End Of Year Bridge Ceremony. Goodbye. Hello.

Well, good gracious.  It's been an amazing, action packed, life-giving, growin'-up, real-world, root thirsty kinda year :-).

The first year I homeschooled both kiddos and wow does it take a village.  A great village. A God Village. A weird village.  A village I never thought I'd want to seek out, let alone use as my life-line.

Schooling two kiddos on purpose was quite different than schooling one kiddo.  Grant is very gifted so, it was easier in that I just took him along for the ride, adjusting his materials/activities as was needed.  Ginger excelled in urban planning.  She loves that.  I think that's awesome!

I am overwhelmed with the thought of chronicling the year's achievements, setbacks, victories, sweet moments and summation - but I know I must.  That reflection is often a glimpse of wisdom that will be needed in the future.

For now, however, enjoy this video of our end of year ceremony.  I am amazed at how excited the kids are, when it's just the two of them and me :-). It is important to me to have a rite of passage.  Though our education, per se, is fluid, I want my kiddos to be formally acknowledged for what they've accomplished.

I need that too - I realized how much I needed to have an offical "last day" when, after this ceremony, I didn't do laundry or clean anything for two weeks (except the occasional shower).

I needed to dumb down.

Chill out.

Veg.

Meditate.

Get behind in everything.

Let go.

Click below:

End of Year Bridge Ceremony

Coding: New Literacy Litmus Test. Are your kids ready?

Click this:  Coding for our kiddos - brave new literacy - 

Anderson Academy Hits All Time High Enrollment!

Ok, so, it's only been 6 months since my last post.   I have a quiet morning where I'm awake early enough to do a blog post, my Bible study and text a friend because, why just have a quiet morning? 

 So, I've been asked, "How is Hauteschooling(I'm going to trademark this so don't run out and do it first, k?) going? "  quite a bit lately so, I figured I'd post.  I have no idea how it's going :-).
I figure I'll be able to evaluate that in 20 years and if my kiddos aren't in prison and they are making the world a better place than how they found it, SUCCESS!  If they land in prison, they'll be safer behind bars, because they'll have to answer to ME when they get out, for all of this crazytown time and energy I spent constructing this homeschool life thing that I never thought I would do.  I could have been working this hard for CREDENTIALS for cryin' out loud! or MONEY!  You get the idea.  It's a spiritual road we're on as well, (Ask me.  You'll believe it.  Or, at least you'll let me believe it) so, all is not lost for sure. 

To sum up and wander all over the place... here goes (sorry Kate - grammar may suffer pains):

We had a wonderful summer that was peppered with some very tragic life events.  Our community lost a dear friend in the neighborhood and he and his family are always close to my heart and mind and in our prayers.  Also, a dear, dear friend has been re-diagnosed with breast cancer and she and her family are daily in our hearts and thoughts as well.

The kids enjoyed swim team, piano and gymnastics.  I did NOTHING for school except for Kumon.  Well, ok, so that isn't nothing, it is Kumon.  It's every day.   However, it felt like nothing compared to the rigor that we were used to.  It was wonderful, and we seemed to occupy our time with things that were fun and summer-ish.

In May, I scheduled a teacher appreciation getaway with a fellow hauteschooler.  She and I just got away to Vail for 24 hours, yet it felt like a decade.  We saved our pennies and had NO SCHEDULE.  Our travelocity just fell in synch (a God thing- ask me - you'll believe it - or, at least you'll let me believe it) and we just happened upon a spa, a restaurant, slept in till 10.  Got to breakfast by 11am.  aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh.

It was so emotional watching Grant go through his ADORABLE preschool graduation at Cherry Hills Christian School.  Wow.  He had been there for three years.  More than 1/2 his life.  That is amazing.  The teachers there, Ms. Erin, Ms Sandy, Ms Brueker, Ms. Connor - all transformational in his development and love.  Now, he's in my (God's) hands - yikes.

The kids were enrolled in theater camp after swim team ended, for three weeks, with a big production at the end.  I was BLOWN AWAY!  It was through Rocky Mountain Theater Camp for Kids and I have never seen anything more put together (and yet w/o caddy competitiveness) in my life.  The director seemed to know a LOT about herding cats AND teaching a professional level of production with 5-8 year olds.  We are DEFINITELY doing that again next summer.

We then went to a family camp in August at Trail West in Buena Vista.  Another Anderson tradition begun.  What an incredibly fulfilling week.  Spiritually.  Emotionally.  Physically.  I had no idea what I packed, and it didn't matter.  We were just happy as pigs and could do as much or as little as we wanted.  So great to just be the 4 of us with a bunch of strangers enjoying the outdoors.  Kids so distracted by running in the trees they'd wet their pants.  Now, isn't that a great testimony to a good time?

The school year was fast approaching and I switched to a Classical Education Curriculum (insert minor panic attacks).  I had the kids go through academic assessments and both were on target, if not ahead of grade level.  Grant continues to prove cognitively gifted (99.9%) and Ginger incredibly so at reading comprehension and problem solving/relationship assessment.

So, time to revamp the classroom.  I am fully committed.  Last year, Ginger was using a file cabinet as a desk and we didn't change a thing about what used to be Ryan's office.  In early August, I got a wild hair and, after finding old paint in the garage, the dark 70's wood-paneled built-in bookshelves were painted white and my Dad's antique desk was relocated to the family room.  I resolved to navigate IKEA successfully (more major panic attack) for supplies and purchased clearance desks from Crate and Barrel.  I removed the dark plush rug and replaced it with a white shag and big floor pillows.  My desk is a beautiful glass top on top of a white base and our swivel chairs are black and white.  Very modern, bright - LOVE IT!  I even made a sign with the Anderson Academy crest to make it official.

2 months in, working our tails off.  I am struggling a bit (constantly tweaking), because of our schedule.  I am in three different studies for my own enrichment and theirs (believe me, you would yourself if you had these two in your hands),  Ginger takes ballet downtown 4 times a week (1st year in The Nutcracker) and I want Grant to have his own thing (he has soccer, but it's not really engaging).  So, when Ryan wakes up this morning, unbeknownst to him yet, I'm going to chat about Grant going to Jiu Jitsu Mondays, Weds and Thursdays and even Saturdays when he doesn't have a conflicting soccer game.  That way, I can drop him off and Ryan can pick him up and he's not coming downtown with me three days a week.  I am just feeling for the poor kid having to wait with us at the restaurant around the way.

I am also really divided about pulling out of a morning activity next semester - but I want the kids to just have a down day where they are not rushing around and yet aren't bored.  I want one day where we just do school in the morning and then we play.  That's still up for discussion.  I refuse to give up our CBS Bible study.  That I know.

The kids are in the Options program through Cherry Creek School District - which I love - I think that is still a great thing, until we get into a Classical Conversations Community (group that meets once a week doing the same curriculum I am).  They go to art and science at the neighborhood school, Carl Sandburg, then piano at the neighborhood teacher's house - it's a hilarious circus of an education.

I love the hybrid of public/private/homeschool/athletics.  The kids get exposed to a LOT of different situations that they never would have exposure to otherwise.  In any given week, the kids are in the urban environment, rural, purely homeschooled kiddos, neighborhood friends, adults, babies, church, unschoolers, earthers (read: Boulderites), grandparents, etc.

We have so many people in the kids' lives on a consistent basis, I hope that this schedule printout gives some a better idea of how often the kids are with the same friends, to really build that ever-important "socialization" piece I keep hearing about.  Mommy time is anytime during "school" that I'm freaking out and need a break - all day Friday is M-I-N-E.  Also, hubbs has sponsored many mommy vacations (ie silent retreat, trips to NYC, etc).

I think what I have to surrender more and more is what other people think.  I do admit though, I'm grateful for feedback (postitive and otherwise) - I need to keep in check the why behind what I'm doing, and aim for the balance.
To answer the most common feedback:
"So, when are your kids around other kids?"  (every day)
"You need a break from each other (that's why you look so tired)."  (The rest of a laborer is sweet and, we do get breaks from each other)
"How long are you really going to DO this?!?!?!"  ( I don't know)

I know those conversations happen with everyone.  No matter what the situation.  Other people mean well, but sometimes words are tougher to overcome when you have such high stakes - so much weight on your shoulders - with anything you are doing.


Things I haven't done well:  getting to the gym, getting to the gym, getting to the gym.
Balancing fun time with Grant.
Ginger has decided to take a back seat to her brother's enthusiasm in answering questions and settling in to "getting by" - but, the good news is, I can address that now, instead of her slipping unnoticed through the cracks, in the back of the classroom.  There IS no back of the classroom.

Miracles I've seen this year:
I still see God in all of this. (Ask me.  You'll believe it.  Or, at least you'll let me believe it)
I see more God in my son and daughter. (Ask me.  You'll believe it. Or, at least you'll let me believe it)
Grant and Ginger becoming better and better friends.
I haven't died.
The kids haven't died.
I haven't had any wine for lunch.


What I need:  To get to the gym :-).  Find my gluteus muscles again, so I can walk like a normal person.  Finish my real estate website/app thing.  Make another app for homeschooling. Get to the gym.

Floating In Space after - a GREAT Year!

ALL DONE!

Well, we supposedly had our last day of school a few weeks ago.  WHAT A YEAR!
We not only survived, but it went so quickly and we all seemed to enjoy it - not that it was without dark days and darker moments, but we really moved through those (at least I hope - I'll tell you when we're in therapy).

SECOND SEMESTER- Thumbs Up!
I haven't written since November, so, to sum up the second semester....
We did not seem to take a 2 week Christmas break.  I had scheduled time for one... but, even the day after Christmas, the kids were wandering around and so we easily fit in 5 hours of learning "school."  So, by the time our vacation to visit my parents came around (2 weeks from Jan 24th - Feb 8th), we were well into our second semester curriculum and ready for the change.  I decided not to bring ANY academically focused learning materials (other than an ipad to get us through the long flights and long layovers :-)).  I needed a break from an intense six month school year.  St. Lucia with my mom and 2nd dad Winston was awesome and full of learning w/o any kind of "trying" to teach.  Aaaaaahhhhh... local language, culture, food, the second best open air market in the world, beach, hermit crabs, watercolor... on and on.  That was just the first few days.  Then, we were on the boat for 3 nights together.  All together.  6 of us.  400 sq feet.  A (loud)toilet that you pump out.  Baths off the side of the boat.   LOVELY!!!!  The kids slept in their births and were sound asleep before any of us.  Mom cooked amazing meals and taught the kids how to tie knots with the lines in the cockpit.
They jumped off the boat into the water, up and down, up and down - drove the dinghy around, went to the beach, visited a fort from the 1700's that detailed the 14 separate French & British battles for the island.  We played games, read books.  We then moved to the more Euro-chic side of the island where we heard so many different languages, met many of Island Girl's friends and had a lovely room with a view of the ocean and the most magical sunsets I've ever seen.  Swimming, swimming, swimming, swimming!  We'd walk through town, meet others or just keep to ourselves.  The perfect time.  So Cherished.

Back to reality and hit the ground running.
- MOST importantly, as a result of her independent Bible studies and just hangin' out time - Ginger had come to the conclusion that she and God were meant to take the next step and she was baptized in our hot tub in February.
Her favorite scripture was in Acts - the story of the Ethiopian Eunuch.  It was an incredible process to witness.  We'd just point her to scripture and it came to life for her.

- We switched Ginger from one public school enrichment (meaning a one-day-a-week homeschool programme) to another and it made all the difference in the world!  There were women there who I connected with more easily and many of the kids were part of the CBS that we went to on Wednesdays - more community!  Also, I realized that there was a world out there that was homeschooling for reasons that were different from mine, but a bit more similar than the other enrichment we'd been going to.  BONUS - We have access to their whole school district's curriculum store and their online Rosetta Stone passcode for only $25!!!!  So, we've started French.  Her enrichment had a precious daddy daughter dance and other fun actvities for the kids - participate fully in Ameritowne, etc

- I found an html coding website curriculum for free.  SWEET!~ www.codeacademy.com

.After a few months, I realized, the last day of curriculum was approaching - already 180 days of rigorous curriculum accomplished by the middle of April...
What does that mean?  That means that we completed the 2nd grade curriculum as well as other activities/classes.
That was exciting for about 5 minutes.
Then, I became a bit panicked - what now?  The last day of school in mid-April?  What are we going to do?  Eat, sleep and stare at each other?  I am so used to my former life.  The fun part of the last days of the year - field days, Popsicle days, Teacher Appreciation Days, maybe I'm supposed to fill in the last month before memorial day with those?
The good news is, we still have Grant's preschool, Ginger's enrichment, Kumon every day, French, HTML coding, reading, piano, ballet 2x's a week and Jiu Jitsu.  OK - I feel a little better.
But what do we "call" those things?  Not "school" - so, what is it?  Learning?
It's weird to celebrate the last day of school and still continue education - but I'm sure that I did this last summer - didn't we have things to do other than watch TV after swim team?
I just can't remember them.  I feel so uncomfortable, uneasy.  I want to know that my kids education is the best in the whole world (so silly).  I want to know, for certain, that after all of the planning and teaching and talking and praying and shepherding and guiding and playing and driving - is it working?  Are they the most developed, intellectual, spiritual, grounded, fun, healthy kids on the planet this year?  I fight the voice that says "failure" if they're not.  Will she remember anything?
I am grateful that Grant's preschool and Ginger's enrichment have field day activities coming up.  It sounds ridiculous, but that stamp of tradition eases the transition for me.
Anywhoo... so I guess it's a transition time from Spring to Summer and I am having an awkward time of it.

SOME THOUGHTS FROM THE YEAR:

How do I know it was a "good" year?  I don't really - if I look to anything tangible - but it was such a huge risk and I see so much richness because of it,- spiritually - intellectually - I guess that's all I should "look" for as kudos?


I have noticed some annoying thoughts/doubts like, "I'm using so much energy and taking so much time and money just to help my kids, in my home - it seems so selfish and limited."  I wonder if I could do more for more people and if that isn't much more noble than what I'm doing?  Then, the question - am I in a race for nobility (which includes humility, not pride), or am I following the path that was so clearly laid out for me?

I genuinely would love to have some kind of credentials - partly so I can say that I have credentials - but I feel the pull to really be qualified in some way shape or form on the academic/neurological side of things..... ?  I'm reading books on development - but may look into a correspondence course of some kind so I can plug into that more.

Is the academic challenge strong enough?  Coherent/cohesive/comprehensive enough?  Is it enough?  Am I enough?  Am I building character?  I have observed that my kids will definitely see our need for a savior because of my example = yikes.  Thank God God is God.

I love taking time with my kids.  Knowing my kids. Learning US History was awesome (I just typed that and it looks like I'm lying - but it really was).  To walk with so many people through their stories, on a quest to worship and live with fervor and freedom at any cost, in extremely perilous circumstances...  that was so inspiring and passionate!!!!!!!  I actually liked the history more than science - VERY weird for me.

Learning my daughters learning style and realizing the puzzle of translating a concept from my brain, through the filter of my learning style to my teaching style to her brain through her learning style.  woa...  at least we both speak English. 

Grant was AWESOME to have in the classroom.  I thought he'd just want to go play in the basement - but he liked some of the curriculum more than Ginger or I did and so we just incorporated him into the drill.  I have a notion that doing Kumon has greatly aided in his getting used to "studying" concepts and solving puzzles.

I loved to learn.  I also love seeing the improvements in myself and my daughter.

Ginger and Grant's relationship is transformed.  Truly.  No other way to describe it.

We fit so much in.

There are limitless resources out there and so many educators willing to help.  We may even go to the high school next fall to start French classes!


WHAT HAVE I DONE TO FUEL MYSELF THIS YEAR?

- TAKING THE STEP - The fact that we took this step was truly invigorating.  To follow a path that, in my own mind, was ludicrous, but was so clearly from God, is the most transcendent thing I've EVER done (save reading the Bible for the first time).  The intense learning curve and prep itself fueled me.  This was a huge mountain to climb and I really enjoyed the prep for it, the emotional challenge, spiritual growth, physical demands and time with my kids.  I loved to learn the academic factoids around every corner, googling the google resources that are out there for roam school kids, confronting my own arrogance & judgements to humble myself before the God that brought me here in the first place :-).

I also have to thank all of my family and friends for the surprising amount of support.  The ratio of support to discouragement was surprisingly high and I cannot tell you what a lovely thing that was.  I was prepared for the worst - who knows what some were saying behind closed doors (I was saying it about myself) - but I felt so supported.  THANK YOU!

DIGGING DEEP - Involving myself in CBS (community bible study)!  Their curriculum is AWESOME and you can't beat it for my kids.  I get deep spiritual (nonbiased) insight and the kids have built amazing friendships in a short amount of time (THANK YOU KRISTIN NISONGER!)  In fact, I have to post a part of the CBS mission statement:
  " Since its inception the philosophy of Community Bible Study has always been that it is every person's Bible study, available to all. Each man, woman, youth, and child will be so cared for and loved that all will feel comfortable in their class regardless of background, education, church involvement, ethnicity, or economic status. Our desire is to build unity in the midst of diversity in our community."
The whole thing is awesome, but I loved that part of it.

MA GIRLZ - Girls nights/day outings - this has been great.  Who doesn't need girl time?
However, there has been a shift. I find I need to focus on things that are a little more rejuvenating and less of an "escape."  I find that I'd like to do something at the gym or a dance class.  I'd looooove to learn how to really play the guitar.  I can putz around, but not really play. 

PLAY DATES - Had play dates with friends' & their kids.  I'd say I had two moms that I particularly clicked with who had kids schooled at home and who clicked with my kids.  Those times have been very encouraging to me and my little ones as well.
One was a freshmen homeschool mom like me and one was a vet.
 I particularly enjoyed it because they have such a great way of discussing/sharing things about their deep convictions, but somehow without judgement.  We are different enough in our approach to life that it is fun to learn from our conversations.  Our quest was the same, to honor our spiritual convictions in our behavior and conversation.  It was nice to have someone to hold me accountable to that.  My inertia always is in the direction of hypocrisy.

MEDITATION - YIKES! I scheduled a time to have a silent prayer retreat in June - by myself.  I'm terrified.  I may come home after 2 hours instead of 2 days.  We'll see what God has for me.  I've been taunted with this idea for the last 4 years.

FREE DAY! - I made sure that the kids had an enrichment on the same day for the same amount of time and that was off limits to schedule for work or anything in particular.  I had my Fridays to look forward to and they were sacred.  A friend of mine volunteered her time on those days and I felt bad for not doing the same - again - selfish?  I wasn't ready for that it felt - but, for what?  Still wrestling with what to do on my free days.  Most of the time I'd just have coffee or lunch w/friend & play tennis.  It was nice, but not that rejuvenating most of the time - though the coffee time with friends was fab.

WHAT DID WE GET THROUGH THIS YEAR?
Most days at home (not enrichment days) we were at it from 8:30 or 9:00 - 2:00 or 2:30.
Prayed
Ginger studied and was led to baptism in February
Completed studies of both Deuteronomy and Hebrews
Adventures in My Father's World curriculum - US History
3 Units in Rosetta Stone French
Html coding basics - tags, images, links
Wrote 5 kids books for school
Advanced 2 levels in Kumon Reading & Math
Completed 2.5 levels of Singapore Math curriculum
Completed 2 units of Spelling Power
Completed study of 50 states (facts, maps, history)
Completed study of the US from exploration to Abraham Lincoln's presidency
Compiled a US Notebook with summaries of each reading assignment in History and a fact sheet for each state.
Learned 10 Patriotic Songs and their origin
Learned Tchaikovsky and his music as well as attended Swan Lake & The Nutcracker Ballet
9 months of Colorado Ballet Academy lessons and advanced a level
Painted, drew, crafted, created, wrote, illustrated, molded, constructed, sewed, sang...
Private lessons in piano for 9 months and in quite a few recitals
Appeared in walk-on role for The Nutcracker downtown at Ellie Caulkins
Read countless books and has 3 more to finish the Little House book series 
Played a lot of cool educational apps/typing/coding/writing/drawing/etc.
Science Matters enrichment camp & science experiments at home
50+ slumber parties with her brother in their rooms and adopted little baby "cousins' who play together.
Visited parts of the world they hadn't before - including Orcas Island and St. Lucia
Participated in Brownie Troop 62231 - went to Camp and earned a LOT of patches/badges/etc.
Saw the Van Gogh Exibit at the DAM - WOWOWOW!!!
Studied Art History and classical techniques with private professional artist.
I don't know if I'm forgetting some things...



WHAT  I WOULDN'T DO AGAIN?
hmmm... thinking about that.... must reflect ...

WHAT I WILL DO IN THE SUMMER?
swim team... tennis...  friends...  sleep... eat... dirt...  camp... family camp... research a plan for next year :-).

WHAT TO DO WHEN MY SON STARTS KINDERGARTEN AT ANDERSON ACADEMY (YIKES!)  IS THAT THE RIGHT THING? 
I'm so emotional about Grant leaving his preschool - all of his teachers were seriously angels - ministering spirits to my sweet and incredibly challenging toddler.  God has used that village in miraculous ways for my little boy who is now a big boy and with an emerging gentle spirit.  He's so sweet with little ones and I see his love for his sister - it's amazing.  At least he'll have CBS and enrichment as well as Jiu Jitsu. 

WHAT IS THE DEAL FOR NEXT YEAR?
TBD  - so far, I know we'll be doing Options Enrichment, CBS, Kumon, Jiu Jitsu, Ballet & Piano....  Singapore Math, Spelling Power, Rosetta Stone French, Codeacademy.com, Art classes...  Not sure about history/language arts/science.  Possibly Classical Conversations... I also want to help them start something that benefits others in the community - to take a leadership role in mobilizing one of their interests and making it a real-life thing.  I'm also interested in developing a robot of some kind - either through the legos robotics or the old fashioned way.  We'll see.

"Teachable Moments" - they're EVERYWHERE!

OK - now that I have a little bit of a brain (feels like it's been the first three months after having a baby)...  I think I can keep this updated a little more often but I have some catching up to do.

What I see in homeschooling that is vastly different than what happens when you're not privately tutoring your kids, is that there are a billion "teachable moments" in any given lesson.  Opportunities to teach something that may or may not have to do with the subject at hand, that would have never been detected.  It's exhaustingly fulfilling.

Mainly, I am referring to character lessons.  Opportunities to talk about things that will build a foundation for a lifetime.  Diligence, hard work, tools to help fight the temptations of laziness, boredom, discouragement, impatience, challenges, envy, etc.  I can stop the lesson and talk about (hopefully with the fruits of the Spirit) things that are applicable to everything.  Such as, working at something that isn't "interesting" or doing your best handwriting when you are sick of handwriting or finding something interesting in a story that was poorly written or paying attention when you're tired, or how your mind feels different/learns differently if your body is sitting up straight or loose like a noodle.  how your heart lifts when you are smiling vs. when you are frowning.  That your thoughts create your experience.   I can see first hand the eyes glaze over when we've maxed out the amount of information capable of being ingested. We can take a break and review the info later (i.e. learning facts about the different states/colonies) in a way that is more fun.  My mom pointed this last one out - that if a child in school tunes out/gets distracted - it's not really noticed.

I can also see a lot of teachable moments for me.  All of the above apply and some others.  My ego pops up everywhere.  That Jesus is more importantly reflected in my actions more than my words and my words confuse my kids' faith if my actions are impatient and rude.  I've learned that my apologies are more frequent than my actions are like Jesus.  I've learned that church can be our classroom more than anywhere in the world.  That our classroom can be mobile.  Should be mobile.

I also have a rich fantasy life - that we'll somehow become independently wealthy and be able to travel all over and I'll grow dreadlocks or, more likely, shave my head (thinning hair).

I see that Ginger and Grant's relationship has changed DRAMATICALLY.  There is no longer the need to jockey for social achievement at school for Ginger, which was at many times the focal point of the day for her.  So, now there is so much more time and energy spent hanging out and playing/learning with her brother.  Grant is no longer a nuisance that she has to deal with in between school.  He is becoming an ally.  They have sleepovers in her room 4 or 5 times a week.  A few weeks after they started this, Ginger came to me and said, "Wow - Grant is so much fun to play with when I'm not being mean to him!  I've got to change."
That was a day I'll never forget.

New Wineskin Can Be Itchy & Uncomfortable...

SO SAD - I had written a post about the last 13 weeks and closed the window before I had saved it.  BUMMER!
OK so, start again.  My Dad, the writer, always says writers rewrite and my Mom the painter paints the SAME painting 10 times if she doesn't like it.  So, I guess I can rewrite once and not complain too much.

Our family took an incredible vacation to Orcas Island in August before we started school.  It was beyond refreshing and gave me a chance to do quite a bit of prep for school as well as just relax.

The first day of Anderson Academy was August 17, 2012 - at Ginger's request.
It was the first day of the neighborhood school and Grant's first day at Pre-K.  So, there it was.  I had done a lot of prep for this semester and then went backwards in prep for the months, weeks then days.  So, I had listed on our white board many many things to do, as well as the time I thought it would take us - and the classroom looked awesome :-).
Ginger came bounding downstairs in her jammies and decided that would be the unofficial school uniform!  Love it.
I was nervous and felt like an impostor; however, I've practiced the "fake-it-till-ya-make-it/sink-or-swim" combo many times before and it seems to work wonders when your actual confidence bails on you.  Anywhoo - we had a great day and I had everything planned so that we could be done with "school" by the time we went to pick up Grant.
Ginger was - and is - so eager to do school - it's a bit bizarre.  I fully expect she's still in the honeymoon phase, but she's been sure about this for the last three years.  Who knew?  I have asked her if homeschool is what she expected and she just says, "yea.  well, I didn't know what to expect."  Even on the darkest days (my side as a teacher - yikes) she's never looked back.

Day 2.  August 18, 2012.
We decide to have a playdate with her friend Kayla from preschool cause she hasn't started school yet and because now, "we can."  I took Ginger, Grant & Kayla to the pool at the gym cause the neighborhood pool wasn't open during the early part of the day anymore.  It was deserted.  I thought I would love that, as then it is so much easier to keep track of the kids and we are "beating the system." it was lonely.  It was weird.  I started to feel my heart beating faster and I felt my breath becoming shallower.  What in the world am I doing?
Enter in desperate dramatic thought -
"I am without the community I had in the neighborhood"
"No chit chat at drop-off, library duty, room mom stuff - nothing. Isolation.  I'm weirder."
"what am i doing to my kids?  There's no one to play with here...  their friends are all in SCHOOL somewhere!"
"I don't know if the kids still need backpacks? "
"I suck at this!"
"What about my life?"

I backpedalled all the way down the rabbit hole.
Then, when it was time to go home, Ginger's friend said it must be nice to homeschool because family is so nice.  That was weird.
I was sinking into culture shock.  I felt like I was living someone else's life and yet saw my other choices as antiquated.  I've drunk the koolaid but still miss/remember the taste of what was.  New wineskin is itchy and irritating and unfamiliar.

Day 3.  I'm now adapting a routine.  8:00pm(night b4), put kids to bed - 8:45, lesson planning for the next day.  Prep white board, supplies, books, etc.  I firmly believe that if you put in an enormous amount of work into anything to begin with - the payoff down the road is well worth it and you've built a solid foundation.  So, I work for an hour or two each night at the beginning - just to cover my bases and research the different methodologies each of our curricula required.

Day 3 goes remarkably smoothly.  I chose a math curriculum that I love and started behind a couple of levels so that Ginger would feel confident with the lessons and that I would be able to catch up to my own adjustments before tackling newer math concepts with her.

Now, day whatever, ending week 13.  It is amazing how smooth the transition has been, considering that I don't fit in anywhere and don't know what's happening around me.  The time flies by and the certainty only increases.  I don't enjoy the pain of discovering my shortcomings in such technicolor - but it allows me to finally be aware of them, which is the beginning of growing beyond them, or, embracing how God made me.  How God made Ginger - and Grant.

I have experienced that our family is somehow more of a family.  This I cannot explain except I realized that sometimes during the beginning of homeschool I wanted to shut down - something scared me about the intimacy of it.  The stillness of it.  The we're-together-all-the-time part.  After a few weeks, it hit me.  I have compartmentalized my life since I can remember.  Especially as it had to do with family - because it was sometimes painful without purpose or resolution.  Now, with my own family, I have done some of the same.  It's not that my boundaries are gone now - those will always be healthy - but the defenses are exposed for what they are and wholly unnecessary.  Anyway - I'm thinking out loud as I go - so, I'm not sure of the coherence of this....

I have realized too that I am more of an introvert than I once thought.  There is a peace in simplicity of action and mind.  God is much more integrated into our lives as well.  A spiritual experience instead of a spiritual appointment.

So many things to discuss... So many unexpected gifts from this...  this... hard... work....

I will post again soon - but to sum up:
This is EXACTLY where we are supposed to be.  Confirmed ad-nauseum.
Uncomfortable.  Lonely.  Scary.  Stupid.  Irritating.  Miraculous.  Oh yea, and, we're learning a LOT academically - VERY rigorous - incredible resources out there of all kinds....  funny how that seems like an aside compared to everything else we're learning :-).

Pictures coming lata -

(Begin Where You are)

Chapter 5 Begin Where You ARE! Who you ARE!

Begin homeschooling with a curriculum and structure level that you are COMFORTABLE with!

"When you consider homeschooling as learning without school, you realize that all parents have been homeschooling their children since birth."
- Begin with your strength as expert on your child.
- don't look for the "perfect" method - it will only discourage you and your kiddos
- Homeschooling should ALWAYS be comfortable - especially at the beginning - so, where you are RIGHT NOW is the most comfortable (Ginger will be taking Art & Music at the neighborhood school so she can have some of what we have RIGHT NOW)
- Being comfortable makes it a lot easier to tinker with homeschooling until it fits your family's lifestyle.
- THERE ARE NINE DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO HOMESCHOOLING:

1) Traditional School At Home - online government or private institutions with similar structure - but can be under any philosophy - Core curriculum, Waldorf, Montessori, etc.  It has the same vocabulary as institutional school, which your child may have just left.
   - this is also more useful in states with stricter accountability laws
  - Children will be at the same academic level as age peers if they return to public school
  - ready-made curriculum provides a starting point
  - keeps the family on track with regard to grade-level content if they alter the hours/days/months of the public school calendar
  - Easy way to satisfy state legal requirements

2) Classical Education
- The classical method is based on a revival of the educational approach called the trivium, a three-part process of literally training a child's mind.
- Preparation for College academics
- to study history in chronological order
- to use original source books in teaching
- to study the trivium (Grammar Stage, Logic Stage & Rhetoric (Poetic) Stage)

3) Charlotte Mason
- Core Knowledge accompanied by fine arts
- Use of "living books" (classical literature) in lieu of textbooks
- narrative summaries of learning in lieu of written tests and exams
- creation of a "Century Book" which serves as a timeline and an organizational center where information gleaned from reading, field trips, and other sources is placed into "the big picture"
- copy work
 - Reasons for Charlotte Mason - If your child is an avid reader
                                                   - Provides plenty of attention to fine arts, classical music and literature
                                                   - promotes concentration
                                                  - focuses on what child knows, not on what the child doesn't know
                                                   - enriches parents' education at the same time

4) Unit Studies
Theme or topic-based and use as starting points anything from historical eras to good books, science topics to cultural expiration.  Learning occurs within a framework provided by the topic, and study of the topic incorporates literature, science, social studies, art, music and more.
- cuts down on lesson-prep with multiple age kiddos
- allows time to study a topic in depth
- offers guidelines w/o the rigidity of a curriculum
- easily blends child's and adult's learning interests
- often reveals 'side learning trips' that the child might not have discovered otherwise
- good fill-in when life circumstances get crazy, such as a new baby, moving, or illness.

5)  Eclectic
-  Do whatcha wanna do :-)
- inexpensive
- easy to incorporate kids natural interests
- frees one to do "real-life"
- by accident - instead of planned lessons
- easy way to start with early years kids
- children develop an enthusiasm for learning
- helpful for kids who've had a difficult time in school
- didn't like paying for curriculum that they didn't end up using

6) Interest (Child) Initiated or Unschooling
- "Unschooling: The process by which a person acquires specific and nonspecific skills and information as determined by the needs and interests of the person(s) doing the learning and by methods suited to, and chosen by, those doing the learning."
- an extension of printing their children as honorable and joyful, full time work (OK, is this a little hokey?)
- it mirrors the way many adults go about leaning something they want to know
- can nurture both learning styles and interests at the same time
- allows for the most efficient, accurate learning in all arenas
- had previously observed how much their children were learning simply by asking questions and receiving answers.

7) School Sponsored Homeschooling programs
- has similarities to homeschooling co-ops
- potentially makes it easier to receive needed special education assistance
- accountability levels are low
- attending classes fills socialization needs
ability to pick and choose what to learn at home and what to learn at school
- to fill in perceived gaps in education due to personal constraints on time, ability, or other life circumstances.

8) Independent Coop Learning Situations
ILC's are fee of government regulation, free to be what-ver those who create and utilize them want them to be.
- get together with other homeschool families learning similar things or different
- creates a community of support for parents and kids
- interaction with other children
- combining funds to reduce costs of lessons to individual families
- offers choice of classes that might be unavailable otherwise
- parents have learned how to come together and blend their different approaches to learning

9) Online Learning - a K-12 or other private online curriculum
- Childs ability to research any subject of interest
- information available at all times, day or night
- availability of wide range of opinions/approaches on topics
- child enjoys using the computer
- programs are convenient, as they can cover an entire curriculum.

one of the "takeaways" was that I will probably combine a few of these approaches...

another quote was from a homeschool parent " We are convinced that a prepackaged curriculum is the most comfortable way to start homeschooling your first year.  After that, you can start to loosen the structure -  "  I liked this because I am worried about what i'm doing - and it takes away a lot of stress to know what you are going to do when you wake up in the morning.


OK - I was also just futzing around and found the following - 

Check out some of the amazing homeschool/unschool opportunities there are - These are just a couple that I found on the web at first blush

http://unschooladventures.com/?page=trips
http://www.hscconference.com/main.html

The CHEC conference in Colorado seems like it offers great break-out sessions but the demographic will be interesting I think, based on the speakers.

There is a conference on Educational Technology every year for teachers and professionals and I'm DYING to go - but, until then, I found out that there are standards for teachers, students & curricula that we may want to pay attention to as homeschoolers so that our kids enter the new tech job market ahead of the curve:  http://www.iste.org/standards.aspx

To get ready for the upcoming conference, and selecting our curriculum, we had Ginger go through an assessment test this week through a professional Childhood Education Counselor (PhD) so that we would know what "grade" to start her, for what subject, get an idea of her potential (IQ) her strengths, weaknesses, areas of interest and learning styles.  It ain't cheap, but I am so excited to have that information under our belt when solidifying curriculum in the coming weeks.  I know that there are some online assessments you can give your kids for free/cheap as well.

Ginger had so much fun at the assessment that she said, "mom - when are we going to GET to WORK on homeschooling?"
To which I replied, "that's the great thing, honey - you don't need a bell to tell you when to start learning.  It's all the time!"

We'll have Grant go through the assessment next year, or, whenever he's ready to come home for school.

I need to get reading glasses -  :-) g'nite!

LAST DAY at school... "Think It Through, Please!"

So, I've been swallowed up by "life" and haven't posted for a while.
However, a momentous occasion occurred two days ago and I DON'T want that to pass me by completely unnoticed.
Ginger attended her LAST DAY at the institution.  Wow.  This is a H-U-G-E step for our family!!!!!!

However, I tried to be as low key as possible with the drop off and etc.  Ginger doesn't do well with goodbyes and I also just wanted to think of it as a natural progression - as this decision has been so gradual, we're all quite used to it by now...

Anywhoo - I was curious to see how Ginger fared on her last day of school.  It's 2:03pm, I'm sitting in the carpool line, waiting for my sweet little one.  I see hundreds of kids pouring out of school - many of them with bouquets of flowers.  5th grade graduation, I assume.

I had read on the website that there was going to be a "walk" at 1:45pm for the kids who were graduating AND/OR were not returning to Sandburg next year.  I wrongly assumed (isn't that redundant?) that I would be contacted regarding Ginger walking with those kids if they were to include her and I purposefully did NOT request her inclusion for two reasons.
She is 1) returning to the school for Art classes once a week next year anyway and
2) she is the ONLY 1st grader in her class NOT returning - so, how would it feel to be singled out as a SIX YEAR OLD - waving goodbye to your friends, during the graduation theme song???!?!?!?!?!  I think that might introduce drama where there was none necessary.

Anyway, I am in the car, looking for Ginger - I see her little head bob around the corner.  She's holding flowers and bawling her little eyes out.  I exit the car (which is against the rules) and come up to her - scooping her up in my arms.  I didn't have to ask what was wrong.

I have nary a kind word to say about the decision to include Ginger in the 5th grade graduation/1st grader not-continuing walk - "Think It Through Please" - is about the best I can come up with.

My parents were amazed at the shortsightedness of the faculty - especially when they know so much about the kiddos psyche at that point.

The good news:  1)She was over it in about 10 minutes after I reminded her of a birthday party we were going to straight away. 2) She was still excited not to be going back full time.  3) Above all, it royally confirmed that, as a mom, I have the luxury and responsibility and honor of thinking through things, praying for wisdom and discernment about the appropriate processes for my family - especially at this tender age.

Expectations: The Silent Dreamkiller

I have realized from my own attitudes that, gone undetected, expectations will kill your dreams, destroy the ability to find gratitude and sew seeds of deep bitterness & attitude of victimization.   A lethal recipe for a poison that will steal the life and light from any moment or relationship that you hold dear.

I am realizing that I have to beg for exposure of my undetected expectations about homeschooling.  I have to suspend them as I see them.

I think I'm more afraid of what is unseen - but isn't that also where truly walking in faith comes in?  Be sure of what you HOPE for and CERTAIN of what you CANNOT see.

Huh>

Unsolicited Confirmation Always Feels Good

I am so grateful for being able to process this journey, one day at a time.  It's a fascinating process.  I have seen over the years and, especially after I have committed to homeschooling, that I continue to follow breadcrumbs of confirmation that I am walking the path God has led before me, including my family.

On a few occasions, just this week, there were things that made it clear that Ginger could really thrive if given more dynamic opportunities that are now open to us.

My parenting has been so much less about the box and getting us into it.

My mind has opened up to a lot of brainstorming that I've not previously given myself permission to explore.

I can't wait to hang out with her.  Chat more.

She's a naturally inquisitive person - so there is no telling where we will go!!!

I met and connected with other homeschool moms who I see will be kindreds at least in this arena.

So, that's that for that.

It's a beautiful day - my son is back in his not-so-self-controlled-self.  Ugh.  Going to be a long few weeks  until it cycles out of him again.

Enjoy today.  Accept love.  Live in and through Grace.  Take responsibility.  You are beautiful.

Inadequate Apology for Insensitivity in last post

My Post summarizing Chapter 4 of the book I'm reading made a statement regarding medication for children with diagnosis as being a way of "ignoring" a problem.  I was simply stating what the book said, so that I am not painting all with a rosy brush. However, I was so tired and focused on the other topics, I did NOT mention (which was totally insensitive of me) that I disagree with their blanket statement - I know many moms who have kids that are in seasons of life where the medical assistance they get allows them to enjoy being kids.  Without it - there would be a huge deficit.  I myself have been on Prozac for a season and my family thanks me.
Again, I cannot apologize enough for causing some of my sweet and cherished friends anguish about simply loving their kids with all their heart mind soul & strength.
I am just grateful that they love me enough to be honest with me about it... thank you.  That is humbling.

...It's Just Getting Really Good at Staring At The Cat

Chapter 4 -TFYOHYC - Homeschool or not, this changed my life in 23 pages!

I wish that were an exaggeration...  but I would now recommend this book for marriage, parenting, friendships, faith...  OK - I'll do my best to sum up - but might end up rewriting the whole chapter.

• Get to know your own learning style (naturally, not imposed) and your childs.  Order these books: "Discover Your Child's Learning Style" -Kindle Hodson (Prima 1999) and "In Their Own Way: Discovering and Encouraging Your Child's Personal Learning Style"
• A little person grows in their own way and at their own pace.  Just like you can't teach a baby to walk before they are developmentally ready, the same goes for younger kids in many ways.
• Be careful of previously placed "labels" for your child.  They may be a dumbed down way to handle a learning style that is not addressed for kids in school (I've noticed that in a lot of schools - they seem to teach to only 2 of the 8 or 9 learning styles and if you don't excel at those, you are left in the dust and labeled).
• "In the late 20th Century America, when it is difficult, expensive or inconvenient to change the environment, we don't think twice about changing/numbing the brain of the person who has to live in it." Ken Livingston, Vassar psychology professor
• In homeschooling, you can change the environment as you see your little ones change and grow.
• Artificially forcing a certain learning style is destructive in many ways (my husband was labeled by the system when he was very young as dyslexic and he fights that demon on a regular basis (and he's a much faster/better/more curious reader than many I know).
• This chapter really emphasized the importance of caution in the area of labeled kids.  It talks about medications in a way that is quite generalized and I have too many friends who've been in the difficult position of choosing the right path for their kids.  So, this was something I disagree with personally.  No one can put a blanket answer on all kids.  (strike one for the book)  Homeschooling is much less tragic than losing a child to this repeated discouragement and possibly worse/fatal consequences.
• Harvard weighs in on the "Multiple Intelligences"/Learning Styles - Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences.  The schools teach to the first two:
• Linguistic: reading/listening
• Logical/Mathematical
• Bodily-Kinesthetic
• Visual-Spacial
• Musical
• Interpersonal
• Intrapersonal
• Naturalist
• Gardner calls homeschooling "Individually Configured Education" because he was from Harvard and encouraging the wealthy to buy ridiculous amounts of materials.
• Review of "Discover Your Child's Learning Style" - Kindle Hodson

DEVELOPING YOUR FRAME OF HEART

• It seems the happiest humans sprinkled throughout mankind's history were those who found balance between head and heart, between intellect and emotion.  Accept-Observe-Know
• Accept.




Accept the things we cannot change

We sometimes choose to fight nature by trying to alter a child's natural inclination to fit someone else's picture of how this child should be. In so doing, we rob children of their uniqueness (By default, we rob society too.) By knowing our child's intelligences and learning styles, we know what not to change - so we can accept.

- Often, a different educational goal would  better honor the unique intelligence, disposition and talents of an individual.




WAIT FOR IT...  

LIFE CHANGING QUOTE COMING UP!  

SAY GOOD BYE TO YOUR OLD SELF THAT READ THE ABOVE INFORMATION!!!!




"Once we acknowledge  that it's best not to change something, it's easier for us to let nature take its course, to accept.  Accepting, then, means giving up your own perceptions of what should be and allowing what is, to blossom." - DOBSON




  ANOTHER ONE ....

"Going against the majority and accepting responsibility while others give it away take courage."

"Acceptance bestows remarkable peace on its bearer and on those who are accepted as they are."




ADMIT IT- you are not the same person anymore :-)




 Instead of looking for problems to fix/control, you can now watch for clues that will help you to help your child learn and enjoy it.  Ideally, you will observe your child with a loving heart.  If the heart isn't loving, you will not be observing, but merely watching.




Ask your child questions - remember the answers.  Have more organic chat time so that it isn't a Spanish inquisition.




Finally - "Homeschooling is life, intensified.  The fears come and go.  Remember that success at homeschooling doesn't necessarily involve being the youngest child ever to perform with the Philharmonic.  Sometimes  it's just getting really good at staring at the cat."  Kathryn Baptista




OK - is this AMAZING?!  Not only is it practical and helpful in forming an academic approach, it seems that it rings true to the SOUL.  How many times have I wanted to be ACCEPTED and not CHANGED?  Granted, some of the things I wanted others to accept were ludicrous and even bad for me or them, but the things that weren't damaging - the "weird" parts of me that weren't the hottest thing at the cocktail party or whatever - 

How can I ACCEPT my daughter's innocent uniqueness, if I cannot accept my own?  Ironically, even before I read this, I had an AMAZING chat with Ginger just lying on her bed.  Sweet Ginger.  After reading this, I look forward to many, many more of those.

GOD MADE US AND HE LOVES US JUST THE WAY HE MADE US!!!!!!   

I'LL GO AHEAD AND SIGN OFF THERE.  I need to swim in some love.

Things To Think About but NOT OVERthink

OY - the plague of the mind.  I tell ya -  I am so grateful for wisdom in proverbs, good news from friends and love to fill my mind.  Otherwise the floodgates open to the inertia of negativity and/or just the static of the day.
Something I didn't think I'd think about the homeschool journey is my spousal relations.  My husband and I work together in Real Estate (he does 95% of the work outside the office and in the home office).  I have learned a LOT about our marital dynamics through this journey and I had no idea that the notion of homeschooling would kind of send me into an "overthink" about my husband.
"Will he micromanage my homeschool process?"
"Will I feel like I'm reporting to him my progress so I'm not judged as lazy or harsh?"
Ugh - so many thoughts... so, I just asked him how he's been feeling about the research I've done.
"Great!  I had just accepted that you may not ever want to do it - so, this is just a bonus and will be what's best for the kids."
Hmf.  Well, that wasn't what I was expecting.  So simple.  So lovely.
I get in my own damn way.
I didn't read my book today and I feel guilty.  That is more of a confession and absolution all in one :-).

WHAT Am I Thinking?!?!?!

We woke up this morning, after an all-nighter of my son puking in the bathroom (tho he's adorable and cuddly when he's sick) and it's a beautiful day outside.  I drive Ginger to the neighborhood school (the one I went to) and see our neighbors pulling up to drop their kids off, kids playing on the playground - that awesome noise - and all of the other fun busy-ness that comes with a small neighborhood elementary school.
It is so cute.  The kids will do great and I'm sure going to miss a lot about the school.  I am also going to miss dropping my daughter off and having time with my son.  I'm going to miss dropping off my daughter and my son and having a shopping/lunch date with a friend.  I'm going to miss volunteering for school parties.  I'm going to miss the Halloween parade and seeing all the kids in their costumes.  I'm going to miss the music performances on the stage.   So many things.  Like I said, I didn't come to homeschooling because I don't like schools.  I LOVE SCHOOLS!!!!  I love teachers! I was public school - hubby was private school - both good. What I love most about it is the social piece. I am a social/relational person;  albeit awkwardly. Even though I had horrific years in Middle School - well, 7th grade mainly, I had so many more fun years.  Granted, I made some hilariously bad decisions - but overall - I have such a fondness for the potential for my kids there.
I feel like I'm leaving my country and yet still living here.  Weird.  Weird.  I'm going to be weirder in my community than I already am.  My kids are going to be the "homeschool" kids.
I was SO glad to know that I can enroll Ginger in the neighborhood school for Art and Music class, and she can stay for recess with her friends there.  That is amazing flexibility and I'm so grateful to the district and the principal for arranging for that.  I think it'd be too hard to just cut it off completely and this will be great for Ginger to keep in touch with friends in a new yet familiar way.
I am looking forward to reading the next chapter in my book so that I'll get some encouragement.  It was funny, one of the passages I read was about how schooled kids' (public or private) parents don't like to hear about homeschooling because of the elitist attitude the hs parents have.  I think I'll just be jealous of the schooled kids' parents and sheepishly change the subject if it comes up.  I don't like homeschool parents either. :-)

A LITTLE COMIC RELIEF

awesome, hysterical, bomb-the-homeschool-myth-comedy

It Takes A Village

Interesting stuff... went to a homeschool group tonight.  Knew a few of the ladies from brief introductions but not close friends.  However, the discussion questions each table was to discuss sparked incredible discussion.

More curriculum research (realizing this is the never-ending project)

• There is so much to choose from and yet each family is so different and so is each mom.

More than anything else... there was a spiritual element to the discussion that was truly humble, not "religious" or arrogant.  There was just a desire to incorporate the soul instead of compartmentalize it into a forbidden subject or simply one that is outside of the others.

That my daughter can talk about the Bible or prayer or her own relationship with God openly and is happy to look for God in the little things she's learning is pretty awesome.  I leave God at the door or the elevator or in the car, whenever it is convenient to the situation.

I am a recovering compartmentalist.

The opposite of that is to celebrate the soul in us and in all of us.  Pretty cool.  

Every day won't be this profound but I'm a rookie and easily impressed.

I did feel awkward and like I didn't really 'click' - but, that is a familiar feeling to me :-).

I disagreed with some of the women's practice of their faith.

It was a great - healthy environment.  I had differences.  So did they.

Moving on :-)  I love being the rookie though... then you don't know the real deal behind the deal...

The First Year Of Homeschooling Your Child

OK - so, next update.  Thank you for all of your positive feedback and I do always welcome different views/opinions/challenges too :-).

I just started reading "The First Year Of Homeschooling Your Child" by Linda Dobson and I am SO GRATEFUL SHE WROTE THIS BOOK!  Click on the link below for the Amazon page.  You can preview it as well.

The First Year of Homeschooling Your Child

I've just read the first two chapters today and I gained these takeaways:

1. Build a foundation
• Journal your reasons for researching/considering/doing homeschooling
• Begin to observe your own educational philosophy as it emerges
• Research the legal requirements in your city/state for homeschooling
• Decide how you will assess your child's progress (I have found there are several wonderful and easy ways to do this.  One, through an "Umbrella School" that files your paperwork with the state, conducts independent assessment tests and can help with curricula recommendations for your child's specific learning style & your teaching style - for Colorado it's SHILOH or CHEC or several online Umbrella options.  CHEC and SHILOH are Christian organizations but do not have any denominational bent in their assessments, etc.
• Finally, as the curricula research commences, the pandora's box of spending can occur.  Decide on a budget - then begin the research.
2. The first step is up to you.
• There is no first step of all first steps
• Get comfortable observing yourself and your child in meditation, prayer and lots of PLAY!
• "I wish someone had told me that it is better to jump in, get started, and learn from your mistakes than to sit worrying and trying to decide what to do and how to do it "perfectly." 
• Karyn Scallorn, Stanley, Wisconsin - quoted in the book
• Preparing food for their mind and heart is no less worthy of your time and attention than preparing food for their body.  
• If you realize from the get-go that homeschooling doesn't HAVE to mean "school at home, " if you understand that love for your child will see you through, and if you realize that homeschooling can fit a wide variety of family circumstances and needs, this crash course will get your wheels turning in the right direction... Pg 5
3. Every Day Will Not Be Perfect - take a break and give yourself one...
4. If it feels like you are forcing the learning (you'll know if one or both of you are crying) then it may be the wrong time, curriculum or approach
5. Many reluctant homeschoolers are just plain scared, for all the same reasons you can think of to be scared (ME!!!!!)
6. Spend the majority of time your first year just observing you & your child & getting information yourself.  You will be amazed at how much learning happens.
• Observe this little things too
• what time of day is best for your homeschool to happen?
• when are you and your child the most apt to absorb things?
• What subjects are your child naturally curious about ("academic" or not?)
• How do they explore new things?  Talking? Doing?
• Do they learn better sitting? Standing? Listening to music?
• Learn to just let go and love your kids and their learning style will become easily obvious
7. Be aware that there will be a culture shock and agitation for you (and less likely your child) when there is no externally imposed school schedule and organization.
8. You will never have all of the answers
9. Don't compare yourself to other homeschool moms
10. It's OK to take time off during challenging times.  A day, a week a month.  You'll have no problem catching up and it's better to have that Grace then square peg it.
11. Enjoy being together and relax is the MOST important aspect of the first year.  "What you do does not matter as much as the spirit in which you do it."
12. Be your own guinea pig