tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018991355534348331.post7808629426646509951..comments2023-04-17T06:53:08.766-06:00Comments on Mama Flock: Why We DoRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03617661053715127363noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018991355534348331.post-37499198144386867882011-02-02T17:09:34.573-07:002011-02-02T17:09:34.573-07:00Unpoedic, thank you for your thoughts and comments...Unpoedic, thank you for your thoughts and comments and congrats on your coming child. :)<br /><br />As for my background, I graduated high school, attended some college -- got my A.S. in Business after six years of part-time effort. I would love to continue my college education at some point, but not till the kids are older. I made decent grades in school, but the funny thing is that I don't remember a whole lot that I learned there.<br /><br />I have learned more in 3-4 years of homeschooling our kids than I did in 13 years of public school. I'm remembering it better, too, because of the way we learn it ... more hands on, lots of reading, field trips, etc. It's a wonderful way to make it stick.<br /><br />So if our children learn nothing with the efforts we put in to teaching them ... at least I'll be increasing in knowledge (and hopefully, wisdom) and for the day I get back to college ... maybe it'll go a little easier for all this prep work I'm doing. Ha.<br /><br />The main thing I wanted to let you know is that I was terrified when we started. What I haven't known, I learn in order to teach them. My husband has his subject strengths as well and that helps immensely in the moments when I can't think of any other way to say it and they just keep staring at me with a blank look. We also use a lot of free library programs and community programs to supplement what we do at home and provide opportunities for social interactions.<br /><br />Believe in yourself and know that you, too, can do it if you really want to. :) -RRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03617661053715127363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018991355534348331.post-87970680004394890042011-02-02T16:27:40.105-07:002011-02-02T16:27:40.105-07:00Hello, R., another homeschooled friend of Jessica&...Hello, R., another homeschooled friend of Jessica's chiming in. ;) My mother homeschooled me Pre-K through 12th and continues to homeschool my younger siblings; no easy task for anyone, but esp. demanding when one's children number as many as hers. She knows what it is to, from the world's perspective, "have no life" because she lives for her children--and she wouldn't have it any other way. She is Supermom, the most beautiful and sacrificial person I know, and I can only hope to someday emulate her, and other supermoms like yourself.<br /><br />As my first child kicks beneath my ribs, your post served as a reminder to me just how much work goes into the care of a child; not simply seeing that they are washed and fed, but in tending to their minds, specifically in taking sole responsibility for their education (for those who choose this route). While I have some experience teaching younger siblings, often the prospect of homeschooling my own children seems daunting. Your post also reminded me why my husband and I are leaning heavily in this direction: because, for various reasons, we think it is best for our children. I don't know your educational background, you could be a rocket scientist or at least equipped with a degree in elementary education; but your post reminded me homeschooling isn't all about what head knowledge parents possess, I shouldn't be afraid of my own stupidity. I can do this, I can teach my child; millions of parents undertake this task, and many children are ever grateful for that undertaking. Homeschooling is less about the size of the head and more about the size of the heart. Kudos to you, "Mom."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018991355534348331.post-18703830731080947632011-02-02T13:09:58.127-07:002011-02-02T13:09:58.127-07:00I may have re-spread the word about your blog. :) ...I may have re-spread the word about your blog. :) People like reminders.Jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04539914930254138454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018991355534348331.post-79483759569045623482011-02-02T13:00:14.684-07:002011-02-02T13:00:14.684-07:00Thank you, all! I think I've gotten more comm...Thank you, all! I think I've gotten more comments on this post than all the others. Wild!Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03617661053715127363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018991355534348331.post-4103018097039660662011-02-02T12:50:45.190-07:002011-02-02T12:50:45.190-07:00Great post!
Coming from a homeschooling family, I...Great post! <br />Coming from a homeschooling family, I know about some of the things you're talking about (though none of us are adopted).<br />Bless you for your bravery and doing what needed to be done despite the opposition.<br /><br />Like Jessica mentioned, I know of some parents who should never homeschool and then I know of some who it fits so perfectly!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018991355534348331.post-81919148738086235142011-02-02T11:09:26.049-07:002011-02-02T11:09:26.049-07:00This was really interesting. I admire what you'...This was really interesting. I admire what you're doing and think your reasons for doing it are all very sound!Brendahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15865460477149294514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018991355534348331.post-39405024230317215802011-02-02T10:45:31.441-07:002011-02-02T10:45:31.441-07:00I really appreciate this post and how clearly you ...I really appreciate this post and how clearly you articulated why it is so important for your family to homeschool. I was homeschooled from kindergarten through high school graduation and am so grateful. It's hard to communicate why I'm so glad for my educational background when talking to peers who grew up in public/private school. Homeschooling and the mindset behind it can be hard to explain, but I think you said all of this *so well*! <3Catherinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09635125648984664199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018991355534348331.post-24930047416196839622011-02-02T10:24:25.315-07:002011-02-02T10:24:25.315-07:00I'm so happy to have received multiple comment...I'm so happy to have received multiple comments. I heart them so! :) Thank you all.<br /><br />Simplythis, I agree with you that the line between parenting and educating is exceptionally blurry. Mostly, it's fine. This did bother our teen for a while and we ran into some struggles. We found that setting a time of day when we would be all done "nagging" her about school work helped. Of course we weren't nagging, really, but checking in or reminding her about what she needed to catch up on tomorrow, but everybody needs some downtime. So if I think of something in the evenings regarding school for her, I write it down and talk about it with her in the morning when she's at her best time of day and better able to listen.<br /><br />You won't have to worry so much about that for now, but maybe other moms of teens reading have had similar struggles?Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03617661053715127363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018991355534348331.post-18349700542548246442011-02-02T08:13:52.911-07:002011-02-02T08:13:52.911-07:00This is well said! It's always hard, at least ...This is well said! It's always hard, at least for mefor me, to figure out how to answer the question of why I didn't go to "real" school (how I hate that terminology!).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018991355534348331.post-12554071553900900222011-02-01T21:41:16.904-07:002011-02-01T21:41:16.904-07:00Hi there, I'm a friend of Jessica's. This ...Hi there, I'm a friend of Jessica's. This was a great, thoughtful post about the way you parent/school your kids. (There really isn't a clear line where parenting ends and education begins, though, is there?:D) I was homeschooled myself but making the decision to educate my own children at home was still surprisingly complex and I still second guess myself a lot. My eldest is only 5, though, so I get to put my toes in gradually--kudos to you for taking on such a diverse range of students all at once! Wow! :) Thanks for sharing!<br /><br />--RuthAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018991355534348331.post-11930355569804242382011-02-01T21:07:27.391-07:002011-02-01T21:07:27.391-07:00Thank you for the compliment. I worry it's to...Thank you for the compliment. I worry it's too long ... but it's an important subject to me. I should also mention, I don't hold any ill will towards people who ask me questions like the teen did ... it's a chance to educate others on something! :)Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03617661053715127363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018991355534348331.post-17922090482939769022011-02-01T20:33:25.087-07:002011-02-01T20:33:25.087-07:00Great post, and I appreciate that you recognize it...Great post, and I appreciate that you recognize it's not always the best option for every child or parent (people get defensive about this). Obviously some parents just don't feel able to school their kids, and that's their decision (and possibly a very good one!). I can think of some parents that are better off sending their kids to public/private school. :P But I know God has been preparing you for this since we were little and you were teaching me and D and assigning us papers in the summer. :) It sounds like a pretty daunting task to me, but fortunately I don't have to worry about it (yet/ever?).Jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04539914930254138454noreply@blogger.com