Mom vs. the Dot: Making it COUNT!

My previous post may have seemed a little grim in its perspective, but like everything else in life, we have good days and bad days. Some of the most wonderful homeschool days are when I come home from work and my husband has just finished teaching them for the day.  He's so excited to show me what they covered and how well each child did.  One day last week, he brought out his photo album from his trip to Israel.  The biggest takeaway was that the kids got to hold a real, actual rock from the valley where David defeated Goliath.  Hulk Boy was seriously impressed, and my husband took the time to share a passion of his with the kids. When I came home from work today, they had just finished an exciting lesson in entomology.  My hubby had found a really different looking bug while at work one day.  It was dead, so he put it in an envelope and brought it home.  This morning, he dumped the little bugger out of the envelope.  After the girls...

Every year we homeschool, I struggle.  I mentally fight for and against educating our children at home.  Whenever someone asks about why we homeschool, my default answer is that my husband decided we are going to homeschool, so we do.  He has always been fully convinced that this is the right educational choice for our family.  And I waffle back and forth.  I can't seem to make up my mind.  Most of the time, I'm glad we homeschool.  I struggle because I was trained as an educator.  I love teaching - it is one of my passions, and it brings me joy in whatever format I teach.  Almost any age, any subject.  Bring it on! Because I am an educator, I want to know I am "doing it right," and there is no "right way" in homeschooling.  I have nothing to measure our progress against.  No comparisons.  No benchmarks. No previous students.  Last spring, I told a new homeschooling mama, "Don't worry - your homeschool won't l...

Well, I did it. I just spent a half hour outside doing nothing. I have laundry that needs folded and dishes that need washed and dinner to make. You know the drill.  The routine.  The lifestyle of the stay-at-home parent. So what did I do? I sat outside for 30 minutes, my dog happily chewing a stick beneath my porch swing. The kids were inside watching Netflix. Mom guilt flickered momentarily, but I laid it to rest. The candy apple red couch on wheels had been going nonstop all week, and this was my first moment to breathe. I knew I needed to head inside and get my work done, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I sat on my swing and breathed in the last warm autumn air. Watched the leaves scuttle along the sidewalk and and flutter through the grass. Listened to the breeze... Let my brain just relax. No thinking about homeschool or groceries or bills. No thinking about church or planning or anything. And you know what? ...

Hi Friends! I decided to share our goings-on today because this is just how it goes when homeschooling. Some days, I wake up early and make a plan.  I was very pleased with my plan this morning. And then kittens showed up on our porch.  5 puffy, cute, mewing kittens. It was then that I realized my plans were flying out the window. Gone with the wind. Down the drain. It became an all-out nature viewing spectacle.  It began with this little guy last week, then we had another kitten show up yesterday.  When we peeked out the window this morning, we spotted 3 more kittens and the mama.  We were hooked. National Geographic on our front porch. Okay...I could either give up on homeschooling for the day (very tempting)   --or--   Switch gears and turn this into a learning experience that still counts as a homeschool day. That sounded like more work for me, but then I wouldn't have the homeschool mom guilt of missing anot...

Just in time for Halloween, we have a new addition!! Here are some clues: He is plastic, 2 1/2 feet high, and came from the library.  And he has to go back in two weeks. Any guesses?  Our very own borrowed plastic take-apart human, of course!   We are going to study human anatomy, so I spotted this guy in the resource room and knew we had to take him home with us.  A homeschool mom's dream!   I mentally patted myself on the back for being so ingenious and thrifty. Little did I know the vehement and terrified reactions his presence would bring! When my kids saw me carrying the model to the checkout desk, Shop Girl was terrified. Art Girl turned pale and looked like she was going to lose her lunch. Hulk Boy said with only what I can describe as glee, "Cool!  Can we take him apart? Can we take him home?  I want to see his insides!!"   I have to add that the librarian said, "That's the difference between ...