On Homeschooling and What I Am Learning

I've had a couple of people ask in the last few weeks about our homeschooling adventure, so I thought I would give you a peek into our day.

We have a basic schedule that we work our day around. 

The kids get their breakfast, morning chores, and independent school work done from 7:00-9:00 am. School starts formally (with me playing teacher) at 9:00. Or so. It all depends on the coffee maker, because at this point in our day I have been up for awhile, and need fresh coffee!

From 9:00 - 12:30 we do Bible, American History & Geography, Language Arts, Math and Science.  After lunch the kids work on special projects. Last week they did reports on animals, so they worked on that in the afternoons. Three times a week we also do short studies of Art/Poetry/Music.  

 The kids are usually finished with the daily work between 1:oo and 2:00. I spend the next hour or two grading papers from the day and getting things prepared for the next day. It's a lot of work, but it's doable.

I am enjoying the process and application that is homeschooling. I love getting to watch the kids learn, and learning more myself. In many ways I wish that I could have learned in a literature based curriculum because history comes to life through the power of story. 

All in all, homeschooling is a very positive thing.  I know it is right for both the kids and our family at this time in our lives. I like knowing what the kids are learning. 

But, I would be lying if I didn't mention that I am also grieving things in life that came with having children in more traditional schooling. I am used to seeing and talking to family/friends every day, in some form or another. Whether having lunch a couple times a week with friends or my mom and dad, hanging out at the gym, volunteering at the school or talking on the phone, my days were filled with relationship.

Making sure that we are home for most of the day to complete school is a bit isolating.  I can't visit with friends and teach third and fifth grade math at the same time! Although, just between you and me, I have tried... It just doesn't work.

The bottom line is that my time is no longer my own, and I am learning to cope with that. I have lessons to go over, and papers to grade and books to pre-read. It leaves precious little time to write, to sew, to hang out for hours doing my own thing! It's a full time job without the benefit of pay, or water-cooler chats with co-workers, or someone to tell you how you're doing. 

I have found that I am relearning the lesson that all parents learn when the honeymoon of parenting has long gone and the long nights of bleary-eyed feedings have ceased to be new: I am learning the lesson of selflessness. I am learning that in Christ I can do all things, and that I am never alone, although I sometimes feel lonely.

Now, before you feel sad for me, I am someone who doesn't stay lonely for long. I have good friends here in our new (old) home. I joined the local home school association last week, and before October is over we will have gone to three different field trips. I have joined our ladies bible study, and soon the kids will be in sports again. Soon I will have more than my plate can hold. 

I am learning more than head knowledge. I am learning more about myself; learning where I am weak and need God's encouragement; learning where I have strengths I never knew I had. 

I think God puts me in these types of situations a lot. He knows that I invest a lot of energy in putting my trust in "man". He knows that I often fill up and get energized by spending time with people; That sometimes I turn to people to fill me up, instead of turning to God.

This last week God reminded me that we may fail others or they may fail us, but God will never leave us(Deuteronomy 31:6). He is our friend (John 15:15). Our comforter (2 Cor. 1:3). He is our great Teacher (John 3:2). 

I am uncertain if I what I am feeling right now is Arizona-homesickness, or feeling isolation in a new place in life. I think it's a bit of both. 

So schooling at home is good. Great, even! I can't imagine not doing it right now, but there is a learning curve and it's much, much bigger than reading, writing and arithmetic.

It's pictures like these that help me remember why I do it at all....

The Girl in our schoolroom, studying spelling over a morning cup of hot chocolate.
The Boy enjoying a book about Squanto and the Pilgrims. 

Kona the Wondermutt: Learning at the School of Hard Knocks. School has not interfered with her social life. This morning she rolled in poop while visiting her neighborhood canine friends (we live in a very dog friendly neighborhood, where our dogs are free to visit each other). 

She is learning that when you play, you pay. She is learning what it's like to be an outside dog, until I can give her a bath this afternoon.

This wraps up our school adventure!  Aren't you sorry you asked?

;)

La Vida Dulce!