Living At Wit's End

All the "Back to School" pictures on social media got me thinking about my kids' past conversations, comments, and questions.   So, in the interest of starting the new school year, I thought I would throw this out there.     You might be a homeschooler if you've ever heard these statements, questions, or had a conversation similar to one of these…     · There's a beginning of a school year? ·         Q - When did I start school?  A – The day you were born. · What's a grade? ·         Jane is in 2nd grade; am I in a grade? ·         Why did Bill get a number at the top of his paper? ·         Why did Sue get a letter at the top of her paper? ·         What are Valentines? ·         Why do I h...

(This post was meant to be much earlier in the year but life has been a bit more hectic than usual around the Living at Wit’s End abode.   I hope it will spark some ideas for you, for next year.) Our family has a lot of traditions throughout the year, but especially during the holidays.   Lately I’ve explained one of our traditions a lot.   Since so many people seem to be interested in the idea I thought I would share it with you as well.   My kids aren’t sad when the holidays are over, mainly because very soon after New Years we celebrate again.   On January 6 th , Epiphany, we have a great party to celebrate the three kings visit to see Jesus. On Epiphany we start the day by going to mass together.   In the evening we have a nice dinner (no real traditional meal), sometimes it is party finger food and other times it’s a little more formal, sit down, dinner.   That all depends on how busy we have been during the week and or how tired I a...

Christmas is almost here, are you ready?  Not only am I not ready in the worldly sense (shopping, house clean, wrapping, food bought and prepared, favorite movies watched etc.), I am really not ready in the spiritual sense.  Almost every year I vow that this will be the year I really prepare during advent, for the coming of our savior.  Almost every year I start out with a bang and quickly go down hill.  This year I didn't even start with a pop, let alone a bang.  I am really not in the Christmas spirit and I'm feeling very uninspired. Of course I have guilt about my feelings for so many reasons, the biggest being that there are so many people in the world that are suffering, right now.  Me, I'm just cranky and uninspired.  I am truly blessed with a great family and wonderful friends.  I have a fairly, lovely, roof over my head, clothes to wear, and enough food for a three day Christmas feast.  So why do I feel so cranky and disconnect...

(Disclaimer ~ This first post is a bit lengthy for history purposes.   I do not plan, nor do I have the time to post long posts in the future.) I come from a family of fairly technically savvy people.   Growing up my family had several computers in the house, long before most families had a home computer.   We also usually had the latest gaming systems.   I’m dating myself but I’m pretty sure we had the first Atari gaming system.   My brother is basically self taught and has managed to make a lucrative career from his humble beginnings of playing hours of computer games, always upgrading his system by pilfering and plundering my father’s usually better computer.   I married a mechanical engineer turned IT guy.   At one point he had his own software company and he is now a Senior IT Director for a major corporation.   I was on the internet and e-mail well before people knew what the internet was and AOL was about the only e-mail system around (wis...