Making a Good Impression

We homeschool our children. I know this sounds like a mysterious thing to most people. But really, it's simply our lifestyle.

Our days go something like this:

We leisurely get up and make our beds. We come downstairs and each one makes their own breakfast. Unless Lucy is anxious to try out a new muffin recipe. In which case, we are all willing subjects.

Lucy and Jonathan take turns on different days loading and unloading the dishwasher. They bring their laundry baskets downstairs and sort whites from darks and start a load. They grab whatever book they are reading, and read as they eat their breakfast. This is the only time of day that reading at the table is acceptable.

If it's Monday, they strip their beds before coming downstairs because Mondays mean clean sheets. Jonathan will cruise the entire house for trash and take the barrels out. Mondays are also trash days.

We come into our office/studio/schoolroom and see what is waiting for us on the white board- which Lucy has put on there the night before. They start every day with online math. They work independently and can monitor their own progress. Today we are listening to Strauss waltzes as we work. I say "we" because I, too, am working as I write this blog, or filling orders for Cuba to Go! Some days we listen to Beny Moré. =D 

Lucy has an online American History class through Pacific Coast High School. Jonathan and I are reading through 1776 for his history. He will narrate back to me what I have read. We discuss. This means I know immediately if he understands the subject. We don't have tests in our school.  Can I help it if  we use our time more productively than the California school system?

They write something every day. Lucy would like to become a published author one day. She is already working on a novel and multiple short stories. Jonathan has a vivid imagination. We have been reading to them since they were just babies. They are both terrific writers and voracious readers.

Today is Wednesday, which means Jonathan will be playing in a racquetball tournament and Lucy will have her piano lesson. Her teacher, who comes to our home is in his late 60's.  She likes him because he's fun to banter with and she enjoys his teaching style.

Somehow they get through all their tasks and have time to jump on the trampoline, hang out with friends and finish their spelling exercises. (Mom has a high value for proper spelling.) Jonathan plays Legos. Lucy plays music.  They take time together to rehearse for their spring musical.

They help water plants and prepare dinner. We sit and eat as a family. They are independent and smart. Funny and compassionate. I realize what we are teaching them falls more under the category of Life Skills than homeschooling.

We are confident that we are the biggest influences in their lives. By spending the quantity of time we do with them, the quality of that time is greatly enhanced.  Learning happens all day long.

I think we've made a Good Impression.

"If you teach a man to fish..."

We're often asked about our decision to homeschool our children.   It's a complex answer.  And it's not completely about education.  It's more about our relationship with them. 

"It's a lifestyle of learning," is what we usually answer. Although explaining that would take volumes, too.

I was sorting pictures this weekend for a class called "Library of Memories" that I've been taking over at Big Picture Scrapbooking. And I came across these:

Enough said.

What about socialization?

They are upstairs rehearsing for their drama musical.  Their voices are strong and sweet.  I can barely contain the emotion as I listen.  It's not just the music or even the words.  It's that the girls who own the voices are genuinely sweet.  They are all homeschooled and they are smart and lovely, and they fill me with hope for the next generation.  They make me laugh (loudly) at the "what about socialization?" question.  They are unfailingly polite and can look you straight in the eye when they talk to you.

Lucy wants to be a writer.  Paige aspires to be an historian.  Alison has a 2nd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do.  They are already strong young women. They are amazing people. They are great friends.

If you knew them, it would never even occur to you to ask.

What about socialization??

How high?

Our intention as homeschoolers has never been to re-create school at home.  Ours is really more of a lifestyle of learning. Having said that, I would have to say that the only thing I miss for my kids is P.E. (I was going to write "Phys. Ed" but then I'd be dating myself =D). 

I only say that because there is a certain amount of discipline built into the school system with their bells and subject breaks. Since we make our own schedule and the kids do their work at their own pace, we sometimes forget to take breaks to go outside and breathe fresh air. (I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THIS HAPPENS TO!)

My kids are active in other ways. Lucy plays tennis and takes tap. Jonathan plays racquetball and does gymnastics.  But for everyday exercise, we still needed something.

Enter the trampoline....

There is no me nagging them to "go outside and get some exercise."

There is no question of "how will we get some exercise today?"

And there is no possible way to jump on this thing and not have a big, fat smile on your face. =D

Jonathan, being the gymnast and taking lessons has taught Lucy the art of flipping, of landing on your front without damaging major organs, of sommersaulting and handstanding. 

They couldn't be happier.

I have to admit that I laugh every time when Jonathan says to Lucy.....

"Let's go jump."

and she asks, "How high?"

Are we missing anything?

Representation of our homeschooling day.....

Lucy is the Master of the White Board in our homeschool.  I don't know where she gets it. Certainly not from the Cuban-Artist side. More likely from the English-High-Achiever parent, my husband, Eric.

Even though I can't take any credit for it, I'm still proud.

We have so much to do for school and for fun - it's easier to keep track of it all this way. I have to admit, I am really a sucker for lists with lines through the tasks. Jonathan takes a little longer to get to it, but at the end of the day, his tasks have lines through them too, and we wipe it all down and prepare sometime tonight for our day tomorrow.

I love the rhythm of our days. We plow unhurriedly through our school tasks. We take trampoline breaks (more on that tomorrow). We stop and chat and share things they have discovered. We ask each other questions.

Homeschooling is not an exact science. Some days are better than others. My goal has always been to teach them to learn.  I want them to love to learn.

Our white board bears evidence. It's happening.

And because I'm here with them each day.... I'm not missing it.