Sickness & Spring Fever ║Hang Out with This Homeschool Mom of 8 │ School Week 26

This week everyone feels like crud, so we're taking it a bit easy. I get some sewing done, including the girls' dresses for Easter which falls during this school week. Eden and I make a skirt for her, too. Spring is here and we're excited to see some life in the garden; we get a couple of new peach trees planted.
www.andreamills.tv
Mills Family
P.O. Box 323
Moorcroft, Wyoming 82721

[@kimberlyduncan1053]

All the kids are so sweet but Asher is so attentive & aware if the little ones needs. It's so nice to see. Thanks for sharing!

[@drummerlovesbookworm9738]

Tell Asher he is doing a good job of future wrinkle prevention by keeping a straight face all the time. :-)

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

I'll tell him that... :)

[@pjl2963]

There were so many heart-melting moments in this video, Andrea...but the one that I'll take away with me was the scene with Claudia picking dandelions with Asher. Can I just say, "Awwww....." I just love your family

[@debbieomi]

I remember creating simple tube-like Barbie dresses on the sewing machine at Eden's age and here she is, creating her own skirt! So cool! Good for you, Eden! Glad everyone is feeling healthier. Had a bout over the end of the week myself and am just feeling half normal today. I don't know which is worst, the fever causing eye pain and headache or the general feeling of being ran over by a truck. :-/ I think the illness took one look at Solly and thought, Nope, he's gonna fight me tooth and nail, and left him alone. lol I love his little personality.

[@courtascot]

Im so impressed with edens sewing.she did a great job on the skirt she made for herself.i hope you tell her good job

[@jillygirl2024]

Good job, Eden - wow good job to you, Judah on making the tinctures

[@thewatergal5770]

Love Eden's skirt!! Great job!

[@brielynn]

Growing up we had the cutest sweetest bunny named Misha, and she would eat the dandelions out of the yard. It was so cute. She would hop around the yard and grab them by them stems... then she would suck them up stem first and then pop the flower into her mouth last. So cute!

[@JoshsCindyLouakaTwinnyTwinMom]

EDEN MADE ME TEAR UP! Good job Sweetie girl! You need your own sewing Vlog..."Learn to Sew with meeeEDEN"

[@christalzerr4551]

What a sweet sight seeing Eden use the sewing machine. You must be so proud of her!

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

She and Justus were sewing pillows all afternoon yesterday. It was really cute. There were a lit of frustrating moments for them, but they figured stuff out. At one point she came out to show me the newest pillow she'd cut. It was kind of misshapen and she says, "It's okay; you always tell us nothing is perfect!"

[@123mintjelly]

I love it when Sol says yellow - "Lellow". Haha so cute ! He seems really smart - Looks like he almost always gets things right in his workbook.

[@debbieomi]

My nephew used to say "lellow", also. Funny think was he called lime, "yime". He's pushing 30 and we still kid him about it. It was jut the cutest thing ever.

[@tiffanygreen9470]

I wanted to say I love your weekly challenges, I had my cousins so the map activity and they really likes it. Lol. I had idea for one from when the boys were working outside and banging on the side of the wheel barrow. I thought maybe they all could build their own instruments!!!

[@annielemaster]

I am LOVING these challenges! So fun!

[@juliawisbey3614]

i love watching your videos i love your amazing family. god bless.

[@jogsingumboots]

5:19 - I live in Australia, I won't tell the kids the name of our capital city, but many people overseas get it wrong! Happy to send the kids ideas about real Australian food. It's not at all like Outback Steakhouse... www.goodfood.com.au/eat-out/best-of/top-10-iconic-australian-foods-20160125-gm8zqj :) I can't do it in a week, I'm preparing for exams. (Sorry!) Great family!

[@CristinaLopez-eq1we]

Hi Andrea hope you have a great day!😄

[@odan10]

Im hoping you expand your house because I'm very curious how you would decorate since you take advantage of every little corner it be something nice to see

[@gaga946]

Proud of Eden's skirt.

[@courtneybrown3311]

Haha watching from South Dakota . Love the videos keep it up 👍🏼

[@judahmills1731]

Hello

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

Hey Buddy!

[@lcoopcooperl]

I just found your channel,its awesome!.Subscribed for life.

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

You sure put a smile on my face!

[@firefightersgirlfriend897]

I'm very interested in your family's personal views and religious view on dating. I off and on grew up in church but there was never anything to teach us about all that, it just wasn't something they talked about. and now being 22 and having dated 7 different people and having a failed engagement before meeting the amazing man I'm with now. I always wonder if that's something that would have been different if it was talked about by my family and church.

[@ggandbb1702]

Mykaela Mccall I was thinking of asking a similar question recetly too and was also curious if you teach about the birds and the bees and what not to the kids?

[@traceywye6480]

hope you get on well with the tutorial on helping the kids improve on the weekly winners so more children can improve their chances of winning.

[@BlackKaida]

I hope someone flies to Canada 😅😃😃

[@sophiewines3357]

Australia!! Woohoo

[@Ways_of_her_household]

Love how Solomon looks so forward to Taco Tuesday lol!

[@kathleenl4387]

I'm glad everyone is beginning to feel better!! Andrea, you were saying right after you and Tom got married, you got strep throat. On Bert's and my wedding date, I couldn't talk. I had a fever of 103.5F, and that Monday I was diagnosed with strep throat. Lol. Owwweee!!! You have such a beautiful yard!!! I can't wait to see it in bloom. And ready for harvest. 🍒🍑🍓🥕🍆🍉

[@ggandbb1702]

Kathleen Lirette what is it with being sick after getting married! I actually ended up being taken in an ambulance to the hospital the day after coming back from my honeymoon!

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

What a damper on the party!

[@kathleenl4387]

IKR being sick for your wedding or right after or having to be in an ambulance and going to the hospital when you get home from your honeymoon??!!?? What kind of party is that???!!??

[@mkc1441]

Hi Andrea! I love watching your videos and enjoy learning about your guys' way of life. I do have one question though, at what point would you take your kids to the doctor? Like how sick would they have to be? (not necessarily with strep, but with any sickness) I'm not judging or questioning your parenting, I'm just curious!

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

I couldn't give you a list of symptoms that would send me to the doctor; I think you just know when someone's truly sick _and_ in need of help beyond your skills. I've taken someone to an emergency room five times- three times on medical advice, twice on my own judgment. The three times I was advised to go were a complete waste of time and money. There was genuinely no benefit to it and there were huge bills to be paid. The two times I went because I deemed it necessary, the person was truly in a life or death medical emergency beyond my ability to help. I think when you stop using doctors for every little thing, you begin to develop your own judgment and trust your own instincts more. That's something that's discouraged in almost all areas of life- learning to listen to your own senses and inner guidance. We're subtly and not so subtly taught to listen to and obey "experts." I hope, the best I can, to live my own life.

[@paulabrogan707]

what type of music do you let the kids listen too and also what kind of tv and movies do they watch

[@dragonflyneb]

Could Tom do a video on how he made the boarder for the tree? It is so beautiful!

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

I'll mention it to him; they did turn out really nice, especially for a last minute project with scraps!

[@poppycopper1]

I live in England and the capital is London , but I like to eat Chinese food but I guess it should be fish and chips xx

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

My mom and I went to London together when I was 16. Our first night there we went to a little place to get some supper by our hotel. I recall there were only a few things on the menu, fish and chips being one of them. There was also beef and kidney pie. I thought, what kind of food is this?! :)

[@poppycopper1]

Steak and kidney pudding is even worse, my mum use to make it and as a child I had to eat it, yuk. Lol xx

[@anchorsandarrows6935]

Can you tell us about Eden's sewing machine? I'd like to get one for my girls too. 😊

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

I think I might try to do a video about it for this month's Elective Education theme, but just in case I don't get to it I'll tell you that it's a Singer Pixie Plus sewing machine. It's perfect for kids because it can't go very fast so it feels a lot safer to use. Eden's very comfortable with it. Tonight she made a little pillow 100% on her own and she's so proud of it!

[@JoshsCindyLouakaTwinnyTwinMom]

Andrea, my sister! Next time yall come to California stop by my house. Your "FUN-ishment" will be hair dye & a make over. I bless you with "#9". lol. Hubby & I have 6. I've had 4 post turning 40!

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

Tom saw your comment and said he bet I loved hearing that you had 4 children after you turned 40. Giving lots of hope!

[@kathleenl4387]

Karrie L I think that you are using the word "gross" in the wrong way. My mom and dad were unable to have children naturally. They adopted all five of us as babies. Three of us after mom and dad were forty. I'm the youngest. She was 46 when I was born. She died at 95. I had a wonderful life with her. I can think of a lot of things "gross", but not people having children after 40.

[@JoshsCindyLouakaTwinnyTwinMom]

Well GOD HAS BLESSED US with many children! Thank you Jesus for your grace & mercy.

[@JoshsCindyLouakaTwinnyTwinMom]

Andrea Mills LOVE TOM'S "NERD" vlogs! Makes me wanna go to Best Buy or Home Depot! (hours in both)

[@kelleyjerred8032]

I believe in the same when it comes to going to the Dr and taking meds

[@lynnwilson665]

Have you and or do you use a essential oils when the kids are sick? I'm just getting into them now and I read a lot about essential oils you can use when sickness is around to try and purify the air. Just curious if you do?

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

I'm not very knowledgeable about essential oils. I mainly use them topically, but one of our KZbin friends sent us a diffuser so I'll have to learn more about using them that way.

[@karla.30]

Armor EO is FANTASTIC for boosting immune system. We use it whenever exposed to illness, or at the first sign.

[@jenjenb1209]

just curious what is in the wall of boxes in the entry way

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

I'm still working on KonMari-ing the house. Those are the boxes of pictures and keepsakes I need to sort through as the last step.

[@jenjenb1209]

Wow you go girl!

[@amandawatson5944]

I haven't been feeling to well either, it's taking ages to feel better, I've had a blocked nose, sore throat and a cough, now I just have a cough

[@lumpyspace9073]

it seems like Solomon gets a lot of undivided attention, is that because he's in kindergarten and needs lots of instruction? I only ask because all the other kids seem to work independently. just curious🤗all your babes are gorgeous and so kind!

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

That's how the curriculum is designed to work. Once they learn to read, they work very independently. It allows one person to supervise a wide range of ages; it's one of the things that makes life simpler at this house!

[@lumpyspace9073]

that's what I thought😀thanks for answering 💛

[@condorgig]

How come you didn't take spring break over the Easter weekend?

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

We have three 12-week terms, each on followed by a break. Christmas break falls at the end of the first 12 weeks. Easter is sometime around our second break, but it doesn't necessarily fall during the break. After our final 12 weeks, we'll take off 12 weeks for summer break.

[@SuperShakes10]

How do you do it!!! I think I'm super mom if I get my two kids to school and clean the house. You need a cape!

[@indigoblue4791]

Loved to see you all today Andrea. Solomon is such a diamond, working on his letters and things. I wish we'd come to home school so much sooner. I'm having a hard time making a coca butter and almond oil salve, it's just so hard. I've reheated it and added more oil, still it's too hard. Any idea's, would you just add more oil? I did follow a recipe online but they most have their ratio's way off. I'm still loving last months topic and have moved on to sewing with my machine too! Hope you're all feeling well now! Sending love to you all. :) P.S Eden's skirt is so pretty, please let her know how impressed I was with her sewing skills! 🌻

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

That's what I would do- keep adding more oil till it's soft enough. Make notes for next time if you can. I have another sewing video coming out tomorrow and hopefully still a couple more before the end of the month. I'm glad you're enjoying them! (I'll tell Eden your message.)

[@indigoblue4791]

Andrea Mills Thank you Andrea. Feeling excited for tomorrows video! ❤

[@12ROCKSsoftball]

Hi Andrea! I've been watching you and your family for a while, I'm absolutely in love! I'm really depressed and I'd love to hear how you cope with sadness. I know you're busy but I don't have a mom to ask... I really couldn't think of anyone else I'd rather ask. If you have time I'd love to hear!

[@SuperShakes10]

My son is 16 and in Ireland that means he's in 3rd year in secondary school and the stuff he's learning is so advanced and It will only get harder until he gets to 6th year where he will sit a state exam to get into collage. I would have no hope of teaching him the subjects even with google lol how do you do it ?

[@phoebebirskys6072]

Erica Irwin that's so weird!! In Australia most people finish high school at 17'

[@ggandbb1702]

Erica Irwin hello fellow Irish person :) Galway girl here! :) x

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

The curriculum we use is designed to be self-taught, so we just read the instructions and keep at it till we get it. Most of the time Thomas does fine on his own. Once in awhile something stumps him so we work on it together. If we still can't get it, Tom helps us when he gets home. When I taught at the Christian school we used the same curriculum. My first year I had a student doing Physics and I never did Physics. I was nervous about that situation. The first morning I was working, she needed help in the dreaded subject. I was so relieved when I was able to read her instructions and spot her problem and work through it with her. It turned out we did just fine together, thankfully!

[@SuperShakes10]

Thanks for getting back to me , I think your super mom I really enjoy your videos it gives me such joy and inspiration lots of love from Ireland I hope one of the kids pick Ireland as a holiday destination it's so beautiful here xx

[@SuperShakes10]

Hello x Dublin girl here

[@ReneeMoody]

I had strep throat as many as 5-6 times a year as a child but have only had it once as an adult, simply because adults are significantly less likely to get it. Strep should not be left untreated, it can lead to rheumatic fever, kidney disease and even necrosis.

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

Whatever the reason I don't get strep throat anymore, I'm glad it's not part of my life anymore! Between leaving home and getting married, I still got it a handful of times. I recall once when I was living about 5 hours away from my family I came down with it and my family doctor called in a prescription for me. He didn't bother making me come in to see him because it was still such a part of my life that it didn't seem necessary. I've followed Pediatrican Robert Mendehlson's "hands off" approach with my kids and it's served me well. In his book How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor, he has a chapter called The Mythical Menace of Strep Throat. A few quotes: "...although the use of penicillin may shorten the course of strep by three or four days, it may also cause recurrence of the infection all winter long. Antibiotics... prevent the development of the antibodies that are the body's natural defense against the disease. If the strep infection is not treated, but allowed to run its course, the body will produce antibodies to fight it that can continue to protect the child..." Also, "Parents are led, or at least allowed to believe, that rheumatic fever and the accompanying threat of lifelong heart disease is an imminent hazard... That conclusion is contradicted by simple logic, as well as statistical facts." It's a very helpful book and I highly recommend it.

[@joshuacreel3000]

Just a day of clothing related fiascos the first part of the vlog, eh? Lol

[@joshuacreel3000]

Also your kids all have the best smiles. They're contagious!

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

That's about right! I was glad when Sophia finally gave in and let me help her.

[@alouis828]

ahhh 1st comment and 15th like

[@natmetos5542]

I have the worst kitchen design on the planet. if I emailed you a picture would you give me some suggestions ?

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

I don't know if I can help or not, but you can e-mail me at [e-mail] and we'll see!

[@claireguzman7935]

Awesome video. At 36:01 does that kind of teaching ever bother you? Teaching that women are supposed to cook. I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts as I know the curriculum you use has had lots of backlash.

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

No, it doesn't bother me. If anything is offensive, it's the idea that as a woman, I can't be happy unless I live like a man. I don't want to be a man. I think it's a sad day when a woman's natural desires are seen as demeaning. All I ever wanted was to have a home and family to care for and I find it insulting when "the world" tries to act like there's something wrong with that. I was thinking about it yesterday how our boys learn to cook, sew, take care of children, etc. because it's what family-focused people do. But someone, sometime decided to politicize family life and pretend that women were being forced to do demeaning house work while men _got_ to go out in the real world and do real work. Real families don't work that way and never have. They only started working that way when men were convinced to leave family farms and businesses for factories and offices (because the powers that be can then siphon off real wealth through taxation of those men). Then they told us we were sexist and women should be allowed to work to (more cheap labor and tax income for them!) All the while, family oriented people keep on living life where everyone cooks, everyone cleans, etc. and we enjoy it! It's been demonstrated that the more "liberated" women become, the more unhappy they are, as a group. I think the same is true of men, but to a lesser degree. Our "liberation" from home life is really our enslavement to wealthy masters, we've just been convinced it's the opposite.

[@paulabrogan707]

i think thats a great answer i think if women want to work thats great but just as great if they stay home with the kids which is a very hard job i have done both and also my son learned how to cook and clean with his sisters and does it quite well he is 30 now