Do Whatever He Tells You.

No, I Do Not Need A Break!

2011-12-31T20:45:00.000-08:00

I have often wondered why almost everyone who does not homeschool their children seem to think two things about me. One, that I must be saintly to want to spend all day, every day with my children, and two, that I need a break from them as often as possible in order to maintain my sanity. People worry about me, and enquire with concerned looks as to how often I am able to get away for a break from my children. I do enjoy time on my own, but it is not a pressing need that must be met on a weekly basis! People often exclaim that they could never do what I do, and often say that being with their children all day would drive them crazy! But do they react in the same way to women who work full time?

I know from experience that what I do day in and day out, is a walk in the park compared to going out to work full time. I no longer rush around packing lunches, arranging child care, making sure the washing is out before 7am, rush in the door in the evening to put on dinner and to find that by the children's bed time I haven't spent so much as ten minutes with my children. I do not need to sit up into the small hours marking exams, writing reports or planning lessons as I did when I worked as a high school English and History teacher.

Back then no one ever insisted that I needed to get away, despite the fact that as a teacher I spent most of my day with children, exactly as I do now! No one looked at me with pity or incredulity because they couldn't imagine how I could possibly manage! After six years of astounded looks, and concern for my lack of "me time" I feel for women who work full time. Do people continually question their ability to cope with the obvious demands of a forty hour week, and caring for their home and family? Do people genuinely believe that what I do as a homeschooler is so much more challenging than full time employment that it warrants all the concern and worry? Why wasn't I overwhelmed with concerns for my welfare when I was teaching other people's children all day?

There simply can be no comparison between what I do all day, and what women who work full time do during their days. I do not need to rush in the morning, I have no deadlines except for arriving at archery on time one morning a week, and Mass on a Sunday. I am able to leisurely learn with my children, enjoy their company (yes it is possible!) and keep house at the same time, whilst in my pyjamas if I feel like it!

I have lived both realities, and I know which is easier. We may have less money, but we certainly have more than enough despite one modest income. We do not go without, and excepting a small mortgage, we have no debt. So where is the need for concern? I lead a blessed life which I wish more women could share in.

The only conclusion I can come to is that many dislike children so much that the thought that someone would gladly choose to teach their children at home is incomprehensible to them. One only has to reflect on how many people put off having children so that they can "have a life" as if a full life is impossible once one is "burdened" with children.

I find it indescribably sad that people would think that choosing to be with my children each day could be anything other than what it is. An incredibly privileged and joyful experience. My children are not a burden, and I most certainly do not need a break from them!

(Apologies for the lack of paragraphing. Blogger seems to be playing up on me again.)

A Little Different.

2011-07-03T01:18:00.000-07:00

When I was growing up, there were two things about me that were different. The first being that I am an only child. Back in the 1970s and 80s this made me something of an oddity! The most common reaction I received was jealously! This was an emotion which I most definitely did not understand as I was desperate for a sibling.

The second thing was less talked about. I was born with a cleft lip and palate. Growing up I was painfully aware that I looked a little different from other children. I was teased on several occasions, but the worst I can remember was the rather dull offering of "fat lip" by a rather fat boy in sixth class! The main source of my discomfort was the knowledge that I did look different. When I thought about my appearance I wondered what people thought of me, and if they would like me despite my difference. Being of a naturally shy disposition didn't help my lack of self-esteem.

I was aware that I was somewhat lucky when compared with other children born with the same condition. My cleft is unilateral, rather than bilateral, and I had enough skin on my upper lip to form a not too thin top lip. The thing which gave me the most discomfort was the base of my nose which, like most with a cleft lip, is somewhat out of alignment!

The times I felt most different were when I looked at my pre-operation baby photos. It was a little confronting to remember that the unattractive baby in the photos was me! My parents wisely did not hide the photos from me, and answered all my questions. At the time I wasn't aware that there are countless children in poverty stricken countries who did not have access to the surgery that made me just like everyone else. Now I am acutely aware how fortunate I was to be born in a country were I had the opportunity to lead a totally normal life.

As a teen and young adult I did at times wonder if I was pretty enough for someone to really love me, but it wasn't something I ruminated on. The only other time I gave it much thought was during pregnancy when I breathed a slight of relief as the stenographer showed us our baby's fully formed lip!

So today when a lady at church nervously approached me to discuss my lip I was reminded of what it means to be born a little different. This lady has an adult son with a cleft lip and palate and she wanted to affirm and encourage me which was lovely! Her son had a more difficult time of it than me, as he had less bone in his upper jaw and was bullied more than myself. She also related the story of a man who approached her to ensure that she did not shun her son as he had been shunned by his parents, who were embarrassed by his appearance. When I hear stories like these I am reminded of my blessed I have been!

A Quote.

2011-05-25T03:19:00.000-07:00

Saint Thomas More has always been one of my favourite saints. I remember learning about him as a teenager, and being in awe of his courage. This quote is so encouraging.

"The ordinary acts we practice everyday at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest."

The Long Goodbye.

2011-05-13T18:50:00.000-07:00

Years before my Father died I had already begun to say goodbye. The day after James and I became engaged to be married, Dad, went into hospital for what was supposed to be a short stay for an operation to prepare him to once again begin kidney dialysis. Over four months later he came home. During his stay in hospital he was in intensive care for several days, and wasn't expected to live. He lost over 20 kilos, as a virus which the doctors could not control took hold of his body. When he eventually came home he looked like a World War II prisoner of war survivor! We knew then that every day was a gift. In my heart I knew that he would not be with us for a long time. So in a way, I had begun to say goodbye two years before he died of an aneurysm, four months before the birth of my first child.

Since that day there have been many little opportunities to say farewell. Such as when Mum sold Dad's beloved Scandalli piano accordion, or when the house in which he lost consciousness was sold, and even when I fed my son sourdough muffins Dad had made which I had frozen! These were days to remember, cry, laugh, and to whisper"goodbye" as the invisible threads were cut to the man I called Dad.

Today was one such day. Today Mum sold the building in which she and my father built a successful small business, Proudies Hot Bread. It was a rather emotional day for Mum and I, as so much of our lives have been connected to that place, and to the memories created within its walls.

After the hammer had fallen at the auction memories were shared about the 15 years she and my father were in business. Such as how one day Mum had received a call from my father in which he asked her to add up all the money they could get hold of, and to include what they might get for the tent under the house! He had been approached by the owner of Wally Gate's Supermarket, who was retiring and thought that perhaps my parents would be interesting in purchasing the building. They sold their house and the tent, and we lived in the little flat above the shop for a year before they were in a position to buy another house. During that year I can remember waking during the night to the sounds of clunking bread tins, machinery, and laughter!

The building became a backdrop to my childhood and early adulthood. I went to primary school in the same suburb, played with the neighbourhood children, and had my first job slicing endless loaves of bread! After my parents sold the business, I worked there for a year before beginning university.

Parents teach their children many things. One of the best things my father taught me was the value of living a considered life. He wasn't the type of sit back and just let life happen to him. Rather he decided what he wanted form life and put a plan into action to make it happen.

My dad knew about passion! His first love was bread making. There was nothing about bread he didn't know! He could talk about bread for HOURS! He was one of those blessed souls who loved getting up in the morning, or in his case the middle of the night, to go to work. For him it wasn't work. He would often say he was going to play!

Thirteen years after his death I still miss him terribly! But I see him in my eldest son who has the same body shape and seems to be developing the same wacky sense of humour. I often hear his voice when I open my mouth, like the time a few weeks ago when I couldn't resist annoying Bilby, who was not amused! "You're annoying. " he calmly said to which I replied, "Yeah, it's good isn't it!" before I stopped in my tracks as this was the exact thing Dad would say to me after an unsuccessful attempt to be funny!

Today was a day to say goodbye to the last physical *thing* that connected me to my father. It was a day to celebrate and to reminisce. It was also a day of hope. Hope that the faith we have in Christ will mean that we will meet again!

It's Autism Awareness Month.

2011-04-15T02:38:00.001-07:00

April is Autism awareness month. It's a time to educate others about Autism Spectrum Disorders, and to celebrate the blessing that our children with an ASD are. At Roo's school they celebrated with Blue Day, where they dressed in blue, ate blue foods, made blue crafts and generally celebrated being autistic.

Some might find that last statement confronting. It seems to be an oxymoron. How can one celebrate having autism? Isn't autism a tragedy that would be best mourned rather than embraced? Autism as most know it today, can be celebrated. Our children have access to wonderful services which can greatly enhance their lives and those of their families. Certainly there is a time for mourning once a diagnosis of ASD is received, but after that it's time to focus on the positives. There are still many, many times when I look at Roo and feel a stab of disappointment that he isn't able to do the exact same things as other children his age. But increasingly those moments are becoming rare. He fills our lives with so much joy, laughter and opportunities for growth. Only a few short years ago I wondered if he would ever talk, now can chatter away with the best of them!

Autism is still a largely misunderstood diagnosis. If you asked people what ASD is, most would describe a child or adult who is non verbal, cannot make eye contact and has an intellectual disability. This is a totally inaccurate picture of ASD. Autism is a spectrum which has a great range of skills and abilities. To assume that people with autism are largely incapable of emotion, communication and generally living an independent fulfilling lives, is to see only a very narrow group of people who live with autism.

We have one son with Aspergers, and one with PDD-NOS (atypical autism) which essentially means that to most people who briefly meet our boys, they seem as *normal* as the next person. Spend a little more time with them and you would notice subtle differences. We see these differences as just that, differences not disabilities. Yes, those differences can present challenges, but they also have skills which the rest of us can only envy! Koala, who has Aspergers has a wonderful memory. This gives him a real advantage over his brother when it comes to studying! Many children with Autism will not lie, and they have a very clear sense of right and wrong, despite what others around them are doing.

If there is one thing I would wish for people to understand about Autism is that it is not a byword for stupid. On several occasions people have started to talk to Roo as if he were unable to understand much of anything. On two occasions people have held two fingers in front of my son and asked him how many, in a very condescending voice. This was at a time when he can count to 100!

So this April take a little time to learn about autism. If you can get hold of it, watch the movie about Temple Grandin, take a look at Tony Attwood's website, or even just smile, or offer a prayer for the next person you see in a supermarket whose child appears to be having a tantrum, because it could be that the child is having a sensory meltdown, NOT that he just needs stronger discipline.

No doubt there are several people within your circle who have an ASD. A little more understanding will go a long way to make those with autism and their families feel more comfortable and understood.

Homeschool Family Retreat.

2011-04-15T01:39:00.000-07:00

A few hours ago we returned from our fourth visit to Fitzroy Falls for the Catholic Homeschool Retreat. Once again it was a wonderful week with daily Mass, confession, rosary, spiritual talks for adults and children, time for making friends, sports, and no cooking!

Below is a photo of the rosary procession with Bishop Porteous (who visited on Tuesday) carrying the Body of Our Lord.

Without fail I return from camp feeling spiritually refreshed and uplifted. One of the highlights for me are the spiritual talks for the parents, which are given by clergy while the children have their own spiritual sessions. It is a wonderful blessing to have such holy priests to encourage and teach us. This year we were blessed to have two such priests. Pictured below with Bilby is Fr. Joseph Mary.

In previous years Roo has not come to camp with us, but this year we thought he was ready. I was a little apprehensive about bringing him along. I was sure that he would be fine, but at another camp a few years Roo stationed himself in the laundry watching the tumble dryer go round and round. Unfortunately we noticed that he regressed a little once we returned home, so naturally I was a little worried. To help Roo, I took along some visuals and a schedule strip to place them upon so that he could see how the day would progress. I took along some stickers for good behaviour. Once he had collected five stickers, Roo received a chocolate which proved to be a great motivator. All this worked a treat as, Roo, had a fantastic time which was such a relief. He is certainly growing up, and fitting in beautifully with the other children.

The highlight for Roo was the mini athletics carnival. He loved the races, long jump, javelin and so forth. He even came home with the 5-6 years age championship and several other certificates!

So now it's back to the reality of family life with it's daily challenges, blessings and mundane routines. I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to take time out with Our Lord to reflect, learn, and refuel. I am sure that the insights I have gained will serve myself and my family well in the months to come.

Too Slow!

2011-03-10T13:25:00.000-08:00

This morning when I began to make porridge for Roo, he wanted me to hurry, so that he could join his brothers for breakfast on the verandah. I told him it would be about ten minutes before it would be ready to which he replied,

"Go for the short version of ten minutes."

Liturgy Of The Hours Made Easy!

2011-01-19T14:36:00.000-08:00

For several years I have had a desire to pray the Liturgy of the Hours, or Divine office. One of the things which held me back was how complicated it seemed: a four volume set of books, with lots of flipping between pages, and five offices to pray. Whenever I sat with others praying the Office I became somewhat confused and wondered how I could attempt it on my own without someone to walk me through it!

While again researching the LOTH (not to be confused with LOTR!) I came across this ipod app. Surely it couldn't be as easy as it seemed? No expensive books to buy, no hours of working out how to use the books and flipping from one section to another. Well it is that easy!

This morning I prayed Lauds for the first time, all in the correct order. I was even able to listen to the beautiful hymn for today's Morning Prayer. Very peaceful, and so easy to follow. I still intend to but the LOTH books, but for the moment this is a wonderful way to ease into it both financially and logistically.

So now I am feeling much more confident that we will be able to include several of the LOTH prayers in our schedule.

Eggs For The Poor.

2011-01-17T15:04:00.000-08:00

For many years I have wanted to keep chickens, and for the boys to sell the excess eggs. I hadn't given much though to what we would do with the money, but it seemed like a nice idea to try at some point in the future. Well that point in the future has arrived. A few months ago we bought six hy-line brown chickens and a coop. Two or three chickens would have been enough for us, but I wanted to buy a few extra so we would have enough eggs to sell.

We decided to sell the excess eggs to members of our parish, and donate all of the money to Father Richard Ho Lung's Missionaries of the Poor, who do amazing work with the poorest of the poor in Jamaica, Philippines, Indonesia, and many other parts of the world.

Selling the eggs has been a great opportunity for Bilby, as he is learning how to approach people and tell them about what we are doing, how to handle money and give change, and how to care for the chickens who are laying their eggs for the poor.

Our fellow parishioners have been eager to buy our eggs, and make donations. When I attempted to give our parish priest a dozen eggs, he insisted that we take $10, and then enthusiastically told those listening all about the great work that Fr. Ho Lung is doing!

Today we are able to make our first donation of $125 to the MOP (Missionaries of the Poor) which is rather exciting for Bilby. It's not a lot, but every little bit helps. We've been looking at the MOP website, and seeing the children who we have been helping which makes it all the more real.

If Only I Was This Creative!

2010-09-28T18:57:00.000-07:00

I've just discoved this blog.

September Happenings.

2010-09-27T17:34:00.000-07:00

Bibly, Koala and I made the seven hour drive north to attend Lennox Head Catholic Homeschoolers camp. It's the second time we have made the journey to this camp and once again it was worth the effort. The boys enjoyed lots of time at the beach and time spent with old and new friends. We were blessed to have daily Mass in the Traditional rite, rosary, and benediction. Bilby was so tired that by the final night be put himself to bed at 7.10pm and missed the sports day certificate presentation followed by the long awaited bonfire. I couldn't believe it!

While at camp Bilby received the Sacrament of Confirmation. Unfortunately James was not able to be there as he had to stay home to work and care for Roo.

After camp we took the opportunity to take a family holiday on the Gold Coast. James and Roo flew up on the Friday, and we picked them up at the airport. Roo was a little apprehensive about the noise of the flight so his teacher made him a social story about the flight. She even lent us a cute pair of ear muffs. Roo wasn't fazed by the noise, but was unsettled by being so high off the ground, something which we had neglected to talk about!

We stayed in a lovely holiday home right on the river which we explored in a tinney. Bilby was very serious about his navigation of the river!

Roo particularly enjoyed watching the tides, playing in the river and and feeding the little fish from the jetty.

On Sunday we made a pilgrimage to Marian Valley which I have wanted to do for many years. It is such a beautiful place! Below is the final Station of the Cross which is just so beautiful.

We also spent half a day with dear friends who moved to Brisbane just over a year ago. Isn't our Godson just gorgeous!

On our final night we visited James' sister, her husband and their two boys whom we haven't seen for over two years. It was a wonderful way to end our holiday and the boys really enjoyed spending time with their two cousins. Both James and I went away wishing we lived closer.

An Option For All, Not Just An Indulgence For The Many.

2010-08-03T23:57:00.000-07:00

It's about time that the wider community began to acknowledge that there are three education options for all students. Public education, independent and catholic, and home education. As the numbers of home educating families continues to grow at a rapid rate, there needs to be a wider understanding of what home education really is, so that families can feel empowered to make the right educational choice for their family. For too long those who work in the field of education have assumed that they know what is best for children who in reality they know little about. This is of even greater importance to families of children with special needs.

Last night I met a mother who has just started to home educate her older children. She has a younger child who has special needs, and she has been warned off home education by therapists and teachers who work with her son. One told her that her son needs to be in school to be socialised and that he needed to learn to sit at a desk. Both are reasonable goals, however neither is exclusively the domain of a school setting! In fact socialisation is often the main factor why many families decide to home educate. Unfortunately I am confident that neither of these professionals knows the first thing about home education, and has probably never met a home educated child, or talked to parents who home educate their child with special needs.

These ignorant, biased people need to stop and consider the messages they send families who consider home educating their children. Home education is a legal and valid educational alternative which therefore needs to be respected. Parents who are considering home educating their child with special needs must be encouraged and supported as they discern what is best for their family. Home educating these children can be difficult which these parents would no doubt be aware of! After all they support then at home and are more aware then anyone else of the challenges and strengths associated with their child.

What a wonderful thing it is for a family to be prepared to commit to the time and energy sacrifices it takes to home educate a child with special needs! Such parents do not need to be viewed as either saints in training nor as simpletons who wouldn't know the first thing about education, but as parents who only want to investigate all the options before them.

My hope is that as more families decide to go down this road less travelled, more so called professionals will become aware that home educating is the best option for some families, and as a result they will encourage those families rather than glibly assume they know what is best.

I feel sorry for those families who have been dissuaded from home education when it might have been the one thing that made a significant difference for their child. What a tragedy.

Another Reason Why I Love Being a Mum.

2010-07-27T22:25:00.000-07:00

Every week day I ask Koala 15 multiplications facts. Recently he requested that I not tell him what number we are up to. Today I jokingly said that he wouldn't know if I had tricked him by asking 20 extra questions! I then asked if he trusted me enough to stick with his new system to which he replied, "Of course you're my mum!" His face held an expression of complete trust.
He made my day.

Memory Verses A-Z.

2010-07-26T16:20:00.000-07:00

Many years ago I listened to a radio interview with the author of The Most Important Place on Earth. I enjoyed the interview so much that I bought the book, but like many of my books it sat on the shelf largely unread!

The main thing I remember from the interview was a segment in which the author talked about an A-Z scripture list which he had learned as a child. He recounted many instances when these scriptures had helped him as a child and adult, in both serious and lighthearted moments.

I filed it away in my memory with a promise that I would do the same. It's taken me a while, but I have used the scripture list in the book as a template to create my own A-Z list with a more Catholic flavour.

Each child has the list laminated and in their basket where they keep their books, and I also have one one the wall of our dining room. I am really looking forward to committing these verses to memory!

A All of us were like sheep that were lost. Isaiah 53:6

B Be kind to one another. Ephesians 4:32

C Children obey your parents, for this is the right thing to do. Ephesians 6:1

D Do whatever He tells you. John 2:5

E Every good and perfect gift is from above. James 1:17

F "Follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishes of men,." Matthew 4:19

G God is love. 1 John 4:16

H He cares for you.. 1 Peter 5:7

I "I am telling you the truth: if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you will not have life." John 53

J Jesus said, " Let the little children come to me." Matthew 19:14

K Kind words are like honey, enjoyable and healthful. Proverbs 16:24

L Love one another as I have loved you. John 13:34

M "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." John 10:27

N Now is the time to come to Jesus. 2 Corinthians 6:2

O Obey God because you are His Children. 1 Peter 1:14

P Pray for the dead that they may be loosed from their sins. 2 Maccabbes 12:46

Q Quick Lord, answer me, for I have prayed. Psalm 141:1

R Run with perseverance the race that is set before us. Hebrews 12 :1.

S So do not worry about tomorrow. Matthew 6:34

T Thank God for Jesus, His gift too wonderful for words.
2 Corinthians 9:15

U Underneath are God’s everlasting arms. Deuteronomy 33:27

V "Very truly, I tell you, on one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit." John 3:5

W We are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses. Hebrews 12:1

X Except a kernel of wheat fall into the ground and die, it remains a single grain. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. John 12:24

Y You have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy. Psalm 63:7

Z "Zacchaeus, you come down: for I am going to your house today." Luke 19:5

Pentecost Cake!

2010-05-24T04:14:00.000-07:00

Here is our Pentecost celebration cake which I found here at Catholic Cuisine. Unfortunately I wasn't able to find strawberries to represent the twelve fruits of the Holy Spirit, but somehow I don't think the children minded as I used lollies instead! Next February I need to remember to buy red hearts (seven gifts of the Holy Spirit) because they are very hard to find in May!

A Great Song, A great Message!

2010-05-22T23:58:00.000-07:00

After a few technical hitches, I have finally worked out how to embed this wonderful video!

Ever Wondered What Sensory Processing Disorder Means?

2010-05-20T19:02:00.000-07:00

Last week I listened to a radio interview where a mum was explaining what autism is. For parents of kids with an ASD we understand the lingo. We know the meaning of words like meltdown, severe expressive language delay, OT, sensory processing and so on.

While I listened to the interview I realised that if you haven't been exposed to autism you would have no clue what sensory issues mean. Whilst the mum who was interviewed did a great job of explaining how autism effected her son, I realised what a long way we have to go before everyone understands how ASD impacts the lives of families and individuals.

This quick video explains what sensory processing is and how people with sensory processing difficulties can work to overcome these challenges.

Plans to Eradicate Autism.

2010-05-15T02:15:00.000-07:00

At first glance eradicating autism appears to be a noble and worthwhile cause. Autism can be extremely difficult for individuals and families to deal with. After all, no one thinks "Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a child with an autism spectrum disorder." However, many of the world's most gifted artists and scientists were probably on the autism spectrum. How much poorer would human civilisation have been without many of these people?

With a prenatal test for autism being developed, a world without the beauty of autism is what some would have us aspire to.

I find it difficult to articulate how sickened this makes me feel. Someone is assuming that perhaps our life would have been better if we were able to choose to abort our children with ASD.

What will be next, a test to predetermine a persons propensity towards mental illness so that those people will not have to burden society?

With prenatal tests for Downs Syndrome we have seen the numbers of abortions skyrocket for children with Downs. There is little doubt that when a similar test for ASD becomes available many families will choose to abort because they will be led to assume that having a child with autism is too difficult. Increasingly we as a society are continually looking for the easy way out without questioning what we loose when we take the easy road.

When did we start to believe the lie that only a perfect child is worth having?

Term One Review

2010-04-08T01:58:00.000-07:00

Inspired by a blog of Erin's, which is dedicated to recording their learning experiences, I have decided to review the progress we make each term. I think it will be a great way to look back at what we have done, and to be able to see at a glance where we have been and the direction I intend to go.

Religion.

This year we are not following any particular curriculum recommendations, but what we are doing is very similar to Mater Amabilis. We are reading one chapter of Faith and Life 5 per week. On the other days of the week we are reading various lives of the Saints. This term we are half way through The Cure of Ars, which we are all really enjoying. We are also following the Bible reading as outlined in Sonlight.

Bilby is reading two sections per week of Bible History, and Koala is reading through The Baltimore Catechism.

Next term I would like to spend more time praying together, living the liturgical year with which I have never been very consistent. Probably because I'm not much of a cook or a planner. I would also like to select a traditional prayer every few weeks to memorise.

Maths.

This year Bilby began Teaching Textbooks 6. The spiral approach is a better fit for him than the mastery approach which he encounted in Math-U-See. He is enjoying the new format as he can complete the whole lesson on the laptop. I thought four lessons a week would be enough, but to complete the course he will need to complete five lessons per week. Next term I have decided to allot him one hour to complete the lesson, broken in two half hour slots. What he is unable to complete in the hour he will have to finish later in the day. Due to the amount of time he is taking to complete the lesson, we have neglected drill. However, the spiral approach means that he is continually gaining practise in this area, but I would like to do 5 minutes of drill 3-4 times a week next term.

Koala is continuing to work through MUS Gamma, which he is able to complete rather quickly. He is learning his multiplication facts quickly and without fuss. I am planning to switch him to TT5 at the beginning of term 3.

Language Arts.

Both boys are working through the Hillside version of Emma Serl's Intermediate Language Lessons. Bilby began at lesson 100, Koala at lesson 1. Both boys seem to be enjoying the gentleness of this programme, and Koala is particularly enjoying the writing lessons.

We are a little behind where I would like to be, so next term I would like to be more consistent and ensure we complete 3 lessons every week.

Spelling and Vocabulary.

This year Bilby is continuing with The Phonetic Zoo. This year I have decided to only spend 2 weeks on each lesson rather than having an unlimited time. We are focusing on learning three new words per day. We have been going through these when we take Roo to school. This approach has made a huge difference to his recall and confidence.

Koala is working through Wordly Wise Book C. He is enjoying this because it is quick, and one of the day's activities includes solving a silly riddle! His vocabulary is weak, but his spelling is relatively strong, so I thought this would be a better option than just a spelling programme. However, I'm not sure how much he is retaining, so I don't think we'll continue with Wordly Wise, but I am still discerning.

When he has finished the book in a few weeks I am planning to move him onto either Aussie Spellforce CD ROM, or The Phonetic Zoo. I'm leaning towards Aussie Spellforce as Koala is a visual learner.

Sonlight Core 5.

When I began to research home education I fell in love with the idea of Sonlight. A curriculum centred around history and literature sounded like heaven to me as a history teacher! However, the price put me off so I went with something cheaper. Last year I decided to give into temptation and I started to gather the resources needed. I am loving Sonlight! It is a perfect fit for myself and Bilby, who loves a good story and a cuddle to go with it.

As I noted in a previous post I have decided to take it slowly. However, I would like to see if we can get through a whole days' schedule especially as I have decided not to use some of the suggested titles in the IG. One of the things I love about Sonlight is having a reading schedule to follow. It just makes it all so easy.

Koala is not enjoying Sonlight as much as Bilby and I. This is because he is a visual learner and he sometimes struggles with auditory tasks. He is enjoying the readers, which we are reading together. That way I don't miss out on the books! For next term I have decided that he need not attend to all the read-alouds. Instead he will be working through and Australian History workbook, as last week he asked if he could do the ACE books again! I would like him to listen in on the history books, but only if he's happy to.

Science.

At the beginning of the year I had planned to use Real Science 4 Kids Chemistry Level 1, one day a week. We got to it only twice, and found it a little heavy and slightly dull. Instead we will do nature Study twice a week using The Wonderland of Nature.

Areas to Work On.

I would like to be more consistent in the following areas: Art appreciation, Bilby's copywork, tea time, Classics For Kids, and ensuring I make up their visual timetable daily.

Our 5th Year Begins.

2010-02-05T00:56:00.000-08:00

We are now half way through term one of our fifth year of home education. We have had a flying start! I feel like I am really beginning to settle into who I am as a home educating mum. The first few years I was overtaken by my new found passion. There was so very much to learn, and I loved every minute. Now, however, I feel more relaxed and I know where we are headed. I no longer feel the need to read everything I can get my hands one about home education.

In preparation for this year, I did not spend hours planning our curriculum and timetable. Past years have seen me attempt to fill our days with many wonderful plans, many of which were shelved after a week or two when I realised that we just would not have the time to do them justice. So this year we are simply covering religion, maths, english and spelling and Sonlight 5. We have kept Wednesdays light. We will cover spelling, science, religion lapbooks and hopefully art appreciation. On Friday afternoons we will have tea-time with home made treats and we will listen to to Classics for Kids.

I am learning the value of listening to the voice of reason within. For example, in Sonlight 5 there is a geography section called Eastern Hemisphere Explorer. It's basically a fill in the blanks type activity along with several fun projects to be completed. Rather than rush in headlong I listened to that part of me which was whispering that it would be stressful and somewhat pointless. That we would be stressed trying to complete it all. So I listened. We will simply gather a few books from the library and learn about each country in a very relaxed manner whilst snuggling on the lounge. I am also planning to complete Sonlight 5 in 18 months to 2 years, rather than the recommended 1 year. I want to enjoy all the wonderful books that are in the curriculum, not stress over a timetable!

I am also loving the new maths curriculum that I have chosen for Bilby. We had been using Maths-U-See, which I still think is a fantastic programme. However, we hit a bit of a wall in Delta. I had always planned to swap to Teaching Textbooks for the high school years, but decided to switch now as the grade 6 text was available. I love that Bilby doesn't need me to sit with him to complete the lesson. He loves the fact that he can do maths on the computer. It has certainly made our day easier. Bilby can complete maths independently, which I love! Koala is keen to switch too, but we will wait until he has completed MUS Gamma, which he is half way through.

This year has seen Roo begin school. The school he is attending is for children with an autistic spectrum disorder who will go onto a mainstream school, but who need a little extra support before they move on to regular school. At the moment there are only 5 other children in Roo's group. This will change as the year progresses, but the maximum number of children will be 12 or 13. The children's day is highly structured, everything they do has visual support and the children's sensory needs are catered for. Naturally all the staff have a fantastic understanding of autism, so we don't need to worry about educating his teachers about what ASD means for Roo. We feel very fortunate that Roo has the opportunity to attend this school, as there are so many families who do not have this option due to a lack of places and schools.

Since starting school, Roo, has begun writing words independently. His teacher showed me a sheet he has completed where he had written the word tree on his own in a scaffold box! I was so excited by this as Roo hadn't shown the least inclination for writing or drawing. Now he often asks me to write his brothers' names so he can trace them. He even had a go at writing his own name in a scaffold box which I drew.

Roo will of course eventually be home educated, but for the moment this is the best setting for him.

Hopefully the rest of our year will be as successful as our first 5 weeks!

Leaps and Bounds.

2010-01-21T02:12:00.000-08:00

Over the years we have tried many ways to help Koala to achieve his potential. Occupational therapy, speech therapy, chiropractic, kinesiology, diet, psychological assessments. Some of these have been a waste of time and money, others were more beneficial.

One intervention, however, has yielded more fruit than I ever dreamed possible. For well over a year now, Koala and Roo, have been seeing a GP (family doctor) who practises from a bio-medical model known as Mindd. Not possessing a scientific brain, I will not attempt to explain Mindd, but I encourage you to visit their site.

After blood tests, the boys were given natural supplements to stabilise their bio-chemistry. The copper zinc ratio of both boys was not what it should have been.

The Doctor thought that Koala's meltdowns might be attributed to excess heavy metals in his system. A hair analysis was performed which confirmed the Doctor's suspicions. Koala had elevated aluminium and other heavy metals.

When Koala's bio-chemistry was stable he began to take a natural supplement designed to remove the heavy metals from his body. At first there was little change so the dose was increased. We began to notice an improvement in his ability to deal with difficult situations. As the metals began to leave his body, meltdowns became a thing of the past. At first Koala was surprised when a meltdown didn't automatically happen! Instead of a screaming violent child we had a minor temper tantrum. Bliss!

Lately we have noticed that things which would have caused Koala much anxiety and upset do not matter anymore. For example this morning Koala lost a lolly under the seat of Grandma's car. A few months ago this would have caused a flood of tears and much yelling. Today he was able to let it go without the least sign of anxiety. Many times I have steeled myself for a meltdown which simply does not materialise.

The meltdowns have been the most difficult part of Aspergers for Koala, and our family to deal with. The last mammoth meltdown we experienced as at a crowded country fair. After realising that Koala was not going to be able to calm down quickly, James put him over his shoulder and began the long walk back to the car. Following behind, I witnessed the astonished stares and comments of the crowd. I enlightened a few people as to the reason for this spectacle lest they think they were witnessing an abduction! We sat in the car for well over an hour before we were able to drive away.

Needless to say life without this kind of stress makes a huge difference to our family. Recently I realised that I have chosen to withdraw from certain activities because it is easier. Past rejection has caused me to back away from opportunities to make new friends due to the fear of what might happen if Koala has a meltdown. We had begun to put off family outings rather than risk a public display of Aspergers.

So it is a wonderful blessing to be able to see our little boy happy and content. We are able to enjoy him without the fear of a Vesuvius style eruption!

The same doctor has also helped Roo. A stool test revealed the reason for his consistently loose bowel movements. He had almost no good bacteria in this gut. We have been slowly been working to improve this with diet and supplements. Vitamin B12 has also helped to stimulate his language which has greatly improved. He is not yet word perfect, but we can understand everything he says, and he talks as much as the next 5 year old.

We have indeed been blessed to have found this doctor. I never dared to hope that we could see such positive results.

Language Arts Liberation!

2010-01-20T19:05:00.000-08:00

Ever since we began home education I have struggled with finding the right balance for language arts. There are just so many areas which seemed essential to a good education: reading; writing; spelling; handwriting; poetry; literature read-alouds; grammar. Covering all these sub topics could easily fill a whole day not to mention religion, maths and so on.

In the beginning I tried to fit them all in. Much stress ensued! As I waded through curriculum forums, review sites and discussed curriculum with other mums, I always felt that I wasn't getting it right. Child x was memorising poetry, child y was diagramming sentences, child z was writing a thesis (or so it seemed!)

In my effort to find the right balance I tried many programmes. You name it I have either tried it or know something about it! With every curriculum switch I was sure I had found the perfect fit. But filling our mornings with 4 or 5 language arts lessons lead to disjointedness and stress. Bilby would complain and I would find something else, or he would like one programme, but I thought it was too schooly!

Late last year I decided enough was enough! Four years of chopping and changing had done none of us any good. After reading this wonderful blog post and other sources related to grammar, writing and keeping things simple, I decided to pare down my language arts expectations once and for all.

Our school year begins in a week and I am adamant that I will break the cycle of curriculum jumping! This year I have decided that the boys will continue their spelling programme (Phonetic Zoo) and return to Emma Serl's Intermediate Language Lessons. That's it! We will not change after a few weeks or months, and I will not read about other programmes or listen with too much enthusiasm to the choices of others.

And now that I've told the world, I better follow through!

You Know Your 5 Year Old is Catholic When...

2010-01-17T19:17:00.000-08:00

Last week end we once again visited the beach. Roo spotted a common green weed that is found in rock pools, which resembles a string of beads. He picked it up and exclaimed "Rosary beads!"

Too cute.

He's Done it!

2009-11-15T00:04:00.000-08:00

The last few weeks have seen Roo achieve two long awaited goals.

For months now, Roo has been using the echolalic phrase"Yes Sir," in response to every question that requires a simple "yes" and many other questions or comments that don't require a "yes." It all began innocently enough while Bilby and Roo were playing, and Bilby thought it sounded cute when Roo said "Yes Sir!" Bilby encouraged Roo to say it a few times and it stuck despite many, many attempts to dissuade him. Every time he said "Yes Sir," we would model the correct response. I was beginning to wonder if he would ever abandon it! This week I have noticed that he is simply saying "Yes." I have to restrain myself from praising him for not saying "Yes Sir," which could bring us back to square one.

Roo's second achievement is that he has started to use the toilet for bowel motions. Granted this is not the most pleasant blog topic, but as it's such a big step and one that we have worked so hard to help him achieve, I feel it's worth noting. I wanted to shout it from the roof top, but it's not something you can tell everyone without getting odd looks! Perhaps my sharing it here will encourage another family dealing with this issue who is wondering if they'll ever say good-bye to nappies. There was no magic solution for this one, just consistent encouragement, loads of patience and a few lollies!

Shouting at the Television!

2009-10-01T16:07:00.000-07:00

Occasionally I find myself lamenting at the lack of humility and intelligence of the human race.

Last night while watching the ABC's Q and A programme I found myself shouting at the television! The show had a panel of quests and a live studio audience who were discussing religion and the existence of God. Among the guests were Jesuit Fr. Frank Brennan, a young Muslim gentleman who is a politics lecturer, a "militant atheist" and someone who called herself a "social Catholic."

What riled me the most was the way in which the audience and several panel members assumed that they knew what the Catholic church teaches about homosexuality and contraception. Fr. Brennan was asked about gay marriage, then later in the show, he was asked was homosexuality considered a sin by the church. In the limited time he was given he attempted to explain the churches teaching much to the surprise of the audience. They assumed that he had gone against church teaching. They ASSUMED that they knew more than a Catholic priest! In short he was trying to say that those outside of marriage are called to celibacy.

The other assumption was that if you follow the Pope then you must have 10 children. More shouting at the television! We follow the churches teaching on life, and we only have 3 children. According to those people I must not be an orthodox Catholic.

The "social Catholic" on the panel joked that her 80 year old mother says that she had a "Vatican bypass" thirty years ago. It is very easy to just say well I don't agree with x or y without knowing what the teaching are or why the church holds a particular view! I know because I felt the same way 10 years ago. I had a lot of anger toward the church. However, when I took the time to find out why the church teaches what it does, all my anger gave way to understanding.

I find it quite concerning that people with a very limited amount of knowledge assume that they have a handle on an issue. A little information can be a dangerous thing. Unfortunately many people take a position of authority when in fact they are almost totally ignorant. I believe this is due to laziness and a lack of humility. How much better would the world be if we took the time to research a topic before assuming that we know it all?

If I succeed in teaching my children to have an informed opinion before opening their mouths, I will have given them a rare gift. In educating my sons I am aiming to teach them that what they read or hear in the media might not be true. I will have failed if they do not question and research information for themselves.

If you are not Catholic, or you are feeling indignant about a Catholic teaching like contraception, I challenge you to do a some research. You might surprise yourself.

How Did We Get Here?

2009-09-22T13:57:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I attended a Special Needs Mass for our diocese. Despite the fact that it was rather schooly, I enjoyed the opportunity to pray for our boys and to reflect on the challenges and joy they bring to our family.

The Mass was celebrated at the church attached to my primary school . Every time I enter this church memories come flooding back! Just being there is enough to transport me back to the feelings of my childhood.

As I waited for Mass to begin I noted that the noise level from chattering people was quite high. This would never have happened in my day! Both the nuns who taught us, and our parents instilled in us the virtue of respect and silence when in church. We simply did not talk once we entered the doors of the church. Or if we did, we paid for it! I recall our class lining up to face the principal and her leather belt in year three, as we returned from Mass. We had chatted through Mass, and so we received 2 or 3 smacks across the hand as punishment. We knew that the church was a sacred and holy place where Jesus dwelt in the Blessed Sacrament. In the 25 years since I left primary school, people seem to have lost respect for Jesus in the tabernacle. Many people talk and to few acknowledge Jesus by genuflecting or bowing.

After communion I even saw a teenage boy remove the Blessed Sacrament from his mouth, on the way back to his pew. He then slowly ate the Host with his fingers whilst sitting in his seat, next to his parents! Other braver souls then me would have approached this boy and told him why what he was doing was so offensive to them. Alas, I was not that brave soul. Like, Saint Peter, I am a coward. I did however resolve that if he placed the Blessed Sacrament in his pocket, I would not sit still.

Attending this Mass left me feeling somewhat distressed and saddened. The chatter and disrespect of the Blessed Sacrament leads me to believe that we've failed. We've failed to hold people accountable to their faith. I explain it to my children this way.

If you were in a room with the Prime Minister, and he was at the head of the room quietly waiting to speak to you and the other people assembled, you wouldn't turn your back on him to have a conversation with the person next to you! In our Catholic churches, Jesus is physically present and waiting to speak to you. Some people has lost sight of how amazing that is! Should we not give him all our attention and respect. After all He is the same God that created the universe and holds it in existence by His will. As a priest in our diocese once said, if you don't believe that Jesus is physically present, then go, because you're not Catholic.

Photo Diary.

2009-09-07T18:42:00.000-07:00

My good intentions to blog about the following images, have remained just that, good intentions! So I'm rolling it all into one post.

Roo celebrated his 5th birthday on 20th July. Last year on his fourth birthday Bilby and I were in Sydney for the WYD closing Mass with the Holy Father!

One of the few books Roo will allow us to read him is the Ginger Bread Man. As it wasn't too difficult a cake to cut out and decorate I gave it a go! Not too bad I think.

Wonderful friends of ours, Patrick and Sonia, asked James and I to be the Godparents of their fourth child, Timothy.

We feel very honoured to be asked to help guide Timothy in his walk with the Lord. When I was asked to become Godmother to one of my cousins when I was 16, I really had no idea what it meant in a practical sense. Now that I know what it means to be a good Godparent I am really looking forward to this role. The only sad part of Timothy's special day was that the family moved to Brisbane the following week. We will miss this wonderfully, faithful family very, very much. Especially little Timothy! Thanks goodness for cheap flights!

After a bit of a break, we've started our Friday afternoon ritual of Tea Time. It's a wonderful way to end the week with special treats in honour of the saints. On St Maximillian Kolbe's feast day on 14th August, we enjoyed these polish treats while we read and discussed this extraordinary man's life and death. If you don't know much about this amazing man of God, take a minute to read about him and how he sacrificed his life for another, in a Nazi concentration camp.

Today in celebration of the birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Bilby has cooked Blueberry Muffins which we are about to enjoy.

Worboxes.

2009-06-28T21:41:00.000-07:00

When I first read about workboxes I dismissed them with very little research as I didn't think we could implement the system as we are low on space. It wasn't until a friend Michelle, blogged about workboxes that I took another look. Rather than using 10 or more boxes or draws per child, she was using plastic sleeves. Michelle was sure that the workbox system would be particularly suited to our family as the lady who came up with the idea designed it with her autistic child in mind.

After talking with Michelle and seeing her system close up, I decided to invest in some plastic sleeves and warm up the laminator! It is said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so I'm confident that Michelle won't mind that I have an almost carbon copy of her system!

We have been using our workboxes for a week and we all love them. It is similar to my previous visual system, but so much better, especially for me! I no longer have to scramble around for materials in the morning as everything is set up and ready to go. All I have to do is ask the children to take their boxes off the piano and get started.

The boys simply start with folder number one. When they have finished they remove the velcro number in the bottom right of the folder and place it on their laminated strip if paper which holds numbers 1-10.

They then place the completed folder in a plastic basket.

Both the ordered routine and the visual aspect of this system is a perfect fit for Koala.

The system has also enabled me to put a little more creativity and fun into our days. In the past we would complete the basics and that would be it. Now we are using our Rosetta Stone French programme more often, we are lapbooking and using our educational CDs and including things like cooking and playing with the dog in our workboxes. I have also decided to take some time on the week end to plan what each days boxes will contain. This greatly frees up my evenings.

I'm sure we'll be using this system for a long time to come.

Visuals.

2009-06-04T18:00:00.000-07:00

This week I finally got around to making a visual schedule for Koala.

People with an ASD are visual learners. They also feel more comfortable with a routine which they can rely on. Koala has never been one to completely fall apart if his routine changes, but he does like to have a certain structure. We have been using a tick box systems where he ticks off each subject as he finishes it, but I knew that a visual one would be preferable.

So I began by photographing all the books we use.

I then had them printed four to a page. I laminated them and cut them out. At the beginning of the day all the visuals are placed on a green for go, laminated strip of paper with a velcro strip.

The above is our schedule for Friday which includes our catechism, Faith and Life 4, which we simply read and discuss. A page from Maths-U-See Beta. Growing With Grammar, Seton Handwriting 3 for Young Catholics, Aplogia Exploring Creation with Astronomy which Koala just loves! The final visual shows a combination of our history read-alouds. History isn't meant to be on our list for Friday, but we missed it yesterday, so we mght get to it today. We're fairly flexible.

When each activity is completed, Koala moves the visual to the red laminated paper.

We've had a few teething problems in the last 3 days. Koala became rather upset when I wanted him to complete a subject that wasn't next in line! I should have known better! So now I have to make sure that where possible I ask him to complete the subjects in the order I've placed them! We will work on varying the order, as adaptability is an important skill to learn.

Visuals are not exclusively for kids on the spectrum. All kids respond to them. So naturally Bilby has requested his own visual schedule.

Those of you who read my unschool post may be wondering what happened! I'm still working toward a more natural approach to our day, but I think it will take time for me to break my addiction to structure and formal programmes! I have dramatically cut back on the formal side of our day which has been a wonderful blessing.

I know our new visual sehedule will make Koala's day run much more smoothly, which in turn helps everyone in the family.

Sweet!

2009-05-07T13:18:00.000-07:00

This week has brought several long hoped for blessings. I took Roo to our home education gymnastics class and stayed with him during the lesson for extra support. I thought at best be would last 30 minutes, before he would run off and attempt to do his own thing. He lasted the whole hour! He did everything the other children did with a huge smile on his face. Once or twice he even pushed me away with a " You go over there." The only thing he needed me for was to simplify the language of the coach. He loved every minute of it and can't wait to go back next week.

Yesterday at preschool I was told that Roo had made a friend. A younger boy who has very little english as he his family have recently immigrated to Australia. The teachers helped Roo to invite his friends to play in the sandpit with him, and Roo helped his friend find a teacher when he was crying.

Roo is becoming a real chatterbox. His language has certainly taken off in the last month. Much of what he says I can understand with little difficulty. I frequently find myself smiling and praising God for all the cute little things he is saying. It's been a long wait, but how sweet it is to hear him speak!

Why I Love Home Education!

2009-05-04T15:55:00.000-07:00

This was taken at 8.00 am. If Bilby were at school I would have been telling him to close the book and hurry up and eat breakfast; get dressed; back his bag, and so on. Instead I can just smile and relish the moment. Whenever he picks up a book without being asked I have to restrain myself from shouting for joy and doing the happy dance!

Reminders.

2009-04-27T16:44:00.000-07:00

We are about to start term 2 of our school year. Below is a list of things I want to achieve. There's nothing quite like a list to keep you on track!

Faith comes before all else. Start the school day with prayer followed by religion. Light a candle.

Relationship is the most important lesson of the day. Relationship with Jesus, and with each other.

Plan fun into each day. Lapbooks; board games; cooking; playing with the boys.

Ensure that the boys "Write only on days that they eat!" Elizabeth Foss.

Be the change you want to see.

Short lessons. Use the kitchen timer.

Take the boys to Adoration a minimum of three times a week.

Pray the Angelus at noon, and the 3 o’clock prayer daily.

Get up early every day to pray and read the daily Mass readings.

Receive the sacrament of Confession fortnightly, if not weekly.

Daily read-alouds.

Play classical music every day.

Shine the sink daily! Keep FLYing, it works!

A New Journey.

2009-04-13T03:58:00.000-07:00

For some time now, I have been aware that the dreams I had for my sons education, and the reality were on divergent paths!

Like most families who embark on the journey of educating their children at home, I started with a collection of lofty and noble ideals.

Having briefly worked as a high school History and English teacher I knew exactly what I did not want for my sons!

In almost every classroom I entered I would despair over the lack of joy my students showed. They were completely disconnected from that I was attempting to engage them in. For the most part they resisted the curriculum and did only what needed to be done, without any enthusiasm.

I remember one boy in particular, Wesley who obviously loved history, but hated the curriculum. He broke my heart! He had so much potential, but he just didn’t care. I would often wonder what we as teachers needed to do to engage him. Years later I found the answer! (More on this later.)

I knew then, that I did not want my boys to learn in this mind numbing environment. But I hadn’t a clue as to how to avoid it.

A few years later when I learned about home education I knew that it was exactly what I had been searching for. I believed it would be the perfect antidote to the mediocrity of the school environment. Or so I thought!

I was now confident that my children would not end up like the teens I had taught in high schools. They would love learning and not be boxed in by what they were told to learn. They would excel simply because they would have one to one instruction. How could they not? They would love reading because they would not be forced to deconstruct boring novels. They would not have to worry about how they were performing against their peers, which would mean that they could learn at their own pace without pressure. I thought I had it all figured out!

Therefore, it came as a gradual shock, that Bilby wasn’t thriving at home in the way I had anticipated. It took me a long time to realise that simply changing his physical place of learning didn’t automatically wipe out the difficulties he faced at school. Some of us are slow learners!

One day it hit me like a ton of bricks that the very things I was trying to avoid about the school system, I was simply replicating at home. I was thinking like a natural learner, but acting like a classroom teacher! I wanted my sons to be passionate about learning, yet I was squashing that with all the book work that I assumed was absolutely essential. But realising it, and acting on it, were two very different things! So we struggled on.

Almost daily I would wonder if I could sustain home schooling for much longer. I often thought about sending one or both of my sons back to school, if only for a short time. I even had an interview with a school principal, just to test the waters. But the thought of sending them back filled me with dread. School would be a last resort.

By week 6 or 7 of term, I would unfailingly have extremely tense neck and shoulder muscles and frequent tension headaches, as a result of my striving to tick all the boxes, and from the reluctance of my boys to comply with my wishes. Added to this were the numerous therapy appointments for Roo, and attempting to keep up with is home programme for speech and occupational therapy.

I was stressed out and burnt-out, my house was a mess and no one was happy! Five weeks into this new school year I knew I just could not continue in this vein. I was beginning to loath home education. Something had to change at home, or my boys would be returning to school. Something they most assuredly did not want!

I decided to take some time out. We stopped almost all our book work and I began to read unschoooling blogs and web sites. I talked with natural learners in my home education community, and began to read unschooling books.

Unschooling has always been something I have supported and even learned towards despite my actions. I was just too frightened to step away from formal education and relax. I now feel ready to take on some of the principles of unschooling.

My children and my neck muscles have begun to relax! For the first time in a very long time, the joy of being with my boys is returning. I’m not about to become a radical unschooler, but my toes are in the water, and I’m enjoying the sensation!

My passion for home education is beginning to return. I am excited about where natural learning may take us, but scared witless at the same time! What excites me most, are the opportunities for strengthening the connection I have with my children. What better way can there be to achieve this, then through re-discovering together, the joy of learning?

Back to Wesley, my history loving student. What did he need? To be left alone! He didn’t need teachers insisting he only spend 4 lessons or less on a particular topic before moving on so that he tasted everything before the big exam. He certainly didn’t need to answer endlessly dull questions about primary and secondary sources. He needed to have the opportunity to read about things which interested him, not what the Education Department told him he needed. Wesley freely admitted to me that he loved history. Unfortunately, I am now confident that the school system would have done a great job of squashing that love. Unschooling undoubtedly would have fostered Wesley's passion for history.

Divine Mercy Novena. Day One.

2009-04-10T15:03:00.000-07:00

This morning I began the Divine Mercy novena. I should have begun yesterday, but for various reasons, I didn't. In most of the world it's still Good Friday after all! Better late then never.

What made this extra special was that Roo came to find me, despite the lure of his brothers playing his favourite computer game, he stayed with me! He climbed on my knee and fingered the beads with me. I sung the final decade, and he still stayed! We finished with me helping Roo to say a spontaneous prayer after which he blew out our candle. It was lovely to share this beautiful chaplet with my boy.

My Boy is Eleven!

2009-03-30T18:32:00.000-07:00

On Sunday we celebrated Bilby's 11th birthday! We had a very full and happy day. My husbands Mum, Jane, joined us for the week end which was a lovely blessing for us all.

The day began very early, with presents. He was particularly taken with the plush Red Panda I found at the Taronga Zoo on-line store. Bilby has taken a real interest in Red Pandas so we've planned a Red Panda lap-book next term.

At the end of Mass, Father Brady asked Bilby to come out the front where he told everyone that he was celebrating his 11th birthday. Father asked everyone to sing him happy birthday, which caused Bilby to turn a pleasant shade of red! I thought this was a lovely way to acknowledge his contribution to our community, as he serves on the alter very often as we have very few alter servers at our Mass.

Following Mass, we headed off to our Regional Show.

Bilby has always had a cautious nature, and has never been very interested in fast and thrilling rides! When he was little I nick named him "safety boy." Koala made up for his lack of daring in full measure, and hence he was nick named "danger boy." So it was a big step for Bilby to face his fears and take on the Farris Wheel! Once he realised that he was quite safe, he had a ball!

Roo was taken with the animal nursery, especially the piglets and sheep. He also had a great time on the Cup and Saucer ride with Granny Jane!

Koala had his yearning for speed and thrill satisfied! Can you guess which parent he gets it from?

No show is complete without a show bag! At least this one will last longer then 5 minutes! It's a Ben 10 satchel filled with lots of goodies. Koala chose a Wall-E show bag.
We also chanced to meet a young man from our parish, Adam who had come to the show alone, so we invited him to join us. He joined Bilby in a game of laser challenge, which looked like great fun! Adam firmly believes he has a vocation to the priesthood, and plans to begin his studies in a year or so. Adam has asked for prayer, so please join with me in praying for him. He will make a wonderful priest.

Tired and happy we made our way home, before Bilby and I prepared to head off again to celebrate with one of his homeschool friends who also celebrated his birthday on the same day!

We returned home once more to cut the birthday cake after a great day.

We love you very much son!

The Feast of The Annunciation.

2009-03-24T21:27:00.000-07:00

Today we celebrate the beautiful feast of the Annunciation. I think the above image by Waterhouse, beautifully captures how the moment might have been. An extraordinary event, amidst the ordinary!

Once again, I find I am not as prepared to celebrate this feast as I would like. So this evening we will simply read from Mary the Mother of Jesus, by Tomie De Paola , listen to CatChat and read Luke's beautiful account of the annunciation, which wouldn't be complete without the magnificat, simply because I love it so much!

My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden.

For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

And his mercy is on them that fear him throughout all generations.
He hath shewed strength with his arm.

He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He hath put down the mighty from their seat and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things.

And the rich he hath sent empty away.

He remembering his mercy hath helped his servant Israel as he promised to our forefathers Abraham, and his seed forever.

Perhaps...

2009-03-22T18:14:00.000-07:00

Those who know me, know that I am passionate about literature. I particularly love the novels of Jane Austen. My favourite being Pride and Prejudice.

This morning I was reflecting on the main character, Elizabeth's education. She was of course, educated at home. The following conversation between Elizabeth and Lady Catherine de Bourgh had me rather excited!

"We never had any governess."

"No governess! How is that possible? Five daughters brought up at home without a governess! I never heard of such a thing. You mother must have been quite a slave to your education."

Elizabeth could hardly help smiling, as she assured her that had not been the case.

"Then who taught you? Who attended you? Without a governess you must have been neglected."

"Compared with some families, I believe we were; but such of us as wished to learn, never wanted the means. We were always encouraged to read, and had all the masters that were necessary..."

So could it be that Mrs. Bennett was an unschooler?

A Special Blessing.

2009-03-19T15:57:00.000-07:00

Making friends has never been top of Koala's priority list. He certainly enjoys having friends, but he is more than happy to play on his when other children are around. For quite some time, he hasn't had anyone who he could call a friend. Hence, I have been praying that the Lord would send someone into his life that understood him, and with whom he could share the special connection that comes with having a friend. I believe that that prayer has been answered.

We have made a new connection with a lovely Christian home education family. Like us they have a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. It has been wonderful for me to be able to talk to another mum, Tanya who understands what living with ASD and home education is all about.

This week we visited Tanya and her children for the day. Tanya's son and Koala spent hours happily playing together. For children who often prefer their own company, you can imagine how happy both mums were! It was wonderful to watch them together. They both enjoy making and watching movies. Koala makes paper movies and his new friend acts out movies. I think they understood each other, which is a rare thing.

My prayer is that the children will continue to build their friendship.

Thanks Tanya for the beautiful photo!

Unbelievable!

2009-03-13T13:24:00.000-07:00

If you had told me this was a real interview, I probably would have thought you had miss heard what was said. Very scary, on many levels.

Quotations That Inspire Me.

2009-03-13T02:28:00.000-07:00

"If you want [your children] to lose their faith, send them to a Catholic school" -Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. This observation was made in the 1970's. In my humble opinion things are getting worse.

"A person is a person, no matter how small." Horton Hears a Who.

"The fact that the rest of the world has lost its innocence has no bearing on the way I choose to raise my own children." Annon.

"Thank goodness I was never sent to school; it would have rubbed off some of the originality." Beatrix Potter.

"My grandmother wanted me to have an education, so she kept me out of school." -Margaret Mead.

"Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words." - St. Francis of Assisi.

Surfing the Spectrum!

2009-02-21T20:38:00.000-08:00

Prompted by a comment from Mel, on my post The Look, I've been contemplating how to explain what Autism Spectrum Disorders are. I've been thinking about it for some weeks. Perhaps the best way to begin with a definition.

Autism Spectrum Disorders, sometimes called Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD), are a range of neurological disorders that most markedly involve some degree of difficulty with communication and interpersonal relationships, as well as obsessions and repetitive behaviors. As the term "spectrum" indicates, there can be a wide range of effects. Those at the lower-functioning end of the spectrum may be profoundly unable to break out of their own world and may be described as having Kanner's autism. Those at the higher-functioning end, sometimes diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome (AS), may be able to lead independent lives but still be awkward in their social interactions...Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified may be diagnosed when a child has autistic symptoms but does not fit into another Autistic Spectrum Disorder diagnosis. Terri Mauro.

Two of our boys have an autistic spectrum disorder. Koala has Aspergers Syndrome, and Roo has PDD-NOS. Because no two children with ASD will present in the same way, I can only comment on how ASD effects my children and our family.

When our second child Koala, was a new born we didn't notice anything different about him. Often parents of kids on the spectrum will say that there was always something that they felt wasn't quite right with their little one. Perhaps their baby wouldn't make eye contact with them, they hated to be cuddled, or the parents just had an innate sense of difference about their child.

Looking back the signs were certainly there. Koala's startle reflex lasted for months. I have a fond memory of Bilby carefully approaching his sleeping baby brother and loudly yelling at him so that he could see little Koala's arms wildly jump. Bilby would then dissolve into peals of laughter!

Koala would also shake is head from side to side at an alarming speed. He usually did this when he was tired, so I simply thought that it was just a harmless thing he did like other babies who suck their thumbs. I now know that it is called a "stim." Older children and adults with ASD often find it extremely difficult to control their stims. Some kids on the spectrum might flap their hands, others shake their heads or rock their whole bodies. Koala still shakes his head early in the morning in his sleep, without even realising it.

Koala was the perfect baby! As he grew I did become slightly concerned by his fascination with doors. Long before the age of 2 he would lie near the front door and endlessly open and close it. He loved to push our sliding wardrobe doors for very long amounts of time. If we visited McDonald's he wouldn't be playing in the playground, but pushing the heavy doors open and shut, much to the alarm of strangers who were sure he would jam his fingers in the door. He never did, as he was so focused on the movement of the door.

I had no idea then, that doors were Koala's special interest. "Special interest" is a pleasant way of saying obsession, for that is exactly what a special interest is. Kids who have a special interest will happily spend all their time on their special interest. They will talk of almost nothing else. They will drive their parents and siblings to distraction with a near constant monologue and a series of repeated questions about the love of their life, their special interest. Because kids on the autism spectrum often have poor social skills, they will talk and talk to anyone about their special interest regardless of the verbal or non-verbal cues the listener is attempting to send, as to their lack of interest!

Koala's second special interest was trains and building train tracks. We have almost the complete set of Fischer-Price Geo Trax system. Koala would spend long hours in his room constructing train tracks. Often I would attempt to play with my son. I would pull out the impressive remote controls that made realistic train sounds and try to engage my son in play. Every attempt would end in failure with Koala screaming at me to get the trains off the tracks. I couldn't understand why he didn't want to play with the wonderful engines that went with his tracks. We took him to steam train festivals, watched endless episodes of Thomas the Tank Engine and a documentary on steam trains. When other parents told me that their child was obsessed with trains too, I knew that they had no idea what being obsessed with trains meant at our house!

As I've mentioned in other posts shopping can be a disaster. I now know why. Children on the spectrum often have sensory issues. This can mean they find loud noises, certain textures, light and so forth unbearable. Most of us neuro-typicals (NTs) have a sensory issue. For me it's slimy things like wet bars of soap, messy toothpaste tubes and cockroaches. Perhaps you can't stand the feel of a woollen jumper against your skin, or the sound of finger nails scraping along a blackboard. Now imagine someone insisting that you do the thing which fills you with terror. Imagine them telling you that you're being silly, there's nothing wrong with cockroaches, or whatever it is. How would you react? Multiply that by 100 and you have some idea of why kids on the spectrum have meltdowns over things the NT world tells them are "silly."

A meltdown is not the same as a tantrum. Young children have tantrums in an effort to get what they want. Kids on the spectrum do this too, but a meltdown is something different altogether. Perhaps a better way to describe a meltdown is a neuro-logical storm. A meltdown can seem to come out of no where. They are often caused by sensory issues, like the unbearable feel of the seam of a sock. They can be violent and long lasting. Any thinking person can see that a child in the throws of a meltdown has little or no control of their behaviour. The look on their faces speaks of sheer terror. (In this blog post I touch on the intensity of meltdowns and our journey with Koala.)

In our home many of Koala's meltdowns have often been the result of Theory of Mind problems. Theory of Mind is a complex thing, but basically it means the ability to understand that someone else does not have the same desires, ideas and feelings as you. Kids on the spectrum often assume you know what they are thinking. Stop and think for a minute of the implications!

Thankfully, Roo does not have meltdowns. He does have an ear piercing scream he uses when things don't go his way, but this is mainly due to him not being able to be understood when he attempts to speak. Roo's main challenges are centred around speech and language. Once he is able to communicate verbally I believe that he will be as "normal" as the next child! I have always thought of Roo as the icing on our family cake!

While low muscle tone isn't necessary for a diagnosis of Aspergers, many children with Aspergers have tone problems and general clumsiness. Koala didn't walk until he was 21 months old. All his gross motor milestones were very late. As a baby I bought him a pair of slippers with Mr. Bump on them. Koala had an almost permanent bump on his left temple. My young cousins, after having a cuddle with Koala, would attempt to put him down as they would with any other baby. Koala would simply hit the floor! Many a time I would open the door of the car and Koala would fall out, hitting his head on the curb. His muscles couldn't react quick enough to break his fall.

I have only scratched the surface of what ASD means for our family. I haven't mentioned the significant social difficulties; food issues; literal interpation of language; eye contact; anxiety or how all this impacts on our eldest son, Bilby. But I have provided a small window into our family which I hope will give you some idea od what ASD can look like.

I am thankful that Koala is a joy to educate. Like most kids with Aspergers Koala is very intelligent. He's well on the way to becoming the only natural speller in our family! He also has a great love of his faith. He will happily share treats without being asked, and always thinks of others feelings.

Much of the above seems to paint a less than cheery picture of life with a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. But I feel that our lives have been made much richer because of our sons' challenges. I have learnt patience beyond anything I thought I possessed. I have failed miserably many times, but the Lord has shown me time and time again, that I must lean on him when I think I cannot go on.

Lastly, I urge you to view this moving and thought provoking movie, made by autistic woman, Amanda Baggs.

Smarter Than the Average Person?

2009-02-19T18:29:00.000-08:00

Whilst searching for an image for my last post, I came across this beautiful true story.

Answering Questions on the Eucharist.

2009-02-16T20:48:00.000-08:00

We belong to a small charismatic family centred prayer group. We meet once a month for praise and worship; teaching; prayer and fellowship. One of the members of our group, Patrick is a keen apologist. He wrote the wonderful talk which follows. It takes the form of a role play.It is very long, but extremely thorough.

It is a talk to which I will return to many times, hence it's placement here on my blog. I can only hope and pray that when I am asked similar questions about The Real Presence, that I will be able to answer with similar depth and grace. Or perhaps I'll just carry a copy in my handbag!

The Eucharist

1. Sonia
Patrick, please tell me this Eucharist that I so often hear Catholics talk about, what is it exactly and why is it so important?

1. Patrick
The Eucharist (which means "thanksgiving") is the source and summit of the Catholic faith. It is the Sacrament of sacraments. It is the focal point of the Catholic Mass. Why you ask? Because the Eucharist is the sacrament in which Jesus gives himself completely to us – body, blood, soul and divinity. So at every Mass we actually participate in a miracle – Jesus comes to us in the form of bread and wine. In other words the same Jesus who walked the streets of Galilee is present to each of us (Catholics) at every Mass.
So at the Mass we worship Jesus – the living God.

2. Sonia
Why? I mean why would Jesus do this?

2. Patrick
There are many ways to answer this but I guess the best way for me is to look at what Jesus himself said.
In John 6:53-63 Jesus says,
53. …"Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
54. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
55. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
56. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
57. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
58. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever."
We thus see here Jesus giving His disciples an important injunction if they are to inherit eternal life. In other words receiving His body and blood is a matter affecting our salvation. Also through the Eucharist Jesus comes to nourish us spiritually. It is food for life – does the "give us this day our daily bread" ring a bell. Think about it. It is also our greatest defence against the forces of darkness – because it is Jesus himself.

3. Sonia
Wait, wait, wait – you have just opened a can of worms for me now. I think what you are also on about is something Catholics call the Real Presence. Is that right?

3. Patrick
Correct. By Real Presence we mean that Jesus is really physically present in the Eucharist. The bread and wine are not merely symbols of His body and blood. The bread and wine IS his body and blood. That is why it is such an awesome sacrament.

4. Sonia
Wow, this I find a bit hard to believe. How on earth can you say that? Surely in John 6 Jesus must have been talking figuratively and not literally?

4. Patrick
Actually no. He was speaking very literally. You see one actually needs to take a holistic view and get a proper perspective of all that relates to this topic in Scripture. Now there is not enough time for me to deal with it all in-depth so I will be brief.

In the OT we read in Exodus 12 about the first Passover. We see here that God gave the Israelites a clear instruction to eat the sacrificial lamb and sprinkle its blood on the door mantle. The Angel of the Lord would then pass them by when passing through Egypt that night killing all the first born (the 10th plague).
John chapter 6 starts off with the feeding of the 5000. The next day the people came looking for Jesus again – and He knows they want Him to feed them again. In His subsequent discourse He tries to point them to something far more significant – that He is the Bread of Life. That His body and blood is real food and drink. He was preparing them for what was to come a year later at the Last Supper – the institution of the Eucharist. From that point onwards all His followers could receive His Body and Blood for spiritual nourishment.
This of course ties in very closely with the sacrifice on the cross. Jesus offered himself for our salvation – "the Lamb of God". Note the resemblance - the Passover lamb had to be eaten – Jesus gives us His Body and Blood to eat and drink at the Eucharistic meal.
But let’s go back to John 6 to see why Jesus was speaking literally. I will pick up the story at John 6:25-66…all are welcome to follow in their Bibles.

1) Jesus the teacher
If Jesus was not speaking literally in John 6 ("My flesh is real food; My blood is true drink," etc.), He would have been a poor teacher. After all, everyone listening to Him speak those words understood that He meant them literally. They responded, "How can this man give us His flesh to eat?" In the cases of Jesus saying He is a "door" or a "vine," we find no one asking, "How can this man be a door made out of wood?" or, "How can this man claim to be a plant?" It was clear from the context and the Lord's choice of words in those passages that He was speaking metaphorically.
But in John 6 He was speaking literally. In John 6:41, the Jews "murmured" about Christ's teaching precisely because it was so literal. Christ certainly knew they were having difficulty imagining that He was speaking literally, but rather than explain His meaning as simply a metaphor, He emphasized His teaching, saying, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever, and the bread that I will give is My flesh for the life of the world" (John 6:51). Why would Christ reinforce the literal sense in the minds of His listeners if He meant His words figuratively? The Lord dealt with other situations where His listeners misunderstood the meaning of His words. In each case, He cleared up the misunderstanding.
For example, the disciples were confused about His statement, "I have food to eat which you do not know." (John 4:32). They thought he was speaking about physical food, real food. But He quickly cleared up the misunderstanding with the clarification, "My food is to do the will of Him that sent Me, that I may perfect his work". Also Jesus talking to Nicodemus about being born again (John 3:1-15). Refer also Matt. 4:34; cf. 16:5-12. So you see when Jesus realised that they did not understand he explained.
Back to John 6. Notice that the Jews argued among themselves about the meaning of Christ's words. He reiterated the literal meaning again: "Amen, Amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you do not have life within you" (verses 53-54). In verse 61 we see that no longer was it just the wider audience but "the disciples" themselves who were having difficulty with this radical statement. Surely, if Christ were speaking purely symbolically, it's reasonable to expect that He would clear up the difficulty even if just among His disciples. But He doesn't. He stands firm and asks, "Does this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before?" (Verse 62-63). Did Christ "symbolically" ascend into heaven after the Resurrection? No. As we see in Acts 1:9-10, His ascension was literal. This is the one and only place in the New Testament where people abandon Christ over one of His teachings.

2) Peter’s Affirmation
Rather than try to correct any mistaken understanding of His words, the Lord asks His Apostles, "Do you also want to leave?" (verse 67). And Peter replies, "Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God." What a profound act of faith. We have hindsight but Peter did not. His Apostles knew He was speaking literally. They hardly understood what it was all about but they believed.

3) Paul’s writings
St. Paul emphasizes the truth of the Real Presence: "Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord . . . .Whoever eats and drinks without recognizing the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself" (1 Cor. 11:27-29).
The Greek phrase for being "guilty of someone's body and blood" (enokos estai tou somatos kai tou haimatos tou kuriou) is a technical way of saying "guilty of murder." If the Eucharist is merely a symbol of Christ, not Christ Himself, this warning would be drastically, absurdly overblown. If the Eucharist is merely a symbol of the Lord's body and blood, then St. Paul's words here make no sense. For how can one be "guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord" if it's merely a symbol?

4) Martin Luther
Even Martin Luther himself admitted that the early Church was unanimous in the literal interpretation of Christ's words in John 6: "Who, but the devil, hath granted such license of wresting the words of holy Scripture? Who ever read in the Scriptures that my body is the same as the sign of my body?. . . It is only the devil, that imposeth upon us by these fanatical men. ..Not one of the Fathers, though so numerous, ever spoke [thus] . . . they are all of them unanimous."

5) The Satanists
Why is it that the satanists target the sacred host? And desecrate it? There have been numerous stories of satanists visiting Catholic churches to steal the host so they could desecrate it during their satanic rituals. It is because they know that it really is the body and blood of our Lord.

5. Sonia
Okay, let’s say you are right. But then Jesus is promoting cannibalism! Also the Bible states clearly that God never changes. He forbade the drinking of blood in the Old Testament, why would he "literally" tell his followers to "drink his blood" in the New Testament?

5. Patrick
Well, there are two points to look at here. One is cannibalism and the other the drinking of blood. Let’s look at cannibalism first.
There are two ways of illustrating why the Eucharist is not cannibalistic. It was precisely this misunderstanding that led the unbelieving Jews and disciples in John 6 to reject Jesus when He said they must eat His body and drink His blood. They thought Jesus was commanding them to consume Him in a bloody, cannibalistic way.
However, the believing disciples were rewarded for their faith at the Last Supper. Jesus revealed that they would receive His true body and blood sacramentally (present in a hidden way).
In the Sacrament of the Eucharist, Christ’s body and blood are truly present, but not with their normal physical properties. Jesus’ body isn’t spread out in space; its normal condition is hidden under the appearance of bread and wine. While the Apostles truly consumed Christ’s real body and blood, it wasn’t cannibalism, because Christ was not in His natural condition.
They did not bite off pieces of Christ’s arm, for example, or swallow quantities of His blood; instead they received Christ whole and entire - body, blood, soul and divinity – under the appearance of bread and wine. Receiving Christ’s real, but sacramental presence in the Eucharist has nothing to do with cannibalism or drinking blood.
The second way is stated in point 4) further on when we deal with the drinking of blood. Cannibalism and blood drinking are usually uttered in the same breath by our Protestant brethren. Heavens forbid - we be vampires if this claim were true!
The drinking of blood
Leviticus 17:10 indeed condemns "eating blood. If we're going to be consistent with the Levitical Law, then we must also perform animal sacrifices - lambs, pigeons, turtledoves- according to Leviticus 12:8. But as Christians, we are not under the Levitical Law. We're under the 'law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus'" (Rom. 8:2). Hebrews 7:11-12 tells us the Levitical Law has passed away with the advent of the New Covenant. A New Testament commandment always abrogates an Old Testament commandment.
For example, in Matthew 5, the Lord repeatedly uses the formula, "You have heard that it was said (quoting an Old Testament law), But I say unto you . . ." In each instance, Christ supersedes the Old Testament law with a new commandment of His own, such as the commandment against divorce and remarriage, over against Moses' allowance for it in Deuteronomy 24:1 (cf. Matt. 5:21-22, 27-28, 31-32, 33-34, 38-39, 43-44). This is what we see in John 6. The blood prohibition in Leviticus 17:11-12 was replaced by Christ's new teaching in John 6:54: "Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you shall have no life in you." Eating blood was prohibited in the Old Testament, "Because the life of the flesh is found in the blood" (Lev. 17:11). Blood is sacred and the life of each creature is in its blood. Many pagans thought they could acquire "more" life by ingesting the blood of an animal or even a human being. But obviously this was foolish. No animal or human person has the capacity to do this. But in the case of Christ, it's different. John 6:54 tells us that our eternal life depends on His blood: "Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you shall have no life in you."
So notice that we are not under the Levitical Law but even so the participating in the Eucharist does not violate the Levitical Law as Jesus blood is sacramentally present as I said before.

6. Sonia
There is a lot for me here to digest. I have also heard the term Transubstantiation used when it comes to the Eucharist. What does it mean and where does it come from?

6. Patrick
Good question. Okay, let’s start with the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC). The CCC defines this doctrine in section 1376:
"The Council of Trent summarizes the Catholic faith by declaring: 'Because Christ our Redeemer said that it was truly his body that he was offering under the species of bread, it has always been the conviction of the Church of God, and this holy Council now declares again, that by the consecration of the bread and wine there takes place a change of the whole substance of the bread into the substance of the body of Christ our Lord and of the whole substance of the wine into the substance of his blood. This change the holy Catholic Church has fittingly and properly called transubstantiation."
In other words, the Roman Catholic Church teaches that once an ordained priest consecrates the bread at the Lord's Supper, it is transformed into the actual flesh of Christ (though it retains the appearance, odour, and taste of bread), and when he consecrates the wine, it is transformed into the actual blood of Christ (though it retains the appearance, odour, and taste of wine).
Transubstantiation is actually quite simple - though when dealing with the divine means it can never be completely understood. Let’s consider accidental and substance change. By accidental we mean that which is outwardly observable – physical appearances/characteristics of something. By substance we mean the essence of what something consists of. An example of accidental change is when water changes from liquid to steam or liquid to ice. The substance remains the same but the accidentals change.
When the priest consecrates the bread and wine, there is a change (trans - ) of substance = transubstantiation. This occurs through the will of the Father and the work of the Holy Spirit. The accidentals – appearances of bread and wine remain the same but at the substance level it has changed from bread to the body of Christ. And the wine to the Blood of Christ. It is a miracle indeed that happens at every Mass. No-one can fully grasp the entirety of what happens – but we are called to believe and see through the eyes of faith. The following table (courtesy of Dave Armstrong) hopefully illustrates it a bit better with some examples.
Type of change
Example
Accidents (appearance)
Substance (essence)
Natural Accidental
Water to ice or steam
Changed
Same
Natural Substantial
Metabolism of food
Changed
Changed
Supernatural Accidental
Miracle of the loaves (Matt. 14:19)
Changed (quantity)
Same
Supernatural Substantial
Transubstantiation
Same
Changed

7. Sonia
If this be true then surely it should have been proclaimed from the beginning. How come this doctrine was only invented in the 13th century?

7. Patrick
Well, a point of correction first – the RCC never invents a doctrine. It merely defines or formalises what it believes from time to time. Often as a result of heresies. It’s teachings are based on what was passed on from the Apostles and Jesus himself as contained in Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture. When it comes to doctrine the Church cannot add.
Now the essence of Transubstantiation has always been the belief of the RCC. It was only in 1215 at the Fourth Lateran Council that the term Transubstantiation was officially invoked as properly describing the belief of the Church when it comes to the Eucharist.

8. Sonia
If this is true how come it is not in Scripture? I have never seen the word Transubstantiation in Scripture.

8. Patrick
You are correct. It is not found in Scripture, but then neither is Trinity. The point being that Scripture often does not spell out a doctrine but supports it. The Eucharist is very heavily Scripture based and so is the doctrine of the Trinity. Simply put a doctrine is intended to spell out in clear terms the essence of a theological truth being conveyed by the Scriptures. The actual words used surely do not have to be in Scripture verbatim. This would be very tricky considering all the languages of Scripture and the different translations throughout the centuries. Conversely a doctrine can never contradict Scripture – that is a bad or false doctrine.

9. Sonia
I’ve heard that the most serious reason transubstantiation should be rejected is because it is viewed by the Roman Catholic Church as a "re-sacrifice" of Jesus Christ for our sins. Jesus died "once for all" and does not need to be sacrificed again (Hebrews 10:10; 1 Peter 3:18).

9. Patrick
The RCC most emphatically does not re-sacrifice Christ at every Mass. Every Mass is a re-presentation of the Sacrifice of Calvary? What's the difference you say? Let me explain.
I think we all agree that Jesus has a divine and human nature in one person. Because He is both God and man the physical limitations of time and space do not apply to Him. Indeed, He is the master of His creation and is in no way limited by it. We are, however, constrained by time and space - BUT we must be careful not to apply our limitations and very, very limited understanding to the divine. On the human side what happened at Calvary is a historical event - it occurred 2000 years ago. However, God is not bound by time and the Sacrifice of Calvary is as present to Him today as it was 2000 years ago and as it will be 10 000 years from now. This of course holds true for every event in human history.
In essence what happens at every Mass is that the one and only Sacrifice of the Calvary is made present again. It is as if we were standing at the foot of the cross.
Karl Adam, author of the book The Spirit of Catholicism, remarks upon the transcendent nature of the Mass:
"The Sacrifice of Calvary, as a great supratemporal reality, enters into the immediate present. Space and time are abolished. The same Jesus is here present who died on the Cross. The whole congregation unites itself with His holy sacrificial will, and through Jesus present before it, consecrates itself to the heavenly Father as a living oblation. So Holy Mass is a tremendously real experience, the experience of the reality of Golgotha."
Dave Armstrong in his book A Biblical Defense of Catholicism says the following:
"It is crucial to understand that the Sacrifice of the Mass is not a "re-sacrifice" of Christ, as is the common misconception. Jesus does not die every time a priest offers Mass, since He died once, in history, on earth. Rather, the Mass lifts us into the heavenly realms, where all events are eternally present (as they are with God). The Mass is thus a re-presentation of the one Sacrifice at Calvary in a sacramental, unbloody manner. One may not agree with this belief, but opponents of Catholic doctrine should at least honestly and clearly understand what it is they contest."

10. Sonia
Another point, in my understanding, Communion is the rite that Christians perform in fulfilment of Jesus' instruction to do in REMEMBRANCE of him what he did at his Last Supper. Now I have heard all that you have said, but does remembrance not imply that the bread and wine are symbolic of the body and blood of Jesus Christ, and in partaking of the elements we, the believers, commemorate the sacrificial death of Christ.

10. Patrick
Good point. Renowned Catholic Apologist, Tim Staples, has the following to say on this subject:
The Eucharist is a true sacrifice, not just a commemorative meal, as "Bible Christians" insist. The first Christians knew that it was a sacrifice and proclaimed this in their writings. They recognized the sacrificial character of Jesus’ instruction, "Do this in remembrance of me" (Touto poieite tan eman anamnasin; Luke 22:19, 1 Cor. 11:24–25) which is better translated "Offer this as my memorial offering."
Thus, Protestant early Church historian J. N. D. Kelly writes that in the early Church "the Eucharist was regarded as the distinctively Christian sacrifice. . . . Malachi’s prediction (1:10–11) that the Lord would reject Jewish sacrifices and instead would have "a pure offering" made to him by the Gentiles in every place was seized upon by Christians as a prophecy of the Eucharist. The Didache indeed actually applies the term thusia, or sacrifice, to the Eucharist. . . .
"It was natural for early Christians to think of the Eucharist as a sacrifice. The fulfilment of prophecy demanded a solemn Christian offering, and the rite itself was wrapped in the sacrificial atmosphere with which our Lord invested the Last Supper. The words of institution, ‘Do this’ (touto poieite), must have been charged with sacrificial overtones for second-century ears; Justin at any rate understood them to mean, ‘Offer this.’ . . . The bread and wine, moreover, are offered ‘for a memorial (eis anamnasin) of the passion,’ a phrase which in view of his identification of them with the Lord’s body and blood implies much more than an act of purely spiritual recollection" (Early Christian Doctrines [Full Reference], 196–7).

11. Sonia
Finally, a question regarding spirit and flesh. In John 6:58 Jesus spoke about his blood and body in a spiritual sense ("not as your fathers did eat manna and are dead") also see verse 63. ( …‘the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit"…) The disciples got upset because they interpreted His words literally, but is it not that Jesus states that he spoke words and "they are spirit" (not flesh)?

11. Patrick
From the Catholic Answers website I found the following which I think will answer your question.
For Fundamentalist writers, the scriptural argument is capped by an appeal to John 6:63: "It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh is of no avail; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life." They say this means that eating real flesh is a waste. But does this make sense? Are we to understand that Christ had just commanded his disciples to eat his flesh, then said their doing so would be pointless? Is that what "the flesh is of no avail" means? "Eat my flesh, but you’ll find it’s a waste of time"—is that what he was saying? Hardly.
The fact is that Christ’s flesh avails much! If it were of no avail, then the Son of God incarnated for no reason, he died for no reason, and he rose from the dead for no reason. Christ’s flesh profits us more than anyone else’s in the world. If it profits us nothing, so that the incarnation, death, and resurrection of Christ are of no avail, then "your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished" (1 Cor. 15:17b–18).
In John 6:63 "flesh profits nothing" refers to mankind’s inclination to think using only what their natural human reason would tell them rather than what God would tell them. Thus in John 8:15–16 Jesus tells his opponents: "You judge according to the flesh, I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone that judge, but I and he who sent me." So natural human judgment, unaided by God’s grace, is unreliable; but God’s judgment is always true.
And were the disciples to understand the line "The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life" as nothing but a circumlocution (and a very clumsy one at that) for "symbolic"? No one can come up with such interpretations unless he first holds to the Fundamentalist position and thinks it necessary to find a rationale, no matter how forced, for evading the Catholic interpretation. In John 6:63 "flesh" does not refer to Christ’s own flesh—the context makes this clear—but to mankind’s inclination to think on a natural, human level. "The words I have spoken to you are spirit" does not mean "What I have just said is symbolic." The word "spirit" is never used that way in the Bible. The line means that what Christ has said will be understood only through faith; only by the power of the Spirit and the drawing of the Father (cf. John 6:37, 44–45, 65).
Paul Confirms This
Paul wrote to the Corinthians: "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?" (1 Cor. 10:16). So when we receive Communion, we actually participate in the body and blood of Christ, not just eat symbols of them. Paul also said, "Therefore whoever eats the bread and drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord. . . . For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself" (1 Cor. 11:27, 29). "To answer for the body and blood" of someone meant to be guilty of a crime as serious as homicide. How could eating mere bread and wine "unworthily" be so serious? Paul’s comment makes sense only if the bread and wine became the real body and blood of Christ.

12. Sonia
I want to thank you for a very interesting, informative and challenging discussion. You have given me much to think about.

12. Patrick
The pleasure is all mine. I think ultimately each of us have to decide what our reactions are going to be to these very important words of Jesus. If we really proclaim to be followers of Jesus Christ we cannot simply dismiss this very important subject or trivialise it. Are we going to walk away unbelieving like the Jews did or is our response going to be, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the message of eternal life and we believe."
A very challenging message, and so I pray that the Holy Spirit will enlighten your minds and those of all Christians to the real truth. God bless always.

Money for Books.

2009-01-29T23:55:00.000-08:00

At present neither Bilby or Koala are interested in reading for pleasure. However I have a little scheme which I hope will change that. I am offering them cash for each book read. This offer has been on the table for some time, but wasn't taken up until I suggested to them that they could use the money to pay for a monthly Club Penguin membership. This was just the motivation they needed.

This afternoon we have had a very quiet home. Not only have they been practising their reading skills, but their negotiation skills also. We have been haggling over what each book is worth! The average price seems to be $2.00. Koala is reading a gem form my childhood, one of the Choose Your Own Adventure series. We settled on .50c per story. Judging by the rapidity with which he is reading the book, I think we may have set the price slightly too high. I may have to visit the bank tomorrow! It is likely that these books fall into the twaddle category, but I remember them with great fondness as a struggling reader myself. Fortunately I graduated to Shakespeare, Austin and the like.

He Loves Me!

2009-01-25T21:52:00.000-08:00

Roo just spontaneously said, "I love you."
Another first, and one I have been eagerly awaiting!
He will say I love you when I ask him to, but this came out of the blue.

He also said 6 words today! "Pink rocket go up in sky."
Two lovely little Australia Day presents.

Visiting Jesus.

2009-01-21T22:52:00.000-08:00

Today Roo and I made a brief visit to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. The older boys were at Grandma and Poppy's for their holiday sleepover. We are very blessed to have a Blessed Sacrament Chapel in our parish, which is 500m from our door. It is almost always open. Naturally it's my favourite place to spend time. My dog is even content to wait outside when we go for walks!

The chapel is a small room attached to the presbytery. It has less than a dozen chairs, some reading material and many beautiful holy pictures of Jesus and his Blessed Mother. The Blessed Sacrament is exposed in a monstrance, at the base of which are always flowers. One can be physically very close to Jesus. You can see why it's one of my favourite places to spend time!

I was very proud of Roo during our visit. He was very reverent. He made a double genuflection and sat quietly in his seat. After a short time, I told Roo we were leaving. Without any prompting he said "I love you Jesus." Very cute.

A Counter Cultural View of Special Needs.

2009-01-21T13:29:00.000-08:00

This article touched my heart today. Many people assume that having a child with special needs is a burden often too difficult to be borne, for parents, much less for siblings. Reading Marie-Claire's article, could change their minds!

The Look.

2009-01-18T20:14:00.000-08:00

Taking Koala and/or Roo to the supermarket can be a memorable experience.

One trip to the supermarket with Koala when he was 3 or 4, is embedded in my memory for all the wrong reasons! I can no longer remember the reason for his spectacular meltdown, but I certainly remember the event. Koala was often prone to supermarket meltdowns, but this one was a doosey! Children on the spectrum often have very loud voices and often unaware that one should use a lower volume in certain situations. On this occasion Koala had worked himself up into a frenzy of screaming. He had thrown himself on the ground, and I was unable to move him. Neither he nor I had any control over the situation.

It seems inappropriate, but I began to quietly laugh. Laughter seemed like a better response than having mother and child sobbing together on the floor! All the while people were stopping what they were doing to look. Not the kind of look that says, "Oh, I feel for you, I know you're doing your best." but the looks which says in no uncertain terms " That child needs a good smack." or "How dare she allow her child to scream like that." We left as quickly as we could with Koala thrashing about in my arms, while his screaming threatened to bring down the ceiling!

Even now, at the age of 9 Koala can still behave in such a way to attract "the look." Add Roo into the scenario and you can imagine the potential for chaos!

Today Roo turned on a show for his fellow shoppers. I even started to run after one lady who gave us "the look", to explain the reason why my son appears to be so badly behaved. Mid-way through my sprint I thought better of it. I couldn't be sure that I would say what needed to be said with sufficient grace.

I've begun to avoid looking at people when one of my children is in the throws of a meltdown. I know that if they knew the reasons why, then they wouldn't give us the look. But we don't live in a perfect world, so attempting not to look is my survival strategy.

So next time you see a child throwing a paddy, smile, offer a prayer for them or even a simple word of encouragement. It could make someones day a little brighter.

Patience

2009-01-17T02:00:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth Foss put this link on her wonderful blog, In the Heart of My Home.
It's one I'll want to return to again and again. So now I won't loose it in the jumble of my favourites list!

Birthday Boy

2009-01-15T15:48:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was Koala's 9th birthday. He has been quite unwell for over a week. Koala was very concerned that he would still be unwell for his special day. Thankfully he woke up well enough to enjoy the day. As it was a scorcher (41degrees c) we stayed inside and enjoyed the air-conditioning. Much of the day was spent enjoying the birthday treat of a months subscription to Club Penguin!

This is the first year that Koala has not had a special interest. While this is a good thing, it certainly made buying a gift rather difficult! Last year it was wall to wall penguins. This year Koala received a mix of toys: soft toys; Wall-E DVD; a budgie and gift cards which were the favourite. He hurried off in the evening to spend them on a Lego cargo plane he has had his eye on.

James and I felt very sorry for Roo, who was very distressed when the cake came out. For several weeks before Koala's birthday Roo would insist that it was his birthday next! After the presents were opened he did ask if there were any more, for him I guess! But when the cake came out and we told him that Koala would blow the candles out first he was not impressed. He just didn't understand. Of course the mother in me fleetingly worried that in a few years time Roo would think that on one of his birthdays he didn't get any presents and he wasn't even allowed to blow out his candles!

Koala had a great day. Although I am slightly baffled as to how my little boy came to be 9! He is growing into a young man to be proud of. He is a very caring little boy with beautiful manners. We love you Koala. This was taken on Roo's baptism day when Koala was 4.5 years old.

Unfortunately our camera is out of order, so the only photos we have, come from Grandma. Thanks!

Echolalia

2009-01-13T00:12:00.000-08:00

Roo has never been a big television watcher until he discovered the Toy Story movies! I thought that he would probably love Toy Story as much as his brothers, so I put off it's enrty into our home for quite a while. I was right! He can't get enough of both movies. So much so that I have had to hide the cases so that he doesn't walk around with them all day!

His love of these movies has provided his first use of delayed echolalia. When he is upset with someone he says "You are a toy!" in the same tone which Buzz uses with Woody when he is upset that Woody is not returning home with the other toys.

He has used immediate echolalia ever since he started talking. His use of it has slowed as his ability to express himself has increased. Roo is now able to ask for what he wants rather than shouting. I am very excited about what this year will bring for Roo's use of language.

Chapel Veils.

2009-01-10T23:19:00.000-08:00

In Australia chapel veils are very rare. Growing up I knew they had existed as my father sometimes refered to them, but I had never seen one worn until I was an adult. It was worn by an elderly European lady who knelt to receive the Eucharist on the tongue, which I had also never seen.

When we attended our first home education camp, I realised that they might be more common than I had thought, as many mothers and daughters wore the veil. I became intrigued. It was suggested to me that perhaps these women were somehow stuck in the past, or that they had perhaps rejected many elements of the Second Vatican Council? I wasn't so sure. One thing my history degree had taught me, was that a little imformation can be a dangerous thing! I'm a firm believer in hot having an opinion until you have more than a rudenantry knowledge of the topic. I knew nothing about chapel veils, not even that they were called chapel veils or mantillas. So one day I did a quick google search, and thought little more about it.

Last week Jenny blogged about chapel veils. I read the links on her post, which have had me thinking ever since!

The thing that struck me the most was 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 If I had read these verses, I had no recollection of it. I had not realised that Saint Paul specifcally instructed women to be veiled, and why.

At this point I will not be wearing a chapel veil. But I am enjoying learning why so many of my sisters in Christ are returing to this long held tradition. I encourage you to explore the articles here and elsewhere, so that we can be more throughly informed about this topic.

An Afternoon with Miss Potter.

2009-01-09T21:06:00.000-08:00

Bilby and I have just spent an hour or two enjoying some of Beatrix Potter's delightful children's stories. I am usually the one who introduces Bilby to a new author, but not this time!

Just as old Mr Bunny, in The Tale of Benjamin Bunny, "had no opinion whatever of cats." I had no opinion of Miss Potter. I have never taken the time to read her work, even though her life story has intrigued me after watching a documentary about her life and the difficult relationship she had with her mother. All long before the recent movie Miss Potter.

My son however, has long been a fan. His interest was sparked by the beautiful children' television series he has enjoyed watching. Despite not being a big reader, I would often find him snuggled up on his bed with a collection of her stories!

Today I took some old favourites from the children's' bookshelf intending to recapture the times when Bilby was a toddler and a great lover of a good story. Bibly however, pulled out his favourite edition of Miss Potter's stories. I was delighted when he offered to read me a story! We then took turns reading to each other. I greatly enjoyed seeing the sparkle in Bibly's eyes as he read his favourite parts. All in the school holidays!

A Good Confession.

2009-01-02T02:52:00.000-08:00

There were many years in my life, when I did not receive the Sacrament of Penance. Even when I had made the decision to live my faith in a more conscious manner, I was reluctant to enter the confessional. It had been so long, that I wondered if I would even remember how it all went! When I over came my initial fear, I was able to really enjoy he blessings of this wonderful gift!

I vividly remember my second grade teacher telling us that when we come out of the confessional we would feel light as a feather! The way she described it was so exciting to me as a little girl. I couldn't wait to experience it for myself. Indeed I did feel the sensation she described after I made my First Confession. However, this was not my experience after every encounter with Jesus in the Sacrament of Penance. Of course I knew that just because I didn't always feel his presence in a physically tangible way, didn't mean that I hadn't received the graces promised through the sacrament. But I longed for the times when Jesus presence in the Sacrament were as real to me as the bricks and mortar of the church walls!

The times when I do feel His presence in powerful way after confession, are very special to me indeed! I know that when I take the time to really reflect, and dig deeply and honestly in my soul, these are the times when I can feel His graces flowing into my soul. It seems to me that the harder it is to confess a sin which has deeply wounded me, the greater the blessings I receive from the Sacrament. During a recent advent Penance service I had such an experience.

I remember recently reading that Pope John Paul The Great, received the Sacrament of Penance daily. On reading this I was at first amazed! How could this saintly man have something to confess every day? But then I was reminded that it is the graces which we receive from the sacrament which are so important. What a great shame to miss the opportunity to receive all that Jesus wants to give us!

Special Intention

2008-12-08T21:56:00.000-08:00

Those who know me know how much I love a good cup of tea! I brew a pot straight after I rise for the day. This ritual is often repeated for morning tea; afternoon tea; with James before we retire for the evening, or any other time of the day when the mood takes me.

I'm not a big fan of tea bags, thanks to my parents and their love for the real thing. I still have my Grandfather's battered tea pot which was once red. The paint has long since peeled away. My favourite wedding present is a beautiful tea pot given to us my James' best man and his wife. You can see that I love tea!

On December 2nd, I decided to begin fasting from tea for an intention which is very close to my heart. I've decided to only have tea first thing in the morning, until my prayer intention comes to pass. I'm hopeful that my fasting will remind me many times a day to pray for my special intention.

But I thought we were going to Italy?

2008-12-02T13:12:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, 2nd December, James and I celebrated our 13th Wedding Anniversary. I quite like the number 13. I like to think of it as Our Lady's number, as she appeared to the children of Fatima on the 13th of the month from May to October 1917.

It was also the date when we received a diagnosis of atypical autism (also referred to as PDD-NOS) for Roo.

For some time I have thought that if he is on the autistic spectrum, that would be the most likely diagnosis. However, I was hopeful that his difficulties were the result of a more general delay.

At the moment I am still processing what the diagnosis means for our family. I want to push the pause button on our life while I sift through the implications and emotions. Strangely , this diagnosis doesn't feel as difficult to comprehend as Koala's diagnosis of Aspergers. Perhaps because we have been here before and know some of what's coming.

I'm trying very hard to not feel sorry for myself, and sorry for the reshuffle of my dreams for Roo and his education. I'm trying really hard not to feel cheated when I hear about other 4 year olds who are starting to read; joining in on the home school gymnastics class; talking non-stop, in short, just being normal 4 year olds! It hurts.

I don't want to be here in Holland!

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......
When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.
After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."
"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."
But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.
The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.
So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.
It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.
But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."
And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away...because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss. But...if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.

First Sunday of Advent

2008-12-01T01:15:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we spent the afternoon getting ready for the wonderful season of Advent. The tree went up amidst much noise and excitement.
The Cat Chat Advent/Christmas CD was dusted off, and the Advent wreath was set up.

Unfortunately I am not as organised as I would like to be. Therefore, my candles are not new as they should be. But at least the wreath was in working order when the time came for it to be put into service.

An Advent highlight for Bilby and I, is reading The Jesse Tree . This is a must have for every family! Opening it on the first Sunday of Advent is like welcoming a much loved friend after a long absence. It is so beautifully written and engaging. I really enjoy putting on the gruff voice of the old carpenter at the beginning of the story, then allowing his voice to soften as we edge closer to Jesus' arrival.

This year we have decided to try our hand at making a modest Jesse Tree. True to form, I have yet to find the "tree" to hang our hand coloured symbols.

This Advent I feel as if we are entering more fully into this special season in the church calendar. I feel so very blessed to be part of the Catholic Church and to be able to celebrate her rich traditions.

Guess what happened today?

2008-11-12T20:50:00.000-08:00

This afternoon Roo did something very special.

He has started spending Thursdays with Grandma. Every morning he asks in his own little way, if today is Grandma Day! She picks him up in her car and they spend the day together. A highlight of the day is the return journey on the train!

Today I asked him if what special things he had done with Grandma. I was expecting not to get an answer. Usually Roo simply attempts to repeat back what he has heard, but today was different. For the first time he answered a question in an appropriate way! I asked had he done anything special with Grandma. He replied "Milkshake." I became very excited, which earned me a very cute, shy smile.

"What else?" I asked.

"Washing machine." said Roo. My Mum has a front loading washing machine which Roo loves as he can see the clothes spin. Roo has always loved anything that spins or can be spun: fans; straws; wheels; anything!

Roo's language has improved noticeably of late. We still have a very long way to go, but I now know that he will get there!

The photo I have attached is over a year old, but it's one of my favourites!

What type of homeschooler are you?

2008-10-28T20:34:00.000-07:00

There are so many ways to home educate! Classical; year round; natural learning; Charlotte Mason; school at home, the list could possibly be endless. I am drawn to the possibility of year round home schooling. When all three of my boys are home I think we will give it a go, as I dislike the 6 week break at the end of the traditional Australian school year. I would like to school for 40 weeks, but in a combination that works for us.

I was recently thinking that perhaps I could invent a new type of home education category that would fit in nicely with year round home education. I would like to home school 3 weeks out of 4, and call myself a "Pre-menstrual Homeschooler." I think it could catch on!
I'm just joking by the way!

A Birthday Surprise.

2008-10-27T02:18:00.000-07:00

This week I celebrated a birthday. I had suggested to my husband that I would really love an heirloom rosary from Anne, at Tota Pulchra Beads. Anne made this wonderful rosary, which I will treasure for many years to come.

I had assumed that this would be the only gift of significance from my family. I knew that Koala had wanted James to take him to the local “cheap shop” to buy me a little something. Judging by the shape of the gift, I assumed that I was about to unwrap a print of a puppy; flowers or the like. I was delighted to find that I had a postcard size print of Our Lady of the Southern Cross, in a lovely frame complete with a white mat.
Koala had found the print on a "please take" table at church, and wanted to give it to me. James suggested that they frame it for my birthday. Had I asked for another gift, this is exactly what I would have chosen!

Our Lady of the Southern Cross was commissioned for World Youth Day 2008. It was painted bu Paul Newton, and hangs in the beautiful St. Mary's Cathedal Sydney.

Why We Home Educate.

2008-10-21T02:37:00.001-07:00

Over at 4 Real Learning, I was reading a thread about why people choose to home school. There were many wonderful reasons as to why families have chosen this road less travelled. One post by Marcia, struck a cord with me. She posted this wonderful list of reasons that she and her husband put together, which she has graciously allowed me to publish here and in my kitchen!

Why we Home School.

To fulfil the responsibilities given to us upon our children's baptism.

To provide our children with a comprehensive Catholic education and worldview in all areas of life and learning.

To provide an individualised education in an environment of respect and loving parental care such that each child's strengths are appreciated and raised up and each child's areas of challenge are accommodated and or remediated.

To allow extended parental influence, particularly in the early years of character, values and attitude formation.

To protect our children from the pervasive impiety in our culture and educational systems in order to facilitate the development of the whole child.

To encourage social developments across contexts and ages.

To reverence the child by careful attention to their uniqueness.

To offer emotional safety so their energy can go toward froth and not fear.

And above all because we love being with our children.

I had tried many times to compile such a list, but I could never quite get it right. Marcia’s list included all the reasons which were close to my heart.

The boys and I have recently started reading Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, Missionary of Charity. We read how Agnes tried to discern if she had a vocation to the religious life. She ask her confessor how she would know if God was really calling her, and if so, calling her to what? The priest’s reply struck a cord with me.

“If the thought of becoming a sister and serving God and people makes you happy, then your vocation is genuine. A deep inner joy is like a compass that points you in the direction God wants you to go. This is true even if the road for you is difficult.” (page 24)

I shared with the boys that for many years I had repeatedly asked myself and God what I was meant to be doing with my life. Should I continue teaching; pursue further study; look for another career; save the world! After a few months of home education I began to realise that I no longer found myself asking what I should do when I grew up!! I knew that God had answered my oft asked prayer, as I experienced a lasting contentment which had been elusive in other ventures like paid employment and study. I knew that my vocation to home education was genuine as I too knew by my feelings.

My passion for home education has not wavered (much!), even when the road becomes difficult as it inevitably will no matter what ones vocation is.

Answered Prayer!

2008-10-21T02:19:00.000-07:00

Today the Lord swiftly answered another prayer for our family! Roo, our youngest, attends a wonderful community preschool 2 days a week, and an Early Intervention service one day a week. (Very un-homeschool-ish of us I know.) We recently learned that next year, Roo's early intervention day would have to change to a Monday. Unfortunately however I had told preschool that we would like him to go on a Monday and Tuesday. This meant that he could no longer have two consecutive days at preschool. This would be a problem as he would not have continuity of staff, which I knew would be important for him. I asked the director if she could approach some families who might be willing to swap their days for Roo. A few hours later she informed me that someone had agreed, and Roo could now attend preschool on a Thursday and Friday! I'm so grateful to this name less family.

What was also lovely about this happy affair, was that Bilby, Koala and I spent some time together in prayer after I had spoken to the director. They were able to see God working in our lives through our prayers.

My Little Gentleman!

2008-10-17T22:55:00.000-07:00

Since my boys were old enough to listen, I have been stressed the importance of how to respect and honor women. Many I time I have told them how they should hold open doors for ladies; pay the bill; pull out the chair and so on. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Bilby (10) has indeed been listening!

My dear friend Leanne has been helping me out by taking Bilby to a home school sporting activity. During one of the drives the conversation turned to chivalry. Ever since Bilby has taken great care to open all doors for his friend Brid, Leanne and myself. It certainly warms a mothers heart!

Hard Lessons.

2008-10-15T02:08:00.000-07:00

This year has been a particularly difficult one for our family.

At the beginning of the school year I had what I thought was the perfect plan for the year which I had loving laboured over for many months! I have always been a devote of creating timetables, and schedules, many of which were rarely used, but I had spent so much time on this one, that I was sure it would be different. Our youngest Roo, was three and a half, and I reasoned that things would start to improve as he was older and because I was sure that his language would begin to blossom. We had none the less decided to take him to a paediatrician, just to be sure that his lack of language was simply that, a language delay rather than autism. Before the visit I occasionally wondered how I would react if the paediatrician thought that he did have ASD (autism spectrum disorder) or some other nameless problem. As I was fairly confident that this wouldn't be the case, I figured that I would worry about that if it happened.

The visit did not go well. The Doctor thought Roo was not simply slow to develop language. She noted his non-functional play, which I was shocked to realise, I had failed to even notice. Roo displayed his normal fascination with light switches and pushing buttons. This of course had slightly bothered me, but as it wasn't obsessive I had wasn't too worried. The Doctor talked about her concerns that he might have ASD, but that she would conduct a more through screening in 6 months. She believed that Roo was showing signs of Global Development Delay. I left her rooms feeling numb.

Roo and I went to a nearby fast food outlet for a play, and a much needed coffee for me. Unable to hold in the tears any longer, I sat inside a piece of the play equipment and sobbed. When Koala was diagnosed with Aspergers, it was a relief to finally be able to put a name to that which we knew, made our son different. But this came right out of left field. As I knew a little more than the average Joe about autism, I reasoned that Roo couldn't be on the spectrum because he had great eye contact; he didn't have meltdowns; he displayed no glaring sensory issues and so on. So I reasoned that if was more than likely not ASD, it must just be a speech delay.

So my carefully crafted plans began to slide as I started to come to terms with the possibility of having a second child with special needs. I already knew that Roo's lack of language was an issue, I just hadn't realised how much of a challenge it was going to be. I slowing began to understand that he wasn't just going to start talking in sentences one morning! As I dealt with speech therapy, early intervention and so forth, I slowly began to strip our home education plans down to the bare essentials.

I shamefully began to realise that in planning what I thought was the perfect academic year, I hadn't left much room for God. I was leaning to heavily on what I wanted without stopping to think that perhaps God had other plans. I had foolishly thought that this year would be wonderful as I had dealt with Koala's diagnoses, successfully brought him home from school, and now I was ready to settle into an uneventful year, following my beautiful schedule complete with Latin, French, Shakespeare and so on! I felt like the Lord was gently tapping me on the shoulder saying "There's no such thing as a perfect year. Let me help you my child."

Roo has had a great year, thus far. At the beginning of the year he was unable to put two words together without them disintegrating. He is now able to put three, sometimes four words together, in such a manner that those closest to him are able to comprehend his meaning. I feel confident that he will indeed talk as other children do, it will just take a lot longer!

I am now beginning to learn, and accept, that our family bears little resemblance to most other home educating family I know. I would like to attend more home education events, but I know that for now we have to limit what we are able to do because of Roo's behaviour. I'm learning to relax my dreams and expectations of Roo's education. He will probably attend school for a few years. It's not what I thought would happen, but I'm learning that sometimes "what we recon, and what we get aren't always the same thing!'" (That's a quote from the movie "Romulus My Father.") I'm learning that living in a family means that one must juggle the needs of every family member, and if that means a mix of school and home education, then that's what's best for us at this time. Most of all I'm learning to lean more on the Lord and to trust that he has everything under control. I'm attempting to leave the meticulous planning to Him!

Sheep.

2008-10-13T01:44:00.000-07:00

My mother and her husband who live on a truly beautiful 5 acres of land, recently decided to invest in some four legged lawn mowers! Robert carefully researched many breeds before settling on the Black Dauper. One of the reasons being that they do not need shearing, as they molt! We have been excitedly awaiting the lambing season. Bibly and Koala were hopeful that one or two might give birth while they visited for the holidays. Unfortunately Bilby missed out only by a few nights! Poppy was sure that one of his ewes was carrying twins, as is common for the bred. Sure enough, last night my Mum and Robert were fortunate enough to witness the birth! Unfortunately though the ewe had a pro-lapse and needed veterinary help.

Mum, generously decided to collect Bilby and Koala and take them to "the farm" to see the new additions, and to watch the vet at work! Consequently on our first day of the new term, we didn't achieve everything on our list, but they were able to experience something which I'm sure few schooled children would have had the opportunity to witness, at the drop of a hat.

My Re-version Story

2008-10-06T19:07:00.000-07:00

I am a cradle Catholic, and an only child. Both my parents were Catholic, however only one, my mother, practised her faith. It was from my mother that my faith sprang. The two of us always attended Mass, but we did not pray together at home. I was educated at Catholic schools, but essentially I was a 50min a week Christian. Jesus rarely entered my thoughts throughout the week. However, I always had a strong sense of God’s presence in my life, as if he was always just waiting around the corner, anxious for me to bump into Him and start a relationship! As I child I felt a strong affinity with Our Lady, perhaps because I was dedicated to her as a baby.

At the age of 12 I was fortunate enough to go on a holiday to Europe with my parents. One of the stops on our bus tour was Lourdes. We were only able to stay for a few hours, but I believe that that short visit has had a lasting impact on my faith journey. I was in awe of the place. I bought a Rosary and a little book about St. Bernadette and never forgot what my soul experienced that day.

As I went through the teen and early adult years the secular world took over. I still attended Mass, even if irregularly, but I followed the world’s plan for my life, not Gods. This was probably because for the most part I was ignorant of that God wanted to offer me. From where I stand now I look back and wonder how things may have been different had I met Jesus then, and known the whys behind all the you shall nots.

When I was 22 I met James and we fell in love. Within weeks we had informally decided that we would be married. On the day we looked at engagement rings I sat him down and told him what I wanted from marriage. I told him that for me divorce was not an option. I wanted to be married in a Catholic church, and I wanted any children we would be blessed with, to be baptised in the church and to attend catholic schools. Even though James was not Catholic and had for the most part been raised in a secular home, he was willing to go along with my wishes. We were married in a nuptial mass and started our life together.

Six years later we had two boys, and I was still attending Mass every other week but a little unsure if I should be there. I had difficulties accepting the church’s stance on contraception, but was not curious enough to find out why it took such a firm stance. I occasionally considered jumping ship and attending an Anglican service but didn’t feel comfortable actually doing it!
For some time I had noticed something on the bulletin called a Celebrate Love weekend. It was advertised as a weekend for committed, loving couples, exploring sexuality in marriage. My mum encouraged us to go, and as she offered to baby sit our 4 and 2-year-old sons, we decided to go along. Not without some hesitation on James’ part. He was somewhat fearful of there being an attempted conversion agenda!

Without my knowing it walking into that Celebrate Love weekend was the start of my own conversion. Not only did I start to understand why it was that I was so adamant that out marriage was for life, but other things became clearer to me. I began to see that God wanted to be a part of EVERY aspect of our marriage and my life. As I got to know the presenters and the helpers on that weekend I saw the body of Christ in action. The love those people radiated was palpable. I wanted to be a part of it. I began to see that perhaps the church had something to offer me. Maybe it wasn’t just full of older people.

But perhaps the most life changing thing on that weekend was when one of the presenters included references to natural family planning in her talks. I’m sure my mouth was open in disbelief. In my ignorance I had assumed that NFP was for ignorant, uneducated women who blindly towed the line. But here was a highly educated, dynamic young women who believed that contraception was not ok. Without her knowing it she challenged me to look deeper. That week end and in the weeks and months to come my misconceptions about church teachings began to crumble under my newfound curiosity. I began to read and listen to speakers who explained why the church was against contraception. And it just made so much sense. The Holy Spirit was certainly at work, but I still didn’t know it.

I began to seriously consider if I wanted to really become a Christian. For me it was no longer enough to just turn up at Mass and then go home as before. I decided to make a decision to either leap in or bail out. So I started asking myself and others who Jesus really was and what he wanted to offer me. I asked a priest, family and friends some difficult questions. I listened to several tapes by Fr. Richard Rohr, and I started to understand. Joy began to leak into my heart with each new piece of truth I took in.

One book I read called "Why I’m still Catholic" made a real difference. In it many women shared their reasons why they were Catholics and what they loved about their church. In the first few paragraphs of almost every story they mentioned the same word, the Eucharist, the Eucharist, the Eucharist. To my embarrassment and disappointment I realised I had almost forgotten about Jesus truly present in every Catholic church. Intellectually I understood about the Real Presence, but only from a childish perspective. As it began to sink in I was blown away! It changed everything.

Another book I read represented another turning point. "Frozen Earth, Healing Fire". It was all about Lourdes and other placed where miraculous healing had taken place. Those stories profoundly touched my soul. If I accepted the healing hand of God was at work in the people I read about, then nothing could be the same. How could I be the same when I had proof as it were that God was real and that he was trying to shout it to the world with these healings and Eucharistic miracles. I had to take notice.

So my re-version is more of a drip, drip, drip affect than a thunderbolt. I desperately wanted and prayed for a thunderbolt, but I guess God knows best!
Since I have accepted Christ, it’s as if He’s turned the lights on! I understand why I’m here, life has purpose, meaning and beauty. Even in those moments when my old doubts surface, I still have His peace, and I wouldn’t give that up for anything! In the difficult times I know that he is with me and that all things will work together for good. I’m still searching and wanting more, but I also know that He loves me just as, and just where I am.

Incidently, James decided to enter the church when our youngest son was baptised! Through our involvement in Celebrate Love, James began to wonder what it meant to be a Christian. He met Jesus in the people we began to mix with. One of whom, after many months, was brave enough to come straight out and ask James, "So when are you becoming Catholic?" This was the push James needed to ask himself the same question! What followed were many conversations with family and friends, about Jesus, the church, the Bible and so on. You can imagine what a wonderful celebration we had to mark James and Roo's entry into the church!

Mud, glorious mud!

2008-10-04T22:13:00.000-07:00

Bilby and his Dad have just been bush-bashing on their bikes, in search of mud! Both are keen cyclists, who like nothing more than to ride through the bush together after rain.

Before leaving I did my motherly chore of asking my son to be careful, to which I received the bored response of "Yes Mum." James then commented that I wasn't silly enough to ask them to come home clean! This is how they looked on their return.

Boys! Who'd have them? Me!

First Holy Communion

2008-10-02T22:01:00.001-07:00

On 24th August, Koala received Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament for the first time!

We decided that unlike Bilby, who had made his FHC at a homeschool camp, that Koala would receive his First Holy Communion at our parish. Our parish priest Fr. B. was happy for him to receive the sacrament on the Sunday of our choice. This time I was a little more diligent in his preparation, paying particular attention to what I said, so as to avoid any misunderstandings such as happened when he made his First Reconciliation!

Koala looked very handsome for the children's Mass, which was celebrated by Fr. Dom. Everything went smoothly! Campbell was blessed to be wearing his Great Grandmother's FHC medal and Sacred Heart image.

He certainly enjoyed being the centre of attention during the morning tea at our home after Mass. We decided to invite only a small number of family and friends so that the focus was on the sacrament, not on the party!

The only negative side to the morning was that Bilby was struck down by a bout of gastro during the night, so he was unable to be there to see his brother receive Jesus. My cousin Danielle kindly agreed to forgo Mass and stay with Bilby.

Reconciliation

2008-10-02T21:29:00.000-07:00

Koala received the sacrament of reconciliation on 16th August. It was wonderful to watch his excitement build as he prepared for the big day. He was somewhat concerned that he would need to recite EVERY sin he had ever committed! As I reassured him many times that it wasn't necessary to stress over every sin, it did cross my mind that he may be in the confessional for a very long time! In his excitement to be washed clean, he did forget a few of the things I had taught him. He forgot to close the door to the sacristy (we do not have a traditional confessional) and he forgot to sit or knell!

I had taken pains to explain the importance to thanking Jesus for the gift of the sacrament and saying his penance in a prayerful manner. I had told him that we say our penance in front of the Blessed Sacrament right after we leave the confessional. I hadn't taken into account Koala's literal interpretation of language. Upon leaving the confessional he began to mount the steps of the sanctuary, to say his penance directly in front of the tabernacle!

Koala loves going to confession. My prayer for him is that this passion for the sacrament will not waver.

How our home education journey began.

2008-10-01T20:51:00.000-07:00

I wrote this piece for a Catholic homeschool newsletter in early 2008.

Homeschooling was something I had always been interested in, but I did wonder if I would ever have the patience to actually do it! But as our son who was in year one, began to show signs of struggling academically and generally being unhappy, we started to consider our options more closely. Noises were being made by teachers that Bilby needed to be tested for learning difficulties because he rarely finished his work and was easily distracted. This unsettled me, as I didn’t want him to be labelled when he was so young. I also knew that most of his difficulties could be attributed to the distractions inherent of a teacher student ratio of 1:26.
I was also disappointed that although he was attending a Catholic school, very few of his classmates attended Mass. Good friends of ours with a child the same age as Bilby told us that when their daughter gave a speech about the rosary, she was ridiculed by some children. Alarm bells started ringing. Incidentally this family have also decided to homeschool. We wanted our children to be immersed in their faith and not have to feel like the odd ones out for living a Christian life.

I lived and breathed homeschooling for six months before I was willing to make a firm commitment. This was such a huge decision for all of us that I didn’t want to rush into it only to throw up my hands and quit in term one. For me this would be a permanent decision, and I wanted to be as prepared as possible.

After much angst we decided to bring Bilby home right away rather than wait and see if things improved. I was very apprehensive, but also extremely excited. What excited me most was the faith journey we would take. Like many of my generation who are Catholic and had been educated in Catholic schools, there was much that I was ignorant of. My faith had recently begun to blossom after having attended a Celebrate Love weekend with my husband, and a Cursillo weekend. I had finally made a conscience decision to leap into my faith. I knew that homeschooling would only deepen my commitment and understanding of my faith.
And so our journey began. For the first time in my life I felt like I was exactly where God wanted me. After years of trying to find my place, as it were, I was deliciously content. Swimming against the stream had never felt so right.

We had made the decision to bring only one child home. Our second son Koala had just started kinder and loved every minute. We had two reasons for keeping him at school. The first being that he seemed to enjoy it so much, however the second reason troubled me a little more. I just didn’t think that I would be able to cope with him all day, every day. Koala had always been more of a challenge than our two other children. He was very easily upset and was generally a hand full. As time progressed things seemed to get worse rather than better. So it was easier to have a peaceful day and send him to school.

During term two I approached Koala’s teacher to inquire about his behaviour at school, as he had become quite difficult at home. She reported that he was an angel at school, but that she had noticed some things that were concerning her. I casually commented that I often wondered if he was autistic, but would then dismiss it because he did do so many things that autistic children could not. Her next comment marked a turning point in our lives.
" He’s certainly not autistic, but I have wondered if he could have Asperger Syndrome."
When he was a toddler, I had had almost the same conversation with a friend who was studying to become a teacher, but I had taken no further action. Now it could no longer be conveniently forgotten. We no longer had the luxury of thinking that he was just a little more eccentric than other children.

What followed was the most difficult year of my life, thus far.
I began to read anything I could get my hands on about Aspergers. I instantly recognised Koala in the descriptions of Aspergers. This gave me both a sense of relief and fear. Relief at the possibility of finally getting some answers and concrete help for our little boy, to intense grief at the loss that Aspergers then represented to me. My faith gave me strength, as I firmly believed that the Lord would not have given us Koala if he didn’t think we could do a good enough job! Even though I came close to doubting his choice at times.

Both my husband and I drew great comfort from a close friend who prayed with us during this time of waiting. Each of us had a strong feeling that Jesus had a special plan for our boy. We could picture Jesus tenderly embracing Koala, and surrounding him with his divine love. This image gave me great strength at my lowest points.

Koala was diagnosed with mild Aspergers three days before we embarked on a 400km move! The roller coaster ride began. We finally knew why he wasn’t like other kids, which helped us tremendously in parenting him. With each new book I read I began to feel as if I was getting to know what made my son tick. However, reading those books was very difficult. Every time I encountered the word "disability" I physically recoiled.

At home things steadily got worse. Koala had intense meltdowns. He would scream, throw things and hurl verbal and physical abuse at all the family. I still bear a scar from one of his meltdowns during Mass. Most Masses were a complete disaster. I often wondered if our family would be able to withstand the difficulties that Campbell’s behaviour presented. There were many times when James or I would have to leave the room during a meltdown to weep. We even lost who we thought were close friends because they were unwilling to accept that Koala’s behaviour was the result of Aspergers, not poor parenting.

Despite these challenges thoughts of homeschooling him were still constantly on my mind. Most of my conversations with close friends would soon turn to this topic. I’m certain that I bored them to tears, although they were gracious enough to listen to the same concerns time and time again without complaint! I couldn’t imagine how I could possibly bring him home and manage in safety. But I also knew that many people did homeschool Aspergers children and reported that their children’s behaviour dramatically improved as a result.

As his behaviour deteriorated, and my confidence in homeschooling and my understanding of Aspergers improved, I began to think that things couldn’t get worse even with him at home. We were ready to trust what others who had been down our road had said. That it would be easier. We decided to try homeschooling him. I was learning to trust in my abilities and to lean on the Lord. The Scripture "I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me." often came to mind. All the same I was scared witless!

Koala has been home for three terms. It would not be an exaggeration to say that we have a different child. The meltdowns have all but ceased and he no longer chews his clothes or become physically ill due to anxiety. The anxiety of the school environment was undoubtedly the cause of his negative behaviour. He was able to hold it all together at school, but once home, he released all the anxiety that had built up over the day. He is now a happy little boy once again. One regret I have is that we didn’t bring him home sooner.

I am now at peace with his diagnosis. Many of the things we dearly love about Koala can be attributed to Aspergers. He looks at the world in a unique way. He has a wonderful sense of humour.

People with Aspergers are very literal in their interpretation of language. Upon asking Bilby to keep an eye open for something, Koala asked if he could use two eyes! Or another time when I was purchasing a coffee, he asked why there were three different size cups on the counter. After explaining that coffee was a drink for grown-ups and that they were the three sizes you could buy, he asked if the smallest cup was for short grown-ups!

His intense (some would say obsessive) interest of the moment is penguins. Consequently we all know lots about penguins. We also share our home with 15 or more toy penguins of varying size!
I share our story in the hope that it may encourage someone who is considering homeschooling a child with special needs. Often these are the children who most need to be educated at home, away from the bullies and pressures of school. As parents I think we need to believe that we are the experts when it comes to our children. We also need to trust that if the Lord places something on our heart, that He will give us everything we need to fulfil His perfect plan for our lives.

Blogging at last!

2008-10-01T04:06:00.000-07:00

Ever since we began our homeschool journey I've been aware of all the wonderful blogs out there. I had a vague notion that one day I might try it, when I had something worth sharing. I've since come to the conclusion that if I wait until I have lots of time and inspiration, I'll have missed many years of recording the joys and sorrows of educating my boys. So here I go!