Thoughtworthy: Technical Difficulties, Christmas Books, and More!

:: 1 ::

Oh my word. I have had a week this week, people. Technical issues have plagued me, the worst being that when I opened a podcast episode file to edit it, it was completely corrupted — unsalvageable. I am so disappointed. I try to take technical difficulties in stride because I know they come with the territory, but sometimes I feel like they make me so inefficient and I’ve done nothing but spin my wheels. And I was already inefficient this week, having stayed up way too late for the election results! Sigh.

Speaking of elections, do you have any election-related traditions? My friend had her children color in a blank map with the red and blue. I wish I had thought to do that! Well, for the younger children at least. I can only imagine E-Age-Fourteen’s face if I was to suggest he color a map. Ha!

This was the first year any of our children were up late for it; it was a change of dynamic for us. Our tradition is to stay up and eat homemade pizzookies. We managed to subtly pull it off in spite of the gluten-free and sugar-free children (they disappeared for half and hour or so and we took advantage of their absence!). The children slowly put themselves to bed as the night went on. Only Q-Age-Nine made it to the early morning hours when we watched Trump’s acceptance speech.

:: 2 ::

We are now four for four on Understood Betsy. My grandfather asked O-Age-Eight what his favorite subject in school was, and he surprised me by answering, “It’s this book called Understood Betsy.” My jaw dropped, because he’d often acted like he was less than enthused about it. Naturally, I was thrilled. This book is special, I think, in terms of its place in the curriculum. While it serves as a bit of historical fiction for the children, it’s also very instructive for the mothers. I still remember the first time I read it — there were new ideas for me as a mother and as a teacher on almost every page. I had new thoughts about raising children, teaching children, and so on. It was brilliant! Second grade is a time when, more often than not, the mother is still reading the child’s lessons aloud, making this book powerful as an assigned part of the curriculum.

:: 3 ::

Tomorrow we are doing our seasonal clothing switch. Wish me luck! I didn’t have time to do it before my trip to North Carolina, and then last weekend my children all had Things to Do and were unavailable for fittings. So tomorrow it is. I have a feeling I’ll end up needing to buy quite a lot of clothing for these fast-growing babes of mine. My oldest is creeping up on me. I am going to have to start wearing stilettos pretty soon if I want to remain taller than him. This will make my daily life somewhat awkward. Maybe platforms would be better? Hmmm…

:: 4 ::

Obviously, it’s time for stocking up on Christmas books. I finally purchased The Best Christmas Pageant Ever! I was so excited when I ran across a pristine paperback for less than three dollars. This is the year we’ll finally read it aloud! In addition, have you seen Penguin’s beautiful Christmas series? Be still my heart!

• A Merry Christmas • The Nutcracker • Christmas at Thompson Hall • The Night Before Christmas • The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus • A Christmas Carol •

These hardbacks make me swoon!

:: 5 ::

This month in 2014:

This post is still one of my favorites because I had so much fun putting it together. It’s basically a wishlist that can be sent to friends and family who don’t get the significance of what you’re doing with your days and weeks.

:: 6 ::

This week’s links collection:

• A TALE OF TWO MARXISMS from First Things
  • “[T]he latest election is not a crisis in the democratic process but merely the extension, perhaps the end-term, of a longstanding process whereby style has triumphed and made substance irrelevant.”
  • To this article, I will only add that combating the vacuousness starts with us, and it starts at home.
• SIMPLIFYING CHILDHOOD MAY PROTECT AGAINST MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES from Raised Good
  • We keep things fairly simple around here, but if you’re feeling the pressure to diversify your planned activities, read this first.
• Forget Everything You Know About the Teenage Brain from The Rebelution
  • This is an old one, but I sent it to my teen’s Kindle and I thought you might enjoy it, too.
• The Limits of Reason by TM Moore
  • This one is a recommendation from my husband.

:: 7 ::

Answering your questions:

• Question: This is my first year with AmblesideOnline. I have two girls 7 & 9. We are doing year 2 & 3. I’m having a heck of a time figuring out how the day will go. I don’t see much in that year that can be combined unless I’m just not understanding. I really love the thought of this,but don’t know how to schedule my days/weeks. Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.
  • Answer: Hello, and welcome to AO! Before I give you any advice at all, I want to make sure you know about the free AmblesideOnline Help Forum. There are SO many wise ladies there, and they will brainstorm with you if you ask this question there. I mention this because there is wisdom in a multitude of counselors. With that said, here are the things that can always be combined in the early years of AO:
    • Artist/picture study
    • Composer study
    • Hymns
    • Folk Songs

    And here are things I think you can combine easily:

    • Bible — just choose one child’s Bible schedule and read it together
    • Church history — since they are both starting AO at the same time, there is no reason you can’t just read Trial and Triumph every other week or so and do it together
    • Parables from Nature — use the younger child’s schedule and read them together, skipping whatever is assigned from that book for the older child
    • Shakespeare — do it like I suggested with Parables from Nature

    There are probably other things, but this is what comes to mind off the top of my head.

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