I will teach them!

I have been attending a small group at our church that discusses Homeschooling. I have always had this in the back of my mind but I've had NO idea how to get started. Well, lately it is a topic I could not get away from. Even friends of mine, friends I know AND bloggers, began mentioning they home school. I was thrilled to attend this small group and find out more. I walked in knowing I had this coming year scheduled. I was looking at this for 'in the future'. Boy was I wrong. They had several moms come and share their homeschooling story, sharing victories and defeats. I was crying the WHOLE TIME!! I then couldn't stop thinking on this and I think this is where God is leading our family. I have gone from the 'No, I am just not able' phase to utter excitement and anticipation of trying this out. It has really changed my perspective on many things in our life. I realized I had a false imagination of how homeschooling would or should be.

This weekend I went to a curriculum fair for Homeschoolers. I met the leader of our small group and she took me on a tour of the place. She definitely is called to assist the new mom in this endeavor! I know, if I had been alone, I would have seen ALL the tables, ALL the vendors and turned to walk out while feeling overwhelmed. It is a lot to take in and it is very intimidating - this is the future of my kids! I don't want to mess this up!! I don't want to choose the wrong thing or leave anything out! So she really helped me. Thanks to her assistance I feel thrilled, excited and I feel I am informed and ready to make decisions.

Well, while we were at the curriculum fair I found these little Scholastic books. They discuss fighting, tantrums, being lazy or bossy, etc. We do not have the lazy issue - I just wanted to do a little prevent defense. haha When I walked in the door my kids were glad I was home. I then began reading the tantrum and fighting books to them. They LOVED them. My son could see the anger in the pictures and asked questions about why the kids were mean and my daughter could understand the concepts. She is trying to count to 10 when she is angry and not shout at her brother. I am amazed.

After the home school fair and the few classes I've attended I feel empowered. Yesterday my husband was working on his recliner and the kids were under feet with 100's of questions. He began to get frustrated with their 'help'. I told him, this is what homeschooling is. Teaching them in all the little things that pop up. I was afraid he would say 'I'm not homeschooling today' but he actually went with it and the kids learned a few things in the process. So far the demands are small but we are enjoying the change in our mindset towards educating our kids. I am excited and scared about actually going through with this endeavor!! But I know I am not alone and I have a great team to lean on as I step through this unexpected door!!

One last thing - my friend kept telling me about this book The Well Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise. She and many other moms claim that it is the Homeschooling Bible. I am really enjoying this book!! It has a lot of helpful information on choosing curriculum from birth to graduating high school. I found, through seeing the curriculum at the fair, that we will use the Classical Method to teach our kids. I cannot wait to get started!! I love approaching this new endeavor with information and a team to lean on. I feel like I am truly equipped thanks to them!