We are thankful to Eva and Peter M. for both sharing their thoughts with us. They have been homeschooling four years. They have 4 children and 1 on the way.
The best thing about homeschooling is...
Eva: ...being in control of my children's education.
Peter: ...What? You mean my wife is homeschooling the kids?
The biggest challenge of homeschooling is...
Eva: ...not getting carried away by all the available homeschool materials.
Peter: ...paying for all the curricular materials.
The best teaching tip I ever heard was...
Eva: ...that rhythm is strength.
Peter: ...let your wife do it.
I regain my perspective and sense of humor by...
Eva: ...talking to my husband.
Peter: ...er, um, talking to my wife.
Running the homeschool goes better when I ...
Eva: ...follow my schedule.
Peter: ...go work in my office.
The spiritual exercise or devotion that is most helpful to me is...
Eva: ...following the liturgical year with its songs, stories, and prayers, and relating it to what is happening in nature.
Peter: ...listening to a Bach chorale.
The best advice I ever got was...
Eva: ...not to be afraid of making mistakes, and to learn along with your children.
Peter: ...let your wife do it.
When I am having a bad day, I...
Eva: ...try to get some time for myself. If that's impossible, I make myself a cup of tea or coffee or take a nap.
Peter: ...go work in my office.
When I am about to lose my temper, I...
Eva: ...check what I could do better to change the situation.
Peter: ...check what Eva could do better to change the situation.
I help my children to make memories with...
Eva: ...traditions and making a scrapbook of our school year.
Peter: ...admiring comments about their scrapbooks.
Our children have taught us...
Eva: ...living in the present moment.
Peter: ...never to say, "I've learned so much from my children."
The best thing about homeschooling is...
Wow. There is so much I don't know if I can narrow it down to just one thing. Or even a few things. Having my children home with me is my greatest reward. I never liked the first day of school when I had to send them out of the home. I longed for vacations when I could have my children around me. Now I love teaching them, especially when one is struggling with a subject and I see the light go on. They love it because they can take their time understanding something. My fifth grader especially loves this. She always struggled in school and thought she was dumb because she couldn't grasp things as quickly as the other students. We go at her pace and because with each success she feels smarter, she is getting things quicker and quicker.
Most of all, I can teach my children everyday about our faith. Sometimes when I stop to teach one of them one of the concepts of our faith, they all stop to listen. Each one hears what they need to hear and I think to myself, "This never would have happened if they were in school". Lastly, I have personal contact with each one of them everyday. Sometimes we snuggle when we read or do math. This is a blessing because we have a large family and now I can touch base with each one of them everyday.
The biggest challenge of homeschooling is...
Teaching all the different grade levels. Sometimes the older grades suffer because I have to work with the younger ones. Also finding time to do housework. I am blessed because I do have older children who help with this and since bringing the younger ones home they are learning to help out too. My lecture about St. Therese and her little way has had a profound effect on my homeschoolers. John Paul, my fourth grader really took it to heart and cleans up without my asking all the time now.
The best teaching tip I ever heard was...
Even if you can't get to anything else, have them read! My children are finally getting to the point where they choose to read! I love books, and I have been a voracious reader since the age of 4. I have been disappointed that my children had not picked up this same love. Now they will pick up a book while waiting for me to help them. This has helped them with spelling, vocabulary, and has opened up their minds about reading.
I regain my perspective and sense of humor by...
Talking with my spiritual mother. She helps me to see how far I have come and we laugh about the things that are silly and unimportant. I am very blessed because I am in contact with her on a daily basis so she really helps me a lot.
Running the homeschool goes better when I ...
Go easy on myself. I have to remind myself why we are homeschooling and not get down on myself if some subjects take longer than others. Or if I don't get to a certain child on that day. I haven't failed.
The spiritual exercise or devotion that is most helpful to me is...
ADORATION. Quiet time in front of the Lord works wonders for my soul. I also do morning and evening prayer, and my chaplet at 3.
The best advice I ever got was...
Remember why you are homeschooling. Saints, not scholars.
When I am having a bad day, I...
Take a mental health day. We put the books away and watch a movie. Or the kids play and I catch up with mindless activities like laundry or cleaning out the refrigerator.
When I am about to lose my temper, I...
Go into my kitchen, clutch my sink and pray to the Blessed Mother. My prayer now is that she can help me to be more like her, patient, gentle, and loving.
I help my children to make memories with...
Keeping traditions alive. There are certain things that we do every year and some things that we just started with homeschooling. I always made Christmas cookies, but now that we homeschool we all do them together. We have Christmas crafters night with my in laws every year for about 11 or 12 years now. We go to midnight Mass at the Mission on Christmas Eve. We have our Easter traditions, and our summer traditions. The children always feel like there is security because they have things they can count on to be the same in their lives.
I picture my children, someday after my husband and I have passed on, sitting around the table talking about their childhood. They will have so many great memories to share and they will have each other to share them with.
Our children have taught us...
That childhood goes quickly. Before you know it they are grown up and making decisions about their lives. Enjoy ever minute you have with them. Love them with all that you have in your heart, and hold them close to your heart. I have also learned that if you listen to them as little ones, even if their story goes on and on, they will talk to you about everything when they are teens.
My husband Dave, and I have been married for 18 years. We have 9 beautiful children here on earth and three in heaven. Our oldest, Emily Rose is 18 and a student at Canisius College. Our daughter Elizabeth Grace is 15 and a student at Holy Angels Academy. Our son Tyler Louis is almost 14 and a student at Christ The King School.
This is my second year homeschooling Jacob Gregory who is 12 and in seventh grade, Mary Jessica is 11 and in fifth grade, John Paul is 9 and in fourth grade, Joseph Daniel is 7 and in second grade. Amelia Therese is 4 and eager to learn, and Teresa Jean is 2.
We are a missionary family at St. Luke's Mission of Mercy for the past four years after volunteering there for five years.
We have been a part of Children of Mary for the last two years.
Paula R. shares these reflections:
The best thing about homeschooling is... being able to sing to my children all day.
The biggest challenge of homeschooling is... juggling the needs of everyone.
The best teaching tip I ever heard was... to treat homeschooling like a full time job. Would you take time from a job for errands, appointments, leisure activities, phone calls, etc.? (Thank you, Beth!)
I regain my perspective and sense of humor by... watching and listening to my children--especially the little ones.
Running the homeschool goes better when I... stay home.
The spiritual exercise or devotion that is most helpful to me is... I don't have a favorite. Any time prayer takes priority, I am at peace.
The best advice I ever got was... do the best you can with what God gave you. He does not call us to be successful, but faithful. (Bl. Mother Theresa)
When I am having a bad day, I... try to figure out why. Usually, I am just overloaded-doing too much again. I unload by prioritizing, delegating, scheduling and saying, "No."
When I am about to lose my temper, I... start handing out writing assignments. My favorites are; any of the commandments (Honor you mother and father), any of the beatitudes (Blessed are the peacemakers,...), letters of apology, research papers ("Mom, I didn't know....."), bible verses ("If a man shall not work, he shall not eat.") and vocabulary words (for any poorly chosen language).
I help my children to make memories with... traditions, pictures and lots of family fun time.
Our children have taught us... patience, humility and sacrifice.