Education's Journey

Whenever anyone hears of our decision, they always ask this question. I have given knee-jerk, reaction answers. But to truly explain our decision, I have to go back 8 years and explain why we decided to homeschool in the first place.

My brothers and I grew up in an environment, that change rather frequently. Which caused us to change schools almost on a yearly basis. So I had the opportunity to witness and experience the "institution" of education in many different settings. My mother, however, remained consistent in her emphasis on education, and didn't rely on the schools to provide us with all the knowledge we would need for our lives. She thought outside the box, so to speak, when it came to learning. If she had known about unschooling, and had the courage and self-confidence, she would have raised us that way.

By the time my brothers reached middle school, she lost ALL faith in the system, and pulled them out, to teach them from home. I watched how much they grew in this short time. Sure, they were still teen aged, rebellious boys; but they grew in self-confidence, as well as improved many of their "schooly" attributes. I was a Junior in high school at that time, and decided to pull myself out of the system. Mom wasn't prepared to lead me in the direction I planned on going, so I basically taught myself what I thought I needed to know.

I never got a diploma, so at 21, I decided to get my GED. I walked into the testing center, never took any classes to brush up, and passed every test with what would be a B or better; within one week's time. At this time, I already had two young daughters, and I knew the system couldn't possibly offer them what I could.

To cement this in my mind, I watched my sister and all she went through, with her two children in the public school system. Just by being the mom I thought I should be, and loving my children they way I did, by the age of 3 1/2, my oldest daughter(Alexa) was reading, writing, adding and subtracting, and navigating herself on the computer and Internet. It was then, I decided I would not allow any institution to hold my children back from their full potential.

Over the next 4 years, gradually, I lost that initial instinct I had. As Alexa approached the age most kids start attending school, my mind became weighed down with overwhelming thoughts. I worried about how much time she spent "doing school", and the subjects she was learning, her grades, and where she stood alongside her peers. Her younger sister (Taylor) was also struggling in so many areas. "School time" became an overwhelming topic in our house, and was almost always accompanied with some sort of conflict. We also added two more children to our family in that time, and I started to re-evaluate why I began homeschooling in the first place.

During the spring of 2007, I decided to take our first ever summer break. We would do NOTHING that we thought to be "schooly". I decided to do this after reading, "Just Enough Light for The Step I'm On", by Stormie Omartian. In it, she wrote about goals and dreams, and surrendering EVERYTHING to God. While in the process of surrendering your hopes, plans, and dreams, she suggested you submit yourself to the guidance of our Lord. Also, that you stop pursuing those dreams during the time, and not focus on them at all.

So while I submitted myself, and my children to God's care and wisdom, we took a break from forced learning. Over the summer I noticed that little light coming from my kids. They often chose learning type things to do over play type things. They started to love life, each other, and learning. They chose to read, write, draw, and ask questions on a regular basis. I started to look around on the Internet, into different ways to homeschool, different teaching philosophies, and learning styles. I came across an article on unschooling. It sounded exactly like what I had done with Alexa.

Over the next couple of months, I joined a few online support groups. I asked all the questions I could think of, and really put myself(or rather ourselves) out there, for people to get to know us. It didn't take me long to hear God's small voice saying, "You're home, this is where you belong." So now we are in the process of deschooling. I plan on putting on here, a link list to all the wonderful places that have helped(or will help) us throughout our journey.

Our "unschooling" lives aren't that much different than they were before. I suppose the biggest difference is me spending time just being with my kids, talking to them, listening to them, answering and asking them questions, playing with them, and just plain enjoying them. Before our time was spent with me disciplining, scolding, lecturing, and enforcing them to do their assignments. Not to mention their complaining, and trying to get out of things. Our home is much more peaceful now, and I am more open to see all the growth my children experience everyday. I will share some these moments with you on another day(s).

This is the first time I've ever written a blog. With me starting school this past year, and all the changes our family has made regaurding school, I thought this would be as good a time as any to get my feet wet. My intentions here, are simply to put my thoughts elsewhere. Maybe someone out there will benefit from reading my thoughts, maybe not. It really doesn't matter all that much to me.
My children are all at wonderful unique stages in their journeys.
My oldest is only 8. Alexa has an understanding that learning takes place in every and all formats. She has dreams for her future, and knows there will be some tough things to learn in order to make those dreams become a reality. She also knows that she doesn't have to stop dreaming...ever, but she can change her goals at any time.
My second is 7. Taylor loves being a kid. We've had some trials to overcome, but with each one-we grew closer. She is coming to love herself for the person God has created her to be. She too, has dreams for her future, although they can easily change from day to day...and she knows that's ok.
My third will be 5 in a week and a half. Allen is 100% boy, and couldn't be happier being that. Sure he allows his sisters to convince him to do some pretty un-boyish things(painted toes once). But that just shows his love for his sisters. He dreams of being a man someday, and explores what it is that "men" do. He also knows he's not limited to these menly jobs, but can be anyone he wants to be.
My fourth(and littlest) is 3. Kassy loves being the "baby", although she doesn't want anyone outside the family to call her that. She enjoys her time with Dad...and mom too, and really doesn't like to share it. She dreams too, of becoming "big" some day. That big could mean severl different things, depending on the day. But it's fun to watch her dream anyway.
I, myself, have just begun the journey into adult education. I thought it was time for me to "do something", not that I have been sitting around on my duff for the past 8 years. I'm "doing" my school through a distance course. In 3 years I will have a Bachelor's in the Arts of Social Sciences with a concentration in elementary education. That means for me, a teaching degree, with the background of human development.
What do I plan on using this for you ask? Well, its a big dream, but it's my dream. I would like to open an after-during school program in my area. I'm working on opening a daycare right now. With this program in place, our community will finally have a place for home/public/private-schoolers to get together. Our homeschooling parents that have to work will have a daycare that meets their needs. Our public and private schoolers will have an after school program that meets their needs. In the end, my goal is to provide an environment for these kids to be able to form friendships and networks, that otherwise would not be possible.
So that's who we are, and where we're coming from at this point in our journey. Thank you for taking the time to find out. Check back periodically for updates on the kids, or my own goals and milestones along the way.