note to that open house realtor and other random strangers:

hi, allow me to introduce myself.

yes, i'm a homeschooling mom.

i love my kids and love the experience of homeschooling them.

i do not sit at home and weave together matching denim jumpers.

or sit around polishing up my gun collection.

so when you run into my innocent little 5 year old and ask the question, "so, where do you go to school?" please know i'm working on teaching him how to apply a filter to his mouth.

because while its true that i don't particularly want to enroll my kids in public school, the actual reason we homeschool is NOT because that "school down the street tells us that we come from monkeys and lots of other lies."

and then when you smile politely and say things like, "oh, i'm not sure that they teach -" and he emphatically interrupts you and says, "oh yes they do! my mommy says so!" well... its just that i'm not that extreme about it.

because one day this summer, during one of our many, many trips to the doctor for ella's mono adventure, bennett found a national geographic to peruse. and one very interesting, very detailed picture showed the evolution of monkey to man. this naturally fascinated him and he asked me about it so i took a few seconds to say that some people believe that there is not a God who created us and rather think that we came from monkeys.

he giggled because yes, even a 5 year old sees how ludicrous this is.

then a few days later i was explaining all the reasons i'm excited for homeschooling this year and how much fun it will be as a family and how great it will be to learn about God and the world he created.

and then i maybe mentioned how important it is for us to learn things according to the bible and that at public schools you don't really have that option. and the magazine article came up for about 2 seconds and i thought that was the end of it.

obviously it's not.

and while i try to coach bennett on how to better present us as a happy, loving family and not a bunch of bitter, angry, conservative freaks... well, he's 5 and it may take a little time for him to learn.

so, for all of you out there that we have offended because of his quick honesty, i'm truly sorry.

all about me

an excerpt from bennett's all about me book: there are 2 reasons i love this.

number one: in the midst of the complete simplicity, he took the time to have daddy's arm extend down to him. absolutely precious.

number 2: i've never been this skinny, especially not now with the 3rd trimester looming in my very near future.

thanks, bennett.

so proud of you for knowing just how to suck up to your teacher.

homeschool

so we officially started our school year this week and so far its gone quite well. i mean, what school year isn't going to start off great when the teacher is greeted with flowers and donuts and these adorable faces when arriving home from her early morning walk on the first day of school. ("early morning" because insomnia is still wrecking my life.)

the kids are excited about the year and about their new notebooks and jobs and workboxes and centers.

hoping this excitement will continue for another 100+ days...

the other day i asked ella, "so, what are some of the things you are excited about with homeschooling this year?" without hesitation she responds, "well. i'm excited that you won't be getting pregnant this time and there will be a tad bit more learning going on than last year."

well alrighty then.

leave it to your kids to be honest.

a few days ago i was talking to them about how excited i am for the opportunity to be their teacher this year and then i asked them if they remembered why it is we decided to homeschool.

"yes, because at that school down there," bennett points out the window. "they tell all kinds of lies that we came from monkeys and other stuff that isn't true. and so we are going to draw pictures of what's true and show people when they come to our house so they can believe in God."

well, ummm... i don't think that is exactly why we homeschool... but ok...

so... let the learning begin!

what ever did homeschoolers do before youtube?

so my curriculum tells me to gather an assortment of information on each of our unit studies throughout the year. supposedly, i need to compile newspaper clippings, magazine articles, books, pictures, and what nots on specific topics like water, space, animals, etc...

i have the grandest intentions.

but typically, on monday when we start a new unit, i begin with something like, "lets see what google can tell us about insects!"

and we gather around and watch fascinating videos on youtube.

because yes, there are fascinating videos out there... like, who knew ants were this amazing? or that an octopus can camouflage itself or do this!?!

(and should you be a homeschooler or completely bored at work, you must watch the links above.)

and also, we got an ant farm.

its very educational and homeschool-y of us.

let me just say its quite fascinating watching them work so stinkin hard. and work together so well to make all these tunnels. i mean, i do feel a little guilty. i don't know why they are digging. they are trapped in a plastic container. but nevertheless it provides us with much entertainment.

and when they sleep, all 25 of them cluster up in one big ball. its kinda cute. and also kinda reminds me of what our bed is starting to look like at night. which is not so cute. i could do without mason draping himself across my face all night long.

but then again, it is better than the alternative. actually getting up a million times to go to his room and telling him to stop screaming for daddy.

in other fun news, ella and i went to the nutcracker the other day. bennett was a little sad he wasn't going but i told him he would probably just be bored. to which he responded, "yeah, and we are going to have so much fun here with daddy. we are going to have pillow fights and play uno."

and then ella proceeded to coach him on how to beat daddy at uno. its becoming serious around here, all the uno playing. ella refuses to lose. she'll draw 50 cards to get a draw 4 if her opponent called uno. we've had games last over an hour. seriously.

i try to hide my annoyance.

i don't think i'm very good at it.

anyhow, the nutcracker ballet was fun. (but really, shouldn't men, like, layer up or wear something besides white? just saying...) on the way home, ella asked if she could do it next year.

"like, be in the show? can we look up online how i can do it?" (all this youtubing has actually taught my kids something. basically, the answer to anything can be found online...)

"yeah, we'll have to start with ballet lessons for like a billion years."

ella thinks for awhile. "ok, so can you see online about me doing ballet. and if its too expensive, maybe i can do some work for you to earn some money to pay for it myself?"

that's one determined, responsible child.

and apparently, one super cheap mom.

kindergarten

"kindergarten is like... the hardest thing i've ever had to do." -ella some days, i feel the same way.

overall, things are going great. but there are those days...

days i'm sure the kindergarten teacher down the street at the "official" school would certainly not have to deal with the drama i do.the true colors of a 6 year old are reserved just for moms.

teaching ella is teaching a perfectionist.

you need to know that perfectionism drives me crazy. this is why over the years i have "encouraged" my husband in "subtle" ways out of his perfectionistic tendencies.

he probably just thinks he has evolved into the well adjusted, perfect human he is today.

the truth is, it was all me.

anyhow, i don't have the energy for another perfectionist in my house. especially one i have the responsibility of educating. while ella is practicing her writing, amidst gasps of frustration and exasperated body language, this is what i hear in response to my encouragement.

"ella, you are doing a great job writing your s's."

(emphasis on sarcasm begins here.)

"ya... if you like s's that look like 5's."

"oh, ya, that one's great... if you like backward s's."

"well, i'd like this one if it didn't look so ugly."

then, of course, is her tendency to question everything. everything.

"why do i have to start the S from the top? if i don't will it collapse or something?"

i believe this trait will get her far in life. that is, if we can make it through kindergarten.

there are many moments, granted me by a gracious God who knows i need the encouragement, when the lights are on, the mind is working, and ella is learning and growing.

during the circle time the other day (which involves all children and can be a complete disaster) we were talking about the book of proverbs and knowledge vs. wisdom. "we" who were talking about it was actually just me, while mason was launching off the couch onto my head and bennett was knocking stacks of pillows onto the bible.

so at the speedy conclusion of the lesson, ella gives me this "knowing" smile and says, "mommy, that was a real good lesson. thanks."

awww... just what i needed to make it one more day. and then there is the presidents. i have these flashcards and the kids love learning about them and remembering them in order.

its really bad when they ask me questions about particular leaders and i can't find the answer on the back and i want to say, hey, don't look at me! i never even knew we had a president named franklin pierce and the only reason i know so much about john adams is because i saw the extremely well done miniseries on him with stellar actors that brought history home to me in a whole new way.

(although, i think the movie could be more aptly titled, "the man married to abigail adams")

(some men are just better because of the women they choose to marry.)

anyhow, then we got to abraham lincoln.

"wow. he is a really stylish man, mom."

ummm... you got that from a .99 flashcard?

upon further study she then said, "and he is really good looking."

to which i wanted to say, "oh just wait until you see who is portraying him in the upcoming movie."

(yes, mom, that is daniel day lewis)

and ella, i realize he may not be all that dazzling upon first glance but wait until you see the intensity of his desperate, courageous dash through a brutal battle to passionately save the life of his one true love. be still my heart.

pretty much

in the beginning...

so this week has been pretty terrific.

i mean, not that it hasn't been a little overwhelming to try to coordinate a new schedule and educate a kindergartner in the midst of soccer, homeschool meetings, preschool, travel preparations, a birthday, and a sale at the mall.

but we are handling it all quite well.

ella (and bennett!) absolutely love "school" so far. bennett was disappointed to leave for preschool today. he didn't want to miss anything.

they are thrilled for circle time. (i've been getting most of my ideas here.) (that is, after getting every morsel of wisdom i can from my sister.)

and our curriculum has been really easy (for me) and fun (for ella).

it seems to be one of the big questions i get from others, what are you going to do for curriculum?

and the options are endless. i could spend hours upon hours researching the perfect curriculum for my child's learning style, interest, etc...

but that just isn't going to happen. come on, who has hours upon hours to do research about something like homeschool curriculum?

how would you have time left to waste on blogging and facebook?

my "research" for curriculum went something like:

"angie (sister), what curriculum do you use?"

"my father's world."

"perfect." done.

in addition to this, we've also been enjoying five in a row, which i found at a homeschool sale for $2. (also recommended by angie.) these books give you a list of children literature to use to teach everything from math to history to art.

and amazingly, this is fascinating to my kids. we've read the same book each day this week. paul revere's ride.i was thinking it would be way over their heads. but they love it! we've learned about poetry and minutemen and muskets and signals and palladian windows (they aren't the only ones learning here...) they can't wait to read it again and again...

there is an excitement for learning each day. (any ideas on how to capture this and keep it going for the next 12 years?)

so the challenge for me has not been in the actual educating. its been more in the taking care of everything else.

for instance... do we actually have to eat another meal tonight? and how does one make a housekeeper magically appear at the door? and why does stress make me want to eat more chocolate?

and any ideas on what to do with one of these?he wants to be in the middle of everything.

and to get there, he's usually jumping on people, throwing stuff, tearing papers and screaming.

and if he's not in the middle of us, he's into the glitter and markers and decorating himself. or helping himself to snacks and all kinds of stuff he's not supposed to do. so when people tell me how they don't want to homeschool because they need the break...

I GET IT.

because even though there's learning going on, it's kinda crazy around here too.

but i must say, its fun to snuggle on the couch with my kids and a book. and its great to see the light go on when they learn a new concept. and it's fun when they ask questions when we are out and about that pertain to what they are learning.

so even in these short few days we've been doing it, its been incredibly rewarding.

and i wouldn't have it any other way. (not counting the housekeeper part of the "other way." that i would definitely have.)

announcing... homeschooling!

the disappointing thing about announcing on your blog that you have decided to homeschool your kids is missing out on the shocked looks on the listening faces. the jaw dropping... the horrified gasps... the looks of "why don't you just permanently tattoo 'big fat dork' on your kids face"...i love it. it would appear to me there are few things more "controversial" than deciding to educate your kids at home.

and while most everyone in our life is supportive of us (or very good liars), there are some who are confused and more than likely concerned.

and i get it. because if you would have told me 3 years ago i'd be writing this blog post my response would have been: AHHHH HA HA HAAAA! fat chance!

but here we are. many people ask us questions and are genuinely curious about our plans. i welcome this and think its great. i love sharing our journey to embracing homeschooling.

there may be some, though, that i encounter who lack verbal filters. or think they know everything. basically, people like this don't really bother me. in fact, i find them entertaining since they provide excellent blog fodder.

so here is a sampling of some of the questions we get (the ones which are far less inquisitory and far more accusatory.)

"why on earth would you chose to do such a thing?"

what i want to say: because i feel like it and its really none of your business.

what i do say: because we are excited about the opportunities we find in homeschooling. i really enjoy my kids and see it as my responsibility not just to raise them, but to help form their character and instill godly values.

"there really are some good teachers out there, you know."

what i want to say: yes, but they didn't actually give birth to my children and love them their whole lives and have any desire whatsoever to nurture their soul.

what i do say: absolutely. and i'm sure there are many people who would be a much better teacher than me. but not a single one of them would actually love my children more than i do. and this is a life adventure.
"aren't you afraid your kids will be complete freaks?"

what i want to say: not as afraid as i am of them going to hell. (KIDDING, people. kidding!)

what i do say: nope. and i'm not convinced that the people coming out of public institutions are "normal" and best equipped for life.

"what!?! i sure don't think that's a good idea."

what i want to say: oh, that's funny, i don't remember asking you. i don't tell you that you need to put down your fork or spend more time with your kids or check into getting some valium, so maybe keep it to yourself.

what i do say: nothing. i just smile and pretend to be gracious.
so anyhow... this should be an interesting journey, one i'll be sure to document for your reading pleasure.

you may have perceptions of what the ideal homeschool family look likes, all perfect and peaceful and patient...

i'll sure do my best to shatter those illusions and help you realize that you can be completely flawed and God can use you anyway.

and i'll just share one of the favorite responses i hear from others: "well... I could NEVER do that." to which i often say, well, i really can't either. not in my own strength. i'm lazy, impatient, disorganized, uncreative... all which forces me to rely on God and trust him to do things in our family beyond my wildest expectations.

"Many Christians estimate difficulties in the light of their own resources, and thus attempt little and often fail in the little they attempt. All God's giants have been weak men who did great things for God because they reckoned on His power and presence with them."
- Hudson Taylor

oh, and please, DO pray for us...