My boys have decided that they like to take pictures of nature. Mostly clouds, storms, and landscapes. I decided this would be a good way to feature some of their work!
I love their pictures. 
Category: Uncategorized
Homeschool Plans Change
I think a lot of homeschool parents spend as much time planning what they are going to teach as they do teaching it.
I plan. Then I change my mind. Then I plan something different. Then I change my mind again.
I buy calendars like this one on clearance for $1.00. Plan out my whole year a bazillion times then do something different
all together. I plan out each subject for each kid. Then we do something else.
This is our last year of attending a homeschool co-op called Classical Conversations. We have been in it for two years. I am thankful for my time there for a few reasons but glad to be done. We have made many friends and I have learned a lot about myself and my homeschool style.
When we decided to leave, I decided to partner with a few friends to start a different co-op using Claritas as our core memory work. If you have never checked it out– do it!
Www.claritas-publishing.com
It is beautiful. I was truly looking forward to the new co-op being a better fit for my family and our current needs.
But– something in my spirit just didn’t feel right. If things go as planned (though they never do) this is my last year to homeschool my second oldest boy. My oldest started in a charter this year and my second son would like to follow suit.
I want rest. I want scholè. I want a restful year to enjoy time with my kids enjoying beautiful things. I have been listening to Sarah MacKenzie’s book Teaching From Rest on Audible. It is worth it to read or listen to it. 
God is speaking to me. “Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10.
Next year? We will rest in the knowledge of God. We will rest from the frenzied pace and rigor of CC. We will learn together and hopefully grow closer to Him in the process.
Indoor Winter Fun
What do you do when it is cold outside and the kids are going stir crazy inside?
The months of January and February seem to be the hardest months for me. We homeschool. We live in Ohio. Winter means we don’t leave the house much.
We have to be creative to think of things that don’t break the bank and entertain kids in a range of ages.
Activity #1: BUBBLES
1 cup water
1 T glycerin
1 T corn syrup
2 T Dawn dish soap
A pair of cotton cheap winter gloves and you have the ability to hold bubbles! The big boys had fun bouncing the bubble back and forth between them.
Activity #2: INDOOR ICE SKATING
We have a indoor rink about 45 minutes from our house that offers discounts to homeschoolers. Be sure to check your local area for specials! Also, local YMCAs often have discounted programs that you can take advantage of. 
Homeschool Help for Highschool
We have been a part of Classical Conversations which is a national for-profit Homeschool co-op. My oldest son was in the level called Challenge 1. The scope and sequence for this level is impressive. I looked through the guide and LOVED how much my son would learn this year.
Until he didn’t. 🤦♀️
He was diagnosed with ADD/ inattentive type. This basically means he has major difficulty focusing and memorizing things. He has always struggled in this area but because we homeschool, we have always managed to make it work.
Being in this co-op he was DROWNING. And so was I. We were both overwhelmed. We, along with his counselor, decided it was in his best interest to quit the co-op. That was hard. I felt like we failed. He felt like he failed.
Enter: ➡️ True North Homeschool Academy. I am part of a great Facebook page where like-minded moms come together and share. Well, I just happen to log on at the right time to see the head of True North post that they are looking for someone to enroll their child in Civics for free in exchange for an honest review.
https://truenorthhomeschoolacademy.com/
History and government have always been subjects that my son was interested in. He has never taken an online class before though so I wasn’t sure what to expect.
Here we are, about half way through. They do their classes on ZOOM platform. They meet for a live class once a week for an hour to hour and half. He then emails the video recording of the class so the students can review them as many times as they need to. He also emails homework assignments. None of them have been easy but none of them have impossible.
This has been so good for my boy. He hasn’t felt defeated but he has had to work for his grade. The teacher is very professional while still being personal. My son would describe him as “pretty cool”. That’s huge– if you have ever been around a teen boy, they don’t tend to say anyone older than 25 is cool. 
I am SO THANKFUL for this course, and to Lisa for offering it to us. I probably would not have enrolled him in something like this because I am nervous to spend any money on something that I don’t know if he will like. I am SO GLAD we did this. Not only does it open a world for homeschool help. For him. For me.
I highly recommend checking out their website. Check out all they offer. They have courses for all grade levels.
It’s okay to say you cannot do it all alone. It’s okay to outsource some of the classes. My kid has really enjoyed the other kids on his class as well as his teacher. This momma has enjoyed having one less subject to teach. 🙂
Too many directions
Do you ever feel like you are being pulled in too many directions at once? That is me. Everyday.
And I do it to my kids, too. I have good intentions. I want them to learn so many good and beautiful things. And I expect them to do it with vigor and enthusiasm. But they don’t. It is stressing us all out. I want them to have the best, well-rounded education possible. I want them to study poetry, Shakespeare, cursive writing, history, logic, science, Latin, English grammar, geography, memory work, hymns, scripture, writing, math, great literature, and the list goes on. It’s unreasonable. And I end every day like we failed because we didn’t get as much accomplished as I wanted.
On top of school, I want my house to be clean, dishes and laundry to be done. I want a full farm of animals which are well cared for and a large garden. I also work part-time outside the home and love my job. I wish I could work more. I also tutor at a local co-op and am on the planning committee for a new one for next year. I lead our Wednesday night program at our church for the kids and plan outreach programs. I want to do more. I want to be a good mom, wife, and friend.
But I cannot. I cannot do it all. Why do we feel like we need to be wonder-woman? Why do we feel like we need to accomplish everything that would not even be possible to do if I doubled the number of hours in my day?
Prioritize. I need to learn to prioritize. What is MOST important to get done in my day TODAY? What is the most important thing my children are learning TODAY? Yes, I need to have a plan. I need to have balance. But, today my kids learned that mama is crazy. Today my kids learned I have a breaking point. Today, my kids learned that if they stay busy, and away from mom, their lives will be easier. Is that what I really want them learning?????
Rest. I need to learn to rest. Not laying in bed, resting. But resting in the fact that GODS GOT THIS. I don’t. I cannot do enough. I cannot do it all. I need to RELY on the One who made me. Who made the sun, moon, and stars. I am responsible to be obedient to Him. He is responsible for the outcome. STOP. RUNNING. CRAZY! I am not doing any good trying to ‘fit it all in’. Stop. Rest. Breathe. Pray. And then keep going. One step at a time. One thing at a time. Just focus on the most important thing for that moment.
Homeschooling is HARD!
People always say “Oh, I could never homeschool.” First of all– yes you could. We all do hard things if we are called to it. If God calls you to homeschool your children, don’t doubt that call. You CAN do it!
But– it is HARD! Parenting is hard. Teaching is hard. Working full-time is hard. Staying at home is hard. Life is hard! We are all called to do different things. And it’s hard!
It is hard to be around your kids 24/7. It is hard to keep up with cleaning when you kids are home 24/7. It is hard to have a minute to just think when the kids are there 24/7. But don’t give up!!! It’s worth it! Your kids are worth it!
Pick your battles. Prioritize. For me, cleaning goes on the back burner. Laundry only happens once a week. Dishes only once a day. And IT’S OKAY!!! 
Someday my life will be orderly. And quiet. And clean. But until then — we have a messy life! 
2018/2019 Curriculum Choices
So the #1 question homeschooling moms ask each other is, “What curriculum do you use?” So I thought I would get that out of the way early on. As I have said, we have 4 kids. 3 of them are school age. My youngest is only 3 so we don’t do much that any other parent isn’t doing with their 3-year-old. We read a lot of books, sing a lot of songs, and name a lot of things.
As for the others, we have done Classical Conversations for the past 2 years. CC came into our life when we MUCH needed the accountability, structure, and community. And let’s face it- moms need the community as much as the kids do! T was in Challenge 1 for the first semester but was pulled for this second semester for some medical reasons, which I will save for another post. M is in Challenge A and has science fair tonight! C is in his first full year of foundations, as he joined second-semester last year.
I will continue to share about our experiences and progress as the year progress. I may even share about our science fair tonight! I have anticipation that all will go really well but, as we all know, kids will always surprise us!
Life is ALWAYS changing
I am a home school mom. I am a nurse, a chef, a house cleaner, a teacher, a maid, an accountant, a wife, a mother, etc. My list could go on forever. So could yours. We are busy. And the busy is always changing.
I can remember thinking, “I can’t wait to be an adult.” Then it was, “I can’t wait to get married.” “I can’t wait to have kids.” I have to remind myself to STOP waiting for the next phase. The next event. The next class. The next season. Life is ALWAYS changing.
I will never get back today. I will never have THIS moment again. Enjoy it. Enjoy the messiness of life with kids. Enjoy the chaos that comes with homeschooling. And just when you think you got this figured out – it changes.
The Journey Begins
Thanks for joining me!
Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton
Life Changes 