"Life doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful."-Annette FunicelloWhen I first started teaching I handmade a little sign that said "Life doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful." and hung it in my classroom.  I thought it was fitting since I was teaching in a lock down school where many of the students were fighting addictions or abusive pasts.Later I hung the same sign in my classroom at a junior high where I taught special education.  Again I thought it was fitting.Today that little sign ... View the Post

"The most effective kind of education is that a child should play amongst lovely things."-PlatoSometimes as a mother I beat myself up.  (I'm sure none of you ever do that, right?)I think am I doing this right, am I doing enough of that, am I giving them enough of this, and I should have done that and that and that better.These questions and doubts float around in my brain more than I'd like. But the other day Grace and I were "working" on the floor in our jammies while Ruth napped.  I was ... View the Post

This week I've been working on Facet No. 5 "Meet the Minute" from Daryl Hoole's "The Art of Homemaking" book.   The first words of the chapter are:  "An ideal homemaker makes the best use of her time and energy by being efficient...." And then the chapter outlines 10 different ways to become efficient---everything from maintaining good working conditions to eliminating unnecessary steps.  In the weeks to come I'll be working on those steps but this week, after reading the chapter I combined the ... View the Post

photo sourceThe week before last when I wrote this Art of Homemaking post or even the week before that when I posted about the "touch it once" motto I could have titled either of those posts, "Because Tomorrow is Another Day." You see up until recently that is how how I've dealt with things I haven't wanted to do (things like folding the giant laundry pile, cleaning out the pantry, and sorting the toys in the toy bins).  I always think, well...it doesn't have to be done right now and after all ... View the Post