Monday, September 2, 2013

Confessions of a HomeSchooling Mom

It didn't seem fair to wake them up early for school on Labor Day, after a late night, so I poured myself another cup of coffee, and relaxed my expectations for the day. This was really more of a school introduction today.

As a homeschooling mom to a ninth grader and a kindergartener, with my eldest off in his first year of college, school looks different this year. It is splashy cellophane-wrapped kindergarten kits of calenders and continents, with colorful alphabet banners, twenty-four-piece People Color crayons, and beautiful multicultural faces from around the world. Kindergarten still sits wrapped in cellophane on the table, though, while my ninth grader and I read Physical Science about atoms and molecules, and my kindergartener plays Wii games downstairs.

Confession 1.) Some days, school doesn't start at 9 am. And I haven't taken a shower yet.
Confession 2.) I am as excited as the students are -- often more so-- at the prospect of new books to read and things to learn.

As more people stream in and out of the kitchen and living room where we are reading, Morgan and I sneak away to a quiet bedroom to continue our science.

Confession 3.) I don't always have all items on hand to do the experiments before we read about it.

"Okay, I'm going to need to find two copper wires for this experiment," I admit sheepishly to my Morgan. "Let's read about it now, and then we'll do it later, okay?... Wow, look! We're actually ripping water molecules apart here! That's cool."

Confession 4.) I love learning along with them.

Lunch comes and goes, with family members fending for themselves in between subjects. The scent of grilling cheese and turkey simmer out from the panini-maker, and chunky apple wedges dot the table. Strawberries and chips are a mid-morning snack.

Dirty dishes line one side of my sink, while clean dishes from last night fill two counters to the left of the sink.

Mammoth zucchini boats were shredded down to towering wet mounds of grated green-striped pulp, and folded into muffins last night. The last of those sweet muffins was gobbled up this morning by the earliest risers.

School supplies adorn my kitchen table in glory, while photographic books of India, China, Mongolia and Japan stack in glossy piles according to country on my floor. Legos and plastic army warriors huddle as toys from the night before, scattered between school piles, and I still haven't started kindergarten yet. I think it will be afternoons, three times a week.

Daughter disappears downstairs, clicking into her internet links on Chinese History and Culture, and writing summaries about Chinese school systems, pagodas, the Hidden City, and more.

My husband and college-age son are out playing tennis today on their day off, while I introduce high school and kindergarten to the ones at home. I text both men, asking them to stop and pick up bread, ice cream and maybe some snacks on the way home.

Confession 5.) We're out of "good" food, my kids say, and lunch requires their creativity, or heating up leftovers.

Silence descends on my home as brains are being stretched and used. And that sound of learning? It's beautiful!

Excuse me as I grab some books, open some cellophaned maps and start kindergarten. I can't wait...

Linking with Ann at A Holy Experience.

11 comments:

Bernadette said...

I could add a few "confessions" myself. Thanks for sharing this great encouragement for the home schooling mom. Praise the Lord! Blessings on your year, Jennifer!

Richelle Wright said...

sounds pretty normal for our home schooling seasons as well!

oh... the "confessions" i could make. sadly - i don't have any home schoolers this year as when we are in the states, we try to take advantage of the school opportunity.

visiting from ann's today.

Floyd said...

That's the attitude that makes a great educator! and mom... Nice job, mom. Praying for a wonderful school year for you and yours.

Jennifer Dougan said...

Hi Bernadette,

Nice to meet you. :) You are welcome to add away any confessions you'd like. I appreciate the freedom and unconditional love we have in Him.

Thanks for stopping in,
Jennifer Dougan
www.jenniferdougan.com

Jennifer Dougan said...

Hi Richelle,

Glad this sounds normal to others too. :) So funny.

How are the kids feeling about their new schools this fall?

Counting gifts with you from Ann,
Jennifer
www.jenniferdougan.com

Jennifer Dougan said...

Thanks, Floyd.

Jennifer

Brian Miller said...

smiles....even in public school i share some of the same fun of learning along with them...they often make me see things in new ways....

Laurie Collett said...

May you all be blessed this school year! You have a lovely heart and spirit to teach your children, and God will honor that.
Love in Him,
Laurie

Cheryl Barker said...

Hope you all have a wonderful school year together!

Misty said...

this is our first year not homeschooling, my youngest is in 9th and my older two are grown... #3 is absolutely the truth for me though. And every time I tried to mentally remind myself for "next time"...

Jennifer Dougan said...

Misty,

Nice to meet you! Thank you for stopping in here.

Your first year not homeschooling... wow, I bet that's a transition with good and hard things. How is it going? What option of schooling did your 9th grader choose this year? Blessings on them!

Jennifer Dougan
www.jenniferdougan.com