Let's Hear it For the Boys - Swim Lessons

Let’s Hear it For the Boys is your chance to link up any post you’ve written on the topic of boys.

-Photos of your crew
-Something amazing he did!
-A tip or trick you’ve learned about raising boys
-Something fun you did that your boys loved
-A craft boys loved
-Something inspirational that grabs our hearts
-Something funny (we all need to laugh!)
-Or anything else you have to say about raising boys!
Tell us all about it on Thursdays in the MOB Society’s link-up…


Please leave a link back to the MOB Society so other boy moms can find them too!


As much as I complain about it, I must admit that I live in one of the most amazing cities in the world. There are so many opportunities available if you are willing to hunt for them. One such opportunity fell into my lap a few weeks back when a friend mentioned signing her daughter up for some free swim lessons being offered at the public pools. It was based on a lottery but I went ahead and signed up ChocolateChip and then I waited. I didn't hear anything back until a week before (2 weeks ago now) so I assumed that he hadn't been chosen, but when the email landed in my inbox I was ecstatic!

ChocolateChip had only had one experience with a pool before his swim lessons and that was at the beginning of this summer. We went to a public pool with my friend (same one who told me about the lessons), her husband and their daughter who happened to have been born on the same day as my little man. Her daughter was like a fish! ChocolateChip took about 30 minutes to even get in the water and then was not exactly willing to frolic and play (though he did eventually try blowing bubbles, much to my joy.)

All of this leads me to today. Today was the fourth and last swim lesson and he did awesome! At the previous three lessons we had to discuss not screaming even when we are upset (crying is ok but no yelling), we had little experience with the pool noodles and just forget about laying on his back. Today's lesson was different though. He chose the color pool noodle that he wanted, he did all of the activities, he sang along with the other kids, and he even tried to jump off of edge and into my arms for two of the songs! I couldn't have been prouder. Have we completely overcome his fear? Not yet, but we are definitely moving in the right direction.

That's all for now. Until next time, hug your boys a little tighter!

-Mel

Something New and Exciting!

We are basing our first year of homeschooling on the ABC Jesus Loves Me 2 Year Curriculum.  As we go through the year, I'm sure we'll add our own stuff or change some of the stuff around as it works best for us.  Each week, I'll post a quick "at a glance" of what I'm scheduled to teach E that week.  Feel free to offer up suggestions for how to teach him some of these things as part of our everyday lives. 

Week at a Glance:

Theme: God Made the World Around Me
Lesson: Day, Night, Water, Sky
Scripture: Gen 1
Bible Story: Day 1 & 2
Poem: Pat a Cake
Memory Verse: Gen 1:1
Song: This Little Light of Mine
Color: Red
Alphabet: A - G
Book of the Week: Llama Llama Red Pajama
Number: 1
Shape: Circle (Do a Shape Walk)
Information: First Name
Self-Care & Manners: Sitting Quietly
Fine Motor Skill: Color on a Vertical Surface
Gross Motor Skill: Play "Put the Fire Out"

Until next time!

-Mel

Getting Real

My family is caught in an unexpected crossroad.  Baby #2 will be here VERY soon and no matter how hard we try to wrap our heads around them, our finances aren't in order.  I'm embarrassed to have to apply at the local McDonald's, not because I'm not willing to work there, but because I don't want them to call my former employer.  What an extreme difference.  I can't go back to my old job because they can't afford my position anymore, plus, let's be totally honest, I wasn't the best employee ever, even when they could.  I probably won't get hired for a similar type of position since I'm 6 months pregnant.  So what are my options?!  Trying to figure out how to make money from home, but drawing a blank.  I feel so overwhelmed.

Time to head to the "Good Book".  Off to read my bible and hand these issues over to the Lord.

Thanks for hearing me out.



Until next time!

-Mel

Little Man Love

Let’s Hear it For the Boys is your chance to link up any post you’ve written on the topic of boys.

-Photos of your crew
-Something amazing he did!
-A tip or trick you’ve learned about raising boys
-Something fun you did that your boys loved
-A craft boys loved
-Something inspirational that grabs our hearts
-Something funny (we all need to laugh!)
-Or anything else you have to say about raising boys!
Tell us all about it on Thursdays in the MOB Society’s link-up…


Please leave a link back to the MOB Society so other boy moms can find them too!


One of our local libraries has Arts and Crafts on Thursday afternoons. We happened to be in there when the librarian announced it. ChocolateChip was the youngest kid in there, but he sure seemed to enjoy it anyhow! *Notice how his workspace was getting progressively more paint as he worked!

As I watched him and listened to the handful of other parents who were there (most kids were on there own) I realized for the first time that I am already "homeschooling/unschooling" without any binders or lesson plans or assessment tools. It was a great realization to come too. I can finally let go of my uprightness about educating him "correctly" and just continue educating him correctly!!

What are your boys up to today?

Happily Painting

Painting the paint container

More paint on the container a few minutes after realizing that the paint on his hand could make a cool print!

Back to the box

Pretending to be sleeping after walking around and finding these in a corner

Stacking Away

Art Project? What art project?!

Until next time!

-Mel