This second half of this year of reading felt ... strange ... to me. For the first time in ten years, I had very little pre-reading to do. This meant that I could choose books. I know it sounds amazing, but I floundered at first. All that choice paralyzed me.In addition to this, we had some big life changes, including my husband's new job, which threw off my schedule. I had to find a new normal, including a new normal for reading. I feel like I'm finally there, but I also feel like this Continue Reading
The Official 2018 Afterthoughts Read Aloud List
It's that time again! I love to read book lists and I love to share book lists, and I know you are just the same. We finished 22 titles this year -- we're in the middle of a few books that I'll list at the end. Those will also appear on next year's list.As I share these books, keep in mind that my four children range in age from 10 to 16. These are wonderful read aloud titles, but that doesn't mean they'd all be appropriate for younger kids. Remember this if you're using this list to get Continue Reading
Restful Homeschooling? Just Add Joy.
nce I finally kicked that terrible cold or flu I had, I woke up to find myself terribly behind on all sorts of things. I didn't have much energy, but what I did have was quickly expended doing the things I hadn't done for weeks, plus the things I was supposed to be doing at the time. After two weeks of that, I'm relatively caught up, and oh so weary.This type of weariness doesn't require illness. It can be caused by a bad week, a busy week, or the normal trials of life. No matter the cause, Continue Reading
How Masterly Inactivity Protects Sibling Relationships
hapter 8 of Your Teenager is Not Crazy starts off with a story of two teenage sisters. The father is driving the girls to school when the older, Jocelyn, realizes she's forgotten her clarinet. The younger, Jasmine, is immediately enraged: Are you kidding me? You always do this. Now we're going to be late. I can't believe this! Let's pause right there.What did we just learn? Two things:"You always do this." Assuming this isn't a falsehood said in anger, older sister Jocelyn has a Continue Reading