Raising Young Kids IS Homeschooling

I had a realization the other day on the treadmill as I was reflecting on my morning with the kids. I realized that I have been homeschooling my kids since they were born! And that raising little children IS homeschooling!

Think about it. Home...schooling. In those first years, every day is a learning experience. Most parents haven't planned a lesson for that day. If they are like me (or, at least how I was before I decided on homeschooling), they wake up, get kids dressed, feed kids, care for kids (which equals diapers, or potty training), play, work, then it is clean up, and repeat in reverse order for bedtime.
Parenthood, right?

But if we look at it a bit closer and dissect that day, it looks just like homeschool. Before I jump into a snapshot of what the homeschool looks like, I do want to note the obvious--until kids are mentally alert and actually learning and observing around them, the "schooling" as a parent is more like caretaking. And these are the precious months, when snuggles and kisses fill the days. Enjoy those, and please don't plan, "How will I help Sissie learn to hold her head up today?" She will figure it out on her own. =)

So, let's jump ahead to when babies become toddlers and are aware and curious about the world around them.

Wake Up
Parents are teaching: Time (You see this clock? That is a 7. Please stay in your room until this little hand is on this 7! Please!), Small and Large Motor Functions (Making bed, brushing teeth, combing hair, how to hold all 5 stuffed animals in their arms as they climb the stairs)

Get Dressed

Parents are teaching: Vocabulary (All day long really, but here are a few--pants, shirt, underwear/panties, socks, overalls, etc.), Small and Large Motor Functions (putting pants on, shirt on, washing face, etc.), Character Traits (patience, perseverance, honesty, calmness, etc.)

Feed Kids
When the day gets rolling, this is where the real teaching begins. As parents are feeding kids, they are teaching: Math (measuring, counting, comparing, sorting, symmetry), Small and Large Motor Functions (putting dishes away, wiping off table), Discipline (following routines)

Care for Kids
When kids are in diapers, parents are teaching: Responsibility (as my 2 year old approaches potty training, he wets his bed because he's taking his diaper off in the middle of the night. This is a big theme in my house right now), Cleanliness (Keep your body clean and let Mama clean you!),

Potty training CAN be fun!

When kids are potty training, parents are teaching: Self-Awareness (as the experienced parent knows, potty training is a process and kids must learn to be aware of their body's needs), Perseverance (try and try again!), Ownership (Whose poo is this? Yes, I know it was you!), "Potty" Skills (I'm a girl, and thank heavens for my husband, because there are skills that boys need to learn that I never would have taught them. Think, cheerio target practice. Ditto for girls.)

And then there are all the menial parts of the day that make for great learning opportunities--laundry, folding, cleaning, bathing, dishes, etc.

In our family, we lick the bowl!

Play
Playtime is actually real life learning time, in action. One of the biggest epiphanies I had was that even when I wasn't actively playing with my kids and they were watching shows, I was still carefully crafting their education! Daniel Tiger, Leapfrog, Justin Time, Little Einsteins--these shows were teaching my kids Reading, History, Social Skills, Problems, Music Theory & Recognition! Kids are taught: Social Skills (sharing, taking turns, compromising, following rules, order, friendship),  Problem Solving (Argh! That block tower just fell down again!), Language and Literacy Skills (conversation with friends, siblings and parents, practicing sounds, words and phrases), Small and Large Motor Functions (building, clapping, drumming, rocking baby, painting, drawing), Decision Making (do I play with the doll with the pink dress, or the doll with the blue dress???). And Much More.

Work
Toddlers learn mainly by play, but simple chores are a good way to teach additional skills: Order (putting toys away, clothes in hamper, stuffed animals on bed), Honesty (Did you do it? Let's check!), Routine (Never underestimate the value of routine. Kids like to know what is expected and so do parents! It creates a daily rhythm that is good for everyone!).

Ah, so clean. Hopefully for longer than it took to clean it!

Clean Up
Cleaning up is a vital skill that creates calm and peace in the children, parents and in the home. Children learn both Pride in doing a good job, as well as Responsibility for what they have created. They also learn what it feels like to have a good growing, living and learning environment.

Bedtime
Putting kids to bed is one of those things that are enjoyable, but often more enjoyable as I reflect on them after the kids are asleep. Kids are taught: Literacy (sounds, words, storylines, etc.), Morals (what happens when the boy continues to cry wolf?), Everything about the world! Books, nursery rhymes, and songs teach anything and everything under the sun. You can emphasize lessons that your children may need to learn, like how to express anger appropriately, colors and letters and numbers, the solar system, why the sky is blue, how to deal with a sad day. A little plug--read good books to your children! And...done.

This is a short list of things that kids learn from parents in a day, but I realized in this moment of inspiration that home schooling is nothing more than a continuation of these parenting things I've been doing now for almost 5 years. Yes, the skills get more complicated, but that means they get more fun to teach, too! I jump for joy these days when my boys and I have an actual conversation about telling time, or proper cooking technique (rather than "can I taste it yet?")! Parenting is fun, and I believe homeschooling will be just as fun! Now, I just need to finish my grieving process of never putting my kids on that school bus, and I'll be good to go!...=)

6 ways to stretch while doing housework

Many days now, I can make it to the gym while the kids play in the childcare and I can get a good 20-40 minute workout in. But I hardly ever fit in stretching, because my mommy instincts kick in and I can hardly stand to leave the kids any longer. I had the brilliant idea, hey, I bet I could stretch my sore body while doing housework! But scour Pinterest and Google as I might, I just couldn't find a good source for doing it. Here is my own compilation of good stretching while doing housework:

1. Up from table, down from table: I find myself barely sitting down at mealtimes. Stand up to get a pitcher from the fridge, sit down to cut a child's dinner. Stand up to get a towel to wipe up spilled water, squat down to wipe up the spill. And on. These up-down moments are good times to do one of the following three stretches:

• Picking something up: Bend over and touch toes 
• Squatting to pick something up: Squat stretch, lengthens pelvic muscles 

2. Playing with kids: A large part of a mother's day is playing with kids. My most effective playtimes with kids is when I get off the couch (usually not prego for this) and I sit on the floor. An extra perk is that I can fit in a little stretch as I play! Do one of these the next time you're on the floor with your kids!

• Seated Trunk Twist: Stretch your legs out and twist to one side, then the other as you look to see Junior's new creation or to keep an eye on the toddler. 

3. In the shower, as you hurriedly get clean, take an extra second after shampooing your hair to stretch your arms. Doing this quick stretch, 20 seconds max, will help stretch your shoulders.

4. Surf It (Yoga while you Vaccuum): As you vaccuum, build greater balance and leg strength while stretching your hamstrings and producing a clean carpet. 

Courtesy of http://calidiet.com/yoga-while-you-do-housework-absolutely/

5. Another relaxing stretch, yet great for your hamstrings as well: Legs up the wall. This is great for a time out (maybe for Mommy, if you need it, or for sitting alongside a naughty child who needs some attention even while sitting in the corner):

  

6. Stretch hamstrings while smiling at baby, picking up a pile of toys, or wiping a spot off the (endlessly) dirty kitchen floor.

Motherhood is full of bending, twisting and turning. Make stretching a priority and you will feel better as you get down with the kids and as you clean the house!

Entitled Parenting

A common point of conversation these days is this new generation of entitled children. If you're new to this idea,  it is that kids today feel they deserve the things that their parents had to earn when they were young,  like toys,  apparel,  games,  an education. 

I'm wondering lately if our society is now beyond that point.  If maybe,  those entitled kids are now the parents.

I see behaviors in my own parenting that make me question my reasoning for what I do.  For example,  when I need to go to the gym for my exercise and sanity in the morning,  I find myself telling my kids (as I shuffle them off to childcare) that I need "ME" time so that Mommy can be happy, which means kids can then be happy,  too. Although emotional and mental health are definitely important for me as a mother,  it is easy to cross the line from taking care of yourself to insulting in selfish parenting.

I appreciated the thoughts shared by Natasha in Christian Mom Thoughts,  who broke it down into 8 ways we can be less selfish parents:

1. Be willing to waste time.
2. Get over your pet peeves.
3. Treat your kids differently.
4. Be protective of your time with the kids.
5. Eliminate selfish rules.
6. Embrace the mundane with a servant's  heart.
7. Stop avoiding the activities that turn into discipline sessions.
8. Master empathy.

I know that as I work on these areas,  I will be a better mom and that I will enjoy parenting way more!