Lessons Learned on the Farm
Living twenty minutes from anywhere has
its advantages, but being surrounded by like-minded homeschooling folks is
not one of them. I’m the first homeschooler out here in our neck of the
woods and I realized that when they started asking questions like "So does a
real teacher come by and check on you?", I was going to need to find other
outlets for support. My husband is great, my children are wonderful, but
sometimes you just want to chat with another mom. Other moms understand
because often they’ve walked in your shoes before. They understand the
feelings underneath all of your words. Unfortunately your friends aren’t
always available. But a blog is!
Blogging allows me to read or post an entry at anytime of day or night at my
convenience. I don’t have to worry about waking someone up or interrupting
their school time. I just add my entry and then it’s there for others at
their convenience. Sometimes the comments others post in response to an
entry can be hilarious. It is so wonderful that you realize that you’ve
really connected with someone even though you’ve never met.
Blogging can be addictive. I’m an otter type personality with a strong
golden retriever mix (see
http://www.ministryinsights.com/49.php for an explanation of these
personality types), so I love to meet others and I want to be able to keep
up with them. I think that is part of the reason reality TV is such a big
hit. I would love reality TV if it didn’t have so much offensive content and
if we even had TV reception. With blogs, I’m getting my fix of reality
outside my four walls without being exposed to offensive content. I read
other blogs daily to find out what is going on in their lives. I have my
favorite ones to read, as well as checking out any new ones that catch my
eye. Blogging has just opened up a whole new world for me. It’s like the
best homeschool support group right there in my computer.
Blogging is a wonderful sanity saver. Just when I feel like my world of
three unga-bunga boys is closing in on me, I can record the stories of how I
see God working in our lives. It helps me to keep things in perspective and
to stay in touch with who I am. Counselors often recommend journaling as a
way of dealing with your feelings and sorting things out and I’d say that
blogging is even one step better. Although you have to be more selective
about what you are writing, it gives you feedback on how others relate to
you. When others leave comments, I know that I’m not alone—others understand
and are laughing along with me.
We feel so blessed to live on a 44-acre farm out in the country. I know that
many others dream of moving out to the country as well. I want to share our
experiences as a way of giving them an insider’s look at what it’s like to
make that transition. God has blessed us with putting many people into our
lives with country living experience and knowledge. One of our favorite
activities is chatting with others at the farm supply store. There are
always interesting conversations going on there. I love to hear about other
people’s adventures living in the country. I hope that when others come to
Lessons Learned on the Farm they feel as though they’re talking with the
folks at the farm supply store. We may not be experts on anything, but we’re
learning more every step of the way.
Nancy Carter is a City Mouse turned
Country Mouse. She moved to a farm with her husband and three boys and has
been on a fast-track farming course for the past two years. A former public
school teacher, she began to sense God’s leading towards home and then
homeschooling when her first child was three. Since then, she has been
living, loving, and learning the homeschool lifestyle in Kentucky. She
shares her lessons learned at
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tn3jcarter
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