Homeschool
How Are You? 04/14/2011
 
Okay, it's that time again.  I'm gonna ask you, "How are you doing?"  No, not just, "I'm okay."  That's not what I'm asking.  How are you doing with your homeschool life?  Is it getting easier?  Are you ready to pull your hair out?  Or are you getting the hang of it?  Usually at this time of the year you're starting to get the swing of things, but if you're not, DON'T WORRY.  Look back and reflect on what you have accomplished.  Give yourself credit and don't be so hard on yourself.

Homeschool is a lifestyle and if you're new at it, it takes time to adjust.  Not just you, but your entire family.  And guess what?  It's ever changing!!  WHAT?  Tell me it isn't so!  Yes, it really is so.  And you know what?  That's what's GREAT about homeschool, the freedom and flexibility to be ever changing is a gift for your children.

So leave me a comment and let me know how you're doing.  I want to know. And I'll give you a little insight... my hair is still on my head, but trust me, I go through boxes of hair color!   TM : )
1 Comment
 
 
So have you noticed my new font for AskTracy at the top left corner?  What do you think?  I'm making changes to this site, slowly but surely.  I'm redoing my resource page and I have added (incomplete though) a tab called Websites that Teach page.  If you have any suggestions for me, let me know because that's how we find some of the best stuff, word of mouth, right?

Change is always good.  It keep things fresh and when you do it at a pace that matches your stride, the scariness of something new just doesn't seem so scary.  Even if you do something, just a little something out of the ordinary, you might find the path you've been looking for all along.  Hmmm, sounds like a lot of us who found homeschool.   TM : )  
2 Comments
 
 
I am fortunate to meet many new homeschool families.  I am so happy that I am able to guide them and help with whatever questions come up.  I don't know everything, but I do have experience, and with that experience, I can share what I know.  Not everything works for everybody, but just knowing that someone has tried it helps smooth the path and not make the journey so bumpy.

So here's to experience.  The more we do, the more confident we are and it shows.  Not just to the neighbor down the street, but to our children that are watching everyday.  So this is for you, from me, smoothing the path for you.

Have a wonderful weekend, RELAX, and we'll chat again soon.   TM : )
 
2 Weeks New 12/13/2010
 
Today I got the opportunity to talk with new homeschool families, and when I say,"new" I mean just starting 2 weeks ago new.  I am glad that they have me to let them know that they matter.  The choice to homeschool may be easy, but to actually do it and change your lifestyle, well, that could be pretty rough.  But as with anything that we do that requires change, it always takes time to adjust.  My biggest piece of advice?  Take deeeeep breaths and hold on to the vision of your children being great at something they love because you helped them to get there.   TM : )
 
 
Parents ask me all the time about when I first started homeschooling my kids. They think I was born a Homeschool Mom.  I gotta laugh.  They are always amazed when I tell them.  When I first started homeschooling, the feelings I had were, "OH MY Gosh... what am I thinking?"  Did you feel like that too?  Some of us know from the beginning that they want to homeschool their children, then there are those like myself!  Kind of clueless, not sure what this is all about, and can I do it?  Only time will tell and I'm working on my 8th year homeschooling my kids, so I must be doing something right.  But what I can say without a doubt, is that homeschool is a lifestyle.  The longer you do it, the more confident you become and watching your kids succeed in what they do is the biggest reward.  

Today I am reflecting on who that person was that these parents ask me about and where I am today.  I'm proud of myself for what I have accomplished so far. And if you have others asking you about when you first started homeschooling, take a deep breath, giggle about the person that you used to be, and be proud, VERY proud.    TM : )

P.S. Not sure why my fonts are funky!
 
 
Today I got to talk with many homeschool Moms about, can you guess?  Yep, homeschool!  It's the time of the year when the glow of being a new homeschool family starts to fade and either you're moving right along or the frustrations start to sink in.  Most times the second reason wins.

The frustration of being new to something so unconventional and out of the box can be rather intimidating.  Please remember why you chose homeschool for your kids to begin with.  It will encourage you to keep moving forward and help you get through the frustrations of the moment.  And it is, just a moment.  Find a friend (me?) that can be your shoulder to lean on and lean!  You will be amazed at what you thought was frustrating at one time is no longer.

Keep going, you can do it, you're doing a great job!  Have a wonderful weekend!   TM : )
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Today I got the pleasure of meeting many new families who have decided to homeschool their children.  It is always interesting to me how new families think and how they perceive what homeschool means to them.  I also spoke with many returning families and I got to hear about the progress that they have made since they started their homeschool lifestyle.  What amazes me are those returning parents that teach like a traditional school, hours and all.  I think for these parents it just feels comfortable teaching how you think your child would learn if they were in a traditional school.  STOP, please.  This is a reminder to all homeschoolers new and returning, THIS IS HOMESCHOOL!  We are free to be creative with our teaching, we are free to move on and go forward as fast as our child wants to go, we are free to be flexible.  We are free to think outside of the box.  Homeschool, it's a lifestyle.   TM : )

7 Comments
 
Ready & Waiting 08/12/2010
 
Get ready, here it comes, the new school year!   TM : )
1 Comment
 
 
WOW... I did not know I can use different colors when I write an entry to this blog.  We learn something new every day.  So what makes learning something new, fun?  Is it by chance like these colors I've found?  I think discovering new items on your own DO make it more interesting.  When you find something new, does it stay with you more than reading it from some boring textbook?  It probably does.  So with this revelation of new colors, to find something on your own is very satisfying.  With that thought, I will now place all kinds of fun items for learning around the house for my kids to "discover" on their own.  Maybe finding it on their own will be a much more rewarding experience for them.  Maybe.   TM : )
 
Something New 04/12/2010
 
Try something new, do the unexpected.  Your children will thank you.   TM : )
 
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Homeschool