Breastfeeding and homeschooling: How to make it work

I find it really comforting that a lot of the pro-homeschooling people I know are also pro-breastfeeding and pro-life! Even Hathor the Cow Goddess homeschools! hehehe. :-) Very affirming! 

From naturalmomstalkradio.com

In honor of World Breastfeeding Week/Month, which I also wrote about in my other blog here, I thought I'd also re-post this article from The Homeschool Classroom below. I found it very helpful myself. :-) 

HAPPY WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK! :-)

Homeschooling? Breastfeeding? Overwhelmed? How To Make It Work

by PAST WRITERS on OCTOBER 7, 2010 · 9 COMMENTS · BABIES/TODDLERS, FAMILY, HOW TO,MOTHERHOOD

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in babies/toddlers,family,how to,motherhood

Homeschooling takes place in the intimate domain of the home and family, and any changes in the family naturally also change the school.  One big change many home educating families go through is the addition of a new baby.

Infants demand Mom’s attention almost exclusively, and many parents feel stretched thin trying to keep up with the baby and help the older children with their studies.  However, because everyone is together in the home, caring for a newborn is happily compatible with home education.

Breastfeeding is a natural fit for many homeschooling families, so here are 5 tips for integrating feeding the baby with teaching the children.

• Put a comfortable chair near your school area.  Or, move the lessons to the couch or rocker.  Home schoolers don’t have to be tied to a desk, so take advantage of the situation to try out a change of scenery.  You won’t be very effective if you are crouched on a bar stool trying to feed the baby while your second grader demands help with her spelling words.
• Have supplies at the ready.  Your children still need your presence as they do their schoolwork.  Too often, when teacher’s away, the kids will play!  It’s distracting if Mom is always jumping up to find a burp cloth, grab a new onesie for the little one, or running to the nursery for a blanket.  Instead, get a hand basket or tote bag with a handle, and put all of your necessary breastfeeding supplies inside.  Carry it with you from room to room and you’ll have everything nearby.
• Make room for baby.  If your children do their schoolwork at the kitchen table, make sure there is a comfortable spot for the baby to rest in there, too.  Wear your baby in a sling, find a spot for the swing, get a travel bassinet, or even tuck her infant car seat in the corner.  That way, after nursing you can put a content or sleeping baby down and seamlessly move to teaching multiplication – while still keeping a close eye on your newborn.
• Hold off on field trips. Many homeschoolers also car school, teaching and learning on the road as the family drives from activity to co-op to club.  The weeks following the birth of a new baby, however, should be a time of rest.  Some women are sensitive about breastfeeding in public, although it is legal in most states to breastfeed anywhere.  Moms may be worried about offending other families or don’t think they can keep up with the kids on the playground while feeding a child at the breast.  Take it easy, stay home, and spend the time nurturing close family relationships while establishing your milk supply and getting to know your new baby.
• Make a list of activities that can be done while holding a needy baby.  Newborns are notoriously unpredictable, so that means Mom will have to be prepared.  Have your list ready for those days when you just can’t put the baby down.  Days like this might be perfect opportunities to set out photos of famous architecture and a bin of blocks, or to have a silent reading day with everyone curled up on the couch with a big bowl of popcorn.  Perhaps you can keep a few educational videos in reserve so the children can watch a special on the building of the pyramids while you tend to your littlest one.  Creating a contingency plan ahead of time will keep you in control of your school and ensure that the older children’s education is not neglected.

Enjoy your baby, and enjoy your children’s education. It’s not mutually exclusive, and your students can only benefit from seeing how everyone in the family’s needs are met as you learn together.

My Mother's Day Message For Our Kids

To Tim and Rysse,

Thank you for the greatest gift that God could ever give me - the gift of motherhood. By being your mother, I have learned so many things about God and myself. I have seen how wonderful it will be in heaven. Through your hugs, kisses, laughter and "I love you's" I have felt truly rich and loved.

I know I have failed you many, many times, even before you were born. There were times when I (and your Papa) put you through undue stress, and spanked you too many times. There were times when we said harsh words and hurt your feelings. There were times when we did not assure you that you are perfectly, unconditionally loved, and that you are more important than our work for the Lord, and other things that keep us busy. 

For all these times and more, I am truly sorry, as I'm sure your Papa is. I want you to know how infinitely blessed, loved and grateful we feel for being called to be your parents, unworthy and imperfect as we are.

This Mother's Day, I thank you for the best gift that I have ever received. I thank the Lord for you both (and your Papa too, of course, because you wouldn't be here if not for him too!) each and every day.

Please know that Mama loves you with all her heart. I will do my best to be the best Mama for you both, and your future siblings.

May God bless you both to be holy, healthy, happy and wealthy, so that you can love and serve others!

Love and prayers,

Mama

Confessions of an Imperfect Parent

Since it is still the season of Lent, which is known to be a time for going to confession and changing one’s sinful ways and bad habits, I thought it would be apt to make my own confession of sorts here. It would be my way of seeking “absolution” for everything that I have done wrong lately.

At my blogs (Truly Rich Mom and Teachermama Tina), I try to be positive and upbeat in most of my posts, though there are times when I can’t help it but be honest about my feelings of sadness and disappointment. This is one of those blog posts where I am going to be honest.

I have been struggling a lot these first weeks of Lent with questions about our parenting style. Honestly, I have no right to claim being a “perfect” parent to our kids, especially to our eldest, our strong-willed little boy. In fact, I am far, far, far from being the mom (and wife! Haha!) that I want to be. People who read my blogs and Facebook updates may think otherwise, but I am coming clean here. I AM TOTALLY NOT PERFECT.

In fact, I am ashamed to say that there are times when I can be a downright nasty, mean, people-should-report-me-to-child-protection-agencies mom. There are days when I end up losing my patience, snapping at the kids, and being physically harsh. Honestly speaking, I am NOT a fan of corporal punishment and believe that discipline is about teaching more than punishing. However, there have been many occasions when I have failed to “practice what I preach.”

There are times when I end up feeling like I am a Tiger Mom in the worst sense, and can only pray that my kids will not end up broken and bitter like the many young people I have encountered, especially during my time as a missionary to the youth. I don’t want my kids growing up thinking that I don’t love them or am always angry at them.

What I hope and pray and wish for is that our kids will grow up to be God-fearing, secure, confident and emotionally stable individuals, no matter how imperfect I am as a mom (and Hubby is as a dad). I want them to know that our decision to have them in Timor Leste on mission was born out of our desire to witness to God’s love and faithfulness, and that our decision to finally settle in Manila was born out of our desire to share God’s message of hope, forgiveness, peace and love in our own homeland.

Our family in Timorese attire during our CFC Timor Leste community’s farewell party for us

To continue reading this post, please go to my article on Philstar.com's Unblogged section by clicking here. :-) God bless all parents everywhere! :-)

On being kind

This is a picture that I saw on Alex Blackwell's blog. 

Photo from www.thebridgemaker.com

It is a timely reminder for me as a self-professed Teacher Mama who has not been kind many, many, many times - especially to my strong-willed little boy Timothy, with whom I have been engaging in many power struggles lately. At this moment, I feel like I am the worst mom (I am making a public confession here). I have not only been unkind - I have been downright mean. I have been overly physical when it comes to disciplining (or trying to discipline) Tim. I have said things that I should have not. I have done things I only regret. 

Today's first reading (Genesis 3:1-8) talks about how Satan deceived Adam and Eve, opening up the human race to sin and all its deadly effects. In the words of the writer in the Companion by Shepherd's Voice Publications:

"Now the horror story begins! We have read the story of Creation; we now read of its near destruction through the choice of humanity to allow sin to enter into the world. This decision is couched in terms of pride and arrogance – a refusal to admit that we are to submit our lives to God’s will and an insistence upon controlling, or at least attempting to control, our own destiny. Sin will affect every aspect of our existence."

I feel so much like a sinner today. And very much an unworthy mother to my children. But I am encouraged by today's psalm (Psalm 32: 5-7). 

Then I acknowledged my sin to you, my guilt I covered not. I said, “I confess my faults to the LORD,” and you took away the guilt of my sin. For this shall every faithful man pray to you in time of stress. Though deep waters overflow, they shall not reach him. You are my shelter; from distress you will preserve me; with glad cries of freedom you will ring me round. 

So this serves as my confession of sorts, but of course I will go to a priest to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation soon.

I also pray that like the deaf-mute man in today's Gospel (Mark 7:31-37), Jesus will say to me "Ephphata!" So that all that is closed to goodness in me will be opened; so that my life will be open to more of His grace, healing, forgiveness and kindness. 

Do pray for me, please. And pray with me and my hubby for our kids, especially Tim, that they will grow to know, love and serve the Lord, despite the unkindness that they experience.

For it is true that in the end, only kindness matters. But more importantly, it is the kindness that springs forth from God's love and mercy that prevails.

A Mother's Day To Remember, Thanks To Tim :)

This Mother's Day, I brought some flowers to Mass with the intention of offering them for our greatest Mother of all, Mama Mary. Even before we got to the Church, my eldest, 3.5 y/o Tim, saw the flowers, took one bunch of them and handed them over to me, saying "HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, MAMA!" Aaawww.. And this despite my not having told him what the flowers were for. Then to our surprise, he turns and gives the second bunch of flowers to Karen, our single co-missionary here in Dili. "HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, KAKA!" Tim said. Needless to say, both Kaka and I were so pleased with his thoughtfulness.

Later on, at Church, Tim saw the flowers and again handed them over to me. I said, "Thank you darling, but we'll give these to Mama Mary, over there, we'll put them on the altar." He replied, "No, but she's not talking. You keep them Mama." Hahaha. Oh well. :) I tried my best po, Mama Mary. Will keep trying to teach Tim to love and know you more, so he can love and know your Son Jesus more!

This evening, Tim said something else that brightened my day and made my heart melt. He was playing his usual "superhero/transformer/tra

in" games while I was giving him a bath, mostly pretending that he was so and so hero or transformer. While getting dry and changing into his pajamas, he suddenly asks me, "What's Papa's power Mama?"

To which I reply, "Umm... cooking?" Hahaha.

And then Tim says, "No. His power is staying with me. And loving me. Where is Papa anyway Mama? I need him." Aaaww. My heart melted right then and there! *Sniff sniff*

Thank You Lord for affirming me, us, that despite our everyday struggles and challenges to teach and discipline our kids, YOU are in control and assuring them of our LOVE, albeit imperfect and at times conditional. Thank You Lord, because just like Tim, we know and believe that Your "power" is "staying with us, and loving us." We love You po!

We love you Tim (and Rysse too, of course)! 

Proud Papa with our first-born, Timothy Alan, a few days old :)

 

Being a mother is a mission in itself. :) If you want to learn more about your divine yet challenging role as a mom, or just read about MOTHERHOOD, the books below may be of help to you: