Quiet Time with Kids

This blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure. Please see my suggested resources.

June 8, 2011 By Jennifer Lambert 2 Comments

The only quiet I get is when those four little rascals are sleeping. Which means, I get to go to bed around midnight and/or wake up before dawn. If I do both, I am rather a tad bit grumpy. So, lately, I have been greeting my pillow around midnight. And I dread leaving it all alone in the morning.

I don’t get a lot of quiet time to myself with four kids.

I know many things will change when my deployed husband returns home next month. (Many things will have to change when he returns…)

So, I am not a morning person. At all. When I can get the little darlings tucked away in their beds before 9 PM, I am happy to finish some chores and settle down to read. By then, I struggle to read what I should read. I often have to discipline myself to read the Bible instead of the latest Kindle freebie. I try to read a Psalm and/or Proverb every evening before getting too comfy and reading something else. I’m also reading a couple books with online book clubs.

Here is my great, almost brand-new La-Z-Boy recliner I found used on KSL classifieds for only $60! I also found the neatest little table at the thrift store that has a built-in book rack on the bottom.

Voilà! My quiet time/reading nook. Yes, my Rubeus kitty loves his new chair! Didn’t you know he rules this house?!

And here is the battle station. Look how neat and tidy!

I love the smell of organization in the morning.

So, in the mornings, after I’ve been so rudely awakened (occasionally at the unspeakable time of 0530) by a crying baby boy…I say a quick good morning prayer, stumble into his room, try to smile and kiss him and love on him while I change his diaper…stumble downstairs and give him his banana and cereal and cup of milk.

I make coffee (the nectar of the gods). I make it to the desk and check my Facebook and emails and delete 7/8 (a very accurate statistic) of them that are about deals and sales to stores I rarely frequent. (I really should unsubscribe – Who can afford it and who braves actual shopping with 4 kids?)

Then, I read my SOAP verse for the day and pray.

By that time, if I’m lucky (usually I’m interrupted), the boy is done with his breakfast and my coffee is brewed. I wipe him up and let him go wreak havoc on a tidy house…and he doesn’t like his morning naps anymore (what am I to do?)!

I try to settle back in with my cuppa and reading, but that doesn’t always happen. Usually, by that time, my youngest daughter comes bounding down the stairs (can you tell she’s a morning person?) and demands a drink and TV.

I usually go get my eldest daughter up to help me at that point.

On good days, I actually make a hot breakfast and we sit together and read devotions, memory verses, missionary cards, character study, etc.

Then we cheerfully do chores together, like dishes and laundry. I start dinner in the Crockpot or with a marinade.

Then we waltz off to do our read-alouds and family school work.

The lil girls do their Funnix and seat work without complaining usually. Elizabeth is Miss Helper and completes ALL her reading and notebooking in record time.

We all together prepare a lovely nutritious lunch, usually from leftovers.

Lately, the kids have been watching TV with cereal and no milk, much too late into the morning. The basement is still without carpet and all our stuff is in the garage from a sudden flood. Except the TV. The humongous projection TV is jammed into the little living room off the kitchen and it reminds me constantly why I banished it to the basement when we moved here.

I hope and pray to have more discipline to turn the TV off more and focus on finishing our school lessons in the next few weeks before deployment is over.

Many afternoons, I encourage the kids to play in the back yard or quietly in their rooms if the weather is bad.

Some days, I long for bedtime for the kids so I can be by myself for a little while.

How to Have Quiet Time with Kids

There’s a learning curve to having quiet time with kids. I have to model it before I can expect it.

Model quiet time with quiet activities, quiet voices, soft music for short times
Quiet busy bags, activities, or books for young children nearby in a safe space
Designate naptime or rest time mid-afternoon in bedrooms for a half hour or hour for everyone to recharge
Downtime in afternoon with poetry, audiobooks, tea, and/or art
Wind-down time in evening with prayers, stories, snuggles, aromatherapy, soft music

You might also like:

Improved Attitude

This blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure. Please see my suggested resources.

June 6, 2011 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

Well, it finally decided to get warm around here. It did snow last Monday.

So…I’ve noticed some interesting things lately about Elizabeth.

She’s been much more cheerful and agreeable. She’ll do the dishes without complaint. She’s been willing (mostly) to complete her school assignments. She’s been lots more affectionate, initiating hugs and kisses. She’s been funny and playful. I actually like being around her, most of the time. I think it’s all about God. I think He’s working on her heart and mine. I’ve been trying to give her more freedom to be a kid and have fun, if her chores and schoolwork are completed. And I’ve gotten to the point where if she is having a nasty attitude or being non-compliant, I simply tell her to go pray about it. So much less stress than yelling or snapping at her or any other punishments that never worked. She’ll go away for a few minutes and then come back and apologize and be so much nicer.

Here is Elizabeth acting goofy on the swing. She begged for a picture doing her “acrobatics.”

Here is Elizabeth being artistic with a pool toy.

And this is what I found after the 4-year-old asked me for an old toothbrush and carried out an armful of rags and sponges.

Nothing like washing the van and getting on top to really get that icky roof clean, eh?

Elizabeth before her spring piano and voice recital. She was nervous. She played “O Mio Babbino Caro” by Puccini and “Can Can” by Offenbach. She sang “Everybody Wants to Be a Cat” from The Aristocats. She did well.

So, we’re trying to finish up Unit 1 from Tapestry of Grace, Year 1. Yes, I realize we’re totally off a normal schedule. Who cares?!

We’re still working on Apologia Anatomy. We will pick back up with math and Latin this fall.

We found a Friday park day! And we’re going to be a part of a co-op beginning Sept. 1. They do Apologia science and art and PE, among other things. I’m pretty excited.

We’re heading to Chicago soon for my husband’s sister’s wedding. yay plane ride alone with four kids!

You might also like:

A Reluctant Queen Book Review

This blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure. Please see my suggested resources.

June 4, 2011 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

My review of A Reluctant Queen: The Love Story of Esther by Joan Wolf.

Well, let me begin by saying that I love the story of Esther. Isn’t it just a lovely fairy tale?

This novel is no different. It was a quick read and it was delightful. I really felt sympathy for the characters and could not put the book (or mouse, since I downloaded it on my Kindle for PC) down.

I was disappointed that the author felt the need to create a fictional king. Why not use Xerxes, like most historical accounts suggest? The king in the novel was loving as a man and cold as a king. Xerxes was featured as this king’s brother. I wonder for this choice.

I was surprised that I felt real pity for Haman. The author created his character as a man hungry for the love of the king rather political power. He had such jealousy of anyone close to the king that it just ate him up. Haman was characterized as having a mental disease similar to the obsessions we read about in the news today. I was interested in this new characterization of the villain Haman.

I was hoping for more Biblical references and that the plot would more closely follow the Biblical account of Esther. I would think that Esther would have prayed more.

She was a very real and lovable character in this book. I love how she was characterized in her weakness. The Bible mentions that she fasted and prayed before appearing before the king to ask for an audience. In the book, there was only one meal with the king and Haman, instead of two.

The author left out the reward of Mordecai’s being paraded through the streets for revealing the plot to kill the king. Mordecai was probably the least important character in this book and I would have liked him to appear more interesting.

I understand that this book is fiction, but I can’t even call it historical fiction, much less Biblical fiction.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. I just think it could have been better had it more closely followed the Bible and historical account.

You might also like:

Repairing Broken Roads

This blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure. Please see my suggested resources.

June 3, 2011 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

The bitter steam of my PG Tips wafts up from the jeweled Indian coaster on the corner of my desk. I sigh, heavy with longing and regrets.

Just today, how many failures and errors and missed opportunities?

Countless.

My angelic towheaded 5-year-old asked, “When do we know we get to meet Jesus?”

I remember the fear I had at her age: wondering who would raise me if my parents died? There was no one, not really. An old uncle or even older grandma; either would probably die before I reached adulthood. I didn’t like the idea of living with either of them. Such horrid thoughts for so young a child. I wonder just exactly what is her fear or is it just curiosity?

I answer her that no one knows how long they have to live and that we should always live a life so to be prepared to meet Jesus. We should pray and do His will and be blessings to others. That seems to satisfy her. This one has such deep thoughts. She often has nightmares. She worries. I see myself in her and it scares me. I want to shelter her, protect her, keep her innocent forever. Give her freedom and encouragement to love unabashedly. I want her to live the barbarian way.

Sometimes, I feel like I’m still sixteen, struggling with the same issues that all teens have: what is my life? It was a frightening and exciting era, full of hope and angst and terror. Much apathy.

It still is frightening and exciting. I think I have mostly gotten over the angst. I reminisce over the errors of my past and cringe. What is my life? What have I accomplished? I quake inside over the inevitable questions that will arise that I want to refuse to answer. Days creep into years and soon now, it will be too late. Scared to be accountable for all that lost time. What if I come up short, wanting?

My tea is cold and bitter now.

I have three daughters to raise to not be like me…despicable me. Let them be bonny and blithe and lovely and loved. Let them not ever have to understand the choices I made.

I have a son to raise to choose a wife who is not at all like me. May he grow up to be a Godly man and choose a virtuous woman from a loving family who will accept him as their own.

May these precious children never know alienation or be disavowed. May they only know love and acceptance.

I know God has a plan. I know God always had a plan. He was with me through all those wretched times when I didn’t call out to Him and all the times I did call out and didn’t hear or heed His answer.

I can wish all I want that I had met my husband when I was, oh, like fourteen…because that would have made some things ever so much simpler, right? I wish he was the only boy I had ever dated.

I often wish I could just erase the 14-28ish years…so many troubles. But, I guess it makes me who I am, even as messed up as all that is.

So, now I pray that God can use my past for good.

He promises that, right? Romans 8:28

Kids growing up in sheltered and safe households with little knowledge of the evils of the world don’t know how great they’ve got it. I often wish I had not known the world so intimately.

I pray my kids have a linear and easy road to adulthood.

I wish I hadn’t gone down so many broken roads.

What would I do differently if I could do it over?

You might also like:

Heart Anatomy Craft

This blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure. Please see my suggested resources.

May 27, 2011 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

Making a model of the heart with marshmallows, colored icing, and graham crackers…sounds so heart healthy, eh?

Doing Lesson 9 of Apologia Anatomy for science.

Of course, Lil Sisters had to get on it…there was icing to lick!

Spreading on the icing…(so serious)

The finished product…more pink than red and the blue is too light…oh well…

Our Science Curriculum:

You might also like:

Reading Readiness

This blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure. Please see my suggested resources.

May 24, 2011 By Jennifer Lambert 1 Comment

The girls have been showing lots of signs of reading readiness.

I’ve gathered some reading materials to help them learn as they’re ready.

Signs of Reading Readiness:

Print Awareness
Letter Knowledge
Phonological Awareness
Listening Comprehension
Motivation to Read

There’s no need to rush or push.

We do only as much “work” as they desire at this age. Often, they beg for more.

I use printables, manipulatives, games, videos, apps to encourage their reading interest.

I print and laminate lots of items for reuse. They’re great for portability. We “do school” everywhere in the house, back yard, library, in the car…

We’re starting the 2nd unit and already the girls are showing great improvement!

We also love the LOTW K4 Expansion pack from Confessions of a Homeschooler.

Working on the computer with Funnix.

New CVC chart Funny Words.

Garden Pack clip cards…

Tots on a Mission work.

Anything that involves cutting and gluing is a hit!

We are LOVING these You Can Read printables.

Fun sight word puzzles from You Can Read:

Cute sight words mats from Mama Jenn

Then soon I find them reading on their own!

They were fluent readers after AAR2:

You might also like:

How do you encourage reading readiness?

You might also like:

This Little Prayer of Mine Book Review

This blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure. Please see my suggested resources.

May 20, 2011 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

I’m pleased to review This Little Prayer of Mine by Anthony DeStefano.

Such a sweet book! Gorgeous illustrations with such amazing details on every page!

From the publisher:

Nothing Compares to Childlike Faith
I know you’re up in heaven, God,
and can hear my voice from there.
I’m just a little child.
Will you answer my short prayer?
So begins this delightful book that affirms God’s readiness to answer our prayers, no matter what our age.
With engaging rhymes and beautiful illustrations, This Little Prayer of Mine assures children that God is always near–watching, listening, caring, and eager to respond to their requests. They’ll also learn that prayer isn’t just about asking for things, but about sharing their feelings of sadness and uncertainty as well as of thanksgiving and joy.
Most importantly, This Little Prayer of Mine reminds children—and those who love them—that they can trust God to tenderly care for them, no matter what the future holds.

This darling book really explains prayer to small children and why we should pray and what peace we can have from God who answers our prayers (whether He answers with Yes, No, Wait). This book addresses our fears and how we can give our troubles to our God who cares.

It certainly goes beyond the “Our Father” into something rich and powerful that children can understand. It shows how we should focus on others in our prayers and that God will reward a generous heart.

I love books that reinforce what I teach my kids. We strive to pray unceasingly, in all our daily activities, about everything. I’ve seen my kids grow in their prayers, from the little recitations at meal time and bed time to really creative and heartfelt beseechings to God. They know what they need and they know only Jesus can provide it. I am a proud mama.

I love the last few pages and how fun they are as the child envisions future possibilities and where God may lead. My girls giggled at the pictures of the kids playing in a band in the White House. Who doesn’t want to do that? Our family loves this book and it definitely will keep its place in our devotion basket!

Age Range: – 5 years
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: WaterBrook Press
Hardcover $5.99

You might also like:

Unleashed Book Review

This blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure. Please see my suggested resources.

May 20, 2011 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

Erwin Raphael McManus exhorts believers to unleash our faith in Jesus in his book, Unleashed.

He encourages us to dedicate our lives to being barbarians with our faith rather than complacent in conventional Christian religion. Appropriately, quotes and scene synopses from the movie Braveheart are sprinkled throughout the book. Always awesome to quote Braveheart. ;)
I was skeptical at first with the autobiographical sketches McManus uses to show his humanity and struggles as a parent, but any parenting disagreements aside, this is a good book to motivate Christians to do something more than warm a seat at church. As a parent, it convinces me that I need to disciple my children to be warriors for Christ rather than fall into the complacency trap so many “Christians” find easier than being different.
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 1 John 2:15-17

We are called to be different.

McManus reminds us of our duties as Christians as commanded by our Lord Jesus Christ.

We must be warriors, unleashed.

Author Bio:

Erwin R. McManus (BA, University of North Carolina; MDiv, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary) serves as lead pastor and cultural architect of Mosaic, a diverse, multi-ethnic church based in Los Angeles, California. As founder of Awaken, an entrepreneurial community, Erwin collaborates with a team of dreamers and innovators who specialize in the field of developing and unleashing personal and organizational creativity. A national and international consultant on culture, change, leadership, and creativity, he partners with Bethel Theological Seminary as a futurist and distinguished lecturer. He is the author of the ECPA Silver Medallion Award-winning book, An Unstoppable Force, and Seizing Your Divine Moment, Uprising: A Revolution of the Soul, and The Barbarian Way.