Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Are Homeschooling and Boarding School Mutally Exclusive?

Usually when you think about homeschooling, boarding school isn't a part of the picture, right?

 
I mean, homeschooling is all about being together as a family
 
and boarding school is about
sending your kids AWAY.
 
 
 
    Right?
 
 
            Not always.
 
   When living in East Africa, sometimes the culmination of your homeschool career is to go to boarding school for high school.  My husband went to said boarding school, as did his brother and his wife.  As did many other missionary kids from years past, present and future. 
 
      I always said I would never send my kids to boarding school, when I found out that this was a common option for missionaries in East Africa. 
              But, what if my daughter is asking to go?!
 
 
 
 This was not in my plans, and God knows I never wanted to send my kids away.... but what if it isn't Sending Them Away?   What if it's Letting Them Go?    
 
                               Our final decision isn't made yet, but we are looking into our oldest daughter starting boarding school in a Christian boarding school in Nairobi in 8th grade.... which would make next school year her last year of homeschooling.
 
 
 So, how do I reconcile homeschooling my kids with boarding school?
 
 
                                            Good question.  I'll let you know....

Monday, April 21, 2014

Sick Days in Homeschool

Doing schoolwork on the couch

 
  Yes, I'm THAT mom... the one that makes her kids do their school work even when they're sick!  If they aren't throwing up, or on their death bed... I make them do some school work. 
            
                            One reason is that the day is awfully long and boring when you are lying on the couch, too sick to get up and play.  Doing school work helps the long hours go by more quickly.

                 Another reason, at least for me, is that we have already taken off so much school by this point that if we miss anymore school we'll be going until July... so we must press on!

   One benefit to me of homeschool is that if the kids have a mild fever I don't have to make the decision about whether or not they are "sick enough" to stay home or have to decide when it is that they are "well enough" to go back to school.  Those things are always tricky to me.

    
             

Friday, April 18, 2014

Happy Easter!

Easter is in 2 days!  One reason that I like to raise my kids here in Tanzania is that the commercialism during holidays is almost non-existent.  There wasn't any Easter baskets, or candy on sale in the stores, although I did buy the kids some candy.  We haven't gone shopping for new Easter outfits, but have picked out our nicest clothes that we have to wear.
  
             Our Easter celebration will be having Easter baskets with candy (mostly from Grandma) and finding eggs before church, then going to Moshono Christian Church. After church, they are serving a meal of rice and beans for everyone at church.  We have a guest visiting this year so he'll be joining us a well.  That night, we'll have a steak dinner and Skyping with family.  That will be it.  And, honestly, I kind of like missing all the hype of the Easter bunny, gift baskets, having to dress to the 9's for church... and getting to focus on the meaning of Easter.  We have been talking all week about Passion Week and what happened each day.

           That is what really matters this Easter, that Jesus died for us and rose to save us from sin. 


       It's fine to remember and celebrate that with candy, eggs, clothes, and parties as long as it doesn't distract us from what the real meaning is.

Monday, April 14, 2014

Carving out Time for Yourself as a Homeschool Mom

 When you homeschool, it feels like you are surrounded by people (mostly your offspring) ALL the time, from dawn til dusk and sometimes in the middle of the night too!  I'm an introvert, and I cherish time to myself... so...
                           HOW DO YOU FIND TIME TO YOURSELF?
 Here are 5 ideas of ways to steal some precious moments alone to help your sanity!

     Get up before the kids do!
This one is vital for a productive day, I feel.  Even though we are pretty relaxed about when we get up, I make sure I am up an hour, or at the very least 1/2 hour before the kids.  This gives me time to pray, read the Bible, exercise if I'm ambitious, and clear my thoughts before it "hits the fan". 

      Stay up later than they do.
  At night, I put the kids to bed around 8pm.  My older daughter doesn't sleep til about 9pm, but she has to stay in her room and play or ready quietly.  My husband and I can talk, watch TV; if I had a really stressful day I'll just zone out with a book or on my computer.

       Saturday mornings are for sleeping in!
  The kids know not to bother me on Saturday morning.  They know how to make toast, and turn on a movie... and to leave me alone until I emerge!

      Shopping day is MY day
  When I go grocery shopping, I take along a book or my Kindle and go to a restaurant and order a coke and have a half hour to myself before shopping.  This works because Bill can stay home with the kids.  I do recommend shopping alone or with only one child at a time if you can possibly do so, it's a lot less stress.

      Tell your kids to Go outside and Play!
   While I'm cooking dinner, I like to have some peace and quiet in the house.  It's also when all the neighborhood kids are out.  So, I send the kids outside for the hour that it takes to make dinner.  It's good for them and me.  If not outside, send them to watch a movie while you cook.

    Have a nice day!