I had a couple kids with me for a quick grocery store run the other day. L is 5 - he was eating m&m's on the way home (was chilly in the van) and suddenly he says 'oh-oh! hat!' then whips his hat off, grins at me and continues eating! So, obviously I wouldn't have asked him to take off his winter cap in the chilly van to eat candy, but it was fun to see that something has sunk in to at least someone's head as far as manners go! :-)
We were taking the Christmas tree down the other day and I overheard this: K (6) says to younger brothers, 'Yay! Winter's done!' L (5) then gets excited, 'Yes! It's summer!' She then corrects him, 'No, it's spring first. Then summer.' So ... I guess when Christmas is over, it's spring! I wish they were right!
Christmas was nice. We were home as usual, and somehow after the rush of getting ready, I just relaxed and did next to nothing once we settled into Christmas Eve evening - and for all of Christmas Day and the following day. It felt good then to get some work done (cleaning, laundry) come the next day which was Monday. But I sure enjoyed taking a couple days and just enjoying the family, some naps, goodies, lots of yummy chocolate ... !!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
December
Never anything entertaining on here. Well, that's life! Bulleted items, telling what's new:
*Miss K has been eating gluten and milk-free for several weeks. I think we see a difference from that, but can't say for sure yet. Today she had the Botox injections. I'm sure we already see a difference! Yay!!!
* Christmas shopping is about done. It was so easy! The kids together decided if the get a Wii from Santa, he doesn't have to bring anything else. So easy! Well, they'll still get something small (bought already) in stockings.
* Kids drew names, and all but the youngest have done their shopping. It's been so fun to bring each of them, and they have bought something just right for the one whose name they drew. So fun!!
* The little Christmas baking we've done is eaten pretty much as it comes from the oven. Oh well - next week we'll bake some more!
* First couple Christmas cards came in the mail today ... yay!!
* We're laying a bit low on homeschool curriculum this month. They do math drills and other math related logic games or some such each day on the computer, and then it's crafts, writing, outside play ...
* We're so lucky - we have a niece coming here for 3 months to stay with us, see Finland, and lend a hand. A's work has been so busy, and with homeschooling and K's issues, it'll be so nice to have a bit of help here. And, we'll just love to have her!
* After she leaves, we get another niece for 3 months! I'll be so spoiled!
Okay - I'm going to try remember to capture highlights of the kids for next entry. Cute sayings, cute happenings.
Time for bed ...
*Miss K has been eating gluten and milk-free for several weeks. I think we see a difference from that, but can't say for sure yet. Today she had the Botox injections. I'm sure we already see a difference! Yay!!!
* Christmas shopping is about done. It was so easy! The kids together decided if the get a Wii from Santa, he doesn't have to bring anything else. So easy! Well, they'll still get something small (bought already) in stockings.
* Kids drew names, and all but the youngest have done their shopping. It's been so fun to bring each of them, and they have bought something just right for the one whose name they drew. So fun!!
* The little Christmas baking we've done is eaten pretty much as it comes from the oven. Oh well - next week we'll bake some more!
* First couple Christmas cards came in the mail today ... yay!!
* We're laying a bit low on homeschool curriculum this month. They do math drills and other math related logic games or some such each day on the computer, and then it's crafts, writing, outside play ...
* We're so lucky - we have a niece coming here for 3 months to stay with us, see Finland, and lend a hand. A's work has been so busy, and with homeschooling and K's issues, it'll be so nice to have a bit of help here. And, we'll just love to have her!
* After she leaves, we get another niece for 3 months! I'll be so spoiled!
Okay - I'm going to try remember to capture highlights of the kids for next entry. Cute sayings, cute happenings.
Time for bed ...
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Hodgepodge
Okay - I should try update my diary a bit more often.
Winter has come - thank goodness. Kids were going stir-crazy in the house when it was cold, dark, wet for a few weeks. And when kids go stir-crazy, so does Mom. Especially when most of them homeschool, so are here all the time. So now sledding is fun, and we're just waiting for the nearest ice-rink to be ready.
K's tummy -.she's been thru a battery of tests, and the conclusion is that her anal sphincter does not relax. The muscles are too tight, so the poop isn't released. They didn't say this is all that's going on, but all they've been able to determine for sure. So - do we allow the dr to give botox injections in hopes that they will allow those muscles to relax? In the meantime, I've had so many people suggest going to a gluten-free diet and/or milk-free, so we've decided to give that a go. The doctor agreed that it pays to try that. I assumed they were testing for that, too, when they did biopsy her, but I guess the biopsy for that is done from in the small intestine, not in the bowel. So - we've taken the plunge, and have her gluten and milk-free. For a while we were doing strong laxatives, as well as enemas. The enemas made her so sick sometimes - I just haven't had the strength to give them to her now. Hope, hope, hope the new diet will prove to help her. In the meantime, I'm wondering, do we really go ahead with the botox injections. A feels that the dr knows better than us. I know he's a wise doctor, but - for 2 1/2 years we've followed drs orders and have gotten nowhere.
We're plugging along with the homeschooling. I think their education has at least gone forward. Some days it seems I'm just running circles with the kids, but overall I think this was the right decision to have them homeschool at this point.
Just can't focus here too well ..... okay, I took a trip 'home' at the end of October. T came with, as well as our neighbor lady. It was 9 days packed full of visiting and shopping. It was so great to be there! And then actually, other than the fact that A and the other kids were still here in Finland and it was great to get back to them, it was kind of a bummer to have to leave from there. So easy to just talk English to everyone! I sure noticed the friendliness of our American culture. Doesn't really bother me here - I guess I'm used to how Finn's are overall more reserved (until you get to know them.) But it was so fun to have the 'American nice' for a few days. I know it irritates the Finns to have the cashier at Walmart chit-chat a bit as they're ringing up your stuff (for example) - that'd rarely happen here. But just for those few days anyway, it was fun for me! It sure was great to be with family there - there was not enough time to see everyone enough. But at least got to see the whole family except one brother and one bro-in-law. Well - I'm just thankful I was able to make the trip, and look forward to the next time I can go. I plan to take the girls with - that'll be so fun!
We're into the swing of Christmas preparations. Kids drew names, and a few of them have bought and wrapped their gift. So fun! We've baked a little, decorated a little, and listened to Christmas music a little! Kids decided (with a little assistance from Dad) to ask Santa to only bring a family gift this year - a wii and a few games. Then they get a couple things in their stockings, but no individual gifts. Should make shopping easy, but - might be hard for Mrs. Santa to not have one gift for each, at least. But we'll leave it at that. Maybe the stocking will have something more ... valuable or something ... than they've had before? No, it's better to let them be happy with the gift they've agreed on!
So today we made dough for Christmas ornaments. They put time into making this and that ... couple trees, couple candy canes, stars, etc - and I put them into the oven at a real low temp to dry out. Half hour or so later I was smelling burnt dough - ran to the oven and saw it was turned to over 200C! The littlest elf had decided he want's cookies, so turned it up! Well, the kids took it pretty well.
Just now, as I'm in our bedroom with the door closed, A and T are shopping (T gets his name gift shopping in with Dad!) and the others have organized a 'musical chairs' game, I can hear. N is the one making the music! Singing some tuneless tune, clapping his hands along - sounds like they're having a good time! Soon a fight will erupt and the fun game will be done. In the meantime - I hear sounds calling me, from the laundry room, from the entry, from the bedrooms, from the living room, from the kitchen - they sound like this, 'It's Saturday ... it's afternoon ... clean me! Clean me!!' And soon will hear sounds from the kitchen, 'It's almost supper time! Make supper! Make supper!' So ... I'd better listen to those voices!
Winter has come - thank goodness. Kids were going stir-crazy in the house when it was cold, dark, wet for a few weeks. And when kids go stir-crazy, so does Mom. Especially when most of them homeschool, so are here all the time. So now sledding is fun, and we're just waiting for the nearest ice-rink to be ready.
K's tummy -.she's been thru a battery of tests, and the conclusion is that her anal sphincter does not relax. The muscles are too tight, so the poop isn't released. They didn't say this is all that's going on, but all they've been able to determine for sure. So - do we allow the dr to give botox injections in hopes that they will allow those muscles to relax? In the meantime, I've had so many people suggest going to a gluten-free diet and/or milk-free, so we've decided to give that a go. The doctor agreed that it pays to try that. I assumed they were testing for that, too, when they did biopsy her, but I guess the biopsy for that is done from in the small intestine, not in the bowel. So - we've taken the plunge, and have her gluten and milk-free. For a while we were doing strong laxatives, as well as enemas. The enemas made her so sick sometimes - I just haven't had the strength to give them to her now. Hope, hope, hope the new diet will prove to help her. In the meantime, I'm wondering, do we really go ahead with the botox injections. A feels that the dr knows better than us. I know he's a wise doctor, but - for 2 1/2 years we've followed drs orders and have gotten nowhere.
We're plugging along with the homeschooling. I think their education has at least gone forward. Some days it seems I'm just running circles with the kids, but overall I think this was the right decision to have them homeschool at this point.
Just can't focus here too well ..... okay, I took a trip 'home' at the end of October. T came with, as well as our neighbor lady. It was 9 days packed full of visiting and shopping. It was so great to be there! And then actually, other than the fact that A and the other kids were still here in Finland and it was great to get back to them, it was kind of a bummer to have to leave from there. So easy to just talk English to everyone! I sure noticed the friendliness of our American culture. Doesn't really bother me here - I guess I'm used to how Finn's are overall more reserved (until you get to know them.) But it was so fun to have the 'American nice' for a few days. I know it irritates the Finns to have the cashier at Walmart chit-chat a bit as they're ringing up your stuff (for example) - that'd rarely happen here. But just for those few days anyway, it was fun for me! It sure was great to be with family there - there was not enough time to see everyone enough. But at least got to see the whole family except one brother and one bro-in-law. Well - I'm just thankful I was able to make the trip, and look forward to the next time I can go. I plan to take the girls with - that'll be so fun!
We're into the swing of Christmas preparations. Kids drew names, and a few of them have bought and wrapped their gift. So fun! We've baked a little, decorated a little, and listened to Christmas music a little! Kids decided (with a little assistance from Dad) to ask Santa to only bring a family gift this year - a wii and a few games. Then they get a couple things in their stockings, but no individual gifts. Should make shopping easy, but - might be hard for Mrs. Santa to not have one gift for each, at least. But we'll leave it at that. Maybe the stocking will have something more ... valuable or something ... than they've had before? No, it's better to let them be happy with the gift they've agreed on!
So today we made dough for Christmas ornaments. They put time into making this and that ... couple trees, couple candy canes, stars, etc - and I put them into the oven at a real low temp to dry out. Half hour or so later I was smelling burnt dough - ran to the oven and saw it was turned to over 200C! The littlest elf had decided he want's cookies, so turned it up! Well, the kids took it pretty well.
Just now, as I'm in our bedroom with the door closed, A and T are shopping (T gets his name gift shopping in with Dad!) and the others have organized a 'musical chairs' game, I can hear. N is the one making the music! Singing some tuneless tune, clapping his hands along - sounds like they're having a good time! Soon a fight will erupt and the fun game will be done. In the meantime - I hear sounds calling me, from the laundry room, from the entry, from the bedrooms, from the living room, from the kitchen - they sound like this, 'It's Saturday ... it's afternoon ... clean me! Clean me!!' And soon will hear sounds from the kitchen, 'It's almost supper time! Make supper! Make supper!' So ... I'd better listen to those voices!
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Homeschooling
I have meant to write something on our so-far short homeschooling journey. Now I'll make a stab at just that!
I'm not sure why I haven't given serious consideration to the homeschool thing before this, because I have always hated to have to give up my kids to the schools when they are so little, and each year feel like I'm missing out on so much in their lives when they are gone to school for so long each day. They have been a bit timid in school, but anyway have seemed to like to go, for the most part. One has some 'mild' sensory integration issues, and I could see school was a stress in this area (he didn't stress about it, but it was a challenge in some ways), one had selective mutism, so couldn't talk in school the first couple years. Selective mutism is a childhood anxiety issue, which usually shows up when a child starts going to school, or maybe in preschool, since many kids go to preschool.
Maybe I never gave serious thought to homeschooling since things went fine in school, and I thought I would pull them and homeschool if it ever seemed there was a need to do so.
So the economy gave us the boot from America back to Finland, and it was a pretty sudden decision to come here. When one school year in Mn ended, we had no clue we'd be moving before the next school year started. And by mid-August our kids were starting school in a small Finnish country school. From the beginning we had negative reaction from the main school office, as they told A, when he went to enroll them, that they are not excited about having our kids in the school since they don't know much Finnish. It was stressful to bring the kids there, a couple weeks after school had started, and feeling for them as they were not only new students, but foreigners who didn't know the language well. But for the most part it seemed they got along well there.
Small things came up. N's teacher is also the principal in the school, and she was quite determined that N will learn Finnish in a hurry (that's not so bad) and late in the fall she asked permission to ask for help from the school counselor because N was no longer talking at all in school, except on the playground he was with his siblings. She told me she realized too late that when after a few weeks of N being in school she tried to insist on him using Finn instead of English (he had been speaking English with her and some of the students, tho' quite reservedly.) And then he quit talking at all. And he also started to have a hard time falling asleep at night. And that got worse and worse. I ended up getting him some melatonin, because this was really an issue. He was thinking and worrying too much. The kids were basically given everything in Finnish (tho' I was informed later that they have the right to have a certain number of hours a week of their lessons in their mother tongue, so should have had some things presented to them in English.)
Anyway .... I'm getting sidetracked here on last school year. Yes, we saw much anxiety and anger in our kids - and now that they are homeschooling we are realizing really how hard last school year was.
So then as we realized we will not be moving back to America (economy is not improved there, and so much work for A here) and asked about renting the home we were in longer, we realized that they will be selling the house (I understand that on their part) - we had a big process of finding another rental. Took a couple months, and the biggest stress for the kids was starting in yet another new school. We tried to find a rental that would work for us in an area that had an English school, but no luck there. So when we found a place and I was trying to deal with the kids anxiety over switching schools, it dawned on me that I should check into the possibility of homeschooling. Did a bit of research, and then asked the kids if that would make the move easier, if I would school them at home. Right away the tension was relieved alot.
I planned first to homeschool the oldest two, thinking the next two would benefit from the public school still. But our 7 year old begged me to be able to homeschool too. Then I realized that this would be his third year of school, and third school. So I promised him he could. And M did not want to be going off to school alone, so I kept all four home. Discussed with the superintendent ?? and she gave me rare privileges and said I can totally decide what to teach and how to teach it. Homeschooling is very rare in Finland (only about 300 homeschooled children) and the school district usually requires some quite close ties with the local school.
Next was to decide what type of program and what style of teaching we should use. Lots of hours of thought and research, and I decided on one online program that is possible to use internationally and is not very expensive. Along with that, of course, is lots of Mom involvement. But overall, we've been pretty impressed with the program we use online.
So how is it going on the homeschooling front? The best part is to see how our kids are like totally different kids than who we were dealing with last school year. Of course they have their days and moments - we deal with fights, with ears deaf to Mom's lovely voice tones (heh!), I think a couple of them would like more 'friend time', etc., but for the most part they are much happier, more cooperative, more confident, more settled. And the changes started showing right from the beginning of the homeschooling. And, the boys are now talking Finn. All three of the school boys refused to speak any Finnish. It was so bad for a while, they wouldn't even say some basic words that we have always used in Finn (makkara, for example.) The oldest one took the longest to come around, in all ways. Change is hard for him (poor kid has had many changes) and he cried the first couple nights in the new home. But we talked lots with him, and with all the kids - and he came around. But probably the most refreshing thing, and most reassuring to me, was when about a month ago he started to laugh again. And horse around with the little boys. And tell me little stories about what has been happening in his day. He was also the last one to start talking Finn.
As I pondered this school year, and tried to pick out my main objectives with this homeschooling year, I thought that of course I want them to learn academically. But most importantly I want them to relax enough to be able to start speaking Finnish (accomplished!), to rebuild their confidence (I see improvements!), and I want to just enjoy having them around (I usually do! :-) ) I have many things I need to improve on, myself. I need to be more organized, so I know what I would like the kids to accomplish each day. I want to be more organized about my whole day, so I don't take it out on the kids when I feel like I have only run circles all day. Etc.
One day I asked the younger two of the homeschooling four (ages 7 and 8) if it seems like they have learned anything, if they think of how it is in a typical school year in the 'regular' school. And both of them right away said, 'More!' That was a surprise! Several days later I asked our oldest boy the same question, and he also answered (after a moment) with the same answer. So I asked him how does it seem that way, and he said that in school they go over a new topic or idea so quickly, it's often hard to catch on. But at home (mostly with the online program we use, Time4Learning) he can take time to understand the new topic as it's being taught. So fun to hear! I haven't yet asked the second oldest what his thought is. I could mention many more things on the homeschooling topic, but ... this is plenty long already. Maybe more later!
Lately I'm seeing some of the anxiety and anger in the second oldest, but perhaps because he is accompanying me on a trip to America soon. I can't wait to heap loving attention on him the whole trip!
I'm not sure why I haven't given serious consideration to the homeschool thing before this, because I have always hated to have to give up my kids to the schools when they are so little, and each year feel like I'm missing out on so much in their lives when they are gone to school for so long each day. They have been a bit timid in school, but anyway have seemed to like to go, for the most part. One has some 'mild' sensory integration issues, and I could see school was a stress in this area (he didn't stress about it, but it was a challenge in some ways), one had selective mutism, so couldn't talk in school the first couple years. Selective mutism is a childhood anxiety issue, which usually shows up when a child starts going to school, or maybe in preschool, since many kids go to preschool.
Maybe I never gave serious thought to homeschooling since things went fine in school, and I thought I would pull them and homeschool if it ever seemed there was a need to do so.
So the economy gave us the boot from America back to Finland, and it was a pretty sudden decision to come here. When one school year in Mn ended, we had no clue we'd be moving before the next school year started. And by mid-August our kids were starting school in a small Finnish country school. From the beginning we had negative reaction from the main school office, as they told A, when he went to enroll them, that they are not excited about having our kids in the school since they don't know much Finnish. It was stressful to bring the kids there, a couple weeks after school had started, and feeling for them as they were not only new students, but foreigners who didn't know the language well. But for the most part it seemed they got along well there.
Small things came up. N's teacher is also the principal in the school, and she was quite determined that N will learn Finnish in a hurry (that's not so bad) and late in the fall she asked permission to ask for help from the school counselor because N was no longer talking at all in school, except on the playground he was with his siblings. She told me she realized too late that when after a few weeks of N being in school she tried to insist on him using Finn instead of English (he had been speaking English with her and some of the students, tho' quite reservedly.) And then he quit talking at all. And he also started to have a hard time falling asleep at night. And that got worse and worse. I ended up getting him some melatonin, because this was really an issue. He was thinking and worrying too much. The kids were basically given everything in Finnish (tho' I was informed later that they have the right to have a certain number of hours a week of their lessons in their mother tongue, so should have had some things presented to them in English.)
Anyway .... I'm getting sidetracked here on last school year. Yes, we saw much anxiety and anger in our kids - and now that they are homeschooling we are realizing really how hard last school year was.
So then as we realized we will not be moving back to America (economy is not improved there, and so much work for A here) and asked about renting the home we were in longer, we realized that they will be selling the house (I understand that on their part) - we had a big process of finding another rental. Took a couple months, and the biggest stress for the kids was starting in yet another new school. We tried to find a rental that would work for us in an area that had an English school, but no luck there. So when we found a place and I was trying to deal with the kids anxiety over switching schools, it dawned on me that I should check into the possibility of homeschooling. Did a bit of research, and then asked the kids if that would make the move easier, if I would school them at home. Right away the tension was relieved alot.
I planned first to homeschool the oldest two, thinking the next two would benefit from the public school still. But our 7 year old begged me to be able to homeschool too. Then I realized that this would be his third year of school, and third school. So I promised him he could. And M did not want to be going off to school alone, so I kept all four home. Discussed with the superintendent ?? and she gave me rare privileges and said I can totally decide what to teach and how to teach it. Homeschooling is very rare in Finland (only about 300 homeschooled children) and the school district usually requires some quite close ties with the local school.
Next was to decide what type of program and what style of teaching we should use. Lots of hours of thought and research, and I decided on one online program that is possible to use internationally and is not very expensive. Along with that, of course, is lots of Mom involvement. But overall, we've been pretty impressed with the program we use online.
So how is it going on the homeschooling front? The best part is to see how our kids are like totally different kids than who we were dealing with last school year. Of course they have their days and moments - we deal with fights, with ears deaf to Mom's lovely voice tones (heh!), I think a couple of them would like more 'friend time', etc., but for the most part they are much happier, more cooperative, more confident, more settled. And the changes started showing right from the beginning of the homeschooling. And, the boys are now talking Finn. All three of the school boys refused to speak any Finnish. It was so bad for a while, they wouldn't even say some basic words that we have always used in Finn (makkara, for example.) The oldest one took the longest to come around, in all ways. Change is hard for him (poor kid has had many changes) and he cried the first couple nights in the new home. But we talked lots with him, and with all the kids - and he came around. But probably the most refreshing thing, and most reassuring to me, was when about a month ago he started to laugh again. And horse around with the little boys. And tell me little stories about what has been happening in his day. He was also the last one to start talking Finn.
As I pondered this school year, and tried to pick out my main objectives with this homeschooling year, I thought that of course I want them to learn academically. But most importantly I want them to relax enough to be able to start speaking Finnish (accomplished!), to rebuild their confidence (I see improvements!), and I want to just enjoy having them around (I usually do! :-) ) I have many things I need to improve on, myself. I need to be more organized, so I know what I would like the kids to accomplish each day. I want to be more organized about my whole day, so I don't take it out on the kids when I feel like I have only run circles all day. Etc.
One day I asked the younger two of the homeschooling four (ages 7 and 8) if it seems like they have learned anything, if they think of how it is in a typical school year in the 'regular' school. And both of them right away said, 'More!' That was a surprise! Several days later I asked our oldest boy the same question, and he also answered (after a moment) with the same answer. So I asked him how does it seem that way, and he said that in school they go over a new topic or idea so quickly, it's often hard to catch on. But at home (mostly with the online program we use, Time4Learning) he can take time to understand the new topic as it's being taught. So fun to hear! I haven't yet asked the second oldest what his thought is. I could mention many more things on the homeschooling topic, but ... this is plenty long already. Maybe more later!
Lately I'm seeing some of the anxiety and anger in the second oldest, but perhaps because he is accompanying me on a trip to America soon. I can't wait to heap loving attention on him the whole trip!
Sunday, August 29, 2010
On the move ...
We had to move. No choice. We wouldn't have moved if it had been our choice. But now that we're here, I can see that this was meant for us. It has been a blessing.
It was stressful (that's an understatement) to find 'the next place' once we knew we couldn't stay in the previous rental. It was stressful once we found 'the next place', wondering 'how will it really go?' and 'how will the kids deal with yet another move?' and 'how long will it take to feel settled in?' But almost from the first day here there were positive changes obvious in the kids who were so hard the whole past year. I think there are two major contributing factors. One is that they have friends next door - we share the yard with them, and our boys get along amazingly well with the neighbor boys (we have 5 boys, they have 7.) Of course they craved friendships with someone other than our family. In the previous place, they just didn't seem to get those friends. The other factor is that we are homeschooling - a huge, huge stress taken away when they didn't have to school in yet another new school, and another school in Finnish (I know, we live in Finland so of course they'd go to a Finnish school - but last year was so stressful), and then just public school in general when some of the kids tend to stress easily anyway.)
So we are living in an old, old building. The part we live in is about 130 years old. And it was used as storage before we moved in. So I was a bit overwhelmed when we first came to start cleaning it up ... and quickly realized I have to take it a room at at time. And .... it took lots of elbow grease, lots of soap and water, lots of time, and there is still work to do in the cleaning department (haven't tackled the areas upstairs that we'll use) ... but we're living in here. And it feels like home. For now. All the walls could use painting, and maybe at some time we'll tackle some of them. But since it's not ours, and since it's 'temporary', let's see how much we do in the end.
This house is fun because it has the fun old closets in the bedrooms, it has high ceilings, and old 3-panel doors (some of them are double doors.) There is a fun, unique ceiling in the living/dining/kitchen. There are old windows (might not think they are very neat in the winter, when it's cold out and lots of the cold probably comes in, but ...) There is one exposed log wall in the entry (of course it's a log structure) - and it's log upstairs.
But probably what is the greatest is the friendship in the yard. Their older boys are like big brothers to our older boys who don't really have those older brothers ... there are 3 who are older than our boys, and I think at least in some ways they give that good example for our boys to follow. And then it's so great to have buddies right here. N, T and D seem to spend lots of time with one of their boys, and another joins them quite often. The neighbor boy who is L's age is also buddy to not only L, but really likes to play with K, too - and I think all the kids 'dare' to practice speaking Finn with him. He's a chatterbox, not shy, and not an age where he would laugh if they say something wrong. And then there is C and his little buddy. C speaks English (and now a few words in Finn) and the neighbor boy speaks Swedish more strongly than Finn, but Finn almost fluently. But these two don't seem to have any language barriers. They just get along. They use some of their own language, and maybe a few words in Finn now - but never seem to notice that they don't have a common language. C told me a couple days ago, as he was sitting in may lap in the evening and I was reading books to the kids, "Mom, hurry up and make me sleep so then I can wake up in the morning and play with A." So cute!
We still wonder when will the day come when we can move back to our home in America. But at the same time have to remember to count our blessings. Here A has had lots of work. Here we also enjoy freedom and all the 'needs' in life (food, water, shelter, clothing, etc.) as well as many wants.
It was stressful (that's an understatement) to find 'the next place' once we knew we couldn't stay in the previous rental. It was stressful once we found 'the next place', wondering 'how will it really go?' and 'how will the kids deal with yet another move?' and 'how long will it take to feel settled in?' But almost from the first day here there were positive changes obvious in the kids who were so hard the whole past year. I think there are two major contributing factors. One is that they have friends next door - we share the yard with them, and our boys get along amazingly well with the neighbor boys (we have 5 boys, they have 7.) Of course they craved friendships with someone other than our family. In the previous place, they just didn't seem to get those friends. The other factor is that we are homeschooling - a huge, huge stress taken away when they didn't have to school in yet another new school, and another school in Finnish (I know, we live in Finland so of course they'd go to a Finnish school - but last year was so stressful), and then just public school in general when some of the kids tend to stress easily anyway.)
So we are living in an old, old building. The part we live in is about 130 years old. And it was used as storage before we moved in. So I was a bit overwhelmed when we first came to start cleaning it up ... and quickly realized I have to take it a room at at time. And .... it took lots of elbow grease, lots of soap and water, lots of time, and there is still work to do in the cleaning department (haven't tackled the areas upstairs that we'll use) ... but we're living in here. And it feels like home. For now. All the walls could use painting, and maybe at some time we'll tackle some of them. But since it's not ours, and since it's 'temporary', let's see how much we do in the end.
This house is fun because it has the fun old closets in the bedrooms, it has high ceilings, and old 3-panel doors (some of them are double doors.) There is a fun, unique ceiling in the living/dining/kitchen. There are old windows (might not think they are very neat in the winter, when it's cold out and lots of the cold probably comes in, but ...) There is one exposed log wall in the entry (of course it's a log structure) - and it's log upstairs.
But probably what is the greatest is the friendship in the yard. Their older boys are like big brothers to our older boys who don't really have those older brothers ... there are 3 who are older than our boys, and I think at least in some ways they give that good example for our boys to follow. And then it's so great to have buddies right here. N, T and D seem to spend lots of time with one of their boys, and another joins them quite often. The neighbor boy who is L's age is also buddy to not only L, but really likes to play with K, too - and I think all the kids 'dare' to practice speaking Finn with him. He's a chatterbox, not shy, and not an age where he would laugh if they say something wrong. And then there is C and his little buddy. C speaks English (and now a few words in Finn) and the neighbor boy speaks Swedish more strongly than Finn, but Finn almost fluently. But these two don't seem to have any language barriers. They just get along. They use some of their own language, and maybe a few words in Finn now - but never seem to notice that they don't have a common language. C told me a couple days ago, as he was sitting in may lap in the evening and I was reading books to the kids, "Mom, hurry up and make me sleep so then I can wake up in the morning and play with A." So cute!
We still wonder when will the day come when we can move back to our home in America. But at the same time have to remember to count our blessings. Here A has had lots of work. Here we also enjoy freedom and all the 'needs' in life (food, water, shelter, clothing, etc.) as well as many wants.
Friday, August 20, 2010
It would be time to write a catch-up post ...
... but not tonight. I'm so tired. But I'll give a few bullet-points again:
*The move has been made. And overall, it's been very positive.
*A has had lots, lots of work. That's also positive, except that means I also have an extra work-load. But I'm not complaining.
* Homeschooling has started. And ... I think so far we're doing alright. I have lots to learn.
* We've had an awesome summer in Finland - the warmest, sunniest summer in a loooong time. Has made the history books.
I'll write a bit more about the move and new place in one post, and homeschooling in another. Sometime soon, hopefully!
*The move has been made. And overall, it's been very positive.
*A has had lots, lots of work. That's also positive, except that means I also have an extra work-load. But I'm not complaining.
* Homeschooling has started. And ... I think so far we're doing alright. I have lots to learn.
* We've had an awesome summer in Finland - the warmest, sunniest summer in a loooong time. Has made the history books.
I'll write a bit more about the move and new place in one post, and homeschooling in another. Sometime soon, hopefully!
Saturday, June 12, 2010
It's summer!
I hear the lawnmower humming outside (does a lawnmower hum? hmmm ... !) The kids run in and out freely and happily. We have freshly picked wildflowers in cups and jars on the counters and table - fresh ones come in every day, it seems! Haven't even seen dandelions come in for a week or two (tho' those also go into a cup of water when brought in, of course!) No stress about bedtime, because of course there's no school. It's a sweet time of the year!
We survived the last week of school (I say survived, because it's so hard to get kids to bed when it's light outside so late!) The last day of school was Saturday morning, and there they got their report cards. I'm very impressed with how our kids have done in school, especially when considering the situation - school in Finn! Kids had a fun school trip day during the last week. They saw a couple museums, got to eat at an all you can eat pizza place (they loved it!), and visited a chocolate factory - and got to buy candy from there. They all had fun!
I've been studying homeschooling ideas online. Trying to figure out where I should take a curriculum from that would be a good base for us. I think the oldest two will actually be the ones home. N would not have transportation to school, and tho' I know he sure has the strength to bike 3.8 km to school, he'd be going on a narrow road with no shoulder, and with a train track running alongside. A little nerve-wracking. And he's leaning toward wanting to stay home, anyway. I'm excited to have the extra time with the two boys! I'm actually 'planning' that I would have each of the kids home for at least a year (or part of a year), so I can have that time with them. We're planning some of the things we'll do, that do fit into schooling (baking, growing things, lots of reading, writing reports - I'm also eyeballing one online program that would give us a base in math, lang. arts, and then we can add in bits of science as we wish.)
Thinking of the move - I'm anxious in some ways, just thinking of settling in again into a new place. And I'm excited, on the other hand. We know lots of people in the area, and it'll be fun to be closer to them. I'm kind of sad to move from a place that is now familiar to us - yet kind of excited to settle into the new place. I will be a unique set up for a home, but should be kind of fun. Old building - some log walls that aren't covered up, high ceilings, fun cupboards in the closets, etc.
K gave us a bit of a scare when one side of her face started swelling a few days ago. Nobody suspected a cavity, since there was no apparent cavity there. Well, she looked terrible before they realized it's an abscess - and now, thankfully antibiotics have done their job and she looks and feels fine again.
My new glasses (first bifocals) just don't seem to be right for me. The bifocal part is awesome - but there's something with the prescription that is just not right. So I'm wearing my old glasses, and seeing the world clearly. Will have to bring those (expensive) glasses back. Will have to probably go to an eye doctor (vs. optometrist) - this I should do anyway, because of issues I've had with my eyes in the past.
We bought a camper last week - and the kids got it really scrubbed up nicely! Will be so exciting to be able to start using it!!
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