As Joel and I continue to discern homeschooling, one of my biggest hangups is …
I HATE CRAFTS!
When I visit homeschooling blogs and see all the creative, faith-building activities mamas are doing with their babes, I break into hives and start foaming at the mouth. Crafting is just not my niche. And seeing how easily entertained my daughter is with simple crafts, it all brings me caution.
So I share the following pics simply to archive them in my “Crafts to do with kids if I do indeed homeschool” file. Here’s a cute St. Patrick’s Day activity Lucy brought home from preschool. Not churchy, but a fun activity to wrap together with more catechetical stuff.
Given we don’t keep leprechaun dolls lying around (who does?), I bought some window clings and hid them around the house for her to find. A “pin-worthy” project for sure.
Oh mylanta … are you ready for this? So I just googled the word “niche” because I thought there was an accent mark in it and I wanted to be cool and smart and use it if there was. Well here’s what came up in my search results, top hit no less (no accent mark in niche, if you’re wondering):
So the acronym for the Network of Iowa Christian Home Educators is NICHE. You say crafting isn’t your niche? No worries, turn to NICHE!
Every time I start having fears about making the homeschooling leap, the Holy Spirit sends a gentle reminder. No kidding, every time.
This food activity is a little more churchy than the leprechaun finder. Tastes better, too! Found this recipe for St. Patrick’s Shamrock Pretzel Treats at Catholic Cuisine. Do you love that site as much as I? Lucy and I had fun placing three M&Ms inside each pretzel. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit … eat an M&M … Father, Son, and Holy Sprit … eat another M&M … Father, Son, and Holy Spirit … oh these mint M&Ms are goooooood!
If ever asked in a trivia contest what “tool” St. Patrick used to teach the Trinity, let’s hope her answer is a shamrock and not a pretzel or 3 M&Ms.
And then we had to tie her up to prevent excessive M&M eating.
Just kiddin’, folks. The girl is a natural-born actress and asked to be tied up in her jump rope. I swear Lieutenant Brannigan, I swear! (Quick, name that musical — no googling!)
The weekend project at Das Schmidt Haus is removing all the green from our master bathroom. When we moved in five years ago, the walls were red. Blood red. Like the blood of martyrs and Pope Emeritus Benedict’s shoes. Repainting the bathroom was our first project, and we chose this lovely shade of green that in reality hasn’t worked like I had hoped. It’s just a tad too dark given the dark wood and limited natural light.
Stay tuned for the results. What color do you think we’re using this time around?
Little man Jude, now 13-months old, on his second hair cut and already wearing 24-month clothes. And yet I can’t get him to drink milk out of sippy cup. Ideas for a good transition cup?
Now for a confession-worthy green with envy moment. My mom is having quite the time over in Rome this week. As if the private Mass with Cardinal Dolan or the two-time drive-by of Pope Francis during the papal installation Mass wasn’t enough, now today she spent a couple of hours at Vatican Radio in studio with Lino and Fr. Rob from Sirius/XM’s The Catholic Channel. Hey now, I’m the wannabe radio chick. Oh how I wish I was there to walk inside those studios.
An appointed time for everything …
Photo Credit: The Catholic Traveler
Thanks for stopping by! Here’s to a spirit-filled Palm Sunday weekend. For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!
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March 22nd, 2013 
I just found your blog through conversiondiary, and it must be the Holy Spirit…I’ve been homeschooling five kids for eight years and I too abhor crafts! But I’ve made it through four preschoolers so far and none have been permanently damaged (I think) by my shortcomings. Best of luck as you discern whether homeschooling is the right fit for your family. And have you heard of the lollacup for transitioning to sippy cups? I’ve heard good reviews and have been wanting to try them for my youngest. Blessed almost-Holy Week to you!
Hi Jeannie! Thank you so much for dropping by and commenting. Thank you for your encouraging testimony, too. Lollacup — I will check it out.
Many blessings to your family!
I love crafts. Just send Lucy next door at craft time.:)
Deal Suzy Q! What can I offer in return? Piano lessons?
Lisa,
I hear that kids LOVE Camelback waterbottles. Maybe that could be a transition from the bottle?
Sincerely,
One who is not yet a mom.
An “outside” perspective is often quite helpful, you yet-to-be-a-mom. Thank you!!
We had luck with the soft spout Nuby cups, although I definitely remember an unfortunate outlet mall incident in which my oldest (then 13 months) decided to suck the water halfway out and then raspberry it all over himself…
Thank you for the tips … on both accounts.
About the sippy cups: I find that using ones with a removable plug and giving it first without the plug helps them to get the concept of drinking from the cup. Although initially you can’t just let them wander around with it. After a couple of days you can put the plug back in and they usually get it enough to know they have to suck on it in similar fashion to a bottle.
Here’s the funny thing: he’ll drink water out of the sippy cup, but not milk. Strange. So I’m thinking he might do better with a unique cup for milk only. I don’t know!? Hopefully our dentist isn’t reading this!
Another vote for Nuby sippy cups. They were awesome for us and G!! Loved them!!
Good luck in your discernment. I am very crafty, so could always help you in that department. 😉
Excellent. We’ll be trying a Nuby. You are indeed a very talented crafter! Glad to know I can count on you, too!
THANKS!
I loved reading your quick takes this week. I have been deciding on homeschooling for years and have recently been discerning God’s will for my oldest son. We finally came to a decision a few days ago and we will begin to home school in the fall. I am so excited and nervous all at the same time. I know the timing is right because there is peace in my heart about it.
About your son and sippy cups. My second and third child did the same thing!! Milk was in a bottle and water in a sippy cup and they wouldn’t drink it any other way. I don’t stress it at all. I love the fact that my kids are water drinkers because that is the healthier habit for the long run. Really, their need for large amounts of milk diminishes with the starting of solids. There are so many other ways to get calcium. It is such a small amount of time and really, don’t most kids wear braces anyway? Don’t sweat it!!
Thanks for your feedback, Fran! Wow … we are walking a similar journey here re: homeschooling. I’m keeping you on “speed dial,”okay?