The Legacy of Strong Women

I posted a while ago about the struggle I'm having concerning what to be when I grow up.  I feel torn between the opportunity to build a small business from home.  That I already have.  But never intended to be in charge of.  Yet it's brilliant, and so maybe I should stretch myself.  Or then again, I could run with the business idea I've had (forever) that would be totally different and allow me to indulge my creative side, and that is more in my comfort zone.  I really felt I had to choose.  Why?  Well, frankly, I feel I do a poor enough job of juggling a family of 9, home schooling, life in general with the daily fires to put out, volunteer commitments,  miles on the road, etc.   If I split my focus yet one more way, won't I just break into pieces too tiny to matter?  Won't everything I do, if I do too much, just suffer from lack of care?


I'm wondering now if that's wrong.  Is there a way to do it all, and do it well?  If so, can *I* do it?  So here's what got me questioning.

We're studying American History with A History of Us, by Joy Hakim.  

Cannot say enough how much we love these books!  We're in book 2, "From Colonies to Country" and we came to a story that so impressed and fascinated me about a strong woman.  The chapter is titled "The Girl Who Always Did Her Best".  Well, that's an understatement!  Eliza Pinckney moved with her family from the Carribean to South Carolina when she was 16.  Her father almost immediately went off to war and her mother became seriously ill.  

photo from A History of Us

She's well noted for her intelligence; speaking three languages, playing instruments, and studying.  She also took over all business operations for her father's three large plantations.  At 16.  She experimented with new crops, growing the first successful indigo in the colonies.  She rose up early each day and read for a couple of hours, then took some exercise while checking on the plantations.  She studied her music, and reviewed things she was learning (like French and shorthand).  At 22 she chose a husband for herself who was 45.  She had three children, and then her husband died.  So, she ran her three plantations along with her husband's SEVEN.  According to history she did this and raised her family outstandingly.  


And I can't seem to fit it all in.  Yes, life today is different.  We have places to be, phone calls to make, meetings to attend, emails to answer... and she undoubtedly had servants to help.  But so do we.  They're called dishwashers, washing machines, and microwaves.  Right?






I'm about ready to read a book to learn a lot more about Abigail Adams. Impressive woman. Wife of John Adams, mother of six children in 10 years, two of whom were buried young.  John had long absences from home and Abigail ran home and farm while he was  away.  Their well preserved letters show a woman who was his intellectual equal (at least), always studying and learning, eloquent in speech, and independent.  She made financial decisions and investments while he was away.  She was often referred to as "Mrs. President" while he was in the White House because she was so politically active.  

photo from A History of Us

I love the passage in Proverbs (31: 10-31) that I hadn't taken much notice of until recently.  It describes a good and virtuous woman.  Her husband's heart is safe with her.  She works willingly with her hands, and brings her food from afar.  She rises early, before anyone else, to feed her family.  She transacts business, buying a field and planting the vineyard with her own hands.  She strengthens herself and sees that what she produces is good. She cares for the needy.  Her family is richly and warmly clothed, and she makes and sells extra linen. She speaks with wisdom and kindness and is not idle.  There's more if you want to read the whole thing (and more beautifully than my paraphrasing).


To be honest, until recently that would have probably made me a bit...  well, defensive.  I don't know about you, but I often feel my to-do list and the expectations of others for me are plenty long.  As I often tell my family, "I am only one woman".  Yet look at what one good woman can do.  Think of all the powerful and strong women throughout history.  Think of the ones you know today!  What have they done? I now see that rather than a list of things to do, that passage in Proverbs simply outlines all that I have the power to be!  Good women do much because we CAN.  


This week I think we'll have a short home school holiday. Monday and Tuesday off.   We haven't really taken any days off, and this woman needs some time to ponder and plan the possibilities.  Home and family must be preserved.. yes.  Some things in life are more important than others..  true.  But if these women could do it, can't I find a way to be more and do more and still be true to myself and my priorities?  Am I capable of more than I think I am?  Do I have more power than I realize?  Life is a choice.  It's all a choice.  And I have some choices to make.  

Favorite Websites

I thought I'd post some of my most favorite websites.  Some are blogs, some have products for sale, some are just great information or resources.  But I LOVE them and wanted to tell you.


Thrift Books is awesome.  I have a passion for books (and unfortunately not enough bookshelves... ), but I also don't like parting with my money.   Buying used books has been great for our family.  We save so much money and often times you can't tell the used from new.  There are plenty of used book sites out there like Amazon.  But they all charge shipping.  Up to $4 per book.  Thrift Books charges no shipping and in most cases is significantly cheaper than other sites.  They may not have what I need, but it's always where I go first.  


Every Day Minerals is one of my newest favorites.  I like makeup. It covers my blotchy, rosacea tainted skin.  And I love pretty colors!  But most makeup doesn't cover my flaws very well, or irritates my skin.  About a year ago I started using mineral powder foundation.  LOVE IT!  However, the store brands have so many fillers that I often found my skin itchy.  Some other high end brands are..  well...   pricey.  Every Day Minerals is awesome.  So many choices for any skin undertone.  I found it very effective, non-irritating, and magically covering.  Her eye shadows have real lasting power and a rainbow of colors.  And her prices?   Wonderfully affordable.  You even get a discount of 20% if you purchase 5 full sized products, which I just did.  Don't know which color foundation to choose?  She offers free sample kits of 5 shades to try.  You only pay $3 shipping.  




The Lettered Cottage.  My home is horribly "un-designed".  It's what you'd call...  umm....   we're too poor and busy raising 7 kids to have a definite style.  Or time to decorate.  Or money to do it.  Or the creativity to make it happen...  well you get the idea.  I know what I like when I see it.  I want my home to feel peaceful, simple, clean, inviting and not overly formal.  THIS is how I want my house to be.  They have stunning before and after photos that give me hope!  And while I haven't gotten to all the site content yet, they claim they do this all on little or no budget.  Amen.  Someday, my house will echo their work.  Sigh.  Just click on before and after on the menu bar.


The Pioneer Woman.  Ree Drummond is my hero.  She writes better than me, cooks better than me, does photography better than me, and probably home schools her kids better than me.  She's witty, talented, gracious, generous, and frankly honest.  Her frequent give aways are fun.  I subscribe and get her daily digest in my email in box.  When I grow up I want to be Ree Drummond.  If you want information on life, children, homeschooling, cooking, design, or a host of other topics, her blogs/website is the place to go.



All Recipes.  I'm a cookbook freak.  I collect cookbooks like some people collect coins, or shoes.  Yet for all the cookbooks I have, there are days I can't find what I need.  Or, more to the point, can't remember which cookbook that recipe is in.  It's hard getting old.  But, All Recipes is a very searchable site with lots of variations to make anyone happy.  Recipes can be scaled smaller or bigger, and you can even print off the recipes index card sized and ready to file.  Or, you can register for free and file your recipes in your virtual box.  Some days, it's a lifesaver (or dinner saver).  


Teach With Movies.  A friend sent me this link.  I don't know about you, but along with entertainment, sometimes I want my kids to actually learn something from the movies we watch...  without showing those boring documentaries we saw in school.  You know, the ones that for decades seemed to always be narrated by the SAME man.  (how is that even possible?).  Anyways, you can search for movies by topic.  And for a  very low yearly rate you can subscribe which opens resources like lesson plans and learning guides for over 300 movies!  It's genius.  


I hesitate to mention the next one.  For a few reasons.  One, it's kind of blatant self promotion (not that a blog isn't I guess, right?).  Second, it's not like that many people read my blog that it would really benefit me in any way. Third, my mentioning this tends to scare people away as if I will hunt you down and trap you like some stereo-typed version of a used care salesman.  Which puzzles me really.  Anyone who knows me knows I'm not like that.  A lot of people I know don't even know this about me (like I'm a secret agent or something), but I have a telecom and energy services business.  Few people know, because I clearly have a lot to learn about being in business!  I assure you it's legit.  Above board.  A lot of fun actually.  And my saving grace to not have to go back to work full time (because although I don't begrudge that choice to anyone...  it's not one I want to make).  


I simply broker services through arrangements with companies like Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, Dishnet, ADT security and other highly well known and reputable companies.  It won't cost you a penny more than you already pay for stuff you already use.  It makes my desire to stay home with my children a reality.  Check out what I have.  If you or someone you know is looking to switch or just renew services, PLEASE ask me first or send them my way.  I will love you forever and ever.  You may even find me at your door with a plate of warm and gooey chocolate chip cookies as a thank you!  Think about that.  Verizon never did that for you, huh?


Well, these are just a few of my favorite sites and I hope you find something useful on them.  Don't hesitate to shout out one of your favorites.  It might become one of mine!

Math Appreciation

Can you draw really well?  Well, none of us can.  We just don't have any gift or talent for it whatsoever.  So if I said to my kids that we were going to study art, and at the end of  6 weeks they would have to create a masterpiece painting on canvas.....   they would scream and run the other way.  It would be too intimidating, right?  Any of you non-artists can relate!  Yet they very much love learning about art and looking at it.  Well, we have a bunch of children in our family who dislike (ok, loathe) math, and think they're terrible at it (they aren't, they just expect perfection and immediate mastery).  So, my saying to them, "Let's do these math lessons, then we'll do some worksheets, and after a few weeks we'll do a test (aka masterpiece), well..... they scream, and run the other way.  It's too intimidating for people who have an inborn fear of math.


Of course, I want my children to love math and understand it.  I find it fascinating, though at times a bit frustrating and challenging.  The wonderful thing about homeschooling is how much there is available in the way of choice when approaching learning.    We've tried several different math curriculums  which I was very pleased with (Math U See with it's great DVDs and manipulatives and Life of Fred with it's quirkiness and humor), but the kids still aren't big fans.  


A homeschool coop project I'm helping with inspired me to do some math appreciation with my kids for now, rather than expect the masterpiece.  The coop math class only lasts five weeks, but  it's so great to see my kids do things with math they wouldn't at home by themselves.

They are more willing to make new rules to old games, experiment, and have fun when working with other kids.  They've collaborated really well in sharing ideas and solutions (which would be called cheating in school, but is actually  great  preparation for real life, don't you think?)


So,   I started searching and  found some wonderful resources that I hope will change my children's feelings about math along the way as we learn about math from a different angle for a while.

We really enjoy Joy Hakim's "A History of US". (I am aware we're talking about math....  stick with me.)  I'm reading it to the second set of children and I love it and so do they!  She has such a wonderful way of weaving history into the amazing STORY that it is, rather than a bunch of facts on a timeline.  She also does a remarkable job of integrating many topics into that story; economics, religion, ethics, science, art, poetry, etc.  So I was really ecstatic when a friend told me she has also started writing "The Story of Science".  YES!! ( My kids also think they don't like science much.  Silly kids.)  

Hakim  beautifully weaves a fascinating story  and integrates so many subjects, including math!  I've been trying to tell my kids that math is simply a language;  a foreign language to some of us, but one that the universe is based on.  In chapter 2 she quotes Galileo, 


"The universe cannot be read until we have learned the language and become familiar with the characters in which it is written.  It is written in mathematical language." 


Just what I've been trying to explain!   Did you know that Einstein gave a lecture at Moscow University in 1955 where he wrote something on a blackboard that has NEVER been erased?  


 "Physical laws should have mathematical beauty."


When in school did you ever learn about "mathematical beauty"?  Einstein seems to have thought  it exists.  I'm not going to argue with him, we're just going to try a little harder to find it.  ALL knowledge is one great whole.  I'm learning this on my own educational journey because my experience is from  public school which is all very compartmentalized.  I  found a group of books on Amazon and I ordered one to start with.  In "Mathematics  Appreciation" by Theoni Pappas he says he, "Introduces you to the fascinating interrelationship between mathematics and other subject areas, the evolution of mathematical thought, and the beauty of mathematics."  Right on.  He has many many books about math written for all ages.   I have a feeling we'll be getting more of them!  

I'm determined to help my children appreciate mathematics.  They may never be brilliant at it, or truly love computations and that's ok, but I want them to lose their fear of it and understand the beauty of it in our every day lives.