Assumptions

I am a new member of an organization called 'Homeschool Association of California'.  This association puts on a statewide conference every year for it's members and anyone else who is interested in homeschooling.  The conference has many purposes, some of which are:  rally California homeschoolers together in one building for camaraderie, to give classes on common homeschooling topics of interest or concern, introduce homeschoolers to the theories and practicalities of the practice, etc.  The children of school age are welcomed and encouraged to attend.  They have many activities and learning experiences set up for them throughout the day.  I was so excited to get to go this year!

I had made an assumption, based on my personal experience, that most of the homeschooling community are conservative.  I even secretly wished I would see a "Duggar style" family.  Oh my!  I could not have been more wrong if I had tried!  I had a heck of a time FINDING any conservatives at this conference!

I don't WANT to sound like I am stereotyping here...but it's going to come across that way, so here goes:  Most of the adults were hippies, most of the highschool boys were goth and most of the highschool girls were, well, very inappropriate (in my personal opinion).  There, I said it.  **sigh**  It was like I had mistakenly walked into a mysticism conference.  I kept looking over my shoulder to ensure the big banner outside said "Homeschooling Conference".

I can appreciate that these parents are concerned enough for their children to take their education into their own hands to ensure it is done well.  Outside of that, I would be hard-pressed to find much in common with most of these people. (With the exception of my eating habits which usually lends me to meeting some very interesting and generally very nice hippies).  It was weird.  Again, just not what I was expecting.

I DID learn about 2 teaching styles that I like and would like to emulate.  Outside of that...it was just surreal to be surrounded by people I would typically have no other cause to associate with.  They were nice people, don't get me wrong.  I just...I don't know...I just typically don't find myself surrounded by hundred of hippies, goth boys and little seductresses.  It was...well, odd.

This conference takes place at the Radisson Hotel in Sacramento in their conference rooms.  One of the classes I went to was to teach us about the 'Waldorf' teaching style.  This very hippie looking older lady walks in.  No problem, the place is full of them and being a hippie does not make you unintelligent or bad.  She proceeds to hang a bunch of butcher paper on the walls filled with hand written information.  Again, not a big deal...teachers do that kind of stuff in public school all the time.  She then asks all of us in the audience to move all the chairs to the outside walls.  She says that education requires movement and we need to be standing.  Ok, I am still with her at this point...she then proceeds to pull out a recorder, stand just outside the door and starts to play it while all us would-be children are moving the chairs for her.  It was at that point I realized, this probably was not the teaching style for me.  Ha!

I wish I had taken some pictures...it was one of those 'you have to see it to believe it' kind of things.

My first book review (since school that is)

I am not usually one to do a "review" of a book in writing, but this book was so encouraging to me, I just had to share.  I just finished reading "If I'm diapering a watermelon, then where'd I leave the baby?: Help for the highly distractible mom" by Carol Barnier.

This book is specifically written for the "highly distractible" homeschooling mom, but applies to any mom who is not an organization goddess (such as myself).  She gives tips and tricks on how to do schooling and mothering "outside the box".  What I most appreciated about the book was her reminder that we "unorganized moms" have special gifts which should not be dismissed.

She lists some of those gifts as:
The "La-Di-Da Factor".  We are a little more unencumbered by life in general and can teach our children (and husbands) that roadblocks and detours in life are not something which has to hinder us.  We are typically more flexible and can keep the cheer in our homes when things don't go the way we had planned.

The ability to think outside the box.  We can often think of solutions to problems with a little less effort than our organized moms counterparts because we don't think as literally as they do.  We are able to come up with un-orthodox, yet effective ways to deal with the hiccups life throws at us.


Delight driven homeschool and/or conversation.  We are eccentric at heart and while eccentricities may be annoying at times, they are typically entertaining in the very least.  We may veer from one subject to the next with neck snapping speed, but our enthusiasm of each topic is not to be disregarded.  We are very driven in what we set our minds to and learn just as much in the end, even if it looks a bit messy to the outside world.

I was really encouraged by this book.  I was reminded that just because I am not as efficient as my uber-organized mom friends, I have gifts and talents and love which benefit my family too.  We may not receive the praise and admiration because we are a little messier at life in general, but we sure do have a good time in the process!

I was reminded that it takes all kinds to make the world go around.  I need to continue to admire, appreciate and learn things from my well organized friends and family, while not forgetting that my own style has value and is what God specifically intended for MY family.

Love and hugs to my organized and not-so-organized mom friends and family.  I love and cherish you all!

~Debbie

Thoughts on Homeschooling

Since I have been given the gift of being a stay-at-home-Mom, I have wanted to also homeschool my son.  He will be 3 in December and I am wanting to start him in some "preschool" curriculum next school year.

I have been doing much research on the matter.  There are TONS of options for curriculum for homeschooling at any age.  It can be QUITE overwhelming!!  I simply did not know where to begin?!?!

I have narrowed it down (I think) to a couple of different options.  The one I am intrigued by the most is "Character Concepts for Preschoolers Complete Curriculum", by Marilyn Boyer (and many other authors as well, she is the one who compiled all the materials for the curriculum).  

This is a pretty comprehensive curriculum.  It incorporates all the "regular" school stuff and weaves an intricate pattern of Biblical and Character principals throughout.  I am very excited about it! 

I will continue to look for curriculum until probably the spring before school starts, but I am so far very happy with what I have found and am ready to begin the preparations!!

I have my doubts as I am sure many other homeschooling parents have entertained.  Will I be organized enough?  Will I be consistent?  Will my child LEARN from me?  Will I be able to do homeschooling and all the other things I am responsible for successfully?  Will this cost too much money?  What are the rules/regulations of homeschooling in my state?

Thank goodness there are a number of resources online that walk a parent through these doubts and more!  I am also blessed to have a sister who has homeschooled 4 children in the past 20 years and a sister-on-law who just started homeschooling her two sons this year.

I am nervous, excited, overwhelmed, critical and anxious all at the same time.  This will be a new journey for me.  I supposed I should just put my big-girl britches on, sit down, buckle up and enjoy the ride!!

Do any of you have any thoughts, ideas or suggestions?