mommydama

We are starting school back up tomorrow after an entire month off. I don't remember when we've ever taken an entire month off of school before. It was nice, but I'm ready to get back into it. A lot of tweaking has been done, some simplifying, due to our circumstances and some decisions for this year's curriculum are still in the air. One of those is a coop. There are two options and I'm not sure which one I will be choosing. One is an Orthodox Christian coop meeting the second and fourth Fridays of the month. The classes offered (art and science) are just what I want, ages are appropriate, and they meet at our parish, but since it is only twice a month, I will have to supplement and build my own curriculum in addition to it. Despite that, I would prefer this one emotionally/sociall as it incorporates weekday liturgies and other services and the parents are directly involved. The other is a Protestant one meeting at a local LARGE Baptist church. It meets once a week, very organized and more like a part time school, the girls would have "homework" and the curriculum would be all laid out for me. It costs a lot though and would not really improve my social life as it is a drop off situation(not that I couldn't volunteer). Both are very Charlotte Mason/Classical in their approach. I'm still trying to decide. I need to figure it out soon.

Here is curriculum for this fall:
Math: Math Mammoth (www.mathmammoth.com)
History/Geography: Ages of Grace (agesofgrace.com)
Literature/Reading: Ages of Grace
Copywork: Paidea Cursive/Ages of Grace (paideaclassics.org)
Grammar: Easy Grammar (www.easygrammar.com/index2.html)
Spelling: Spectrum Spelling
Science: finish Noeo Chemistry/coop
Typing: Dance mat and various online games
Spanish: Rosetta Stone
Music: Piano lessons/Ages of Grace Eight Tones study
Art: Coop/Ages of Grace Picture Study

The girls also have American Heritage Girls starting in a couple of weeks and various sports (Maria-soccer, Zoe-gymnastics, Luci-karate). Luci will still be in Brain Balance for about six more weeks. Between all this and counseling, doctor, dentist, orthodontist appts and moving into our new home, the next few months should be just about...too busy.

Good thing. I need to avoid as much thinking as possible.

Some friends and family have asked about this, so here it is.

I'm not sure if I ever posted about this here or not, but shortly after arriving in Kansas, Luci began the Brain Balance program. It is 36 weeks long. We were extremely fortunate in that my FIL is a supporter of the Center here in Kansas and all the pieces fell into place for us to avail ourselves of this. I'm very grateful for that. I was a bit skeptical of the whole process and concept at first, but the more testing we did on her the more I realized that Brain Balance did it ALL. They cover all the bases. It all makes sense. I highly recommend that anyone lucky enough to have a center in their area go attend one of their free informational sessions. If not, check out the books Disconnected Kids and Reconnected Kids.

So I went to Luci's first Progess Report meeting a few days ago. First of all, I was getting a tad freaked out about Luci's behavior about a week before this meeting. Regression does not even begin to cover it. Tantrums, clinginess, infantile behavior...it was scary. I was about to panic and take her for a serious psych eval, when I happened to overhear a conversation between to moms in the Brain Balance waiting room and jumped in (so rude, but what are you gonna do?) to ask them about it. They were discussing just this kind of thing and smiled knowingly when I described how Luci was acting, telling me it was all "a part of the process" of "making new brain connections." So I asked about it at the progress report meeting and the director said the same thing, that her behavior, provided the negatives go away within about two weeks, is perfectly normal for kids going through the program. Sure enough, about two weeks after it started, I'm seeing these behaviors slowing down and I'm very hopeful. Of course, the director warned me that they have these progress reports strategically placed because these are the spots where parents start freaking out. And that we will probably see more of this before she is through.

Luci's test results show she has moved up at least one "level" in just about every area. Reading comprehension and cause and effect/inferences have moved up TWO GRADE LEVELS! I'm thrilled about this and so is she. It is obvious she is enjoying reading in a whole new way.

What does this program involve? It involves strengthening the connections between the brain hemispheres as well as strengthening the "weak" side of the brain. Luci is weak on the right side. And she tested as still retaining most of her infantile reflexes. The center program includes both academic and sensory motor exercises aimed at her specific weaknesses and the home program they design does the same. Most of Luci's home program involves movement activities for the reflexes. This is apparently REALLY important to brain balance and the connections between the hemispheres. For instance, one of the exercises has her doing a crawling movement and another has her rolling into a fetal position on one side and then the other. There are also eye strengthening activities, balance and coordination, and "midline" exercises as well as upper and lower body strengthening. It is all put together for us, all the issues I could think of put together in one program.

I'm pretty sure we are on the right track. I'll try to update here about the whole process periodically.

This is kind of an interesting way to illustrate some of the differences in the Orthodox Christian and the mainstream Protestant Christian understanding of salvation. Disclaimer: I am well aware that not all Protestant Christians believe or teach the same things about salvation. But the view depicted in this video IS the one I was taught growing up and I was a member of several churches with this view as an adult before becoming Orthodox. I am of the opinion that the majority of mainstream Protestant Churches teach this view. It is most often referred to as the "Substitutionary Atonement", I think.

The changing fur of a zuchon (shih tzu/bichon mix), for mairesue

Puppy coat






Adult coat at its worst, I don't usually keep her this long. She is very short for the summer right now. I'll have to try and get a pic.



She has some gray on her ears still and some apricot on her tail and ears, but for the most part is a "dark" white. Doesn't even look like the same dog.

This is kind of random but...


I'm getting super annoyed by the reviews I've been reading of Brain Balance Centers. The bizarre critiques being made are obviously being made by people who know absolutely nothing about the place or its methodology. I was really looking hard for both positive and negative criticism about it and am finding virtually nothing on the negative side that makes much sense.

First critique? That there are no scientifically based, placebo controlled, double blind studies done on their methods. Can someone point me to all the studies that meet this criteria on all the myriad drugs being given to children for these same disorders? Did you know that many, MANY of them have NEVER BEEN TESTED ON CHILDREN? Did you know that is exactly what happened with children's cold medications? They were never tested on children, they were just given in smaller doses and marketed as soon as possible. We all gave our kids these drugs for years before the FDA woke up and realized they were not only unsafe, many of them DIDN'T EVEN WORK ON KIDS! Give me break. Nothing the BBCs are doing is harmful in any way. The sensory-motor, behavioral and dietary therapy they give have just as much support as most drugs and no side effects.

Second critique? Like many of these "therapy" or "tutoring" centers they have not opened their methods up to public scrutiny and are proprietary and secretive. Okay, that one is just plain ludicrous. Dr. Melillo wrote two entire books outlining, in detail, not only the evaluations, but the entire program so that people who were so inclined could do it AT HOME! It is a somewhat complicated program and would take some major work and time to go through on your own, which is why there are experts on it working in the centers. Like any good therapy program, it is not just a "do this this and this and it will work". Someone with a lot of experience and training in the program will probably be better at it. This is why we have tutors and teachers and doctors to help us do things we can't or don't want to do ourselves. This is why BBCs exist. If you hire someone to landscape your yard because they have a natural knack for it, doesn't this make just as much sense? Sheesh.

Third critique? It is very expensive and they are not up front about this. Okay...this one I'm concerned about myself. However...the FOUR HOUR evaluation is not expensive AT ALL. It is true that they would not give me an estimate over the phone about the actual therapy because there were "just too many variables". But having the eval puts you under no obligation to use their program and they were very up front about the possibility that they could not help us. You child has to fit certain criteria. Also, after doing some research, I now have a pretty good idea of what it would cost and it is no more than any other private tutoring/therapy program I have found.

So...I'm done ranting. I'm just so tired of this crap. Why do I constantly feel the need to defend myself? Why am I so insecure? Part of it is that I really DON'T know what I'm doing right now and I freely admit it. I'm trying, desperately, to learn. And you know what? When you are learning you tend to make mistakes. Take wrong turns. Get lost a few times. But I also am trying to have faith in God and myself...that He gave me these kids for a reason and will help me navigate the path to raising them the best way I possibly can. And that I have been given the talents and abilities to do that. So I'm using them. Research and trial and error. It is all I've got right now. I may very well eat my words about BBCs. I don't "believe" in them anymore than I do any other kind of therapy for LDs and behavioral disorders. I just think they have what looks like a good option. So...whatever. I have a headache now.

A good thing to be excited about? Katherine Johnson's (of the blog Evlogia fame) new Orthodox homeschooling curriculum, Ages of Grace. It will be out any day now. I cannot wait! She did a podcast about it today that is wonderful and enlightening and really stoked my excitement to a fever pitch : http://ancientfaith.com/podcasts/features/ages_of_grace. You really must listen to it!


On a more sober note, I am almost positive that Luci has dyslexia/discalculia and everything that goes along with that. We are having her formally evaluated, but there is really no doubt in my mind. She fits the criteria to a T. And I am hoping and praying that an actual formal "diagnosis" will lead us to some people that can help me help her. I do not truly understand why, but it seems that one of the biggest downsides of this is already the pressure I'm getting to put her in school. My husband and I are feeling very much adrift in a sea of naysayers. This makes literally NO SENSE to me, as all the research indicates the public schools in this country are failing children with dyslexia...roundly failing. What usually happens, both according to research and my own experience, is that dyslexic children are given "help" in the form of crutches such as calculators and an aid to read all tests to them, so that they do not bring down the schools' testing averages. But they don't actually get TAUGHT how to overcome their disabilities. That is absolutely not okay with me. I am not saying there are not excellent teachers and therapists out there helping dyslexic children in wonderful, successful ways. But how do I find them everywhere we go without losing huge chunks of time? How can I ever, in my lifestyle, ensure that Luci always has one? The only way I can ensure that Luci has an excellent teacher/therapist no matter where we live or how many times we move is if I BECOME that person. And so...with the help of every excellent teacher/therapist I can find right here where I am right now, I will do my utmost to become that person. I've already found some excellent resources and am excited about another learning adventure. I will be a student until the day I die, I think.

Brad is taking the day off tomorrow and we are going to Elitch Gardens (local amusement park) for their "homeschool day". Lots of other homeschoolers there I hope. I also hope...it doesn't snow. Heh. Supposed to be sunny with a high in the upper sixties, so we should be good. Snow and roller coasters probably don't mix very well.

I have found a new blog to love. These two posts made me want to stand up and cheer. I wish I had that guts to say these things to some of the intrusive people in my life, but the fact is I don't. I can't even bring myself to post these on Facebook because I'm so afraid of upsetting people. Most of the people I will upset, do not read here or at least not often and I hope if they do read it, they will understand that I love them and think they are doing good in the world and are dedicated, hard working, inspiring people. I have just chosen a different path. And I feel pretty dang strongly about it or I would not have chosen it.


http://itsabeautifulwreck.com/2010/11/why-do-homeschool-homeschooling-five-part/

http://itsabeautifulwreck.com/2010/11/part-i-homeschool-because-i-am-selfish-homeschooling-five/

I'm very confused by something....

I love to make slide shows of my girls and set them to songs that are meaningful to me. But I can no longer upload them to facebook or photobucket because there is some kind of copyright law I don't get. How do I share these slide shows? Is it just impossible because of copyright issues? How are there so many of the same kind of thing on youtube? Family slideshows set to music? I'm so confused. Anyone who can help me with this, I would be very grateful. I'd love to share these with large numbers of family and friends.

JOY OF THE FEAST TO ALL! CHRIST IS RISEN!