I had my first real homeschool convention experience in early April when I attended the Great Homeschool Convention (GHC) in Cincinnati. I’d considered going to a convention before – to GHC, Teach Them Diligently, or any one of several mid-sized regional events – and I did help at a vendor booth for a very small conference in my state three years ago. But the cost and logistics involved with travel and lodging, not to mention figuring out what I’d do with my daughters, always convinced me the timing wasn’t right.

Then, almost a year ago, Kathy Koch, my “boss” at Celebrate Kids – I am the ministry’s volunteer staff writer – asked if I’d consider coming to Cincinnati to help at her booth. And after I agreed – thanks in no small measure to my husband’s encouragement and help in working out all the logistics – Kathy determined that she wouldn’t need me at the booth all the time. So I was able to experience quite a bit of the convention from the perspective of any other homeschooling mom.

And, in a word, I was “wowed.”

Over 350 vendors filled the huge exhibit hall, offering everything from vintage classic novels to Latin programs to dissection specimens. Members of more than 8,000 families browsed the hall with me, demonstrating both the unity – we were all homeschoolers! – and diversity – Mennonites and tattoed dads and everyone in between! – within our community. From Thursday afternoon through Saturday evening, multiple seminars started up every 90 minutes, addressing hundreds of topics of interest to homeschoolers – everything from politics to grammar to effective parenting and more. There was also a kids’ program and a teen track, not to mention special guest speakers on Thursday and Saturday nights and a Tim Hawkins concert on Friday night.

So, what were my “take-aways?” Well, for starters…a whole bunch of literature books, a state history curriculum, a Latin program, and my girls’ birthday gifts – beautiful, hand-sewn pioneer dresses they will absolutely adore – none of which I actually intended to buy. I don’t regret any of my purchases – I adjusted my budget to make it all work – but I did learn an important lesson for next time: I need to make a list of what I might want and be smart about money, but I also need to be willing to consider new resources and allow a little cushion in the budget for unexpected finds.

I also learned that it’s possible to know a lot about homeschooling and still learn more. I was only able to attend a handful of seminars, but I walked out of each one with new knowledge about child development, the learning process, curriculum options, or my own strengths and weaknesses. I can only imagine how much I’d have learned if I’d been able to attend every seminar I circled in my program. When I was a public school teacher, we had to attend regular “inservice training,” much of it frustrating because administrators mandated the topics, most of which were not relevant to my classroom situation. What a contrast at GHC, though, where I was in charge of what training I sought, and I could make direct application with my kids as soon as I got home.

Finally, I discovered the joy of being surrounded by like-minded folks. I’m active in a rather large homeschool association in my community, but it’s still easy at times to feel isolated as one of only 200 homeschooling moms in a city of 100,000 souls. So at the convention I reveled in the fact that everyone there valued homeschooling, and I loved realizing that I had much in common with every person in the exhibit hall, conference rooms, and hotel elevators. And I came home feeling more confident than ever that my call is to homeschool my kids through to adulthood.

Granted, GHC events are the biggest of all the conventions, and the Cincinnati venue is the largest of GHC’s events. So other conventions may not boast quite the quantity of vendors, speakers, and fellow homeschoolers. But I know from talking with friends who’ve attended other events that they’ve been blessed and encouraged by their experiences, too. And now that I’ve been there myself, I’ve come to the conclusion that attending a convention of some sort every few years would be very good for every homeschooling mom.

 

Tina Hollenbeck and her husband Jeff are raising two daughters and have another waiting for them in the arms of Jesus. Tina cherishes her role as at-home wife and mother and advocates passionately for homeschooling. She writes regularly for her blog, Being Made New, as well as several other venues, and also serves as staff writer for Celebrate Kids, Inc. She’s the coordinator of The Educational Freedom Coalition, a new informational website for homeschoolers, and she’s developing a public speaking ministry. She is available to address homeschoolers, women’s groups, and young people on a variety of topics. In her spare time, Tina enjoys singing on her church’s worship team, exercising, and scrapbooking.

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Last week the girls wanted to get out the play dough, and I like to give them different odds and ends to create with.  For this play session I gave them Popsicle sticks and buttons. A bit of time passed and she called me over to see her creation – The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

After my husband took some photos, I was struck by how creative our girls really are because they have time to play and time to use their imagination. I realized that kids who have to go to school each day are being pushed from thing to thing to thing without the chance to stop and create.

I have worked part time for my church for the last 7 years running a mentorship program in an elementary school. The kids have to line up, go in class, listen to the teacher, do the same worksheet, line up, go to the bathroom, back to class, line up, go to lunch, go to PE, line up, go back to class, and everyone does the same coloring sheet or craft. Then they pack up their backpacks and go home to do their homework and start all over the next day. From everything I have witnessed, they are on the move from thing to thing or just sitting in class listening because there are so many students to teach. Students used to have art as part of their week, but more and more districts are cutting that because they say they lack funding.

Since I only have 2 students we can finish our official school quickly. That gives our girls so much time to play together and to do the crafts and other activities I offer up throughout the day. They are free to run around outside and pretend their play set is a hotel, the Batcave, a hospital, Target, or anything else.  Since they have so much free time compared to other kids their age, I have found that time to play leads to their huge imaginations! This is something I never would have expected when we started to homeschool, but it is so beautiful to watch.

Louanne lives in Texas with her awesome husband and two daughters. She loves Jesus, cookies, reading and scrapbooking (when she has time). She homeschools and also runs a mentorship program for at risk children through her church. Louanne also enjoys finding coupon deals, making gifts with her Cricut and Taste of Home cookbooks. Louanne blogs at www.dwimble.com.

Read more articles from Louanne.

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Oh how I thought I might lose my mind after an hour and a half of math and only on problem #5 of…50! Yes, that’s right, he had been sitting at his desk for an hour and a half and was only on problem #5.  I was only 23 years old, had little experience with teaching, and was equipped only with my love for him. Was it enough to be successful at homeschooling my special needs child?

The school’s best recommendation was to medicate my ADHD child.

Earlier that year since we had just moved, I thought maybe things would be different at our new duty station. Maybe the problem wasn’t our son. I was hoping it was the other school. No such luck. The experience was the same. He’d rather just sit there than do his work–sometimes disrupting the other kids. It’s not that he was a bad kid; he just couldn’t focus. Of course I felt horrible. I could see that the current mold for public school just wasn’t working for him and that he needed extra discipline.

This is a photo of my son and me together just as he reached kindergarten age. I had no idea of the road ahead.

Being an inexperienced mom, I really believed that the experts knew what they were talking about or that at least they should. At first I gave that a chance. The best solution from the schools was to medicate my child. He was on Ritalin for a year. While it did have the effect of  better performance, I began to see side effects that concerned me deeply. He couldn’t sleep or eat, he was losing weight, and he was reacting to minor stress and fears inappropriately for his age. To make matters worse, when he came off the medication he was wild to say the least.

Experts don’t know everything about your ADHD child.

Sad but true, it seemed all the schools cared about was classroom management. They did not love my child the way I did. I wanted my child to succeed, but I also wanted him to be healthy. So I decided to take him off medication and homeschool once more. I can literally remember sitting  in the psychiatrist’s office as he basically told us that if we didn’t medicate our child, he would never feel successful. But something inside me knew there had to be another way. Now keep in mind there was not yet much research on ADHD. This was about 13 years ago! I had to believe in myself and trust my heart that I could do this!

That’s when the real journey started. I began to educate myself and learn about other forms and methods of education from Charlotte Mason to Classical. I read books on Attention Deficit Disorder and talked to other homeschoolers about their curriculum. I learned by trial and error what worked for us and what didn’t. Eventually I was able to design the learning goals and curriculum to meet his needs and interests while setting the right pace. As I adapted my methods, things became less stressful. It wasn’t perfect by any means. In fact, it was especially tough because I had so much to learn.

Homeschooling my ADHD child was the right decision.

Looking back now it’s easy to see that homeschooling was the right decision. I had the right reasons for homeschooling him. It really ensured that he didn’t fall through the cracks. The extra time I spent working with him one-on-one required him to do the appropriate amount of work. We could take extra time on areas where he needed work and accentuate his gifted areas too! The time I gave him showed him how much I cared. I was able to discipline him and apply consistent behavioral modification methods. Over time he was able to develop life skills essential for success.

Later on I realized he was exceptionally smart and gifted. It was hard to see that right off because to me he was just the way he was. In fact, had he never been in public school, I probably would have never known he was “ADHD.” The symptoms would have been there…the inattention, impulsive behaviors, and struggle to follow through with tasks will always be there.  But to me he was always just a typical boy.

It’s hard to believe that so long ago I worried for the future.

Today my ADHD child is a college graduate who got his BS in Network Security in 2.5 years and is feeling quite successful on his own. I am not saying that it wasn’t a struggle at times; it certainly was. Some days were just bad ones where we really didn’t get a lot accomplished. On those days the lessons were about love, patience, family, and accepting imperfection in our lives. But learning that I was the biggest expert on my own kids, because I love them, that was the lesson I learned! I may not have a degree or certificate saying that I succeeded. And I don’t know everything. I made lots of mistakes along the way. But everything turned out OK because that’s where the love part came to the rescue. I will never regret those days of struggle, the times I feared it wouldn’t be enough and the days when I just wanted to give up!

Homeschooling a special needs child is tough. But it is possible if you are willing to work hard, be dedicated, and balance your personal life with the responsibility you have taken on. It’s hard to see 10 years ahead how it will all turn out. Be flexible, seek resources to aid you, and believe in yourself! Hang in there mom of an ADHD kid. You CAN  do it! And later on it will have all been worth it.

Stephanie has been a military spouse for 17 years and has homeschooled for 11. She is mom to three creative kids from college grad down to third grade. Her homeschool style is eclectic with Charlotte Mason and classical influences. She and her husband of 21 years serve and live wherever the US Army sends them. When she isn’t teaching, writing or moving she enjoys sightseeing, gardening, and cooking. Visit Stephanie on her blogs, Harrington Harmonies & Nature Notebook and on Facebook, Twitter & Pinterest.

Sweetly Creative provides digital products such as party collections, stationery, labels and wrappers for treats and more! I began this company just over a year ago in the midst of raising two young children and with our third on the way! While I certainly had my hands full, this shop has been a wonderful creative outlet and gives me in some small way the opportunity to help others make their event or thoughtful gift extra special! I’ve even had a few clients send me pictures with the products in use and it always brings a smile to my face! I love to see how creative people can be! Plus Pinterest is always there to help inspire!

Here are some examples of items you will find at Sweetly Creative . . .

Feel free to come visit Sweetly Creative and take a look around! In addition, use the code HHM10 during May to receive 10% off!

I hope you all have a blessed day!

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Sweetly Creative Giveaway

Ready to spruce up your next party with beautiful summer sunflowers? One Hip Homeschool Moms reader will win the Printable Sunflower Party Collection from Sweetly Creative!

The Sunflower Party Collection is a great way to celebrate birthdays, showers, luncheons and more! These items are ready to print, cut out and brighten the day!

The Sunflower Party Collection includes:

• 2.5″ Cupcake Toppers – Can also be used to make stickers & tags!
• Full Alphabet and Numbers (0-10) for Banners – Simply print the letters and numbers you need.
• Thank You Gift Tags
• Cupcake Wrappers
• Water Bottle Wrappers
• “Welcome to the Party” & “Happy Birthday” Signs
• Flags

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I understand completely.

I’m just finishing up my second year of homeschooling, so I’m hardly an expert.  However, I do know a lot about starting to homeschool and all of the questions that go along with that. It can be a mind-boggling, faith-testing, relationship-straining time.  If we could sit out on the porch with a glass of sweet tea, here’s what I would want to share with you:

Learning some geography during our second year – proving that we did survive that first year!

• You don’t have to be super-organized.  Somehow there seems to be a myth that all homeschoolers have this innate ability to maintain perfect homes, create elaborate lesson plans, keep meticulous records, cook delicious and nutritious meals (three times a day), and meet all the wife descriptions of Proverbs 31 and Song of Solomon.  We bloggers can be the most guilty of perpetuating such a myth. Yes, you should do your work as unto the Lord, and yes, some sort of planning and/or record-keeping method is very helpful (here’s mine – very basic), but please let go of this feeling of inadequacy.

• Don’t worry about choosing the wrong curriculum.  I can promise you this: something you choose for your child will not be a good fit.  The beauty of homeschooling is that you don’t have to stick with it!  Give it a good, honest shot first, but if it’s just not working, move on.  Especially at the beginning, I would recommend trying to see different ones in person before purchasing.  Ask other homeschool Moms if you can take a peek at what they are using, get honest answers about how much time is involved, and then be honest with yourself about how much time and money you have and are willing to spend.

• Homeschoolers come in all shapes and sizes.  We’re not all Duggars.  I have such admiration for the Duggars and other families like them, but I knew that wasn’t me.  I like to wear capri pants, I have short hair, and my husband and I do not feel called to have a busload of children.  Honestly, I was afraid I just wouldn’t fit in with other homeschoolers.  I was pleasantly surprised to find such a wide range of homeschool Moms!  I know Moms who wear denim jumpers and others who wear skinny jeans.  You don’t have to stop being “you” to homeschool.

• You may be surprised by who supports your decision – and who doesn’t.  You will quickly discover that you are making what others consider to be a radical choice.  This can be especially daunting when you are already feeling unsure about your decision.  My mother and my mother-in-law are both retired public school teachers.  One thinks homeschooling is great; the other is … doubtful.  Both opinions are based on their own experiences and understanding, and both are well-intentioned.  Don’t be surprised if this produces some unforeseen conflicts, and approach them prayerfully.

• You probably won’t love every minute of it – and that’s OK.  Another myth about homeschool Moms is that we all just love being with our kids all.day.long.  While there may be a few who genuinely feel that way, most of us need a break from time to time.  I am a classic introvert and being around people all the time (even people whom I love dearly) wears me out.  I have to carve out alone time during the day, even if it’s just a few minutes here and there.  Find what works for you.  Also, be prepared that transitioning to having them home all the time if it hasn’t been that way previously will require a time of adjustment on everyone’s part.  Don’t panic if you’re not all one big, happy family by the end of the first week!  Pray, proceed with caution, and give it time.

• Just try it!  It won’t be the end of the world if it doesn’t work out, and you will not have ruined your child’s education.  I promise.  I do strongly suggest committing to one full year so you won’t quit at the first bump in the road because there will be bumps.  Just remember that you have the option to tweak things along the way.  Pray, and try different schedules.  Pray, and try different activities.  Pray, and try again.

Other homeschool Moms who also know the trepidation of just starting out, what other advice would you add?

Laura Baggett is a college math professor learning to teach first grade and preschool at home with her two favorite students. She and her husband, David, have moved 13 times in not quite 15 years of marriage. When she’s not homeschooling, teaching math online, or feeding her addiction to Facebook, she writes about her adventures at Bloom Where You’re Planted.

In the last two books of the series, we walk through the lives of Carrie, Rosie and Grandma (and other family members). The girls are the kind of girls that you want your daughters to spend time with and play. They are bright, courteous and are not afraid to share their faith, which is what they do in Clothed With Thunder.

From the beginning of the book, when the girls hear a presentation in their 4-H group about the evolution of the horse, you get a feel for the strength of the characters and their values, with Rosie’s desire to make a rebuttal. At the suggestion of their mother, the girls make it their project for the next 4-H meeting to prove that God created horses and that they did not evolve. Although the project is Carrie’s and Rosie’s, their family members offer suggestions giving the reader a sense of how the family works and encourages each other.

Lily has been enjoying the Sonrise Stable series and I like the fact that I do not have to worry about the content of the books she is reading. Vicki Watson, who is the author of the series, introduces her readers to a loving, Christian family. There is respect for each other and you can tell that the children are loved by their parents.

There are currently four books in the series. You may read a review of the first two books from Heidi here at Hip Homeschool Moms. Watson has brought to life in her books several characters, who are based on real-life people she has known. Those even include her three homeschooled daughters who are all graduates. The character of the grandmother is based on Watson herself. The stories she tells are based on personal experiences and the people she has met while growing up and her work with horses. Readers not only get insight into Watson’s life, but also know that the interaction with the horses is accurate.

Horses, Christian family values and children who are just like mine (homeschoolers) make this series a good find for my daughter (and me). You are just in time to jump on board as book five in the series is expected sometime in the future.

The Sonrise Stable series books are available as physical copies or as e-books. Learn more at the Sonrise Stable website and on the Facebook page.

Although Jennifer now lives in Small Town, USA on the southern part of the map, she will always remain a California girl. She is a Christian, wife and homeschool mother, who has been blessed with three beautiful children (a.k.a. the ‘Wild Bunch’). Her homeschool style is still being determined and Jennifer is just thankful that she and her children are able to stay-at-home and learn together. Jennifer is a writer, who enjoys reading (as do her children), running, too much time on the computer, sewing and taking lots and lots of pictures (just ask her children). She is also a lover of food and can be found in her kitchen whipping up something delicious and vegetarian. Oh, she never forgets dessert. Visit Jennifer at Milk & Honey Mommy, Facebook, Twitter.

Sonrise Stable Giveaway

We’re excited to be giving away a Sonrise Stable Prize Pack this week! The prize pack includes Sonrise Stable Books 1-4 and a fun t-shirt that your horse lover is sure to love.

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Homeschool Moms: Have fun entering all the great giveaways listed here this week!

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**Note:  There are many advantages of homeschooling – far more than I discuss in this post, but for today, I am focusing on the unique advantages experienced by those specifically with an only child.

Here are 6 advantages of homeschooling a singleton:

1.  Undivided attention

It’s just you and your child, homeschooling each day.  Since it’s just the two of you; you aren’t forced to balance time between homeschooling multiple kids, feeding the baby, and washing the fifth load of laundry that day.  If your child needs help, your are there to step in.  If he wants to study planets, you drop your previous lesson plans and, instead, head to the library to pick up books on the subject and check the hours at the local planetarium.  You are right there watching him learn, and enjoying every “light bulb” moment with a front-and-center seat.

2.  Extra time for extra activities

We go on field trips.  A lot.  In fact, I build “field trip day” into our weekly schedule.  Since we have only one child, we are not having to share time nor resources between multiple children.  This frees us up that If my son wants to visit a state park to study bird migration patterns for a few days, I don’t have to worry about working it around brother’s baseball practice nor sister’s piano lessons.  Our time is not constrained.  Instead, I listen to his interests.  I want to make sure he gets to see, do, and experience everything he wants to learn about, and since we are not having to juggle multiple schedules, we can afford to spend the time to do these activities.

3.  Fewer financial costs

I admit it… I’m a curriculum junkie.  It’s the cost of buying all of the curriculum that eats through our wallets.  Luckily, with only one child, you only have to buy one set of curriculum each year. I can’t image the costs that I would incur buying curriculum for more than one child.  On the other hand, when you only have one child, you can also consider some of the more pricey curriculum options, which is not always an option if you have a larger family.

4. No comparisons among siblings

When I was growing up, I always wanted to be the best.  I wanted to be the best student, performer, and athlete.  But, my older brother always beat me in sports.  And my younger brother was a natural comedian. I, on the other hand, doubted my abilities, because all I did was continuously compare myself (and my shortcomings) with them.  One advantage of homeschooling an only child is that your child doesn’t compare himself to his siblings.  There’s no worrying whether Suzie is going to pass Billy’s reading ability, or two brothers striving to outshine the other.  With an only child, he gets to move at his own pace and working through his own set of challenges – no comparisons, no competition, just learning at his own tempo.

5. Close relationship with the child

My son is a mama’s boy. In fact, he’s a daddy’s boy as well.  He relies heavily on both of us to be there for him.  And, honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. He needs those close relationship with us, at least during this time in his life.  What I love is his honesty, openness, and willingness to share just about about everything with us. When he has a question, he asks.  When he’s worried, he shares his his deepest concerns. I adore that he has no problems snuggling up next to me to share his deepest concerns. I don’t know if this is the same for families with more children, but in our household, it is a bond that I treasure!

6. Less planning and administrative duties

When I was a teacher, I loathed grading papers.  It took up so much time, yet was necessary to give the student feedback.  Now that we homeschool, I’ve found that lesson planning and grading papers can take up large chunks of time as well.  I can’t imagine how difficult this must be for larger families. With an only child, you only have to create one set of lesson plans, remember where one child stopped last week for history, review forgotten math topics with one child, and grade one set of papers.  Whew, one set of each of these is about all that I can handle; I’m so glad we only have one!

So, what advantages of homeschooling an only child have you experienced?  Which point above resonates the most with you?  I’d love to hear what you think!

Leann is a homeschooling mama of an over-active 6 year old, proud wife of a cop, and pet lover of their two dogs, frogs, turtles – and cricket. Her blog, Montessori Tidbits, chronicles their homeschooling journey, while throwing in tidbits about life, reviews, and recipes. Prior to being a stay-at-home mom, Leann taught math at a public high school for high achieving students. She and her family currently reside in the middle Tennessee area.

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