We are a home educating family.  This means that instead of sending the children off to others for most of the day, I teach them at home.  While waiting for them to get out of choir practice, one of the other mother’s in the group asked me how I could do it.  During our following discussion, she and the other public school moms talked about the long hours spent doing home work.

I was tickled that these women didn’t think they had it in them to homeschool their children.  Since they already spend almost three hours a night working on home work, they were already doing just that.  In fact, this is one of the reasons that so many people are turning to homeschool as an alternative.  They figure they are already putting in the hours.

The great thing about educating the children in my own home is that I can let them each learn in their own way.  My oldest son thrived with “Hooked On Phonics” and was reading by five.  My middle son just wasn’t that intrigued with reading.  Looking back now, I think he preferred to be read to by mom or dad because he got alone time that way.  Now he wants to read to us instead.

Each child learns in individual way, patterns, and timing.  Home educating gives the parent’s the flexibility and the time to work with them one on one.  Besides, if you are going to spend the time doing school work anyway, you might as well do the work you want to do in a way that your child will thrive.

Birthdays around our house are a family affair.  For months before the big day, the kids discuss the theme for the party (mom and dad try to come up with creative ways to bring the theme to life for as little as possible).  Looking over the internet or through magazines can be a great source of inspiration, but the kids usually know exactly what direction they want to do.

So far, we have had a book party (held at the local library with books as the favors), a pirate party (where the kids went on a treasure hunt and made their own treasure chests), a Viking party (where they made shields and swords from card board), a Robin Hood party (this time mom did the craft with hand made felt “robin” hats), an Indian party (where a friend showed them how to play a native flute and they made spears and head bands), a safari party (where we put animal cut outs around the yard and they went on an “adventure”), and a 3-2-1 Penguins party (where they watched the latest release and mom made a replica of the spaceship for a cake).

Gift bags are a major no-no.  I hate finding all the little trinkets around our house after the boys have gone to a party.  Instead, we give them one nice thing or let them do a craft that they can take home.  We have yet to have a mother say “what, no little whistle and top?”

The best thing is that the kids enjoy preparing for their party (down to making their own invitations) as much as they enjoy the party.  They are also learning to stretch their imagination and a dollar.  I hope that we can continue our unique birthday tradition for years to come.

More people are turning to work at home opportunities.  Some prefer the flexibility that a home business offers.  Others, like me, want to be home with the children.  Working at home with children is not just a job, it is truly and adventure (to quote another famous job opportunity) and is not something for the weak hearted (or weak stomach many days).

It’s even more interesting around our house.  The youngest child is not even two yet, but he can get into anything and everything (and usually does).  He is especially fond of pulling out everything from the pantry.  For a while, I duct taped all the cabinets shut.  He has since figured out what that silver stuff is and just how to make it work in his favor.   Most of my constructive work has to be done when he is sleeping.

The two older boys are eight and ten, but they are just as eager to get mom’s attention.  Usually they wait until I log onto the computer to ask if they can do some school work online.  With only one computer in the house (and a dial up connection to boot) we always had to find a way to coordinate our efforts.  This year, I broke down and bought a laptop.  Not only has it been great for the children, but I can carry it along and get a little work done while I’m waiting at their many practices.

The biggest struggle I find about working at home with children around is getting a quiet moment to do anything.  I’ve adjusted my own schedule, so the first thing in the morning and the last thing I do at night is spend some time working.  I also tend to get in a couple of hours during the baby’s nap time.

Working at home gives me the flexibility to work around my family.  The key is to still do the work I need to do, even though it may be stretched out over the entire day.  Now, If only I could find a way to get paid for all the additional hours I spend “working” I would be a wealthy woman.

It is never too early to learn about money.  Unlike my parents, and probably their parents before them, my husband and I talk about finances in front of and with our children.

There is a time and place for these discussions.  We don’t burden the children with the difficulties we have put ourselves in by borrowing more than we can pay.  What we are trying to do is to teach them as we learn so that they don’t make the mistakes we’ve made.

We started with allowance, and everyone gets one starting at age six.  It then progresses up by $.50 per year (mom and dad also get an allowance).  For this payment, there are certain things that are expected.  Each month, we pick chores to do for that month.  If these chores are completed, then payment is made.

From the allowance, ten percent goes to charity (or the church) so that the children start to understand the importance of giving back.  We also take out twenty percent for taxes.  This goes into a fund that we vote on how to spend.  I don’t want the children to get tax shocked when they get their first “real” paycheck.

Finally, the remaining money is divided between savings and can be spent. 

Even at the young ages of 10 and 8, our children are beginning to grasp the idea that debt is not something they ever desire and that working for what you want (and saving to get there) is worth the wait.