The Ozmerican Life

Jentzen loves movies...there's just no other way to say it.  Out of all our kids...he asks the most for movie night, movie morning, movie afternoon, movies, movies, movies.

Friday and Saturday are movie nights...and he knows it.

Last night, Monday night, he asked for some special reading time with me before going to bed.  All the other kids were put to bed and he grabbed a book and crawled into bed with me.  We cuddled as he read his book.  He kissed me and hugged me and told me how much he loves me.  Then in the sweetest little voice...."Mom, could we have special movie time when we wake up?"

Me:  "No Jentzen, it's not movie time tomorrow."

J:  "Well we could just do it special tomorrow."

Me:  "How come you love movies so much?"

J:  "Well because we can learn about God and learn the true things we're supposed to be learning!"

 
He just about caught me with that one....I almost said, "You're right Jentzen!  We'll find a good movie to watch tomorrow!"  Almost, he almost got me!  Was his whole evening of reading, hugging, and loving all in the plan??  Either way, how I held strong to his precious little smile and charm, I'm not sure.  Maybe next time I won't....

I read a lot of articles about homeschooling.  Usually weekly there are blogs, facebook posts, or forwards from other homeschooling moms that cross my desk.  I read most of them.  They help keep me focused on what I'm doing it and why I plan to keep on doing it.  This is one I received last week (thanks Janet).  It does say a lot about why I homeschool. 

“Aren’t you worried you are going to screw up?
That question, or one like it, is often asked of homeschoolers. Some parents find the responsibility of educating their own children so great and so intimidating that they can’t even contemplate it.

My answer to the question is “Yep! You bet I’m worried that I am going to blow it!”
But it’s not concerns over my children’s academics that keep me up at night. It’s that other awesome responsibility that I have. The one that God gave me the moment I became a mother. I’m a parent and that means that God has charged me to disciple my children and cultivate their souls. That’s the part that I’m worried I am going to blow.  And that’s why I homeschool.

My children were 6 and 4 when we began homeschooling almost 10 years ago. They attended preschool and kindergarten at a classical school where I taught. I felt good about the education they were receiving. But I didn’t feel so good about our frenzied lifestyle, so we returned home.
I confess it was a shock. I went from seeing my children very little—a rushed breakfast and an equally frantic dinner time, homework, bath and bed routine—and learning about them by reading notes from teachers to being with them all day long every day. And I discovered something: they were little sinners. They had character flaws and bad patterns of behavior that I had never seen. It was overwhelming, not to mention exhausting. I had to correct, and disciple, and instruct.

That’s when I realized that coming home was God’s gift to me. Being with my children in such an intimate and prolonged way allowed me to see into their hearts in a way that I never did when they were in school. Educating my children at home provided me with many—many—opportunities for discipleship and cultivation.  Opportunities that I would have missed if my children had been with some other teacher all day long.
Now, I am not saying that it is impossible to disciple your children if you don’t homeschool. Not at all. But I do think that the task is more difficult. A parent will have to work harder to find those teachable moments. And no doubt some parents do.

But if I am honest, I don’t think I would have been one of those parents. I was clueless when my kids were in school. They brought home good report cards. Their teachers liked them and praised them. And, frankly, that was good enough for me. I am grateful that it wasn’t good enough for God. He yanked me out of my complacency and put my children’s spiritual needs right in front of my face. Even I couldn’t miss it.

So, for me—and people like me—homeschooling makes us better parents by providing daily opportunities for discipleship. Does that scare me? Absolutely! Do I feel the weight of this awesome responsibility? All the time! Can I alleviate this responsibility by sending my kids to school? No!
A formal education is only one part of a child’s discipleship. Whether or not I put my son on a school bus in the morning does not change my duty as a mother. One day I will have to stand before God and give account. I doubt that He will much interested in SAT scores. And, yeah, that scares me."

Just thought I'd fill in with a few things we've been up to...

Quaid took a spill off his dirt bike 2 days ago.  I was sitting inside playing cards with my awesome sister Nancy.  We heard this high pitched screaming...we couldn't make out if it was fun screaming or angry screaming, or hurt screaming.  Usually a mother knows the cry of her children.  Usually I do.  But I had never heard that sound in the near 8 years Quaid has been my son.  Now I know.  It's a hurt cry.  I looked out the window to see his dirt bike laying on it's side and him limping through the grass.  My first thought, as sad as it is...Oh great....here comes a $10,000 surgery bill!!  Followed by....GOOD!!  He's walking!!!  He's got a few patches of nice greenish purple coloring and some cuts but that's about it.  Oh, and a bent handle bar.  Handle bar vs femur...thankfully the femur won!!

Yesterday morning I had to scrub maple syrup off my kitchen ceiling...Don't ask...I just thought it was worth mentioning.

The kids and I made a paper chain for the days left until we leave for Australia to visit Nathan's family...we're not leaving until Feb 3rd...it's a LONG chain :)  But oh so fun. 


I have a serious farmers tan from mowing lawn yesterday.  It crossed my mind that I might want to roll my T-shirt sleeves up...but then I thought...It's only May 2nd...am I really going to get a sunburn May 2nd??  Yes...yes I did.

I learned that 3 year olds don't have the slightest bit of concern about sitting and playing in a sandbox with no undies on.  Me on the other hand...I think I had enough concern for the both of us.

I feel for my little Jentzen.  Ava had a sleepover at her cousins house, Quaid had a sleepover at his cousins house.  Poor Jentzen...his closest boy cousin is 5 years on either side.  Total bummer.  Anyone have a 5 year old boy cousin I can borrow?? 

I'm going out of town for the weekend.  I wonder who will miss me the most...I'm going to go with Ava.  I don't think Daddy understands her female need to be constantly talking to someone all day...especially when it's asking question after question that she already knows the answer to just for the sake of talking.

I'm sure there's more, but I'm going to end right there...just for the sake of not writing, just to write :)




Dont forget.. I cut my hair when you were away....

...I don't want to forget:

Keira: "Mom?  Can I play my puter game?"

Me:  "No, you don't have a computer game."

Keira:  "Mom?  Can I do my spelling test?"

She's a wise one.  She knows the kids do their spelling online.  She's seen them use "school" as a way to get on the net.  (Remember the movie, "The Net" with Sandra Bullock?  I do.  Just sayin'.)

Jentzen: "Keira!  We're going to be best buddies for 39 days, Okay?" (I wonder what will happen on day 40.)

Ava:  "Keira, don't hit your head on the floor too hard...you'll get a headache."  (She's such a mother.)

Quaid has experienced a pulled muscle for the first time this morning...

Q: "Mom, is there something on my back?"

Me:  "No, it's a sore muscle...you can't see it."

Q:  "Uggghhh, it really hurts when I do this..." (bending and twisting in a way I'm not sure that my 30 year old body even bends anymore)

Me:  "Well then don't do that."  (It's the same logic when we say, "This really stinks...smell it!)

I've been told lately by my beautiful children...

 "I wish I was the mom and you were the kid."

"You're not very good at taking care of your kids."

"You're the best mom ever!"

"Eeeewww, that dinner smells like butt."

"I love you so much, mom."

"It's you.  You're the problem."

"I love doing school with you."

"School is the worst ever!  You shouldn't make us do it!"

"I wish you were going to work today."

"Thanks, Mom."

I wonder what today will bring!!  I hope more of a few of those and a little less of the others :)

I love....

...that I'd rather be home than at work, even though going to work is way easier.

...the fact that we have tickets booked to see my Aussie family...even though it's 10 months away it just feels closer with a ticket with my name on it.

...my homemade Apple Crisp, I think it's better than any other kinds I've tried.

...being a hero to my kids because I can kick start their dirt bikes.

...that my kids like to dirt bike for hours on end, so I get to watch them through the window from a dead silent house.

...living in the field next to my parents.

...watching Hallmark Movies.

...that Quaid is becoming a little man and how his relationship with his Daddy is growing.

...Ava's thoughtfulness to others.

...Jentzen's passion for life.

...Keira's need to still cuddle with me.

...Nathan...plain and simple, I love him.

Today's post is following the lead of my beautiful cousin Brittany.  She is Nathan's cousin who painfully lives all the way in Australia.  Oh how I wish she was closer!!! 

In the Pahl family there's always some debate on extended relationships.  Would that be just Nathan's cousin or would that be my cousin too?  Should I refer to her as Nathan's cousin or my cousin?  If I say my cousin will others think she is on my side of the family?  I came to the conclusion, I don't really care.  I love her dearly and she's MY cousin :)

On her blog, she posts a "10 Things I Learnt This Week" every so often.  It's a great way to get an idea of what's been going on in her life in a brief, but informative way.  Yes, they say "learnt" down under, along with tyre, rubbish, mate, and other words you probably would frown upon.  Don't hate them for it, they actually think their English is superior to ours so it's not even worth a debate.  I've tried.

So here goes my list...10 Things I Learnt This Week:

1.  Going to work is truly a day off for me.
2.  While an almost 8 year old can do a great job washing dishes...greasy, buttery popcorn bowls should probably be given a second look before being placed back in the drawer
3.  I do love the coming of warm weather...it's refreshing...except it grows weeds.
4.  The Samoa cookie.....say no more.
5.  One on One is truly the best way to form new relationships.
6.  Nieces, nephews, and cousins are relationships worth giving a lot to.
7.  A nice looking workout clothes outfit looks better than a frilly designer one.
8.  God's financial plan for us is bigger than my neat little calculated spreadsheets.
9.  The old classic movies are worth a watch, that's why they're "classic."
10.  I should have been born in the horse and wagon days.

What have you learnt this week???