Slices of Life

Exactly 4 years ago to day I started this blog.  I had made my decision to homeschool and had so many thoughts running through my mind.  I was excited and nervous and anxious for school to end so we could begin learning together. To celebrate our "anniversary" I decided to re-post my very first post (with a few corrections and some new & brighter pictures!).  I hope you enjoy this look back.... I start homeschooling next week!  I'm so nervous and yet very excited to start this next step in my life. I have always stayed home with my kids and while I was sad when they finally went off to school, I'm honest enough to admit I was tap dancing inside at the thought of having time to myself. Even though it's really only been this year that they've all been gone I realized the tap dancing had almost stopped.   Instead I started to realize I was missing out on so much of the day to day happenings with them in school everyday all day . We no l...

I have often felt that one of the greatest benefits of homeschooling is allowing students to learn at their own pace.  This includes waiting to teach children skills until they are ready to learn and absorb them; something I think is more important than ever with our schools insisting on teaching skills at younger and younger ages. I pulled my kids out of public school mainly because my middle son was bored and not being challenged enough.  I knew allowing him to work at home meant he could work at a more advanced pace and he wouldn't be unintentionally held back waiting for the other students to catch up with him. I knew that homeschooling allowed kids who were struggling with an area of school to stop, slow down and focus on skills they wanted to develop until they were at a level where they were comfortable moving forward. I knew all that but somehow I didn't really GET that! It wasn't until this past year that I am finally seeing just how beneficial it has...

I am drawn into the philosophy of unschooling. I am fascinated by the belief, the implementation, and the freedom of unschooling. I am determined to raise my boys to think for themselves, think creatively, and follow their bliss. However, as much as I believe in unschooling it's that same old fear that gets me every time.... "HOW do I know that they are learning enough??" It's so scary, but I see great things for us if we can stay the path. I know unschooling doesn't mean I don't do anything, but I'll admit I get sick of planning activities, picking books and things to do only to be met with shrugs or answers already formed before we've even started. I love that my boys are smart, but I'm sick of feeling like I'm re- teaching them things they already know (and letting things they don't know slip through the cracks because I think they do know it or might not be interested in it). I don't know how to embrace this philosophy fully and str...

With my grandmother's funeral taking place today and the combination of books I've happened to stumble upon in my leisurely reading lately I find myself thinking very critically of life. What it means? What's important and how do I show that? How to live each day to the fullest without fear getting the best of me? How can I be sure I'm being the best person, mom, and wife I can? How to best live my life so I won't have regrets at the end?  Kind of depressing, I know, but I can't help it. I can't help but think forward to the future and wonder what kind of men my boys will turn out to be.  I can't help but wonder if I'm doing the right thing by them in all the big ways and small ways. Am I supportive enough of them and their feelings? Am I preparing them to be self- sufficient, successful adults?   It's scary being a parent and realizing that your children's lives are really one long experiment.   By the time you know...