Author Archives: Adriana Zoder

Dec 1 2014

Mom Monday Week 48 – If Only

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This week, I took the kids to see The Nutcracker. Is there anything more beautiful around the holidays? I think not. “Our” Nutcracker is performed by The Appalachian Ballet Company. They have been doing this show for 46 years now.

If only we could go through life as gracefully as ballerinas, perpetual smiles on our faces. Sigh. Big sigh. At this time of the year, I am struck by the idea of grace, graciousness, and gracefulness. Not just achieving goals, but the manner in which we achieve them. The beauty of Tchaikovsky’s music, the colorful costumes, the ethereal gliding of ballerinas remind me it’s not just about getting to the destination. It’s also about the journey. Mainly, it is the journey that counts more than anything.

Mom Monday Devotional for Homeschooling Moms

Both my kids loved it. My son told me at the end, “It was wonderful, mommy! I loved it.” My daughter made several positive comments throughout the show. Well, that’s a relief. It was their first time seeing a ballet and this gives me permission to take them back to see another one.  Continue reading »

Nov 24 2014

Mom Monday Week 47 – Thanksgiving Every Day

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The idea of taking one day out of the year to eat well and think about what you are thankful for really, really appeals to me. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, if not THE most favorite. I like the Thanksgiving menu and the whole idea behind the holiday. I think about the Pilgrims and what they had to go through – can you tell I am an immigrant? I know the feeling of looking back on my first year in a foreign country (Sweden and then the US) and knowing God’s protection and blessing has been upon me.

Thanksgiving Everyday

Having said all that, Thanksgiving should happen every day, in my opinion. Personally, I have chosen to write down ten gifts I already have in my life – every day. It’s a great reminder to walk away from discontentment and into the attitude of gratitude.

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Nov 17 2014

Mom Monday Week 46 – Thanksgiving Holiday

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That’s it, folks! No more school for the next seven days. I am declaring a Thanksgiving Holiday this week. I need to catch up on housework, writing deadlines and editing my new book, 101 Tips for Kindergarten at Home. I can’t believe it has taken me so long to get it out, but it’s a great lesson. Our plans get interrupted by life. And we all know that life is what happens while you are busy making other plans…

mom monday wk46

I spoke with another homeschooling mom who shared the same dilemma: how do you get it all done? If you focus on housework, school work will lag behind. If you keep all the school assignments up to date, your house starts looking like a tornado just went through and the laundry piles turn into small hills.

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Nov 11 2014

Snake Oil Educational Games Review

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Out of the Box Games offers fun educational products and we were glad to review Snake Oil – Party Potion. This particular game is for ages eight to adult, but my children had no problem playing it. They are seven and four.

I did have to read the cards for my daughter, who is four and does not read long words. And, sometimes, I had to give her an idea of how to put the cards together, but she relished it. She asked for help and quickly repeated out loud what I was suggesting to her. This was a great experience for her because she loves games. She is my playful one – everything is funny and fun to her. On the other hand, she hates to lose and she lost a few times.

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Nov 10 2014

Mom Monday Week 45 – Enjoy!

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When was the last time you had lunch or dinner at your local Olive Garden? For those not living in the US, Olive Garden is an Italian restaurant (American-style, of course), which stays full pretty much all the time. Wherever you go in the US, if you find yourself in an Olive Garden restaurant, you will be told by a server, “Enjoy!”

As far as I know, this is the closest American equivalent of “Buon apetito!” – have a good appetite – which many European languages and cultures have before a meal.

mom monday wk45

 

I remember the cultural shock of some American evangelical missionaries who came to Romania. Before meals, everybody wished them a good appetite. These sons and daughters of the Pilgrims told us they pray before a meal. They don’t wish each other to have a good appetite. It’s enough to make one smile, right? Continue reading »

Nov 3 2014

Mom Monday Week 44 – All Sugared Up

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It seems that I wage a daily battle against sugar. This season, more so than other months. Between Halloween, my son’s birthday, and my husband’s birthday, we have been floating through a sea of candy, chocolate and cake. Coming up in three short weeks, Thanksgiving itself, with several pies for dessert.

Look, I am health-minded enough to say, “No candy.” But my husband thinks our kids should be allowed to have a bit of candy now and then, as long as they behave. Thank God for my husband, who balances me out. So we dance this dance daily, negotiating how many pieces of candy corn we should allow or if we should allow any at all.

mom monday wk44

It is our responsibility as parents to raise children who understand nutrition and what is good for their bodies. Sugar is not good for your body. Period. Taste buds do not have to be trained to like sugar. It is concentrated enough to overwhelm and give an addiction after a few tries. American sweets seem to have a lot more sugar than European ones, too.

A friend of mine has not given her daughter, who is two, any sugar yet. As a result, this child is calm, peaceful, and reasons from cause to effect. Yes, even at two. I watched it happen and it helped me stay even more resolute against sugary foods.  Continue reading »

Oct 27 2014

Mom Monday Week 43 – A Thorn in the Flesh

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Many of you may be familiar with Apostle Paul’s expression, “a thorn in the flesh,” the Christian equivalent of Achilles’ heel – a weakness, a downfall, an irritating situation or physical ailment that one has to live with. Something that can only be managed and not get rid of.

mom monday wk43

But Paul was not just venting about his weak eyesight in 2 Corinthians 12:7 when he said, “Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.”

His intention was to teach all of us a huge lesson. Those weak spots in yourself, be they physical ailments, bad habits, lack of skills, or whatever else holds you back, were allowed by God in you for your own good. That’s right. The very thing that you see as a weakness actually helps propel you forward in your character.

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Oct 27 2014

Clued In Kids Review

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This post covers a couple of products from Clued In Kids, a Soccer Treasure Hunt and a Thanksgiving Treasure Hunt. I always like it when I can share information with my children and they do not even know they are absorbing new concepts. I’m not a fan of making learning fun 100% of the time and at all costs. But, as far as possible, I try to make sure that school time is enjoyable.

For those who have never heard of a treasure hunt, it is an activity which starts with you hiding different clues in different spots around your home. The first one, you hand to your children and they go looking for the second clue after they solve the first one. After 12 clues, they find the treasure, which could be anything you think they would appreciate: a small toy, a game, a cupcake, a treat, a ticket to a special place, chocolate etc. For us, it was lollipops.

Kids showing off lolly pops

The Thanksgiving hunt ends in the laundry room, with the treasure buried in the dryer.

I have a stash of them in my car because the bank tellers give them to me every time we go through there. So they were actually free. If you have a re-gifting closet or shelf, if you can print a nice coloring page for them to find as the treasure, if you have a bag of marshmallows drying in the pantry, you’re in business. You don’t have to go out and spend money on something big for them to find at the end of the treasure hunt. These are just some ideas. You know what makes your children tick more than anybody else.

Clued In Kids Logo

These treasure hunts contain practice in math, social studies, history, science and other subjects. They also have different themes. They are printable PDFs. Of course you can always print them black-and-white, but I thought they looked so much better in color. I think it’s worth splurging on color if at all possible.

Clued In Kids Thanksgiving

The pages will have to be cut in half, because each 8 1/2 x 11 piece of paper contains two clues. Do not print these both sided. Obviously, you want to have each clue hiding in a different place.  Continue reading »

Oct 22 2014

McClung Museum Stroller Tours

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A couple of months ago, I discovered that the McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture offers several free tours for families with children. Stroller tours are such events. As the name suggests, it is intended for adults who care for small children, ages 0-4. Since my youngest is still four, I decided to take advantage of this window of opportunity and try out a Stroller Tour.

Boy and girl in front of the McClung Museum

The kids in front of the McClung Museum

In short, we loved it. We are going back until she turns five next year. Then, we’ll have to make a decision: beg to be admitted for more as an exception to the age rule, or beg for something similar to be offered for school-age children. When there’s a will, there’s a way. Hopefully.

Birds Bugs Blooms

The October Stroller Tour was called Birds, Bugs and Blooms – Natural History Illustration from the 1500s-1800s. The exhibit itself will stay up through January, so you have a few more months to check it out. As a publishing person, I was fascinated with the history of books dealing with natural illustrations. My kids loved the pictures and the museum itself.  Continue reading »

Oct 20 2014

Mom Monday Week 42 – When It Rains

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You have heard the expression, “When it rains, it pours.” You have experienced it in all its symbolic glory, no doubt. When the kids misbehave, they all misbehave at once, while you are talking on your cell, getting a meal ready and watching helplessly as the house phone rings – no doubt, hubby trying to let you know something important.

mom monday wk42

When bad news hits, it hits on all fronts: your work, your kids’ health, their school performance, your husband’s parents etc etc etc. Fortunately, the rain which pours can also bring about happy events, all at once. Happy in our limited scope and worldview, mind you, for we have established several weeks back that all is relative and that all things work together for good, according to Romans 8:28 and many other Bible verses.  Continue reading »