Trusting

 Believing each child is in your family for a reason.  Trusting you and them are the perfect combination to meet their needs.  Sometimes I say that I have two "only" children.

One boy and one girl that are very different in personality, goals, and ambition.  I can't meet their needs, desires, and life in the exact same way.  Each one shows me where, when, and how to work with them.  Each one needs my undivided attention the it is just us.  Each one craves my emotional support during difficult times. 

Trusting each build our connection.  The trust they place in me creates strengths our the bond.  For me this idea of trust is revealed in my trust in Jesus to work all things out for my good.  As well as His trust in me to care and love my family well.  

Everything Counts

 Everything counts as learning.  Everything.

With young kids, you are right there beside them holding their hands then watching them try it on their own.  Playing, exploring, adventuring, living life, talking, and listening acted out each day counts.

Middle age kids allow you to move to the sideline but still require help in navigating situations, projects, and activities.  Games, interests, projects, movies, classes, podcasts, books, listening, discussing, and life explored each day counts. 

Teens desire more independence which takes you behind the scenes where you remain aware and redials available to help.  Working, pursuing passions, living life, discussing current events, engaging with other adults, and experimenting with hobbies or career skills done each day counts.

Each moment of life, kids grow, learn, and develop into the humans they were designed to be.  You are there to facilitate and help in navigating.  Enjoy your role and let your kids love their life.

Voice

 Everyone has a voice in a homeschool/unschool life style.  Needs, wants, and desires are heard and discussed.  A willingness to fulfill these voiced interests builds respect and trust many traditional homes and school are lacking.  

Instead of demanding respect, it is modeled through honoring opinions of all--children included.  Trust is freely given due to connected bond and understanding that a respect-filled home provides.  Kids who feel heard naturally feel valued and loved for who they are not who they are expected to be.  

This is where you begin building and creating your community.  Living this way bravely allows you to draw others to you who want this for their families as well. 

Homeschooling is Time Consuming

 

One of the most perplexing questions I often receive about homeschooling/unschooling is:

How long does it take everyday?

Well, the easy answer is all of the time and none of the time.  

Sounds like a riddle, right?!

By all of the time, I mean your kids are always learning and it all counts.  So time spent reading reviews on Amazon counts.  Time spent discussing current events over breakfast counts.  Time spent texting friends to make arrangements to meet up counts.  Time spent in the kitchen baking all afternoon counts.  Time spent watching an engaging documentary counts.  Time spent creating digital advertising on Canvas counts.  

Reading, research, written communication, social studies, science experimenting, math, history, technical writing, critical thinking.

So yes, all the time in the day is consumed homeschooling/unschooling.  

But also, none of the time as this is time spent living with your kids.

Motivating

 

Learning what interests you is motivating as you are driven to explore related topics, see connections and experiment with your findings. When kids (really anyone) is allowed to deep dive into a particular subject the extent of learning and true understanding is endless so the individual is enticed to continue.  Strong motivation. 

But how does this motivation appear for others?

As the main homeschool parent, observing the passion to continue learning a topic motivates me to invest in the area for my child.  This could mean invest time, energy, or money. But in most instances, it means all three.  Lessons, supplies, books, tools, trips, videos, and patience are just a few ways this motivated investment appears.  

The one way I pour into each pursuit is discussion. One on one discussions where my child and I examine an interest happens daily.  Purposely, I listen more than I speak as he/she hashes out the latest discovery, question, or problem. Motivating me is my desire to build our connection and our relationship. 

Play in High School

 

Scientist have recently determined that it takes approximately 400 repetitions to create a new synapse in the brain UNLESS it is done through PLAY in which case it takes between 10-20 repetitions. -Dr. Karen Purveys

Wow!  This tells me when all need more play in our lives, especially our over scheduled, stressed out teens.   We all know what play looks like for young kids, but high school kids enjoy play as well.  It just looks different. Play at this age appears in interests and passions that  promote growth and learning.  

Here are a few ways:

• Boardgames
• Card games
•  Writing fan fiction
• Making videos-reels
• Creating content on social media
• Movie watching
• Book club
• Hiking
• Acting
• Sewing
• Handicrafts
• Rebuilding a car
• Adding accessories to a truck
• Hunting
• Fishing
• Painting
• Craft kits
• Welding
• Online games with friends
• Baking
• Cooking
• Refurnishing furniture
• Quilting
• Singing
• Photography
• Poetry writing
• Digital Art
• Web design
• Animal car
• Cosmetology 
• Wildlife study or management

What other ways to your teens play and therefore truly learn?  Pause.  Value that time.  Protect that space in their days, weeks, months, and years in you home. 

Rewarding

 

Rewarding.  The wins experienced by homeschooling/unschooling is rewarding.  Knowing your kids inside and out is priceless.  Being the one person they come to in joy, fear, and everything in-between makes hard and difficult times worth it. 

Today, it is rewarding to see how kids who needed me present constantly in the early years transitioned to operating independently in the teen years.  Now using me to bounce ideas of, problem solve with, and return to for reassurance.  This is the big reward of years spent navigating the world with them.  Smiles, laughter, jokes, knowing glances are the everyday rewards shared without acknowledgement you can look back on realizing homeschooling/unschooling delivered this prized connection.