Homeschool Ideas & Tips >
Homeschool Ideas & Tips Newsletter May, 2004

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*** Hello from Charmaine ***  
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Dearest Reader, 
 
Thank you, so much, for all of your thoughts and prayers 
for my first exhibitor’s booth at the MACHE Conference.  
Everything went splendidly. If you’d like to see pictures 
of my booth go to my website and click on “Pics of  
Conference Booth”. www.victorycoaching.citymax.com 
(Thanks to many of your suggestions, it looked smashing by 
the way!) 
 
In honor of Mother’s Day, I would like to dedicate this 
month’s Ideas & Tips section to all of you wonderful 
homeschool moms who devote your lives to teach and train 
the children that God has blessed you with. You are my 
heroes! 
 
Blessings on your day,  
Charmaine  
 
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In this issue:  
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1. Ideas: A tribute to you, the Mom  
2. Tips: Real Mothers 
3. What's New?  
4. About Charmaine  
5. Testimonial  
6. Quote of the Month  
7. Funny of the Month  
8. The Small Print  
9. In Our Next Issue  
 
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*** Ideas ***  
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I must admit that I’m having a hard time writing this 
month’s article. Because Mother’s Day is in May, I wanted 
to honor you as moms and encourage you as well. But how do 
I do that without sounding trite or using all the common 
clichés? As I pondered this, what came to mind is the 
following...and here is why I respect and honor you so 
much: 
 
* You slug it out, year by year, in spite of the fact that 
there are many days you want to give up. 
 
* You live with big messes in your home (which drives some 
of you nuts!) because kids and books and papers and pencils 
just don’t want to fall neatly into place by themselves.  
But you put up with it because it’s worth it to have the 
children learning at home. 
 
* You spend countless hours in research and study, asking 
questions and going to conferences to find the best 
curriculum for your darlings. 
 
* You give up the peace and quiet that could be yours if 
you sent the kiddos off on the bus every morning. 
 
* You agonize over your choices and sometimes you know you 
must choose to send one or all back to school, at least for 
the time being. But homeschooling is still your heart. 
 
* You give of yourself to your homeschooling community and 
help new homeschoolers get started. 
 
* You cook, clean, do laundry, answer the phone, care for 
your husbands, walk the dog, make a meal for a neighbor, 
drive the kids everywhere, nurse the sick, practice 
hospitality, watch other people’s kids, change diapers - 
all while wearing the hat of primary teacher as well. 
 
* You struggle with uncertainty, high expectations, 
exhaustion, fear and self doubt yet you press on toward the 
goal and the high calling. 
 
* You lose your temper, yet you apologize. You get 
discouraged, yet you go on. You are disorganized, yet you 
make constant attempts at organization. You threaten to 
send them all to school, yet you love them too much to 
really do it.  
 
* You do so much more than the ‘average mom’ yet you don’t 
even realize it because it’s all part of your lifestyle and 
normal routine.  
 
* You love your children more than you love yourself and 
that’s why you do all the things you do for them - day in 
and day out. 
 
* You do all this (and much more) in spite of the fact that 
the world tells you you’re crazy and that what you really 
need to do is serve yourself. 
 
And as I talk with many of you in our coaching sessions, 
you inspire me. You inspire me to press on myself and to 
quit complaining. You inspire me to be grateful for the 
wonderful blessings that God has given me in these children 
and in this choice to homeschool them. As you struggle to 
meet the challenges of your homeschool lifestyle, you 
encourage me to face, head on, my own challenges. You are 
my heroes - every single one of you – and in this month 
that we honor mothers, I truly honor, respect and love all 
of you.  
 
Happy Mother’s Day! 
 
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*** Tips *** 
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Real Mothers Don't Eat Quiche 
 
*Real Mothers don't eat quiche;  
they don't have time to make it.  
 
*Real Mothers know 
that their kitchen utensils are probably in the sandbox.  
 
*Real Mothers often have sticky floors,  
filthy ovens and happy kids.  
 
*Real Mothers know that dried play dough  
doesn't come out of shag carpets.  
 
*Real Mothers don't want to know  
what the vacuum just sucked up.  
 
*Real Mothers sometimes ask "why me?" 
and get their answer when a little 
voice says: "because I love you best".  
 
*Real Mothers know that a child's growth  
is not measured by height or years or 
grade . . .it is marked by the progression  
of Mama to Mommy to Mom.  
 
Author Unknown 
 
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What's New?  
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I would like to extend my MACHE Conference Special to all 
of you as well.  
 
Here’s the deal: 
Sign up for 3 months of coaching and receive a 4th month 
fr*ee! 
 
Summer is a great time to gather your thoughts, make plans, 
and get some things in place for next fall. Email or call 
today for a free sample telephone coaching session. If you 
find the sample session helpful and want to continue with 
coaching, just mention this Conference Special and receive 
a 4th month of coaching for fr*ee. 
 
Charmaine@victorycoaching.citymax.com 
715-635-8609 
 
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*** About Charmaine ***  
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Charmaine Wistad has successfully homeschooled her own two 
children from pre-school through high school. Now she is 
turning her attention toward helping other homeschool moms. 
 
 
Through personal coaching, Charmaine helps homeschooling 
moms thrive...not just survive!  
 
You are invited to try a complimentary no-obligation  
telephone coaching session. You'll be pleasantly surprised  
at how much can be accomplished in just one session!  
 
Simply send an email to:  
Charmaine@victorycoaching.citymax.com and ask for a  
Fr*ee Sample Coaching Session.  
 
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*** Testimonial ***  
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I have to brag on Charmaine of 
www.victorycoaching.citymax.com 
I had one of her free coaching sessions and she helped me 
see an area where I was procrastinating and helped me get 
on task! She asked questions I never thought of. 
THANKS CHARMAINE! 
 
Kay Green,  
Banks, Oregon 
My Preciouskid.com 
 
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*** Quote of the Month ***  
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”My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I 
am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life 
to the moral, intellectual and physical education I 
received from her.” 
 
- George Washington - 
 
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*** Funny of the Month ***  
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If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two 
hands ? 
 
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***The Small Print ***  
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If you enjoyed this newsletter, please forward it to  
everyone you know!!! Thanks!  
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Just go to www.victorycoaching.citymax.com and look for:  
"Free Ideas & Tips Ezine ".  
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Honoring Your Privacy:  
Your privacy is completely and utterly protected.  
I will not sell or give away your name or email. You have  
my word on it!  
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If you no longer wish to receive this Newsletter:  
please send an email with the word 'unsubscribe'  
in the subject line to:  
Charmaine@victorycoaching.citymax.com  
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I would love to hear from you! But please do not reply to  
this newsletter. It is sent out automatically and I will  
not receive your reply. Instead, send your comments and  
ideas for future issues to: 
Charmaine@victorycoaching.citymax.com  
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Homeschooling Ideas and Tips Copyright 2004,  
Victory Coaching  
www.victorycoaching.citymax.com  
All rights in all media reserved.  
The content of Homeschooling Ideas and Tips  
may be forwarded in full without special permission  
provided it is used for nonprofit purposes and full  
attribution and copyright notice are given. For other  
purposes, please contact:  
 
Charmaine Wistad  
P.O. Box 343  
Spooner, WI 54801  
 
Charmaine@victorycoaching.citymax.com  
 
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*** In Our Next Issue ***  
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Unrealistic Expectations