I’ve been quiet this summer. Actually, I’ve been quiet since spring.
The truth is, this has been a season of transformation for us, as we’ve been faced with some decisions that, at first seemed tough, and then, gradually, as we looked harder, read more, and learned to trust our guts, became simple, clear and obvious.
We are now, officially, home educators.
We aren’t calling it homeschooling (though, technically it is), as our plans do not include much of anything that resembles schooling in the traditional sense. There will be no bells, no set times, no set curriculum, no ‘learning only takes place during these hours and months’.
I’ve sat quietly on our decision because I’m not an expert on this, and there is so much that we are still sorting through and figuring out. Sure, my degree is in elementary education, but I don’t believe that makes me any more qualified to teach my children than anyone else.
I am a parent though, and what I do have is a sense of who my children are. How they learn. What they are fascinated with and by. What their dreams are.
That gives me confidence. No one knows them better than me, nor does anyone want to see them be happy now, and in the future, more than us.
Today would be their first day of 8th, 6th, 3rd and 2nd grades. Instead, we all eased into our morning, put on play clothes and went outside to learn, observe and have fun.
