On Target

 This is a copy of my post today at Latter-Day Homeschooling.

I am a very reluctant soccer mom.  I really, really hate taking my kids to and from practices. Games are once a week and I can handle that, unless it is really cold and raining which it often is. I was so unbelievably happy when, last season,  my son's team was assigned the practice field right across the street from our house.  All I had to do was hand him a bottle of water on is way out the door.

Soccer season is but a memory now which leaves us time for really COOL ways to develop our bodies, like archery.

I am a closet archer.  I love bows and arrows, I also like them old school, none of these aluminum compound bows with their wheels and carbon arrows. I like wooden arrows and a beautiful wooden recurve bow, like Robin Hood. Now, I don't approve of Robin Hood. Stealing from the rich to give to the poor? What a thug, however; he had some wicked skills with a bow.  But, I digress. I like a little target practice and I am so happy that both of my boys like it as well.

Our local archery store/shooting range holds homeschool lessons twice a month.  The rate includes rental AND instruction and the cost is significantly less than the regular rental rate without instruction.

If you live in the Portland, Oregon area you are in luck and can come join us at our local range, but if not maybe you could call your local range and see if they have a homeschool plan.  If they don't offer a homeschool time perhaps you might suggest one.

Here are some tips for the archery range:

*Leave the little ones at home.  The shooting range is no place for little who want to run about or hang on mom's skirts.  I find a stitter for kids not old enough (in my opinion) to shoot yet.  Sometimes I offer to take the sitter's older children with me in exchange. 

* Never dry fire a bow (pull back and let go of the string without an arrow in it.) You will get yelled at and it will be embarrassing. Ask me how I know this.

* Talk to the kids beforehand about following instructions.  This is not a time to choose not to obey or listen.  Arrows are dangerous and people who don't follow instructions could get killed.

* Join in.  Archery is good for moms too!

Q & A with Samurai Mom

Q. Samurai Mom, why are you so insistent on remaining anonymous?

A. I don't want to be held accountable in my personal life for what I say here. If
my readers know my real identity I will not be able to say what is in my heart for fear of causing offense. For example I have a friend who doesn't breastfeed, she doesn't even try, she had a baby that died, and still she refuses to breastfeed. How will she feel if she reads my rants on how bottle feeding kills 4,000 babies in the US per year and THOUSANDS more worldwide?

Q. Why did you choose Samurai Mom for you Screen Name?

A. I love the Samurai Legends and Culture. I admire the dedication and skill the Japanese put in to EVERY aspect of their lives. I like the ritual and the simplicity. Samurai are also fearless warriors loyal to their master. Like wise I feel that I must be a fearless warrior and loyal to the standards, causes, and values that are important to me. I am a mother. I LOVE being a mother and most of the things I believe in pretain to motherhood directly or indirectly.

Q. What can you tell us about yourself without giving away your identity?

A. Well, I am a mother, a wife, a scholar, a mentor, an artist, designer, and seamstress. I am LDS, a Diaper Free Baby mentor, a baby wearing expert, an avid reader and a budding archer. I am about as Attachment Parerenting as you can get and believe in positive parenting not punitive. I homeschool, breastfeed, homebirth and try to eat healthfuly. I have 2 young sons and a fabulous husband, all my boys are much better than I deserve.

Q. Samurai Mom, do you like chocolate?

A. Are you kidding???? I love it, the darker the better! I used to be a fan of chocolate but since becoming a mother I have formed a very unhealthy attachment to chocolate. My friend gave me a box of Godiva Truffles for my birthday....oh, YUM!