Vintage Homeschool Moms Felice Gerwitz

Successful Parenting That Works ~ Episode 522

As parents, we want to be appreciated, but what does successful parenting look like? Are your goals met? Do you have goals, and where do you see your child in five, ten, or even fifteen years down the road? In this episode, we will look at some misconceptions about parenting and ways you can have a peaceful home.



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Have you ever felt that success or failure is typically in the eyes of the beholder? I certainly have, and the articles I've read often discuss the fact that we set our own standards. In other words, what you consider a success or a failure might not fit my definition. I've come to realize that without a plan, I will struggle and fail. Unfortunately, parenting does not come with a manual, although some would argue that the Bible is all the manual you need! But even Christians like me face challenges when it comes to parenting.



Parenting Little Ones:



Your kids aren't little forever, and when I was expecting my first I read every parenting book I could get my hand on. There is a ton of advice now on blogs, video and everyone is an expert, just ask them. While I'm not saying I'm an expert, I've spent most of my adult life as a wife and mother. More than 43 years at this point with five children and nine grandchildren. When my grandkids come to Sunday family meals, they know what is expected. Sometimes it takes a gentle reminder, or I appeal to my daughter, their mother for help. When kids know what is expected it is so helpful!



One misconception about parenting is that there is one right way, and your neighbor is doing a better job than you or anyone else. Another misconception is that parenting is one size fits all—or, in some cases, most! We equate our success in parenting with how well our children listen or like the family rules (if you have them).



Parenting is not the same as friendship. Sure, you should have a relationship with your child, but parents who attempt to be "friends" with their children end up struggling with discipline.



I have felt successful with some of my children and a failure with others. I can list all the excuses, but that doesn't help with a solution. This is regarding children who are now grown up. Parenting looks different when the children are younger.



No matter what your level of success or failure, one thing that is certain is there is always room for improvement and apologies when needed. It is okay to admit you were wrong; it isn't easy, but it is necessary and can go a long way toward repairing damage in relationships.

Successful Parenting That Works for Elementary Age:



* You have family rules. These are fluid and may change, but your children know what is expected.

* You say what you mean and you do what you say. (Threatening and repeating parents rarely are happy with the outcome.)

* Your child knows there will be follow-through.

* You are encouraging and look for opportunities to praise and encourage.

* Punishments work.



Successful Parenting That Works Looks Like This: (Older Children/Teens and Young Adults)



* You and your child have mutual self-respect.

* You listen (and they listen). Discussion is allowed. There is open communication, you may not like what they have to say, but you will hear them out.

* Advice is considered and taken.

* Rules are mutually set, with the parents having more weight on the final outcome. (Especially for children who live at home or dependent children.)



There is, God willing always tomorrow for a "do-over" if yo...

Graduation Party Ideas On The Cheap

We have graduation party ideas that are wonderful ways to include the entire family and the best news? They won't break the bank.



Enjoy this replay! with Felice Gerwitz and Meredith Curtis Episode 196



Graduation Party Ideas Here 



Have you started your high school graduation party plans yet? No worries! We've got you covered. Inexpensive graduation ideas are our specialty. Meredith has graduated five children and Felice has five graduates as well, so between them, they have quite an arsenal of ideas that you can implement even if you waited until the last minute. Grab your notepad and listen in.



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Show Notes: Graduation Party 



There are many locations that are great for a graduation party. During the season of the pandemic we had to be creative with ideas, and we were! We hosted our graduate at home and she even "walked" in her cap and gown ordered for under $20 from Amazon. We made the best of the situation!



* Location: churches, park, church fellowship hall, party at home

* Invitations - VistaPrint, at home computer

* Food

* Decorations

* Personal Touch



We discussed deciding on the type of graduation you want, planning the type of graduation early, and saving up money. Pray about the type of graduation that is right for you. Include your teens as well.



More great ideas



* Food -finger foods - fun: candy bars - ice cream with toppings

* Open house - visiting times staggers friends

* Photo booth with props for teens

* Personal touch - poster boards, items important to the teen



 

Astronomical Events and Homeschooling ~ Episode 521

Are you ready for an astronomical event, the total solar eclipse? Well, today (April 8, 2024) is the day if you are listening to this podcast in real time! It is a long-awaited event that has received a lot of press coverage. However, it is one among the many that happen in our skies.



Visit Mediaangels.com for immediate downloads such as Character Planners,  Checklist Planners, and, coming soon, the entire set of Organize-IT planners.



The go-to website for all things astronomical is the NASA website. The direct link to the total eclipse is here.



Here is a great poster for your homeschool about the different types of solar eclipses Earth and Space Science Exploring Solar Eclipses Educational Infographic -MediaAngels.com



In the many years of homeschooling, I found that real learning took place when the children were able to experience the events of the day. Whether the events took place before we went on a field trip or after we watched a documentary. Often, we would research first and then follow-up visits whenever possible. When we did a rock study, we coupled it with a family trip to the mountains. This took us to states that actually had good samples of rocks to collect. Florida, where we live, is great for visits to the beach, sedimentary studies, flora and fauna, birds (especially waterfowl), and swamp-type activities. We were card-carrying members of all of the local nature centers and visited the planetarium on a regular basis.



I took astronomy in college, and let me tell you, it was not an easy science unless you excelled in math. I thought I was decent, but back in the day our telescopes, while powerful, still had to be adjusted to keep the target in our viewer. I loved it but learned early on that I'd keep it a hobby. The kids had telescopes, and these were not the best; we found that a high-powered pair of binoculars worked best, and a very dark night sky.



As a homeschool parent, I always capitalized on "real-time" events with my family. Even if you are not in the direct path of the eclipse, there are so many activities you can do as a family. Here are some ideas that you can follow to get the most out of real-life learning.



* Call off your regular school activities and study the path of the total eclipse.

* If you are on the path, be sure to get safe eyewear so you can view the eclipse safely. Here is a list of safety guidelines: https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/safety/

* Have the children keep a journal of the event. Write down things that you learned about the eclipse and where it traveled, and have the children draw a map of its path. You can find this on the Nasa.gov website here - https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/

* Research other astronomical events coming this year and the next.

* Create a 3-D model for the younger children with the planets and the solar system.



Other Astronomical Events:



* The planets. Often the planets can be seen in the night sky. Set up a time monthly when you check your area to see what planets you can see with a high-powered set of binoculars.

* Upcoming launches and landings,

Equip your kids to defend their Creation Position! 10 Must Know Points.

Here she goes again! If you didn't already know, Felice has a passion for teaching kids (and their parents) about the wonders of God's Creation...but it goes one step further. Felice's passion turned into a book series (selected by Cathy Duffy in her 100 and now 101 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum).



Can you prove it? Can you prove evolution? Listen in and bring your kids (Mrs. Gerwitz says this counts as school :) ) and learn the TOP 10 things your kids should know about the creation and evolution debate.

Discover the Curriculum from Cathy Duffy's Top Picks

Our science curriculum books focus on topics that teach your children the truth about God’s glorious Creation. And ways to defend it!  This level includes all our creation curriculum classes and everything in the eBook bundle.



Now! Immediate access to online classes. Felice Gerwitz teaches your children online creation based upon award winning science curriculum designed to ground your family in a Christian worldview.

About Our Books:

Why should you teach your children about Creation? Because everything else they read that is remotely science related teaches evolution as FACT. Shouldn’t your children learn there is more than one side to the story? Do you want your child to be informed? We do and we consider this our mission at Media Angels.

About the Study Guides:

These study guides include a readable outline of the main points in the Creation vs. evolution discussion, the major talking points you should know and ways to educate the children in these points with hands-on activities and experiments. This series isn’t a read-it-one-time and forget it! This series will be repeated again and again and is for K-12th!



If you want a course in Creation Apologetics for kids, this is it!

Additional Resources

Activity Packs for each of the study guides which contain hands on activities you can photo copy for your family.

Creation Kids Classes: On Demand

-Six weeks worth of classes — one per week for ages K-8th grade (high school if you’ve never studied Creation).

-Audio Recordings

-Handouts and Websites to visit

-Further research

-Bonus interviews



Order here:

Is the flood, the Biblical version of Noah's Flood, fact or fiction? In this episode, Felice Gerwitz interviews Dr. Daniel Biddle, president of Genesis Apologetics, to dig deeper.



Noah's Ark & The Flood ~ Fact or Fiction

Thanks to our sponsor, A Fanthom Presents Film – The Ark and The Darkness – Movie Trailer here: NoahsFlood



Flood movie website: www.noahsflood.com



Special encore presentation April 1, 2024!



Noah’s Flood is preserved in ancient writings from every major culture around the world. Recent discoveries confirm what the Bible has said all along. Sevenfold Films and Genesis Apologetics present: The Ark and the Darkness.

Noah's Ark & The Flood ~ Fact or Fiction

Dan and I discuss the evidence pointing to the conclusion that The Flood, as depicted in Genesis, did happen. The fossil record is evidence enough, but compiled with what the Bible says, as well as recent finds (unfossilized dinosaur blood), have caused an uproar in the secular scientific community. Listen to the audio for the full interview.

Noah's Ark  & the Flood Movie Depiction

Editor's Note: I viewed the movie in theatres, and it is excellent. It is partially a documentary with some notable scientists and theologians. Compelling evidence is presented for a global flood, including many examples and fossilized records that further support creationist theory. The computer-generated reenactment is wonderful, and it is captivating for the middle school and up crowd. Dan Biddle was part of a panel of scientists and theologians at the end, and it was a great wrap-up to a good movie. A must-see.



Exciting News - Creation listen here.



Creation Mystery Series for Kids

Noah's Flood ~ Fact or Fiction?





* Why did you want to do this movie?

* What personally convinced you about the historicity and timeline of the Flood?

* Why do Christians today need to believe in the Flood?

* What is the best evidence for the Flood?

* Talk about dinosaurs and the Flood.

* How can we know about the timeline in the Bible with regard to the Flood?



Bio: Daniel A. Biddle, Ph.D, is President of Genesis Apologetics, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to training youth pastors, parents, and students about Genesis, Creation, and the Flood. Daniel has authored/edited nine books and several articles on these topics produced two films on Genesis and apologetics (and is working on a third on Noah’s Flood, coming to theaters in 2024), produced 100+ training videos on the Genesis Apologetics YouTube channel (with 176,000 subscribers, more than 20 million views, and content translated into 13 languages).

Daniel has given hundreds of presentations to thousands of people on these topics. Daniel’s professional background includes undergraduate and graduate work in theology and apologetics, training as a behavioral scientist (Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology), and 20 years experience in expert witness consulting/testimony in state/federal cases involving scientific research methods, statistics, and psychometrics. Daniel and his wife Jenny live in Folsom, CA, and enjoy their four adult children.

Easter Celebrations On The Cheap

Easter celebration on the cheap includes fun and easy ideas. Celebrating Easter on the cheap doesn't mean skimping on our favorite time of the year, it means celebrating in style and saving money along the way.



Remember, it's about Jesus not the candy! Remind your children about the true meaning of Easter which is the Ressurection of our Lord. This is what you are celebrating. Let's review some fun, cheap activities  you can plan this Easter!



*

Potluck:



* Ask family to bring a side

* Delegate ice or drinks

* Baked ham goes far and is a favorite

* Little kids love chicken fingers

* Cold salads - make ahead.









*

Reuse and Repurpose - Eggs:



* Those plastic eggs should be saved each year

* Fill with coins instead of candy - redeemable in the store (see below)

* Use as decorations

* Have little ones hunt for specific colors, or count how many they collect





*

 Easter Store - order online or dollar store (Explain easter egg hunt Gerwitz style):



* Shop sales, for everything.

* Candy bars, candy kisses, everything is a mini.

* I look for candles at odd times, discounts on decorations after the holiday, etc.

* Store under the bed in plastic bins or farm out to a family member with more storage space

* Less is more. I like minimalistic decorations. The more understated the better. Fresh flowers with outside greenery is wonderful.





*

 Make Your Own:



* Create your own dips or salads

* Rolls are very cheap, easy and fun to make. Kids love to help.

* We love chocolate. Many of our treats are chocolate based such as trays of brownies and dipped strawberries (hint: I use 2 cups of chocolate chips with a spoonful of unflavored coconut oil, helps it to harden - this is so much cheaper than buying them!), make a big cookie - use disposable (can be reused) round pizza trays. Be sure to leave room for expanding dough.

* Easy appetizers: fresh fruit with marshmallow dip, salsa, and chips, melted cheese poured over chips, cream cheese and packaged dressing for an easy dip (add mayo to liquify if needed.)





*

Decorations - Easter egg tree from kids "blessing others"





By performing these activities with your family, not only do you save some money, you teach your children the real meaning of Easter! Thank you for joining us for today's special replay, "Easter Celebration On The Cheap"! Be sure to check out my other podcast episodes at https://ultimateradioshow.com/vintage-homeschool-moms/.



Have a great week!



 



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