School Supplies | From The Committed Heart

I was running some errands yesterday and one of my stops included Wal-Mart. I was walking pass the school supplies when something caught my eye…”There’s no one else on earth like you.” ~Sadie Robertson. Sadie has teamed up with Day Spring Cards and designed a whole collection of notebooks, folders, and composition books with encouraging quotes and scriptures. I picked up a few for my girls…. I love surrounding them with positive and encouraging words. Our girls need to know they are one of kind, precious, smart, strong, and talented. They need to know God cares for them more than anything in this world.

My girls don’t attend a public school, so they don’t deal with bullying from fellow students, but they are apart of extra curricular activities where kids can and do make rude and judgemental remarks. I want their minds and heart filled with truth of who they are and God’s love for them that those remarks bounce off them. These books are just another tool towards better self-confidence.

Just a little FYI: These items weren’t on the top shelf, they were actually on the bottom, and a little hidden.

Here’s a few STATISTICS to put things in perspective:

7 in 10 girls believe they are not good enough or do not measure up in some way, including their looks, performance in school and relationships with family and friends. – Real Girls, Real Pressure: National Report on the State of Self-Esteem, Dove Self-Esteem Fund

74% …of girls say they are under pressure to please everyone (Girls Inc, The Supergirl Dilemma)

98% … of girls feel there is an immense pressure from external sources to look a certain way (National Report on Self Esteem)

92% … of teen girls would like to change something about the way they look, with body weight ranking the highest. (Dove campaign)

90% … of eating disorders are found in girls (National Association for Self Esteem)

1 in 4 girls today fall into a clinical diagnosis – depression, eating disorders, cutting, and other mental/emotional disorders. On top of these, many more report being constantly anxious, sleep deprived, and under significant pressure. (The Triple Bind, Steven Hinshaw)

By age thirteen, 53% of American girls age 13 are “unhappy with their bodies.” This grows to…78% by the time girls reach seventeen. (National Institute on Media and the Family)

I don’t know about you, but the first day of school was always exciting for me with new classes, new teachers, and new clothes. Even though I homeschool our kids, I want them to experience some of that same excitement I did every year.

It starts with breakfast and what better way to say, “Welcome Back to School,” than with fresh yummy donuts (Thanks Daddy)!

Next comes the grand entrance to a fresh clean homeschool room with new school supply goodies! Their faces make it worth every minute of planning to make this day special!

FYI: Staples has some great sales on school supplies and Target was getting their things ready this week.

After we settle down, from opening their gift bags, we take a moment to pray for our school year. Homeschooling is NOT easy for the parent or the child. Attitudes can flare quickly when you are with the same people 24/7. We ask God to help us all to watch our words, to stay calm and focused, and most importantly to respect each other.

Self portraits have become a tradition every year. Once completed they are placed in the front of their school year portfolio.

Everyone has their own handwriting curriculum, but today I decided to combine it with our weekly scripture. I had the girls pull out their new notebooks and copy down the scripture for the week, Jeremiah 29:11, For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Victoria actually quoted this scripture later in the day when a certain situation came up with our outing plans (She was listening!).

A quick ten minute snack then back to work. Grammar, Math, and Spelling are all completed before lunch. Lunch break can take a half an hour to an hour. Around this time our Turtle Power Guy takes his nap and we all run to Mommy’s bed where we each take turns reading out loud.

Our day doesn’t always look the same, for nothing is written in stone. That’s why we homeschool (I love flexibility!). With that said, I do try to keep somewhat of a routine and soft schedule, it keeps things organized and the kids know what to expect!

Tomorrow is going to be pretty great also…it’s our First Field Trip of the year, on the second day of school!