I've been reading alot of blogs lately that discuss the reasons why we blog. Thought I'd go ahead and put in my 2 bits...

Blogging for me started out as a an attempt to hold myself a bit more accountable for what I do in our homeschool. At the time I started I was not as confident about our methods, materials, schedule, etc, and thought if I write it all out in public for the world to see, it would inspire me to do my very best. And it did help.

I am beyond that stage now, thankfully, having gained much confidence over time and trial and error, and yet I keep blogging. Why blog now?

I think now it is my attempt to connect with the outside world a bit. I used to be a school teacher. I connected with the world all day (for way too many hours) and I am glad to be done with that life. But as a homeschooling mom, surrounded by my dear children, books, a computer, and craft projects all day, it can be a bit lonely at times. I wouldn't trade the life for anything, and certainly hope never to go back to teaching public school, but there is one thing I miss, and that is the professional comraderie between peers that I had with my fellow teachers. That sense of shared mission, shared struggles and triumphs, shared coffee breaks and chats around the copy machine. I think that is what I am trying to get back with my blogging, and by visiting the blogs of other homeschooling moms. I want to tell someone (other than my husband) about lesson plans that worked out great, or not, about books that inspire, about all the daily doings of homeschooling. I want to mine ideas from others and share in their ups and downs, get a glimpse of what life is like in other homeschools.I want conversation and batting ideas back-and-forth, and I want it to be with someone who understands, has been there, and is at least a bit like me.Blogging gives me a bit of that.

 I think blogging is the homeschool version of the teacher's lounge. Yea. That's what it is.