Summer is edging its way in and burning my skin as we claw through chores and to-do lists. I’d like to say things will calm down or pick up, but summer doesn’t mean much to us as homeschoolers. My kids don’t know what “summer break” is. They just know we cut hay on the hottest days and pick veggies on the cooler ones.
And they’re okay with that, I think. They don’t know any different.
Recently, I’ve had questions about homeschooling from a number of people in varying roles—friends, acquaintances, complete stranger. I often get, “I could never do that” or “my kids would never…”
Generally, I take the stance of “it’s really not that bad.” I try to downplay the worry I feel and felt when we first decided to homeschool. I do that because they’d probably look at me like I’m a lunatic if I said I loved it now. I love it so much, I could never hand my kids over to a school. Am I worried all the time and always reassessing our approach? Yeah, absolutely.
But I’m also 1000% confident I’m doing the best for them. I’m following their cues and listening to their interests. They’re playing more than they’re sitting, talking more than standing in straight lines, and learning more than a standardized test could ever measure.
I get the uncertainty every parent feels when contemplating homeschool. It’s a lot… And if you’ve attended a public school/college, you’ve probably been led to believe you’re incapable of tackling your child’s education. That’s the point.
I won’t go down that road, though. Maybe another time, but if you’re interested, please look into the origins of public school. While you’re at it, look into the difference between American schools vs. Danish schools. You can draw your own conclusions. I don’t want to sell anyone on the practice, but I think every parent should be proactive enough to do a little research.
Once you reach the cusp of the rabbit hole where you start questioning everything you experienced from kindergarten to graduation, I promise you’re ready to homeschool your own kid. All it really takes is the ability to question. Question everything, ask how the world works, and explore that together. THAT is homeschool in a nutshell. You aren’t a teacher. You are taking them by the hand and learning (together) at home. That’s it. ⬇️
"Time travel" Today I found a glove in my coat pocket From a time, I don’t remember When your hands were thick and dimpled but barely filled my palm It was time travel, I suppose because, in an instant, I saw your wobbly frame toddling past me Eager to dip your fingers in the crisp white snow as Giggles echoed in the flurried stillness and My heart ached for the day When my head wouldn’t stop and my eyes missed the beauty Of your joy So I clenched the frayed fibers of the past And cursed myself for missing it on the first go around When skewed thoughts and notions clouded reality And brought me to here… Forever aching for time passed and little hands