Posted in Tags

As you know by now if you have traveled anywhere in Blogland lately, Tiany is hosting Homeschool Open House 2007. What is Homeschool Open House 2007? Do you remember when you went to school (for those of you that are not  second generation Homeschoolers or being Homeschooled yourself that is) ? The teacher would hold an Open House. This was designed to introduce the parents to the teacher and show off the classroom. THAT is exactly what this is! And she has EVEN invited us “Old Timers” to play as well. Oh And there are prizes did I tell you there are prizes?

…Here are the instructions.

•   A short intro about you, how many blessings? How long have you been Homeschooling etc.. Just incase this is someone’s first visit to your blog.
•   Your Homeschool Day, what does it look like?
•  What curriculum will you be using? Do you not use a curriculum? Do you homeschool for FREE? Tell us about it!
•   Do you schedule your day to the minute or go with the flow with no real structure?
•   Do you homeschool in a homeschool room, at the kitchen table, at a desk, in the park on the grass? 
•    Do you have any “must share” tips?
•   Do you have a question or concern? Throw that in there too!
• After doing this make sure you go to Tiany’s blog and add yourself to Mr’ Linky!

Welcome to my blog, my name is Bobbie and I began Homeschooling in 1983. Yes I do realize how LONG ago that was. Mike and I have two Children that now have children of their own. I am a “Bubbe” (grandmother) to Seven, six which are being Homeschooled. On Aug 18^th my Beloved and I will be married 34 amazingly passionate adventure filled years.

At the time I began Homeschooling, it was not done openly in my state, and the few of us who dared were in our homes, curtains drawn from 8:00am to 3:00pm. Just as the Israelite women and midwives lied about the births of their children to keep them safe, I found myself doing the same. At the end of a very tumultuous school year (this is not exaggerating) we told our school we were being stationed in another state and asked to have our school records so we could hand carry them and not loose them. They agreed and we walked away. We would be stationed in another state and another state just as we said, but it would be a year later. For the next year we would live behind closed doors. When people asked where my kids went to school, they had a name. “Our Shepherd’s Garden Academy” was their reply. If you have not named your school, please consider it, they love sharing their “school” with others. Sometimes that would be enough and sometimes they would ask the next question. Where is that?  I would say it is a small private school in the area. By the fourth question, I always felt the tug of the Holy Spirit to explain to them what we were doing.

To those of you just beginning this adventure in Homeschooling I want to encourage you to work diligently at keeping the laws of your state favorable to Homeschooling. There are those the DO NOT want you to have this Freedom because in truth it costs them money. Anytime you cost them money they fight very hard to get those lost dollars back. Remain diligent, those before you fought hard for your rights. The next generation is counting on you to keep things going strong. Join HSLDA because if you do not need them, another family may, being there for each other is what we do.

The first time I walked into my Congresswoman’s office with my two children ages 7 and 9, to ask her to support Home School legislation, I had the fear of a criminal, the desperation of a parent with no where to turn and the first moment of understanding what my family must have felt talking to the Gestapo before being taken away. Relief filled my heart when I discovered our Congresswoman was at one time my daughter’s PE teacher. This made the flow of our conversation, the experiences I shared with her, personally reflective for her. She knew many of the problems first hand. She also giggled when my son fell asleep with my hair wrapped around his finger needing to feel close to his mommie, saving me from embarrassment and bringing clarity to the bond that is unnaturally broken by putting a five year old on a school bus. The Legislation did not pass that year, but it did finally pass, and our PE teacher Congresswoman helped lead the way.

I spoke to a woman over a telephone and she introduced me to the world of Catalogues filled with learning. I never knew her name because being an Underground Homeschooler meant no support groups, no joint field trips, no NAMES.  Oh the joy she brought to my heart from the realm of  Abeka, Bob Jones, Rod and Staff! When I see all the choices set before you today, I feel like I am in Baskin Robbins trying to choose one scoop! What a smorgasbord of delightful offerings you have. I love buying curriculum for my daughter! I love finding treasures I had used, hidden in corners of used bookstore. Since the books I would have passed down are residing I some Alligators bookcase at he bottom of the Everglades.

I am going to tackle each of these bullets above one post at a time. Bring your cup and let’s chat. Over the years my schedule has changed as did my heart.

Now if you haven't signed up, go to Tiany's and do so, she is waiting just for you. You only have until the 16th!

#2 To schedule or not to schedule http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/bubbebobbie/368305/

#3 Your Home school day and what does it look like?

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/bubbebobbie/368348/

#4 When you feel inadequate

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/bubbebobbie/368984/

#5 Homeschooling Teens, a few ideas

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/bubbebobbie/372582/

#6 The myth of Socialization

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/bubbebobbie/372608/