How to Make a Paper Valentine Treat Basket for Mom Gift as a Classroom Project.

Make a Paper Valentine Treat Basket (a great gift for Mom)

This paper basket craft is easy for kids and can be made for an Easter or Valentine's Day gift with a simple change of colors. Add a bunny or an egg for a fun, festive diy Easter Basket. Enjoy!

Post contains affiliate links.

Valentine Gift for Mom kids can make.

Follow the steps as pictured then add embellishments such as crepe paper, heart cut-outs, and glitter. Poke a hole in two opposite sides and insert two braided (twisted) pipe-cleaners forming a handle. Inside the basket, make a "t"with the pipe-cleaner to lock in place. Fill your paper Valentine treat basket with candy or trinkets when complete. It makes a great classroom project valentine for friends.









Use a paper plate as a pattern, trace onto construction paper, and fold on the lines shown.

Fold corners in , glue, and tape to secure.

Paper base should look like this when done folding.

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Valentine's Paper Doily Gift Basket

American Girl Paper Crafts

Construction Paper Quilt Squares




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Free Printable Minecraft CrossWord Search: Test your Minecraft Knowledge

Our FREE printable Minecraft Crossword Puzzle will Test your Knowledge of Minecraft

Do you know any Minecraft addicts? Are you looking for a Minecraft Birthday Party Activity? Maybe, you've run out of things to do in your after-school program, and the kids are restless? This printable worksheet is a fun way to test your knowledge of Minecraft. How cool is your Mom? Can she pass the test? Enjoy!

Free Printable Minecraft Activity: Word Search Quiz.

Click this link to get the Free PDF on our host, Mediafire.
Free Printable Minecraft Word Search: Test your Knowledge

Printable Minecraft Crossword Puzzle.

What your score says about you:

30 = Minecraft Addict. Nailed it. Enough said. Congrats on a perfect score, maybe a little less Minecrafting and a little more studying for tests? Just sayin'. I'm surprised even you knew that one answer, you know which one I mean. It was a toughy!

28-29 = Minecraft Artisan. You spend more time crafting than interacting. You need to get outside and play! No fair taking your phone outside and playing Minecraft Pocket Edition. Pat yourself on the back though, you are a Minecraft Pro.

25-27 = Minecraft Specialist. Hooray, pretty good stuff. You haven't gone overboard on Minecraft... yet. Be strong. You probably enjoy other activities, maybe some Minecraft role playing?

20-24 = Minecraft Player. Play on! Enjoy! Balance real life with your gaming pleasure.

15-19  = Minecraft Newbie. Welp, if this were a test, you woulda failed it. Luckily, Minecraft isn't the real world. Keep gaming, keep playing. You obviously haven't failed the game of life, so congrats on that!

10-14 = Minecraft Pretender. You want to be in the cool, Minecraft crowd, but you just don't get it. You know just enough to drop some cool buzzwords. You often hear yourself saying, "Minecraft? Yeah, I've played that game."

1-9 = Mom. You must be a Minecraft Mom. You hear the words, "Steve", "Pig", and "Mods", but that is about all you know about Minecraft. What? You aren't a mom? Well... play on, my friend, play on! Your crafting table awaits.

Recommended Reading:

Find Cool MineCraft Skins

Make your Own Minecraft Style Block Puzzle

Minecraft: Redstone Handbook: An Official Mojang Book*

The Amazing Tale of Steve: A Minecraft Novel!*

ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)

So You Want to be a Work At Home Mom & Giveaway

FRIDAY FOLLOWS NOVEMBER GIVEAWAY #1

Jill Hart and Diana Ennen recently approached me about a review for their book, "So You Want to be a Work-At-Home Mom".  I accepted the offer thinking I would use the book for a giveaway.

Hey Ladies, I actually read the book from cover to cover!  I even took notes.

I googled it.  The website is number two, right after Amazon.com.  The advice given in this book is written from a Christian perspective based on honesty and integrity.  These ladies have been there, done that.

Although I have been blogging for awhile now, I still have many questions.  "So You Want to be a Work-At-Home Mom" is written in an easy, conversational style.  Think the WEB MD commercials where the doctor is sitting in on the couch with a bunch of Moms- that's how you'll feel about Diana and Jill.  It is motivational offering proven success tips.

The book is designed to educate stay-at-home moms on work from home opportunities.  Not only does it answer the tough questions- it details how to find the answers and put them into action for your business.

Can't think of a good business proposal?  The book is filled with real, concrete ideas.

Do you ever get those emails offering thousands of dollars per week for WAHMS?  You get a link to a site that is full of hype but doesn't let out the big secret.  You are dying to know the big secret.  Maybe, just maybe it is really true and you are missing out on a fantastic opportunity.

Ladies, I know the big secret. Don't fall prey.  It may not be a scam but it will take tons of your money, time, and integrity.  This "opportunity" is for Herbalife.  It could be right for you but the odds are against it.

Why am I telling you about Herbalife?  Because, this is not one of those get-rich-quick scams.   "So You Want to be a Work-At-Home Mom" is written by real moms, just like you.  You probably won't get rich quick but you might have fun trying.

SAHM/WAHM bloggers, this is a must read.  SAHM/WAHM others - take your home business to the next level with these great tips.

Write your own press releases, fix your SEO, learn how to market yourself online.

I don't want to give it away but I will.  (I did take great notes, after all.)

Follow, Follow, Follow me wherever you can find me.  For every new follow, you'll get an entry into a random drawing.  All you have to do is leave a comment letting me know where you are following.

At the end of the month, any follower who helps me reach my goals (listed below) will be in the running for a prize package that includes a $15 Amazon gift card and lots of crafty goodies for you and the fam.

I can't wait to send you this little gem.  Get clicking.


Google Friend Connect for KCC 225  (Scroll down the right sidebar)
Facebook for Kid's Creative Chaos 50
Facebook for The Play Connection 200
Facebook Subscribe to Lora Langston  800
Twitter @Playconnection 250
Blog Frog Kid's Creative Chaos 1000 (Click the Blog Frog Tab & Join my community)
Top Mommy Blogs - Vote for me for #1  (Just click the button on the KCC blog)
Google Connect for http://www.midwestbloggersassociation.com  50
Google Connect for http://loralangston.com  35
If you've done everything else have a look at my website. http://www.theplayconnection.com


Surprise me--I have accounts with DIGG, Stumbleupon, Goodreads, Picket Fence Blogs, and several Mommy Blogger's sites you can add that too for bonus points.  Just let me know- I don't get around to all of them very often.

Everywhere you follow gets an entry. You might want to save them for upcoming Friday Follows - I have tons more books to giveaway.

How To Choose A Breast Pump For Your Lifestyle?

Photo by SHVETS production from Pexels

There are many different brands, types, and styles of breast pumps, including portable and wearable pumps. It comes as no surprise that many moms like you might feel overwhelmed over these numerous choices.

Indeed, it can be challenging to pick the best one, but you might want to consider your lifestyle as a factor for making the right choice.

Here are some helpful tips to help you choose a breast pump that may suit your lifestyle:

How Do You Plan to Use The Breast Pump

Ask yourself how you plan on using the breast pump. 

Will you be breastfeeding exclusively and only need a backup pump, or will you be an exclusive pumper? 

These questions will matter because you’re likely going to need a heavy-duty pump as an exclusive pumper. Still, you can even pick a manual pump if you’ll only need one as a backup.

Do you plan on pumping and storing a lot of breast milk in your fridge?

If that’s the case, then you’ll also need a heavy-duty pump that can handle the rigorous task. Picking a double pump can be ideal so you can get more milk more quickly.

Are you returning to work or traveling regularly?

If so, then you’ll probably need a portable pump that you can easily bring anywhere. Better yet, a wearable pump can let you pump discreetly, even in the middle of a meeting or while you’re on the go.

Just in case you opt for a wearable pump, make sure that you pick one that’s quiet yet powerful enough to pump discreetly.

Will you be away from your child for several days?

Bringing a portable pump can be convenient, but it could be costly to buy so many batteries to keep it working while you’re away for extended periods. 

You can opt for a portable pump that comes with rechargeable batteries or simply bring your plug-in pump if there’s a place for you to pump discreetly.

How much time do you have to pump?

As you might already know, pumping varies for every mom. There are also certain conditions or types of breast pumps that can promote better extraction.

If you’re a busy mom who’s always on the go, you’ll surely need a powerful double electric breast pump. You can use this device to pump milk from both breasts at the same time.

What’s your pumping preference?

If you’re a mom who likes to pump the other breast while your baby feeds from the other, then a single pump would be ideal for you.

Where will you use the pump?

As a working mom, you’re entitled to a breast-pumping break.

Your workplace is required by law to provide you with a quiet, private place where you can collect your milk. 

But if you feel uncomfortable about others hearing you pump, you can pick quiet models or brands that still provide great suction power, even with the silent motor.

Do you need to transport the breast pump regularly?

Plug-in breast pumps are usually more powerful than portable, battery-operated ones, yet they also tend to be bulkier. If you need to regularly transport your breast pump, such as bringing it to work daily, then it may be more practical to opt for a lighter, portable pump.

What about a backup plan?

What if your batteries run out or there are no power outlets for plugging your device? You can create a backup plan using a manual breast pump or bring along extra batteries at all times.

In Conclusion

You can pick the right breast pump by considering your lifestyle and needs or preferences. 

But just in case you’re still unsure, you can also seek help from a lactation consultant.

Can the Stress of Being a Mom Cause Hair Loss?

How Mom Stress Can Cause Hair Loss

What can cause hair loss in women? With all of the traveling and adventuring, it is easy to become stressed from time to time, especially when you also take into account the challenges of everyday life and work. Although a little stress is normal when you have a family, if you are beginning to feel as if your stress is endless, you must find ways to manage it, as stress can lead to physical symptoms, including hair loss.

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

In the photo above, I have inexpensive hair extensions for a Halloween costume party. I thought it was obvious, but my friends actually thought I went to the salon and got real extensions. My actual hair is shoulder length. Pretty good color match, don't you think? Though, I don't have a problem with hair loss or thinning, I did notice a lot of hair extra hair in the shower drain after recovering from Covid 19.

What causes stress?

You may begin to experience stress due to changes coming up in your life, even if these changes are fun ones like going on vacation or moving into your dream house. You might also start to feel stressed if you feel pressured, whether this is to be a good mom or to meet all of your work deadlines. Some women feel stressed if they do not take enough time off work, or if they are worried about something, such as a new baby or their lack of finances. 

How does stress cause hair loss?

As well as having an emotional impact on you and causing mental health issues, stress can also create a physical reaction in your body. It should also be noted that hormonal changes such as perimenopause and menopause can cause hair thinning and loss in women. When you are stressed, your hair follicles might stay in the resting phase of their cycle rather than fluctuating between resting and growing. If this persists for too long, they might then begin to fall out regardless of what you do to your hair. This can make you even more stressed as you begin to feel self-conscious about your appearance.

Should you get a hair transplant?

Although your hair will usually start to regrow once your stress levels have lessened, if you do find that you are struggling with hair loss to a great extent, you should consider the benefits of a hair transplant from a hair clinic near me. They will be able to restore your hair to its prime and allow you to disguise any bald patches that have formed on your head. With a hair transplant, there;s need for Halloween hair extensions. This can help you to meet your hair goals and to feel like yourself again, boosting your confidence, and enabling you to focus on your family. Although there are many different treatments for hair loss, hair transplants are nearly permanent and can make a dramatic difference that will allow you to start living your life to the fullest instantly. You won't have to hide inside your house in fear that others will notice your hair loss.

How can you reduce stress?

If you want to reduce the stress that you've been experiencing, make sure that you exercise often and get out into nature to enjoy the benefits of sunshine, that you drink and eat enough healthy choices, and that you try to reduce the triggers of your stress.

Take some time off to recenter yourself and perform self-care activities during which you can focus on yourself rather than the rest of the family. If your stress has reached unmanageable levels, consider scheduling an appointment with a therapist, where you can talk through the problems you are facing and process the emotions that you are experiencing. Sometimes, it's as simple as throwing on some silly hair extensions and attending a costume party! Whatever you choose, be sure to keep your stress levels at a minimum. Seek help if the stress feels overwhelming.

Recommended:

Self-Care Tips

Ways to Reduce Stress

Math for Homeschoolers Online

Homeschool Math Classes Online

If you're looking for math for homeschoolers online, you'll want to check out Make Math More Fun by Shenek Altson. She teaches homeschool math classes online. Check out her guest post to make math more fun by playing simple math games. Enjoy!

This post contains affiliate links.

Make Math More Fun by Playing Simple Math Games

Keep It Simple Mommy

As a homeschool mom, if I don’t get anything else done in a day, I like to get some type of reading and math done, because I know those two subjects form the foundation of so many other things.  For me, I’ve seen just how beneficial being good in math is, particularly as a homeschooling mom who sometimes needs to help out financially.  There’s always someone who needs a math tutor! But many times our kids don’t see the benefit of being a Math Ninja, and they need a lot of convincing that this subject is worth spending tons of time on.  So, what can we do to help them learn a subject that has gotten a bad wrap for being boring and tough at the same time? Play simple math games with your kids. Make math fun through games! And you don’t have to come up with these complex, mind blowing games.  You’ll be amazed at how much fun you can have with your kids playing simple games.

I find that one of the best ways to make math more fun is by using games.  It’s amazing that our young children love spending time with us.  I’ve heard that one day this may change, but for right now, one of the number one things my kids like to do, is to spend time with me.  And they really enjoy it when we are able to play a fun game together during this time.  A huge tip though is to keep things simple.  As a homeschooling mommy who has other subjects to cover, lunch to fix, dinner to start prepping, errands to run, bills to send off, appointments to make, you already have a lot of things on your plate.  So having simple go-to games that you can play with your kids on a regular basis, can help you to make math more fun while not having to re-invent the wheel (because no one has time for that.)

How to Play Simple Math Coloring Game

I made up a simple Math coloring game that uses dice.  My kids are not the type of kids who generally like to color, but they enjoyed playing this fast paced game.  What I did was take two coloring pages, and numbered different portions of the pages with the numbers 1 thru 6.  Then each child was given a die.  They were given the instructions of rolling their dice, and whatever number came up, they were to color one section of their picture with that number.  The first child to finish coloring his or her entire picture would be the winner.  Boy, oh, boy, my “non-coloring children” became coloring machines.  They were throwing those dice and coloring up a storm trying to be the first person finished.  We used large dice that I purchased at a dollar store.  The next time, to add more learning to the activity, I am going to give each child two dice, and then have them sum the numbers on their dice.  Then they’ll color the number on their page that is the sum of the dice.

So step 1 is to take any random coloring page, and number it from 1 thru 6 in the different sections of the picture.  If you are going to have them work with sums, number the sections 2 thru 12.   For each child, make sure that you number the same number of sections on each child’s coloring page to make the game as fair as possible.  It’s not necessary to use the same picture for each child.  Just make sure you have numbered the same number of sections on each child’s coloring page.  So for example, pick 15 different sections to number in each child’s picture.  Below is an example of me numbering a coloring page.

Then give each child a die.  If you were going to be letting them figure out sums, give each child 2 dice, so that they can roll up to a sum of 12.  Then let the race begin.  Each time they roll the die, they color one section that has that number in it.  My two children who played did not use the same coloring pages, but again, I numbered the same number of sections in each of their pictures.

So, there you go.  A pretty simple way to have your kids practice number recognition or addition.  My kids had fun racing to see who was going to be the first one finished. My son ended up winning this simple math game!

About Shenek Alston

Now, let me tell you a little about me.  I’m a homeschooling mom to three kids ages 9, 5 and 2, and I have a PhD in Statistics.  Before I met my husband, I planned to be a College Professor. Now I’m a homeschooling mom who blogs about ways to make math more fun.  I also teach math for homeschoolers online. In my FREE ONLINE LIVE MATH lessons, I help kids with topics such a fractions, decimals, percents, and integers.  If you are interested in learning more about these lessons please visit Make Math More Fun and have a great time making math more fun with your kids!

Recommended:

First Grade Math Game with Dice

Money Counting Games

Homeschool Math Lessons Online



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Kids, Easy, Fun, Messy, Shaving Cream Craft Activity for Sensory Play

This shaving cream kids' sensory play activity is super easy!

Messy, sensory Shaving Cream tinted with food coloring is tons of fun for kids to play with at home or as an after-school activity. After all, what's more fun than making a royal mess? Play with your shaving cream outdoors to keep Mom's house clean!

Shave Cream Sensory Play: Start with shaving cream,
food coloring, plates and spoons for mixing.

Be careful not to get a shaving cream beard into your eyes.

Use it like face paint to add texture, beards, moles, crazy eyebrows, or scars.  It will stiffen and dry on your face. Don't get it in your eyes please- ouch!

Mix it up to your heart's content.

Make a shaving cream cake and pretend to eat it. The cream makes nice snowmen sculptures too!

Pretending shaving cream pie 
is yummy.



Use shaving cream like sidewalk paint.

Well, no, it's not for the faint of heart. Dig in and go crazy!

The messier the more fun!

This is one crafty recreation project that kept the kids busy for an about hour. The possibilities are endless.



Don't forget aprons and lots of paper towels
for your shaving cream play time.



With shaving cream sensory play, anything goes!

Recommended Reading:

Slurpin' for Worms Messy Birthday Party Game

Sensory Play: Over 65 Sensory Bin Topics with Additional Picture Books, Supplementary Activities, and Snacks for a Complete Toddler Program (Busy Toddler, Happy Mom)

Busy Toddler, Happy Mom: Over 280 Activities to Engage Your Toddler in Small Motor and Gross Motor Activities, Crafts, Language Development and Sensory Play

Free Online Homeschool Curriculum Recommendations

Curriculum Recommendations for Online Homeschooling

Whether you're new to homeschooling or you've been doing it for years, you're probably on the hunt for new, exciting, and engaging curriculum ideas. We get bored with the daily grind and change it up from year to year or even season to season. Here's a list of mostly free online homeschool curriculum recommendations that we've used and enjoyed. We've tried MANY other options, but these are our favorites.

This post contains affiliate links.

Free Online Homeschool Curriculum Recommendations.

Brainpop Jr. is my favorite program for younger elementary and preschool. The videos are fun to watch, and the kids always looked forward to using Brainpop Jr. for Homeschooling. 

Brainpop has a an online homeschool for middle school and high school, but we often found topics we wanted only on Brainpop Jr. The upper grade version is nice for supplementing classroom curriculum. If you use the paid version, you have access to more functions and all lessons.

MobyMax is a great online homeschool app to find out where your kids are in their homeschool learning experience. They can take placement tests in all subjects and then the program finds learning gaps and helps kids focus and build on the areas where they may be struggling. The content isn't as fun and engaging as Brainpop. It is a more definitive tool for classroom use, helping teachers to keep all students on track. MobyMax can be used as a supplement or as full homeschool curriculum up to eighth grade.

Khan Academy is (or should be) a household name for homeschoolers. In the beginning, Khan Academy targeted older students and even offered SAT prep. Now, they also offer more curriculum for elementary school. It keeps track of their lessons and lets you know when students are struggling or when they are ready to move to the next level.

The kids prefer Khan Academy math to any other online homeschool math program, but homeschool mom always liked to supplement with free Brainpop math videos to make sure the kids understood the talking points. Khan Academy can get monotonous for day to day homeschooling. Sal does a great job, but it can get a little boring after awhile. We also supplement our Khan Academy math with Life of Fred textbooks. These books are easy to read and tell a fun story while sneaking in practical math lessons.

Now, there are new instructors and new curriculum on KA. My daughter enjoys studying high school and college level psychology and art history through Khan Academy.

My son does well with virtual homeschool. So, for online high school homeschooling, we are sticking with Connections Academy. In Indiana, it is a free online public school. Connections Academy offers group gatherings and field trips. He gets through the assignments quickly (though, I'm told many homeschoolers struggle to get their lessons done on time) so we supplement with weekly enrichment including museum homeschool programs and educational YouTube videos like John and Hank Green's Crash Course in American History.

Sometimes, when he's struggling on a particular topic, (for high school all text books are online) we find a compatible Life of Fred homeschooling book to fll in any gaps. It's nice to have a good, old book that you can hold in your hand and flip through the pages. He enjoys reading them outside while enjoying his hammock.

Sure, Connections Academy has teachers and attendance to keep, but when it's all done, he'll have official transcripts for college. 

I prefer Connections High School to their Elementary program. The elementary program seemed a little too intense. Especially, when you want the freedom of homeschooling. They're still working out the bugs and it gets better every year, in the past, we had to have weekly check ups with the elementary teachers. For high school, signing in and doing your work suffices. As it should...

In 2017, this homeschool mom broke her leg. That made planning homeschool curriculum and doing enrichment activities difficult. So, my daughter was pretty much on her own. She did great with MobyMax (so I could keep up with her learning) and supplementing with YouTube videos of her choosing. But, homeschool mom felt like maybe she was failing her daughter by not being as involved. So, this fall, we are trying something new! Acellus. I stumbled upon Acellus last year when I was laid up in bed. Many other homeschoolers told me it was expensive, but I was sure I found a free or nearly free version. 

But whenever, I looked it up, I found the paid online homeschool version, which seems to be set up like Connections academy, but with a private school fee. That's not for us! I gave up for a while, and recently tried again. It seems they also have a homeschool app which is found on a separate website, PowerHomeschool. The homeschool app differs from the online homeschool version, because the videos are canned - meaning they are pre-recorded 

That's just what we wanted! We like working at our own pace. These videos are similar to videos my daughter finds on YouTube, but these organized by grade level. We'll choose math, science, language arts, foreign language, and music this year. At the time of this posting, the app is $9.99 per month, basically the same as the paid homeschool version of Brainpop. We're looking forward to starting her in the homeschool middle school program this fall. 

The PowerHomemschool website describe the homeschool curriculum like this: "Students proceed through the course in a step-by-step fashion watching a video lesson and then completing assessment problems. Students receive reviews and unit, mid-term, and final exams as they proceed through the course. Learning gaps are assessed and filled as students move through the course concept by concept."

Seems like a fair option to give it a test drive before you jump into their online school curriculum. 

We'll also supplement with Life of Fred fractions and beginning algebra. One thing I've missed the last few years, is doing hands-on science experiments. After previewing the Acellus app's science curriculum, I was excited to try it. With a Google search for online homeschool curriculum, the app is hard to find. They have moved it to a new website with a different name. Find it here: PowerHomeschool

Bottom line, don't break the bank to homeschool. We have SO many books, every year, I'd go out and buy new books. We never got through most of them. Find a free online homeschool curriculum, that works for you and stick with it. Then, supplement with fun enrichment activities and family outings.

We also involve the kids in day to day household concerns. We talk about finances, debt, and even recently including them in every step of the home buying process. That included going to a lender, saving for a down payment, creative ways to find extra money like garage sales, selling off items no longer needed, the highs and lows of Craigslist and eBay, getting a water and septic test at the state level, watching our credit scores, budgeting for groceries, finding ways to cut costs to save for the new house, and even going to a county courthouse to pick up documents needed to close. So many lessons here. At the courthouse, we all had to go through the security, empty our pockets, etc. The next steps, include renovating the new house. 

Family struggles and life lessons are often kept from kids. In my opinion, this tends to give the kids an unrealistic view of what it is like to be a grown up. They can't wait to get out of the house and start their own life, but reality gets in the way of their happiness. Keeping kids life lessons and keeping them in the know, helps them better prepare for the future. Isn't that what homeschooling is all about?

So, what do you think of this list of free online homeschool curriculum recommendations? Do you have something you really love? Tell us about it in the comments or find Kids Creative Chaos on Instagram and chat with us there!

Recommended:

Science Homeschool Projects

Summer Camp Curriculum

Circle Time  Activities Handbook 

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Read Free Books Online: Moon Magic Chapter 7

Moon Magic: YA Fiction Novel Online

Do you have an eReader or Kindle? Do you read free books online? We've been sharing our YA fiction book online. If you're new, start here- Moon Magic Chapter One. If you've been reading the story, the last chapter published was chapter six. Eventually, this will be published as an eBook. Remember this material is copyrighted and not meant to be published on any other website or platform. Moon Magic is a young adult fiction novel with suspense and historical fiction sprinkles. Enjoy!

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

Get the full published YA novel here, Allegedly Mystic

This post contains affiliate links.

Read YA Adult Fiction Online

Moon Magic

Copyright 2017

Chapter Seven 

A History Lesson

You can’t protect your children from everything. Serenity had learned that long ago. She lived in constant fear for her daughter’s safety, so she homeschooled until the third grade when Auri had begged to ride a school bus like the ‘normal’ kids. It went well until everyone hit puberty in the fifth grade. 

Well, almost everyone. 

Puberty wasn’t typical. Nothing was typical with Aurora, so it took a little longer for the complete transformation. By seventh grade, it was nearly impossible to keep the big secret from her daughter, but Serenity did. At least that’s what Aurora let her think.

It was humiliating to talk to her mom (or anyone for that matter) about her period, hairy underarms, legs, and other hairy places. Difficult, but not impossible. Aurora kept secrets too. It was impossible to strike up a conversation about sanity. “Hey, Mom, I think I might be insane. Yep, I was fine until I hit puberty and then I started making people do crazy things. I don’t do anything really. I just feel. I keep trying not to feel, but this hormone thing makes that really difficult. If I could just feel happy all of the time everything would be fine. Everyone would be fine.” That conversation was never going to happen. Her mother would have her committed.

An awkward afternoon was spent hashing out the school day. Serenity had a series of safe actions in place to help keep an eye on Aurora. Every morning before school she’d ask, “Do you notice anything different or unusual today?” Aurora always had a smart aleck response, “I still haven’t started my period. Don’t worry, you’ll be the second to know.” 

After a snack of cream cheese and jelly sandwiches, Serenity felt energized to push a little harder. As soon as Aurora stuffed the first bite into her mouth, Serenity asked, “Did anything odd happen at school today? Did you feel funny when other people were around?” Did you notice any strange animals following you? 

 “Strange animals?” Aurora gulped down the last bite and shook her head back and forth.

If someone else had had a hand in her child rearing… Well, Aurora couldn’t help but think that she’d be normal. At least a little more close to normal. Environment can make or break a person. Aurora was broken. Her head filled with a scream, but she smiled instead. It was Serenity who needed psychotherapy. Aurora knew she wasn’t like the other kids- she just didn’t know how different. It was her mother who was obviously different. That much she knew for sure. 

No encouragement was needed. Serenity burst into a history lesson. “Did you know your great, great, great grandfather was a Native American Shaman. I think somehow our DNA is imprinted with the memories of our ancestors. I think maybe we see and feel things others don’t. The Creek Indians fought hard and most of them died battling for their land. The mess that followed, ‘The Trail of Tears,’ played havoc with our ancestors. The Creeks that stayed behind crossed over the Cumberland River and joined forces with the Cherokees and blended to stay on their land. They learned English and got along with the White man. They civilized to stay alive. Most shunned all of their ancestral beliefs.”

“That’s awesome, Mom. Can I go now?” Aurora jumped up to leave but was pushed back into her seat by the palm of her mother's hand. “Aurora, listen to me, this is important. Our white ancestors feared the Creek. Our Creek family was shunned and mistreated. The Creek Indians had a reputations of evil! To survive, they had to give up all that they were, all that they lived for, asking forgiveness wasn’t enough because so much prejudice remained. The Cherokee were good people, but there connections weren’t as strong. She stopped, gave her daughter the side-eye, and then screeched. "Aurora, do you know what I’m saying?” Aurora snapped back, “A bunch of boring crap, is there a point?”

Taking a deep breath, Serenity leaned in resting her elbows on the counter and and holding her chin in her hands. “The point is, Aurora, the Cherokee danced for Mother Nature but they didn’t know how to fully harness her powers like the Creek did.” Then, she looked over at Aurora and smiled awaiting a response.

“That’s nice, Mother, or should I say, Your Supreme Weirdness. And, big fat no! I haven’t seen any flying monkey or pigs following me home from school.

*     *     *

Aurora wished she hadn’t always been so rude to her mother. What if her mother never woke up? She’d be all alone and she’d never know the whole truth about her ancestry. 

Now, she longed to discover her true genetic makeup. As a teenager with no job or money and a lame arm, the best she could do was research online and with microfiche at the public library. Believe it or not, they still had microfiche machines in the basement.

She needed to get a DNA test. Todd Lowder, her mother’s boyfriend and her Social Studies teacher, had gotten one done. Apparently, he’d been told that he was part Cherokee. Isn’t everyone? Born mixed, half black and half white, he was anxious to find out if he were more African American or Native American or just another European hodge podge. 

Todd circulated a copy of the complicated graphs around the classroom. The results showed that he was mostly from some sect of people in Siberia. That could mean anything, based on current genealogy theory. It seems nothing is simply black and white, not even the color of one’s skin.

The oral traditions in Kentucky were strong. Aurora wanted black and white proof of her ancestry. Was she Cherokee? Creek? Everyone seemed to be part Native American of some sort, but no one had any proof. Serenity Waters had named her daughter Aurora Waters. Strange, but not illogical. However, Aurora might as well have been named Merry Christmas. Names seem to fit the traditions of the people. The only tradition this Waters family had was celebrating Christmas every year. Well, Halloween too, but Happy Halloween didn’t sound like a real name.

That wasn’t all. Aurora had been giving her mother grief. She wasn’t completely sure what Serenity was getting at when she had asked, “Do you feel anything unusual?” She did feel something, but what if her mother was talking about something else? She didn’t want to risk freaking her out with the wrong unusual feeling. Everything was unusual when you were a teenager. Then, there was the big, white, feral cat. He kept popping up all over the place. Outside the band room. At the bus stop. Whenever she felt overwhelmed, he appeared, but he wouldn’t let anyone touch him. He’d look up at Aurora, blink his eyes, purr, wiggle his tail and then disappear. Sometimes, she thought he was beckoning her to follow him.

When everything was deafeningly quiet chaos broke out in Aurora's head. She was fairly certain that she’d heard the so called Great Spirit calling her and positive that whispers from the ancestors tortured her. Maybe other people had the same thing but never took the time to pay attention? It was hard to be certain. What if those were just voices in her head, the kind that make you crazy? No way could she confess. If she feared she might be insane, what would everyone else think?  

If she did hear the Great Spirit what would people think? Buddha, God, the Great Spirit. Jesus, Zeus, didn’t they all have something in common? Human Spirit. Right vs. Wrong. Buddha and Jesus had both walked the Earth as men sent down by a higher power. Religion made Aurora uncomfortable. Other people called it different things, but Aurora’s mother had always taught her that God and the Great Spirit were one in the same. Serenity's bedtime stories had detailed how he watched over his people and sent down his helpers to guide them. Apparently, the Native American’s had learned to harness the powers that guided them. Maybe that was the big secret her mother was hiding.

It was time to eat crow. Aurora needed a plan. Unfortunately, Todd was  in the best position to help. She assumed Serenity probably hadn’t confessed to all of the weirdness in their lives. But, perhaps, she had told him about the Indian heritage and Shaman bloodline.

Todd had been Aurora’s favorite teacher up until he’d called her Mom about a quiz she’d failed. That opened the door for her Mother to ask about her school life and they'd swapped horror stories over dinner one night. The rest, of course, was history. He wasn’t Aurora’s favorite person. Odd Todd. “Easy ‘A,’ my ass, the idiots didn’t know what they were talking about." But, she was thankful for homeschooling, even if Todd had to help out. At least, she didn’t have to live with the constant snickers and glares from the other kids. Anyway, Todd would know how to track these Native American ancestors- that made him worth something.

Chapter Eight 

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Moon Magic Starts Here

Allegedly Mystic, the published version of Moon Magic.

Cinquain Lesson 

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