Jacob has been affected by our haphazard, improvised post-move lifestyle. I was sorting kid clothes when he spilled something all over himself so I dressed him in what I had on hand. This is how he looked when Joseph got home:
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| He's a pretty stylish young man, right? Those are the fiesta pants I made for Elinor when she was his size and I'm pretty sure it's the first time he's ever been in shoes. |
Yesterday was Emily's first day of school. She is attending a program designed for homeschooling families that is funded through the school district and meets once a week. She is able to do some theater stuff with them (which she LOVES), some art, some group discussion stuff, science, computers, and some other extras that they are adding on.
About the homeschooling thing. I always feel like I need to defend this decision of ours. There is often a stigma associated with homeschooling families, whether it be that the parents are eccentric or overprotective, or at the other end of the spectrum, that the parents have a hippy, unschooling mentality. I remember our last visit to Emily's pediatrician. The nurse was talking about vaccinations the Boulder school district might require, and then she stopped, almost mid-sentence, looked from Jacob's cloth diaper to the glass Lifefactory bottle* he'd just drained, to my un-made-up face**, and said, "...unless you're homeschooling. Then you don't need to worry about any of this."
And I sort of cringed as I mentally tracked her thought process because that is not what we are all about!!! I am not really an extreme parent in either of the aforementioned directions. I have nothing against the public school system. Emily has attended school for two years and has loved it. We plan to send both her and Caleb back next year.
I had a few issues with scheduling and curriculum, but what I feel most strongly about is that my daughter is prepared to be out on her own, unsupervised for the majority of her waking hours. I want her to know what Joseph and I as her parents expect of her and I want her to feel confident enough in herself as a daughter of God to follow through and live by those standards.
And that is it. I am not taking a social or political stance here. I am just doing what I think is best for our family right now.
*These bottles are the best! The day we received ours in the mail Caleb promptly dropped each of them off the table onto our very hard linoleum floor and they were fine. They have been dropped many times since then and have lasted well.
**I sometimes wear makeup. It does make me feel pretty. Still, it's not worth the time to me, so I go without probably 90% of the time. I love when the kids see me putting it on on a weekday for some reason and get all confused about whether or not it's Sunday. And also, once when my mom was visiting we were getting things together to go somewhere and she stopped and looked at me and said, "Do you want to go get ready?" And I drew myself up somewhat indignantly and said, "Get ready how? I feel totally ready! Let's go!" And I followed her out the door with as much dignity as I could muster, baby spit-up on the shoulder, three-days-worn jeans, makeup free face, and all.
5 comments:
Good for you!
I feel the need to justify all sorts of things these days: four children five and under, cloth diapers, no school lunches. And we shouldn't have to justify! We do what we truly believe is best for our families, and roll with it... let the others roll their eyes. You can do this. You're NOT crazy. You're deliberate. I love that about you!
Brava! Homeschooling isn't for me, but I'm a big fan of doing what is best for your family, whatever that may be.
I remember as a kid thinking that make up was only for Sundays, because that was the only time my mom wore it, as well. From her, I learned that you don't need to change your natural appearance to meet someone else's standards. Now that I'm grown and wear make up very rarely, I hope my daughters learn the same lesson.
A while ago, I was picking up a 12 year old girl in the ward to babysit, and her mom stopped her at the door to inspect her face, to see if she needed more concealer. It made my stomach turn.
Your face doesn't need make-up.
And don't worry about defending your decision! It's clear that you're a fantastic mom doing the best thing for her family right now.
Jacob is growing up! I almost don't recognize him.
We miss you guys!
My kids are the same about make up on Sunday. They will ask me if we are going to church whenever they see me put on make up! They also think that when I wear mascara it looks like I have spiders crawling over my eyes. I am glad to know that they prefer me make up free, just the way I am.
You are a smart and good mother. Doing what is right and best for your family is what everyone should he trying to do!
so did you get the vaccines after all?
I don't usually wear makeup, but more and more I hear comments like "You look sick" or "You look stressed". Sorry people, its just my real face.
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