Journey along with me as I travel back in time to offer advice for my younger self. Yep, I’ve not been on this homeschool journey long, but I still have advice to offer. Advice of hope. Advice of warning. Advice of common sense.
Perhaps it will be remembered, perhaps not. I know my younger self can be quite stubborn. My attempt is all that matters. In efforts all will not be in vain, I’m granting you an exclusive ticket. If my message goes unheeded, perhaps you can gleam something from it. So here’s your golden ticket. Let’s go!
I already know how I will communicate with my younger self. A direct tactic will scare her. Too indirect and subtle hints will be ignored. A plethora of information will be overwhelming while a scarcity of information will be lost in the rambunctious nature of life.
The solution. Sticky notes. Sorry, no smoke and mirrors. No fireworks in sky. My direct presence would create chaos in the space-time continuum, so sticky notes will have to do. I’ll even place them on her computer so she will easily find them. A note a day. Five days in a row. Five gems to ponder. If they are never received then I merely pushed the wrong button on my time machine and someone in a parallel universe is very puzzled.
Do NOT buy anything yet. Just wait. You are NOT on a public school schedule.
At the beginning of your first year of homeschooling and in years to come, just breathe. Take. A. Long. Deep. Breath. Allow relationships to trump curriculum. In a public/private school world curriculum must be ready to go on the first day of school. All curriculum for the rest of the year. Catch the word “all”. Too many times this mindset will creep into your soul when in reality, you can buy at any time.
Embrace this freedom! See your child’s interests. Try different things. Three day shipping is your new best friend.
No online purchases while eating Chocolate Cheesecake at a restaurant.
Yes, I know you purchased the math game just as the waitress gave you extra napkins. It felt good to press buy now. Cheesecake makes everything feel good. Impulse buying is wasted buying. (80% off sales DO NOT apply here.) Also, why are you researching homeschool materials while at a restaurant. One word. Obsessed.
The world will not end if you don’t have the latest flashy thing. Your child will still learn without expensive plastic math manipulatives. By the way, you barely used the math game. However, it will come in handy during craft time, so not all will be lost.
Freeze cash for Homeschool Conventions.
You might think I’m insane for this one. It applies to the money you plan on spending at that homeschool convention. Please listen carefully to my directions. Put the money in a plastic bowl, cover with water, place in freezer.
Remove from freezer, transfer to cooler and bring to convention. If an item is so irresistible forcing you to melt ice with the tiny hairdryer in your hotel room, then you deserve it! Enjoy!
Seriously, be careful. Research before you go. Download the vendor list. Be prepared with a price list. Come armed with a budget. Research. Research. Research. Yes, I know that’s what you do best. However, I also know how you get with educational goodies. Crazy girl. Just crazy.
Schedule Professional Development time. Indulge occasionally in gourmet coffee and free Wi-Fi.
Public school teachers have Professional Development training. It usually involves very long (did I mention long) meetings and endless discussions. You deserve your own professional development time. It is allowed. It is necessary. Do it! Put it on a calendar, grab your favorite cup of java and enjoy free Wi-Fi somewhere.
You can plan curriculum, research topics of interest, read or just inhale the wonderful aroma of caffeine without interruption. Not taking time to plan, organize, or schedule will create more chaos than it is worth. Your Professional Development time is very valuable, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. By the way, along with the coffee you can get a piece of cheesecake as long as you don’t buy anything else.
Life is school, but school is not life.
Life is school. Learning is occurring nonstop. Everything is a learning opportunity! Cooking-chemistry. Cleaning-home economics. Hanging a picture frame- math. Due to this unending cycle of learning make sure you allow for down time. Let the brain rest. Declare Field Trip day!
School is not life. Don’t officially turn everything into a lesson. Do not assume each and every word of a curriculum must be covered on the day it specifies. Teach to your child, not to someone else’s standard. Allow for scheduling chaos. Leaning can be messy, embrace it. If your child is obsessed with owls then let them research to their heart’s content. Don’t forget researching the speed of an owl in flight makes a great physics lesson! Just don’t tell them.
Connect, communicate, chill.
I know I said I was only going to give five days of advice. However, you know me. Overachiever to the core. It’s easy to get comfortable with your circle of friends. Get out of your comfort zone. Meet new people. Communicate to others the fun/tragedies/joys/tears of your day. If they look at you blankly, move on. Find support. Most of all, find supporting souls who will allow you to chill out, refresh and be authentic. Hang in there. You’re doing fine. You will be amazed how well fractions are going!!
Well, that’s all the notes I have for now. Perhaps, I’ll revisit later. Perhaps, I’ll even be brave enough to temp the fate of the space-time continuum. But until then, what sage advice would you offer your younger self or even me as we journey along this miraculous road called homeschooling. Sticky notes await!
Seeking further advice and/or inspiration? Be sure to check out more great posts at the iHomeschool Network’s “Advice for my Younger Self” link-up.