Education Happens in the best places

My family decided to embark on a new adventure this year. It was a goal of mine from the time I found out I was to be a mother.

It did not make sense logistically until this year. The goal I wanted was to homeschool.

It just always made the most sense to me. I wanted to be a mother. I was excited to be a mother. And then she arrived. From the day she was born I have parented very intentionally. I weave fun into learning. In many ways it has become an art form. I was aww inspired by those around me that homeschooled and I hounded them with questions. Every year when back to school time arrived I could not understand all the happy posts about the kids being gone all day and back in school. I loved being with my daughter and barely tolerated being at work.

Then the day arrived that she began school. We made it a happy time but I felt shattered as I watched her walk though those doors. I ached to keep her home and do as I had seen so many others do. Two years of pre-school, Kindergarten and first grade all passed. I broke every morning putting her on the bus. I felt helpless as she got off the bus sweaty from a hot room with no air, as she discussed mean kids and frustrated teachers. (I love teachers and feel they should all wear capes, but that is another piece.) I sat and did homework that was boring and hard to understand. We couldn’t do it anymore.

I spent the summer devouring everything I could on different ways to homeschool. I talked to anyone that would listen. I discussed this possibility with her former teachers. And then came the logistics. How do I make this work? A very dear friend said to me, “you are already homeschooling, organically in your everyday life.” And with that we jumped.

I have tried to become even more intentional. We play language art games in the car and using legos. There are late night games with a map using candle light. We weave math into cooking, shopping and home repairs. We play games from typing to spelling to safety on the computer. We are always doing field trips where questions and hands on play are encouraged. I have watched my beautiful 8 year old blossom into a curious, confident young lady in love with learning.

But none of that is what I am thinking about in this moment. (Content for this part to make sense) I am thinking about how it hit me like a load of bricks. I am so busy finding ways to teach her and keep it interesting I almost missed all the things she has been teaching me! I was watching her make geometric shapes with Legos the other night and listening to her chatter on about heroes. We love super heroes in our house, but these are not the individuals that she was talking about. She was talking about real people from history. (Underground Railroad conductors) I sat there staring at her in complete aww.

I have been trying so hard to make sure that she was absorbing everything that I missed it completely myself. She has taught me that learning can happen everywhere and it does not have to be something on a test. Her curiosity has lead us on nature walks that have led to a rabbit hole of nature research. Her curiosity of why the sun going down leaves such a beautiful picture in the sky, has led to art work. Her desire to see a lady at the farmers market smile led to a friendship and a lesson in business. I have made more friends human and animal than I can count because she is quick to smile and say hello. She never tires of questions and the answers fuel more questions.

She has filled me with pride through tears as I have watch helplessly as she has gotten hurt by those she loves, and then handled it with grace and dignity in a way that leaves me in aww. She finds beauty in the things I wouldn’t look twice at.

I sat there convinced that we had made the right choice for our family. I feel that I can educate her in a way that she needs and can blossom, but I need an education as well. I look forward to many years of continuing education for both of us.