can see how it is diagnosed too quickly on some because some of the symptoms can pertain to anyone but I am learning a lot.
We are taking a non-medicinal route for now. Trying a more regimented schedule, more routine, having pictures up around the house to help him remember how chores are to be done correctly, giving him one instruction at a time etc. It is very hard for me sometimes and I still find myself getting very frustrated at having to be the memory for everyone in the house (I guess that is every wives/mothers frustration though) and having to wait for him to get one step of something done so I can tell him the next step. We are also looking at herbal options. Oldest has also had chronic sinusitis which was recently discovered because of headaches. He had no symptoms of being sick but he complained regularly of headaches. A CT was done and we discovered his left sinus cavity was packed. After a very ambitious round of antibotics they have decided to do surgery. I am praying that this will help him sleep better and will also help with his attention. If we don't see a marked improvement in the next few months then medicine it will be. We are already seeing self-image problems due to the ADD and that is what finally got Hubby's attention. This is a new road for us so I would love feedback from those of you have been traveling this way for a while. What can you tell me about the treatments you use and what you have loved and hated about it?
8/31/2010
8/26/2010
Back to School with Sam's Club- WINNER
And the Winner is..............
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:
21
Timestamp: 2010-08-26 18:02:09 UTC
I would buy some groceries in bulk.
hellrzr(at)juno(dot)com
8/18/2010
Socks4Life
I wear socks all the time. We do not have any carpet and I can't stand to have all that dust and junk on my feet so I always wear socks. I don't always wear shoes though so I like my socks to be cushioned and sturdy. I hate to buy a pair of socks that are suppose to fit only to find out that the heal is actually at my ankles and they slip and slide constantly. My husband is actually more picky than I am. He likes over-the-calf socks. It is really hard to find those for him. He says over-the-calf but he actually means up-to-the-knee socks. When I was contacted about review the socks4life site I jumped at the chance and I was not disappointed. They had over-the-calf socks for my husband, cozy socks and cushioned socks for me to try. They also have kids socks and they have a wide range of colors and styles. This time I stuck with things for Hubby and I. We received the socks and I immediately washed them and then we tried them on. Hubby was thrilled with his. They were truly over-the-calf (up-to-the-knee) socks. Here's a picture of him wearing a store bought name brand over-the-calf sock [on left] and also the Socks4Life over-the-calf sock [on right]:
You can clearly see the difference in the length. He wants more.I ordered myself some Excell Women's Semi-Cushion Socks and some Excell Striped Cozy Socks.
I really like mine too. I only took a picture of the Cozy socks:
I really like my cozy socks. They are cushiony, soft and warm. I know it is summer time so warm isn't a big issue right now but it is in the winter so I am really looking forward to having these in the months to come. They are also fun. My kids love me wearing them because I normally just wear white socks so these have become mom's fun socks! So are you convinced yet that Socks4Life has a great product and it's nice and convenient to shop from home. Well if you need a little more persuading here it is. Socks4Life has agreed to give one of my blessed readers a product of their choice. To win just check out the Socks4Life site and come back here and tell me what product you would most like to try. Their site is really easy to navigate too. If you know what type of sock you are looking for scroll to the bottom of the page and they have their items broken down by type. They also accept paypal which was a plus for me!This giveaway will be open until Sept. 3 at 9pm EST. Happy shopping.
From Socks4Life:
Welcome to Socks4Life! We carry only the best brands and models of socks on the market. If you're shopping online for quality socks, we definitely have what you're looking for. We are committed to offering you the finest socks at great prices while providing exceptional customer service.
It's important to us that our customers and potential customers know that they are dealing with a reliable company. That's why we are members of the Indianapolis Better Business Bureau. Please check out our Better Business Bureau credentials by clicking on any of the Better Business Bureau logos located throughout our site.
When you call our customer service team, you deal with real people who care about you and your shopping experience we are ready to help you in any way we can. We recognize our customers have different needs, and we want to help you find the perfect socks from our wide selection of styles and designs.
We stand behind our products and are proud to offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee and hassle free returns. Our free shipping, secure shopping system and privacy policy are testament to our commitment to offering the highest level of customer service. You may call us toll-free at 1-800-559-3314 , and e-mail us any time. We will respond to your email request right away.
Thank you for shopping with us!
Why Buy From Socks4Life
Free Shipping on All Orders Over $50
We pay for standard shipping on all orders over $50 shipped to the United States!
No Sales Tax
Sales tax will only be added to orders being sent to the state of Indiana.
Money Back Guarantee
In the unlikely event that you are not satisfied with the product(s) you purchase from us, you can have the confidence that you can return or exchange the item within 30 days of receipt for a full refund less any shipping charges that were incurred.
Enjoy 100% Secure Shopping
We guarantee that every transaction you make at Socks4Life will be 100% safe. This means you pay nothing if unauthorized charges are made to your card as a result of shopping at our online store.
Customer Service is #1 to us
We are committed to providing you with the best customer experience in the industry. We have served thousands of satisfied customers. You may call us toll-free at 1-800-559-3314, and e-mail us any time. We will respond to your email request right away.
Easy Returns
We are committed to providing you with the best customer experience in the industry, and we want you to be completely satisfied with your purchase. If you are not satisfied with your purchase, we will make arrangements to exchange, replace, or accept your return for a full refund on the original amount of the purchase price less shipping (does not apply to custom orders).
We have an Excellent Business Rating
We are a member in excellent standing with the Better Business Bureau of Indiana. Please be sure to check the local Business rating (of the company you are considering ordering from) before you purchase socks. Please call us if you have any questions or need help with this.
We deliver our orders FAST!
We ship our socks directly from the manufacturer and most orders ship within 24 hours of being placed. Our customers have come to expect fast deliveries and that is just what we do.
Your Privacy Valued
We value and respect the privacy of our customers. We do not sell or rent the information you provide to us online to third parties. However, we do share your information with third parties under certain circumstances, primarily for order fulfillment.
Physical Store Front
We do not have a physical store front, as selling online is a more efficient business model that allows us to offer a much larger selection and better prices than most retail stores.
This review was written for Family Review Network and Socks4Life. I received 3 packs of socks in return for doing the review and was offered a giveaway opportunity. The review is all mine and was not influenced by FRN, Socks4Life or the incentives.
Back to School with Sam's Club
As your family starts to think about the new school year, you may be wondering how you can collect the most Box Tops to help support participating schools in your area. |  |
For an easy solution, head over to your local Sam’s Club from Aug. 11 through Aug. 31 and earn more cash for your school. At the Sam’s Club Back-to-School event, you can get a head start on your collection and find 6 Box Tops on participating General Mills products. With your favorite Box Tops for Education brands at a great value, Sam’s Club is your one-stop destination for all your back-to-school supplies you need to send your kids off to school with confidence! In addition, Sam’s Club is giving you the opportunity to earn even more Box Tops when you upgrade to a “Plus Membership.” From Aug. 6 – Aug. 13, or while supplies last, visit the Member Services Desk of your local Sam’s Club and upon payment for your Plus Membership, you will receive a certificate for 150 Bonus Box Tops! For more information on how you can take advantage of the Back-to-School event at Sam’s Club, visit www.samsclub.com today! I've been a Sam's Club member for years and we love it. They have great deals on books, pens, pencils, binders, clothes and many of your other back to school needs. As a homeschooler I really love them for craft supplies. We also use them to buy quick lunches in the frozen section. They have hot pockets, pizza rolls, enchiladas, philly steak sandwhiches, mini chicken sandwhiches and much more. Most people don't think of food when they think back to school but we do because we like variety but need fast. It is also a great place to find quick and easy lunch ideas for public schoolers. You can get fruit bowls, pudding, chips, snack crackers, small bags of cookies and drinks at really good prices and then you just pop them in the lunch box. With it all prepackaged and easy to grab you may even have time to write you child a quick note letting them know how much you love them, how proud you are of them, and to encourage them. I know most of us have already started back to school but that's ok because now you've had time to know what your child could really use to help them have a successful year. To help you with that Sam's Club wants to give one of my blessed readers a $25 gift card to use towards your childs new school year. Leave me a comment and tell me what you would use your card towards if you are the blessed winner! The giveaway will run until August 24th at 9pm est. Sam's Club and General Mills for providing me with a Sam's Club Plus Membership and $25 gift card for my use and to giveaway, along with the information provided in my post through MyBlogSpark. All opinions on this blog are mine and are not influenced by the free products or the companies providing them. | |
8/13/2010
Shox Scooter
All I can say is WOW! The new Shox Scooter by Shred Sled. The Shred Sled company speacilizes in extreme sports products for kids. This definitely takes scootering to the extreme. We have had several scooters in the past from the three-wheel first scooter version to the regular two wheel aluminum version but this is bar far the best made. The shox absord the hits well. It is easy to fold and store and the handlebars adjust in height for various riders. Youngest's scooter was stolen several months ago so both boys have been sharing one. They are decent on their scooter and ramp but I believe this will take them to a whole new level. Hubby and I were like kids when it arrived. We took it out of the box and the first thing Hubby said was "they know how to make them". He was impressed with how much more sturdy it seemed compared to the other one we have. We both scooted it across the floor to see how smooth it was and raised and let down the handle bars which also seemed a bit easier. I can't say how well the boys did on it as we haven't given it to them yet. With times being as they are, and Hubby's work being touch and go as it was we decided to put this up as a Christmas gift. I know Youngest will love it. We are planning on trying to get oldest the Shred Sled for Christmas also. I am sure we will have lots of videos to share after Christmas morning. Shred Sled and Shox Scooter retail for around $60.00 and can be purchased in stores and online.
Thanks to Shred Sled and Team Mom for this awesome opportunity!
8/02/2010
CoverGirl: Winner's
And the Winners are.............
CONGRATS! You each have 3 days to email me your mailing information or new winners will be chosen.
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:
4
73
Timestamp: 2010-08-02 17:22:38 UTC
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They both looks great but I would go with the Glamorous Look.
- 7/30/10 1:04 PM
CONGRATS! You each have 3 days to email me your mailing information or new winners will be chosen.
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I'd like to try the Glamorous look
shel704 at aol dot com