Standing up and persevering

This week question for the blog cruise is:
“How do you respond to family/friends that don’t support your decision to homeschool?”

I wish I could say I had support and encouragement from a person close to me.   She did found interesting resources and got them for us.  But at the same time, I know that she doesn’t approve for various reasons.

I got a confirmation of this while talking on the phone one day.   She was worried about how the kids will be able to adapt when they would go to school.   Not enough interactions with kids their age, do they cover the proper material than if they would be in school, would they be able to advance in life, and so on.   The final blow was that I didn’t have a teaching degree to do so.   That was the cherry on the top of the melted sunday if you ask me.    I mean can I honestly not homeschool my kids after what we went through in Senior Kindergarten with Alexandre with his exposure of same sex marriage (in a catholic school) as well as lack of supervision and too much television for our taste?   I understand that not all teachers are the same but still.    Besides, I know I don’t have a teacher’s degree but I do have a Master Degree (not required for homeschool but I was trying to make a point here). 

Then I told her what I also did to prepare myself to homeschool.   I investigated, I researched, I asked questions to people I knew who were doing it, I even went downtown to get the Ministry of Education books on each subjects and levels to determine what needs to be covered at what age.   I worked hard to determine which curriculum would be a best fit for us.  We cover English and French which might be too much but we think are necessary for our kids living in the capital region.    We make sure they go to activities with others kids like swimming and Awana.   

I was pumped.    And as I am writing this, I am almost in tears because honestly I wish I had her support.    It would be so much easier I find.    You see this person is my own mother.    I love her very much but I find it hard when I am criticized like that. 

That phone conversation was difficult on me.   It brought me doubts and I had to deal with them and with being borderline depressed for a few weeks after.   I’m over it now.   I realize that what God called me to do I must do.    We prayed about homeschooling our kids.  We are taking it one month at a time.  If for any reasons, it doesn’t work we have backup plans.  

Are there other people around us that doesn’t approve.  I think so.   I won’t name names or talk about them because they never said out loud what they think of us homeschooling.  But we can sense their disapproval and their eyes watching to see what would happen to our kids later in life.

But honestly, we are also prepare for it whenever they speak up.   We have in hands reports about the effect of homeschooling on people who did it which we received from HSLDA Canada.    Just looking at this report is encouraging for us. 

Our decision of homeschooling is hopefully for a long time.   But as anything else in our life, we put it in the hands of God and trust him to guide us through it.   Homeschooling is a lifestyle and it’s not for everyone.  We love it.   We thrive in it.  We learn together as a family every single day of the year.   Sometimes you are call to swim against the current.   That’s what we are doing with homeschooling.   

Grangeways RV Park & Family Campground

 

We stayed at the Grangeways RV Park & Family Campground from Aug 26 to Sept 1st 2010.

The first thing we encountered was the small road leading to the campground.   At first we thought it was the way in and another place was the way out.  Not so.   This is the only road going in or out of the campground.   Driving a 33’ RV behind our truck, my husband immediately mentioned the fact that he wouldn’t want coming face to face with another RV trying to go out of the place!   I guess that the owners have measured the space and came to the conclusion that it can fit two RVs but honestly we found it a bit tight for our taste…

After registering, we were quickly directed to our RV spot and we were impressed with the space designed for each RV.    The area is well organized and the RV spots are taken care off.   Each area is somewhat private with trees located on both side.   The are where you park you RV is on gravel and make it sturdier to set up we found.  

The laundry facility is very clean and the owners took the time to decorate it with fun older washing tools.   While I brought our laundry there, I observed the decor and came back with ideas for my own laundry room.   I only have to find some older tools so I can proceed to add some character to my laundry room!  

 

The pool itself is quite interesting as it is round.  A hug pool if you ask me but it would be preferable if the owners would invest in an heating system as the water was quite cold when we were there in August.   Brrr!   Even the kids thought it was too cold at one point.    So we didn’t venture often in the pool even though the days were quite warm in Toronto.

On site, you will find an arcade, badminton, ball hockey, a baseball diamond, a basketball court, fishing, horseshoes, a miniature golf, 2 playground, a swimming pool, a wading pool, volleyball as well as planned activities throughout the summer.   A little creek also runs through the campground and kids enjoy playing in it during hot summer days.

The play areas itself were well taken care off and there was plenty of toys for the kids to play with.    There is even a smaller area for younger kids close to the office!    My daughter enjoyed spending time on one of the big dinosaurs in the playground near our RV.   I also found that they planned for many kids as numerous Tonka trucks, tractors and bens was found there!

The other thing we were disappointed with was the fact that there was no internet at this campsite.   Being business owners, we have to rely on campgrounds that will allow us to have access to the internet.    Fortunately, we had some limited internet connection via the iPhone of my husband.  However, it would be a great addition for this campground, if they would consider including this for their RVers.

Nevertheless, despite the lack of internet and the cold pool, we enjoyed our stay at Grangeways and would recommend it to our friends.

The campsite is located about 30-40 minutes from the Toronto Zoo.   The area is quiet and the RVers were friendly. 

Grangeways can be found at 9700 3rd Concession Road, Sandford, ON   L0C 1E0

EcoUsable Stainless Steel Bottles

Recently, I’ve contacted a company that makes stainless steel bottle.   In the 21st century, we have been bombarded with news about the BPA in containers and so on.   It started a couple of years ago with a the baby bottles (well here in Canada anyway) and since then we have learned that BPA is unfortunately on a variety of products from inside of the cans to even the store receipt that we get. 

With the fear of BPA, the trend is not going toward stainless steel bottles.  And it’s for the best… 

What is EcoUsable?

For all the right reasons, the stainless steel bottle business is booming. Ultimately, the industry is thriving is because the public has been well informed about the harmful effects of the dreaded plastic water bottle and people are now willing to do their part!!!

The drawback is that the public doesn’t necessarily know the best alternatives to plastic which is why EcoUsable truly cares about the quality and sustainability of our EcoUsable made bottles. After 3+ years of bottle improvements and building our brand recognition, we’re confident that we’ve developed the best and most consumer friendly bottles on the market which ultimately saves money, health and our environment!!  

Our simple yet very important goal is to help eliminate plastic water bottles and provide the safest and most convenient alternatives!!!

EcoUsable offers the widest variety of sizes and designs of both filtered and non-filtered bottles in the business as EcoUsable made products are currently sold in more than 1,500 retailers nationwide including the likes of Whole Foods Markets, Hallmark Stores, Vitamin Shoppes, Gelsons and Quiksilver to name a few.

In addition to our strong retail presence, it’s our growing custom bottle division which has quickly taken over as the top promotional item on the market replacing the typical hat or t-shirts from the past. With the immeasurable PR Value and the immediate eco-friendly identity the custom bottles provide, it’s no wonder we’ve been receiving so many custom orders from all types like schools, musicians, corporations. Some of our clients include New York University, Raytheon, EA Sports, The 2010 Grammys, The 2010 BET Awards, NBC Universal, Fox, Jack Johnson, Sting and many more… We also support numerous charity and non-profit organizations like the NRDC,  KidShape and Algalita Marine Research Foundation so, we’re up to good things…

We’ve also obtaining logo licensing rights and recently secured The University of Wisconsin, Texas Tech, Stanford and UCLA and also the I LOVE NY logo. This allows us to put their logos on our bottles…

Check out the following links:

http://www.facebook.com/LuminariesMusic#!/event.php?eid=118161234897129

http://greenopolis.com/videos/luminaries-launch-music-bottle

http://www.youtube.com/ecousable1#p/u/3/50ws9rDADLM

Our Thoughts

  So as I said, I contacted the company and expected one bottle in the package.  They were enthusiastic about the review and told me they would send a variety of them.   I was expecting two or three samples.   So imagine my surprise when I received the package and opened it.   First I must say that I was impressed with the packing.  Each bottle were individually wrapped in paper and place in the box.   No chances to hit each other like that!   

So I open the box and saw not one, not two, not three but five bottles in there along with wrapzs, sport tops and a Ech2o straw filter.    I am speechless.   The bottles are beautiful and demonstrate the wide variety of products that EcoUsable offers.   From little bottles for school lunches if  your kids go to school to bigger bottles, each have a unique design.    Most bottle have a top that can be clipped on a bag pack and dangle while you walk.   Another one came with a shoulder strap that can be handy while hiking.  

These bottles arrived at a perfect time as we were packing up for a trip with our RV.    We were going to Toronto and planning to spend a few days at the zoo there.   What a wonderful way to test the bottles!    My first thing was to put water in one of them and leave it in the truck for our departure the next day.    Imagine my surprise when I drank from it the next morning and realized that you could still taste the freshness of water.  The water wasn’t warm at all.  In fact, it still had the coolness of fresh water going down my throat.   I was impressed to say the least.  But my testing wasn’t done yet.    I was planning to discover how the water will taste after a day in the sun.

On a very hot and sticky day, we were visiting the Toronto Zoo for the fourth time that week  and the sun was blazing in the sky.   It was so hot that day that some animals didn’t even bothered to come out and see the tourists – literally.   But we had a section that we didn’t see so we went.    And while doing the zoomobile, we brought some water bottle including one of the EcoUsable ones.    My daughter, who is almost three, drank from it without any problems.   

Even during extreme weather on the last day of August, the water was fresh and cool for our dry mouths.    And to think the water sits in a bottle that doesn’t involve plastic is very comforting in this time and age where BPA is banned from drinking bottles as well as other products we use daily.

I am very impressed with the bottles and will use them for any field trips we will do from now on.   They are perfect for the kids and for ourselves.    The only little negative point I will mention is that the cap of the sport inserts that allow you to drink easily doesn’t stay in top of the bottle perfectly.    But it is not a major issue as the water stays inside the bottle no problem when the spout is pushed in place.

If you are looking for alternative for drinking bottles, I strongly suggest that consider the bottles from EcoUsable.    They are worth the money you would invest in them.  

EcoUsable has given an online rebate to my readers.  Enjoy 10% off only at: http://www.EcoUsable.com The coupon code is ECO10.   

GREAT NEWS!  

EcoUsable has offered two of my readers to win a 16oz PURPLE bottle.  

Here’s what you have to do.  Go to EcoUsable.com and tell me which product you would more than likely buy and why.

This entry is mandatory before proceeding further.

More entries opportunity if you do the following…

1) Follow Canadianladybug Reviews! on Blogger (see right side of the blog) and let me know about it.

2) Like Canadianladybug Reviews! on facebook and let me know about.

3) Follow me on twitter and leave me your twitter ID.

4) Follow EcoUsable on facebook and let me know about it.

5) Follow EcoUsable on twitter and let me know about it.

6) Blog about this contest and give me your link in a comment.

7) Become a member of LobsterNetwork and leave me your ID.  It’s free and you will be able to share your books/DVDs with friends or family!   Check it out!

Don’t forget to include your email for each steps.   No email means I will have to pick someone else.    I need to be able to contact you if you win!   Random.org will be use to determine the winners.  You will have 48 hours to contact me and give me your mailing address so I can send it to my contact at EcoUsable which in turn will ship the bottle to  you!

Open to US and Canadian residents ONLY.

Deadline:   September 18, 2010.