New School Year, New Approach

Sierra at recess today.

So today marks the first day my daughter attends 6th grade with K12's Ohio Virtual Academy. This is her second year with them. Last year she came in late, in September, and we were constantly feeling like we were behind. I also had problems with my daughter goofing off behind my back.

Wyatt loves playing at the park.

This year I vowed to not repeat last years mistakes. So we've made a couple changes. First of all, coming in at the beginning of the year is a huge help. I know that if we get our five hours (minimum) done each day we are on track. Today we logged ten hours just because she had completed a few things before the actual school year began that I could not credit till the first day. 

I also blocked all other websites besides educational ones using a program called K9 Web Protection. She needs my password (which she does not know) before she can go to other websites. Less goofing off means we are done earlier in the day, and then both mama and child is happy.

Of course there is the usual first day glitches. Her class connect didn't want to open for us today. After clearing the cache' we finally got it working, and we were able to "meet" her teachers and learn about what is expected of us this year.

For those parents who are interested, or are just starting your K12 journey, do you have any questions I can answer? 

 You can ask them here, or go to my Cafemom's K12 Virtual Academy Group.

Ramblings

For the past few days I've had odd thoughts but not enough to blog about. So here is a mix mash of those thoughts.

First of all, I think any parent knows the frustration of not being able to get close to your DH/ SO without a child getting in the middle. This was especially true the other night, when Wyatt knew exactly the most inopportune time to wake up. So put the first notch under frustrated witch.

Then we ran out of soda.  I normally drink cherry 7up which is caffeine free (because I breastfeed I no longer drink caffeinated drinks on a daily basis) but I have got to have a bit of sugar at least! I use to be a Pepsi drinker. Dh and I would go through 4 liters of Pepsi daily. I stole one of DH's 24oz Pepsi's because I ran out of mine, only for him to take the very last one to work yesterday. Put a second notch under frustrated and getting even more mad witch. The more the day went the more I got mad. Especially when DS dumped my crappy lemonade all over the floor. Enter 3rd most irritating part of my day, because other than water that was the last thing to drink in the household. And I don't drink tap water.

I thought today would get even worse when a truancy officer showed up at my door today. Not to worry though, he was here looking for a different family. I wonder though if he read my note on the door saying to knock loudly because we home school. Technically it's K12, but same diff.

After all those gray spots in my week. Something wonderful happened. A neighbor bought too much food she couldn't fit in the freezer so she gave us some fresh veggies and some microwavable dinners. This is greatly needed since our pantry is looking bare and still a couple more days till I'm able to buy food. It never ceases to amaze me when people give to others without expectation of compensation. In my world, good deeds are almost never free. So I'm thankful to this woman and to the Lord and Lady for looking over us.

Ok I know all that doesn't make for a very cohesive post, but I warned you it was ramblings.

Blessings, Love and Light.
SWC

My Home, My Rules, and My Wayward Daughter

Dear Miss Sierra Belle,

One day, far in the future, perhaps you'll read this. Sometime in your lifetime there will be endless web pages created by parents that will become a written record of the small moments of your life you'd otherwise forget. So here it is, today's record.

I had to punish you today. Not because of a need to be mean or even strict. I really hate to discipline you. However as children often do, you leave your mom and dad no choice.

See today when you left the house without your glasses because you woke up late for school, I thought I'd be a nice mom and bring them to you. I know how you can't see the chalkboard without them, and I don't want your education to suffer just because of your sight.

So as soon as I had someone to watch your brother for a few minutes, I drove to your school and found you in the gymnasium. Your back was turned to me, so at first I just saw your lovely self talking with a group of friends. Then I tapped you on your shoulder and handed you your glasses with a smile and a hello. That is when my heart dropped. I knew, in that moment, I would have to be a mean mom today.

That red lipstick I let you buy with your allowance, the one I specifically told you not to wear outside of the house, was on your lips. You have many other shades of lipstick and lip gloss except weird colors. A light pink would have looked lovely on you. I know the need to feel beautiful and I don't believe a little light makeup at your age (which is 10 btw) is inappropriate. However since you feel the need to disobey me, I must become strict like my mother.

You see at your age, I was not allowed makeup at all. I thought I was being the "cool" parent by allowing a little makeup. It is makeup after all. No big deal right? Wrong. Makeup should be tastefully done, and that bright red is like an advertisement for all men to say "Look at me, I'm more grown than I really am."

I was going to do the discipline myself. However as I sat here throughout the day, I realized I always am the one to discipline you. So I decided, as a daddies girl, perhaps it's better that your father be in charge of carrying out the punishment.

So when you came home, I grabbed your backpack and pulled all makeup out of it. Turns out you had the red lipstick in your pocket which is a sure bet you knew it was forbidden IMO. I also brought the rest of your makeup into the living room. Then your father proceeded to tell you that if you can't follow the rules, you don't get to have any makeup.

Then the order came from him. You must throw away all makeup. Even the lip gloss. Yep, that one I probably wouldn't have made you do, but it's your fathers choice and I stand by his decision.

You cried, you screamed, you probably want to hate us. But in the end, you'll thank us.

We love you darling daughter of mine. You have no idea how much you are like me when I was your age. Except I had to hide all of my makeup, because my mother wasn't "cool" enough to allow light colors.

For my mother, I just had to call you because yes, we have come full circle. I am certainly getting back what I dished out!

Your loving mother,

SWC

Going Against the Grain

"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great."
- Mark Twain

This quote makes me think about my husband before we got together. I've always been teased in school and as a result I had a very low opinion of myself at one point. He noticed that I was constantly belittling my worth and commented on it one day. I'm paraphrasing what he said, but it was something like this.

"How can anyone else love you, if you don't love yourself? I am number one in my life, and you should feel the same. If you really wanted to change something about yourself, you'd do it not just talk about it. When you love yourself, you become easy to love by others."

It was then that I realized I needed to stop being so critical of myself. I was never going to be a super model. I may never be thin. And I realized over time that it's societies pressures to be beautiful that make me want to loose weight. Not for health reasons nor to be more beautiful. Because honestly, I'm beautiful no matter what size jeans I fit into.

My ambition in life has been to be who I am regardless of what other people think of me. The day I realized my worth is the day I took my future in my hands and shaped who I am without fear of societies rules. Has it stopped others from teasing? No. Someone will always comment that I'm a hippy tree hugger or that I'm a fat woman.

But as long as I remember that I am number one, no one can belittle me.

I promise not to keep quoting childhood cartoons, but please forgive me for adding one more.

Image source

The Journey (A Poem)

I wrote this while I was in college. Unfortunately I didn't stay on course. But a lot of things happened all at once to knock me off track. Maybe one day I'll get back on! But for now, I'd just like to share a bit of poetry.

The Journey 

By Robin Carpenter

April 23, 2005

To stay on track is what I need. 

Remember my goal and remember my dreams.

This journey will be a long road,

but I can make it through. 

I must stay the course,

this is what I must do.

I will learn to adjust,

I will become like water.

I will soak up all the knowledge my teachers have to offer.

And I say again, this will be a long road.

But I will remember my dreams, and then I'll know.

My journey may be long,

but the rewards my goal.

Stay the course is what I must do.

For failure on this journey will just not do. 

Stay the course is what I'll do.

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DD the Pretender

My lovely, darling, mini me daughter is a pretender. Once in awhile she gets tired of going to school. I think we all get tired of routine. But as a mom, its my job to make sure she goes to school. I remember from her preschool days the nurse advising that she only stay home if she has a fever or is vomiting. I thought that was pretty good advice. But I felt bad when a few days before the fever and vomiting began she felt crappy and didn't want to go to school. So I developed a little system. I'd offer her to stay home when she asked, but it was an automatic you must go to the doctor. I discovered DD does not like to go to the doctor, and if its not that bad, she just chooses to go to school.

This morning DD came in and it went something like this.

*Cough Cough*

DD: "Daddy I don't feel good"

(She always asks daddy first, because he's less likely to say no)

*Cough Cough*

DH: "Whats wrong with you"

*Cough cough*

DD: "My stomach hurts"

*Cough cough*

DH: "Then why are you coughing"

*Cough cough*

DD: "Because my throat hurts too. Can I stay home from school?"

*Cough cough cough*

DH: "I don't know, let me feel your forehead. Hmm. You don't have a temperature."

*Cough cough*

DD: "But I really don't feel good. My stomach hurts and my throat hurts and I have a headache."

*Cough cough, fake cry*

DH: "I don't know, ask mommy"

DD: "Mommy wake up! Daddy said ask you if I could stay home. My throat hurts, I'm coughing, and my head hurts."

*Cough cough cough cough, cry*

ME: "You have two choices, you can stay home and go to the doctor, or you can choose to go to school."

DD: "AHHH. I'll just go to school!" Coughing ends. :)

She would not make a good actress. lol

First day of 4th grade

Its official. I have a 4th grade daughter. :) Today she began her first day. Its a good thing I sleep lightly or she would have been late for her first day. I had my husband set the alarm clock but he set it for PM instead of AM. I should know better than to allow him to set the clocks!

Funny story, when I first began school my mother took me to the bus stop. I was afraid of strangers and when she started to put me on the bus I totally freaked out. I locked my knees so she couldn't force me to walk onto the bus. The bus driver was trying to coax me on, some kids were just staring at me, others were trying to get me on too. Finally my mother had to just take me to school herself. Except I wouldn't let her leave.

The teacher finally distracted me with a toy. It was 10 minutes before I realized my mother was no longer there. Then I think I screamed for a good 20 minutes. I missed my mommy!

My daughter

With Sierras first day I wasn't there to put her on the bus. That has been something I've always regretted. But again my mother got to put my daughter on the bus. I'm thankful she was the total opposite of me. She was really ready to go. I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that we got her all hyper about going to school. However that wore off fast when she came home and kicked my mother in her shin, then proceeded to tell her she was the worst grandmother ever and she was never going back to school. lol Eventually she got over it and likes school.

On another note, don't you hate when you think of a topic that you really think you can write about and then you forget it? I should have wrote it down. I know better than to not to. But I thought, hey I'll start writing about it in twenty minutes or so when I finally get the time. Guess what, 3 minutes later I don't remember! Oh well. Maybe I'll think of it later.