Q & A Tuesday (and are you getting my newsletter?)

I wonder: in different life stages, how have you approached sharing faith, Bible, and God with your kids? My oldest, for example, makes up her own praise songs but gets prickly when I ask if I can pray with her or for her. I don't take the prickliness personally, but I've found making a faith-journey interest-led hard to do--I have few models, and the resources our church has are usually very schooly.

Great idea! In the chalet you're living in now, those brightly colored walls, are they just painted drywall, or some sort of insulated panel? Did you get to pick the colors? I absolutely love them and they add so much personality to your space!

I look forward to Marie every Tuesday and always pencil her into my agenda (though I also receive email reminders)!

Where do you see yourself in 10 years from now? In a snapshot, where do you live, what does life look/feel like?

What veggies do you snack on in the winter? It's not like I can peel a winter squash and start nibbling, and there are only so many carrots, celery sticks and kale chips I can eat.

I'd like to know how to set up a coaching session with you. In the last couple weeks I've sent a message on the contact page, and an email, but I haven't heard anything back yet. Thanks :-)!

Hi! I wanted to ask this question when you were a guest poster on Heather's 30day Vegan last May but didn't have a chance. Did you and your family experience any physical appearance changes when you switched your diet to vegetarian and then to plant based? I know your husband experienced gastrointestinal change but I'm wondering more for weight changes and body odor, hair, or skin changes. Thanks!

Jamie

What advice or ideas do you have for someone that would like to homeschool but loves working too? I work 2 days a week and my husband can not change his off days to be home those 2 days. I would love to explore homeschool but can't get past what we would do with the kids those 2 days (no family support for watching let alone homeschooling!).

My question for you is on the practical side of things. I'd love to know specifics on what you wear to stay warm during the winter so you can enjoy being outside without freezing or being so layered that you can't move. And what footwear do you all prefer for winter? Thank you!

I was wondering how do you do your homeschool? Do you have the kids do their more "serious" subjects, early in the day? I.e.: math, etc. Do you have a schedule that you have your children follow for their work?

Oh, I'm so glad you're doing this! And I hope my question makes the cut because it's something I've been wanting to ask you for awhile now.

I know you've talked before about how much time you spend in the kitchen in order to really prepare healthy, plant-based meals the way you want to. What I'd like to know is: How did you accomplish that when your kids were itty bitty? I'm finding I have much less time now for food prep, with three kids aged 5 and under, than I did a couple of years ago with a three and five-year old. After a year of being a mom of three, I just still don't feel like I've found my groove. I certainly haven't been able to rely on old favorites -- many are just too labor intensive.

In addition, I'd love a peek behind the curtain at what you eat on a daily basis! A "day in the life" post, but completely focused on food!

Many thanks!

I am also a homeschooling mom with kids who look to be of similar age. During the last month I have been trying to hammer out a book. The writing is coming along surprisingly well but the kids are having a heck of a time respecting my creative time. It is so hard to refocus with constant interruptions. How have you taught your kids to respect your creative time?

Maybe you've answered this type of thing before in a post but I haven't read all the older ones (although I've read quite a few.) Is there anything you did when you had little children that you wish you'd done differently OR that you are really pleased with? In particular (but not only) in the areas of trying to balance fun vs. housework/cooking etc. I have little children and so I am always eager to hear more about what moms of older kids did to cope when their children were younger with balancing things.

Thank you for this opportunity--it is a lovely idea! I am a teenager who has had the privilege of receiving a wonderfully supportive, comprehensive and rigorous private-school education. However, I am incredibly interested in the idea of home schooling and alternative schooling styles. I'd love to know how you foster independence and open-mindedness in your children. For example, one of the benefits of having an education with a diverse group of students and teachers is the exposure I get to many different ideas. If I ever were to home school children of my own I would be concerned that I had only provided them with one way of seeing the world--mine. I'd love to know if you address this in your home-schooling practices. Do you openly discuss multiple points of view? Provide diverse texts/materials? Do you have your children do particular "outside of the home" activities to foster independence from parents or exposure to new ideas? Perhaps you feel that home schooling or Montessori schooling fosters independence in itself? Thank you very much!

Great idea, how do you organize and plan every aspect of your life? Also, I am a homeschooling mom too But find it challenging every year to choose what to each my 3 kids in every subject. What helps you decide? Reading other blogs? Thanks a lot :)

Renee, I follow few blogs and read even fewer in depth. I'm sure I'd enjoy following and reading more, but I don't have much time to dedicate to this endeavor. However, your blog is at the top of my reading list. If I only have time to rest and read one a week, it is yours. I am never disappointed with my time spent here. The place from which you write and the depth of raw self that you allow your readers to view is refreshing. Your words often give me pause to stop and think, to chew on what you have said. I'm often encouraged and inspired by your thoughts. Thank you for writing, for sharing, and for having the courage to be you.

May God bless you!

Do your kids read your blog?

I love this idea of question and answer. I'm curious if you could give a list or general idea of what you have for emergency food. It's something I was struggling wrapping my brain around when taking the Whole Foods class and the 30 Day Vegan. Also I'm interested in knowing how you do food when you go hiking, backpacking.
Thanks, Isabella

Two thoughts, and then two questions. :)

First thought -- Renee, I have been praying for you and your family. I've been asking God to help you with your adjustment up there in the Gaspe. How are you? I hope all is well with you and yours.

Second thought -- When I am in the kitchen, I sometimes think of you and how you wrote about all the hours you spend in bringing good food to the table. We are not (at this point) gluten free, dairy free, or vegan/vegetarian, but I do spend a lot of time chopping vegetables and making soups, salads, and stews. Yummy! Anyway, I think of you when I am at my chopping block. LOL. Have you been able to find good, year-round sources of produce in your new neighborhood?

First Question (I realize you might not want to answer this online, sorry) -- How have you adjusted to the homeschooling regulations and requirements in Quebec? I remember reading that they are quite stringent. I've been thinking about your family's adjustment to the new rules and regs. My husband and I are considering a move (within the US) from a no-reg state (NJ) to a high-reg state (PA). Mixed thoughts on that, let me tell you. How did you bring yourself to go from low regs to high regs, in a part of life that is so important to you?

Second Question -- Have you had to learn and/or teach in French? What resources have you used to learn French? We are working on French with Ecoutez, Parlez (for our 2nd grader). She really enjoys this approach, along with Teach Me French CDs, copywork from a French Bible, and some French games. We're always open to new ideas for more French! :)

May God bless you today.

Can I ask another question? If not thats okay. I was wondering what your best advice is for getting settled in a new community? Seeing as you've just done that with kids. We are moving this week and although I've moved before it was only with one baby and now I have 3 kids. I need to get connected and that is always hard because we are (in some similar and some different ways than you) a bit more alternative minded than most so its hard to get connected.

I just read your Brienne's birthday post (Happy Birthday, Brienne!) and I saw the line where you mentioned that you knew Brienne would be your last baby.

How did you know that 3 was the right number of children for you and Damien? What questions did you ask yourselves? Did you have a feeling of "now our family is complete?"

Thanks, Renee!

I just want to say, what fascinating questions people ask. Just so different to the questions I have - but those will wait for another day because I must go to bed:) And btw, I love love love your new(ish) profile photo. It looks great.

What a lovely idea. Balance. How do you balance business, art, dreams and family. Oh how I struggle with it. I don't want to be a jack of all trades and master of none yet I fear that I am.