Homeschooling Adventures!

There's a whole bunch of  new people doing virtual school at home now.  I just want to encourage you all that you can do this!  We homeschooled all three of our kids for many many years.  Two of them all they way through and one all but about 2 years.  

We used every type of curriculum over the years.  From structured, to workbooks, to computer classes, to unit studies, to unschooling.

First of all, every kid is different.  That is the first thing that I learned homeschooling!  Everyone does not learn like me!  Some of my kids liked structure, some liked more freedom.  Some needed a desk, some needed to be outside. Some liked to do the pages in order, some liked to randomly open the book and do that page! 

Our homeschooling definitely evolved over the years. At first, all I knew to do was what I knew as "school" at home.  I tried to recreate it.  That didn't go over so well.  Then I realized we had the freedom to do so much more at home!  We could learn here or there!  We could learn everywhere!

We utilized the library, and games, and outside, and loads of free play.  Some of the best learning was random questions as we were flying kites at the park.

Now I know, you all doing the "virtual learning" at home won't have quite as much freedom.  But take this time to get to know your kids.  How do they learn?  Visual, auditory, tactile?  By rote, by memorizing? By singing?   Take this time to get to know yourself!  How's your patience?  How's your attitude? Take this time to listen to what they are learning.  Listen to what's going on in the classroom.

And really, it might be easier just to homeschool yourself! Ha!  I know it's not for everyone, but you'd be surprised what you are capable of!

My biggest thing is you don't have to make sure they know "everything"!  You don't have to stuff every fact into their head before they are 18.  But give them a love of learning.  Teach them how to learn.  How to find the answers.  Find what their passion is and hone in on that! 

Take this time to get to know yourself and build that relationship with your kids.  

It truly is a blessing!

Why do we move so much???

Since I've been married...coming up on 25 years now... we have moved a total of 13 times!  That's a lot of moving!  It's always been for different reasons.  Sometimes a job leads us here or there.  Sometimes we need a change of scenery.   Sometimes we need a bigger house.  This last time we were ready to downsize and move closer to Larry's work.

I grew up in 2 houses.  One house till I was 5, then we moved and I lived there till I got married when I was 18.  I didn't grow up moving around.  My husband grew up in the same house all is life.  Maybe that's why we move so much.  I really don't know.

Moving around a lot does have it's advantages.  We don't keep a lot of stuff.  We de-clutter quite frequently. I've learned not to grow too attached to my things.  It's just furniture.  It's just stuff.  

It's interesting to see my kids and how they are affected by all the moving.  Some are still nomads.  Traveling here and there.  On to the next adventure!  But I have one that wants to settle down and have roots.  He wants to buy land and stay there awhile.  I get that.  I admire that.  

I'm grateful for all the places we've lived.  We've had lots of great experiences in every state and house. We've gotten to see and experience the culture in many different places.  We've made life long friends all across America. One funny memory was when we were up in Pittsburgh and Larry was trying to order something through the McDonald's drive-thru.  He says in his thick Texas twang, "I'd like to buy some chicken mac bites."  (it's hard to describe how this sounds...just exaggerate all the "i's" to really long sounding "i's").  The girl in the drive thru says "What?"  He repeats again, even thicker and slower.  She says, "Um, sir,  I have no idea what you are talking about!"  Too funny!

I don't think I could live in one place too long (shhh...don't tell my nomadic husband!)  I look forward to the curves up in the road ahead.  Although I don't enjoy the actual physical part of boxing, moving, lifting, sorting... yuck.. I do enjoy new adventures.

What about you?  Have you moved alot?  Would you like to?