Steady Mom

and then she was ten

Steve and I went to a backyard cookout with friends in Houston on Memorial Day. We flew down sans kids--our babes happily soaking in grandmother time as we happily reconnected for a few days.

We enjoyed celebrating the holiday with three other incredible families and their children: adorable sleeping babies, cute chubby-cheeked toddlers, and active, run-everywhere kindergartners. After we left that evening Steve and I once again had a realization:

We have entered a completely different season of parenting. We happened to be without kids that night, but even if they had been with us we wouldn't have wiped noses or changed diapers. Because our children are now eight, eight, and TEN.

That's right--Trishna reached doubledigits on May 22nd.

We have come a long way since she joined our family from India almost six years ago. I am so proud of this girl--who currently loves writing, stories, and light bulbs (yes, really).

Unless God places another child in our family, all our children will be adults in ten short years--our active parenting days over. It's a surreal feeling.

Intentional parenting starts out with a whole lot of work. Everything feels new, fresh, frightening, insecure. It takes a truckload of faith to listen to God's voice combined with your own, especially when those voices contradict the popular opinions of so-called "experts."

But I'm discovering that mindful parenting changes as the kids get older. Where my main role at one time involved sheltering, cocooning, and nurturing--this new one involves listening, opening doors, adventuring, and trusting.

And though this new phase--like any change--contains its own unique challenges, we also have the benefit of seeing some fruit from all the years of investment we've put in so far. We see a vision for our family beginning to take root, to grow, to create the family life we once imagined.

Watching our efforts in action gives courage for the journey ahead.

Happy birthday, Trishna. You are loved.

how to homeschool without actually homeschooling

From my post today on Simple Homeschool:

 

"At the start of the new year many of you completed a survey for those of us who blog under the Simple Living Media umbrella. I admit to being rather surprised when I found out that a significant percentage of those who read Simple Homeschool regularly are not actually homeschoolers.

Let me say it once and for all: Homeschooling or not, you are welcome here!

At its core, homeschooling is a lifestyle of intentionality when it comes to our kids' educations. Being intentional doesn't mean sending our kids to the school around the corner just because it's around the corner. Being intentional also doesn't mean homeschooling just because all your friends homeschool.

Intentionality means taking the time and effort necessary to give thought to what is best--for your children, yourself, and your family.

Maybe you went through that intentional process. Maybe the concept of homeschooling even intrigued you, but you ultimately decided it isn't for your family at the present moment. Yet you're always looking for ways to cultivate an atmosphere and a love of learning at home.

Did you know a new word has been invented to describe what you're doing?

It's called afterschooling. Here's how to do it well."

 

Click here to read the rest!

 

the ebook criticism I've received that's actually a strength

Recently I received a negative review for one of my ebooks. A few years ago when this happened, it sent me into a tailspin. I would cry, dwell on the criticism, wonder why God called me to be a writer when it's so scary, and well...you get the picture.

Now I slowly begin to see the progress that's taken place in my heart over time. While I still don't like negative reviews (nobody does), they don't affect me the same way anymore.

I think I know why--I now stay away from them as much as possible. The books I've already written have gone out into the world; now they have a life of their own. After I celebrate them, I need to let go and move on to the next step of my calling.

I also know now that my work is not for everyone, so not everyone will identify with and love it. That's okay. The right people will.

But recent criticism I received on one of my ebooks is something that I actually think is a strength:

"Reads like a blog, not a book."

I used to be quite skeptical of ebooks, both writing or reading them. The advent of the Kindle and other e-readers has changed all that for me (I love my Kindle!).

Here are some of the things I've grown to love about ebooks:

- The total length of the book is often shorter.

When I'm reading nonfiction, to gather information, I want to gather an overview of what I need and then move on.

- Each chapter is shorter.

I like that certain ebooks tend to read like blog posts. Chapters like that are the perfect size for busy moms who need inspiration in bite-sized increments. I save my longer reading time for fiction.

- You can easily read them in a variety of formats.

Gone are the days when you are stuck behind your desktop to read an ebook. I do read a lot of them that way, but I also love that I can forward any pdf file to my Kindle and read that way too!

- Allows you to discover new writers and bloggers.

I have found new authors I want to read more of through ebooks. I discovered them through their books, and now I can read more of their work online. A total win-win.

"Whenever you read a good book, somewhere in the world
a door opens to allow in more light."
–Vera Nazarian