God, gods, and The Lightning Thief

Fantasy literature has always been a bit of a conundrum for the Christian reader. Throw small children into the mix, and it's positively controversial. When we did Hogwarts Summer School several summers ago, the question "What does a Christian do with Harry Potter?" is one that came up quite often. In a way, J. K. Rowling made it easy-- God is barely mentioned in her books, unless someone is taking His name in vain. Nevertheless, the Christian message in the series shines through, especially in the last book, and the story told mirrors The Story. After reading the series for myself as well as the thoughts of other authors (John Granger's (no relation to Hermione) Looking for God in Harry Potter comes to mind), I felt perfectly comfortable inviting Harry Potter into our Christian home.

This summer, as we enjoy our own version of Camp Half-Blood, the question comes up again. This time, it's "What does a Christian do with the Olympians series?" Fortunately, Rick Riordan makes it a little easier for us by addressing the situation in his first book.

"Wait," I told Chiron, "You're telling me there's such a thing as God?"

"Well, now," Chiron said. "God-- capital G, God. That's a different matter altogether. We shan't deal with the metaphysical."

"Metaphysical? But you were just talking about--"

"Ah, gods, plural, as in, great beings that control the forces of nature and human endeavors; the immortal gods of Olympus. That's a smaller matter."

"Smaller?"

"Yes, quite..."

--The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan

A smaller matter? Well, yes and no.

It would be easy to say that Mr. Riordan packs God-with-a-capital-G away in a nice little package and tucks Him off in a closet for the remainder of the series, but of course, that's never the way of it. The children ask questions, they seem the similarities and--more importantly-- the dissimilarities-- between the Greek gods and their God, and they ask ponder the answers.

How can a god be so fickle?

How could a god break his promise?

Why can't a god do what he pleases?

And with all of these questions, they're scratching the surface, getting at the nature of the God they love and worship. This is what good books help us do.

In Book Two, The Sea of Monsters, Chiron is explaining to Percy his place in the grand scheme of things.

"...Humans don't exist on the same level as the immortals. They can't even be hurt by our weapons. But you, Percy-- you are part god, part human. You live in both worlds. You can be harmed by both, and you can affect both. That's what makes heroes so special. You carry the hopes of humanity into the realm of the eternal. Monsters never die. They are reborn from the chaos and barbarism that is always bubbling under civilization, the very stuff that makes Kronos stronger. They must be defeated again and again, kept at bay. Heroes understand that struggle. You fight the battles humanity must win, every generation, in order to stay human. Do you understand?"

-The Sea of Monsters, Rick Riordan

Heady stuff for the 9-to-11-year old set.

I don' pretend to know what Mr. Riordan's particular brand of spirituality is, if any. I've read his blog a bit, and can't really get a feeling for it. Honestly, I don't think it really matters. I've always been a big believer that Truth-with-a-capital-T can make itself known through just about anything, and I believe that Greek mythology in general and the Percy Jackson books in particular speak some real Truth about the nature of humans and the nature of God.

Rick Riordan's words echo the sentiment put forth by Michael Card in his song "Joy in the Journey":

To all who are born of the Spirit
And who share incarnation with Him,
Who belong to eternity, stranded in time,
And weary of struggling with sin--
Forget not the hope that's before you,
And never stop counting the cost.
Remember the hopelessness when you were lost.

In God's kingdom, we're all called to be heroes. We're all called to fight the demons, the monsters, the darkness, time and time again, because monsters never die. In Christianity, as adopted daughters and sons of the true Immortal One, we take up our arms, not by our own wits or power and not abandoned by a fickle god, but supported by the one true God, and we fight against the chaos and barbarism that has been part of this world since the Fall.

Pretty heady stuff for all of us.

Magic Items

If you've read the Percy Jackson books, you'll recognize the concept-- many of the demigod's have "magic items," gifts from their immortal parents or someone else who cares for them. Annabeth has a magical Yankees cap that renders her invisible, Percy has his sword, Riptide, and later a shield created for him by his brother, Tyson. It's a fairly common convention in stories (Harry Potter's Invisibility Cloak, anyone?) but still one that captures children's imaginations.

One of Nicholas's favorite pastimes lately is to cuddle up with me and say "Mama, let's think of magic items." Some of my favorites so far:
a blanket that makes you have sweet dreams
a comforter that, when you throw it on your enemy, makes them fall asleep right away
glasses that help you see through things
earrings that allow you listen to other people's conversations
a magic cup that always refilled with whatever you were thirsty for

He also thought of a magical laptop, even though he hasn't gotten to that book yet!

Olympian Camp

We kicked off Camp Half-Blood by making Sally Jackson's blue chocolate chip cookies. Nothing enhances a nice organic cookie recipe like half a bottle of blue food coloring. Also, beware the post-cookie diaper! I'm just saying.


We made our Camp Half-Blood shirts. Michael's has a spear and Katie Grace's an owl. We couldn't find orange shirts for the littles, so their are yellow and say "Camp Half Blood, Junior Olympian Day Camp". Nicholas's shirt has a lightning bolt, and Daniel's has a satyr.
The backs:
Michael- "Ares"
Daniel- "L'il Satry"
Katie Grace- "Athena"
Nicholas- "Zeus"

Chip and I have shirts too. His says "Camp Director" and mine says "Activity Director".

Mmmm, nectar. Tastes like banana strawberry smoothies.

Some books we've been reading. Not shown: Nathaniel Hawthorne's A Wonder Book for Boys and Girls, which is our read aloud.
Katie Grace and Nicholas, curled up and reading together.

Where have I been?

So, you may have noticed that, aside from some content I had front-loaded onto the blog, I haven't been around lately.

To say things have been a little crazy around here would be an understatement.

On Friday, June 5, I ran/walked my first 5K! I've been training since February and have lost 35 pounds, and was very excited. To be honest, I didn't think I could do bit. I spent the last mile praying hail Mary's.
But I did it, and I'm very proud of myself! Here I am crossing the finish line.
And here is my place-- 187! But there were over 300 participants, so I guess it's not too bad.
And here I am looking sweaty and awful with my wonderful children.
What made it even more special is that the day I ran the 5K, I also found out we were expecting our fifth baby!

So, between the nausea, the dizziness, and the exhaustion, I just haven't been up to blogging. Throw in Michael's homeschool evaluation, a couple of homeschool picnics, swim team getting started, and general summer mayhem, as well as me completely rewriting Summer Seasons of Joy, and you can see why I haven't been around. Hopefully, I'll be able to catch up a bit this weekend.

Planning Retreat: Words of Wisdom

You can exhort, cajole, and harangue your children all day long about getting regular exercise to have fit bodies, but if they don't see you exercising, you'll be fighting a losing battle. It's the same with education. If you want children to value and pursue learning-- to build strong mental muscles-- then your first priority as a home educator is to set the pace for their learning. Your example will be their model. So before you exhort your children about strengthening their own mental muscles, be sure to evaluate your own heart for learning.

Clay and Sally Clarkson, Educating the WholeHearted Child

Planning Retreat: Words of Wisdom

Of course, we all have moments when we think of our children at their best and worst. Don't compare your child to any other child... Each will have a different personality and interests. Children will proceed at their own level if given the proper encouragement and instruction. Don't predetermine what your child can and cannot do. My husband and I share a philosophy about our homeschooling: We homeschool to open the world to our child, not shelter her from it. Don't limit the possibilities that your child may be interested in; you are your child's biggest cheerleader! Encourage, love, and motivate your child.

Alice Pauquette, Curriculum Workshop: A guide to writing homeschool curriculum

Planning Retreat: Words of Wisdom

When you are considering curriculum, look at the rhythms of daily life in your house. Plan, as much as possible, a logical sequence of events. I am not talking about an airtight schedule. Airtight schedules... are going to set you up for failure. Don't be a slave to your schedule or your clock. Instead, work with the natural rhythm of life in your household to set up comfortable, logical, manageable routines... The rhythms and routines of daily life provide comfort and security to the entire family. They remove the need for constant decision making over things that should be habits and are the oil that lubricates a well-run homeschooling family.

Elizabeth Foss, Real Learning

Planning Retreat: Words of Wisdom

Math cannot be confined to a written page. It needs to be touched. Your child should play with it, experiment with it, internalize it. He should encounter the "Aha!" over and over again during the years he learns at home.

Elizabeth Foss, Real Learning

Planning Retreat: Words of Wisdom

A morning walk provides the (young) child with a daily opportunity to experience the seasonal changes around him- whether it's a walk through the woods or around the neighborhood... By experiencing nature... as opposed to merely observing it or, worse yet, being shown it in a book, the child lays rich foundations for future learning, especially in the sciences. Further, morning walks provide rich sense experiences for the child...

Do try to this walk every morning no matter what the weather. Let your child really get to know about his environment and the weather where he lives!


Donna Simmons, Kindergarten with Your Three to Six Year Old

Planning Retreat: Getting Ready for Kindergarten

I'm not a Waldorf purist, something I think everyone who knows me well recognizes. But I do happen to think they do kindergarten very, very well and have all the right ideas. Here are some of my favorite resources for preparing for a Waldorf kindergarten year.

Article: The Waldorf Kindergarten: The World of the Young Child

If one observes children who, through proper upbringing, have developed a natural reverence for the adults around them, and if one follows them through their various phases of life, one may discover that their feelings for reverence and devotion in childhood gradually transform during the years leading to old age. As adults, such persons may have a healing effect on others, so that through their mere presence, tone of voice, or perhaps a single glance they spread inner peace to others. Their presence can be a blessing, because as children they have learned to venerate and to pray in the right way. No hands can bless in old age, unless in childhood they have been folded in prayer.

Book: The Waldorf Kindergarten Snack Book
This is a great book with wonderful recipes to make with your child. It also has some beautiful insights into the kindy years.

Blog Entry: More Thoughts on the Waldorf Kindergarten

Online Store for Materials: A Toy Garden
Be sure to join her mailing list, as she often has special coupon codes!

Book: Kindergarten with Your Three to Six Year Old
Excellent resource. If you only buy this book, I would recommend this one.

Website: Waldorf Clearinghouse Newsletter
Tons of free resources not only for the kindergarten years, but for older children as well.

Website: Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America, or WECAN
I know I linked to a specific article earlier, but their whole website is a great resource. I have many old copies of Gateways that have been a great help to me.

Book: Let Us Form a Ring
Anthology of kindergarten songs and stories from the Acorn Hill Children’s Center in Maryland. Celebrations of the rhythm of the day and of the year as well as birthdays are included. An excellent resource book for parents and teachers.

Ebook: Before the Journey and A Journey Through Waldorf Homeschooling Kindergarten
Melissa over at A Little Garden Family provides these resources for the early childhood years. You can also check out her blog for more inspiration.

Website: The Baldwin Project
This is my go-to site for fairy tales and other stories for all levels of homeschooling. It's a tremendous resource. You may also want to check out Selecting Fairy Tales, an article from Waldorf in the Home.

Books: Wynstones Press series, A Child's Seasonal Treasury, and A Journey Through Time in Verse and Rhyme
These are some other resources that help me get through my days.

And finally, at the risk of tooting my own horn, I do use my own Seasons of Joy books quite a lot.

I'm in a unique situation this year. Nicholas actually turned five at the end of last September, and will be turning six this autumn. We held off on any sort of "formal" kindergarten time. I still don't feel that he's ready for anything too academic, but I will be introducing him to the letters this year. I won't expect him to write them, unless that's something he initiates, but we will be using fairy tales as a gateway to the alphabet. So, several more alphabet resources:
LMNOP and all the Letters A to Z
A Spirited Alphabet
Waldorf Alphabet Book
The Wise Enchanter: A Journey Through the Alphabet

Planning Retreat: Main Lesson Blocks

Tonight was step one of planning for next year-- figure out main lessons. I mostly went by standard Waldorf main lessons, but looked at some Charlotte Mason syllabi as well. The verdict is:

Kindergarten
Easy peasy. We'll just work our way through the alphabet with fairy tales and do crafting, cooking, etc. that fits in with the story.

Third Grade
Multiplication Tables
Farming and Gardening
Housebuilding and Shelters (including building scale models)
Old Testament Stories and History
Native American Stories
Flood Stories
Life of Jesus
Astronomy
Telling Time

Fifth Grade
Decimals
Geometric Forms
Botany, including fungi, ferns, algae, conifers, monocotyledons and dicotyledons
North American Geography
Mapmaking
The Book of Acts
Shakespeare
Fractions

I do plan on doing math consistently throughout the year--as a matter of fact, my next step is to go through both of their math books so I can try to line up like chapters, so we're all doing weights and measures at the same time, etc--but there were certain topics I wanted to turn into a main lesson block/unit study. Some of these will probably be stretched into two or even three main lessons, spaced throughout the year.

Typically, Michael would be studying Ancient Cultures in the fifth grade, but since we already covered a lot of that with Story of the Word and because we're focusing on Ancient Cultures with our Olympian Camp this summer, I don't feel the need to plan main lesson blocks this school year.

Planning Retreat: Words of Wisdom

Be sure that your children each day have

*Something or someone to love
*Something to do
*Something to think about

~ Charlotte Mason

Together Green! Pennies for the Planet

I found this great website from the Audubon Society called Together Green! Act Today, Shape Tomorrow. They encourage kids to save their pennies to help with conservation efforts. On the Downloads for Kids page, you can download a jar label to save pennies for the planet, coloring sheets, a word search, and more. You can learn about saving puffins, protect an ancient swamp forest habitat, or help save a sagebrush habitat. There are even parent and educator pages with special downloads that are great for homeschoolers.

If you check out the toolbar at the top of the site, there are even more resources, including some great downloads and interactive games on the Cool Stuff! page.

Planning Retreat: Words of Wisdom

We take for granted the rhythm of breathing: filling our lungs with air and emptying them again, drawing something from outside into us and then releasing something of ourselves (for we make the CO2!) back out into the world. But how aware are we of the way the soul breathes also-- taking in the content of the world though eyes, ears, etc., transforming it and releasing it again, maybe as a poem, a piece of knitting, a nice clean kitchen? This "soul breathing" goes on all the time and one can see the different rhythmic patterns in it.

--All Year Round, Christine Fynes-Clinton

Activism: Tell the FCC "No Bus Radio!"

At the request of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, the Federal Communication Commission will be reporting to Congress about commercial radio broadcasts on school buses and whether or not they are in the public interest.

Bus Radio, much like Channel One, forces children riding school buses to listen to commercial broadcasts. Bus Radio claims it will "take targeted student marketing to the next level," providing companies with a "captive audience," unable to change the station during commercials.

You can find a list of participating school districts here. I'm disgusted that there are four districts in Pennsylvania already signed up.

If you'd like to write a letter to your school district, you can see a PDF of a sample letter here.

Obligation, Inc, has many articles about Bus Radio here. On their site you can also read a coalition letter from over 50 organizations, including the PTA.

Most importantly, you can send you thoughts and comments to the FCC. Instructions are here.

Use this summer for social justice

“Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.”
~ Mother Teresa

Teaching Tolerance recently sent out an article via email: Use this summer for social justice.

1. Take time to renew and reflect.
I found some great resources here.

2. Visit or learn more about a site of conscience.
Visit a civil rights site or other place of significance to the struggle for justice and peace.

3. Broaden your perspective with books and blogs.
You can find a list of books from a Catholic perspective here.

4. Connect with a social justice group near you.
I found a list here. You will, of course, want to be carefully to screen for orthodoxy.

5. Identify three new ways to integrate social justice themes into your curriculum.
I would like to suggest The Butterfly Project through the Holocaust Museum in Houston as one possibility.

And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8

June 5: Feast of St, Boniface

For dinner:

German Meat Balls with Sour Cream Gravy

Melt butter or margarine in saucepan; add onion; sauté until tender. Combine ground beef and bread crumbs; add butter mixture and beef broth or bouillon. Add 1 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon pepper, parsley, Tabasco, 3 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and eggs; mix lightly but thoroughly. Shape meat mixture into 2-inch balls; place in baking dish. Bake at 350° for 30 to 35 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare sour cream gravy: In saucepan combine beef gravy, remaining pepper, salt, and Worcestershire sauce. Add Kitchen Bouquet; heat to simmering point, stirring occasionally. When ready to serve, fold sour cream into hot gravy; heat a few minutes longer; pour over meat balls. Serve with mashed potatoes or buttered noodles. Makes 5 to 6 servings.

Recipe Source: Cook's Blessings, The by Demetria Taylor, Random House, New York, 1965

and for desert

German Cinnamon Stars

Beat egg whites stiff. Add powdered sugar slowly. Continue to beat till it holds shape. Add cinnamon and almonds. Sprinkle a board with flour and sugar. Pat out dough three-eighths inch thick. Cut with star cutter. Bake on greased cookie sheet in moderate oven (375°) for 15 minutes.

Recipe Source: Cooking for Christ by Florence Berger, National Catholic Rural Life Conference, 4625 Beaver Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50310, 1949, 1999

And then, afterwards:
Litany of St. Boniface

Chemicals in plastics linked to childhood obesity

From the Rodale News:
Phthalates, the chemicals used to soften plastic, help cosmetics cling, and make fragrances last that are found in hundreds of personal care and cleaning products, could be making children obese, according to research presented last week to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences.

THE DETAILS: In a part of a larger, 5-year, “Growing Up Healthy in East Harlem” study, researchers asked 255 girls and 95 boys to answer questions regarding which personal care products they used in the last week, such as shampoo, hair gel, and moisturizers. Product use was highest among girls. When researchers analyzed urine samples taken from the children, they found levels of phthalates were highest among girls with the highest body mass index and weight compared to thinner girls with less body fat.

While phthalates are plasticizers used in vinyl products to make them soft and flexible, phthalates are also used in many lotions and make-up products to help these products cling to your face. They’re used, too, as fragrance carriers in products ranging from cosmetics, soaps, shampoos, hair sprays, body sprays, and perfumes to detergents, air fresheners, and scented candles.

You can read more about the study Growing Up Healthy in East Harlem here.

Obviously, the bathroom and the playroom are a good place to start purging your home of these plastics. Buy phthalate-free toys for your children and look for "free and clear" formulas in laundry, personal care, and cosmetic items as well. Let your baby smell sweet on her own merit, and not because of artificial fragrances.

Planning Retreat: Words of Wisdom

The life of hearth and home is contradictory to the busyness of modern materialistic society. It is less, slower, simpler. It is sitting and reading. It is the fireplace. Meals together. Board games. Going to the movies. Taking walks. Watering the garden. Doing nothing. Brunch. Watching the sunset. Lying in the hammock. These things are not frivolous; they are essential. They are the foundation. They are the roots. They are sacred time. All expansion into the world requires times of contraction, of doing nothing.
- Peggy O' Mara, A Quiet Place, "Hearth and Home"

A Homeschool Planning Retreat

'Tis the season-- wrapping up one year, ready to start another. Even though I don't yet have Michael's portfolio completed or his evaluation set up (note to self: must get on that), I'm already planning ahead for next year. For us, next year begins on the very first day we can start counting towards the 2009-2010 school year, July 1.

I've already warned my husband that I want a planning day. I'm kicking him and 4 kids out for the day--maybe even overnight if Daniel can stand it--and planning out the next school. With Nicholas starting kindergarten next year, Katie Grace in third (and my first year of having to report her to the state!), and Michael in fifth/sixth, and two sets of standardised tests to get through, I think planning ahead can only help.

I already have some general ideas. We're hitting ancient history and mythology over the summer with Olympian Camp, and we may try some Latin again as well. I'm starting to make a list of main lesson blocks I want to hit next year for Michael and Katie Grace, and I'm planning on using a modified workbox system to keep Nicholas busy while I'm working with them. Nicholas will go through a pretty typical Waldorf kindergarten experience, and I'm combing through the Charlotte Mason and Classical reading lists for Michael and Katie Grace. We'll all do Story of the World, Volume 3 together, and I still am looking for a good science program.

I'm hoping to post some inspiration here on my blog as well as over at MDC's Learning at Home forum. I hope you'll join me!

More Activism: Petition Merck

I read over at Getting Into a Funk that Merck has stopped producing the separate components of the MMR shot, leaving parents with no options but to get the whole shot or nothing. You can sign a petition asking Merck to reconsider here.

Children need to play.

On the heels of the Crisis in the Kindergarten study, I wanted to share some resources on play in the early childhood years.

Crisis in the Kindergarten: Why children need to play in school (an 8-page PDF summary of the report)
Articles and books on the power of play
Play: Priceless
Learning through Play by David Elkind
Disappearing Pegs in the Road: Discovering Meaning in Young Children's Social Play, an article from one of my favorite college profs, Dr. Alice Meckley

Now go play!