As parents, we face many challenges. Just when we think we have figured it all out, everything gets flipped upside down. Almost overnight our babies turn into toddlers, our toddlers into preschoolers, and preschoolers into high schoolers. That last one may seem like a huge jump, but that is seriously how fast that change seemed to happen in my house. This year my oldest son reached a big milestone—high school.
The holidays are a crazy time of year, and if your homeschool is anything like mine not a lot of school work gets done in December. And when I say “not a lot” I really mean none… at least not in the traditional sense.
Instead of being stressed about getting behind I have made the executive decision to set the curriculum aside and just enjoy the holidays.
More is more. Or is it? We live in a world where people are always on the go. There are so many things to do and not enough time in the day to get it all done. As homeschool parents it is easy to get caught up in this hustle and bustle, especially with people constantly asking us, “What about socialization?”
At some point, I am sure you have dealt with homeschool naysayers—folks lurking behind the corner, questioning your decision or making bold statements, such as:
How will you know what to teach? Only teachers are qualified to teach kids. You should just put them in public school.How will your children socialize with others? Your children are going to fall behind their peers.
So you did it… You placed your order, eagerly stalked your shipment, and finally celebrated your BookShark Box Day! Whether you are new to BookShark or a longtime homeschooler, after happily unpacking your boxes and exploring the piles upon piles of books you just received, you may find yourself feeling a little intimidated. You might even be asking yourself: Where am I going to put all of this? Where do I begin? How will we ever make it through all of these books?
It’s that time of year again. The library reading programs are coming to an end. Your children’s summer sports tournaments are going on. And the stores have stocked up piles of back to school sales.
You have probably spent months researching, purchasing curriculum, and preparing for the upcoming school year.
Making the decision to homeschool can seem very overwhelming. A million questions are probably running through your mind, such as:
What will my family and friends say about our decision to homeschool?
How will my children get to socialize?
I live in the beautiful Upper Peninsula of Michigan... a place full of shimmering waterfalls, continuous miles of shoreline of not one, but three of the Great Lakes, small-town charm, and if we are being real, six-plus months of living in a frozen tundra. Every year since moving back to the U.P. I fear that the winter will never end. But just when I am about to give up hope, the birds began to chirp and the snow melts away.
Before I know it our homeschool schedule becomes more lax, and we are looking for fun additions to our routine.
I'm a homeschool mom of a child living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). I take every chance I can to share my love of books and reading with my children. Just like real life, books can be full of sorrow, heartbreak, and devastating tragedy. Some parents may shy away from reading books that make their children cry, but that is not the case for me.
So why do I read books that make my children cry?
If you have known me for any length of time, you know that I am a self-proclaimed book hoarder. My house is living proof that this proclamation is absolutely true. I have eight bookcases stuffed full of books.
Shortly after my son was diagnosed with ASD, I received a letter in the mail about preschool registration. Up to this point I had never considered homeschooling. In fact, two years prior when my family and I were preparing to move, I actually laughed when one of the moving crew asked me if I homeschooled my children. Apparently, even back then, I had way more books and learning supplies than the average mom.
