AskTracy

I went to a homeschool MNO (Moms' night out) the other night, it was the first one I've been to in, hmmm, about 6 months!  I completely forgot how important going to these gatherings are.  You are surrounded by women who are the most resourceful, understanding, and encouraging when it comes to your homeschool lifestyle.

Got a question?  Someone there is sure to answer it.  New to homeschooling?  You'll get bombarded by other Moms who will help you find your way.  Just need to be away from your kids for a few hours?  Attend a MNO and your patience will last an extra hour!  lol

If you have a homeschool MNO near you... GO!!  You won't be disappointed and you'll meet some very nice Moms who seem oh so familiar, yup, they're just like you!   TM : )

P.S. If you're in the Orange County area and would like to attend a homeschool MNO, contact me and I'll get you the information.

This says it all!   TM : )

I think I have been living on the moon lately.  Is it that time of the year?  Why YES, yes it is.  This IS normal to feel a little whacky, do you know why?  Well, I'll explain and see if it makes sense to you too.

As I look back and reflect on my years as a homeschool Mom (I'll be starting my 9th year in the fall, can you believe it?  I can't imagine...), there are certain times of the year that throw me off.  The beginning of the school year, and the tail end (if we're talking about a dog, more like the hind legs) of the school year.
  
The beginning is most obvious.  It's new.  This year the beginning was a little scary for me as my oldest moved up from elementary to junior high or middle school or whatever your area calls the 7th grade.  I felt like a new homeschool Mom starting all over again!  And yes, the beginning was definitely out of sync for me as a homeschool Mom.  See?  You're not the only one!  : )

Make sense so far?  Next is the hind legs and that is where I am right now.
The closer I get towards the end of the year, around April (hey, that's now), I get antsy.  I am just like the kids!  I am not satisfied with spring break, I'm ready for summer vacation!  Am I supposed to feel this way?  There's still school work to be done, and it is so hard to focus right now and being a little out of whack is starting to feel normal.  But it IS normal because that is your inner voice telling you that you have been working hard right along with your kids and doing a great job this past year.  It's your own little alarm clock ringing and getting your attention, letting you know to get ready for summer, loosen up, have some fun, and yes... be a little whacky.   TM : )

It's Monday and I can feel change in the air.  Thank goodness we homeschool and change can be made swift and accordingly.  I like to think of us homeschool Moms as speedy, little, convertibles when it comes to teaching our children.  We can change gears to pass the big rigs (traditional schools), we can maneuver around the corners ("Mom... can we read instead?"), excel as fast as we want to go ("Hey Mom, I finished my 4th grade math and I'm only in 2nd grade!") and when we're in park, all others look at our rims and tires and shiny paint and wish they could be like us (We have smart, respectful, and well mannered kids.  Most of the time!)!

So bring on the change... My engine is ready and the count is on... 3, 2, 1... GO!   TM : ) 

Wow!  Time sure flies when you have a full schedule.  I must be a homeschool Mom!  So tell me, when do you do your laundry?  Tracy, what does this have to do with homeschool encouragement?  I'm glad you asked! If you have lots of dirty clothes sitting in pile, hidden behind the door, then you probably were with your children at the library, or on a field trip, or at a math class.  So good for you for having lots of laundry!  And if you have just a small pile, then you did your laundry at 11:30 last night while the kids were asleep, you're supposed to be "off" for the day and your husband has a look on his face wondering what you are doing with a laundry basket at your hip and when are you going to get ready for bed as it is 11:30 at night!  PHEW, talk about a run on sentence!

So, if you have a huge pile of laundry, you're an AWESOME homeschool Mom!  If you have a small pile of laundry, you're an AWESOME homeschool Mom!  Laundry or no laundry, keep doing what you do.  It's working!   TM : )

Okay, so I had a conversation with another homeschool Mom today and while we were chatting, I said something that at that very moment it came out of my mouth, I knew I had to share it with you.  We were talking about subjects that our sons liked and didn't like and how we would teach them and how we didn't like certain subjects ourselves.  Then it occurred to me that I can't stand math.  I mean, I always knew I didn't like math, but what I realized is that when there is a subject that I don't like, I avoid teaching it. The conversation reminded me that just because I don't like a specific subject, doesn't mean I need to run away from it and take my kids with me!  

We are so lucky to have as many resources as we do from Google to tutors and our best resource yet... each other.  So when a subject that you don't like starts interfering with teaching your kids, don't avoid it.  We're too resourceful to not find a way.  We're homeschool Moms for goodness sakes!  We are outside of the box thinkers, we're creative, we don't give up easily, and we're not going to let our dislikes discriminate what our kids need to learn and they might really, really enjoy.  And if my kids really enjoy math, then I did what I was supposed to do, stop running.   TM : )

Wow!  I haven't posted since Friday!  What's going on Tracy?  I forgot, well it was sort of in and out of my brain, that Monday was President's Day, it threw me off and I kept thinking that Tuesday was Monday and then I forgot my Grandmas's Birthday, rushed to the phone to order her flowers (thank goodness for the time difference), kept missing the mailman because I needed to get a package to my cousin's son who sent me Flat Stanley for his homework assignment (mine or his?) but then I got the days all confused of when the mailman was supposed to come, realized that I'm bogging this week and here I am!  PHEW!  I need a personal secretary as I have been quite forgetful and easily thrown! 

The good thing is that I'm a homeschool Mom.  I'm resourceful, I'm flexible, I'm good on my toes and I get things done!  So Monday or Tuesday, holiday or no holiday, I'll figure it out eventually.  Hey... Aren't you a homeschool Mom?  Ahhh, so you are.  So you're all of the above too!  We're good like that, even without a secretary.   TM : )  

Being a homeschool Mom, I realize the importance of a like minded friend that understands what it is I am trying to do in this thing we call "homeschool."  She understands because she too is a homeschool Mom.  I don't know what I would do without this friend, she is that important to me.  She encourages me, she cheers me on, and she is there to give me a hug when I need it.

She wrote me an email today that I want to share with you.  Usually, I'm the one that writes this kind of stuff for you!  Inspiration comes in many forms, and today my inspiration came in the form of an email.  I hope this letter inspires you the way that it did for me.   TM : )

Hi Tracy,

It was so nice to chat with you, today!  And you really are very kind about S.  Truthfully, both our sons are totally out-of-the-box and brilliant.  They both have their unique issues and personalities that color it all, as well.  : )

I have often told S that L and he are great foils to each other.  While they are both similar in their intelligence, they are very different in personality.  L has that fire and think-on-his-feet strength and stage presence times a thousand, and S is the methodical, steady-as-he-goes, quiet logical type.  But they both have the potential to reach for things in life that are beyond many people's reaches.

Still, it's just not easy for them because our society doesn't embrace our out-of-the-box kids.  Moms like us have to beat our own paths out for them and with them.  So we should both pat ourselves on the back for all the work we have done to enable our kids to do what they do.  Not easy, no, and not over by a long shot... but I think we are both doing the best we can!  : )

Just my two cents (plus inflation)...

I dedicate this post to all of you hard working homeschool Moms (and Dads). You are not forgotten and I know that you are doing the best you can at raising a family, and teaching your children to be the best at something they love.  It is not an easy job.  Keep going, keep breathing and know that you are appreciated!  

Have a wonderful and relaxing weekend!   TM : )