Make a Smilebox photobook

Back to School

So, our homeschooling journey came to a screeching halt this Fall. The older of my 2 young sons has a bit of a learning difference and we determined that he's better off in public school where he can receive the services he needs to help him achieve in school. That, and he desperately missed the company of friends. Everyday while homeschooled, he say "mom, what time do the kids get out of school?" or "Mom, can we go find some kids?"

I'm happy to say that he is triving in school. Only a little behind in reading and otherwise achieving happily. His attitude is positive and contageous and we're all breathing a big sigh of relief for him. But, I can't take my eye off the ball, not even for a minute. A bit of a stray from the routine, and we're off the track. Halloween, was just such a derailment. Not so much the event, but the candy. Sugar and food dye are the evil scourge of childhood. Every parent knows it and is largely helpless to do anything about it short of total isolation! As mentioned before, that doesn't work in this case.

My younger son is achieving happily as well, but is determined not to let me forget that he still wants to be homeschooled. Honestly, he could be fine either way. I'm grateful for that.

So, here are some photos from the fall! Enjoy.

Just wanted to post some pics of the boys. They grow so fast. I can't believe that we live in Kalamazoo, they are both in school and happy about it, and they are already asking when Christmas is!

I was so nervous about this year and it's all going so well. I don't want to jinx it though! I just need to keep plugging away doing what we works and ditching what doesn't.

Moving and settling in.

So, this blogging thing is a bit slow to get started, but since I won't be homeschooling anymore or at least full time, then perhaps I'll be able to attend to this little endeavor.





We uprooted from our home in the Blue Ridge to relocate in a valley (TBD) near Lake Michigan. My spouse finished grad school and is now embarking on a journey of his own into academia. We pulled up stakes at the end of June and on July 17 we spent the first night in our new town. Before settling in we managed to spend 3 weeks on another glorious Michigan lake, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, sailing, water skiing and swimming.



After 2 weeks and a lot of cleaning in the new house, we hit the road again for a quick trip north for a music festival. One day kicked my butt, but none-the-less we saw many favorites including: Leftover Salmon, The Del McCoury Band, Punch Brothers, Cornmeal and my new Michigan favorites a group of musicians from Earthwork Music. More about them another time, but just listening to them makes you happy.

My oldest discovered the joys of drumming at the festival and spent the better part of his day drumming w/ a bunch of 20 something artisans who were more than happy (and gracious) to have a 7-year old banging on their drums. He even managed to get lessons on both drumming and drum making. Now if they could just teach him to read.

Banjo, the youngest, hula hooped successfully for the first time. His instructions were, "shake your booty." He has always done this well and that skill came in handy.

Festivals are one of our ways of connecting to a place. We find community in music and even though we spend a lot of time chasing the guys, we manage to get grounded, relax and learn something special about our children.

Another way I've discovered that connects my children to a place is thru living history. As an unexpected surprise, we stumbled on a small "old timey" village not far from the festival in Glen Haven. They have a small maritime museum, an old cannery that houses old boats and a blacksmith. The blacksmith not only spent time answering their questions, but also had them assist in running the old grindstone that sharpens saw blades! It was so stinking cool.

After another trip next week, we'll finally be home for a good long while. My oldest has a great desire to just be at home, he wants to buy a house and stay put for 4 years...the same amount of time we were in central Virginia. We are renting for now, just because we need to get a feel for the place, the neighborhoods, people, job, etc. We don't want to be caught up on the economic uncertainty that surrounds us, so we are leaving our options open. Us parents are adventurers and are trying to instill that spirit into our offspring. Is it working? I don't know, but hopefully they enjoy it and will keep coming along for the ride.

Jane

Thank goodness I have a home school mom pal. If it wern't for Jane I would lose my mind. I received a link from her that helped me cope with bad home schooling days. Click here. I didn't realize or had never stopped to consider that kids in school really only spend about 1.5 hours on on-task instruction and receive about 10 minutes of one-on-one from the teacher. And as the post said, "and for this they spend 6-7 hours a day in school." Phfew! I feel better.

That said, I doesn't totally diminsh my feelings of guilt when I throw a science video on or let them play a computer game. I guess when I've been at this longer I'll feel better. I just hate February and the gloomy, gray weather it brings and can barely get myself motivated much less prepare something fun and meaningful for my guys to engage in. But the resources out there are amazing and having a serious right-brained learner in the house, I need all the help I can get.

I'm also on a local list of home schoolers which I mostly lurk, but the resources and insight are also invaluable. I hope all home schooling parents have a "Jane" because even with the easiest of kids, it's not always easy.

So all the students in the Open Highway school are on the road in Texas this week. We are studying Texas, duh. This will include a trip to the Alamo; where I have it on good authority, there is NO basement; the hill country, a lake or two, lots of Tex/Mex and family.

Most of the family requirement has been fulfilled with 24 hours in Big D to see grandma, aunt/uncle and baby cousin. The 2 students dearly love baby cousin(t) and miss him greatly. We'll post the requisit photo soon.

The bonus famlily came in the form of an older cousin's wedding where 5 first cousins we're all in the same room for the first time in I'm sure 25 + years. It was a brief, but special occasion and the remaing 2 cousins, who live out of town were missed and will be included in the impending "family reunion" that the oldest cousin suggested. Also present were, of course, my parents, long divorced, but amicable as ever. I have to say, while there was drama, as there usually is with families...it was drama that I'm glad I didn't miss.

So, onward down the highway to the next cowboy adventure. If I can get the boys out of the pool, unheated as it is February, we'll do some learnin' somewhere here in Texas.

First Day of Homeschool or was it unschool?

So it went with the first day of schooling at home, 2 boys, 5 and 7 years old and me. Not so bad. We jumped into a loosely constructed language arts activity and before I knew it, an hour had past. And they said he couldn't stay on task for more than 10 minutes...

I know I won't always be "successful" but the small amount of stress reduction that I can already see in my son will hopefully serve as a reminder of why we embarked upon this journey.