Carnival of Homeschooling: Remember Summer Edition

Welcome to the Carnival of Homeschooling!

I am honored to share these wonderful submissions from various homeschool bloggers.

There are a number of great articles, so please bookmark this page and scroll through at your convenience. I trust that you will find encouragement and ideas for the upcoming year.

As a way to organize the posts by subject, I chose a theme. And since I’ve collected so many pictures the past few months, I decided to share glimpses of a summer we want to remember.

I hope your summer has been as joyful and educational as ours!

Mark Twain Museum, Virginia City, NV

Thinking about books and history:

• Books in the Home posted at Why Homeschool.
• a book list…decisions, decisions! posted at Bugs, Knights, and Turkeys in the Yard.
• Egyptian Day posted at A Pilgrim’s Heart.
• Enigmas on the Prairie posted at Sage Parnassus.

The Museum of Glass, Tacoma, WA

Imagining places and spaces:

• The SchoolRoom Conundrum posted at Nerd Family.
• Guess The Common Room Family School-Room posted at The Common Room.
• Dreaming about School posted at The Legacy of Home.
• Astronomical Field Trip! posted at Question the Culture.
• To College or Not to College? posted at The Expanding Life.

Chihuly Installation at The Museum of Glass, Tacoma, WA

Encouraging imagination and ability:

• Opportunity Indulges Passion posted at Home Spun Juggling.
• Extra-curricular or simply curricular? posted at Two Kid Schoolhouse.
• Where Do I Start?–Homeschooling a Kindergartener posted at God Made, Home Grow.
• Five Must-Have School Supplies for Homeschooling Parents posted at Barbara Frank Online.
• Back To (Home) School: My Students; Teaching Multiple Grades & Learning Styles posted at A Classic Housewife in a Modern World.

The Museum of Flight, Seattle, WA

Confronting concerns and critics:

• The Cretins are posting again posted at Alasandra’s Homeschool Blog Awards.
• Planning and Pondering – What is Success? posted at Chronic Learning.
• Why I Homeschool posted at The Rebellious Pastor’s Wife.
• Atlanta Suspects 109 Teachers of Test Cheating posted at PARENT AT THE HELM.

Waiting to board Air Force One at The Museum of Flight, Seattle, WA

Embracing family and friends:

• Susannah Wesley’s 16 Rules posted at C h r y s a l i s ღ.
• How to Pray for a Home Educator posted at Mind Being Renewed.
• Sprucing Up at The HomeSpun Life.
• To My New Blogging Students and Their Parents posted at Blogging 2 Learn.

Camp Tawakani, South Hills, ID

Planning for lessons and learning:

• What’s in a Name? posted at Princess Momma.
• whoohoo, we are finished! posted at No Fighting, No Biting!.
• Homeschool Scheduling and Planning posted at Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers.
• Homeschool Plan and Curriculum List for My Kids 2010 to 2011 posted at The Thinking Mother.

That concludes The Carnival of Homeschooling: Remember Summer Edition. Thanks for stopping by. Now go celebrate the last bits of summer!

Please submit your blog article to the next edition of using the carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on the blog carnival index page.

Perfect Timing

My idea of perfect time includes tasty coffee, complete silence, and no interruptions. I crave time alone to plan, to create, to write, to read.

After almost thirteen years of parenting, I wonder if I need to change my definition of perfect time.

It’s imagination that says I accomplish great things after everyone else is asleep. The opposite is often true. My brain is bleary from the work of the day, so I stare at the wall or click link after link on the never-ending internet. Then next morning an empty coffee cup follows me because I experienced perfect time.

Instead of pining for hours of quiet and wasting the rare moments of solitude, can I be diligent in the minutes I have throughout the day?

It is hard to focus in the multitasking of motherhood and homeschool, but what if I fill in the lesson plans while my son works on his math? What if I type out a few sentences when inspiration strikes?

What if I stop grumbling about not having time alone and focus more on why I’m not alone?

I get to homeschool three amazing children. It is messy and delightful, frustrating and rewarding. There are so many things wrapped up in this choice, but I don’t want it any other way (usually).

The Importance of Short Lessons

We got so much school done when my son was in kindergarten. He was an only child. We worked on school for hours a day. Learning phonograms, writing numbers, and reading lots of books. Yes, I was such a good teacher then.

Until I really think about it…

My son cried writing his letters. Math confused and both of us were frustrated. Learning was so painful. I pushed the tears right out.

Sometimes the frustration reappears, but I learned something from that early struggle.

I stop teaching while my little girls are still interested.

One Income in a Two Income World

I groan inwardly when I’m promised tips and tricks to save money.

For the price of one gourmet latte’ a week, you can purchase this amazing _______.

I don’t buy gourmet anything. It is on rare occasion that I veer into Starbucks.

I budget for groceries. I save to buy curriculum.

I’m not complaining. I just realize marketers don’t get my family.

• In 16 years of marriage, we have rarely had a television.
• I cook almost all of our meals at home.
• We shop at second-hand stores and garage sales.
• Our home is small and still needs some, uh, cosmetic touches.

Early in our marriage, my husband and I decided to make all of our financial decisions on his income alone. That has not been without it’s challenges, but it has saved us from many pitfalls. It has also stretched us as we practice creativity, determination, and patience.

When I drive my husband’s car with it’s dents and hanging fender, I chant, ”It’s paid for.” Then I force a smile as the rattling begins and the wind musses my hair.

It’s not too hard for me to be content. I just have to remember we give up some luxuries in order to gain some other things more important to us: simplicity and freedom.

It’s okay to shed a way of life where wants often morph into needs. I don’t need a gourmet latte’, and I’m pretty sure I don’t need the latest, greatest, amazing product (or even last year’s model).

The Importance of Making Memories Happen

My five-year-old girl, Sweet Pea, skips across the grass while her brother sails past on his bike with one flat tire. Around and around the park heads bob and smiles erupt. I glance around every once in awhile to see where they have scampered.

They enjoy the freedom to practice their childhood games. I enjoy the adult conversation.

Tears flow when we have to leave. As an afternoon of playing with her cousin at the lake etches into her heart, Sweet Pea shouts,

I’ll never forget this!

I never want to forget her response to the simple delight.

Since I like to stay home, it’s easy for me to forget how important it is to get out and explore. How important it is to create moments my children will remember. How important it is to simply be with my kids and enjoy them instead of pushing and pushing.

Yes, we need to do lessons. But what kind of mother-teacher am I? Tired, worn out, and grumpy?

Homeschooling is not just for my children. It is for me, too. It is an opportunity for me to discover the depths of my motivation. It is an opportunity to learn from the precious ones in my care.

The pressure is real. There is a weight of responsibility, but can I put the worry aside? Can I enjoy the moments so I never forget?

Pounding out words helps me remember, but capturing a memory is not the same as creating it.

An important part of my responsibility is to make memories happen for them, for us, for future generations.

What are your children remembering?

(Photos are from a Father’s Day hike in the Snake River Canyon. I neglected to take my camera to the lake.)