Monday, July 16, 2007 - What's a Homeschool Parent To Do?

We all need to find our own niche and our own lives in life. That includes our individual homeschools. Homeschools take on a personality of their own according to the family, the parent, teaching style and each child. It is fine to look at what everyone else is doing and how they do it, but when it comes down to it, we need to be true to our own lives and know that we are on the right track.

When we homeschool our children for our children, instead of a standard we have to meet, it makes it a joy for them to learn and also takes a great burden off to "keep up with the Joneses". We should never do that. Yes, we can  look at what so-n-so is doing. We should listen and learn from each other and especially those with more experience, but we should never trade someone else's experience for the direction we need to take in our own homeschool.

We all have great days and we all have "those other days." Do not despair. We have all been there. We have. Everyone had to start at the beginning. It doesn't matter if your beginning was in KGrade, with 5 children or with 1 in High School. You had to have a 1st day and 1st year of homeschool, just like everyone else.

We also all go through times of wondering if we are teaching *everything we need to*. Is my child really learning? Are we ahead of the ps or behind? Should I use this curriculum or that? There are times when we feel like we can't go on; we have lost our fervor, and we just don't know what to do next. There are also times when things are just right, working out well and everyone is happy-happy.

We still have to look at our children and see *them*. We don't see children we have to homeschool and get this lesson or that task accomplished with, but our child. You know, the one who mixed the brown paint in with the yellow? Or maybe the one who isn't quite ready to read, when even the younger sibling has already taken to it so well? The aspiring writer. Or artist. That little scientist who mixed the last of your flour in with the vinegar. Or the little 2yo mechanic who can't stop taking things apart and leaving them out. Yes, our children. God love 'em, as my grandpa used to say.

We want the best for them. We want to teach them what they need to know. We want them to enjoy not only learning, but their childhood. We can do that. As you are searching for curriculum and making up plans for this next year, slow down. Look at your child. Listen to him. Listen to the Lord. Let God lead you in your homeschool. Do not try to keep up with anyone else. Keep up with *your* homeschool. Make goals and plans for *your* homeschool, for each of your own children and follow them as closely as learning will allow. Don't break your children to follow the plans. Let the plans lead the child and follow his learning bent at the same time.

You can do it. We have all been there, and we will continue to succeed and fail at different times and in different areas of our lives. Homeschooling is just one of those areas!

blessings! -Jacque

•Some Pregnancy Info and Links
•A Little Bit of Gardening Humor; a Little Bit of Politics

Monday, July 16, 2007 - Amen and Amen...

Tuesday, July 17, 2007 - Perfect timing!

Tuesday, July 17, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Tuesday, July 17, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Wednesday, July 18, 2007 - Jacque

Wednesday, July 18, 2007 - I forgot

Wednesday, July 18, 2007 - Thank you!

Wednesday, July 18, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - Thanks!