I had a great time in Texas last week! I got to meet so many new people at the Great Homeschool Convention in Round Rock, Texas, and visit my three older boys who live in Austin. An added bonus was that they got to see what their crazy mom does! They even helped me set up my booth. Such a blessing.
At every conference I go to, I hand out small posters with my favorite quote:
This week I took a class to visit a pre-school. It was a field trip for an entrepreneur class I’m teaching this semester. One of our students is interested in child development and has dreams of opening up a pre-school one day.
It was a wonderful school. Colorful classrooms. Student artwork hanging on the wall. The kids were all well behaved and engaged in what they were supposed to be doing.
I asked the director a question about free play.
Are you worried about how to prepare your kids for the future?
I am.
What skills will they need to be successful? What should we cover to help them the most? Are the standards the government has for education taking any of this into consideration?
Lots to think about.
It seems like just yesterday they were such cute babies…
And then they grow up.
Teens really get a bad rap. The teen years are so confusing. Especially right now! This is when they are supposed to be planning for the future but they are hearing all around them that the world is going to end!
It can be hard to envision a positive future, even for adults.
Have you ever taken a survey and tried to figure out what your “career” was? Years ago I was stopped in a mall for a survey (that used to be a thing before the internet) and the closest thing they could categorize me as on their list was a “housewife”. WOW! Did they regret that! They sure got an earful. My husband called me that word one time and sincerely regretted it. I did not marry an inanimate object. And a house has never been the focus of my career.
I have the ULTIMATE career.
When I first started homeschooling most homeschoolers I met were planning on sending their kids to high school when the time came. They couldn’t see themselves teaching at that level.
Today many people feel the same way.
Today when I go to the grocery store in the middle of the week with my son he usually isn’t the only kid in there but twenty years ago I really stood out when I’d take my four sons to the store. I’d regularly get the question, “Aren’t they supposed to be in school?”
You Need to Think Outside the Box for Homeschooling
“School-at-home” is not really homeschool. At least not what homeschool could be. The pandemic forced the whole world into distance learning, and many thought that that was what homeschooling is all about.
They couldn’t be more wrong.
I was bullied in school. I know that influenced my decision to homeschool.
The first time was when I was in first grade.
Our home backed up to the school so I walked through the fields to an opening between two houses that allowed me to easily get to my house. It was a really short walk and I had three younger siblings at home so it made sense that I walk home. Until they came after me.
Over the years, I’ve heard so many people say they are uncomfortable teaching older kids – both parents and teachers! The subject matter is more intimidating, and let’s face it, we didn’t like chemistry or algebra when we took them in high school. How are we going to be able to teach them?
But if you give up because of those reasons, you are missing out. First of all, let me assure you that you don’t have to relearn chemistry or algebra – unless you want to. You can find someone else to teach it. And your kids need you.