Lately I've been finding a lot of comfort in solitude. I've recently cut out a lot of
negative people, but am having trouble replacing them with some new, good friends. I'm really down to one person I see or speak to regularly, other then my two best friends who live 3 hours away. Unfortunately neither have kids, although we remain very like minded and still talk regularly.
This lack of friends is not because I'm horribly unlikeable (I hope) but more because I have trouble getting along with people long term. Acquaintances I see infrequently are great, but I cannot build lasting relationships.
The issue I've been finding is that most moms I've been interacting with are simply no fun. They have chosen one aspect of parenting to go crazy about and obsess. It's clear they have no life outside their home.
I am very lassies-faire about family issues. I have one breastfed kid, one formula fed one. I'm happy that I have a healthy baby even though my c-sections were misinformed. I want to cloth diaper baby #3. I love plastic. I love processed food. I love cooking from scratch. I make my own laundry soap.
I am having a hard time finding parents to connect with who are not extreme. Then again, I'm also having trouble finding intelligent people to communicate with.
I too am guilty of being less then fun, but am seriously working on that. I'm trying to use this alone time to work on myself. Then maybe I'll get to know some of those acquaintances and find like minded people are not so far away.
Until then I'm going to worry about more important things then other people!
Tuesday, 31 July 2012
Wednesday, 11 July 2012
Wrap-Up Wednesday - Local Free and Cheap Events
Here's what's going on this week in Cold Lake for families.
Daily
Today, July 11th
Daily
- Parent Link Center is open from 9am to 11:30pm
- Ages 0-6
Today, July 11th
- Parent Link Center Play in the Park - 12:00pm - 2:00pm
- Shipwreck Park Playground 4813 51Ave - Free - Ages 0-6, older siblings welcome
Thursday, July 12th
- Preschool Story Time
- Cold Lake North Library - 10:30am
Friday, July 13th
- Busy Little Hands Playgroup - 9:30-11:30am
- MFRC - At a cost of $1 per family, public and military - Ages 0-5
Monday, July 16th
- Busy Little Hands Playgroup - 9:30-11:30am
- MFRC - At a cost of $1 per family, public and military - Ages 0-5
If you know of or have any other events to add to this list please comment!
Tuesday, 10 July 2012
Monday, 9 July 2012
Money Monday - Work More
The single easiest way to have more money is to make more money, and for most people that involves working more.
If you and your spouse are already working 60 hour work weeks - this is not for you. Most of us are not working nearly that much. If you really want more money you will have to make a sacrifice and put in that extra time.
Here are some options:
If you are truly struggling for money it might be time to reconsider your career.
If you and your spouse are already working 60 hour work weeks - this is not for you. Most of us are not working nearly that much. If you really want more money you will have to make a sacrifice and put in that extra time.
Here are some options:
- Ask for overtime at your job
- This is by far the best way to get extra money since you get paid time and a half!
- Ask to pick up more hours without overtime
- Your boss can work you up to 44 hours per week without paying overtime
- If you are on salary, find out if you can work towards a bonus
- If you can't work more at your job, find a second job
- Maybe your own business?
My husband puts in the hours in our hours working an average 40 hour work week. I work a flexible schedule that changes with the company's work load. Right now without childcare I work a max of 3 hours a day, although I haven't been putting that in lately. I have made it my goal to dedicate one evening a week to extra work time in order to make more money.
If you are truly struggling for money it might be time to reconsider your career.
New Features!
Along with some sporadic posting, I'm starting a new regular series. It goes like this:
Money Mondays - Tips on saving money, increasing your income, or living on a budget.
Try- it Tuesdays - Giving frugal recipes and DIYs a go to see if you should too.
Wrap-up Wednesdays - Lists of local events as well as online freebies, deals, and more.
Thinking Thursdays - Personal reflection, inspirational stories, and other things to ponder.
Fun Fridays - Dedicated to cheap ways to play.
Silly Saturdays - A hunt for the silliest ways to spend and save money.
Sundays - Will be for goal setting and challenges - a new one each week!
Money Mondays - Tips on saving money, increasing your income, or living on a budget.
Try- it Tuesdays - Giving frugal recipes and DIYs a go to see if you should too.
Wrap-up Wednesdays - Lists of local events as well as online freebies, deals, and more.
Thinking Thursdays - Personal reflection, inspirational stories, and other things to ponder.
Fun Fridays - Dedicated to cheap ways to play.
Silly Saturdays - A hunt for the silliest ways to spend and save money.
Sundays - Will be for goal setting and challenges - a new one each week!
Sunday, 8 July 2012
Why I Want To Homeschool (A Logical Approach)
There's a lot of emotion behind why I want to homeschool but there are also many logical and persuasive reasons why it's a practical and good choice.
1. This is my main reason. School is an amazing waste of time. Yes you learn important things in school, but all the time wasted can condense the work day to an hour or two, leaving the rest of the day open to more interesting activities.
2. Children who are homeschooled score on average 30-40 points higher then public and even out score private school students.
3. The government of Alberta mandates that at least 50% of funding, or just over $800, must be given to the homeschool family to pay for curriculum, books, and other schooling related expenses. You must provide receipts so this really goes to the education.
4. You're under government regulation. You're still responsible to make use your child learns everything the government believes a child should know, and you can either follow the Alberta curriculum or develop one on your own. Your own will need approval.
5. There are alternatives to everything positive that conventional schooling has to offer. Social skills can be developed through homeschool meet ups, extra curricular activities, Internet friends, volunteering, and more.
6. You can really fill in where you see gaps in public education. I think kids don't get enough fitness in schools do we could add more of that to our day.
7. You can focus on what you need to.
Mastered it early? Great, move on. Stuck on a particular concept? Find alternatives to get it through. It allows children to truly learn.
8. It allows for flexibility. On a beautiful day you can take the lesson outdoors, or if you're going stir crazy in winter you can visit the library. You can plan a midweek vacation or in our case trip to a city that's 3 hours away to visit the science center or museum. Your kids can nap, you can work in the evening, or early in the morning. It's all up to you and the child.
9. There isn't nearly as much stress. Homeschooled children are not faced with the same struggles as those on the public system. They will not deal with as much peer pressure, bullying, stress about schoolwork (they'll get the help they need), failures (it will be done in a supporting environment), and social pressures. Even "normal" kids are faced with these issues. School will not "toughen them up" either. Some kids will excel socially at school, but they are just social kids who will excel in all settings.
10. This is a reiteration of #1 - Time. Time with your kids. Time for learning all kids of things. Time for socializing and learning those skills. Time for travel. Time for childhood. Time for families.
Now to just convince my husband. :(
1. This is my main reason. School is an amazing waste of time. Yes you learn important things in school, but all the time wasted can condense the work day to an hour or two, leaving the rest of the day open to more interesting activities.
2. Children who are homeschooled score on average 30-40 points higher then public and even out score private school students.
3. The government of Alberta mandates that at least 50% of funding, or just over $800, must be given to the homeschool family to pay for curriculum, books, and other schooling related expenses. You must provide receipts so this really goes to the education.
4. You're under government regulation. You're still responsible to make use your child learns everything the government believes a child should know, and you can either follow the Alberta curriculum or develop one on your own. Your own will need approval.
5. There are alternatives to everything positive that conventional schooling has to offer. Social skills can be developed through homeschool meet ups, extra curricular activities, Internet friends, volunteering, and more.
6. You can really fill in where you see gaps in public education. I think kids don't get enough fitness in schools do we could add more of that to our day.
7. You can focus on what you need to.
Mastered it early? Great, move on. Stuck on a particular concept? Find alternatives to get it through. It allows children to truly learn.
8. It allows for flexibility. On a beautiful day you can take the lesson outdoors, or if you're going stir crazy in winter you can visit the library. You can plan a midweek vacation or in our case trip to a city that's 3 hours away to visit the science center or museum. Your kids can nap, you can work in the evening, or early in the morning. It's all up to you and the child.
9. There isn't nearly as much stress. Homeschooled children are not faced with the same struggles as those on the public system. They will not deal with as much peer pressure, bullying, stress about schoolwork (they'll get the help they need), failures (it will be done in a supporting environment), and social pressures. Even "normal" kids are faced with these issues. School will not "toughen them up" either. Some kids will excel socially at school, but they are just social kids who will excel in all settings.
10. This is a reiteration of #1 - Time. Time with your kids. Time for learning all kids of things. Time for socializing and learning those skills. Time for travel. Time for childhood. Time for families.
Now to just convince my husband. :(
Saturday, 7 July 2012
10 Ideas for Summer Savings
It's summer, which means you're already sitting pretty with your heat and electricity bills lowered, but with the heat and longer days there's so many more ways to make the most of summer savings!
- Use a clothesline
- It's a pain in the winter but a nice change in summertime
- Avoid using your oven
- This will keep the heat down and save on cooling costs
- Plant a garden
- Even a few of your favourite veggies
- Invest in a rain barrel
- Use it for watering your garden or let your kids play with this water instead
- Garage sales
- Host your own to earn extra cash, or visit them to get your Christmas/Birthday shopping done on the cheap!
- Bike or walk
- Enjoy the sun, get exercise, and save money on transportation costs!
- Eat in season
- Fruits and veggies are in season right now, enjoy them fresh or freeze for the winter
- Take advantage of free events
- Summertime always seems to be filled with different community events
- Avoid anything that costs money for fun
- Think: beach, hiking, parks, camping, etc.
- Start a new business
- Maybe it's the nice weather, or the sunshine, but summer seems to give extra energy. Take advantage of this and start a business! Maybe you'll do direct sales, start a photography business, bake cakes, or whatever you're good at! With weddings and birthdays and summer parties, there's a lot more opportunity for growth that will last through the winter.
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