A Minimalist Christmas

Its that time of year again!  I'm seeing signs everywhere...decorations in the stores, songs on the radio, people starting their gift shopping... Christmas is coming.

With all the hype and good sales, what's a minimalist mommy to do?  It is so hard not to get caught up in the glitzy wrapping paper and latest toys.  We all love to spoil our babies and isn't this the perfect time to do it?

I believe that it is possible to have a great minimalist Christmas without anyone feeling like they're missing out. Here's how we do just that.

About a year ago, my husband and I decided to make the switch to a minimalist lifestyle.  Since then, we've donated a ton of stuff, shopped less and loved more.  Its amazing how much your focus shifts to each other when you aren't surrounded by stuff!  We have never regretted our decision but with the Christmas season approaching, the old me has started nagging!  I'm feeling guilty because we aren't buying our kids a bunch of toys.  What will happen when they come down on Christmas morning and there are only 10 presents under the tree?!

The funny thing is, they'll be stoked!  They're all under 5, they have no expectations.  Now is our chance as parents to set those expectations and let them know that Christmas is NOT about 2 hours of unwrapping.  Now is the time for us to teach our kids that material wealth doesn't bring happiness and that time spent with family is much more valuable than time spent at the mall.  When they're all grown up, will they remember which gifts they got or will they remember the time we spent together? 
  
So with all that in mind, my husband and I have come up with some minimalist holiday traditions and rules.

The day before Christmas, we will go through the kids toys with them and pick out a few that they'd like to give away.  Before bed on Christmas Eve, we will wrap those presents and leave them with the milk and cookies so that Santa can take them to other boys and girls who don't get a lot of gifts at Christmas (in reality, we will drop them off at the local women's shelter). We have a one bag in, one bag out policy so this helps make room for the new toys.

Each child will get 3 presents from us.  We will buy quality toys made out of natural materials because those are important qualities for us. 

Each child will get one gift from their siblings (as opposed to each kid choosing a gift for each sibling...that adds up when you have 3 kids!).

Stockings...oh how I despise stockings!  What the heck are you supposed to put in those things?!  This year we're doing tooth brushes for each of them.  Then we'll put one toy/ activity that the whole family can use in each stocking (puzzles, craft supplies, etc.).

As a family, we will give a gift to our community.  This will probably come in the form of volunteering somewhere together.  

I'm always looking for new ideas! What are some of your holiday traditions? How do you stick with your minimalist ideals while enjoying Christmas?

Goals for this Year

So while attempting to plan this week, I was getting pretty overwhelmed!  I realised that I need a starting point that I can work off of.  I made up a list of goals I have for each of the kids for the year.  Now, this is my first year homeschooling and I have no idea if these are realistic or not.   For now, my goal is to teach all of these things.  Whether the kids actually retain the information or not...well, we'll see.

So here they are.


Brooklynn
Math

• identify basic shapes 
• compare objects
• know positions (beside, behind, in, under, etc.)
• classify objects (same, different, colour)
• learn about currency and its value
• count to 50
• identify numbers (1-20)
• patterns and sequencing
• introduction to basic addition and subtraction 

Reading/ Writing

• identify letters
• know the sounds of sounds of letters 
• expand vocabulary with weekly vocab words
• learn sight words each week
• write letters (from memory)
• be able to answer questions about what we read together

History/ Geography

•  read stories about historical figures, events, etc.
• introduction to basic map skills (what is a map, what is it for, how to read a map, using a compass)

Science

• hands on activities; learning through exploration
• nature walks

French

• we will speak only french for at least 1 hour everyday
• read 1 french book/ day, learn new french songs and rhymes
• know colours, numbers 1-10, days of the week and months

Life Skills

• complete simple household chores
• help with baking and cooking
• using scissors/ ruler
• be able to recite address and phone number

Weston
Math:

• counting 1-10
• sorting
• matching

Language (Weston is pretty much non-verbal, although he signs quite a bit, so this one is more about him hearing it than anything.  I will teach him the signs along with the words)

• expand vocabulary with weekly vocab words
• introduce letters/ sounds

French

• we will speak only french for at least 1 hour per day
• read 1 french book/ day

Life Skills

• complete simple household chores
• cut with scissors
• hold a pencil properly
• help with baking/ cooking
• identify colours
• identify body parts  

Amelia
Life Skills

• don't cry
• sleep through the night (hahahahaha...)

So there you have it.  Our goals for the year!! I'm looking forward to another day with B tomorrow!

What I learned this week...

Our first week of homeschooling has come to an end (we're ending early today so Ryan and I can go to a wedding!).  It has been packed full of learning, more for me than the kids I think!

Here's what I've learned:

Mod Podge is not a substitute for white glue.
Not only does it not stick things like pom poms to paper. It also is incredibly difficult to get off of tiny fingers...and table tops.  I'm sure I knew all this but I had no glue and the only other sticky substance I had was honey.  Maybe I should have gone with the honey...


Plan/prepare for the week, not the day.
At the beginning of the week, I wrote out a lesson plan for the week that was very general.  I had planned on preparing a more detailed plan and printing, cutting, etc. each night.  I have 3 kids and I'm in school too, things ALWAYS come up. Why I thought that I'd have free time to do this every night is beyond me! From now on, I want to plan all in one night and prepare everything for the week in another.  Then its done and I'm free!

Regular snack times prevent melt downs.
I was reminded this week that my kids are no fun when they're hungry.

"Seriously mom, make lunch."

Prayer is therapeutic.
Not just for me but for the kids too.  We were all trying to figure things out this week and it was stressful.  Finally, I just sat down and prayed with the kids.  Surprise, surprise, things got better.  I think just sitting quietly and talking about the struggle we're having really helps.  For all of us.


Comfort is key.
If the kids want to sit, stand, walk around, go outside, wear pjs, etc.  that's ok.  You learn best with little distractions...being uncomfortable is a huge distraction!

Trying is the best way to learn.  If it doesn't work at least you've learned what NOT to do!
I'm sure this is something I'll need to be reminded of.


No matter what we decided to do for schooling, there will be doubts.  
I think I will always doubt myself and my decisions.   We have time before we need to decide if we will homeschool full time.  When that time comes, I hope the decision will bring peace with it.  I know I will always have moments of doubt.  There's nothing I can do about that.  The best thing I can do is give those doubts to God. 

So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own.  Today's trouble is enough for today.  Matthew 6:34

Praying for Guidance

Today I am filled with doubt.  What is the right decision?  I love the idea of homeschooling but can we make it work for us?  Am I the right person to teach my children?  I'm not patient, creative, smart, organized (and the list goes on...).  Is this desire to homeschool from God?  Or is it just me?

What if I mess up?  I don't want my kids to suffer for my inadequacies.  I don't just want them to learn, I want them to love learning, to be curious and excited about the world around them.  I just don't know if I can teach that.

I was reminded this morning of Jeremiah 29:11, a verse that usually gives me such comfort:

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

If I'm completely honest, today it just leaves me annoyed.  Sure, He knows the plans He has for me.  However, I know nothing.  I have trouble figuring out what it is that God is saying to me on my best days. There is nothing in the Bible that says "Kalista, thou shalt homeschool."  

So I'm praying for guidance to know where God is leading us, for wisom to know how to do it all, for peace with the decision, for the to courage to obey.  And I'm digging into the Word, hoping that truth will be revealed.  

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God (Philippians 4:6)

My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you.  But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave in the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. (James 1:2-6)

Halfway Homeschooling

This is the beginning of our first week of halfway homeschooling!  I am so excited about it and B is too!

I suppose I should explain.  We are "halfway homeschooling" because for now, B is enrolled in junior kindergarten.  She goes Mondays, Wednesdays and some Fridays.  When it came time to make schooling decisions, I was VERY pregnant and didn't feel like I would ever be up to the homeschooling task even though its something I've always wanted to do.  Even still, I have quite a few reservations about it, hence the "halfway" part.  Mostly, I'm scared to jump in with both feet and this seems like a good way to try it out.  B and I will homeschool on the days she is home.  If she likes it and I like it (and the other two babies fit in somewhere too) then maybe we'll make it a full time thing!

I want to homeschool.  I love the idea of it.  I'm terrified of it too.  Here's a breakdown:

Why I think it would be great:

I get to spend all day with B!  I miss her when she's gone.

I get to be sure she is learning the belief systems and values that our family feels are important.  

I can tailor lessons to her learning style and use things that are interesting to her, fostering that love of learning that kids seem to lose so quickly.  

Why I'm scared:

It requires organization, patience, creativity and motivation.  All of these things, I do not have. 

Its a huge commitment.  I would be responsible for her education.  That's HUGE!

What will people think?  I know this shouldn't matter and when we make our final decision, this will not be a factor in it  but it is still there in the back of my mind.  I can't help it!

B is in french immersion now.  Speaking a 2nd language is a huge gift.  One that I don't think I can give her on my own.  

My plan for now is to just get through this year.  After that, we'll see what happens.

Wish me luck...tomorrow will be all about learning how to balance 3 kids, housework and the letter A!