Life and Death

Yesterday we had to put one of our new kittens, Severus Snape, to sleep.

The litter came from a stray, Hermione. She showed up on our deck already three weeks pregnant. We couldn't turn her away, even though we already had enough pets. A little over four weeks ago, she had four kittens and all were apparently healthy. Hermione was dumped (I'm sure) but at least she was well socialized. She bonded with us so well that she gave birth on Dave's lap!

All the kittens were healthy, so we thought. We named them all after Harry Potter characters. Hugo was a little delayed in walking, and Lily had a little eye infection, but those have been working out fine. Rose was first to do everything. Snape was the runt of the litter, but appeared to be okay.

All were doing so well and thriving. That is, they were doing well till Sunday night. Snape was breathing very heavy and looked exhausted, just out of no where. He was panting, but he did eat a little and nursed. I was hoping it was something simple. Animals only get sick in my house on weekends for some reason. By Monday morning he was completely lethargic and cried when he moved or when touched.

After calling a few vets (none were open that early in the morning), Athens Animal Clinic took him in. By the time we got there, he was already near death. He was cold and just laying there. The vet said his heart sounded like he had a congenital heart defect and it just caught up with him. His heart couldn't support his growing body anymore. We put him down and took him home and buried him next to Sweet Pea and Quaba.

The girls were really good about it. They were sad, but they understood why we had to put him down. We did all we could. While he was here, we gave him a great life. He was played with, loved on, cuddled and snuggled. He learned to use the litter box and was able to eat solid food. Even though he was young, he had a good life for a kitten.

The girls learned a lot these 24 hours. Not everything learned in life is academic.

Sleep

Sami and I slept poorly last night. We don't know why...there was no caffeine nor sugar involved. All night long I was laying in bed wishing for sleep, and Sami (laying with me) kept reaching over and asking why she couldn't sleep. I finally got up at 6 AM and paid bills. I'm interested to see which of us will pass out first tonight!

It's been an extremely busy week. We've been out running errands and meeting appointments all week, and it won't stop until about the middle of next week. Sometimes it's nice just to spend a quiet day at home. It's been said by many homeschoolers before: Why do they call it homeschooling if we're never at home?

I've changed tactics (again). Trying some structured unschooling. I'm putting away anything that looks like a worksheet for a while and just giving them tools to explore on their own. This week we broke out the walkie talkies, mushroom hunted, made feather quills and drew and wrote with them, read, played, tried hyroglyphics (sp???)...the list goes on and on. The computer, TV and video games were off limit till late in the day. They seem much happier since I made this change, and they are soooo excited to try everything. They don't complain about the electronics being off limits either, because they are so busy doing everything else.

Unschooling is NOT unparenting. It's giving them freedom to explore on their own.

Math Meltdowns

Oh My Gosh! How in the world does anyone deal with math meltdowns? I'm so sick of dealing with it! I get, not in any particular order...

• crying
• whining
• complaining
• "forgetting" how to do the problems
• not trying unless explained
• running to hide when the math book comes out

What I'm doing in math isn't working for them. I don't want to leave math to the unschooling method. I've tried home-made worksheets, "Math in My World," Singapore, and some Singapore supplements.

They can do the work once explained. If we haven't reviewed it very recently, it's like they don't remember how to do the work at all. Don't even get me started on word problems (but from what I read, that skill is commonly not understood until about age 11).

In my little paranoid world, they are not as far as I think they should be. My paranoid self does not want them to get "behind" their peers. Homeschoolers aren't supposed to worry about keeping up with the Jones, right? I guess I'm a worrier. They are such intelligent, bright and creative children, and I know that they are smart. So why do I worry?

I either need to try something different again, or give it a break and let them develop a little more. I am going to try some manipulatives that a friend suggested (just as soon as we hit a payday). I hope the manipulatives are the trick. Doing theoretical work on paper just doesn't click with them.

Mushrooms!

We've added outdoor nature studies to our schedule. Translated: We went Morel mushroom hunting! The girls and I have been twice, and we found a small mess of them. We gave a small mess to my parents, and I fried up the rest for Megan and me. Sami hasn't eaten any since she ate too many of them about five years ago and threw them up. Poor Sami...at least she still likes to hunt them.

I'm not the best at finding a patch, but luckily there is a small patch that grows behind our house. When we mushroom hunt, we do all kinds of nature studies. We find Dutchman's Breeches, Mayflowers, Jack in the Pulpit, snails, slugs, turkey tracks, deer tracks, creek creatures, hummingbird moths...it makes it hard to concentrate on the Morels!

School Homed

"The Onion" web site had a funny article about children being school-homed. If you have a minute, it's worth the tongue-in-cheek read. http://www.theonion.com/articles/increasing-number-of-parents-opting-to-have-childr,17159/

Yesterday we had a productive school day. The girls are getting over their snippy week, and they did their school work with minimum complaints. Sami is getting over the idea that she needs to do "perfect" work (darned OCD). Megan is learning not to use her whiny voice when doind school work.

My parents came over to visit the kittens (they are nearly 3 weeks old). Mom is trying to get Dad to bond with one so they can take it home when they are big enough. Good luck with that, Mom. We had some home-made pizza, and we split one beer three ways. We're such light-weights. It was so nice out that we spent some time out in the garden swing, where we got to watch a C-130 fly low overhead several times while making runs over Camp Atterbury.

Dave was still in Baghdad as of yesterday, but as I am writing this he may be at his new site in FOB Delta. Looks like a nice place to be. http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=60536

Bird Science and Flowers

We babysat yesterday and I had a lot of paperwork to do, so there wasn't as much time as usual for our schoolwork, but we learned all the same. The girls read for quite a while yesterday-this is big payoff task that is fun for them.

Sami had a science lesson, thanks to the cats. One of them left a bird as an "offering." Sami inspected and manipulated the bird for over an hour. She learned how the wings flex and stretch, how the legs work, what the beak looks like (inside and out), feather structure, and everything else that goes with a hands-on inspection. Some might think it's gross, but this was definately a learning experience.

We went to Dave's parents' for dinner. We then all helped plant a bunch of spring flowers that Pat had picked out. Sami fell in love with a little hyacinth, so Pat let her take it home. We got home after dark, but Sami got out her shovel and planted it in the dark anyway. I can't wait till we get paid next so I can take the girls out to pick out some more flowers...they love playing in the dirt! I love it too.

Megan's sprained ankle (from a week ago) was doing better, but she won't lay off it long enough for it to heal all they way. It was hurting her again last night, so I wrapped it again and gave her some more Motrin. It just seems to "tweak" every now and then.

Dave called yesterday. He is still in Baghdad waiting for a flight out to his base. I'm glad he gets to call and give us updates. I would go insane if I couldn't hear from him for a long period of time! Love you, Dave!

Dave in Baghdad

Dave finally got to call yesterday. He was in Baghdad, Iraq, and was awaiting a flight to his new base. His first flight was cancelled due to a sandstorm, but he may be able to fly out anytime today or later (sand permitting). He sounded like he was in good spirits, but was very tired. Apparently on the really long flight over, he was in the middle seat of the middle row of five seats. Dave is a big guy, so I can't imagine how he managed that one.


The girls have been snippy. Although my girls get along really well most of the time, they do have moments where they get a little "fussy" with each other. Their idea of fighting is to whine at each other about how the other isn't being quite fair. This week has been a little worse, and I think that's because Dave has been gone.

We all miss him and have been brave. The girls outwardly talk about how they miss their Dad while he is in Iraq, but I think that one of their symptoms is being extra fussy, whiny, and snippy. I've cut them a lot of slack, but I'm not letting them get away with too much whining and snipping because I don't want to start a new dichotomy. They are great children and I have no doubt we'll get through this little bubble.

We've got to get a little school work done this morning, before their little cousing comes over for babysitting. Thank goodness it will be a lovely day outside and we can spend some time playing in the yard. Look out, sunscreen! Here we come!