Well, it's already December, and I feel like I have not made much progress at all yet this year, but from everything I have been reading about homeschooling lately, it is going to take at least a year to "unschool" the kids. Frankly, it will probably take that long to "unschool" myself! I was raised by the old public school system. Though not as rediculous in it's methods as they are today, it definitely had it's illogical moments that used to drive my mom crazy when she tried to help me with my homework. As most of you know, this is my second attempt at homeschooling. I am hoping to make it work this time by trying to be more open-minded about curriculum and teaching techniques. Of course, this time I am also working full-time, but since it is for the family business, I am able to bring the kids to work with me a lot, and my daughter has even participated in one of our displays at a local Business Expo. She hasd a blast.

We recently joined a couple of local homeschooling groups, and hope to meet other homeschooling families in our area soon. Nolan is going to be in a spelling bee next month, and hopefully Nina will be auditioning for a part in a play arranged by one of the homeschooling groups. She has always loved being on stage. She used to take ballet & tap lessons, and has been in productions with those dance schools, as well as in church and private school. She even won a talent contest in public school a couple of years ago.

Well, let's see how long it takes for us to get motivated this week, after an entire week off from schooling last week.

That's right! I am back, and am approaching this from a new angle now. Instead of letting someone else dictate what I teach my kids and how I teach it, and am taking matters into my own hands, as I have had to do with so many other aspects of my life over the past ten years. Right now, my son, Nolan, is attending an online school, but it is not working out very well; and I just pulled my daughter, Nina, out of public school again about a month ago. I have purchased for her a pretty pricey curriculum, but can't seem to get her motivated to do her work. It is hard, now that I work fulltime again, but I am going to try and cover as much as I can over the weekends she is home (she has visitation with her dad), and in the evenings. It will be a hard road ahead, but I am hopeful that I can figure out a way to make this work out, because the alternative is just unacceptable. Wish me luck!