tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172853506818312518.comments2023-07-26T08:40:59.073-05:00Archibald ArchivesBetsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17890777544148622190noreply@blogger.comBlogger267125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172853506818312518.post-70644750299643691152013-09-13T20:21:07.761-05:002013-09-13T20:21:07.761-05:00We pray year for direction.
After twenty years of...We pray year for direction.<br /><br />After twenty years of homeschooling and still with grade schoolers we felt called to send the youngest two to Catholic school. <br /><br />It is a cultural adjustment but we feel encouraged by the daily Mass and strong faith we see here, too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172853506818312518.post-26968304405560918212013-09-03T22:21:22.682-05:002013-09-03T22:21:22.682-05:00This is my answer to needy children interrupting &...This is my answer to needy children interrupting "important" stuff. Invite them in. When I advise nursing mothers with the second child, I say, tell the older sibling that you will need some help with the nursing and she may need to be right by your side for awhile. The child will oblige for a bit and then want to be on their own. So, too here. Ask the little ones to begin their schooling tomorrow as well. Nothing prepared, just simple things: coloring, looking at story books, or perhaps even listening to big brother's lessons. <br /><br />And btw this is not "child psychology" wherein your actual goal is to get them to do the opposite. You want them to know that they ARE invited and can participate. They will demand less with this knowledge.<br /><br />Pediatrician and HS dad of 7.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172853506818312518.post-13970100898143936012013-09-03T20:28:50.651-05:002013-09-03T20:28:50.651-05:00Betsy,
Hang in there! This is our 3rd year homesc...Betsy,<br />Hang in there! This is our 3rd year homeschooling and I just plan for four students when I do my planning (They all have their own special needs :-). I make sure our space is toddler friendly, put out activities for the little ones and spend some time doing school activities with all the kids. (We say prayer, pledge, sing some songs and read about a saint together) & I make school things for everyone. Miriam (5) is just beginning Kindergarten this year but in reality she's been doing school work with William(7) for 3 years and is more than ready. Some tips for working with the littles is to work a bit with them first - read a story or teach as letter or whatever works & then have activities that are only for during school time (play dough, a water table or any of various busy bag ideas). Make sure to put the things away when not doing school. Also I tell my kids that when those frequent drop everything interruptions (the baby needs a nap, or diaper or whatever) come they can play until I get back, or this year I'm planning some quiet time activities they can do as well. I don't plan times for things to be done but I do plan an order and we generally do things in that order but are really flexible. Hang in there it Does get easier!!! You'll just adjust to this new challenge just as the many challenges of parenthood and know learning happens in many different ways! I love homeschooling and my kids do too but it is definitely challenging :-) The Lawson Crewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05240761444919115038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172853506818312518.post-50686360365101414222013-09-03T18:35:13.719-05:002013-09-03T18:35:13.719-05:00Take a deep breath- this too shall pass! Somedays ...Take a deep breath- this too shall pass! Somedays are just like that, it is ok, I promise it will still be wonderful. The girls need time get used to you spending time with Iain doing school. They see you spending time with him at the table (or wherever you are schooling) and what to see, touch and be a part of what you are doing. Try to involve them, give them paper and markers and ask them to make some letters or numbers- they will most likely get bored within the first couple of times you give them work and go and play. School time will become a natural part of your day and most days (NOT ALL) you will get it done with less interruptions. Everyone will get a lot out of what you do with the oldest child and you will be so blessed. Do not compare what you think children do in school with what you do at home- it is not the same- you have multiple ages and they will learn from each other. Homeschooling is wonderful, hard and challenging- worth it all.Michelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05319378398139535406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172853506818312518.post-156017405628949352013-02-01T22:10:48.754-06:002013-02-01T22:10:48.754-06:00I'm sold. :)I'm sold. :)<br />Chris Staufferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10986440829667372024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172853506818312518.post-27075836436480004332012-10-09T14:25:09.104-05:002012-10-09T14:25:09.104-05:00My "kitchen shears" are $1 Aco scissors....My "kitchen shears" are $1 Aco scissors. Great to have around, but not awesome. Now I want some awesome ones if I can cut everything food-wise with them (I'll keep the $1 ones for all the random plant/animal/random cutting). <br /><br />Hmmm favorite gadget... hard to say. Probably my sharp knives. I love them. And even my wretched steak knives that I use all the time. Yeah... knives... can't live without them. Reeniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12201424754292125307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172853506818312518.post-1053422062536710262012-06-12T16:38:31.102-05:002012-06-12T16:38:31.102-05:00Wonderful post!Wonderful post!Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04301347941279888504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172853506818312518.post-1980842351132190632012-06-12T07:39:41.007-05:002012-06-12T07:39:41.007-05:00If you want to explain your problem more, I might ...If you want to explain your problem more, I might be able to help :) Just getting the pictures from your computer onto a post on blogger?<br /><br />For what it's worth, I host all my blog pictures (or pictures for forums or whatnot) on <a href="http://imgur.com/" rel="nofollow">imgur</a>. When I find pictures I want to use, I drag them into a temp folder. Then I upload to imgur and delete the temp folder. From there, I can use them on any site.<br /><br />Didn't know you had a blog :)jwhendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03615608336736450543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172853506818312518.post-31168858683370346042012-02-19T08:19:41.528-06:002012-02-19T08:19:41.528-06:00Happy birthday Iain! You are one precious boy. I j...Happy birthday Iain! You are one precious boy. I just love seeing your mind at work as you play with trains. God bless you, and family too!Johanna Fentonhttp://jofenton.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172853506818312518.post-70750599696415631012012-01-14T21:38:54.791-06:002012-01-14T21:38:54.791-06:00Betsy, I love you :) Thanks for the quick takes. Y...Betsy, I love you :) Thanks for the quick takes. You always make me smile. Good luck with Bosnia... We have continuing hostilities all over our house, and it's nice to know we're not alone :)the observerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14268028262884484631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172853506818312518.post-6522854036312846802012-01-13T15:48:50.779-06:002012-01-13T15:48:50.779-06:00No water is no fun. I've never had to go very ...No water is no fun. I've never had to go very long with a water shut off, although we had a flood almost two years ago that necessitated the city all conserving water for a month thereafter and even that was a hard lesson in how much we use water for and how little we think about it. I hope it is back on for you by now.Jordanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08597512952805238754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172853506818312518.post-31289288161899512392011-12-23T13:09:37.622-06:002011-12-23T13:09:37.622-06:00Betsy - If you are looking for the *best* Christma...Betsy - If you are looking for the *best* Christmas Light display in the Twin Cities the honor must belong to my neighbor across the street from us. Please drive by sometime btw 5p -10p. Unreal. You'll thank me later.<br /><br />RyanRyan O'Harahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14184126991564168153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172853506818312518.post-32765616734203636722011-12-23T10:37:58.791-06:002011-12-23T10:37:58.791-06:00Thank you for taking out the trash for me! I am b...Thank you for taking out the trash for me! I am blessed.Mark Archibaldhttp://www.spoweb.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172853506818312518.post-57262890903569242562011-12-21T18:57:53.434-06:002011-12-21T18:57:53.434-06:00Betsy, you really should keep writing often! It&#...Betsy, you really should keep writing often! It's nice to know what's going on with you and your family:) To answer your question, we would have a simple, consistent bedtime routine and then, well, we did promise a spanking if they got out of bed after that. But that was only at the very beginning of being transferred from the crib. After that, they were convinced that getting out was not an option, and they just never did. For cleaning up, we've tried lots of things over the years, and they still don't really want to do it! But, making it fun seems to work the best...we've counted to 100 as well (and now they really know their numbers), we've had each of them pick up a certain number of toys, we've put a bowl of candy on the table and said every time they pick up 10 things they can have piece, we've set a timer to see how many things they can pick up before it goes off, we've made a chart and every time they pick up a certain amount they can make a mark by their name...but have we punished if they haven't cleaned up? For awhile we had a bin that we tossed things in if they weren't picked up in a timely manner (they had to pay or do a good deed to get them out), we've had them pick up someone else's things as well as theirs if they were being slow or grumpy, we too have had them sit on the steps if they couldn't clean up happily. Well, that's alot...but we'd do each thing for a period of time, until it got old and uninspiring, and then we'd switch. And now, we rotate through a different one every day, it seems...:)Hannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08155397671949446834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172853506818312518.post-23286457916840770102011-12-20T21:58:01.925-06:002011-12-20T21:58:01.925-06:00Oh & counting always seemed to help with clean...Oh & counting always seemed to help with clean up. If I said okay clean up before I get to 100 & counted out loud they would move & even now I frequently set timers for the big kids. Not sure why it works but for my kids it does :) Racing games help with laundry too. They race to see if they can put it away faster than I can fold it!Anna Rayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05736660300483730909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172853506818312518.post-75857009657327509492011-12-20T21:50:05.601-06:002011-12-20T21:50:05.601-06:00Honestly for the staying in bed, when they are lit...Honestly for the staying in bed, when they are little I stayed with them until they fell asleep, & when bigger we do things like 1 get out of bed pass or if you stay in bed 10 minutes then mom will come cuddle for 10 minutes. Often they r asleep before I come back. For picking up I usually try to make sure they are not tired or just overwhelmed by the amount, but when they are just being lazy for little kids I say you can do it yourself or mom will help you do it & then take their hand in mine & with their hand pick up item after item with them. Usually desire for autonomy kicks in for the 2-3 year old & they do it themselves. For older kids the items are confiscated & they only earn them back by showing responsible cleaning for a set amount of time. This really keeps the amount if toys down & you discover which ones your kids actually care about. Hope that helps :)Anna Rayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05736660300483730909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172853506818312518.post-65917873933771140722011-12-20T21:23:52.092-06:002011-12-20T21:23:52.092-06:00Loved reading your ramblings. My second child neve...Loved reading your ramblings. My second child never responded to any negative consequence. It drove me crazy. I had to put a ton of energy into thinking of positive rewards to help mold him. It was exhausting. My other son was easily guided by negative consequences. Making them sit on the steps worked better than other spots in the house because they could still see what was going on. I would put favorite toys away on top of the refrigerator and I had one other trick but I'll have to tell you that one in person. Merry Christmas!Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17200430378616492290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172853506818312518.post-50953140923919955312011-12-17T13:46:15.133-06:002011-12-17T13:46:15.133-06:00If it's legal to call something "favorite...If it's legal to call something "favorite" when one hasn't actually ever made it...but I intend to!(& it can be non-dairy with coconut milk) http://wellnessmama.com/3064/healthy-chocolate-truffles-well-mostly/Heidihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12838475541503491436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172853506818312518.post-23621104404053645352011-12-17T11:50:38.120-06:002011-12-17T11:50:38.120-06:00What more could you want?What more could you want?Mark Archibaldhttp://www.spoweb.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172853506818312518.post-38901331041030246982011-12-16T14:29:31.930-06:002011-12-16T14:29:31.930-06:00My Dear, there wouldn't be anything left. It w...My Dear, there wouldn't be anything left. It would be brandy, butter, sugar and raisins/dates (not that sounds so bad, come to think of it).Betsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17890777544148622190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172853506818312518.post-12662814741648936432011-12-16T14:25:03.268-06:002011-12-16T14:25:03.268-06:00How about flour-less Archibald fruit cake? Or flo...How about flour-less Archibald fruit cake? Or flour-less Archibald sticky toffee pudding??? Mmmmmm...Mark Archibaldhttp://www.spoweb.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172853506818312518.post-42503885474544374202011-12-12T07:08:08.643-06:002011-12-12T07:08:08.643-06:00We live 1/2 a block away but we were late for near...We live 1/2 a block away but we were late for nearly a year straight. We finally clued into this and this year has been a lot better. Maybe it's just that the baby is nearly two. Actually, I'm sure that's it. Babies change all. I want to seethis lovely hat!Alexishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06954534617276979985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172853506818312518.post-23915661773862458682011-12-11T16:34:19.389-06:002011-12-11T16:34:19.389-06:00I'm so blessed to have a handy wife so I didn&...I'm so blessed to have a handy wife so I didn't have to fix up the house on my own! Thank you!Mark Archibaldnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172853506818312518.post-77531059231147041572011-11-13T14:19:43.015-06:002011-11-13T14:19:43.015-06:00Looks like a great new hobby!! I've considered...Looks like a great new hobby!! I've considered doing the same thing... except I don't have a bag for my mower... so I never tried it. But now I know... all I need is a bag :)Reeniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12201424754292125307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172853506818312518.post-14459314569956515782011-11-03T13:22:25.471-05:002011-11-03T13:22:25.471-05:00Betsy, This is not the best place to post this bu...Betsy, This is not the best place to post this but you don't have any contact info on your blog or profile. So this is what you get!<br /><br />Thank you for the Prison Break recommendation. That and Mad Men are on the top of my list.<br /><br />Also, I LOVE the movie Braveheart and so we honeymooned there so I could stand in certain places and quote dialogue. We are similar, you and I.<br /><br />Lastly, Come to the Behold Conference so I can meet you! (And, you know, so you can have a beautiful weekend away being inspired, praying, celebrating...)Bonniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01805401564651493025noreply@blogger.com