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My Empty Frugal House
Today’s Frugal Friday is not a tip, exactly… at least it’s not a method of frugality I would recommend to anyone. This morning my husband left on a 2 week business trip. We have never been apart for longer than 2 days, and this is very difficult for us both and the kids. Plus, our daughter has gone to her other home (custody) for 3 weeks – she also left this morning. It’s just me and the baby in the house, alone, for 2 weeks. My husband’s work has sent him to a remote village. He’ll be staying in a dorm room, as far as we know. His room and…
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What We Learned About Homework From 2nd Grade
I’m happy to wrap up the Scaling Down the Homework series, and even happier that the 16th was the last day of school! If you missed our 4-part series Scaling Down the Homework, click the links below to check it out: Scaling Down the Homework (Part 1) Scaling Down the Homework (Part 2) Scaling Down the Homework (Part 3) Scaling Down the Homework (Part 4) Even though school is out for summer, we’re ready with our homework plan of action when fall rolls around. Homework (and education in general) is a very sensitive subject. Mel at Tuttle Family Adventures, who is a teacher, talked about it in her article Saying…
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Scaling Down the Homework -Pt 4
If you missed the first three installments of Scaling Down the Homework, you should read them before continuing down the page. Scaling Down the Homework (Part 1) Scaling Down the Homework (Part 2) Scaling Down the Homework (Part 3) How do you motivate a “moving away from” child in a positive way? What is the proper approach to homework for a child who is only motivated by consequences? My husband and I designed a system which works beautifully, but didn’t discover it until school had only 1 month left! We’re ready for when the next school year starts. Here’s what we did: Change #1: The Hour of Homework. Hannah is…
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Scaling Down the Homework -Pt 3
Homework is a very personal and sensitive topic, and most parents have their opinion on what is appropriate: what subjects, how much, due dates, and more. If you missed the first two installments of Scaling Down the Homework, you should read them before continuing with this article. Scaling Down the Homework (Part 1) Scaling Down the Homework (Part 2) We Figured out the Problem with Homework Our ideas were great, well-thought out, and successfully executed. Why, then, did they not work? They made sense in our minds, but would have only worked on a child whose mind thinks like my husband’s and mine. My mentor and life coach Tony Robbins…
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Scaling Down the Homework -Pt 2
School has finally wrapped up for the year, and we, as parents, are left to contemplate what WE learned from the school year. My husband and I finally got the homework situation figured out with our daughter once the school year was already drawing to a close. If you missed the first installment of Scaling Down the Homework, you should read it before continuing. Modifying the Homework: Our Failed Attempt My husband and I were fed up with our 8 year old daughter spending all of her non-school hours either confined to her room doing homework or sleeping. We never saw her, outside of reminding her to stay focused and…
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Scaling Down the Homework – Pt 1
The Homework Situation Our daughter is slow. She takes her time with everything she does: writing her name, walking to the door, putting on her socks. Her teacher told us she takes so long on her class work that she is the last kid to finish, and often she doesn’t get finished at all. As Hannah puts it, “I like to take my sweet little time.” Keep in mind that she’s only 8! My husband and I weren’t surprised by the teacher’s observation because we’ve experienced Hannah’s dawdling first hand. A simple request such as “get your homework out of your folder” could take 20 minutes, as she takes out…
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Teaching Our Kids that Being Happy Comes From Inside
I picked up Truett, announced cheerfully that he had a dirty diaper that desperately needed to be changed, and headed off to the nursery, smiling. My daughter asked, “Why are you smiling about it?” Me: “Because I’m happy!” Hannah: “You’re happy that he has a poopy diaper?! Why?” Me: “Because I’m always happy!” Hannah: “Even though you have to change it?” Me: “Just because I have to change it doesn’t mean I’m not still happy. I’m always happy.” Hannah: “Not always.” Me: “Oh yeah? Tell me a time when I’m not happy!” Hannah, thinking: “Well, when you scrape your knee you’re not happy!” Me: “I haven’t scraped my knee since…
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Frugal Splurge: Family Weekend
Living a frugal life doesn’t have to be boring for your family. Your kids shouldn’t feel deprived because you’re not jetting out to movie premieres at the theater every weekend! You can find great free and low-cost entertainment in your community if you just look for it. Our weekend was fun-filled and filled with freebies at that. School function: Total Cost: $16! The PTA at Hannah’s school put on “Caribbean Night” at dinnertime. They served chili and cornbread and had a bake sale in the commons. I brought bottled water from home for everyone in the diaper bag and a bottle for Truett, so we didn’t have to buy drinks…
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Free Childrens’ Books from Dolly Parton Imagination Library
The Imagination Library allows you to sign up your child (under 5) and they will receive a FREE book every month until their 5th birthday!
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Teach Ourselves so We Can Teach Our Kids
I’ve realized that the things I lament not being able to pass on to my kids are things I lament not knowing myself. The only way to fix that is to learn them! I scrutinize how I use my time in a completely different way now. What is more important, getting the garage cleaned out, or spending time to educate myself better so that I can train my children?
