Whatchamacalit

Homeschooling on a Budget

whatchamacalit — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 16:39:56 +0000

I am trying to decide whether or not I will continue to use Picassa. I am very afraid that my private web albums which do not yet exist, might become public. Anyway I decided to do a Google search on myself and this is what I came up with. I wrote this article many years ago, though I am not sure exactly when and it has literally circulated through the entire USA. I originally sent it to an online homeschooling magazine. I re-read it today and was surprised at how well written it sounded. I felt it was worth sharing again as I did actually write it and it is not really outdated. I now have one child at University of Virginia, one in community college and two girls at home doing their schooling and we are still “Homeschooling on a Budget” (forgive me for not working out the formatting)
Homeschooling on a Budget by Mimi Dempsey
When I decided to homeschool some six or so years ago I figured I would play it safe and buy a
packaged curriculum. As I read more about homeschooling I got the confidence to make up my
own curriculum and as I read more and before I had planned to do “formal schooling” my then
four year old taught herself to read. I realized I already had a curriculum and didn’t know it.
This I believe is one way to save money, by using materials most parents of young children have
around the house already, we save quite a bit. Much of our “curriculum” comes from crayons,
construction paper, glue, scissors, old magazines, playdoh, clay, and the computer to name of few.
The many dollar stores around town are another cheap source of materials. I have found all kinds
of interesting and fun things there. We purchased a large set of durable hard plastic farm and wild
animals that my children have played with for several years. I have also found things like a map of
the US with removable stickers for the state names, educational puzzles, clocks and many other
things.
Perhaps the greatest source by far for my curriculum though is yard sales. People are always
amazed at what I have found there. The trick to getting good stuff is to make time to go regularly.
Over the years I have tried to go out on as many Saturday mornings as I can. You will not go out
on one Saturday morning and find everything you need for a year but if you go regularly it is
possible to get much of your curriculum there.
There are many other ways to save money and get materials either cheap or free. Used book sales,
thrift shops and flea markets are other places to check. I go to my local newspaper and they give us
the ends of their rolls of newsprint which come in very handy for many types of projects. With
creativity there is no end to places or ideas for saving money.
I also believe that I don’t need to have a particular item NOW. I look around for things before I buy
them new and sometimes I decide that I don’t really need or want what it was anyway. Sometimes
someone from your homeschool group might like to get rid of an item that you are interested in.
Ask around before you go out and purchase something brand new. Bartering and trading is also an
option for lessons and classes you might not be able to afford. Co-oping can be a fun way to share
human resources and get together with friends and share expertise.
Lastly my greatest resource by far has been our public library. Use it! I am surprised often by how
little some homeschoolers use their libraries. They have enough materials to make up almost any
program of study. If they don’t have what you want you can request an interlibrary loan. I love
taking my kids weekly to the library on Monday mornings and having almost the whole children’s
section to ourselves.
I cannot put a figure on the exact amount I spend on materials for my four kids but we have great
materials and wonderful homeschool experiences on very little.

Berlin Wall at Newseum during free kids day, we are still homeschooling on the cheap.

My girls and a friend at "check point Charlie"

Who’s an Uncle Tom?

whatchamacalit — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 00:57:37 +0000

I just finished reading Uncle Tom’s Cabin for the second time which is very timely, as this year is the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. Both times I read it to guide a literature discussion group. It is a fantastic and interesting book but one that is very difficult to read due to the brutal and inhumane depictions it portrays. What I find most interesting is the term, “an Uncle Tom” which has come to mean a submissive, push over, black man. The reason I find this interesting is that Uncle Tom has a will of iron.

I recently read a wonderful critical essay on Uncle Tom in my Wordsworth Classic edition by Keith Carabine of Rutherford College, University of Kent at Canterbury. According to Kent, a number of black abolitionists detested Tom’s submissive nature and would have preferred “a hero who would have buried a hoe deep in the master’s skull”. Given the horrific description of Legree it obvious why they would want to put a hoe in his skull. However, if I may be bold enough, I would say they have totally missed the point of the story with Uncle Tom. History also showed us what happened in situations like this with The Nat Turner Rebellion

Tom was anything but a pushover. The point of the story was that Legree try as he might to brutalize Tom, could not break his spirit. Tom never gave up his dignity and nobody could take that away, no matter how they tried. Legree the sadistic master, tried in vane to break Tom but as Tom says to him, “I’ll give ye all the work of my hands, all my time, all my strength; but my soul I won’t give up to mortal man.” This enrages the evil master who discovers that indeed he can kill Tom by degrees, but he can never truly own him. He soul belongs to God alone.

Back to the present. I am wondering why more schools do not read this book which is one of the most popular American books ever written, but then my daughter who spent one year in public school told me it was too controversial. She is right, but why avoid controversy when kids are living the results of this ugly past? She told me that they were not allowed to say the “N” word when they read To Kill a Mockingbird. I understand why but I wonder why the schools were so lack about many other words kids use, the “F” word, or how about the “MF” word? These are less offensive? but I digress. At least they didn’t tried to change the text or re-write the book like they have with The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

While Uncle Tom’s Cabin is fiction, it is American history, at its worst of course, but still a critical chapter to fully understand the present. While it may be easier to read fluff which abounds library shelves, or to avoid the painful past, in the end it is better to know what happened, to discuss it and its ramifications. In this way we can learn from mistakes and to move forward armed with knowledge to change the present and the future for the better.

Do the atrocities of history disappear when we pretend they didn’t happen? Isn’t it better to know what really happened, horrible as it may be, or would we rather read revisionist history? Are we unpatriotic when we admit the faults of our wonderful and amazing country? Does it make us less American? Slavery was horrible and the use of the word nigger was, and is horrible but taking it out of our books does not make the past better. The past is what it is, the present is what we can do something to change. I feel that by reading and hashing over these classic, historically accurate, fictional novels we can get a deep understanding of the many facets of the problem of slavery and the Civil War, now more than ever as the 150th anniversary of the Civil War is commemorated. Harriet Beecher Stowe drove her stake into the heart of America and the world for that matter, and was as Abraham Lincoln said, “the little woman who wrote the book that made this great war!”

World Peace Through Zumba

whatchamacalit — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 23:27:26 +0000

from http://zumbausa.com/index.php

In an effort to do more than plod away on the treadmill or pump away on the elliptical machine at the gym I decided to try a Zumba class. Well, I’m hooked. Who doesn’t love dancing, I mean really dancing? To make it even better I’m using muscles I don’t even have. On top of that I have yet to see anyone show self consciousness which is amazing given the wide variety of folks who attend. I have seen men and women of every age, every body type, all nationalities, all shakin’ it up together.

Ever thinking about the deeper meaning of EVERY single thing that pops into my brain, I began getting very inspired about Zumba. Wouldn’t it be great if the entire world could have a giant Zumba party and dance the night away, or dance the wars away or dance our suffering away, dance our loneliness away. Of course I know this is not going to happen but I can at least dream.

I love the choices of music too. It is world music. They do throw in some Pit Bull and Lil’ Wayne but I’m too busy woo hooing and trying to keep up with the steps to listen to obscene lyrics, and I probably wouldn’t even know what they mean anyway.

Back to the music, it is a primeval desire of humans t0 “move to the groove”. It has been going on since we first walked upright and is not likely to end any time soon. Babies dance and grannies dance. It is a truly liberating feeling to move to a beat even if you are like me and can not keep the correct steps. To do this with a group of people is even better and best of all I can’t hear my teenagers laughing at me because the music is too loud.

What the world needs now is more Zumba. Seriously though, we can all use this kind of exercise which though a fun time, is a real cardio workout. The machine I punch my numbers into at the YMCA says I burn 500 calories for a one hour class. All the classes I have been to are very full, including one class which had to turn people away because of fire codes. Last Saturday the girls and I went to a class that was so into it, that the mirrors were literally steaming up by the end of the class. Today my glasses started fogging up so I just took them off and danced like I could see. I don’t think anyone notices since I always seem to be just behind the entire class. Who cares though I’m having fun and I do think that is the point.

When was the last time you HAD FUN? Do we even do this anymore, fun that is? Another reason I think Zumba is so popular is that it is simply a joyful activity and frankly I think we could all use a bit more joy in our lives. Oh and this is not an ad for Zumba just my reflections. Perhaps I will never get my arms in sinc with my legs but at least now I know when the teaching is holding up two fingers it does not mean peace out and I should not copy her, it means two more in the set.

For more info check out http://www.zumba.com/about/

Pretzel Log Cabin

whatchamacalit — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 22:01:19 +0000

I found it interesting to pay more attention to the blogs I write that get regular traffic and one of my more popular ones was on making an Inuit diorama with my daughter last year. I remember when we started the project we looked online for ideas. I didn’t see many or any photos that I remember so when we finished my daughter had so much fun and did such a good job I took photos and did a little blog. Lo and behold it gets hit several times a week. So… I decided to do another crafty type blog on an adorable craft I did for a class I taught this winter in our lovely log cabin nature center.

Racoon mount, Nature Center

Pocket the corn snake

The photos should be self explanatory but it is a super simple craft. I called my local elementary school and asked them to save me a garbage bag full of used milk cartons. That was the hardest part, it took me well over an hour to wash them out and dry them well. I left the cartons open so they would dry out inside as well. All the kids need to do is cover the carton with icing, I used vanilla and let them spread it on with a popcicle stick. I stay away from plastic stuff if I can. All they do after that is use pretzel sticks to cover the “cabin”. I gave each of them a couple of small tootsie rolls to use as chimneys. If you want to get fancy I suppose you could do more like buy square pretzels for windows. We kept it simple (cheaper) and the kids had a blast.

Pretzel Log Cabin

creatively done by 5 year old

Illegals

whatchamacalit — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 14:18:48 +0000

Are the people we share our borders with our neighbors? Who is my neighbor? When Jesus was asked this question he told the parable of The Good Samaritan. A guy gets beat up and robbed and thrown for dead, instead of his own peeps coming to help him, his worst enemy stops by to help in the most tender and loving way. In other words your neighbor is actually the person you love to hate, you know who that is. Wait a minute though, Jesus didn’t stop there with the simple love your neighbor. He said, anyone can love their neighbor but the real man, or woman will love their enemy.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48

I absolutely can not understand for the life of me how people who call themselves Christians can have such disdain for people who risk their lives to cross the Rio Grande to look for a better life. I actually think about this a lot because I spent several months over a period of time in Central America years ago and befriended some of the most amazing, kind, hard working, loving and horrifically poor people I have ever met in my life. I have heard my own friends say things like, “those people”, “they are out to get us”, “they are taking over”, and “the Mexicans”.

I think if we call ourselves Christians we should live a Christ like existence, even if we usually fall short while trying. I do realize that people of all religions live or don’t live their beliefs in a variety of ways from extreme fundamentalism to extreme liberalism. However, I would hope that in the end all religious people would at least live a compassionate life, one of kindness and generosity. This is naive and I realize that but I will remain hopeful to the end. I understand for problems involving large countries there are no easy solutions but I also realize that as a Christian I am called to love, even to love my enemy, and I will do my best to do that and teach my children so.

Resolutions for a New Year and Teddy

whatchamacalit — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 02:23:00 +0000

I decided to speak less this year and listen more. I am making a real effort to open myself to what the universe has to say with me, through the people I meet, the animals I come in contact with and the nature I visit. I had an epiphany moment recently when I watched a short video my kids took of me visiting the neighborhood fire station. It was embarrassing, not just because I hated the way I sounded but also because I blabbered on at length. Even though I am often bursting with enthusiasm, I’m going to try and share myself by listening to others. I had a great opportunity on New Years Day to practice this new resolution when I met someone who actually speaks a lot more than I do. I just sat back listened, smiled and enjoyed what she had to say and it was fascinating really. I poked in appropriate questions to show I was really listening and interested too so we had a lovely time together. I guess time will tell if I am successful at my goal.

My Christmas present is doing well but still not fully house trained. My dog Teddy is pure love. I am so in love with this furry little dog, despite his need for much training. There is just so much to learn from our dogs. Each day is like a gift to them and they live so beautifully in the present. When Teddy wakes up and I let him out of his crate, it is Christmas, Easter and his birthday all rolled up in one. He is positively joyful, every single day. He is so happy to see me that despite his voracious appetite he will leave his food to have me pet him. He is the cuddliest animal I have ever known and his fur is luscious, beautiful blue meryl, soft and silky. When I go to pet him he first leans against me and then sort of melts on to my foot and then just gives it all up and rolls right over to his back ready for a belly rub.

Though Teddy has learned much since he came to live with us three weeks ago, he still has a way to go. He needs to learn that we are all friendly and will not hurt him, so he needn’t pee submissively. He needs to learn that when we go to pet him we are going to do just that and not strike him. How anyone could possibly throw this gorgeous animal away is beyond me but people do worse to their own children. Teddy was found tossed away in the woods with his puppy siblings, and a blind beagle. One of the pups was run over by a train and is now buried at the rescue where we adopted Teddy. Who knows what kind of treatment Teddy received before he was rescued? He was starved and covered in fleas and ticks and he is still catching up on his weight. Teddy is a work in progress but so are the rest of us and I’m going to be patient and in the meantime I’ve taken the rugs up.

Good luck to the rest of you in your goals for 2011.

A Very Merry Christmas from Our House to Yours.

whatchamacalit — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 02:48:24 +0000

I just spent the last hour trying to create the perfect Christmas card and had nothing but technical difficulties so I just decided to write a Christmas photo blog. So here goes…this year was eventful as is our entire life. Tony and I became foster parents in January which brought our household numbers up to 6 kids and 2 adults. It was crazy but so are we so it all worked out. Our foster daughters went on to greener pastures in a new foster home with their brother in June and we keep in touch. We also endured “snowmageddon” last year. It just never seemed to be done snowing. We cranked up the wood stove, baked cookies, drank tea and gained weight.

Before we knew it spring was springing along and though the ground hog did not see his shadow the snow did eventually melt. Honestly it did seem like the winter and early spring flew by, or maybe we really were just stuck in the house and couldn’t do that much. Anna was finishing up at community college, working as a life guard and applying to University and Mia had decided to follow her older sisters lead and begin at community college in the fall instead of returning to public high school.

In April we had the good fortune to have Tony’s nephew James for a visit due to the fallout from the Volcano blowing ash all around the globe. He was in DC for a conference and got stuck, so he came to stay with us for a few days before traveling on to visit in New York City. It was fun seeing him and having him stay with us.

In June we joined our extended family and had a much needed vacation to our favorite humble but wonderful location, First Landing State Park.

Sadly, Anna did not get to go on vacation with us this year because she did her first archeology field school at Stratford Landing with University of Mary Washington and though she got very dirty, burned and cut she definitely decided this is what she wants to do for a living. I knew giving her that spoon years ago to dig in the back yard was a good idea. Also in May, Anna was accepted to University of Virginia where she has just finished her first semester. She is very excited about studying anthropology and if you’re not careful she will analyze all your behavior and compare you to Cro-Magnon.

dig site from above

Mia went off and became a life guard, opened her first bank account and bounced her first check all in one summer. In August, Mia also became a college student at the ripe old age of 15. She had had enough of public school and decided to give community college a try. She just finished up Drawing 1 and History of Western Civilization. She is still learning how to manage her time but is doing spectacularly well. Mia accompanied me and my good friend in early October to Kiptopeke State Park where we camped and got to see a bird banding as well as all the many birds that funnel through that area at that time of the year. We had a blast.

Mia also dug out a large box of old cameras that belonged to my dad and has a new passion, film photography. Many of the cameras still work and she has gotten some fantastic shots. It is rather expensive but she is earning her own money now so I am delighted she is using them.

Back in August I started a Master Naturalist course which met weekly. It was great fun for me and I learned tons about nature which is very helpful for my job.

It is hard for me to believe Jenna just celebrated her 14th birthday, it just seems like yesterday that she was an itty bitty girl. She is often my companion when I go canoeing or hiking and we’ve had some great times outdoors together.

We were very happy to welcome Tony’s niece Kate and her husband John to our fair city as well. John was in DC on business and Kate joined him and they spent a couple of days with us. We really enjoyed their visit certainly hope they decide to return again someday.

Last but definitely not least Sara who is 11 is full of life and energy at all times. She seems to never stop, except when she falls asleep. Sara got a guitar for her 11th birthday and has learned several songs already. She is happy to be homeschooling again and is diligent about getting her work done each day so she can hang out with her BFF, Rebecca.

In December Tony celebrated his 53rd birthday. I reminded him about the good news that in only two more years he can get a senior discount. He was not amused. We did have a nice party. He continues to slave away unselfishly and make a horrible and ungodly commute day in and out, so the rest of us can enjoy our fantastic life. He is my hero.

I know I surely have missed the most important details as they are the tiny things that happen each day but at least I’ve covered some info to keep anyone who is interested up to date. I hope you all are well and will contact us and come for a visit if you are able.

God bless you all and do have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

Happy 53rd!

whatchamacalit — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 20:01:41 +0000

Dear Tony,

This is a photo tribute for your 53rd birthday. Words of love seem cheap and yet I have always appreciated that you have told me so many times with your words that you love me. I’m sorry if I haven’t said I love you enough but I do love you more than words can describe. If there is such a thing as a soul mate, you are definitely mine. You are my best friend in the world.

One of my greatest blessings is knowing that you love me exactly as I am, not as I should be. You even appreciate my quirkiness and embrace it. Thank you for that. You have been an amazing lover, husband, father and friend to me for over twenty years and I am truly looking forward to the next 20. Here are just a few photos I picked out not in any particular order or importance, from the last five or so years. Happy Birthday!!

always serious

helping Anna set up her room

enduring the biting flies but did manage that cup of tea

Who is having more fun?

great parents make great kids

much practiced at holding babies

A Picture Worth A Thousand Words

whatchamacalit — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 04:01:33 +0000

Tonight I was searching around for the perfect photo to put as a header on my blog. I like to make seasonal changes and I like to use my own photos. It was challenging because it has to be able to fit in a very narrow frame. As I was meandering through the last 40 years in photos, and I am NOT making this up, I was struck with how blessed I am. It was sort of like watching my life go before me, only I wasn’t scared I was going to die. With the birth of each of my children I experienced a surge of love that goes beyond explaining. Here is one of my favorite photos. For me, it captures a very special time in my life when my children were all still little and needed me. It was one of the few where I could manage to get them to wear matching outfits without them rolling their eyes. In fact, this photo was entirely before anyone had rolled theirs eyes in this house and that is exactly my point.

Choices

whatchamacalit — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 02:33:21 +0000

Lately, I’ve been ever so grateful that I pulled my kids back out of school. Our life is so much more peaceful and relaxing now that we follow our own schedule. We had family visiting from Ireland last week and we took three days off. The weather was really nice today so we hiked for over an hour at the reservoir with the dog. We have started book clubs, been to the US Capitol, visited Charlottesville, been camping, and seen Othello at The American Shakespeare Center. This is all in just the first five weeks of being home too. I’ve also noticed that when the kids are able to sleep later they are so much happier. They seem to just be following their natural rhythms.

Originally I didn’t begin this post to talk about my kids though, I have been thinking back on my life as a whole and the many choices and decisions I’ve made. I am profoundly grateful that I have been able to choose the way I live my life. I have lived life intentionally. I traveled and then went to college getting a BS in Education from Temple University, I traveled some more and studied some more and then I married Tony and we settled down in the fair state of Virginia where we had four amazing daughters in just over eight years.

Before my first daughter was born I was teaching school and thought like so many others I would find “good day care” for her. I needed to work, first of all because we needed the income and second of all, I had done all that studying for something and I wanted to teach. After Anna was born one of the most upsetting things I have ever had to do in my life thus far, was leave her with a babysitter when she was only three months old. It is still a painful memory. My co-workers told me I would get used to it. I never did.

I will never forget the day after I gave my notice at work that I took Anna to the playground on a week day morning and pushed her on the swing. It was the absolute most liberating experience of my life apart from giving birth to her. I can honestly say, I was joyful. I had made the decision to leave my cherished career for another cherished career, raising my own children. I remember meeting women who saw me with my young children telling me, “you’re lucky to be able to stay home”. I told them it was a choice I made and that they could make the same choice. I was also poor, this was not an exaggeration, we had barely enough to pay our bills. It was well worth it to me and I will never regret this decision, even though we had to live very simply. I feel very sad for people who feel trapped in their lives, stuck doing things they do not really want to do. Early on, it dawned on me that I wasn’t living for the weekends but living each day for whatever if might bring. Certainly not every thing in my life is a joy, far from it and I do now have a job again out of the home. My job, however, is one that I enjoy enough to make it seem like it is not work at all. To what do I owe this good fortune? Many things but in good part to actually making the choices to make this all possible. I hope each of my daughters will also feel they have choices they can make as well and that each of them will live their lives intentionally too.