Wednesday, February 8, 2012

What's on my mind and...what's REALLY on my mind.


I guess I've considered the idea of homeschooling for lots of years. Told God...'If you reeeaaally want me too...I suppose I'll do it." 

When it came time for the biggest to start kindergarten we prayed this through more often and it was decided...B would go to public school. I felt peace about it, even relief...new baby plus one less crazy in the house wasn't sounding half bad!

I cried like a big 'ol baby when I left him in that building...even took pics of his footprints in the dewy grass (so sappy). But still felt good about the decision. 

It's a GREAT school!!! But at the end of October (and a chance to get to know the sweet one in the middle better without his big brother in the house) we were official 'public school quitters'. Long story short...after about a month and a half of school I couldn't seem to kick the idea of homeschooling out of my head. We don't know what's in store for the future but, for now, I'm a homeschool momma. 

I've learned something about this homeschool momma. I really really don't like lesson planning. I don't enjoy the digging for good material from a million sources. I don't enjoy the planning. That's why I'm FOREVER thankful for 1+1+1=1. Brady's a READER! And I'm so thankful for momma's like Carisa who do enjoy the digging and planning!

So...homeschooling has been on my mind. Gratefulness for a plan...a printer...

...paperclips...new sharpies (I do love the school supplies!)...


...the redhead who is thrilled to stand in front of the printer and 'catch' the paper...

...a five year old (for just a little while longer) who was happy to give up a fun school...eating out of a lunch box...the BEST music teacher...and even the big yellow bus he was on for 5 minutes each day...to stay home with me... 



 ...and enough room in our house for a schooling spot (the boys recently broke the cute bench that my husband made to go along with the table...typical!).



So that's what's on my mind. But what's really on my mind is spring. Our winter has been crazy mild and I've been holding back the longing for little cups of soil and possibility crowding my kitchen...but just today I typed 'heirloom flower seeds' in my browser just to see what might come up...

Snow is finally in our forcast. So...I'll be happy to keep my eye on this Jane Magnolia bud (blasted off the tree with a baseball bat in five year old hands). It's starting to bloom....

 Hope. 
My dear friend has hope. If you're the type that prays would you pray as they wait?





17 comments:

  1. awesome!! bet you are his favorite teacher too!

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  2. Love this. We were just talking about home school tonight. Please keep posting on it!! You are my role model, girlfriend! I wish we lived closer together. xoxo

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    1. I can just see you two chatting and dreaming about your sweet little one...CANNOT wait for you to be a momma! I wish we lived closer too...maybe someday...:)

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  3. Allison, words cannot express how grateful I am to read your blog tonight!! I am planning on homeschooling my girls next year, and have NO friends here that are doing it, I'm feeling all alone in it but yet SO excited about it and SO SO SO encouraged by reading other moms who are doing it!! cool moms, like you!! Also, I have been following Carisa's blog for a few years now and LOVE her stuff, (I was JUST scouring her blog for a "daily schedule" right before I clicked over here...) I am actually planning on starting the You Can Read series this summer! She (as well as Confessions of a Homeschooler) is a great resource! I am also using All about Reading next year too because of her great reccomendations about it. And also...you probably already know this, but Lindsey Broome just moved here and is homeschooling and is coming to my house TOMORROW so we can talk all about life and kids and homeschool!! Answer to my prayer, a friend to do homeschool life with!! Again, it is so encouraging to hear you are homeschooling and I am SO grateful you are one year ahead of me so I can learn so many great things from you!:) Blessings and hope to keep in touch!!
    shellyrhunter@gmail.com

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    1. Shelly! So happy my mess of a homeschooling attempt is encouraging to you! We just started You Can Read 2 weeks ago...I'm so impressed! I truly have only paid attention to 1+1+1=1...but I'm gonna check out Confessions of a Homeschooler soon....when I have a minute to branch out! LOVE that you're being brave and going after what you feel the Lord has called you to! How faithful of him to move Linds close by! SO WISH I COULD HANG WITH THE TWO OF YOU!!! Let's share tips and save each other the trouble of making the same mistakes!!!

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  4. Ummm. yeah.
    So Trav and I were just talking about this on our way home from church tonight.
    I have one more year of Emma being home before we make a desicion.
    And pretty sure I'll end up keeping her home. I just don't think I can go from having her home every day 24/7 to being in school all day for so long. Just rip my heart out!!! Plus what a sweet moldable age....man... I just don't want to miss a minute.
    I would love to hear more of what you do!!!!
    So proud of you :)
    P.S. did you know I was homeschooled k-12th grade? :)

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    1. Thanks friend :)

      Ya know what? I DID know that! Remember that spring break trip to Destin?? Ash told me on that trip that you had been homeschooled and, with my silly prejudices and assumptions, I could hardly believe it! Really made an impression on me! Tell your momma thanks for that!

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    2. Did you like being homeschooled?

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    3. I always use Ashey Howry as an example of a "good" homeschool kid :) and i was just looking at those Destin Pictures the other day... What a fun trip!!!

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  5. Love this blog! Did you know I was homeschooled too? 3rd-12th! Everyone asks me if I will do it with B and I say HECK NO every time, but your blog post at least makes me think about it a teensie bit.

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    1. I didn't know that! So great!

      After sending him to public school and then starting to feel like we need to change that up, I walked around our church (lots of happy homeschoolers there) with my hands over my ears...see where that got me! HA! :)

      Did you like being homeschooled?

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  6. Ali I love your post :) So fun!! And i love those homeschool kids... :)

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  7. Just stumbled upon your blog. I think homeschooling is so neat! My little girl is not yet two, so I haven't had to think about it too much, yet. Even though I am currently a public school teacher, I can still see why so many families want to homeschool. And I agree, lesson planning is not very fun :)

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    1. Hi Wendy! So glad you stopped by! I taught public school for three years! My husband currently teaches high school, my mom taught for 30 years, and my Grandpa was a principal! Girl! What you do is PRICELESS...and strangely, because of that, you probably feel underpaid and underthanked!! BUT! Take a bow my friend!!! You're a hero in this world we live in!!
      (glad you feel my lesson planning pain!:) )

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