Starting Over with our Homeschool

We started out our second year of homeschool using Bob Jones University Press (BJU Press) curriculum.  I loved it.  I was excited and wooed by the bright colors and manipulatives.  Well, not 6 weeks into it, we are getting rid of it and starting over with something new.

Here is why:

1.  BJU Press is extremely time consuming.

I know, homeschooling itself is extremely time consuming.  But having a curriculum that is easy to manage and not extra-time consuming is important...especially as a busy mom of 6.  BJUP takes a lot of time to set up.  I first realized this when I had my mom and mother-in-law over to help prep and there were WAY more manipulatives than I had originally thought.  Every night,and sometimes the morning of, I would spend at least an hour, maybe more, getting things ready for the next day.  Math and Phonics had the most manipulatives, and every day added more and more onto what we already needed.  There were HUNDREDS of small, vocabulary cards;  sight word cards, family cards, word cards, and parts of a word cards to be prepared...and sometimes story characteres needing to be copied, cut out, colored, and glued to a stick.  And that is just one subject!!  It was just all too much for me.  

2.  BJUP is geared more towards an actual schoolroom.

The curriculum is made to be used in a classroom setting.  It assumes you have bulletin boards or space to store everything you need.  It has homework-type assignments.  It has activities or games that you need more than 2 students to do.  I was constantly having to come up with ways to adapt lessons for just my 2 first graders.  Again...wasting time.

3. They are a Baptist doctrine-based curriculum.

We are a Reformed Presbyterian family, so when doctrinal discussions came up (specifically salvation)  I was having to correct the text and the kids' work texts to fit into our doctrinal beliefs.  Not necessarily bad, but annoying to have to do.

Something Good about BJUP...

I loved their Math!

Their Math 1 curriculum is amazing.  Despite all of the manipulatives, the math program is great.  I especially love their use of Unifix Cubes.  When I started using them to help F and T review addition and more-or-less concepts...they picked up on it almost instantly.  They (the cubes) were a great visual to help them understand more and less...greater and lesser. I love that! 

  

So, what are we going to do?

Well, we decided to use Christian Liberty Press.  They are a Reformed doctrine-based curriculum, which is great for Bible class.  Their schedule is much more conducive to our needing-to-be-flexible family life.  Their work texts are simple and easy to follow.  Our books are being shipped to us soon, and I cannot wait to start!  

As my mother-in-law pointed out to me,  it is better to start all over with a new curriculum, than to struggle and force your way through one that doesn't fit.  

3 Things You Need to Know When You Fall off the THM Wagon

Ok, so I must admit that I have fallen off of the Trim Healthy Mama wagon recently.  Here are 3 things you need to know when you fall off of the THM wagon.

1.  It happens.  No one is perfect.

 Everyone messes up.  Everyone gets hungry and is running late and stops at Starbucks.  I have 6 kids and sometimes when out and about, it is just easier to grab a burger along with your kids.  I get it...I'm sure everyone gets it.  But don't feel guilty.  Having one burger here and there isn't going to throw the Plan out the window, because of the Food Freedom of the Plan.  You can start over in 3 hours!!

2. It doesn't mean your day is ruined.

You can restart the Plan in 3 hours!  So, you caved and had a Hardees' El Diablo burger...(not that I've EVER done that...)...3 hours later you can restart by having a delicious S meal.  (Hardees DOES have an All-Natural (grass-fed) burger and you can Low Carb-it by having it between lettuce leaves.)

3.  You should not beat yourself up about it.

I cannot stand when ladies tear themselves apart because they slipped on the Plan.  No guilt...this is Food Freedom, Mamas!!  Give yourself grace and move on.  So many ladies on the Plan struggle with food addiction, but it can also go the other way.  Obsessing over food, whether healthy or not, is wrong.  I also cannot excuse ladies who tear apart other ladies for falling off Plan. That is wrong.  We should extend grace to other mamas.

Remember:  No one is perfect, but everyone can give and find grace.

 Now, pardon me while I go enjoy a delicious crossover breakfast of sprouted toast, scrambled eggs, and coffee.   

3 Tips for Fitting Exercise into Your Busy Life

I'm very blessed with a husband who actually WANTS and encourages me to work out.  Mostly to help me train for my Dirty Girl and Tough Mudder runs in August and October.  He watches the kids for me so I can go for my runs or go to the Y to do my R.I.P.P.E.D. classes.  How do I fit exercising into my busy schedule?

 

1.  Make the Time

I make the time to work out.  I know as soon as I wake up that I will, at some point, be working out that day.  I then chose which type of exercise I want to do that day and then work my schedule to make it happen.  Tuesdays and Thursdays are R.I.P.P.E.D. days (5:15-6:05 pm)  If my husband is working second shift, I go to my classes on Monday and Wednesday at 8:00am.  Every other day (Mon., Wed., & Fri.) I go on a run. 

2.  Find a Partner

I have an amazing workout friend!  She motivates me to challenge myself in ways I didn't know I could.  "D" is the one who introduced me to Zumba, then PiYo, then R.I.P.P.E.D.  Working out is so much better when you do it with a friend!  When you have someone to talk to, laugh with, and rib; it just puts you in a great mood. 

3.  Find Exercises that You Want to do

I encourage you to find exercises that you like.  I have no desire to be a body builder, so I don't lift weights.  It just doesn't appeal to me.  But, I really LOVE kickboxing!!   I like mat work like PiYo.  I LOVE dancing, so I do Zumba and Just Dance with my kids.  Now, I'm not saying you shouldn't try new things, but if you try something and find that you just don't like it, don't do it.  You should AT LEAST give things a little bit of time before stopping.


I do encourage anyone who isn't working out to start.  It feels great, and as I tell myself whenever I don't feel like it, No one has ever regretted working out.  Your body might feel sore, but it is really worth it.  

I cannot wait to do my Dirty Girl run in August!!  I wish I had someone to do it with, but my workout bestie can't do it.  I am SO glad I can do Tough Mudder with my husband in October.  It should be fun...should be.  

*For more information on PiYo and R.I.P.P.E.D. please visit their websites here:  RIPPED and PiYo