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Tag, You're It! I Want to Know...


Tristan from Our Busy Homeschool tagged me with a fun blog activity (Thanks Tristan!). There are 8 questions for me to answer, and then I will tag 5 people to answer 8 questions I think up. Here I go!
  1. What is one food or meal you love to eat that your family does not enjoy, so you don’t make it often? Chinese food! No one in my family enjoys it... in fact, my husband once sat a different table than me when I ate it in the airport because he can't stand the smell. Weird, huh?
  2. Tell me one thing you swore you would never do when you were a parent, but since having children of your own you have actually done. I said I would always have a clean car and never ever let my children have snacks in the car. Think again!
  3. What character issue is God working on in your life right now? Trust.
  4. What is your favorite household chore? How about your least favorite chore? My favorite chore is dusting and vacuuming. I actually like to see things get clean. My least favorite is cleaning out closets and organizing drawers.
  5. As a homeschool mom, what is one area you feel you do well in, and one area you struggle with? I think I do very well coming up with creative and fun activities for my children. I really struggle with follow-up - and sticking to a regular schedule.
  6. Would you rather eat health food or exercise regularly? I would really rather exercise, but sadly, as I approach 40, I think both are necessary for me to feel good and keep the weight off.
  7. What is one thing you love about your husband, and one thing that drives you bonkers? I love my husband because he supports me unconditionally. He is always my number one cheerleader and puts up with a lot of my quirks. It does drive me crazy that he won't try Chinese food (see #1 - ha!) and that he keeps a very rigid schedule and gets pretty flustered if you disturb it.
  8. When your kids all leave the nest what is one job you would like to try in all your free time? I wouldn't mind expanding my piano teaching business or even going back to teaching elementary school music. Even though I homeschool my own children, I loved teaching music in the public schools.

My eight questions for those I’m tagging, with my own answers in parenthesis, are:

  1. If you could have a whole day just to yourself, what would you do? (I would go the pool and lay around and read my book - maybe get a pedicure and massage, too!)
  2. What is one "guilty pleasure" you have? (I love to watch The Young and The Restless and Mad Men - they are both fairly mindless television shows, but they are soooo good!)
  3. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? (I wish I was a more patient person with my children. I'm working on it, but it's very difficult for me.)
  4. What is your favorite music? (Even though I was a music major in college and LOVE classical music, I have to say that I like John Mayer and some other contemporary artists just as well!)
  5. Who do you admire most in this world? (I admire my mother - she is a caring person who give so much of herself for others... and I happen to think she was a great mom, too.)
  6. What is your favorite subject to teach in homeschool? (I love history because of all the great literature it involves.)
  7. When is the last time you cried? (I cried last Thursday as we welcomed friends home from China with their newly adopted little boy.)
  8. Who is the last person you hugged? (my son - I was gone this morning and he gave me a huge hug when I came home!)

Now I get to tag five other people and give them a list of eight questions to answer.

Jessica, at Teachable Moments

Melissa, at The Joys of Home Educating

Bethany, at Confessions of an Organized Homeschool Mom

Amy, at The Mantooth Family Story

Jessica, at Homeschooling in Heels

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Supermom? Not really.


When I first contemplated homeschooling I remember my mother (who knows me very very well!) telling me to be sure I took enough time for myself, because I would be unhappy if I didn't. You see, I had a few years of having both children in school and was used to coming and going as I pleased. I love to bargain shop, and would check TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Michael's , and a host of other stores regularly. I also thrived on volunteering and was very involved with our church and both of my children's schools. I had a Supermom cape and wore it regularly (with pride). I did it all... or so I thought.

Since I have been homeschooling my life has changed a lot. I have struggled with the change. It really hit me when my children and I were having lunch with a dear friend. She's a friend from my "old" life who has come right into my new life with ease. We were talking about children's clothes and she said something about going to Gymboree. I said , "Where's a Gymboree around HERE?" (the closest one I know of is 45 minutes away) She laughed and told me there was one in a shopping center about 10 minutes from our house! It has been there for several months. How did I miss this?

I know how I missed it. I've been homeschooling - A LOT. I just don't go out shopping anymore, and to tell you the truth I don't really miss it. My bank account doesn't miss it, either.

Change is hard, isn't it? I heard a song yesterday on a local Christian radio station that said "There's a storm brewing inside me and I know it's meant for good". That's me. I've had a storm brewing inside me for the past year and slowly I feel changes taking place for good. My family is happier, my daughter is actually a child again, and our whole outlook on life is so much more grateful. Oh, I don't volunteer as much now (well, really I volunteer for my OWN family!) and I certainly don't know where all the good sales are - but in the scope of eternity does that really matter? What matters are the seeds I'm planting in my own home that will last through generations.

Today I'm taking a "personal" day of sorts. I have an excellent babysitter coming and will go to a dentist appointment, hair appointment, and yes.... shopping a little bit. But guess what? I never do this and I'm also leaving lesson plans! (really, I am.) I also have really been looking forward to today - in the past this would have been any normal day for me. When I get home I will teach piano lessons and afterwards meet good friends to address invitations for a baby shower we are hostessing. So, the old Mary isn't gone, she just has had to make room for the new homeschooling Mary - and I think that's the more of the person God wants me to be.

This post is linked to the Hip Homeschool Hop... check out other mom's posts today!

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