Posted in My Homeschool FAQs

There is a new Sonic commercial I saw yesterday  where a guy says something about "The 43 letters of the alphabet"...The other day my 6 year old said something to me about "It's hard to believe all the words that can be made with only 26 letters in the alphabet."  I really  had no idea she knew there were 26 letters in the alphabet!  This got me thinking about the things my 6 year old knows that many adults don't.

Here are a few I thought of:

1.  The names and location of all the Continents.

2.  All 9 Fruits of the Spirit.

3.  The 10 Commandments in order 

4.  Approx. 50 Bible verses

5.  The Books of the New Testament in order

I am a night owl, so I tend to watch Jay Leno on the Tonight Show every so often.  I am always appalled when they have those man on the street interviews.  They ask people simple questions they should have learned by 3rd grade and they have no clue!  Not to long ago one of the questions was "How many Continents are there."  I am hoping they edit out all the people that know the answers just to make it funny...But, I have my doubts!    The funny thing is if I am really honest, I didn't know a lot of the things my kids know until I taught it to them!  I memorized the 10 Commandments right along with my oldest son.  I learned the Fruits of the Spirit recently while the kids were learning them. I am much better at my multiplication facts since I learned them with skip counting along with my oldest son.  Please don't think I am bragging when I point out the things she knows.  It is not that I am some kind of Super-Homeschooling mom. I'm sure most homeschool parents could put together a list like the one I have above. It's just that homeschooling allows us to explore things we would not have time for if we learned by more conventional methods. Homeschool kids don't stop learning when they walk out the doors of school.  Most are being raised in a rich learning environment.  Homeschoolers learn in the car, at the store, in the kitchen, EVERYWHERE.  (Some of the conversations we have had in public restrooms I am sure have convinced more than a few people we are CrAzY!  LOL) 

Sometimes people will say to me "Don't you get bored being home with kids all day?"  and I think to myself..."You know it was a lot more boring sitting in an office focusing on one topic all day!"  Our homeschool day can start out in Egypt and end up in Outer Space. A trip to the grocery store may include a math lesson or a discussion about the differences between fruits and vegetables. (Just what is that tomato? What about corn is it a vegetable or grain???)  I can't tell you how many times I have to run to the internet to answer the questions my kids ask!  I never know what adventures we are going to have!  I cannot remember the last time I was bored!  (Tired, always, bored...never!  LOL) 

So the next time someone questions your choice to homeschool, ask them to tell you The 10 Commandments in order.  If they can't...Tell them you know a homeschooled 6 year old who CAN! Maybe I should see if I can get her booked on the Tonight Show?  LOL