You've mentioned your religion before on here, and how it guides your family life. Did you grow up practicing this religion, or is it something you came to later in life?
Did you go to college? If so what's your degree in?
Yes. I was a dance major and completed three years before having to drop out for medical reasons. I then ended up finishing a BS in business. I was two semesters into a masters program, but decided to drop out when DH and I started making family plans. I knew I wanted to SAH full-time and didn't want to take on the debt.
You've mentioned your religion before on here, and how it guides your family life. Did you grow up practicing this religion, or is it something you came to later in life?
I grew up Lutheran, but my parents were more of what I would call CINOs (Christians in Name Only). Religion was something we did once a week on Sunday morning, but was never a part of our daily home life and the Bible was never really read outside of church. I strayed from the faith in my late teens/college years.
After college I met DH, whose faith has always been important to him, although he was raised in different denominations (his dad was Christian Science, his mom was home-churched, and he went to everything from baptist to non-denom churches growing up). Through our interactions with another Christian couple I was saved at age 24.
Coming into the faith as an adult makes you have to do a lot of Bible research about what you do and don't believe and what church would be a good fit. I threw myself into the Bible and verses would really stick out, forcing me to evaluate certain life choices. It just became a guide for how I wanted to live my life.
We don't fit well into any specific denomination. I've taken online quizzes and my beliefs align most closely with Presbyterianism. But people often ask if we are a form of Mennonite, Pentecostal, or German Baptist. We currently attend a Missionary Alliance church for fellowship, even though we differ quite a bit in doctrine, and we homechurch when we cannot attend because of the kids.
I'd love to learn more about how you homeschool your children. What does the structure of a 'school day' look like at your house? What kinds of fun field trips have you gone on?
Oh, my. The structure seems to change with each season of life. In the four years we've been officially homeschooling we've done lots of trial and error - everything from a strict schedule to unschooling. We've now reached a good balance. We do school year round to avoid summer learning loss and so we only have to do it three days a week and can take breaks when we need to.
On the three days we do formal lessons we try to do them when the baby is napping. My kids are young, so it doesn't take much time. The boys have formal math, language arts, Bible, and history right now. DD1 just started math last month and will begin language arts in the fall. Book work takes around two hours to complete.
Science is nature study. They have a workbook they complete on their own and it all happens outside, sort of training them to be naturalists. They do lots of observing nature and sketching it. They also capture things to observe. We're currently waiting for a Black Swallowtail butterfly to emerge from a cocoon. They caught the caterpillar and fed it until it pupated.
We have done lots of fun field trips - zoos, aquariums, museums, farms, etc. We did one last month with local police to learn about basic safety. We go to the library every week to get our book list and often do the children's garden next door if they behave. One of my favorite field trips so far was a Civil War reenactment. The kids learned a lot. It felt like they were living in the middle of the books they read.
We have been part of homeschool co-ops in the past. I taught a chess class in one a few years ago, but we took last year off because of the pregnancy. We are still debating on whether or not to join this year. The kids aren't old enough to need the classes yet. We may join just for the field trips with other kids.
I can answer any other questions about specific curricula choices or other logistical stuff. I could write a novel on this, but don't want to bore everyone. Just ask if you're interested.
Also, related... ask me anything, right? As someone who is very close to her faith and homeschooled her children: How have you or will you take on the science of creation vs evolution?
We are not young earth creationists. We feel there is room in Scripture for both to be taught side-by-side. We are introducing the kids to all theories, but approaching them from a Biblical worldview, if that makes sense. For example, perhaps when God said "Let there be light" a big bang of light happened.
Basically we don't pretend to have the definitive answer on that question. We have the Word of God, but we also have science. The two can live in harmony and the more I learn about science, the more I actually believe in an intelligent Designer.
Is your garden your only source of produce, or do you also purchase produce?
The goal is to only eat what we grow, but we live in Ohio and love things like bananas and oranges. We grow what we can and buy whatever we can locally in bulk to preserve for winter and then supplement with fresh from the grocery store.
What other things do you do to save money to help with being a single-income household?
I worked part-time up until a few years ago. We had to downsize homes in order to afford me SAH and it took forever to sell. To save money we downsized big time - cut our square footage in half and went from a newer house in the burbs to an old farmhouse. The farm also saves money, allowing is to grow a big garden and hopefully next year raise our own chickens and hogs.
We save lots of money buying in bulk. I shop at Sam's Club and online through Azure Standard. 50 pounds of oats costs way less per pound than what we could buy at the store.
We do not have home internet, home phone or cable. We use internet through our cell phones. We rent movies and TV series free through the library.
Entertainment is where we save tons of money. Besides not paying for TV, movies, and Internet, we don't spend money on expensive vacations (we tent camp at national parks instead) or go out to movies/restaurants. Going to a restaurant with the whole family would costs us half our weekly grocery budget, and besides, we have a kid with anaphylactic food allergies and worry about cross contamination. We don't have a pool membership - we swim for free at a family member's pond.
We are blessed by family members. My sister gives me all of my niece's hand-me-downs, which keep my girls in clothes. A coworker of my husband's gives us his grandson's hand-me-downs for my boys. We gladly accept stuff others are getting rid of. Even DH and I shop for used clothing. After this baby, when none of my clothes fit, I spent $15 at Goodwill on shirts and now have enough to get me through the week. Not caring about fashion saves so much money.
I cut my boys' hair and don't spend money on my own appearance really. No hair styling or pedicures. I don't wear make-up. That kind of stuff can get expensive.
I cloth diaper and have with all the babies, which has saved us thousands over the years.
We don't spend money on home decor - we but nice quality, classic items that will last forever instead of trendy cheaper stuff made to look nice and be replaced often.
We live very comfortably, but not extravagantly. We eat mostly organic. We sacrifice some things to make room for what matters to us.
TLDR - we save a lot on food and have lots of used stuff
Do you ever wear pants in the privacy of your home?
Yes, while working out or doing outside labor that would be dangerous in a skirt. Like this weekend - I was picking wild berries in our woods and there is poison ivy all around. I wanted my legs covered.
That's my favorite company to order from. I have many different types and fabrics from them. I love their cloth wide headbands. But the two I linked are the most practical and what I wear most often.
How old were you when you married? How old were you when you had your first baby?
We got married when I was 25. I turned 26 a month later. DS1 was born almost exactly nine months after our wedding date. He wasn't concieved until a month into the marriage, but was born three weeks early, so he looks like a honeymoon baby.
That's my favorite company to order from. I have many different types and fabrics from them. I love their cloth wide headbands. But the two I linked are the most practical and what I wear most often.
Oh that first one is really cute! So you also regularly wear a cover at home as well? Do your daughters?
What kind of vehicle do you drive that can fit all of your kiddos?
We had a 1999 GMC Suburban that I loved. We could have fit six kids in it. But it died in January (an hour away from home when I had all the kids with me - it was a nightmare).
A coworker of DH was getting rid of her 2002 Honda Odyssey so we bought it from her for a steal as a short term solution. We are hoping to get a few more years out of it. If we have another baby we'll probably get a used passenger van. We also joke about getting a short bus. Lol
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