tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31025548.post5977024344986285160..comments2023-05-07T02:50:54.812-06:00Comments on Marcy's Musings: Making Disciples of Our KidsMarcy Muserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17787308098682419608noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31025548.post-77646394272183329052008-05-04T21:38:00.000-06:002008-05-04T21:38:00.000-06:00Shawna,I'm glad you liked it. We always try to do...Shawna,<BR/><BR/>I'm glad you liked it. We always try to do dinner together as a family too - it's hard with swimming when it is, but we usually manage it.<BR/><BR/>The biggest reason my kids swim is that as homeschoolers they don't do much other exercise. They don't get "P.E." or "recess." So they swim regularly instead. They both love it and do fairly well at it, so we pay the price. :)Marcy Muserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17787308098682419608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31025548.post-31776421180615881952008-05-04T10:31:00.000-06:002008-05-04T10:31:00.000-06:00Very interesting points!I was never a big fan of s...Very interesting points!<BR/><BR/>I was never a big fan of sports activities for the kids unless they requested them, same with other kinds of activities. I always felt the kids needed time to just "be," to play after school and homework. Three of our boys did play Little League for a few years: one was very good and pursued it of his own will, the other two tried it out since their brother and friends enjoyed and after a couple of seasons decided it was not for them. Saturday's at game time was great family fun--we supported each boy and his team and coaches, we watched together or helped at home while the youngest was still small. It did provide a lot of together time and talking time--maybe not about scripture, but definitely about issues that incorporated our values and beliefs.<BR/><BR/>And we always eat dinner as a family--stats show that kids who eat dinner as a family have less academic issues and behavioral issues. I beg to differ.<BR/><BR/>The one point I really agree with is the rushing in the morning time. As a working mother with children in school, I was always in a rush in the morning. Getting a breakfast in the kids was a huge triumph! One of the reasons I was so glad to finally leave the work place was for this reason--the rushed, impersonal morning routine. Bedtime wasn't so bad for us since dinner was always about the same time and there weren't any after school activities beyond the few years of Little League practice and Catechism (which is conducted rather early so as not to interfere w/family meals.) But homework always caused conflict for us!<BR/><BR/>Driving times were great together times when it was just me and my boys. When I became a step parent and had more children to tend, who were not used to these kinds of conversations, it became strained. Some of my best memories as a child were the conversations I had with my dad on long car trips. And I try to still keep this going with my boys... sometimes it is great and works, other times because of moods or what-have-you it's futile.<BR/><BR/>I think these tasks can be carried out by public schooled children and working class parents if desired, but yes, home education can provide a greater opportunity, environment and time for such...IF parents are so inclined.<BR/><BR/>Very thought provoking post!Shawnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15226629390376056787noreply@blogger.com