My Writer

My teen has been writing since she was in Kindergarten.  Writing about the seasons started it all. I feel extremely blessed for the years homeschooling and being able to see her grow to such a talented young lady AND I'm very happy to introduce her latest poem featured on Teen Ink...




Our Love

My Aha Moment

This morning, like most mornings in the last month, I did not want to get out of bed.  I started to ask myself what was wrong with me.  I usually get out of bed start a load of laundry or go straight to the kitchen to start my coffee.  

I only wanted to stay in bed and read a book or read the latest in Twitter or Facebook.  

Then it hit me.  

It's December 4.  Close to our school break. Close to the end of the year.  

I am burned out!  

It's the same feeling when Spring break comes around.  Counting the weeks and days until Summer break when I can just sit by the pool and read a book or play in the pool with my kids.  

Except this time I wanted to snuggle with my blankie and a good book.  

So starting tomorrow, I'm going to make myself get out of bed at 7am and start the laundry and make my coffee.  Get my blood pumping and plan out the rest of the day.  

I had some leftover Daiya cheese from our Thanksgiving feast.  I knew I needed to use it before it spoils. Realized I haven't made this delicious dish in a while....

Pasta Pizza

1 lb pasta (any shape)

pizza sauce (I used Ragu but whatever you have at hand is good. Any red/marinara sauce will do)

8oz or more of any non-dairy cheese you might have at hand

Cook pasta according to directions

While the pasta is being drained heat up the pizza sauce until it bubbles

Add the pasta back into the pot with the sauce and add the cheese

Heat and cover until the cheese gets nice and melty.

You can add whatever veggies you have, TVP, or any other vegan protein you might have.

Enjoy!

Public Letter to the Misinformed

In less than 7 days 2 people have said the dumbest thing about homeschoolers. Even more dumb is the fact that they know my children but yet have the need to say the most ignorant of things.

1. Do they have friends and would they have opportunities to socialize?

Seriously? Do you not know my kids? I know adults who are socially awkward (ahem) and they have been around people their own ages from kindergarten through college. My children have the opportunity to be around people of all ages, genders, classes, race and never had an awkward moment. They adapt to whatever situation is thrown at them.My teenager went to a brick and mortar school for the very first time and you know what was the first thing she noticed? Groups of kids that only hung out with kids that looked like them, dressed like them, and were in the same grade. She just could not understand why 8th graders were not "allowed" to sit with 6th graders during lunch break. I'm proud to say she sat with everyone. Traveling from one table to another was the way my social butterfly spent her time during her break. How many kids can do that? In fact, go to your Facebook page and pick any random person that you have on your timeline and scroll through their friend list. I bet you have more than one friend whose friends look just like them. Socialization indeed. Not that there homeschoolers who might be under the umbrella of what the media has portrayed homeschoolers to be. Believe me. I've met A LOT but my kids, are not one of them.

2. Are they learning anything? They can't learn at home! That's crazy talk. Don't you get tired of being near them for so long?

That type of question makes me laugh so hard. I remember when my then 1st grader went to her grandparents house for the day carrying a stack of books. She was reading the Series of Unfortunate Events. The grandfather was surprised she could read. When she came home that evening and told me I asked her what did she say. Ever the quick one she responded "what do you think I do all day?" Maybe he thought she ate chocolate and watched episodes of I Love Lucy all day. At an early age I taught them how much you can really love your library and all the wonders you can find in that great big building. There was where my tween would climb out of her stroller and discovered the aisle where you can learn all you ever wanted to know about bugs.

Of course, it's a lot of work. One mom commented on how much I say "we" when talking about how we school at home. We work from about 8am or so until about 3pm. We take breaks and maybe walk around the neighborhood during our school day.We love learning about world history.
We loved reading classics by Mark Twain.
Yes. I say WE a lot.
Like we had a rough day with school. We are taking a mental health day. We can't wait for (fill in the blank) vacation.
I won't even apologize for not having a live in nanny or a nanny on speed dial.
Of course, I have my moments when I need alone time. Thank God for the YMCA where for the past 10 years my daughters had ballet, cheerleader, gymnastics, swimming, acting and dance classes. This Mami has had plenty of me, myself, and I time.
As I go into another homeschooling year with my tween, I have no regrets.
Well, except I wish I can have a large batch of chocolate everyday.

It's About To Get Crazy Up in Here!

Ready to fire up your crock pot/slow cooker?  
Starting next week the Glendale YMCA Performing Arts Academy opens!  
I am very excited for this new program.  
Mondays & Wednesdays kids will be dancing Latin Fusion with the awesome Ani Hovhannisyan from 4:30pm to 5:30pm and then learn to Jazz Funk from 5:30pm to 6:30pm.
Tuesdays and Wednesdays your children will learn and understand the art of Acting and Improvisation with the very cool Jonaton Wynne from 4:00pm to 5:00pm.
Also on Tuesdays and Wednesdays the world renowned Solid Gold dancer, Darcel Wynne-Leonard will be teaching Dance and Motion. 5:30pm to 6:30pm.
Fridays the talented Karl Melero will be guiding the children through Creative and Expressive Art from 4:30pm to 5:30pm.
We are so excited to be a part of this program!
So, because of our packed days, (not only the above mentioned activities but also gymnastics, AWANA, homework, schoolwork, auditions, callbacks, and filming) I will be dusting off my crock pot (I haven't used it for about 2 weeks to cook da beans) and experimenting with new and not so new vegetarian/vegan recipes.  Take advantage of  the fall fruits and vegetables from your local farmer's market and in your local supermarket chose your produce that are grown locally!
My teen (former home schooler) really likes school.  I think she enjoys competing with other students to get that A and she is such a social butterfly.   So far all A's in her class!
Her drama class are doing a fundraiser selling chocolates bars for $1.  I will have them with me starting this weekend.  The goal, to start off, will be 50 bars.  Maybe we will try for 100 if it goes well. So, if you would like to help out Celina and her fellow drama queens and kings buy one.  Sorry I can't ship out.  That defeats the purpose of raising funds for the drama class. 
Money goes towards field trips.  

intro

Hey this is Maria and I will have some thoughts of life as a homeschooler mom and getting my kids to eating more healthy. I will cuss because to be honest, when the kids are not around I will cuss and this is not for their eyes or any children out there. Most of the recipes I use come from cookbooks like Skinny Bitch (because I am so not!), Sneaky Chef and others I cannot remember. Officially start on or around September 1 or whenever I have something thoughtful to say.