 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|||||
| Home — View my profile — Archives — Email Me — My Blog's RSS | |||||
|
|||||
Homeschooling Only One ~ Interlude on a Ranch
1:15 AM, Jul. 6, 2007
As I write this, a gentle breeze rustles the cottonwood trees. Every so often I can hear a goat bleat. The sky is blue and the sun fairly warm.
Earlier we drove out and I drank cold water pumped by a windmill up from an underground stream. Cold and clear, fresh and sweet, the water tasted so good straight out of the metal pipe. After the water collects in a large metal tub, it pipes over to a small pond. As we lingered there, a small portion of the herd crested the ridge and made their way down to us. Some trotted quite intent on the water, plunging into the water up to their knees. As they drank deeply, I could hear their breath hit the surface of the water. One particular cow took up a position halfway up the hill from the pond, lowing for straggling companions. These others meandered their way down, grazing as they came. Those at water’s edge grazed, keeping their eyes on us. I approached the pond slowly and cautiously, a mere 25 feet from them with the water separating us. A calf started to nurse as its mother kept her eyes on me. The bull of the group caught site of another bull in the next pasture over. He challenged him, throwing up dust with his hoof, staring intently the whole time we were there. The black cows there huddled along the fence line, grazing oblivious of the world around them. A killdeer swooped in, screeching a low stuttering trill, landing in the mud. He was as unconcerned over the cattle’s presence as they were of him. We slowly made our way back to the truck and headed back to the ranch house. The open skies and rocky outcrops making one believe that you were seeing this land with the same eyes as the Native Americans or early pioneers who made their way this way. I’m in the Oklahoma Panhandle this week. A girlfriend of mine had a week’s vacation and invited me to go along where ever she might end up. Our mutual friend invited us to come visit. She is a rancher’s wife, homeschooling their three children, ranging from 16 to 20 years. They run both cattle and goats. They live in an adobe house easily over 130 years old (with modern conveniences), with several outbuildings of various ages. On the property there is an abandoned homestead’s ruins in a small canyon and by some springs dripping out of the overhanging rocks nearby. I was here 5 years ago for a day visit and am gratified to come for a more extended visit. Another mutual friend in the area has joined us, not quite for a “moms’ slumber party” but definitely for the fellowship. The four of us revel in the chance to kick back and enjoy each other’s company, and our hostess has made us so at home. We feel we are “family” more than we are “just” friends. My husband blessed my journey and he & our 17-year-old son are keeping the home fires burning in my absence. I think most homeschooling moms don’t realize how important it is for them (and their families) to have some “down time.” Not all can afford to take a whole week either “at home but off-duty” or completely away from kith ‘n kin. But even fewer can afford not to have some time off. Even if the time off-duty is just an evening or a Saturday afternoon, it can make a difference. Moms need to rejuvenate. With virtually a 24/7-type job, with the responsibility and safety of at least one other person on their shoulders, a vacation of whatever duration can be imperative.
Granted, moms are rarely responsible for that many and the family minivan only weighs approximately 5,000 pounds, but are those who are in mom’s charge any less precious? Moms who are overworked and overtired can make mistakes and getting enough rest (and off-duty time) can greatly help. I doubt that an average mom gets “eight continuous hours of rest during a 24-hour period.” Or she is lucky when she does. All of this to say, that having some vacation time, be it miniscule or a whole week at a time, is important.
I didn’t particularly need this week away, but when the opportunity presented itself, I chose to pursue it. I’ve been extremely blessed by a husband who has realized that I had a need to be relieved from my job. With all good things, balance is key—if I ended up taking off a week every 3 weeks, I wouldn’t be very good at my job, but to not take any time off could drain my energy, creativity, and stamina. Homeschool moms need all three. So, if you can, see if you can’t take some time off, smell the flowers whether they are a state away or only in your own backyard. Enjoy!
Donna Conner lives in Fort Worth, TX with her husband, Glenn, their son, Mike, and their dog, Lucia. Donna and Glenn have been homeschooling their son since the beginning of his education. Mike completes his homeschooling within the next two years. Donna is an artist and has always enjoyed writing. She wrote Homeschooling Only One three years ago, after discovering that there were many other families homeschooling only one child. Her website is devoted to those with only one student in their homeschool, with listings of online resources. You can visit her website at http://donnac.com and read her blog at: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaC Comments 
Curious about The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine but not quite ready to commit to a subscription without seeing it first?
Check it out for FREE! We're so certain you'll love our publication that we'll gladly send a FREE sample to anyone new to The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine - we even cover the shipping!
... Click here for more information ... |
About This Blog
~ Tia Linschied, Senior Editor of HSB   
 available! Click here to Subscribe !  To see the current cover up close, click here  Product of the Month This time-tested method of planning will give your family new direction for the future. Start today! Choose the dates for your planning weekend, read her book which has the entire “how to” included, and go for it! 
Living Heritage UK Homeschool ResourcesCosidering HomeschoolingOur HSB Blogger Babies!HSB Baby CalendarRecent Entries
FREE e-News!Our e-Newsletters give you wonderful, informative information about homeschooling, news bits, contests and PRIZES for homeschoolers, articles to encourage you, calls for writers, free unit studies and lesson plans, and just a lot of FUN. Bring the community to your inbox – and no worries, we never sell, trade or give your email or any other information out to anyone. Come join the homeschool party! The Homeschool Minute is our most popular newsletter, full of encouragement and support just for YOU! Subscribe to *FREE* newsletters offered by The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.Visit the Porch Team Writers and FeaturesTia Linschied, Senior Editor Monday - Friday! Homeschool Tip of the Day by Christina Monday by Jennifer Pepito by Dianna Maxwell by Amanda Suryan by Tia Linschied Tuesday by In The Hands of a Child by Dell by Jennifer Dewing Wednesday by the HWTB Team by Suzanne Gose by Lori Lane Thursday by Nancy Baetz by JoJo Tabares by Tia Linschied Friday by Donna Conner by Lisa Golda by Tia Linschied News AlertsArchived Features Our New E-book ~ On Sale NOW! Quick LinksGrowth of BlogsSifry's Alerts - the blog of the owner of Technorati Do you have the whole set of back issues from The Old Schoolhouse Magazine? Click here to view all back issues and read the themes - you will want to collect the ones you've missed!! In MemoryMissey GrayLorrie Gnos Peggy Barendregt TOS Staff & AssociatesMari AlmonNancy Baetz Lisa Barthuly Nancy Carter Donna Conner Michelle Eichhorn Julie Forsythe Christi Gifford Jamin Kate Kessler Tia Linschied Amy Osborn Kris Price Susan Spann Deb Turner Sarah White Kim Wolf Dena Wood Deborah Wuehler Homeschool Nation Roll Call** denotes a state needing a Coordinator - all states are needing several contributors each!• Homeschool Nation blog • Military Blog • Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho** • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi** • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska** • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont ** • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming • Washington DC ** • Guam • Puerto Rico** • Alberta, Canada • British Columbia, Canada • Manitoba, Canada • New Brunswick, Canada • Newfoundland/Labrador, Canada • NW Territories, Canada** • Nova Scotia, Canada • Nunavut, Canada** • Ontario, Canada • Prince Edward Island, Canada** • Quebec, Canada • Saskatchewan, Canada • Yukon Territory, Canada** • UK • Australia • Spain ** need contributors for each of the following areas: North England, Scotland, South England, London Front Porch BlogRoll- ... and his ministers a flame of fire- 21st Century Reformation - As for me and my house, - Aspiring PolyMathis - Back of the Envelope - Be Bold, Be Gentle - Bear Witness - Beyond The Rim... - Bird of Paradise - Blog for Books - Blogcorner preacher - Blogotional - Brandywine Books - Broken Masterpieces - Burkean Canuck - Captain's Log - IntellectualPrivateer.or - Carol's Storybook - Cerulean Sanctum - ChoosingHome Blog - Christian Home School Teachers - Christian quoter - Classical Education 4 Me - Classical Education in Paradise - Comment Me No Comments - Confessions of a Homeschool Dad - Crazies from the Crazy lady - Daddypundit - DaisyChain Farmstead - Damascus Road - DANDELION SEEDS - Scattering inspiration - Danny Carlton - Dan's Journey - Day By Day - Defiant Lamb - Dignan's 75 Year Plan - DOUBLE TOOTHPICKS - Dr. John Mark Reynolds - ESPRESSO ROAST - Exiled Preacher - Faith at the Front - Blog - Fellow Random One - Freedom of... - Gerald Yuen: Home - Gratuitous Advice - Grizzly Mama - Hard Starboard - Hatless in Hattiesburg - Holy Fool - Home Maker ~ Proverbs 14.1 - Home Where They Belong - Homeschool Mom Blog - Hux - Isn't It Rich - Jack Of Clubs - Janne's Jabberwocky - jeffmcfadden.com - JivinJehoshaphat - Journal of a Domestic Athlete - Journeying...By Grace Alone - Julie's Life in Living Color - Junto Boyz - Kramjam Reiterates - Ladies in Training - Lessons Learned On the Farm - Light Along the Journey - Linda's Thoughts - Logicus bLogicus - Magic Statistics - manasclerk's The Power Struggle - me autem minui - MediaCulpa Blog - Midnight Hour | Do you not know there co - Mike Perrigoue - Monopedilos - having but one shoe - Neumatikos - Northern 'burbs blog - Off the top - Ogre's Politics & Views - Old Path, New Song - Our Little Homeschool Farm - Patricia Ann's Pollywog Creek - Paultastic Musings - Pete The Elder - Power of Change... - Principled Discovery - PRMAMA: Marketing to Go! - prosthesis - technology and science - Pruitt Communications - PR Ideas - Pseudo-Polymath - Quiet Life - Random Yak - RazorsKiss.net - Redirect - Reed's Blogged Arteries - Reformed Politics - Revenge of Mr Dumpling - RightFaith - Rooftop Blog - RootleWeb - Scotland Diaries - secundum Christum - Shades of Pink - South of the Gnat Line - Sprittibee - sprucegoose - Spunky Homeschool - Spurgeon Collection: Sermons and Writing - Stones Cry Out - such small hands - Sudan Watch - Sunny Side Up Academy - Susan Wise Bauer's blog - Tami's Blog - Texas Raisins - The (In)Scrutable Observer - THE CALVINIST POLICE GAZETTE - The Common Room - the evangelical outpost - The Greatest Pursuits - The Grey Shadow - The Official HSB Community Blog - The Prattling Pastor's Wife - The Rogue Angel - The Young Evangelical - Then Jesus told his disciples - This Little Light Of Mine - Through a Glass Darkly - Through It All - Through the eyes of HappyApple - Tim Thompson . . . Reflections - To Tell You The Truth - Trying is Bravery - Under The Sun - US Navy Retired - Vibrant Woman Writer - View From The Pew - Walking Circumspectly - Wesley Blog - Wired Wisdom - Wittingshire - wooQ: Theological Christian thoughts and - Writing's of an exceptional being - Raising Three Knights and a Princess 
|
||||
