Simple Advent Traditions — No Crafts Required!
We spent many years trying to preserve Advent, but we always ended up with a problem: by the time we were ready to start celebrating, everyone else was tossing their Christmas trees to the curb!
It made for a depressing season.
A few years ago, we set out to solve this problem. It took some trial and error, but we now preserve Advent and important cultural traditions — all while staying sane.
Homeschooling with Chronic Illness can be Beautiful
When you’re homeschooling with chronic illness, everyone says to use read-alouds, videos, and your children’s interests to get through the school day. It’s similar to the idea that “the best curriculum is the one that gets done.”
But as a chronically ill homeschooling mom, I want to push back on that advice; because we can give our children a deeper, richer education.
Changing Our Homeschool Math Curriculum
While most of the world turned upside down in March, we were headed that way last September. With crises in our immediate and extended family, worsening health in myself and one of our children, an evacuation due to near-riots, and everything else #2020, our homeschool has really suffered.
But math has been one of my main worries.
What I Would Do Differently
A mom once asked me, “What would you do differently if you could go back?” That question has been haunting me lately. Beginning next week, I actually get that chance. I get to go back — with the same child — and I definitely plan to do things differently.
We’re Abandoning the Traditional School Year
When we were eclectic homeschoolers, I didn’t worry about finishing our books each school year. We reached the end of May (or April!) and called it good.
But since we found our purpose for homeschooling, I’ve learned that some some things need to be fully done before we move on. Otherwise, I’m depriving my children of a strong foundation — while expecting them to build on top of it.
So the question became: how do we finish our studies without ruining our summer?
Planning High School — When You Don’t Know Where They’re Headed
Like many teens, my 15 and 16 year olds’ future plans have changed yearly since 8th grade. Even more so for my oldest. Sometimes it looked like he would need a four-year degree, other times he said he would only need a one-year certificate.
Still other times, it looked like he wouldn’t need to go to college at all!