I am reading a book! Yes, an actual book… not an article… and it is good one!

A friend –who has opened my eyes to all of the amazing curriculum in the world of homeschooling—recommended the book to me. Titled The Well-Trained Mind ; it has a lot of really great information. In previous years we were "issued" our curriculm by the programs we used. I’m sure it is not new to many other homeschoolers, but it is new to me… and in my own little world, that is what matters. I am so excited to implement some of the changes on how we do things around here.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have some great friends helping me on this journey of ours by introducing me to wonderful and inspiring new things to read. Thanks guys!

I read an article today in a Homeschooling magazine. It opened my eyes to numerous things. As I stated before, I am struggling with my decision to branch out on our own as far as curriculum goes. The article is called the Cost of Free from the Nov/Dec edition of Home School Enrichment. It really made sense to me. I honestly feel like we are not doing justice to our homeschooling endeavors. I feel like we are learning at a pace set by a school, by the state, and by their standards. It doesn’t make sense to me anymore. We chose to homeschool for a reason. We chose to forgo traditional public schools for a reason. A charter school is still in essence a public school, funded by the state. I am not sure why I never thought of that before. The HSLDA has strong opinions on the matter of choosing charter schools for curriculum. I almost feel like a traitor after some of the things I read!

Honestly, what it comes down to is that it is not working for us. The children and I are not getting what we need out of the program. We need to have more time to enjoy learning; we need to have more time to enjoy each other instead of fighting to get done what CAVA wants us to get done on that particular day. We want to be able to work together more. We want to be able to make messes and do projects. We want to have the time to do other units such as the Iditarod. I want to be able to give them a day off on their birthday. We are always so rushed I feel like we are drowning sometimes. We are constantly trying to catch up, it is a hopeless feeling and it is stressing us all out. To top it all off… real learning is not being accomplished, we are doing things so fast that basically we are doing an assignment and marking it complete. If they want to learn more about it… too bad… not enough time… gotta move on to the next one…

I have looked into a few other homeschool philosophies such as Charlotte Mason. I like the idea of a nature journal and many of her other ideas. I also like what I have seen of the more “classical” style of homeschooling. I am really excited actually. The kids are excited too, they have been asking me to do our own thing for a while now and not have to deal with traditional schoolteachers. Looking back… I should have done it sooner. Lesson learned.

I am going to take the leap and free myself, and my children. Wish us luck!

I am trying to decide if we should continue using CAVA next year. I had a conversation via Instant Messenger J with a great friend of mine today. I haven’t been very happy with some things and am wondering if I should venture out on our own. I already have some programs I really like so I would only need a few of the basics like math. I am feeling more and more confident about things and I know a little more about what I do and do not like when it comes to certain curriculum.

So… should we stay or should we go?

To stay or not to stay… that is the question!

I try to live my life with the philosophy that you learn something new everyday.

 Just yesterday -- thanks to a writing program that we are using (Institute for Excellence in Writing) -- I learned that pill bugs… aka rollie pollies as I have always called them… are crustaceans and related to crabs and lobsters. They breathe through gills instead of lungs… who knew? Apparently, that is why they are usually found in damp places. They have to keep their gills (located on the underside of their bodies) slightly moist. Again… who knew? Not me that is for sure! Maybe it is a commonly known fact, but it was news to me.

 Today I learned that my two and a half-year-old daughter truly has me figured out. The other day she kept begging for a bath. On and on she begged… I would say no… she’d say please (in tones ranging from very sweet and lovely to full out shrieking) and I would again say no or ignore her. This went on for a while and then after I tried ignoring her she mistakenly said, “Say no Mom” so I did… I said no. She then asked again… “Please I take a bath” in a very sweet voice… I again ignored her and she said “Mom say yeah… say yeah Mom” I held out as long as I possibly could and then I gave in. I know it was the wrong thing to do… but I started thinking… why am I saying no? So she had a bath and enjoyed it to the fullest. Water everywhere wrinkly fingers and toes… the whole 9 yards.

 I was telling some friends the story and my daughter was apparently listening… closely. Tonight we went through the whole thing again only this time it was about ginger ale. “Mom say yeah…” then she trapped me in the kitchen and kept going… until… I gave in -- she is way too cute sometimes. I told my husband… did you hear her? We both laughed. 20 minutes later, she was at it again and this time she trapped me in the kitchen again just as she had done before. “Say yeah Mom… say yeah”

 I used to feel I had incredible will… stubborn as they come. Three children and homeschooling have weekend me a little. She is my youngest and thoughts of her growing up cloud my judgment at times. Oh well… there are more important things to worry about… like what will I learn tomorrow and how can I make every moment with her count.

So, here we are another year later and I am finally updating... or attempting to update my blog. I am obviously not keeping up with it the way I should.

I will say it once again... I am going to attempt to keep this more up to date. We'll see... life has a way of keeping us all busy. As I said before...homeschooling is a huge undertaking and with changing to CAVA this year... I am a bit overwhelmed at times. Wish me luck!               

My original goal was to update this blog a few times a week. It obviously hasn't worked out that way.

All of our activities, homeschooling, and everyday life have interrupted me.

Homeschooling is a huge undertaking. A (very funny) friend and I have been taking a close look at our crazy schedules lately and honestly, we just have to laugh. We have various sports, art, cub scouts etc...

In the middle of all of our extra activities, we have to fit in some actual schooling. Oh... and do not forget field trips, and parties, they also play a strong roll in our schedules...and soccer season is just around the corner.

I laugh at our busy lives often. Sometimes I am beyond frustrated. However, at the end of the day when everyone is asleep,  I can concentrate on my own thoughts... I think about all of the amazing things that we are so fortunate to be able to do together. Thankfully, I have fabulous friends and a wonderful homeschool group to share it all with as well. I wouldn't trade it for anything, even my sanity.

Last night I had a much needed “night out”. Thanks to my radiant and hilarious friend Deanna. We got together (along with Christina), and had a glass or 2 of wine (well for me it was beer… yummy crafted beer) and enjoyed each other’s company.

 After reading a previous entry of mine, Deanna commented that I said ‘my youngest daughter and I stayed behind with a friend’. She said to me… “a friend… not my great friend, not my hilarious friend,” etc… she is not just any old friend. So I am writing tonight about her.

 When I first met Deanna and her husband… I absolutely fell in love with their sense of humor. She truly is hilarious. She is strong. She is committed. She also puts up with me even though I don’t share all of her beliefs. She is giving, sweet, and honest.

 Right now her husband is away at OTS and she misses him terribly. I have to say… a little bit selfishly… that it has been nice that he is gone (temporarily)… I have had more time with her lately and seen a different side of her.

 So… I realize she was kidding about my blog entry… but I told her I would write about her with more detail. I don’t think she thought I was serious. But, there you have it. She is not just a friend -- she is a hilarious, radiant, and fabulous friend. I am so grateful to have met her as well as her lovely family.

 Many many years ago when I was a teenager… I’m sure my children consider it the dark ages… no cell phones… no mp3 players… no game boys or the plethora of other electronics were available. The dark ages --We had to find our own entertainment; we had to use our imaginations, it wasn’t on a screen that was carried around with you.

 I could go on for hours I suppose, but I want to get to my original point. Many years ago, when I was a teenager I became pen- pals (does anyone still use that term?) with a girl in Washington (I am from Colorado). She was homeschooled. I was in complete awe of her. She didn’t have to go to school and be tormented. She could do whatever she wanted. WOW!!!! What an amazing life she must lead! No rules, no structure… no homework.

 I was jealous.

 Apparently, I had no idea at the time what homeschooling was all about. To me it meant you stayed home and did whatever you wanted.

 Now as a parent that has made the decision to homeschool my children, I realize the insane amount of effort that goes into homeschooling.

 I have always been interested in alternative forms of education, in my late teens, early 20’s I found myself drawn to the Montessori philosophy. To this day, it still holds a dear place in my heart. I incorporate Montessori work into our schedule however and whenever I find the opportunity.

 Back to my point, when I first considered homeschooling I had many questions. Can I do it and how? Is it right for us? Several friends of mine had introduced me to a very wise and experienced woman who homeschools her children. I remember asking her the “big question” What about socialization… do you worry about those kinds of things? She kind of chuckled and said sometimes she gets a little tired of people asking that question and she suggested a couple of books that could help me better make my decision.

 Later I remember her saying that the first year is the hardest and that it takes a good 3 years to begin to feel confident and see what really works for you and what doesn’t. I had a brief phase that I questioned my judgment and worried that my children wouldn’t experience normal things like playing dodge ball.

 We are now in our third year and I am starting to see what she meant. I am starting to see what is effective and what is unnecessary (the seemingly endless study of California that is part of the home study program we use). I am starting to see that I really am in charge of what they are learning and I can adjust it at any point. We are doing some really great things and I am so excited and feeling more positive than I have ever felt.

 I feel like I am jumping all over the place while writing this. Back to the socialization concerns some people have. I see why she chuckled when I asked her. Our children are incredibly social. Our homeschool group is amazing. We do so many wonderful things together. My children are definitely not missing out on any social time. We have P.E. once a week at the youth center on base. Everyone looks forward to it. The instructor does something different each week (dodge ball, soccer, hiking etc…). It is such a GREAT program, not to mention my children DO get to play dodge ball after all! We just had our Valentine’s Day party and it too was a lot of fun for the children. Art classes have been available as a group in the past and I believe will be starting again soon. Our group also offers public speaking opportunities, various classes that someone decides to teach such as knitting or quilting, and we go on some amazing field trips. They may even be starting a choir.

 I am so thankful for the support and sense of community that our group offers. It is a great group of wonderful families. I feel so fortunate to have met so many great people.

 As a homeschooling family we are incredibly busy, always learning, exploring, and growing. I imagine that was true for my pen pal as well, I just didn’t see it. I was caught up in my own little “teenage” world… or more appropriately… my many years of “temporary insanity”.

 I’m much better now...I think.

One of the things I enjoy most about homeschooling are the endless opportunities to broaden our horizons.

 The other day our homeschool group took a field trip aboard a living history tall ship named the Lady Washington. Some families took a dockside tour while others took a 3-hour sail. Our family went on the sail (3 out of 5 of us anyway). My youngest daughter and I stayed behind with a friend. The staff on board broke the children into groups and involved them in various activities. I was so excited to hear that the children got to “work the lines”. They adjusted the sails while chanting as sailors would have done in the past. Basically, they put the children to work and taught them about life of a tall ship. I highly recommend this trip to anyone on the Pacific Coast (the ship’s homeport is in Washington State, but they travel along the coast). I can’t speak for everyone, but as for my children (and husband), they had an AMAZING time.

http://ladywashington.org/

 Adventures like this make the hard days bearable. Our group has been on some pretty unique fieldtrips. Last year we toured a Loofah farm. I didn’t even know where loofah came from -- that is something my children will never be able to say. This year we went to an abalone farm… again some people had no idea what an abalone was. The kids got to hold baby ones in their hands as well as full-grown abalone. They learned about the life cycle, and about environmental issues, and much more. It amazes me the experiences we have had since we began homeschooling a few years ago. Things we never would have seen, nor experienced, are in the palm of our children’s hands… literally.

 I have always been interested in alternative forms of education. Children as well as their families are all unique. How can one way (public schools) be right for everyone? As I say that, homeschooling is not necessarily right for everyone either. All any parent can hope for is to make the decisions that they feel benefit their family as a whole. I struggle with the question “am I damaging them for life?” In the same breath, another part of me sees the adventure… and imagines them adjusting their sails… broadening their horizons… as well as mine.