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Weekly Wrap up – Week #35
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If you like the idea of a weekly wrap up, then join in over at
This week I kept a journal record of daily learnings. Lots of other things happened in the home – like personal devotions, exercise and family time that I didn’t record but I simply wanted to see what was and wasn’t happening during the training/focus times of our day. Though we had a lot of other things happen last week I was happy with the overall balance of our week.
I like looking back over a day, or over a week and assessing how things go. But it needs to go one step further – we need to evaluate what was achieved (and maybe what wasn’t) and assess how things could be improved in the next day. If we don’t learn from today then we won’t grow.
Homemaking:
Since we are working on the character trait of Diligence this month it bodes well for the housework – it is such a hands on character trait! We worked on finishing the job – that not only means getting it done but putting away all the tools as well.
Our biggest project is rearranging our bookshelves. With the arrival of 4 flat-packed bookcases (it was very exciting) we got to, emptied old bookcases, built the new and started stacking. We are only ½ way through this process.
I am trying to spend ½ hour every second day preparing raw food so I reduce my nibbles on processed food. Last week I made several batches of raw bread/crackers, a chocolate mousse and cookies (which ended up not being that nice as the macadamia nuts had turned!)
Training our Children:
We have recently decided that the younger two need to spend more time with me – this has come about that as the older ones become responsible I tend to duck into town leaving all the kids at home. Though this seems to work, there is some underlying concerns (mainly their relationship with each other at these times) so the younger two either come with me, or have very clear instructions of what to do, and where to do it. This has been working. I have been refreshed in the wonder of how much you can speak into your child’s life when they are simply driving into town with you.
I set the goal to teach Joshua to iron a business shirt (he irons everything else) but this didn’t happen. He also needs to learn and be accomplished at tying a tie. Both these will have to happen next week.
I have been promising Nomi a lesson in fur bear making for a few weeks now – it finally happened this week! She is busy stitching a tiny 5” fur bear. She never starts with easy projects!!
I’ve started to be prepared when we sit down at the dinner table with a specific conversation starter. This may cover a character issue, a current affair and world view issue, or something from our studies – there is really no limit to what we can discuss but I find when I go to the table armed with a specific idea we have better conversation than if I just say – we are going to have good conversation!
Joshua is working hard at disciplining himself to study when his siblings appear to be having it easy. This comes about because 1) he is older and 2) he has a different path to learning than the others do. It is good practice for when he is at University and he’ll have to make wise decisions on what social time he takes.
At the concert on Sunday I kept my children with me, even though they weren’t always that interested in the music. I sat there wondering why I did that:
- Teaches them to give themselves to family interests. I was thinking how nice it is for Pete to be able to sit through a movie that he isn’t particularly interested in just because he wants to be with me. I believe learning to give yourself to family interests will be a good groundwork for being able to do this in a marriage.
- I believe that family relationships are to be the primary relationships and our children need to understand that their contentment can come with being with the family. It concerns me when children have to have friends (of their own age) in order to enjoy any outing or activity.
We need to know why we make certain decisions as a parent.
That is so right about your parenting issues. My kids often want friends to be around whether we are at home or camping. We live where there aren't that many kids around, so when we are somewhere else they get preoccupied with the kids and playing… I'm still working at finding a balance in this.
I saw you had this post up, so I went ahead and put it into the Mr. Linky. If you go there, I don't want you to be too surprised to find your name already listed!
Have a great week.
Carol
I like the training you are doing with each one of your kids. I will have to pray about doing that at my house. Have a blessed week,
Antoinette
Hi Belinda,
I love the "intentionality" you bring to evaluating your days! It is all too easy to just let the days go on, even though they look and feel like good days on the surface, sometimes we need to take a closer look at the fruit of our labors…do we see "good fruit" being born of the work we are doing?
As the kids get older, I agree with you that it is SO important to focus on our relationship with them. I am very careful with my 15 (almost 16) y.o. in the area of peers and how much time he spends with them…and these are all homeschooling kids with Christian parents! But that does NOT mean that the kids are all walking with the Lord. I see too many parents making that wrong assumption, and the behavior of these teens is beginning to change. Getting out on some kind of special trip…whether it is a full-fledged vacation, or just tent camping in the backyard for 2 days if there is no money to travel…on a regular basis to "separate" from the peer-pack, and to re-connect with each other as a family is such a great way to keep that bond strong and above the other bonds they can form at this time in their lives. It is exciting…but we do need to be diligent to maintain a standard, and it sounds like you are doing it well!
I've enjoyed stopping by here, and look forward to reading more from you!
God Bless,
Lori (aka Plans4You)
I love what you said about connecting with your children while driving. We've had many heart to heart chats in the van! I think it's the private feel of the inside of a vehicle that starts the tongues going!
Betty