Homeschool Faith

Why do I stress out as to whether my kids are learning enough? They are learning all the time!

Last night we read Esperanza Rising, historical fiction about the Mexican culture in California just prior to the Great Depression and their mass deportation.

In the last week alone we've seen The Lost Colony of Roanoke, an amazing outdoor drama, climbed Cape Hatteras Light House, learned the origin of the name "Nag's Head" and "Kill Devil Hills." We visited the Wright Brother's Museum and numerous nature museums, and this doen't even touch on the real learning experiences, those gained by just hanging out with each other, camping at the beach, and exploring.

My 9 year old son and I have played Settlers of Catan twice in the day alone while my 11 year old daughter has posted her own blog posts (Living the Moments), taken care of Sable and Mars, our two fancy rats, and her millions of tadpoles.

She has been researching how to care for fish and salt and fresh water aquariums, the price and type of snails available on eBay (evidently I have 12 on my watch list right now.)

My son is currently researching assault rifles; yeah, it's a boy thing, and it is a subject way beyond my knowledge so I'm thrilled he knows how to explore those subjects of which I know nothing. :)

This is so such a smidgen (hmm, I didn't realize that was a word!) of our lives and what we are each learning...

The real good stuff?

That comes by way of about 50 iMovie videos the two have made, complete with director, cast(i.e. my son and occasionally our dog), script, cuts, and edits.

The REAL learning? It's the walks down to the New River, searches for snails and fish. It's the Sculpty Clay models we made yesterday, and my DD's price shopping for her own birthday presents (can't say I mind that at all:D)

Here is one of three of her lists: one on the iPad, one on the iPhone,and a "hard copy" just in case. Her words. Really.



Even Club Penguin has educational value...oh, that hurts saying. :/

DS will be thrilled I threw that last one in-and probably putting together a pretty persuasive cases for more CP. but, hey, He IS writing, reading, buying, selling, and just figuring things out...and that's real life learning in my book.

So maybe this post is more of a pep talk for me (and, well, it is.). Maybe, though -and here is why I journal my thoughts "out loud"-it is a pep talk one of you needs to hear.

Whether you are homeschooling or not, if you are a parent who cares enough to worry, you are doing ok.

And, if you ARE homeshooling, you aren't SUPPOSED to teach them everything. Keep the bigger picture in full view.

We are blessed with the opportunity to disciple our greatest gifts, our children. If the Lord called you to this He will see you through it.

So, I'm praying for more moments with my kids...and more faith. Faith...and wisdom.

Whew! What a catharsis!