Break?

  Right now it is officially "summer break".  Although, being a mother and a home schooler, I still try to find many times and ways to continue to teach my children.  Some times those ways are the best.  Some of my children learn better when I teach that way.  So whenever there is a teaching moment, I try to take that moment.  Even while we are outside playing with chalk, or ball.  There is always a time to teach.
  So really, we shouldn't really have a break from school.  Being my kids teacher, I do like to give myself that break. But with unschooling it definitely works out, that I'm still teaching them but I'm also getting a little bit of a break this summer.

  Next week we will be going to Vegas and St. George for a little family vacation.  I hope to have many teaching moments while were there.  We'll also be there for Denver Snuffers lectures.  Maybe we could listen to the talks and teach our children as well.  I'd like to take them to the talks but with how young they all are I don't think they'll sit very long at all.   We'll see how it goes.

 

A little about my back story

If you're asking me, "Why I decided to Home teach my children", this may be your answer.


 When I was a young girl I HATED going to school.  Every week it was a battle to get me to go out the door.   I'm not 100% sure why.  Maybe I blocked all the reasons.  Maybe there's no real reason.

 I do however, remember a few occasions when other kids teased me.  My mom recalled a story I told her after school one day, about how I stood in the middle of a puddle while other children stood around me, trapping me in the puddle while they each splashed me.  I do not recall that story at all.  There are some stories I prefer to keep trapped in my head where no one else can hear the horror.  Maybe one day I will share, but as for now I will keep them to myself.  Maybe those are the actual reasons why I hated school.  I guess we'll never know for sure.  :)  I will share that I was teased that I liked one of the "nerdy" boys in my class.  I felt that was saying that I was a dork, and a nerd as well.  Looking back I don't think that boy or even myself, was even close to being nerds.  At the time, of course, I believed those "mean" kids.

 Before my parents decided to pull me out of school someone suggested to them that they have a police officer drive me to school everyday.  I'm sooo glad they didn't do that!  Another suggestion was that I should be assigned to raise my hand since I NEVER even to this day like to make comments or answer questions.   I'm also glad they didn't do that!

 I was and still am to some degree "SHY".

 That was a label I HATED!!

 Just because a child hasn't blossomed into who they are to become, when everyone else thinks they should, doesn't mean they should be labeled, unless it's a label called, SMART, WONDERFUL, LOVELY, SPECIAL.  Labels of encouragement.  Usually children grow out of their "shyness" or other labels.  Give it time, patience and most of all LOVE!  The brain is amazing.  Whatever you or others tell your brain, it'll believe it, and eventually you will too.   So even if someone is stupid or shy, I suggest keeping your comments to yourself!

 I feel that sometimes, when a child is continually labeled something even if it's true, or not, they subconsciously feel unloved, or not good enough.   Or even other feelings and emotions that they may or may not know they have.

 I know, you're probably thinking, "Heidi, your kids are shy, why not send them to school to socialize?" or "your kids are shy because they do home school" Or whatever you may be thinking about my children.  Doesn't matter!  :)  Because I know who they are!  I know who is more reserved and introverted than the other.  I know that with time, patience, love, guidance and good examples my children will be who they were intended to be.  They will blossom into who The Lord wants them to be.  If I shape them and teach them and guide them. They will be who they are.  And no matter what anyone may label them, or say about them won't matter.