Have you ever said something to your kids and thought, "I sound just like my mom." 

    "Say something nice, or nothing at all," or "Please get those elbows off the table," I reminded the boys over and over again.  Countless reminders.  We've all been there...

       I'm sure that all of us occasionally find ourselves repeating those tried-and-true phrases that are forever etched in our minds because they were so often repeated by our own mothers.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to teach at home? Are you new to the whole idea of homeschooling? Maybe you're in the information-gathering stage, or perhaps you're already planning to begin homeschooling after summer.

Maybe you and your husband are ready to start teaching your kindergartner, or maybe you're just curious about the whole idea. Perhaps you're taking your kids out of the public school system. If so -- fantastic! You won't regret it.

One of the greatest privileges we have is to pray -- to bring our praises and petitions before our loving and merciful God.  And when we homeschool, we have many opportunities throughout the day to teach our children what it means to pray.

"Okay, I've had better days," I  thought to myself.  I tried to be positive, but felt that I wanted to quit. Teaching.  Mothering.  Managing a household.  I wanted to jump ship ... 

     I called Jay at the lab to inform him that I was resigning from my teaching position.  He said, "Mare -- just hang in there for the afternoon, and we'll talk all about it when I get home.  We'll take a walk or something.  Does that sound good?  I love you." 

I positioned myself between and behind each swing that sunny morning almost fourteen years ago.  That way, I could alternate pushing each four-year-old.  My mind wandered as I reflected on some of the things I wanted to accomplish that day... 

   The sound of those old swings at Baker Park lulled me into a thoughtful state.  Creeeeeeek... I gave a little push with my right hand.  Creeeeeeek... my left hand offered a gentle shove to the other twin's back.  I reviewed my grocery list and today's errands. 

"I'd love to see a Baltimore Oriole," I said last April.  "I mean the bird -- not the baseball players at the stadium!" 

     ...Often at lunch time, we would look out the back sliding glass window at the many birds and hope to see that notorious flash of orange and black.  All spring, we hoped to see an oriole... 

As a Registered Nurse, I am often asked, "Is there one specific thing I can do to improve my child's health?" As a former home educator, I was often asked, "Is there one specific thing I can do to enhance my child's learning?" The answer is the same for both questions and it all begins with the brain...