Mom and Wife, The Crazy Life

My Real Life

**SOME MAY FIND THIS POST OFENSIVE*** (HOWEVER, I MAKE NO APOLOGIES)
Being in a house of a males, I realize that things an average female thinks is disgusting is actually pretty funny to tbe opposite sex. There’s always talk about gas, someone’s body odor, someone breath and of course BODY PARTS! In my house, it doesn’t matter what context you use the word “balls,” it’s pretty much a gut buster. I know that one of my boys will burst into uncontrollable laughter. That word alone in any conversation about anything can turn everything around. It’s actually funny seeing people trying to defend themselves by saying “no, I didn’t mean it like that.” Well, we know you didn’t but that doesn’t stop them from laughing.
Just last week my second oldest son decided that he was going to take two bouncy balls to school. He felt that it was a brilliant idea to bounce while others were playing around. What ended up happening? You have children running around trying to catch the bouncy balls. Meanwhile, my son is running around yelling, “don’t touch my balls, don’t touch my balls!” Even I couldn’t contain myself. It really feels like everyday is a new episode of this crazy life filled with boys!!!

Gabrielle Union’s Skin Secrets

Hurt vs Injury (repost)

HURT-VS-INJURED

My husband has shared many stories with me of him growing up playing different sports. He had a coach that would ask the players whenever they seem hurt “are you hurt or are you injured?” If you’re hurt you can bounce back, shake it off and go back out there and play. If you are injured, you will sit out indefinitely. Have you ever watched a sporting event like basketball or football and a player gets hurt on a play? Sometimes the player may even have to be carried off into the locker room. They go back in the locker room to get checked by a professional trainer who can then determine if they are “HURT” or “INJURED.” If they are hurt they may run back to join their team. When they’re injured, they do not return. If they are injured, they seek additional medical attention immediately.
How many of us have allowed people in our lives to cause injury? Injury to the point where we can’t shake off the hurt and pain they caused? We have all had our share of hurt and pain but don’t allow hurt to injure you indefinitely. Going back to a sports team: when a player is injured, the whole entire team suffers. Especially if the injured player is very effective. When you live an “injured life,” everyone around you suffers. You take yourself out of a happy fulfilling life into a life a depression.
I encourage you to never let your hurt feelings turn into injuries and take you away from the life you destined to live. When you’re hurt, seek God immediately so that he can heal you and send you back out on the field to be victorious. You are a winner!
#liveonpurpose

Bitterness

Bitterness robs you of the joy-filled life you were destined to have. Wake up with a “despite of” attitude and live victoriously. Despite the negative words spoken to you, you are more than conqueror. Despite the limitations you were given, you dream big. Despite your past, your present day and future will not be destroyed.
Don’t carry bitterness with you. Bitter adults raise bitter children and the cycle continues. Let go of it now. Its too heavy to carry.
#peace #joy #goodafternoon
#determined #depositwithme #whywait #Goodmorning #dreambig2015 #2015 #newyear #letitgo #moveforward #churchgirlzwithcurlz #inspiredlife #inspiration #inspirational
@textgramofficial #textgram

Do you really need a break from your children?

Let me first start by saying that this post will ruffle a few feathers. Well, it’s my opinion and everyone is entitled to one.
I recently had a conversation with a woman who is about 20 years older than myself. Our conversation was about the importance of unity and structure in families. We talked about how powerful the dinner table can be. I can tell you this, never under estimate the power ofmeal times together as a family unit. It’s where you can stay connected.

At least once a week I see posts on social media about teen runaways, some children are not even teens yet. What has happened to our families? Why can’t parents and children communicate? I believe I have a reason.
No one has TIME!
It’s starts when children are young. The weekend comes and we ship them off to Grandma’s house, a neighbor, a friend or they stay with a babysitter. Is there anything wrong with that? Not at all as long as your child gets more of your time than the streets, the club and your friends. Let’s think about how much time a parent working a full time job from 9 to 5 can actually spend with their child during the week.
Typical day, child has to be at school by 8am and parent to work by 9am. Family up at 6:30am and out the door by 7:30am. That’s ONE HOUR! Child out of school by 3pm but parent not off until 5pm. Child gets picked up from after – school program or babysitter by 6pm. Back at home by 6:30pm and bedtime is set at 9pm. That’s THREE HOURS in the evening!! A TOTAL OF FOUR HOURS A DAY OUT OF TWENTY FOUR HOURS! You do it all over again Monday through Friday. Some children are even involved in extracurricular activities in the evening and do not get home until 7/8pm. Some parents have to work later than expected. There are different factors that take us away from home. However, I’m still confused as to how some parents still need a break every weekend.
In my opinion, your break from your children is when you clock in at work. On the flip side, if you were a stay at home parent, there is no clocking in and out. Your bathroom breaks and lunchtime don’t belong to you. When you go to work outside of the home, you are actually able to clock out. If you spend 9 hours at work each day and 4 a day with your child, how do you need a break from your child? Your child doesn’t need you to ship them off to someone else every weekend. They need quality time with you. They need conversation, guidance, structure and stability. When we get off work, the last thing our children need to hear is “whew, I need a break from these kids.” Maybe you need a break from your job or the people you associate with. Maybe your job and people are causing stress and therefore, you taking it out on your children. Maybe…it’s just a thought! How many times have you left work frustrated, mad or exhausted? I know I have. The last thing you want to hear is your child asking you one thousand questions or rambling on and on about who won playing tag at recess! That’s when it slips out, “I need a break from these kids.” Think about what just happened…
Reality is this, our children need to know and understand that we love them and want them around. If we’re in constant need of a break, we need to check other elements.
If we’re putting in 40+ hours a week at our job but only 20+ hours with our child….do we really need a break from our children?

Returning to my Natural Roots

Returning to my Natural Roots.

Why we chose to homeschool

Kindal graduates from Kindergarten

I get asked “why do you homeschool” quite often. My answer is the same, it was best for my children to be taken out of the public school system. Do I know when they will return to public school? No. However, whatever decision my husband and I make it will be what’s best for our boys. Each child learns differently and has different interest. One thing is consistent in my house, THEY LOVE SPORTS.
My oldest son: loves to read and will pick up anything to read, is great in math but hates it, doesn’t like writing, loves science especially the solar system facts.
My second oldest: doesn’t like reading at all, likes math more than any other subject and is good at it
My third son: pretty “laid back,” is good in math, will only enjoy reading on super heros.
The homeschool plan: turn any and everything into a learning experience. Shopping trips become critical thinking and math problems. Swimming, Basketball and Football with Dad and your brothers in the middle of the day is your gym class! Where else would your written assignment be “write a paper on the NBA All-Star weekend?” Since they don’t like writing they’re able to writie about what they love. With that, it becomes fun to them. Learning is everywhere and that’s what makes homeschooling fun.
The reason why people give this blank stare when you mention homeschool is because they don’t understand it. People assume that your children doesn’t know how to socialize, has behavior issues and/or learning disabilities. This maybe true for some but doesn’t effect the majority of home schooled children. My two oldest sons were identified Gifted and talented at an early age. By the time our oldest son went to Kindergarten he was reading chapter books, knew all 50 states and their capitals, (location and surrounding states) was working on multiplication, had given oral presentations to my husband and I on the composition papers he had written. With that being said, what was kindergarten going to give him? Social skills? I guess but what else? He had friends. He knew how to socialize. Our decision was simple, HALF DAY KINDERGARTEN ONLY!! We made the same decision for our second oldest the following year.
Some school systems are designed to close the achievement gap by holding the “advanced” student back while others “catch up.” Well, I don’t believe that at all. Why not continue working on advancing all group of children. Even as an adult there is a learning gap on our jobs. Susan doesn’t work like Sarah and that is ok. However, if they have the same job responsibilities it should be completed at the end of the day. Same applies in school. There are standards for each level. If a child has met those standards, by all means allow them to keep advancing. Why hold them back because of others? I understand life isn’t fair but that is wrong.
My children participated in the Gifted and Talented program as early as kindergartener. They didn’t have to wait until second grade which was the district policy. I was thankful for that. However, even with that program it wasn’t enough. They needed something all day long. Even their G & T teacher wanted to do more with her program. She cried at conferences because her hands were tied. She saw how excited her students were and wanted to pour into them. Her fear was that they would lose the excitement to learn. Sad to say, she was let go. Those are the teachers all children need. Teachers who are passionate and want to keep the learning fire burning in these young people. Children need them now. Not in a few years. The foundation is being laid right now so there is a sense of urgency.