School takes place in our kitchen, on the run, and out in the “real world.” Sometimes it’s magical, sometimes it’s maddening. One thing is for sure though- It changes every day.
The “yes mom.” I’m afraid I may have morphed into her at some point. I’m not entirely sure how or when it happened but it left me a little unrecognizable. Yes, yes, yes…..I can do that! I can get you there and give you that and accommodate that.
Every year a few months before Christmas rolls around I start brainstorming unique gift ideas for our four kids. Christmas gifts to remember (and that get used…a lot!) are what we’re shooting for!
When that letter of intent to homeschool got sent off via registered mail my husband and I had many reasons for pulling our four kids out of the public school system.
Once upon a time I remember discussing a friend of a friend that was a homeschooler. How presumptuous that they think they know everything their children need to be taught. They know ALL the math, science, reading etc.? They can give their child every experience they need to become a successful adult? No one person can know it all.
Our first year of homeschooling was last year. While I invested way too much money and research on curricula (way, way too much) I only bought a few storage boxes and a rolling cart to store books on. I set up on a corner of the kitchen table and that’s where we did school, hence “The Kitchen Table Classroom.” This year a homeschool room was a priority. We needed a new space that allowed quiet and focus.
I have pretty cursive handwriting, at least when I choose to. All those loop and swirls are satisfying to me as I drag my pen across a page. When we pulled our children from the public school system I was sure I would teach them to have legible, if not beautiful, handwriting. Cursive handwriting is a skill I want my kids to have. Or should I say, wanted them to have?
There’s a lot of good stuff about this homeschool lifestyle we have chosen. Here are a few of my favorites. And you know that little voice of doubt, that little devil that sits on your shoulder and whispers doubts in your ear. As a homeschool mom I have one of those too. If I’m being honest all of the best things about homeschool have a flip side to them; some real and some imagined. I’m gonna share those too. Because, really, doesn’t it feel good to know we all have the same worries? This is the best and worst of homeschool at our house!
Of my four kids three have had a public school experience. They were generally successful. Academic pursuits come fairly easily to all four of my kids. We did not leave the public school system with an ax to grind.
Being out and about with four kids can be a spectacle. Three of my four are boys so there is usually some type of loud, mildly inappropriate noise and distracting, repetitive movement happening somewhere in my group. My kids are all tall and big for their age so people assume they are all several years older than they truly are. People stare. The introvert in me wants to crawl under a rock and wait for them to grow up a bit before we venture out again.