Journal ~ Homeschooling, NOT Spanking

Hello Sisters!

I am alive and well, despite me not blogging in over a month!

I have been consumed with hsing and parenting, and have made drastic changes. I never thought I'd use curriculum, but I have been using Oak Meadow with a few of my children and we ALL absolutely LOVE it!

In a nutshell, OM is not curriculum where you read a bunch of info. and then answer a bunch of questions. OM, causes children to think. The assignments cause the child to research, or simply finish a story how "they think it should be ended," or "pretend you were in that group of children, would you do that, or would you stand for truth, why or why not?" So, I am praying and planning on how to use OM with multiple children, which seems to pose a challenge just because of the fact the children cannot go to an answer book and mark off "wrong" or "right." Mom needs be highly involved, but not in planning, only in listening and feedback.

Another change is that I am not spanking. Why? Because most of the time I had spanked I was at least a little angry. I don't want to be angry at all, for me, any anger is just not acceptable.

Today we were at the neighbors who were having a party. There were some boys hitting and my son came over to ask me to punish them. I told him I couldn't because they are not mine. In front of all the kids and parents he yelled, "mean Mom!" and stormed away. Then he ignored me when I called! All eyes were on me. I glanced up to see about 18 eyeballs glancing from me, to my son, to the sky and back again to me.

My first thought was, I don't care what others think of me.

I finally persuaded him come to me. We then sat in the grass together, and talked for almost 10 minutes. After only a few minutes he was willingly in my lap stroking my arm. When he got up, not only was he noticeably happy, he kissed me! All the parents saw that! :) I felt like I had done something more than just spank him, and we came up with a plan to avoid naughty boys and what to do if they still persist. All this through talking, it is rather quite nice. :)

I am doing a lot of praising and thanking my children for the little things they do throughout the day such as doing their school work promptly, their chores, helping their siblings with kindness, etc... I have also been laying hands on their shoulders or head and praying for them...that carries much weight in the spiritual realm.


Do I think spanking is wrong, no. It's just not an option for me at this time in my life.

I started my period today a year and a half since Sophia Rose was born, wow, that's a long time, huh?

My hubby and son just got home, the rest of the children are asleep, so I guess I will go have some tea, dark chocolate and read with hubby.

Blessings,
Shannon