Codi's graduation day at CCF Center In the last two months here's what I've been preoccupied with:
It's been difficult for me to homeschool multi-level because of all the other things I allowed myself to get into. My three boys are in this level: Grade 8, Grade 5, and prep. (My 3 year old daughter, the youngest, is not yet officially homeschooling, everything is just play with her) I read so many articles on how families who are multi-level homeschool, but I honestly find it very daunting to teach all three boys at the same time and even feel that this style was making our progress slower. So here's what I did:
- Finishing up my three children's homeschooling activities for SY 2013-2014
- Setting up a family corporation
- Becoming a licensed insurance adviser
- In my smallest way possible, becoming involved in social entrepreneurship
It's been difficult for me to homeschool multi-level because of all the other things I allowed myself to get into. My three boys are in this level: Grade 8, Grade 5, and prep. (My 3 year old daughter, the youngest, is not yet officially homeschooling, everything is just play with her) I read so many articles on how families who are multi-level homeschool, but I honestly find it very daunting to teach all three boys at the same time and even feel that this style was making our progress slower. So here's what I did:
I wanted Codi to participate in the prep graduation commencement exercises which was scheduled in April so I decided to focus on just him beginning of January. We were finished with all his curriculum and grades by February.
What did the other bigger kids do during this time? They studied on their own. They complained a lot and there was a lot of debate between me and the bigger boys whether or not I was homeschooling them. They cooperated, albeit reluctantly, when I comforted that they could just go at their own pace, and I would focus on them after I was done with Codi. It's funny how the kids were the ones who kept asking me for their schedule of assessment with TMA (our homeschool provider).
I scheduled Codi for a final assessment with TMA, and when this was done I moved on to Colin (grade 4)...and then to Cam (grade 8).
We are now nearly done for the SY 2013-2014, with just a few more activities to go like taking year end assessment tests and a few submission requirements. What do I make out of all this? I did feel the pressure that's for sure, mostly because of my kids. They sometimes made me feel irresponsible asking me questions all the time like: -----
-When is it my turn to be homeschooled?
-Did you check my work yet? When are you going to check my work?
-Did you schedule me with TMA for assessment already?
-Are you going out again? When are you going to check my work?
-What project should I work on?
-Can we go the science museum this week? You said we were gonna do that!
-I'm hungry, where's the food?
Sometimes I look at them and go, these are my kids? What have I turned them into? What am I their secretary? But it amused me that they were so concerned about their studies. I did not, however, want them to feel that homeschooling was about deadlines, schedules and requirements. Yes structure is very important, but a part of me wanted them to be just kids, be carefree and not worry about all the adult stuff, to which they get frustrated at me because I am confusing... one minute I want them to be responsible and the next I want them to be carefree.
Oh well, so we need to work on that balance... let's park that for now.
On setting up a family corporation
I'm a fan of Robert Kiyosaki. In my quest for financial freedom I am following Kiyosaki's advice to run your own corporation to protect assets or properties long term. I guess the reason I'm bent on learning how a corporation works is because of what my family experienced when my dad died almost 14 years ago. Our property was under the name of my dad's when he died. Being ignorant of the law, my mom only decided to fix the title of our property 5 years after my dad died. That's when we learned of tax penalties and real estate taxes. My mom had to pay a 6 digit amount to the BIR in tax penalties for the late filing of my father's death in order to transfer the title to us, her children. Take note however that even if you filed with BIR on time, you still have to pay a lot in transfer or estate taxes.
Which got me to thinking, one day I would die too and I don't want my kids to have to worry about losing our property, can't we transfer to just one entity that never dies...thereby avoid all this transferring? According to Kiyosaki, yes it's possible. Here watch this video:
What did the other bigger kids do during this time? They studied on their own. They complained a lot and there was a lot of debate between me and the bigger boys whether or not I was homeschooling them. They cooperated, albeit reluctantly, when I comforted that they could just go at their own pace, and I would focus on them after I was done with Codi. It's funny how the kids were the ones who kept asking me for their schedule of assessment with TMA (our homeschool provider).
I scheduled Codi for a final assessment with TMA, and when this was done I moved on to Colin (grade 4)...and then to Cam (grade 8).
We are now nearly done for the SY 2013-2014, with just a few more activities to go like taking year end assessment tests and a few submission requirements. What do I make out of all this? I did feel the pressure that's for sure, mostly because of my kids. They sometimes made me feel irresponsible asking me questions all the time like: -----
-When is it my turn to be homeschooled?
-Did you check my work yet? When are you going to check my work?
-Did you schedule me with TMA for assessment already?
-Are you going out again? When are you going to check my work?
-What project should I work on?
-Can we go the science museum this week? You said we were gonna do that!
-I'm hungry, where's the food?
Sometimes I look at them and go, these are my kids? What have I turned them into? What am I their secretary? But it amused me that they were so concerned about their studies. I did not, however, want them to feel that homeschooling was about deadlines, schedules and requirements. Yes structure is very important, but a part of me wanted them to be just kids, be carefree and not worry about all the adult stuff, to which they get frustrated at me because I am confusing... one minute I want them to be responsible and the next I want them to be carefree.
Oh well, so we need to work on that balance... let's park that for now.
On setting up a family corporation
I'm a fan of Robert Kiyosaki. In my quest for financial freedom I am following Kiyosaki's advice to run your own corporation to protect assets or properties long term. I guess the reason I'm bent on learning how a corporation works is because of what my family experienced when my dad died almost 14 years ago. Our property was under the name of my dad's when he died. Being ignorant of the law, my mom only decided to fix the title of our property 5 years after my dad died. That's when we learned of tax penalties and real estate taxes. My mom had to pay a 6 digit amount to the BIR in tax penalties for the late filing of my father's death in order to transfer the title to us, her children. Take note however that even if you filed with BIR on time, you still have to pay a lot in transfer or estate taxes.
Which got me to thinking, one day I would die too and I don't want my kids to have to worry about losing our property, can't we transfer to just one entity that never dies...thereby avoid all this transferring? According to Kiyosaki, yes it's possible. Here watch this video:
I hope the video above made sense to you. If it didn't, don't worry because sometimes I don't know if I'm doing things right, I just know in my heart it's the right thing to do.
On becoming a licensed insurance adviser
Handyman and I always talk about our plans for the future. We are open about the subject of death and what would happen to our 4 kids if one of us dies too soon or worst, both of us die. Thankfully we both agree in that we don't want my mom or his mother who are now both widows, to be financially burdened if something happened to us. We both agreed that we should get health and life insurance protection. But what product to choose? There are so many companies and products to choose from it's overwhelming.
Although I have already investments in stocks and mutual funds, I haven't been completely satisfied with the result of my DIY approach in investing. I actually found daily monitoring of stocks boring. I haven't earned much either in the last 5 years.
The opportunity came to explore the world of insurance. A different playing field all together. And what better way to learn and understand about it by being inside the financial services industry. And that's why I am now a licensed life insurance and variable universal life (VUL) insurance adviser of Manulife. We've secured for handyman - a term insurance policy, while for myself - a whole life health insurance policy. We plan to get VUL in the future as our financial status improves.
How do I know our financial status will improve? I don't. Having the right mindset is a start though.
Let me just say I now have the utmost respect for insurance advisers. What I went through was not easy to say the least. Perhaps it was harder because I was homeschooling the kids at the same time...I underwent training from March 28 to April 28 for roughly two times a week. I took two exams with the Insurance Commission. It was like being a college student all over again in a span of one month. I am still learning...so if you would like me to give you a priority choice analysis please bear with since I'm still new.
On joining the cosmetics dealer bandwagon
As if I don't have enough on my hands already, I recently registered to be a dealer of Human Nature products. Although Kiyosaki encourages it, I really ain't no fan of multi-level marketing businesses and I don't consider myself one. By no means am I a socialpreneur either, not yet anyway. I just really like the products and use them myself and for my family. It's the kind of personal product that feels good to spend on because I know it's organic, good quality that's Filipino made and I'm helping my countrymen generate jobs. Not to mention, when I saw this Tedx Talk video of Dylan Wilk, one of the founders of Human Nature, I just absolutely wanted to be part of their mission in the smallest possible way that I can.
I spread the word to my friends and ex officemates and to my surprise they too use Human Nature products and they are now ordering from me. Yay!
But hey! The title of this post is about slowing down???
Yes! All the multi-tasking is starting to put pressure on our homeschooling activities. But since the income generating activities are already in place, I can't just press pause button on them. After a family discussion, we've decided that homeschool enrollment will be moved to November/December instead of following the regular May/June schedule.
The kids asked me if it means they will be on vacation until December. I said no, we will still study, we can even buy the next set of books for their next level for them to study in advance. It just means we won't pay for enrollment like most families do this time around. This way I won't have that immediate pressure of having a deadline for the kids' quarterly assessments.
Oh admit it you just want to go on vacation 'nay, my eldest Cam tells me. Ok fine! Call it what you will...but homeschooling is our lifestyle and I will not let you guys just sit around for the next six months doing nothing.
I've consulted with a family advisor of TMA and was told this was possible but it's best to pray about it with my family if it is God's plan for us. Pray we shall.
That's the whole beauty of homeschooling! You can adjust it to your lifestyle, instead of you adjusting to the school's schedule. Interested in homeschooling? I would love to assist you! Comment below or drop me an email by subscribing to Taumbahay.com!
On becoming a licensed insurance adviser
Handyman and I always talk about our plans for the future. We are open about the subject of death and what would happen to our 4 kids if one of us dies too soon or worst, both of us die. Thankfully we both agree in that we don't want my mom or his mother who are now both widows, to be financially burdened if something happened to us. We both agreed that we should get health and life insurance protection. But what product to choose? There are so many companies and products to choose from it's overwhelming.
Although I have already investments in stocks and mutual funds, I haven't been completely satisfied with the result of my DIY approach in investing. I actually found daily monitoring of stocks boring. I haven't earned much either in the last 5 years.
The opportunity came to explore the world of insurance. A different playing field all together. And what better way to learn and understand about it by being inside the financial services industry. And that's why I am now a licensed life insurance and variable universal life (VUL) insurance adviser of Manulife. We've secured for handyman - a term insurance policy, while for myself - a whole life health insurance policy. We plan to get VUL in the future as our financial status improves.
How do I know our financial status will improve? I don't. Having the right mindset is a start though.
Let me just say I now have the utmost respect for insurance advisers. What I went through was not easy to say the least. Perhaps it was harder because I was homeschooling the kids at the same time...I underwent training from March 28 to April 28 for roughly two times a week. I took two exams with the Insurance Commission. It was like being a college student all over again in a span of one month. I am still learning...so if you would like me to give you a priority choice analysis please bear with since I'm still new.
On joining the cosmetics dealer bandwagon
As if I don't have enough on my hands already, I recently registered to be a dealer of Human Nature products. Although Kiyosaki encourages it, I really ain't no fan of multi-level marketing businesses and I don't consider myself one. By no means am I a socialpreneur either, not yet anyway. I just really like the products and use them myself and for my family. It's the kind of personal product that feels good to spend on because I know it's organic, good quality that's Filipino made and I'm helping my countrymen generate jobs. Not to mention, when I saw this Tedx Talk video of Dylan Wilk, one of the founders of Human Nature, I just absolutely wanted to be part of their mission in the smallest possible way that I can.
I spread the word to my friends and ex officemates and to my surprise they too use Human Nature products and they are now ordering from me. Yay!
But hey! The title of this post is about slowing down???
Yes! All the multi-tasking is starting to put pressure on our homeschooling activities. But since the income generating activities are already in place, I can't just press pause button on them. After a family discussion, we've decided that homeschool enrollment will be moved to November/December instead of following the regular May/June schedule.
The kids asked me if it means they will be on vacation until December. I said no, we will still study, we can even buy the next set of books for their next level for them to study in advance. It just means we won't pay for enrollment like most families do this time around. This way I won't have that immediate pressure of having a deadline for the kids' quarterly assessments.
Oh admit it you just want to go on vacation 'nay, my eldest Cam tells me. Ok fine! Call it what you will...but homeschooling is our lifestyle and I will not let you guys just sit around for the next six months doing nothing.
I've consulted with a family advisor of TMA and was told this was possible but it's best to pray about it with my family if it is God's plan for us. Pray we shall.
That's the whole beauty of homeschooling! You can adjust it to your lifestyle, instead of you adjusting to the school's schedule. Interested in homeschooling? I would love to assist you! Comment below or drop me an email by subscribing to Taumbahay.com!
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