You know, sometimes this blog gig is really impersonal. And too much about me.
I've told you before that I am just a normal girl . . . because I am. Sure, I can crank out some cute printables here and there, but I'm not wonder woman. And my superpower is not cleaning the house or patience (especially when I'm cranking out the aforementioned printables. Ahem.).
I was just out on my (little-bit-scary) back porch, putting some clothes in the dryer and pondering such things as, "Do other women have a system for their laundry?" As in a real bona fide system? As in one that actually works?
I start thinking some more. And I decide I want to ask my readers some questions. I'd love to hear from you; please feel free to answer {one or more of these questions} in a comment!
1. Laundry Systems. Do they exist? Do you have one? How's that workin' out for ya?
2. Do you go to co-op? Have you taught a class? What?
3. Cursive Writing? My son is 10, and we haven't crossed that bridge yet. Yay or nay?
4. Read any good books lately {other than children's literature}? What?
5. Cheap, easy, and healthy meals — Got 'em? Please share 'em!
6. My youngest son loves to destroy things. What do I do with him? How can I channel this into something constructive?
7. Homeschooling favorites? Tell me all about them. Please.
8. Pinterest? What's the best Pinterest project you've completed?
9. Going on vacation this summer? Where? Any free family fun ideas?
10. How did you find my blog? An inquiring mind wants to know.
Do you have any top ten lists? Check out Top Ten Tuesday hosted by Angie of My Little Blessings.
What is the foreign thing you speak of…laundry system?? Is tossing it in a HUGE pile and putting a blanket over it a good system?? š
And I found your blog by accident in a google search…one of MANY….when I was lost and scared and desperately trying to figure out this whole homeschool thang….
Your site is a complete blessing and sorry, but you are my favorite super hero…..
Keep up the great work. I have recommended your site to so many now that I have lost count.
#1) don’t have one yet, but it’s on my “to-do list” and it’s been there since I first made a “to-do” list
#2) No, but we’re just starting our Home School Adventure, so maybe in the future.
#3) My 10-year-old was writing in cursive at public school (because they didn’t give her a choice). Since we have brought her home, she has asked if she can go back to printing because she thinks her handwriting is awful and she wants to start back at the beginning. I said that was fine.
#4) No, but I would really love to… I love to read, just don’t have much time.
#5) I’m always looking for those, too.
#6) My brother was like that. My dad would buy things at garage sales, give them to him and say, “Go ahead and take it apart, but I want you to try to put it back together afterwards.” My brother learned to only take apart the things my dad gave especially to take apart, and he learned to figure out how to get it back together. He’s a construction engineer now.
#7) Don’t have any, yet. Still working on them.
#8) Pepperoni Pizza Monkey Bread… Or the lantern made from a water jug and a head lamp (so glad I had seen that earlier in the day the last time the lights went out)
#9) What’s “vacation”?
#10) I think I found your blog through a blog hop link… However I found it, I’ve really been blessed by it.
1. Laundry system: One load a day – Monday is colors, Tuesday is sheets (alternate weeks between my sheets and kid sheets), Wednesday towels, Thursday colors, Friday whites
I start the load in the morning when we wake up, switch it sometime during the morning and then fold it during our afternoon quiet time. Laundry isn’t something I really mind doing, but I like having the schedule so I don’t have to think about what to do next.
2. No
3. Still deciding, but I think yay. At least enough to be able to read cursive.
4. The Tale of Hill Top Farm by Susan Wittig Albert. Historical fiction about the life of Beatrix Potter š
5. I’m hoping someone will post some ideas! Crockpot meals are usually easy š
6. My 5yo also tends to be destructive sometimes. We’re currently living in Mexico, so we have a zillion water bottles. He has been collecting the empty ones in his room and if he gets frustrated or just bored he will go in there and fight with them. So I guess you just have to find something they can destroy that doesn’t matter š
7. Salsa Spanish, even my 2.5 loves it and is learning some Spanish! Also, Progressive Phonics, FIAR, and RightStart Math
8. I’m afraid to get on Pintrest because I might never get off!
9. We’re going to visit my grandparents at their cabin near Yellowstone Park.
10. Found your blog through your Homeschool Share site. We tried a lapbook and loved it so now we are doing FIAR. Thank you for sharing all your hardwork!!
I don’t have an answer to all these questions or time to monitor all the responses here – will you be posting a compilation of the best answers?
1 – no and no
2 – no – my children are too young yet my oldest will be k-age this fall.
3 – tough call – almost think the time is better spent learning how to type these days, but there is something to be said about a handwritten note in cursive – says a lot about you if you take the time to do that – will the post office be around to deliver it?
4 – no – read Charlie and the Chocolate factory for the first time at age 37
5 – Anything on the grill
6 – send him outside
7 – http://www.funnix.com
8 – You mean we are actually supposed to DO those things?
9 – No, we just moved into a new house with a pool – recovering from that at home
10 – Can’t remember specifically – i’m quite sure it was a link from a different blog (lapbooking). But I have you bookmarked now!
1. My system is simple, and perhaps not ideal, but it works for me. I have 2 hampers in my hall, one white and one dark brown. Each member of the family sorts their laundry and puts it in the appropriate hamper as they take it off (lights in white hamper, darks in brown hamper). We teach each child to do this when they’re old enough to get dressed themselves. Each morning I start a load of lights, and bring up the clean and dry clothes from yesterday to fold. Partway through the morning (at the same time everyday so that my schedule reminds me) I switch the load to the dryer and put on a dark load. I switch that over later in the morning (or early afternoon – I try to do it at the same time everyday so I’m reminded.) I leave the clothes in the dryer until the next morning when I collect all the dry clothes and fold them in the morning, and put them away. This works for me only because I a) try not to buy clothes that wrinkle a lot and b) I don’t mind a few wrinkles when they happen. Also, I try to do a washing of lights and one of darks almost everyday, even if I don’t have a full load so that I will not have more than a full load the next day.
2) Nope.
3) Don’t know. My kids are all too young for it, so I’ll have to see when we get there.
4) I have great plans to read on vacation (see #9). Not sure what yet.
5) Chicken fajitas. Marinate chicken with lime juice, salsa, small amounts of cumin and red pepper flakes. Fry it and add more salsa, lime juice and a bit more cumin. Remove and keep warm and stir fry onions, green and red peppers all julienned. Put some of each mixture in a tortilla with cheese and sour cream, maybe some guacamole.
6) I like Chellie’s answer. I also had a brother like this and my parents did something similar. The other thing they did was allow him to try to fix appliances, etc. that were broken before they were thrown out. Sometimes he could, other times not. Can’t say he uses any of his knowledge in this area for his job, but he sure is handy to have around š
7) I plan to start FIAR with my oldest this year, but I know you already appreciate this one. š
8) Mostly recipes. I’ve started devoting Sunday meals to trying a new recipe. Many I would make again.
9) My parents are looking after out kids for a week while my husband and I go to Prince Edward Island to have some couple time.
10) I found your blog from HomeschoolShare.