Search Results for: in the home

Online Safety in the Home

I read a disheartening statistic today. A recent study showed that children are only three clicks away from viewing adult content on youtube. Since we don’t have cable in our home, we often turn to youtube to watch some of my son’s favorite shows together. He knows how to navigate the site well enough to get to the shows he wants, but now I’m not so sure that’s a good thing. The study showed that while watching Dora children were only four clicks away from a music video featuring swearing and nudity. While watching Sesame Street they were a mere … Continue reading →

Relieving Tension in the Home

If there is one word that can sometimes describe the teen years, it is “tense.” There can be a lot of tension in the home, especially when you are dealing with certain challenges or disagreements. The reality is that our teens won’t always agree with us and they will almost certainly challenge us to some degree. It is easy to get wrapped up in those moments. It is easy to succumb to the temptations of acting just like them. It is easy to get into a shouting match or suddenly find yourself in a place where you don’t know who … Continue reading →

Music in the Home

Excitement hit our house the other day. A CD I had ordered and been waiting on for over a month arrived – finally. I couldn’t wait to play it. I bought the CD initially on the strength of one song – In My Daughter’s Eyes by Martina McBride. The time I watched this on you tube it reduced me to tears. Some songs are like that. Thankfully I like the rest of the CD as well. Anyone coming to our house would see at a glance both Mick and I love music. For starters we have some of those really … Continue reading →

Managing Stress Centers: Time Management in the Home

Yesterday I wrote about the idea of stress centers in your home: those places or times where you step in, take one look, and want to run out screaming. The rest of your house might be just fine, or even somewhat cluttered, but it feels all right. The stress centers? That’s where your clutter and your stress live. I think that the same thing occurs with time. I’ve realized over the last couple of years that there are certain times of the day that I feel stressed. The times will come as no surprise to most parents: they include leaving … Continue reading →

Peer Pressure in the Homeschool Family

As a homeschooling family, we find ourselves less affected by peer pressure on a daily basis than those who are involved in a public school environment. In fact, this is the reason many families choose to homeschool. But making this decision does not protect us from all forms of peer pressure. It still exists, and probably always will, as long as we are humans living on this earth. First, there’s the pressure to constantly explain our choice to homeschool. Many of our friends and family will understand our reasoning and respect it, even if they don’t agree with it. But … Continue reading →

Sex Education in the Homeschool Home

One of the reasons we chose to home school was so we could teach our children about the world around them while at the same time making sure they had the foundation they needed to go along with that teaching. No topic is a better example of this than sex education. We wanted to teach our children to have respect for their bodies and the bodies of others. We wanted to introduce the topic with our strong Christian background. We wanted to do it in private, with just one child at a time, and two parents, so they could ask … Continue reading →

Lunch in the Homeschool House

Even homeschooled kids eat lunch. The only difference is that homeschooled child can rummage through the kitchen at lunchtime or the homeschool mom can cook the meal rather than pack it the night before. For many families, cooking a hot lunch is one more step that if alleviated would be cause for rejoice. In families with multiple children with multiple tastes lunch can up being chaos or more like a diner than a family meal. Feeding time at your homeschool does not have to resemble feeding time at the zoo. Here are some tips to keep you in control and … Continue reading →

Creating Peace in the Home

It is important to create a sense of peace in the home. Your home should be a sanctuary to which everyone wants to come and stay. Having peace in the home will also influence the success and happiness for all of the members of the family. If everyone is happy at home, they can go out into the world from a good balanced place. Here are some thoughts on creating that sense of peace. It is hard to have a sense of peace in the home where chaos rules. That is why a home should be somewhat tidy. Notice I … Continue reading →

Where Germs Thrive in the Home (and How to Handle Them)

No matter how well you clean, there are some places around the house (or office) that tend to accumulate dirt and bacteria. You might know some of these already… or you might be surprised! Your mattress and pillows. The bedroom is a favorite spot for those evil allergy triggers: dust mites. Your mattress can also soak up sweat and other bodily fluid! The best way to keep your mattress and pillows clean is to bag them. A plastic cover (underneath your sheets and mattress pad) will keep the dust mites out. Wash bedding regularly in hot water to kill dust … Continue reading →

Injuries in the Home Office

Last night as I was working at my desk, I stood up quickly and banged my head on an upper shelf—a nice, loud, painful crack. This morning I have a tender lump on the corner of my forehead and a reminder that even in the comfort of my cozy little house—the work injuries are a possibility… Other than the occasional paper cut or stubbed toe from stumbling into the kitchen for a snack after having sat at my desk too long—I am really not terribly accident prone. I do have a first-aid kit and all in all I have found … Continue reading →