What is it like to be a Nanny?

I always used to wonder. One reads about Mary Poppins and Maria Von Trapp and Jane Eyre, but what is life like for a modern-day nanny in a middle-class home?

Here's a peek into my life.

Things I do as a nanny...

I take care of six children, todder through jr. high. This includes a variety of things, with differant expectations depending on whether the parents are home or extremely busy. I might do anything from supervising chores, to changing diapers, to taking them outside, to making a meal.

However my primary responsibility is to supervise most of the education Mondays - Thursdays for the four older children. That means I have a bit of a one-room schoolhouse set up, as I have an 8th grader, a 6th grader, a 4th grader, and a 1st grader. It's a wide-range, but I enjoy teaching all of them.

We cover:

-Math
-Latin
-Spelling
-Geography
-History
-Science
-Phonics
-Reading
-Writing
-Literature
-Handwriting
-Memorization
-Dictation
-Typing

Some of my favorite things are teaching the younger ones their science (we're studying the human body and we've got a wonderful book that even I am learning things from), doing writing with my 4th grader, or flash cards with the two-year-old who likes to sneak in and join our lessons. ;)

Right now most of the kids are gone and I'm getting a bit of a break before I have to get started on supper prep. The two-year-old is currently taking a nap on my lap while I write. Peaceful. :)

Nunchucks

Today I started something new.

Nunchucks.

I have a friend down in my new place of employment that is fairly good with them, and he is instructing me in proper use. I started out with a foam pair, but almost immediatly switched over to wood. The wood ones are dangerous because they hurt a LOT if they hit you - I have a fairly nasty bruise developing on one of my knuckles - but the balance is SO much better and they swing a lot smoother. Anyhow, I have some basic moves down and I'm looking forwards to learning more soon.

Like tomorrow, maybe.

If You Could Travel in Time...

If you could travel in time, where would you go?

As some of you know, my writing project for the past three years has revolved around Time Travel. I absolutely love the idea of time travel. It's fascinating, isn't it?

In my book I will be exploring some of my favorite periods and historical situations. But I'm curious. What are yours? Is there anything you think would be cool if I covered in my series?

Choose up to three of the choices in the poll to the right, then comment below with more details!

Awakening

If you were transported back to the time of Christ, would you try to stop the Crucifixion?

Ronni, a teenage girl from 21st century America finds herself awaking in 1st century Israel, and realizes that now is her chance to "save Jesus." But as the hours count down she starts learns why Jesus had to die...and then must face a choice that could change eternity.

This book, which was edited by my good friend Regina Doman, is an excellent retelling of the Crucifixion of Christ. It grapples with questions that young teenagers deal with in relation to the founding of the Christain faith and comes up with some very well-put answers. There are some very nice twists that even I wasn't expecting.

I believe this book would be most enjoyed by any young lady between the ages of 13 and 16. Parents might want to preview or read the book with their pre-teens, as it does contain some issues that some younger readers may not be ready for. And older girls, if your younger sister happens to get it, I'd certainly recommend you to borrow it and enjoy it as well!

The book is put out by a Catholic publishing company, so Protestant families may wish to discuss a few issues relating to the Catholic faith that their children might not be familiar with. It, however, would be a nice introduction to the differances between Catholocism and Protestantism and would make a good addition to any library.

March for Life Banner

Our Banner, based on the passage in "Black as Night" that I quoted in my last post.

The March was a really amazing experience and I am so glad I was able to go. Many thanks to all of you who prayed. We had very nice weather, and no one got lost. Now if only we touched the hearts and consciences of the lawmen as we passed by their windows...

Tomorrow is the "March for Life"

Tomorrow, Friday, January 22nd, is the annual "March for Life."

Every year thousands of people march in Washington D.C. to show their support for the pro-life movement.

This year I will be able to go.

Why am I going? Why am I taking the time out of my life to do this?

As a Christain I have always been committed to the pro-life movement. As I've grown older it has been brought home to me in increasingly real ways.

When I read Regina Doman's "Black as Night" I was struck deeply by a scene at the end of the book. /SPOILER ALERT/

Blanche Brier (Snow White) is lying in a coma. Her beloved, Bear, watches her, and knows that she might never wake again. He has spent the book trying to decide whether or not to take his relationship with her to the next level, but it is only now, (when they are possibly sundered forever) that he realizes how much he cares for her. And he thinks...

He knew then that even if she never woke up from the coma, that he loved her, and that the years would find him sitting by her side, even if she never knew that he was there.
~Black as Night, pg 274

When I read that, I really made the connection between the debate about what should happen to those in a vegetative state. Blanche had become like a friend to me. So had Bear. I loved them. The thought that anyone could even dream of taking Blanche off life support when she was still breathing was absolutely horrible to me.

This whole scenario is repeated, even more poigently, in the third book of the series, "Waking Rose." Blanche's sister Rose also falls into a coma, and is in a comatose state for nearly six months. Yet once again her family, friends and beloved wait, and pray, and hope... and to find out what happens, I'm afraid you must read the book.

/SPOILERS OFF/

This fall things went beyond book connections when I discovered that one of my best friends had been a tubular pregnancy. This put his mother in great danger, and the doctors were advising an immediate abortion.

But my friend's parents were Christains and obviously would not go with this. My friend's father prayed over his wife and unborn child... and a miracle happened. The pains stopped and the pregnancy proceeded normally. Today my friend is one of the kindest, sweetest, most honorable person I know. He has been a huge blessing in my life and those of many others. And yet modern medicine wanted to kill him.

I also have a 90+ year old great-grandmother suffering with severe dementia. She lives in a nursing home and needs constant assistance. And yet she blesses us all in so many ways even though she no longer remembers who we are. Yet there are people who would say she was a financial burden on society and recommend the termination of her life.
I believe every life is precious.

Do you believe everyone, even unborn babies and the old and mentally infirm have the right to life?

Then help us raise awareness! Even if you cannot join the march yourself, you can still blog about it, or post about it on your Facebook, twitter or myspace!

Every little bit helps. Who knows, you could save a life!

Warrior Bard

Some artwork I did in my recharging time... the kids enjoy watching me color digitally.