Sunday Salon: Homeschool, Harry Potter and Happenings.

Life has returned to normal (as we know it) and we finally started 5th grade lessons this week.   James has fully recovered and is back to being talkative, inquisitive and feisty.   We've been reading "Carry On Mr. Bowditch" for English and the story is giving both James and I much to think about.  In the story, Nathaniel enjoys learning and is curious about everything. When he wants to know something, such as astronomy or math, he picks up a book, studies it and writes down everything he learns in a notebook.   So lately, when James starts asking me his various questions as he does, I refer back to the book (nudge nudge wink wink) that he needs to start searching for the answers himself and not use me exclusively as his encyclopedia.   I've been pushing him to be more involved in his studies and be a bit more independent.   In that vein, I realized some of the curriculum I had chosen was too teacher intensive, which allowed him to sit back and let me do most of the reading and explaining. 

He loves looking information up on the internet. Especially when it is a subject that interests him, such as Harry Potter, Bionicles, Toy Story 3, etc.    Previously he had told me he wasn't interested in doing online or computer studies.  Guess he thought it would take the fun out of it.   So, I tried an experiment. I loaded up Math Blaster on my laptop and started the program.  He came running when he heard it and said, let me try it.  He sat down and an hour later, he was still going.   Did the same thing with Typing Instructor Deluxe.   So I took the plunge and after hours of researching different programs, decided to go with Alpha Omega's Switched on Schoolhouse History and Geography.  Luckily it picks up where we are with history right now, is computer based, challenging, multimedia based so lots of different ways to learn information and most importantly, student led.   We'll also be trying out their workbooks - Lifepac Health Quest and a couple units of science. 

Assigned reading has really been a hassle up til now.  If he isn't interested in the story or doesn't hold his attention, then he doesn't retain any of it.  Until he discovered Harry Potter.  I have all the books and all the movies and he's been wanting to watch the first movie for a while now.  But I didn't think he was quite ready for it yet.  I told him in order to see the first movie, he had to read the first book. That way he would know what is going to happen in the movie and be able to understand it better.  We ended up reading the book together, me reading it aloud and answering all his questions as we went along.  Then we watched the movie.  He loved it and wanted to watch the rest of the series.   We've since watched the next 3 before reading the books and as I expected, had to explain alot of things.  His assigned reading at the moment is reading 2 chapters a day of The Prisoner of Azkaban.   After each chapter, he narrates to me the who, what, where, when and why so I know he is getting the story.    The Harry Potter series has turned into a great teaching tool as we discuss good and evil, friendship, bullies, magic, love and he who must not be named - Voldemort. 

So, I think we've got enough variety now that will challenge James, keep him from getting bored and save my voice.   Speaking of challenges, I just finished reading "Emotional Intensity In Gifted Students by Christine Fonseca and will be posting my review on October 15th.  Be sure to check out her post below and enter to win the book.  I love the book because it is all about coaching your gifted child in how to deal with his emotions versus trying to fix things for him.  How to deal with explosions - before, during and after.  And also how to deal with our push button issues.  I tried using some of her strategies and have had some interesting results.  Well worth reading!

Guest Post: Christine Fonseca, author of Emotional Intensity in Gifted Students

I am so excited to welcome Christine Fonseca today to My Two Blessings.   Christine's book Emotional Intensity in Gifted Students:  Helping Kids Cope with Explosive Feelings was released on October 1st. Her Epic Blog tour runs through October 15th and will end with a multiple blogger review, including mine, on the 15th along with a special giveaway.  I am particularly happy to get a chance to review Emotional Intensity in Gifted Students since we are always looking for ways to deal with, teach and help James how to handle his intense emotions.  Loving what I've read so far, so be sure to check back on the 15th for my review. 

*****************************************************

Helping Gifted Kids deal with Stress and Anxiety.

First off, I’d like to thank Robin for hosting this stop on my blog tour. Be sure to check out the great contest at the end of the post for a chance to win a signed copy of EMOTIONAL INTENSITY IN GIFTED STUDENTS. Now, on to the post –

Robin asked that I write a post relating to gifted kids and anxiety. Ah yes, stress and anxiety – common plagues in our all-too-busy world. All of us are well aware of stress and anxiety. It is something we deal with daily. But with the natural emotional intensity of our gifted kids, stress and anxiety often take on a whole new meaning.

Let’s start by defining both stress and anxiety. This is a bit trickier than it sounds, as there are a wide variety of working definitions for both. My favorite one for stress comes from the Time Thought website:

"(Stress is) a physical, mental, or emotional response to events that bodily or mental tension."

I like this definition because it does NOT say a negative event that causes tension - because, really, stress can be equally caused by negative and positive life events. Anxiety is the natural reaction to a stressful event, and includes physical, mental, and emotional responses.

Okay, now that we are using the same vocabulary, let’s talk about kids.  All kids feel stress and anxiety to some degree. Maybe when there is a test, or when the teacher calls on them in class, or when they have gotten into a conflict with a friend. Common feelings may include heart palpitations, sweaty palms, labored breathing or fear.

For the gifted child, these feelings are significantly more intense. Butterflies in the stomach become man-eating birds, a tense digestive system becomes an ulcer, a racing heart feels more like a heart attack. Even the highs are bigger. All of this relates to the naturally occurring emotional intensity that is typical among gifted kids.

Not surprisingly, gifted kids tend to struggle with anxiety more then their non-gifted peers, often struggling to bounce back after setbacks. Sometimes this anxiety can be so intense, the child will get sick before a big test, or refuse to go to school altogether.

Fortunately, there are ways to help.

First - we, as parents, need to check our own expectations of our children. Behavior in children is one of their primary forms of communication. As such, we need to pay attention to their responses to stress and try to figure out what they are communicating to us. And this means being willing to examine our own expectations and whether or not they are appropriate.

Now, don't get me wrong - I am not suggesting we drop our expectations for our children when they are stressed. Gosh knows, I have very high expectations for my kids. But we do need to be willing to look at them and make SURE they are appropriate.

Ok, after that, what can we teach our children to help them better manage their stress response?

Here are some of basic strategies that can make a huge positive impact on your child:

1.  Listen - teaching your child about their stress requires a good foundation of communication with your children. Set aside time to stop the busyness in your own life and check in with them. Encourage them to tell you what the problem is. If they lack the emotional vocabulary to do this (something not uncommon with gifted kids), teach them the right words.

2.  Perspective - children often have an all-or-nothing approach to life...things are ALL BAD or ALL GOOD. Very little in between with them. This is the time to help them learn that nothing is really ALL BAD. And that slight change in perspective can help...more than you could possibly realize!

 3.  Mental rehearsal - If the stress is related to performance issues, try practicing (role-playing or mental rehearsal) the event or situation. Help your child mentally go through each step. Pay close attention to when they appear stressed and bring their awareness to it.

4.  Problem solving skills - teach your child how to problem solve. With gifted kids, open-ended solutions are impossibly hard to wrap their brains around. So help them make things more concrete for them.

Notice how I NEVER say fix things FOR your child. This does not serve them. If you do for them, the message you subtly give is that they are incapable of solving their own problems. Instead, focus on guiding your child - emotionally coaching them towards their own self-monitoring, self-reflection, and relaxation techniques. You will give them an amazing gift in doing so.

A few more things to keep in mind:

If your child does not know their specific stress response (most kids don’t), help them learn to recognize it. Things like being overly tired, breaking into a rash, changes in appetite, being irritable or sad, having difficulty concentrating, and experiencing racing thoughts are all common indicators of feeling overwhelmed.

Teach your children that although they will never be able to control everything around them, they will ALWAYS be able to learn to control their reaction to them.

Teach children to prepare themselves for the world by doing the following: Get plenty of rest (most preteens and teens require 9 to 11 hours of sleep nightly), avoid all forms of caffeine, create a bedtime routine that helps clear the mind of stress prior to going to bed, eat healthy foods that include well-balanced meals (not eating on the run), exercise often, and share your feelings (through a journal, a conversation, even crying)

Teaching these things will go a long way to helping your child learn the basic lifestyle skills necessary to deal with stress in any form. It will help YOU as well!

For more information about emotional intensity and gifted kids, check out my newly released book, EMOTIONAL INTENSITY IN GIFTED STUDENTS.

Thanks Robin, for letting me stop by your blog during my tour. This has been great!

**************************************

Thank you so much, Christine.  Now is your chance to win a copy of Emotional Intensity in Gifted Students.  All you have to do is leave a comment with your name and email address.  The giveaway will be open through October 15th until 11:59 p.m. and is open internationally.   And check out the rest of the tour for more chance to win as well.

To find out more about Christine and her book, check out the following links.

 

 

Website

Blog

Find me on Facebook or Twitter

Order the book.

Want an e-reader version? Order here.

Read the first chapter here.

Sunday Salon: A Nocturnal Upon Autumn

 

I have something special for you today.   My brother is Baron of Erud Sul in the Kingdom of Atenveldt for the Society of Creative Anachronism.  The kingdom recently had it's first Arts and Science Competition.  He won in the Novice Division for Performing Arts and for Writing.   Below is the poem he wrote for the competition.

A Nocturnal Upon Autumn

By 

Baron Christopher Fitzarthur
Aka Chris Walsh

Picture courtesy Bies Photostream

On the first of Autumn, in fading light,

I gazed upon one tree in a wood,

Pondering seasons it withstood,

Before we both succumbed to night.

Inside it, is Spring;

The sap of youth marked in concentric rings.

The precious fruits borne of blossoms past cling

To boughs which remember stretching forth,

Seeking possibilities of endless worth.

In the trees deep roots and branches strong,

I see the growth of a good Summer spent.

Still in the air, a clinging scent

Of those days nurturing and long.

Beneath its wide crown

Flowers and saplings enrich the dark ground.

Shielded from harm when storms thunder down,

New growth flourishes beneath, unaware

Of the scars their shelter willingly bears.

Yet here a leaf is turning to shining gold,

Here the brilliant red of a burning fire.

This tree, it appears, cannot tire

Wearing a leafy mask so bold.

And while still I could,

I gazed upon that tree in a wood,

that years and storms have withstood.

As Autumn has finally come to stay,

Never again shall we see a Summer day.

Just call us the Bird Whisperers

Our cats like to bring us gifts - rats, dragonflies, praying mantis, pieces of paper found wherever, and birds.  Usually the rats are dead, but we've managed to save most of the rest. Some days we're too late.  This morning, I glance up and look out the patio window and see Gracie. She's playing with something and figure I better get out there and save whatever it is.  It turned out to be a hummingbird.  They are real teases, flying down and around the cats heads, chirping at them.  They've come and hovered in front of me a few times for a chat when I've been sitting out on the patio.  Friendly little buggers, but not too terribly bright.   Surprisingly, Gracie manages to catch them.  This time, I caught her before she did any harm.    Unique experience, getting to hold and sooth a hummingbird.  Beautiful shiny green feathers that sparkled in the sunlight.  I've discovered birds are trusting souls, especially when you've save them from the cats.   She sat quietly in my hand, tiny little claws clutching and holding on to me. 

 

After a few minutes, she tried to fly and fluttered clumsily across the patio table.  She tried a couple more times not making it very far.  However, we could tell nothing was broken and hoped she'd get up the energy to fly out of the yard, safely away from the cats.  A few minutes later, she tried again and made it to one of the trees, hanging on to a tiny branch upside down.   She dropped into my hand and after resting a moment, took off, up and over the fence and was gone.  Yeah!  

 It's not everyday you get to pet a hummingbird!

 

OctoberFest.....thrilling, chilling, milling spillage

Oh my!  Where did September go?  It's all a blur to me.  Fall has arrived and lots of exciting things going on to tell you about.

National Novel Writing Month starts in 30 days and I'm working on the outline for a new story.  The working title right now is "Red Thief."  I'm still trying to come up with a succinct explanation for it, but I can tell you it will be a suspense story.

 
I had considered not doing Nanowrimo this year.   However, realized that since I began participating in 2007,  the challenge helps to spur me on and complete a major portion of a first draft.  I made mistake last year of adding way too much filler just to make sure I got 50,000 words in the 30 days and ended up deleting 50% of it.  Which set me way back.  It took me a while to get back up to speed and actually finish the first draft.    Going to try and avoid that this year.    The 2010 site will be launching later this afternoon, ready for new sign-ups and the forums reset for the new year. 

For the month of October, I'll also be working on editing "Winter's Illusion" (2008 Nano). I've been reading through it and delighted with the story, but it needs work of course, including a more exciting opening chapter.   It needs to be more intense and speaking of intense, guess what? 


Today is the release of Christine Fonseca's book "Emotional Intensity in Gift Students."  and the start of her blog tour which runs from today through October 15th.  

As the mother of an emotionally intense kid, I've been waiting with baited breath for her book to come out.   Christine will be dropping by on October 6th with a guest post about helping kids deal with stress and anxiety.  Plus we'll be giving away a copy of the book.  And all participants will be reviewing the book on October 15th and Christine  will be having a special giveaway of a tote bag of swag taken to one lucky person. 

And what would October without reading spooktacular books.  It's time once again for

Dueling Monsters:  Round Two -  Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde with Heather of Age 30 + and The Picture of Dorian Gray with Jill of Fizzy Thoughts.  I have both books and since they are relatively short, decided to read both for the Dueling Monsters read along.


And last but not least.  I'm going to Bouchercon by the Bay Mystery Writers convention October 14th through the 17th.

I'm quite excited about the whole thing. Since I'm stepping out of my introvert box, decided to volunteer my time so I won't be hiding in my room or hugging a wall when not attending panels.  I'll be helping with the opening ceremonies, working in Registration area and the book signing room for a couple hours and going to be panel monitor which basically means set out the name plates, water and be time keeper.  The panel I'll be monitoring is Crossfire which includes James Rollins (squee!) Lori Armstrong (double squee!) and Diane Emley, Karen Olson, and James L. Thane.     I'm looking forward to meeting some of my favorite authors and making the acquaintance of new to me authors. 

All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.
Henry Ellis

It's going to be a busy fall, hold on and enjoy the ride. 

Sunday Salon: Buried in books

Renoir - Les Deux Soeurs

It's been one of those weeks with James being sick all week and running back and forth to the doctor.  On top of everything else, he seems to have come down with a bladder infection.  We're waiting to hear back from the doctor on the culture results and what course of action to take next.  The last round of antibiotics didn't agree with him too well, but he's been holding down fluids for the past couple days.  He's at that point where he needs to eat but doesn't want to, but I managed to get him to eat some toast today.  With all the down time and waiting around the doctor's office I've managed to get a lot of reading in.    I immersed myself in the world of the Drake Sisters by Christine Feehan and basically read the whole series.  It is a paranormal romance series based on 7 sisters who control the elements. The series starts with the oldest sister's story - Sarah Drake in Magic in the Wind. It is a short novel which I wish was really longer but it is a good introduction to the series and the sisters, but the rest are full length novels.  

The books in the series are:

1  Magic in the Wind  (Sarah)

2  Twilight before Christmas  (Kate)

3  Oceans of Fire  (Abigail)

4  Dangerous Tides  (Libby)

5  Safe Harbor  (Hannah)

6  Turbulent Seas  (Joley)

7  Hidden Currents   (Elle)

Wonderful series, great characters and interesting story line.   Kept me riveted all week long.  And now, there is the next series set in the same town of Sea Haven involving 6 women called Sisters of the Heart Series.  The women aren't related but all meet in grief counseling and live together on a farm.  I just started the first book in the series Water Bound which just came out in July.  The lead female character is highly functional autistic with sensory issues and magically controls water.  She's an interesting character.  As you can tell I love series books. 

Speaking of series, I had 3 giveaways over the past couple weeks and am ready to announce the winners.   Sorry it took me so long, have been rather preoccupied.  :) 

The winner of Diana Gabaldon's Echo in the Bone Tour is:  Susan

The winner of the BBAW Charlaine Harris Sookie Stackhouse series is:  Natalie of This Purple Crayon

The winner of the BBAW Mystery/Suspense package is Stacy at A Novel Source

Congratulations to you all.  Please email me with your address and I'll get your books shipped out to you within a week or so.

Far away in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.   Louisa May Alcott

Happy Sunday!

A Hope Undaunted by Julie Lessman

A Hope Undaunted 

By

Julie Lessman 

Back Cover:  The 1920's are drawing to a close, and feisty Katie O'Connor is the epitome of the new woman-smart and sassy with goals for her future that include the perfect husband and a challenging career in law.  Her boyfriend Jack fits all of her criteria for a husband--good looking, well-connected, wealthy, and eating out of her hand.  But when she is forced to spend the summer of 1929 with Luke McGee, the bane of her childhood existence, Katie comes face to face with a choice.  Will she follow her well laid plans to marry Jack? or will she fall for the man she swore to despise forever?

A Hope Undaunted is book one in a wonderful christian romance fiction series Winds of Change which continues the story of the O'Connor children from the Daughters of Boston series.    The Daughters of Boston followed Faith, Charity and Lizzie. The Winds of Change follows their younger sister Katie in A Hope Undaunted, older brothers Sean in A Heart Revealed (unknown release date) and Steven in A Soul Restored. (unknown release date)  Got that?  I had no idea when Amy asked me if I wanted to read A Hope Undaunted, it was part of the Daughters of Boston series which I hadn't read yet.  Now I want to read them and look forward to the two brothers stories as well.  I love series.

Katie is 18 years old and very headstrong, keeps breaking curfew staying out late with her boyfriend Jack and her father has decided to do something about it.  She will spend the summer, grounded and working as a volunteer for the Boston Children's Aid Society.  She wouldn't mind it so much but there's one problem.  The poor boy from the wrong side of the tracks, she used to fight with so much growing up, Luke "Cluny" McGee is one of the law partners running the society.   They clash big time.  They are both attracted to each other but Luke simply doesn't fit into Katie's plan for her future.  The sparks fly and things get difficult for both Katie and Luke when extenuating circumstances threaten to keep them apart.  I thoroughly enjoyed A Hope Undaunted which also continued following the lives of Katie's parents and siblings marriages and love lives.  I highly recommend it.

Thank you to Amy (My Friend Amy) of Winsome Media Communications for asking me to be a part of the blog tour, Revell publishing for providing me with a courtesy copy of the book and Julie Lessman for writing such a wonderful cast of characters.   She's gained a new fan.  

Pages:  505

Publisher: Reveal

Released:  September 1, 2010

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction 

Other Thoughts:

Staci from Life in the Thumb:

"Characters were not portrayed as do-gooders with no faults. Lessman painted realistic people with problems that are prevalent in contemporary times."

Christy of Critty Joy Books:

"It amazes me how one person can create a 500+ page novel that has all the twists and turns of your favorite roller coaster! Julie had me laughing, crying, and at one point mad enough to want me to throw the book across the room."

Nicole of Into the Fire:

"The title A Hope Undaunted speaks for many individuals in this story. The peripheral characters get careful consideration in the scope of the tale, presenting the unique family components and how they mesh into each other’s lives."