I GOT PROMOTED!!!

To all of you out there reading this I wanted to share something with you all... I got PROMOTED! All of the pro's to this job here they are: I get to be myself, love unconditionally, forgive more than 7 times 70 (a day), take my kids to work, am able to share the gospel with my kids, I get to cuddle them and love them as much as I'd like, I get to take many pictures of them, I'll get to have lunch with them everyday, sneak out to see a movie, and just plain ol' make tons of memories together with them until it's time for them to "leave the nest". I'm talking about HOMESCHOOLING!!! I got promoted to being their teacher!! A promotion you may ask..? YES!! I bet you never thought of this as a promotion... But I am. Naturally you are your child's first teacher, but now I will continue to be their teacher for as long as God gives me strength. I am so excited about this journey we are about to embark together. I've heard lots of stories the past few weeks, about how hard it can be at times, or stressful, but the end result is normally the same. It's best for your child. We fight so hard to teach our kids the difference btwn bad and good, how to mind their manners, how not to hurt peoples feelings, how to be considerate of others, how to share, and so on.. and then we send them off to school, where somehow many of these things kinda get lost. I am so glad that I get to be able to teach them again right here at home. Where I know the foundation that we have worked hard to lay will continue to be built upon. I'm excited about being able to share their growing moments and learning moments with them. That the 40 hrs a week that I loose from their childhood is given back to me. I'm excited that I can tell them that sharing is not just a nice thing to do, but it's something God teaches us to do. That we are supposed to love our neighbor more than ourselves, that selfishness and "doing you" is not anywhere in the Bible. I'm excited about the relationships that I will build with my kids, and because I know them more than any other adult, I will be able to help them, and not crush them when they don't know the right answer. I'm happy to know that if my kid doesn't want to write about Albert Einstein, he can write about what he loves at the moment, "Sonic"! As long as he's writing, that's all that matters. I'm so glad to know that my kids won't get just 15 mins of play time but we could go to the park and let them explore all of God's wondrous creation. I'm excited about teaching my boys to be chivalrous so that when they are older they will love their wives like Christ loves the church. I'm glad that me and my husband will be a constant example to our 7 kids without the interruption of their peers who really don't know any better. I got a promotion from full time parent to full time teacher! I will be by their side when that math problem just isn't clicking, and I want to be there when that light bulb turns on and shines brighter than a star! I want them to know that they have a creator that has a plan and purpose for them, that they won't be judged by how they did on their FCAT, but how well they did at respecting others, loving others, forgiving, helping, that they will be judged on their character, being honest, and integrate, responsible people in our society. This is what we will teach our children and most of all to love God with all their heart and mind and soul.

That's A LOT of BOOKS!!!

It's been an interesting journey so far... There are lots of decisions to make, what books to buy, what curriculum suits my family, why am I homeschooling, can I do this??!! So over the Christmas break I took the kids on our very first "homeschooling trips".. We visited a few families who home school and looked through their curriculum, sat through their morning routines and asked many questions... Many questions answered and many curiosities explored. Then I went to a friends house who had been homeschooled and her mom had kept ALL of their books.... OMG!! "That's A LOT of BOOKS!!" I froze and was overwhelmed by the amount of books sitting on the table and in their "learning room". I felt a sudden "panic attack"... My heart began to race, pounding faster and faster, my hands; I have to say got a tiny bit sweaty. I thought, "can I REALLY do this?? Am I capable of making the decisions about what books I need??" So I brought home a HEAVY load of books and took just 1 book in hand. "The Everything Homeschooling Book". That's what I've been reading so far. I LOVE the fact that it is an easy read, is FULL of information, it breaks everything down so that I am able to understand how this works.. I have been doing my research now for some time; but this narrows everything down. There is a plethora of "the right" or "the best curriculum" out there. I have come to learn so far, that there are also SO many free resources out there. http://www.dltk-teach.com/ http://www.kidzone.ws/ As the days go by, I get SO excited about being able to teach my kids on a daily basis. The occasional "panic attacks" come when I'm confronted w/ overwhelming amounts of books, but I know that I know, that this is the best choice we have made. The responsibility lies in our hands as parents mainly me, since I'll be doing most of the teaching... But why rely on a complete stranger to teach my children when I know them best?? Why depend on a stranger to get to know them in a few months, when I've known them since before they came into the world??... This will be a learning process for them as well as myself. I look forward to growing up alongside them; they are already brilliant little people and I can't wait to see how they will begin to see the world through their own explorations of creation... and when it comes to our method of teaching... I can say we decided to go Eclectic This seems to be the best choice for our family right now..

This is Our Life!!

9 years ago, I married my college sweetheart!! His name: Jason! I knew he was unique and that he was placed in my path just for me. Fast forward to now, we have SIX kids and I can't envision life w/o my "JB". Our kids ages you wonder... well there's Naomi 8 1/2yrs, Joseph 7, Noah 5 1/2, Gabrielle 4 1/2, Isabella 2, Caleb 6 1/2 months old. Each of them unique on their own, smart, funny, sweet, rambunctious, and have Newyorican spice! We are a mixed family; I'm Puertorican born and raised in The Bronx, and "Daddy", African American born and raised in Cincinnati. I get asked all the time, "how do you do it w/ 6 kids??" or someone will say, "Six kids?! You're brave!" (that along w/ the blank stare of "you're outta your mind" & "are you crazy?") We didn't intentionally plan on six kids, but we were certainly blessed w/ each of them. Life without em' just wouldn't be life at all. We are so grateful for the journey we've been on, how much we've learned as parents, how much love grows in our hearts each time we've welcomed a new "McMullen". So this blog may answer some of those "burning" questions and is part of our new journey we are about to embark: HOMESCHOOLING!! Some may think I'm crazy, but I'm just excited!! A little nervous, but certainly excited!! It's been a long ongoing conversation since I was pregnant with Naomi, and NOW is the time. So we invite you to join us as we watch myself (the teacher), and our kids, "team McMullen" grow up, learn and have fun together. I'm sure there will be surprises along the way, and some tears to go with it too... But like every other mom out there, we may cry now, and laugh later... So keep up w/ us, and not the "Jones'" and you too may feel that: Life w/o "Team McMullen" just wouldn't be life at all!