The Bicycles are Lonely

Just taking up space in the garage
until it cools down outside.

Once again, the National Weather Service has issued an Air Quality Alert because of high temperatures.  An unusually high number of days with forecast highs in the 90s this season has called for adjustments to our summer recreation ideals.  We, especially me, are big advocates about playing outside. 


As I write this, it is Sunday afternoon.  We've come home from church and had our nice lunch.  The rest of the day is wide open to do whatever we please.  My first choice would be to go bicycling or hiking.  As we drove home, though, we saw on the van's digital readout that it was already in the high 80s before noon.  As a result, Ryan is in his room working on his computer (I did mention a blog he could be writing an entry to), his younger brother and sister are upstairs playing Lego, and Darling Bride is catching up on laundry.  Also, thinking ahead to some planned camping trips, I'm questioning the logic of giving up a nice, air conditioned house for the hot outdoors.  At least we have a nice, air conditioned pop-up camper.

To put it in perspective, though, here in Indiana we are experiencing drought conditions along with hot temperatures.  As Darling Bride pointed out, "we are having our August weather pattern in June."  The weather is creating trials for everybody.  Farmers, first and foremost, are having trouble with their crops.  At the farmers market last week, I wondered to myself how our favorite sweet corn grower was going to make money this year.

The lawn mower is no more than a
photo prop until more rain comes.

On the other hand, we haven't been complete prisoners to the weather.  We have been swimming.  Early mornings have been pleasant.  Some of us went fishing yesterday.  Therefore, it is wise to put things in perspective.  Maybe today would be a good day for some down time?  Not only, that, but with brothers and sisters playing nicely right now, that's something to celebrate.  We can also be thankful for modern conveniences like electricity and air conditioning.  We are well.  Weather patterns do come and go.

Has any extreme weather altered your summer plans?  How have you adjusted?

In Defense Of Church Youth Groups

Graphic credit:  College Park Church, Indianapolis
www.yourchurch.com

Our family is fortunate to be part of a good local church with a quality youth (junior and senior high ages) program.  We know better than to take it for granted.  We say that because we do know that many youth groups earn the right to be criticized.  This past Sunday our church’s Senior Pastor observed that some go their whole childhood, from nursery through high school, without going to the main corporate worship.  Some may even go so far as to say that age segregated worship is unbiblical and should be abolished altogether.  There is a movement called the National Center for Family Integrated Churches.  That doesn't appear wise, and is well discussed in this more technical post by Pastor John White.

While I acknowledge that youth groups have their strengths and weaknesses, I also believe that truth also applies to every local church.

I submit that the question is not either / or, but the solution is both / and.  As we lead our families in the context of a local church relationship, we fail when we use nursery, then Sunday School, then Youth Group as volunteer babysitters while we go to “big church.”  In contrast, we also fail when we don’t provide our kids with access to worship, lessons, and a network of friends.  So why not both?

Here’s what we generally do:  As a family we go to the 8 am worship (our daughter hasn’t been with us because she is serving in the nursery, and I commend her for it).  At 9:45 we get to go our separate classes.  Call them break-out sessions if you like.

This past summer, Ryan participated in our church’s “Extreme Teens” segment of Vacation Bible School.  He met an excellent adult leader who became his Junior High small group leader.  They have similar interests, helpful, but most helpful is this leader's commitment to youth.  Quality.  This connection has been a win/win for everybody as we’ve had him and his fiancée for dinner.  Through this connection, friendships have been made.  Through this connection I’m trying to get an apprenticeship for Ryan.  Point:  if your children’s group is an additional resource (instead of parent outsourcing), it  can be a profitable opportunity.

One good resource about this is the book Parenting in The Pew - Guiding Your Children into the Joy of Worship by Robbie F. Castleman

As you wrestle with these issues, some points to consider:

• Youth and children’s ministries are only as good as your church as a whole.  If Sunday morning worship is well done in spirit and in truth, that example works it way down to all the ministries.  If inadequate, how can Sunday Schools be better?
• Youth and children’s ministries are a supplement to, not a replacement of, your own family. 
• If ministries are indeed a supplement, then we as parents would do well be familiar with what is the subject matter being taught.  Need a conversation starter with your youth?  Practice your "open ended" questions!
• We also need to be familiar with the theological assumptions underlying the lessons.  Is it grounded in Scripture, or in the latest ideas of the day?  Do your homework - read your Bible.
• Don't be surprised when you find that not everyone attending your son or daughter’s group will be the types you would prefer your kids to hang with.  Good news!  Pray that they would hear and respond to the teaching they hear.
• Maybe volunteer to help (regardless of whether your kids are embarrassed to be seen in public with you).

Are youth groups beneficial?  Harmful?  Depends?

Guest Post Published about High School Home School

This week, I had the privilege of writing a guest post for DenSchool, a homeschool blog! Double privilege because this is the first guest post I've written and submitted, hopefully not my last.

The post is The Ultimate Father and Son Project, about how we are transitioning into the high school years, and includes a checklist of items we are (supposed to be) taking care of!

Their blog is a diverse collection of homeschooling essays.

DenSchool describes themselves this way:

One of the best features of DenSchool are the homeschooling parents who help to author the blog and where you will find real homeschoolig moms, and one homeschool dad, share their experiences with homeschooling, homeschooling products, and real life. These parents tell it like it is and share their real life experiences. Not only do they talk about their homeschooling and family journies, but they give honest reviews about curriculum and educational products.

The Grove: Sunday Night Youth Group

I recently went to my first senior high youth group meeting, known as The Grove, and I am very impressed.

At The Rock, the junior high youth group meeting, we met at about 9:45 AM, but at The Grove, we start at 6 PM. This difference is actually quite important to me because I'm not a morning person at all, my mind is sharpest from about five to ten PM. The Grove meets right in the middle of that time, it's almost if it was planned that way; I wouldn't be surprised at all if someone told me it was.

A picture from The Rock's Winterblast event... this picture was probably taken after midnight.

The first night was mostly an introduction to The Grove, but that introduction also included a good section on how young adults can "set the example for an entire church", and a related section on how the members of a youth group control how good of a group it is. To quote Pastor Helton, "I control what is on the website... you control what kind of a youth group this is."

That part of the message really stuck in my head, because The Grove is a perfect example of why that statement is true, the people there really control the quality of the meeting time. I am glad to report the quality there is really good.

How To Go From Hero To Bum ASAP

With Ryan and his sister at Wednesday night youth group, Mr. 5th Grader and I were good to go for tennis practice.  We worked on rallies, serving, and a little footwork.  He's having a great time and so am I.  He cannot wait until next time, and neither can I.  Tennis partners!  Dad, the hero!

Youth group finishes its lesson at 7:40, then fun and hang out time until 8:30.  Come to find out that Miss 7th Grader got separated from her friends and had a miserable 45 minutes.  After a very emotional discussion, and a declaration that she's never going again, I became Dad the bum.

Next week we will try the plan of discreetly coming by at 7:40 to see how things are going.  Fortunately, we live 5 minutes away and multiple trips are not an issue.

Adjusting from upper elementary to junior high can be a pain.  Adjusting to high school can be a pain too, but that hasn't come up yet.  Be alert, dad!

Applying Summer School Leaning Toward Your Academic Year

Jump into summer!

Summer is here!

This post is about why and how we are applying summer school learning toward our 2012-2013 academic year.

Thoughts on why:
Philosophy.  Consider that homeschooling is an all-day every-day life style (24/7/365), not something we do for 180 days a year and forget the rest.  It just so happens that states require 180 days of record keeping.  One of Jennifer's favorite quotes is, "class is always in session and we are tested every day."

Value.  Worthwhile learning does indeed happen every day.  The summer months are a good opportunity to focus on a summer reading program, improve a skill like spelling, or develop a new interest.  If we are going to be intentional about it, we should be getting credit for the effort!  "We" includes both parents and kids.

How:
What constitutes a school day?  Number of hours?  Completing that day's schedule?  Just getting through the day with your sanity intact?  Or is sanity optional?  There is no right or wrong answer, it depends on the family (the beauty of homeschooling).  We decided that for summer purposes, 5 hours of effort would equal "one school day."

Those 5 hours would not necessarily have to be in one 24 hour period.  For example, math on Monday takes an hour.  Spelling on Tuesday another hour.  Wednesday night youth group is 1 1/2 hours.  Another 1 1/2 hours on Thursday.  5 hours in, 1 day's credit earned.

Use a form to track progress.  Our form is inspired from the book Senior High:  A Home Designed FORM + U + LA by Barbara Edtl Shelton (published by Homeschool Seminars and Publications, Longview, Washington - www.ourhomeourschool.com

Its design:

Course:  Summer School 2012

Classmember:  Ryan

Description:  Participate in various activities during the summer to stay sharp

Value:  5 hours = 1 day

Requirements:

• Finish Apologia Physical Science Course
• Participate in Carmel Clay Public Library Young Adults Summer Reading Program
• Algebra 1 – 1 lesson or systematic review or test or honor lesson per week
• Guitar for Dummies
• Physical Education – 30 minutes per day
• Rockin' the Grove (our church's Youth Group - future posts about the value of youth group coming soon)
• Writing as self-directed, post to blog as appropriate

Come out with school days in the bank!

As the student completes an activity, time is logged.  At the end of the summer, add the number of hours, divide by 5, and you have school!

It does help to have good self discipline to be successful.  This is the first year we're trying this.  Wonder how it will go.

What are you doing to stay sharp this summer?