Friends Who Celebrate Your Kids

I love this quote so much, that I had to share it on the blog!

Think about that for a moment. 

environments where they are celebrated, not tolerated 

Last month, a family friend took both my kids overnight since we were having work done on our house. The wood floors were being refinished so at the end for 24 hours the smell was intense and no one could walk on them.  The best is both may kids love their time with this family because the mom and dad both value kids individually and celebrate each of their spirits.  

Having friends like this is a blessing.  I have not always had people like this my life, so now I strive to be that person to others.   

Staples in our Homeschool

Things we do most days in our home have become staples defining our homeschool are read-alouds, games, and research.

Read alouds have always held a special place in my heart for a time of sharing a literary adventure with both kids.  Pretty much, we always have a book going that we are reading together, usually me aloud.  Although,  as the kids are getting older and busy with outside activities, we have used audio books.  This just means we listen to the same book on our phones and meet to discuss at certain times.  It does mean that sometimes there are spoilers! 

Games!  We love games in our day!  These create a point of connection on full days or even just days when we are tired of the routine.  Having a different game to play each time helps it stay fresh as well.  So our shelves are full of different games, but we can check out games at our library as well.  Games are also an engaging way to learn more about a topic new or old, improve critical thinking and logic concepts, and strengthen executive functioning and interpersonal skills.  

"Let me research that some more," is a phrase repeated over and over by everyone in our home.  From an early age, we have sat next to the kids as they searched for answers to their questions.  This began with finding lego sets or directions and led to ordering high end fishing rods or cake decorating supplies.  They know how to check reviews, consult sizing and durability, and distinguish between marketing to sale an item and truth.  

Looking back over the 9 years that we have homeschooled both kids at this point, these staples were not intentional created but have become crucial in connecting and learning.

Another Day in the Life

Another day in the life of homeschooling/unschooling to show an average Wednesday in January.  Although, any homeschool mom knows there is no such thing as an average day.  

I had not even left the yoga studio before receiving this picture from my daughter, GM, sharing her excitement as she worked in duolingo (Spanish).  

Once I got home and enjoyed a quick breakfast with my husband, my son, H came down ready to work on his laundry. We discussed a plan for his day while he ate and then moved upstairs.  I was surprised to find GM working at her desk to finish writing her play.  H had started working on his technical writing, summarizing information gathered from fishing instructional videos.  

After everyone was finished with their (self-directed) writing project, I read aloud the last few chapters of Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? There was LOTS of discussion on economics and stocks and influences and government and so much more.

They worked on prodigy (math) separately but challenging each other in the app, while I made lunch.  We quickly ate before taking GM to her new drama group.  On the way, H researched duck hunting.  Then had a conversation and shared articles with his dad over text since his dad was flying out of town.  H took the time to edit and publish our podcast (Curious Journey on Spodify), then record, edit, and publish his personal podcast (The Haden Show on Spodify).  We discussed stocks, state identification cards, and bank checking accounts on the way to get GM.  

After picking up GM, we stopped for a quick snack and went to drop H off at his improv class.  Once alone in the car with me, GM opened up about her desire to publish her play and possibly turn it into a book.  At home, she enjoyed watching The Food Network with me explaining techniques and characters.   

H returned home (dropped off by his friend's mom) and shared some improv games with us that were fun to play over dinner.  We decided to relax with a movie night and then read silently yet together very late.  

This was a great day.  I feel much more connected with GM and H on these days when I follow their lead yet can see so much authentic learning happening.  We all enjoyed new experiences at a relaxed pace.  

A Day in the Life

This messy whiteboard of notes, helps us lead our days! Not Pinterest worthy or even blog worthy actually, but this post is about being real about our day.

This is an average Tuesday in January, but let it be noted that we don't actually have average days! 

I returned from yoga that I teach most days at 7:00a.m.  GM was ready for preschool where she serves as a teaching assistant for a friend who runs a private preschool.  She was up early and had already completed prodigy (math) and duolingo (Spanish).  So H and I took her to preschool, then got gas while discussing ideas for our podcast.  Once back at home, H communicated with the clients of his snow shoveling business the need to shovel and left to finish a driveway and collect payments from the others.  Next we recorded our podcast (shameless plug---Curious Journey on Spotify).  I left him to play xbox with a friend, while I picked up GM. 

We had lunch, played a card game (Sleeping Queens), then read aloud and discussed Whatever Happened to Penny Candy?  Each read chapter of First Boy for our book club.  While I took H to his friend's to work on YouTube filming for their channel, GM researched nails.  I returned to having her do my nails with her new method, next she did her own nails.  

GM had planned for an afternoon at the library where she created shirts using the CriCut for herself meanwhile H filmed coke taste tests with his friend.  Once he got home from filming, he worked on prodigy (math) and read greek mythology.  GM read before bed as well.  

Through out the day, both GM and H enjoyed listening to podcasts and/or audiobooks.  

Upon writing this, I realized we did not eat dinner together, but since our wood floors downstairs and through our kitchen were in prep mode for refinishing, it was a on-your-own dinner.  Most days we enjoy eating together and discussing current events or playing games.  

End of the Month Wrap-up

At the end of each month, I like to sit down with each kid individually to discuss how the month went, what they liked, what is missing, and goals or desires for the following month.  

Well, after a busy holiday season and home remodeling projects, both kids want to relax.  There is a desire for more adventures after being tied to the house with the projects or living around the projects.  They were less than impressed with my book choice for this month, so request were made for a vote on the next one.  One voiced a need to work on individual interest more, while another wanted to create more time to play tabletop games.  So that will take some creativity on my part.  

In light of these requests, I hope to go skiing/snowboarding more (adventure), choose 3 books to vote on for our book of the month, block out time and space for individual interest exploration, and host a game night with friends weekly.  Together, we will see how these work as we move into February.  

Another idea I heard on a podcast (The Unschool Files) was to use a whiteboard and big calendar for ideas and scheduling.  A command center of sorts to keep us on track for our goals and desires.  Don't worry I will let you know how this works out. 

Don't Leave Yourself Out

 When it comes to learning, don't leave yourself out.  Not only do your tweens and teens need so see your continuing to pursue interest, you need this time.  So many times, I talk to moms (not just homeschooling moms) who have lost their identity to service as mom.  They have zero passions and interest outside of prodding, shuttling, and planning their children.  Do not let this happen to you!

You enjoy seeing that sparkle in their eyes when that tween or teen discovers a new interest or dives deeper into a passion.  You acknowledge that time as authentic learning and development of who they are and who they are becoming.  It is crucial for those tweens and teens to see you doing the same as an adult.  This keeps the adult life fascinating and desirable to them, but it also helps you stay connected to how it feels to authentically learn.  

 I am currently obsessed with all things involving yarn.  I have knitted for 10+ years, crocheted for 3+ years, and am contemplating learning to weave.  I love exploring this interest by listening to podcast, searching Pinterest for patterns, shopping for new yarns, watching how-to videos on YouTube, and just doing the work.  Guess what?! This is how my tween and teen love to learn as well.  They don't need a class that will start at the beginning and teach everything step by step.  They may chose a class, but only after subject exploration and collaboration with peers or mentors.  This is real world learning! 

Mentors

Mentors play a huge roll in everyone's life.  As we chose a different path than the traditional one of public school, I prayed for strong mentors to speak into the lives of our children.  Well, God has provided amazing men and women to help direct my son and daughter in their passions.  

My son is fortunate to have a neighbor who loves hunting as much as him.  So he accompanies my husband and son on hunts for elk, bear, deer, and ducks.  The lessons taught in the field each time in this small group setting surpasses so many hours sitting in a classroom being spoon fed information that may or may not matter to you.  This same neighbor also owns and operates his personal welding business.  To an entrepreneur minded boy, this allows for volumes of learning to take place.  I am so grateful for the experiences and insight this neighbor has brought into our son's life.

My daughter is blessed to have mentor in another neighbor who is a speaker and writer.  Overall this women is a great encourager of all things in our daughter's life.  For a couple years, GM was the youngest intern our neighbor took into her home with a group of middle school and high school interns.  GM was able to work for someone else learning the creative as well as tedious work needed to run a business.  

All this to say a mentor for your tween or teen, may be as close as next door.  Open your eyes to the possibilities.