Homeschooling Update

As we reach the end of 2nd Quarter (my first quarter as a homeschooling mom) I thought I’d do a little update.

I hope you enjoy the above photo because it’s literally the only “pretty” picture I have of our homeschooling adventure. BAHAHAH! That was day one and I definitely went in guns blazing, ready to rule the roost.

So, let’s start with the facts.

Real Talk. 

It’s been horrible and wonderful and terrible and beautiful. And I’m so very tired.

And it’s been worth every single moment, at least I think so. My confidence wavers from day to day.  It’s so hard to measure and quantify what we are doing and how much we are truly accomplishing.

I think I had a skewed view of homeschooling. Instagram is full of inspiring and beautiful homeschool ideas. Exploring and making and learning and growing and it’s just all so pretty.

Come on, I’m a former teacher. I know better. But I honestly got caught up in the idea a bit.

In reality? It’s messy. 

Sometimes it looks like not getting out of our pajamas. Sometimes it looks like me losing my patience and having to take a breather. Sometimes it looks like me throwing my hands up in the air and saying “let’s go to Costco, I give up.”

Mostly it looks like reading.

and writing.

It never looks like timed tests, busy work, or worksheets.

Sometimes it looks like leaving the house because I’m losing my mind. We’ve done school at the hospital on post, in the lobby after a doctor’s appointment :

 

and at our favorite coffee shop down the road:

 

I’ve learned that getting out of the house and taking this show on the road can be a lifesaver.

I’ve learned to stop comparing what our day looks like to what other homeschooling families’ days look like.

I’ve learned that some days are throwaways and some days we absolutely crush it. Some days we are done in a matter of hours and some days we work and work and work and I feel like we’ve accomplished nothing.

I’ve learned that this is NOTHING like my days as a second grade classroom teacher.

I’ve learned that it’s ten times harder than I thought it would be.

 

I’ve learned that success is hard to measure but that seeing their confidence soar brings me incredible joy. And that, if anything, makes this worth it for me.

I’ve learned that I couldn’t do this without Teachers Pay Teachers or All About Reading.

I’ve learned that Math U See isn’t working for us and I need to find a new math curriculum.

I’ve learned that this is a season in which I’ve had to change what defines me. I’ve had to let go of  “me time” and creative time and friend time and it can be lonely.

I’ve learned not to base my expectations on pretty Instagram photos. DUH, I know.

I’ve learned that sweet Cora does NOT like me to teach Cate and Lucy when she is around and so a few daily hours of  preschool/hourly care have been a Godsend.

I’ve learned that sometimes we all get a little loopy.

 

It’s been a little scary to be honest. I love teachers. I love public school teachers that love teaching and learning and love their students. What they do is a calling and a gift and to take that into my own hands has been terrifying.

I know some who feel that they need to constantly denigrate the public school system as they homeschool. Listen. That is not my opinion and that is not why I am doing this. I am doing this because I had no other option. And I felt it was something I had to do to help them get back into the school system successfully. I’m lucky that it’s something I’m able to do while we are here.

I believe that public schools cannot succeed if parents don’t support them and fight to make them better. Teachers are unsung heroes. What they do is nothing short of magic.

You know what else is magic?

Seeing two little girls fall in love with reading.

 

Some days I will tell you this is fun. Some days I will tell you it’s a mess. It depends on when you ask. I do know that it’s what my girls needed at this time and I’m really happy I could meet their needs.

That’s all I know for today. Ha!

Happy Tuesday!

xoxo

Stephanie