Month: July 2019

When I quit work to stay home with Connor, I received some flack. I was asked,”Why? You have so much to offer.” After dialing down what I really wanted to say, I usually responded with something like, “I have always known that with my personality, I would try to hyper focus and over achieve on both my job and my kids, but eventually, something would have to give. I didn’t want my kids to be what gave.” I recognize and know some amazing women who seem to do both beautifully, I am just not one of them. It’s good to know one’s limitations.

When I started to homeschool, I received some of the same flack alongside the “Are you qualified?” and the ever so popular, “what about socialization?”. Interestingly, I also started getting the, “Since you homeschool, you have lots of free time to lead women’s Bible Studies or be free to babysit during the day.” I decided right there and then that Homeschooling was my job, it was my priority. I was my children’s teacher and that was my job. Being their Mom was my blessing and privilege, but being their teacher was my job and needed to be treated as such.

Last year, I taught preschool at a local Charlotte Mason private school, this year I will teach afternoon Kindergarten three days a week. When I teach, I am completely focused on teaching. I don’t do anything else besides teach. I don’t check my phone or FB or throw in laundry or put dinner in the crock pot. I do occasionally have to stop to clean throw up, bloody noses or potty accidents. That’s the same in both classrooms or homeschooling, much to my chagrin. Whether I am in the classroom or in my living room, my students should be my priority.

Until my kids became independent learners, which was somewhere around 7th grade for my twins, the hours between 8:30 and 12:30p.m Monday – Thursday were completely blocked off for school. I put laundry in before and after school, I put food in the crock pot before school started. Chores happened before school and on Fridays. Sometimes, I didn’t get a shower until noon, because it was time to start school.

My husband, parents and friends knew not to call or text me between those hours unless it was an emergency because I was unavailable. I was teaching and it was my job to be focused on that. I often told my kids that teaching them was my job during that time and their job was to learn. I was giving my entire attention to them during that time and I expected them to give me the same amount of focused attention.

As a teacher, classroom or homeschool, I need to have a plan, be prepared and be completely present. I know everyday seems like forever in the midst of the daily chaos, but I promise you will wonder where the time went. I don’t regret any of the time I gave my wonderful students and I don’t think you will either. It is, by far, the hardest, best job I have ever had.

I have raised three Engineers. Nerds, Geeks, STEM loving kids. Despite their Engineering aptitude, they are also lovers of Art. When we first started talking about going to Europe several years ago, top of their list was the ability to see as much Art as possible. It is one of the reasons we chose the Mediterranean.

For those who are wondering, I am neither an Engineer nor an Artist. From the beginning of our educational journey though, we were determined to have well rounded kids. Kids well versed in History, Science, Math, Music and Art. So, we used a curriculum that had a good base of History, Science, Music and Art. Then, we followed our kids passions and interests and from the beginning they loved Art History and Art Appreciation.

I don’t think I had ever been to an Art Museum until we started “God and the History of Art”. In Denver, the Art Museum has free days during Spring Break and we started making that an annual tradition. When we went to Washington DC, their favorite day was the Art Museum at the Smithsonian, much to the chagrin of their, “Let’s spend all the time possible at the Space Museum” father. Outside of “God and the History of Art” the only thing I added in those early years was,

Lives of the Artists and Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Artists Series. The second link I borrowed from the library for book basket.

As the kids got to Middle School, my bff and partner in crime, who has a Minor in Art History, taught them in Co-Op and added, Artistic Pursuits. She encouraged them all to try their hand at art and did a great job of encouraging all of them that in trying the art projects, they would understand and appreciate art in a much deeper way. All three of mine took this to heart, but it was Caileigh who really soared and managed to get through the entire series by the end of high school and take an AP Art History Course.

I can see how much richer and deeper my kids lives are because of their appreciation of beauty and art. It gives them a depth that I see missing in other STEM kids. It also gives them a way to connect to others who might not be Engineers. I think music and art are universal languages that must be taught to kids.