So Emmy fractured her collar bone on Tuesday evening - she fell off our bed backwards and landed on her left shoulder (she is a lefty so this is a bit of an inconvenience for her). She has a little sling - but it is very painful for her if she moves her arm the wrong way.
We will be adding another patient to our house on Friday as Mike is having a double hernia operation. From what we have read, he will probably be in quite a bit of pain for a few days after the surgery and then it will be a few weeks before he is back to doing the hefty chores around here.
I am thankful that my health is good, nobody is sick, and I am hopeful that we will all work together as Emmy and Mike heal to make the next couple of weeks the best we possibly can.
To that end, with the winter season still in full swing, I decided to change things up a bit around the house. I added a little art nook to our dining room the other day and that has sparked some new projects. Sarah is going through a 50 states coloring book and looking up each bird, painting them and writing out a list of them.
I am working on letting go of my fear of the children choosing to use computers and have set up a little computer nook for them under the stairway. Computers have been one of those scarcity issues in our house. Since the younger ones know that the teenagers use their laptops, they, of course, are intrigued and want to use them as well. (Oh and I use one too!) No matter how I set limits, I have only found it to lead to them wanting to use them even more. I have gone back and forth on the computer issue and now I am working on choosing to trust all around and to honor our children's choices instead. Not just let them go and do what they want, but instead learn more about what it is they want to do and why and then explore that together. Check out this youtube video (note: some minor language is used that some of you may find inappropriate)
(Oh, do you know of a good BBC series or something similar that would be good to download while I am at the library as we will be having quite a bit of down time over the next couple of weeks?)
Oh bless you all , sending fast recoveries and blessings for good health. Call the midwife is fantastic, more a sort of grown up womans watching, its very moving. Your area looks wonderful, you must be so inspired to see out of the windows. Winter is at an end here in my part of the U.k. Spring is well..springing! We have started to enjoy seeing the spring bulbs we planted in November starting to florish. Sending you love and light sweetie xx
ReplyDeleteBBC have a series set in the Tudor era airing here in the UK. I don't know if you would be able to download it but I recommend it if you can. It's call wolf hall. I've recorded the series and have only seen the first programme but I'm hooked! Sorry to hear about your daughters shoulder. I pray a fast and complete healing do her.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, I'm so excited as Wolf Hall is premiering on PBS here in the US next month! I can't wait, a friend bought the book and loves it. I will borrow it to whet my whistle (as we say here) and prepare for the series.
DeleteBBC's "Cranford" and "North and South" are our favorites.
ReplyDeleteI hope all heal well and soon! We monitored our computers and limited their use at our house (usually a weekend privilege only, along with our playstation, and for our older kids only...same with t.v.). We all shared one computer (back in older days as my kids are grown) and the computer is best put in a spot where parents can walk by and see what's going on at all times. Virus and bad sites can be accidently accessed just by "googling" for other info. (I like to use Bing, feel it is safer). Many times old sites are taken over by bad sites; such as blogs that are ended. It is a shame there is not decency on the internet (or t.v. for that matter).
ReplyDeleteI'd second "Wolf Hall". It's been great (amazing performances and fabulous period detail). Best wishes to you all and a speedy recovery to the invalids!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy 'Foyle's War', a series about a British policeman during WWII. Well done. Clean. Attractive characters.
ReplyDeleteWe put a parental filter on he computer and set a time limit. Keep an eye on things, check your search history once in a while, and trust your children! They will be exposed to a wider world someday, and need to have confidence to meet it.
God bless!
And....your art nook is so inviting! You have a flair for creating pleasant spaces.
You know ACORN TV has the greatest shows - I subscribed to it last year and watch something almost every day. Its $4.99 a month so I see that as an investment in my sanity since the cable and network shows are so bad, not much to watch and so expensive. This way, you can watch these shows on your computer - there aren't any children's shows but there are a ton of documentaries and Foyles War, The Anzac Girls (Australian nurses in WWII), - AND you can get a free MONTH - So since you need it for the next month, simply go to the site and download and begin the free month - then make sure you cancel in 30 days - if you want it the cost is only $4.99.
DeleteOh wow, praying for quick healing for Mike and Emmy! And patience for everyone else, as I know it is hard to accept having a parent who has to focus on caring for sick or hurt family members. That art nook looks so cozy and inviting!
ReplyDeleteAnd I, too, have issues with letting kids use computer or iPad. I have filled the iPad we bought from my mom with education apps instead of regular games, but I still hesitate to let them use it. But 2 of my 4 are so drawn to tech items. And, of course, Adam and I use them regularly. But without a TV, it is nice for us all to have some entertainment from youtube or netflix sometimes...and I think that it's probably a good thing for my 2 that are so drawn to these things to learn a healthy limit now, rather than go overboard someday b/c I refused to let them use it. Ugh, it's a hard thing to balance.
Hoping a healthy spring is right around the corner for you all!
Hi there,
ReplyDeleteI am a long time reader, but have not yet stopped to say hello. So, hello! My family and i live in western MA, where we also homeschool in a small town. I have enjoyed reading your blog -- we used to live in vermont and miss it quite a bit. My kids play video games as well and it has been a struggle for me to accept that. But, you know, they are good, kind,thoughtful, smart kids and i trust them, so like you, I work on letting that go and being very involed to know what they are doing. Best to you while your husband and daughter heal. Some of our favorite Bbc shows include Lark rise to candleford (very family friendly) and Sherlock (great for adults/older kids, rather intense and overwhelming for younger kids).
Thanks so much for sharing - It is so nice to hear from others that have similar issues with computers and are working toward finding a balance and letting go of fear.
DeleteSending healing and recovery thoughts for your family. I love the new nook....such a great space. I love the BBC show Lark Rise to Candleford.
ReplyDeleteI love the art nook! It makes me want to paint something!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes and prayers for healing and coping for you all.
I like Lark Rise to Candleford also. Wives and Daughters is excellent (though not interesting to Emmy, I'm sure). I also like Wartime Farm and Victorian Farm, which are live reenactment documentaries, extremely well done. (There are also Edwardian Farm and Tudor Farm--not quite as intriguing to me, but others have given them great reviews.)
God bless.
Oh, poor sweet little Emmy! It is not fun at all to see your child suffer in any way! And now Mike...lots of healing energy sent your way.
ReplyDeletexo Jules
At the risk of giving unsolicited advice, a friend of mine had a son with a broken collar bone who was in excruciating pain. An old time doc did her son up in a figure eight wrap. The mother said that he was almost pain free. Here is a youtube video: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VaB6Klp9KRM
ReplyDeleteOh my comment disappeared. But i agree Foyle's War, Larkrise to Candleford - have you seen Victorian/ Edwardian/ Wartime Farm?
ReplyDeleteIt has been a bit since we watched it but your husband would surely enjoy Foyle's War. It is probably not child friendly but I cannot remember details. He could watch on a lap top with earbuds. My husband really liked the detective and wartime aspect.
ReplyDeleteHoping all goes well and they everyone heals quickly.
(I'm sorry if this is a double comment - I tried once, but it didn't seem to take.) Tonya - It never rains but it pours! Sending prayers for quick healing for Emmy & Mike & extra patience & grace for you!
ReplyDeleteI like your art nook :) It looks so cheerful and welcoming - and so much natural light!
I also understand your conflict about computers. Garrett is fascinated by things electronic - he will often be drawn to me if I'm working on my computer and just watch me for a long time. He's said a number of times how he wishes he could have a computer... Like with movies - I hate to open that door, because once it's open, it's so hard to close. But at the same time, as I've been reading and thinking about child-led learning, sometimes I wonder if it would better for him - a way to empower him/respect who he is and his interests... and if maybe it's me that needs to let go some... It's a hard question!
Take care - thinking of you! ~Annie
I'm sorry--I thought I commented...but I am hoping everyone heals up quickly! It can be so tiring and trying on a family when there are injuries and/or illnesses. And I totally understand the difficulty in finding balance with electronics. I struggle with this a lot. Two of my four kiddos are so drawn to electronics. I want to resist letting them use them, but sometimes I think that if they are so drawn to them, it's better for them to learn a healthy limit with them now...rather than me always saying no and then they go overboard when they are older. We have an iPad and I try and put educational options for them...but still monitor how much they are allowed to use it.
ReplyDeleteYour craft area looks so cozy and inviting. :)
Thinking of you all <3
We have a 23, 19, 17, 3, 1 year old in our family. We have homeschooled, public schooled, private schooled, gone to CCV, or had a mixture of several places at different times in the children's lives. There are no easy answers on this topic. After all this time living and learning and trying several different paths, I have come to believe that children need us to guide and support them with boundaries, fences and walls. (Those change and move as they mature and situations change.) Like with food, children will choose healthy choices if that is what they can choose from. "Healthy food" definitions vary widely from one family to another. So it is, and that is good. Decide what is your family's values and beliefs and go from there.
ReplyDeleteHoping your family a restful recovery.
Rebecca
I'm a bit late with my suggestions but for what its worth I will add my ideas.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what you have avalible to you in the US but my favorite BBC series of late (and I've watched many whilst on bedrest to prevent premature labour)
Sherlock, A modern day remake of the Sherlock Holmes stories.
Bleak House, Dickens adaption probably one of the best they have ever done.
The Fall (Irish made but bought by BBC) gritty police drama with Gillian Anderson as the lead.
Silk, legal drama set in a Barristers chambers.
Call the midwife, based on the books of a midwife who worked in the 50s/60s Eastend of London living and working alongside nuns.
Merlin, fun light hearted family series based loosely on the legends.
Lisa.
There was a whole series put out by the BBc over a couple of years. It was a trio of historians "living the life" of the people of the times. They did Victorian Farm, Edwardian Farm, Wartime Farm, one about a Tudor Monastary farm that I forget the name of, and one that was something like "tales from the Green Valley". If you search for Ruth Goodman you should be able to find them. It's good for all ages.
ReplyDelete