Convention Time is Here Again

It’s been a while since I’ve posted. Our family has been busy with school, church, and boy scouts. Not to mention we are trying to adopt a sweet baby girl. However, it’s time to look forward to this convention season now. I hope your year has been as productive as ours.

Sonlight hosted the Sonlight Curriculum Consultants recently and provided us with training for the upcoming season. They do this every couple of years, so we can best be prepared to help you with your homeschool needs. Isn’t it wonderful to know they care so much about you, the customer, that they spend the time and money to make sure we are well equipped to serve you?

I am so excited about the new catalog- I think it’s the best one yet. Sorry, no sneak peaks. You’ll have to come see me at a convention to get one. Speaking of conventions- if bring a friend to my Sonlight booth, I have a surprise for you. I’ve updated my page to reflect where I’ll be this year and I hope to meet many new people, and reconnect with old friends.

If you’re like most home school moms, you’re starting to think about next year. What do you need? Which curriculum will be best? Many of us go to home school conventions so we can see the materials “in person.” If you are planning to visit a convention this year, let me encourage you to first visit our website and read our Homeschool Convention Survivors Guidethen be sure to stop by and say "Hi!"

Co-ops?

Do you attend a home school co-op?  For the first 8 years of our homeschooling we did not.  I felt like the church and sports activities the kids were involved in were enough.  I also felt a need to figure out the academic end of home schooling.

Three years ago a friend convinced me to join her co-op.  It wasn't a good fit for us, but it did reveal a need for something more in our curriculum.

Two years ago we joined Praise Ensembles, a fine arts co-op.  It was exactly what we needed.  The boys are learning to play musical instruments.  They each take an art class, and the older two are involved in drama.  These are subjects I can't teach at home, and the growth and development of my boys has been wonderful to see.  We've discovered we may have an artist in the family.  I participate in the sign language class, and bring the lessons home to the whole family.  It's truly been a wonderful experience for our whole family.

More important, though, than the fine arts accomplishments are the personal ones.  The friendships the children have made are truly the best benefit we've received.  My oldest has grown leaps and bounds through relationships with other young men who have encouraged him in his walk with Christ.  One of his friends once said to him "Dude, you can't talk to your mom like that."  That's when I knew for sure we were in the right place.  Of course, I asked him if he treated his mom as well as he treats me- he admitted he did not. :)   My other boys have also created good friendships that will likely last a lifetime.

For myself, the opportunity to spend time with other homeschooling moms has been invaluable.  They are a source of encouragement, ideas, and motivation.  When one of us is down, the others rally around to encourage us.  We cry together, learn together, and laugh together.

Fridays are the highlight of our week, and all of us are sad that it ends in just two weeks.

If you are not in a homeschooling co-op, here are a few pointers to help you find the right one:

   1.  Ask who teaches the classes?  Do they hire teachers, or do the moms share the load?  Both options are valid, it's a personal preference.
   2.  If the moms teach, what do they do for curriculum?  I found out real quick I do not like creating my own.
   3.  What is the goal of the group?  What is their purpose statement?  Decide if you agree with it.
   4.  Does the group have a Statement of Faith?  Do you agree?
   5.  Does the group have a Dress Code or Code of Conduct?  Do you agree?  If not, can you at least live with it?
   6.  Visit the group, observe how the kids treat each other.  Chat with the moms.  Are you comfortable?  Do you like what you see?  Are your children comfortable?
   7.  Look at gaps in your homeschool?  Does the co-op fill those gaps?  There are only so many hours in the day, don't waste them where they don't benefit your student(s).
   8.  Consider cost.  Our co-op is pricey because we pay the teachers.  It's worth it to us, and we have fund raisers to help offset some of the cost.  Make sure you can afford it without getting your family into a jam.  See if they have any fund raisers.

As I mentioned, co-op is soon to be over.  However, we will get to watch out children perform in a concert soon, and shortly after that there is the performance of our Drama group.  This year they are performing Treasure Island, and my chlidren play Long John Silver and Bill Bones.  This is not an opportunity I could have created without Praise Ensembles.  I hope you are as successful as we have been in finding a co-op that meets your family's needs.

Spring!

Spring! Will it ever get here? Am I the only person longing for warm weather, flowers, and sunshine? I think not.

I know my kids are, even if they don't come out and say it. I know this because getting school done is the last thing on their minds. I know because they can't through a day without at least one major blow up. I know because they are running and jumping all over my house.

So what's a mom to do? How do you handle a house full of rambunctious boys who can't seem to sit still to save their lives?

I'll tell you what I've done, and I'd love it if you'd share your ideas.

1. I've bundled them up and sent them outside. They didn't want to go but once they were out they worked off some energy anyway.

2. Extra chores. Not only does it work off some energy, but they really would rather not. Knowing extra chores is my cure for bickering will sometimes put an end to it before it starts.

3. Extra crafts. I bought some inexpensive wooden snakes and let the boys paint them last weekend. They were a huge hit, and kept them occupied for a time.

4. I've switched things up. We changed which child did which chore. The learning curve on new chores forces them to pay more attention, and keeps them occupied a bit longer.

5. I've made it a point to take more time to talk with each of them individually. Sometimes just having a sounding board for their frustrations helps them to handle them more responsibly.

6. We love to play games around here, and I must confess to allowing more time on the Wii than I normally would. While each child's time is restricted , I've begun to allow their time to meld together. If two of them are playing nicely, their school and chores are done, and no one else is waiting for a turn, I've allowed longer play time. I don't know that this is the best solution, but it does buy some peace.

7. We're engaging in group dreaming. We're talking about our camping trip next fall. Looking at old pictures of the lake, and discussing what we want to do when we get there this year. We're planning our trip to Grandma's in June. We're discussing the local swimming pool we frequent, and who needs new bathing suits. In short, we're fantasizing about the summer to come.

So, what are you doing? Spring is almost here, but not quite. How are you surviving these last few weeks?

SWIHE

Wow! The SWIHE Homeschool Convention has come and gone. It was the best convention SWIHE has done yet, in my opinion. To all of you who stopped in to see us in the Sonlight booth, thanks! I enjoyed meeting each and every one of you.

SWIHE is a special convention for me because it is in my hometown, Evansville, Indiana. I get to serve my friends and neighbors, and meet new people who become friends. Remember, please contact me if you need anything.

It's also special because the event organizers are so committed to the homeschool community. They are serving for the love of homeschooling, and no other reason. They do an amazing job of meeting the needs of speakers, vendors, and attendees. All this while still homeschooling their own families.

Another positive is the low price. There is no financial reason for anyone to have to miss this convention. Just five dollars gets an individual in the door, and ten will gain the whole family entrance.

The volunteers were all friendly and helpful, intent on serving.

Good job SWIHE! Once again, I'm impressed.

Life Changes

I haven't done a very good job of keeping up with my blog have I? Please accept my apologies. As the title states, life changes. This year we've had so many changes I've lost track. My oldest son is now driving! That's a post in itself. Our church has moved from the building we've occupied for decades, and we've changed pastors. I've begun a part time job, and now my son is also working. We've become foster parents and have a newborn in the house. Life changes.

But all of the changes we've experienced only served to underscore a few important facts.

We are still committed to homeschooling. It is what works best for us. We can school around the changes. We have more flexibility to roll with the punches than we would if we were tied to a school system's schedule.

Sonlight is still the best choice of curriculum for us. No matter how hectic things are, the Instructors Guide is waiting to tell me where to read, and what I need to do for the day. Even if I get behind, it's patiently waiting for me to pick it back up and get started.

I have an amazing family that is able to adapt and adjust as needed.

God is still God. No matter how hard the changes, or how scary, or how wonderful, God never changes. He loves us and carries us through the rough times, encourages us through the frightening ones, and cheers us on when things are great. I am so grateful to know He is unchanging, and to know He is my Savior.

I hope your life changes, and that you change with it. Change is one place where God speaks to us, molds us, and helps us become what He wants us to be.

Peace

I'm coming to realize something very important. God is a God of order. His creation evidences this. Have you ever marveled at the amazing systems He created? Just look at a tree. Everything on the tree, from the bark that protects it to the leaves that collect sunlight and turns it into energy, has a purpose. Just looking at a leaf up close amazes me. As a follower of Him, order in my life is important also.

I am not an orderly person. I like to stay up late and sleep in. We do school every day, but there is no rhyme nor reason to the day. My husband once tried to put me on a schedule- trust me- he won't try that again! I do not fold my clothes and put them neatly away if I've only worn them a short time- I lay them across a chair. I don't do dishes the minute I see a dirty dish. My house is... lived in. School books have a place- but they're seldom there. I do own a vacuum- but it's seldom used.

I'm coming to understand some things need to change. I'm beginning to understand that peace and order are intertwined. Before I go any further let me make this disclaimer- Homeschooling and magazine perfect houses do NOT go together. You cannot have a perfect, June Cleaver house and still do all a homeschooling mom has to do. However, homeschooling is no excuse to be a slob either. I'm beginning to understand that when my home is orderly (not perfect) I'm more peaceful. When I'm more peaceful, so are the kids. When I'm more peaceful, more school gets done. When I'm more peaceful, my marriage is better. My ministry work gets done in a more timely manner. When I'm not worrying about the mess on the floor, Bible study is done more consistently. In short, life just flows better.

I'm not sure why order in my home is so tied to my personal peace, but I have a theory. I suspect that the constant feeling of "something undone" that comes with a messy house tears down my peace. It paralyzes my ability to enjoy myself because of guilt over the mess. It even paralyzes my ability to homeschool effectively because I'm worried about the things I haven't done yet. It's a rather vicious cycle.

So, how do we accomplish this order you ask? I don't know exactly- I think it varies for everyone. I recently read a book called "The House that Cleans Itself." I highly recommend it. I did implement some of it's principles and it has made a big difference. I also changed some chore assignments for the children, recognizing increased age and ability with increased shares of the load. Today, we canceled school and focused on the house and the laundry. I feel so much more peaceful when I walk through my house this evening than I did this morning. Tomorrow morning we will dust off the vacuum and finish the job.

My next step is (gulp) a schedule. I'll let you know how that goes.

Ultimately, all peace comes from God. He is the giver of all good things. However, I do believe emulating Him in orderliness leads to increased peace. This is my goal for the coming year- to bring myself to a place of perfect peace in Him.

Summer's over- where did it go?

As a homeschool family- we never actually take a summer off. We do all the summer things others do, such as church camp and VBS, but we continue fitting school in as much as possible. This year was the exception. My two older children were gone for 5 weeks this summer, and I started a part time job.

My oldest son spent two weeks working as a Councilor in Training at church camp. He had to help younger children sit still for worship, encourage them to participate in games, lead them in devotions, and find their missing socks. It was an exercise in patience for my very organized child.

The 2 older boys went to Ely, Minnesota with their Boy Scout Troop. They camped and canoed the boundary waters for a week. What an awesome experience this was for them! They learned to respect nature, the value of teamwork, and developed some amazing outdoor skills. They came back stronger and more physically fit than they'd ever been.

The same boys went to Washington DC for an evangelism conference. They learned how to share their faith in Christ with others, and are now teaching the youth from church who didn't get to go the lessons they learned. They came back more confident in their faith, and ready to take on the world.

Then came VBS, where my oldest son stepped up to the plate and ran recreation for all students, aged 3 through 18. Wow! That was an experience. He did a good job. I was proud of him.

I began working for a local restaurant in their catering division. I worked 6-7 hours a day for 3-4 days a week all summer, with the last two weeks being 6 days each. It was hard, physical work and I wasn't worth much when I got home. My oldest son was also hired occasionally when the crowds were too big.

It doesn't appear we got much school done this summer. When I look at my Instructors Guide, I can easily get discouraged at how little we accomplished. But then I have to take a step back and look at the summer as a whole. My children learned a lot.

They learned life lessons that can't be taught in a classroom:
How to survive in the wilderness
The importance of teamwork
Respect for God's beautiful Creation
How to confidently share their faith
How to teach others
How to get along with others in tough situations
How to lead
Patience with younger children
How to get along without Mom home
The value of a dollar (ie- how hard you have to work to get one)

Mom learned some valuable lessons too:
How to let go
How to trust God with my children in potentially dangerous situations
I'm not the only one capable of caring for my little ones-they missed me, but survived just fine
Flexibility

I learned homeschooling is not just about the academics. It's about a lifestyle which is open to learning, in all of it's forms. Bookwork is just one of the many ways our children learn. Now it's time to get serious about the academics again. I just hope we can remember the lessons of the summer, and continue to learn and develop as individuals in addition to learning all the wonderful lessons Sonlight has for us this coming year. I hope your summer was as productive as ours, and that you are ready for this coming year!