homeschool

Tip: Don't research homeschooling curriculum at midnight.

in which we're having a slumber party

So my first tip from the trench is this:

Have a disignated room (when possible) for birthday slumber parties.
(This also aids in decorating for a color theme. It's mostly purple here, in case that was hard to tell.)

Seriously. My in-laws lived with us for a while, and when they moved out, hubby and I moved into their old room, and repurposed our old room (which also housed the bathroom) as a schoolroom (for homeschooling my 8yo)/playroom/den/slumber party room. Whereas homeschooling hasn't found its purpose there as much I'd like so far (due to it not being ready, and a lack of curriculum), the slumber party idea is going mahvelously.

My newly-eight-years-matured daughter only has two little friends here, so it's not as loud as it might be, but honestly, with them having their own room, I'm anticipating a relatively quiet evening. I'm not joking. I'm at my computer with a cup of coffee, my 13yo is in the kitchen doing her homework, the pizzas are cycling through the oven, and there's an episode of Psych on.

So far I'm not regretting my decision. But a lot of people have said they're praying for me tonight, so I believe that has a lot to do with it.

And - maybe most importantly - it will keep your 13yo from complaining all night about being "stuck with 8 year olds," when she couldn't find a friend's house to sleep over.

faith in the trenches

Welcome to faith in the trenches (sister blog of better is a little).

I started this blog wanting to connect with other moms who, quite frankly, might be losing their minds. And I mean, on some days, certifiably psychotic.

Like you, I'm in the trenches. I have an almost-14 year old girl. I have a just-turned 8 year old girl. I have a relatively new 5 year old boy. I have an almost 2 1/2-year old boy.

And I have a delicious hubby of almost 7 blessed years.

We are a blended family. We split a house with my parents. Hubby commutes an hour to work. We just-this-year bought our first car that was actually OURS. I don't personally know what the "average family" has or is or does, but for the most part I feel like it's not us. And in a weird way, I feel like that does make us normal.

The real normal. The normal that we all feel, but are afraid to speak, because it makes us too:

imperfect. wrong. ignorant. dumb. forgetful. short-tempered. mean-spirited. jealous. disorganized. lazy. messy. behind. frustrated. self-centered. like-a-failure.

Well...welcome to the blog of a real mom. I go through most of those self-condemnations on a daily basis. And not O.N.E. of them is from God. God my Father - who loves me; God the Son - who's walked where I've walked; God the Holy Spirit - left here to comfort/guide/speak for me, even me.

I don't have all the answers. In fact, I feel I have very few. But God loves me, and is growing me over a long (l.o.n.g.) process. When I come across a new idea, insight, encouragement, nugget of wisdom straight from the Throne, I want to pass it on to you.

We're supposed to do this journey together. I canNOT do this momma-hood alone. Care to flounder with me while we're in the trenches?