Instagram story viewer> @robin_mcclure> Posts

320

followers

580

following

Loves adventure, long talks, cuddles, music, books (especially fairy tales). Curious. Writer. Single Mom. Truth-teller. No longer afraid.

POSTS STORIES REELS

$Sometimes, I'm a fun Mom. Ish. Since we finished Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban yesterday, we arr watching the movie tonight. So we made candy (Honeyduke's) and Butterbeer (The Three Broomsticks), so lots of math and fractions and reading and following instructions. Clara was making truffles, but they mix didn't cool in time, so dhe made the butterbeer, too. And.... then I made them purchase the things they made from one another and count out change and... Before bed they can compare and contrast the book. Now I just need my printer to work! by @robin_mcclure$

We started homeschooling nearly a month ago, but I'm abysmal at posting. We are doing a Harry Potter Homeschool this year, and are studying:

- Herbology (medicinal, edible, and poisonous plants)
- Care and Keeping of Magical Creatures (biology)
- Potions (Chemistry)
- Astronomy
- Owls
- Muggle Studies (history)
- Arithmancy (math)
- Charms, Spells, and Incantations (Language Arts)
- Muggle News
- Defense Against the Dark Arts (Bible Study and Habit study/character training)
- And more!

We're looking forward to a year of Harry Potter magic in our homeschool ❤️ by @robin_mcclure

Went to Freshieez for dinner for the first time, courtesy of the Elkhart Public Librsry's free reading program ❤️

The littlest one was out cold when we arrived. He will be up until midnight.

Whatcha gonna do?

#readingisfun #readers #summerreading #momlife by @robin_mcclure

We made rainbow bread with edible paint (sugar, water, food coloring), the perfect combination of food and art by @robin_mcclure

While my big kids are having their homeschool nature class and learning about soil, I'm hanging out with the younger two. We're enjoying the fun playground, the beautiful paths, and meeting other moms and kids! by @robin_mcclure

Spring at Wellfield Botanic Gardens is always a treat and we saw so many beautiful things! We saw violets and bluebells and beautifully colored tulips. We observed ants, some baby turtles sunning on a rock, and one swimming.

They might be different kinds of turtles. Their shells look different, but I don't know enough about them to tell. Does anyone have any book suggestions that could help us figure it out?

We also heard a bunch of frogs, saw some promising lily pads, and played in sand.

The baby slept.

And look at our baby birds! I think they fell asleep with their mouths open, waiting for food.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#springtime #natureinspring #babyturtles #exploringnature #1000hoursoutside by @robin_mcclure

New life.

A few weeks ago, I went to grab the ladder, but there was a nest on it. I peered in and there were no eggs, but I left it. I don't even remember what we wanted the ladder for.

Today, the kids were talking about the nest and the robin it belonged to and wondered aloud if she'd laid eggs. While I fed Miles, Mike helped them check it out. Ethan came bounding in, yelling, "Mom! We saw them at the perfect time, just as they were hatching!" by @robin_mcclure

We went on our first nature walk since I had Miles in December. It was amazing, but it almost didn't happen.

See... I didn't want to go.

So I made an offer. The kids could play outside in the backyard while I made chocolate chip muffins or we could go to Oxbow.

I expected a unanimous screech of "Muffins!"

I got the opposite. What's more, they started telling me about everything in their nature bags: how they wanted to use their binoculars to find birds, their track guide to identify deer and other animals, and their paints to paint a scene.

So, reluctantly, I took them. And it was amazing. Relaxing. Beautiful. Refreshing. Energizing... They begged to come back again before we'd been there 10 minutes.

It was so wonderful... And I almost missed it.

#momoffour #naturewalk #homeschoolmama #1000hoursoutside #babysfirst #goshenindiana by @robin_mcclure

Finally got around to finishing a first draft of my short story for the NYC Midnight. I spent a fair bit of time researching furriers and Paris in the 1890s.

And, you know, feeding this guy, who decided that sleep was not on the agenda.

For the first time ever in life, I didn't go over the word count on my first draft. All I had to do was convince myself I had 500 fewer words than I actually do. (Don't ask where I landed! 😆)

So a bit more editing, especially on my ending, and I'll be ready to submit!

Anyone else think nailing the ending is the hardest part?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#ShortStoryChallenge2022 #timetoedit #shortstories #momlife #writermom #firstdraft
#writinglife #yawriter by @robin_mcclure

Every night, before he goes to bed, Ethan reads to his baby brother (and tonight his sister, as well) while I feed him. It's especially precious because if you ask Ethan, he doesn't like to read! ❤️ It's so fun seeing his confidence soar and listen as he selects different stories each night.

Quite by accident, books have become a big part of my nursing routine this time around. At least during the day!

As much as I love my time breastfeeding my babies, this little guy ate almost every hour from 7pm on December 31 until 2pm December 2. And I was on the struggle bus trying to stay awake. And y'know. Not cry.

So, I pulled out all the stops:

- Variety of nutty and cheesy snacks
- Pork rinds and chocolatey snacks
- Ebooks and audiobooks loaded up on my phone for daytime feeds
- My computer ready to pull up Netflix for re-watching Outlander at night and the Great British Baking show during the day (with the kids)
- Water bottles right on hand
- Journals easily accessible

It also helps that Mike is changing baby's diaper for most of the night feedings so I can use the bathroom, splash cold water on my face, grab the snacks, get comfy, and feel like a human. With our other babies, he wasn't available to do that (he had to work in the morning), and just that "small" change has really helped me feel less overwhelmed and more relaxed.

If you're looking for a variety of good books and audiobooks (whether you're up with a baby or not) , check out Scribd!

It's $10/month and you can select an unlimited number of books and audiobooks: so it's far more valuable than Kindle or Audible! 🙌

Maybe not as cute as big bro #readingaloud, but worth it.

What are your best tips for feeding baby?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#postpartum #breastfeeding #nursingmama #feedingbaby #nighttimefeeding #brothers #thisissix #twoweeksold #familyof6 #familyofsix #readingaloud#homeschoolmama #homeschoolmom #allthebooks by @robin_mcclure

This little Elf is one week old today. ❤️ He does not like the hat. Or diaper changes.

He does like tracking people's voices, trying to hold his head up, eating, and grasping fingers.

He absolutely made his big brother's night by squeezing his finger. Ethan returned the favor by making a toy dance in front of him during a diaper change and completely distracting him from his least favorite thing.
.
.
.
My kids had a great day today and they saw "A Christmas Story" for the first time with Daddy. It was the first time he'd seen it, too!

Hope all is well. From my family to yours, Merry Christmas!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#Christmasday #Christmas2021 #oneweekold #christmastree #firsts by @robin_mcclure

This sweet girl had a bit of a traumatic morning. She woke up early (6:30 - someone hasn't quite adjusted to the time change) and went to look for me, but I wasn't in any of the usual places because I was in the basement recording an episode of #truthliesandcoffee with @karrah_noelle

So, we wrapped it up and then #MayaRose and I played some games. She chose Hoppers, a logic game with little frogs that's like the peg game. The difference is you have cards to start the set-up, so you can have different levels for different ages/abilities. I chose one for her and with a little bit of coaching ("Which ways can the frog jump now?") She managed it. And then she chose one for me. We went back and forth for a few puzzles. I did not solve my last one correctly, and she would not let me re-try, lol.

And I chose the game "Hi-Ho Cherry-O". She won that, too.

And now that she feels safe and loved, she's coloring while I work on my novel.

This is a tactic I've been implementing for awhile: time with Maya before homeschool starts, even if it's just a book, a song, or a snuggle. That way she knows she is loved and valued before we get started. Just five minutes let's her feel like the time where she's not the full focus of my attention isn't so bad. And then she can choose an activity to do while we do our work. And at some point, she and I work on letters and numbers. I don't really want to work with her on letters and numbers, because she's just 4, but she is desperate to do school, so we do some number sense activities and work on letter names and sounds.

It's hard to find time with each kid during the day, but it's so important. I heard, recently, that kids spell love "T-I-M-E" and that holds up!

I need to give the chickens their water. I filled the jug and forgot to pour it because #pregnancybrain and it's starting at me pointedly while the hens peck on my door. And then, more words.

Anyone else working on their NaNoWriMo novel? How's it going? Are you on track or a few thousand words behind (like me)? Or are you way ahead? What would encourage you to get those words down?

#writermom #writerlife #writermomlife #homeschoolmama #homeschoolmom #gametime by @robin_mcclure

Robin McClure

@robin_mcclure