Post About Homeschooling, The First

This post has been a long time coming and is a product of finally having time and headspace to process and write.  While I often set aside and have been given the time and space to do hobby sorts of things like this, I don’t always have the headspace writing requires.  This has come as both a surprise and an annoyance to me, because I just want to finish the posts I have started, but I do not want to force it and I do want to do it well.  

All that to say, this is still not necessarily a comprehensive collection of my thoughts and feelings surrounding this decision/subject.  I am sure more will come as we continue on this journey.  In the meantime, feel free to ask any questions that you do not find answers for here!

8/22/22

My student (with a little help from his dad) brought me an apple!

We had been contemplating homeschooling for many years and just kept waiting to make the final decision till we absolutely had to do so.  Since Jacob has a summer birthday, we didn't necessarily have to make the decision this year, but because he basically started to teach himself to read this spring, we pulled the indecision plug and landed on the side of homeschooling.  Of course, I immediately began collecting books/games/curriculum/manipulatives from ALL the places - garage sales, consignment sales, curriculum sales, Prime day, etc.  I also started pooling personal and virtual resources - connections with and through friends and family, in addition to their recommendations of books, podcasts, websites, etc. 

While it was so wonderful to be collecting these things, it only added to the already-existing overwhelm that was the prospect of homeschooling.  The physical piles were a picture of the mental chaos (for lack of a better word) I was feeling.  It took a full day of finally putting things in their physical places (which could only happen after we switched the kids' rooms and moved some things around...which was also reliant on several other moving parts) for me to begin to see the path forward.  The time I spent sorting through, organizing, and housing all of the physical items also allowed me to process through if/how we were going to use those things.  It gave me time and space to determine what our days might look like, what I wanted to teach, and how I wanted to teach it.  I was literally ordering my mind as I was ordering our space.

Once I got over that hump, glimpses of excitement and readiness replaced the feelings of chaos and overwhelm.  I felt (mostly) prepared for this undertaking, and I felt good about the plans I had in place.  This also allowed me to more easily talk and share excitement about it all with Jacob.  I had it all set up prior to our California trip, but did not plan to start till afterward.  He was chomping at the bit, though, after seeing the "new set-up," as he called it.  The new things and the new arrangement excited him, which was truly an answer to prayer, as I was not sure how the transition to school would go coming off such a fun and busy summer.

We found that cube shelf - exactly what we were going to buy new - on Facebook marketplace for a fraction of the price, cube drawers and all!

This is Jacob's "station" (his word, not mine).  He loves it.
I change the message on his letter board each week. ☺

The first week, we did everything everyday.  We haven't done that since...haha.

One of my biggest concerns was how/what Lydia would do while Jacob and I were "doing school."  I needn't have worried.  She is great at independent play, is often interested in what we're doing, and she has even started to chime in when we are reciting phonogram sounds!  There are things we do that she can easily be involved in, and if not, she has several of her own toys and activities available in close proximity.  As I mentioned in the room switch post, Jacob is an early-riser, so we often have a good chunk of time to get a couple lessons out of the way before Lydia is awake (but sometimes, we still use this time to play Legos together☺).

It was a divine stroke of genius to grab this second daily calendar from a garage sale.  She happily transfers her magnets from the board to a basket to the floor to the basket and back again several times a week, if not day.  I can't imagine trying to keep her from doing this with the magnets/calendar Jacob and I use daily on the same regular basis.

There have been several really affirming days, moments, and experiences since we embarked on this journey.  There have also been several hard days, moments and experiences.  I heard both "I love doing school with you!" and "I hate school!" on the first day ("hate" was new to his vocabulary, at the time, so he was trying it on for size).  However, the times I find myself second-guessing the decision to homeschool are often followed by moments and experiences I am so grateful to be able to share with my "students."

A few examples:

• the time we interrupted/supplemented our "formal" history lessons with reading the posted history of the park we went to for recess

• being able to grant this request to sit and enjoy the view at snack time

•  snuggling up to read a chapter from our book each day

• raising a well-rounded kiddo who, during our walk downtown, comments on how much he likes this part of the city...with his "fluffy" (steamer) in hand

• fielding questions about whether or not snails can pick up radio signals with their antennae while observing the one we unintentionally brought home from a hike this summer (turns out, the "cool shell" had a resident...and we have kept it alive for several months, now!)

• this field trip to Union Station that provided a history lesson...

...as well as lots of entertainment and delight about trains of all shapes and sizes

• taking advantage of living so close to so many cool, free(!) experiences/opportunities

(When in Rome (or Crown Center)...)

The question I assume is on your mind (only because it is the first many ask when they find out we have chosen homeschool) is "Why?"  (Right? 😉)

Our answer: Our main objective is to provide quality, individualized Christian education for our children.

The next question: What about socialization?

I could refer you to many and various resources in answer to this question, but you could also likely find them on your own.  In short, I only worry about it when I allow others' questions and opinions to allow me to worry about it.  We do have a small group of homeschool friends with whom we meet for nature studies and playtime on a nearly-weekly basis.  I am also prioritizing playdates, library story time, and other trips "out into the world," esp. this kindergarten year when the academic component is less rigorous.  If Jacob has had time to develop a relationship and rapport with someone, he is happy to interact with them, share ideas, and is often considerate.  He can hold lengthy conversations with adults and is polite and generally friendly when interacting with strangers.  I think that's a good start, for now.  (In complete transparency, I could have left that answer at the first sentence.  The ones that followed are my real-time stream-of-consciousness thoughts as I continue to explain/affirm this decision in my own head.  There is probably more to be said, certainly more to be learned, and likely more to be implemented, but I will leave it at that, for now.)

Another, perhaps: "Do you enjoy it?"

Yes, I do.  I did not anticipate how much it would increase the level of purpose I feel in my/our days.  Aside from the formal curriculum we are using for a handful of subjects, our days and activities don't really look much different than they did before we were "officially" homeschooling.  Through this new homeschool lens, however, I am realizing even more that EVERYthing can be educational!  We will not have to formally document/report anything for another year or so, but I am trying to be in the practice of at least thinking about the purpose behind everything we do, and in all humility, it makes me proud of myself for having implemented so much education in our days prior to having on my "homeschool goggles."  (Is it oxymoronic to say "In all humility, I'm proud."?  Ha!  I think you know what I mean.)  

While I don't know that I enjoyed it, per se, I knew I was "all in" when I found myself researching how to pin bugs for a collection.  Who knew there was an actual, official way to do it?!  I will happily report that while they might not be quite up to specification, these dried nicely in position, and along with others, have been moved to more formal spots on a larger piece of Styrofoam...next to our collection of leaves (that are also research-based-ly preserved).

If you have more questions, I would be happy to talk and/or write more about it all.  In the meantime, thanks for continuing to follow my/our life's journey, no matter where it leads!  Appreciate you!  

Educationally,

Kensy

Favorites of the day:

recess at the pool!

all of Lydia's new words, lately

Junior Bake Off 

(J and I started watching this together (we're doing one episode a week), and it's been so, so fun!  I love sharing it with him.)

(almost) All the birthdays!

Another thing that contributed to our busy summer was planning/throwing/attending several birthday celebrations!  We were thankful to be able to celebrate at various times and in various places with so many friends and family.  First up, Jacob!

Call Hall ice cream for a pre-birthday celebration in Manhattan!

My brother can make anything!
(These are about the diameter of a penny.)

He requested this picture.  ☺

This one is so funny to me.  Don't worry - she didn't get to it.

What a fun Lego party hosted by Nanny and Papa Bear Byers!

Yes, those are edible Lego bricks.  ☺

He couldn't even!

Next, Lydia!  She has been really into the "Baby Shark" song for several months, so naturally, that became her birthday theme.  Jacob was excited to help with her birthday plans this year, and he was so sweet and kind to her all day on her special day.

She was so excited to help...and he was so excited to help her help!

She picked the cake mix all by herself.

♥

She got to open a gift on her actual birthday.

For those who are unfamiliar, the original song goes, "Baby shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo."  Our version for the bday girl was, "Birthday shark, two two two two two two."

Aunt Jami made her "baby deers!"

Birthday shirt and hat from Nanny Byers!

Cake is serious business.

My birthday was special, too!  Jacob was very sweet and kind to me all day on my special day, as well.

Breakfast in bed from my two favorite guys.  One made the tiramisu French toast (with homemade mascarpone!), and one had the thought to share the chocolate milk he was saving for himself and make it fancy with chocolate shavings. ♥

Was excited to take full advantage of this bday freebie (and share it with my bestie while we played with our kids at the park).

Bryant made homemade carrot cake with fancy candied carrot curls!

Thanks to my parents for a night out...(and an entire day to myself the next day!).

These birthdays sure are bittersweet.  Even Jacob has been saying he wishes Lydia could "stay two forever."  It is so fun to watch them enjoy celebrating each other, though, and enjoy being celebrated, themselves.  These are the days. ♥

One year older-ly,

Kensy

Favorites of the day:

the gift of time

birthday freebies - some of which the last of which don't expire till the end of the year!

cream cheese frosting

The Switching of the Rooms

One of our spring/summer projects was moving Jacob and Lydia out of the same room.  They had shared a room since Lydia was a few months old, and we had planned on it staying that way for a few more years.  We knew this switch would come - just didn't expect it to be so soon.  The third bedroom upstairs is adjacent to the kitchen and a wonderful space for a playroom...space that I was hesitant to give up.

As she came into her own more and more, we found out Lydia is a bit of a night owl...and/or a social butterfly.  She was excited to talk to Jacob every night when they were both supposed to be going to bed, and he - having just dropped his daily nap - was ready to go to sleep.  She tends to sleep in in the mornings, and he is an early riser, so it wasn't working on the other end, either.

It was amazing to me how much this switch disrupted the whole house, and as a result, my own state of mind.  The process was fairly easy and relatively quick, but the transition time was difficult, nonetheless.  There were a lot of moving pieces - adding a door, painting, new furniture, separating/purging/moving alllll the toys, etc. - and it weighed on me till everything was in its place...right up to the last wall hanging - haha.  So, you can imagine how good it feels to have it done, now!

An added benefit of this transition is Jacob having his own space.  Lydia had reached an age of curiosity and physical ability to really get into things.  Jacob has really done pretty well to tolerate her, but trying to keep his things/her safe was definitely making him anxious, as was his lack of space to "escape" to or call his own.  

So, while I was worried about losing the play room, the switch has really been a blessing.  Jacob has his own space to store his special things and to feel free to spend time in when he needs a minute alone.  Lydia's room is still connected to the kitchen, and most of the time, she does not mind Jacob joining her to play.  She thrives on playing independently sometimes, too, though, and even occasionally closes her doors on her own to play by herself.

Of course, I forgot to get a good picture of the "before" of this room - when it was a beige playroom - but at least this shows it before furnishings.  We were thankful to have had Aunt Roo's help painting and thinking through the layout of the space!

The relocation of her bow collection was a joint brainstorm, and I was (and am) so pleased with it!

The print on the right is an illustration from a book we've had since Jacob was little.  I had always loved it and was thrilled to find out the artist sells prints of a lot of the illustrations she has done (this one is from Anne of Green Gables in the BabyLit series)!  This was one of very few things I bought for "baby girl"'s section of the nursery before she arrived.

The piece on the left is something I have had since before we were married...I don't even remember where it came from.  The other two are garage sale finds that I made our own.  ☺

Nanny Byers made the beautiful, functional curtains - they are exactly what I'd envisioned and really make the space!
Aunt Roo contributed the super-cozy, perfectly-sized rug!

Here's the nursery-turned-Jacob's-room!  We still have the changing table/station on his dresser and Lydia's hanging clothes in his closet, but we'll get there.  His new bed has drawers underneath for all his things, and he was thrilled about it!  He sometimes permits Lydia to play Legos, but he still wants to be able to regulate that while keeping his door open, hence the baby fence.

This room transition also affected our homeschool area, and subsequently, my state of mind surrounding that journey.  Jacob's Lego table occupied the space we planned to use for school.  We could not move it into his room till the furniture was moved around.  We could not move the furniture around till there was a door on Lydia's new room.  And on and on it went.  Somehow, I found it very difficult to wrap my mind around how homeschooling itself was going to go without things being in place in the physical space we were planning to utilize.  

Here's an glimpse of what the space looked like "before."  Check out the homeschool post to see how it was transformed once the Lego table found its place upstairs in Jacob's room...and to read about how my state of mind (thankfully) came to a place of peace, confidence, and delight.

Transformatively,

Kensy

 Favorites of the day:

Jacob's rest time routine (that affords me some breathing room in the middle of the day)

IKEA storage solutions

these two (and those curtains!)