Steady Mom

reasons to homeschool

Last month I recorded a podcast with my good friend and colleague Tsh Oxenreider of Simple Mom.

We asked readers what they wanted to hear us chat about, and lots of the questions ended up being about homeschooling. So if you'd like to hear why Tsh and I homeschool, and how we organize our days, and crazy stuff, like whether or not to teach math, come on over and take a listen!

We also talk about Mindset for Moms, and why I wrote it, and what I hope readers will feel after reading it. And we touch on adoption, making a difference in the world, as well as silly things like the skill I'd most like to learn if I could. (If you haven't known me since middle school, you'll probably be surprised by this one.)

So gather your laundry, download, and listen in! (It's about an hour total.) Thanks and I hope you enjoy it!

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life as an interracial family

It's almost Elijah's 7th birthday. This time of year always cracks me up because it means that for about a month and a half, until Trishna's birthday in May, I have two children of the same age and one just a year ahead.

So this year I'll have an eight-year-old and two seven-year-olds. As if that wasn't unique enough, our family has four nationalities represented in our five person family: England, US, Liberia, and India.

As if that wasn't unique enough, we have three races represented in our family. As if that wasn't unique enough, we homeschool, too. We probably should get matching t-shirts that say, "weird family approaching."

So what's it like being in this interracial, interesting family?

Here's a snapshot.

- When I go somewhere with the children, people are just as likely to assume I run a daycare as they are to assume that these are my children. When we moved last fall, I was shocked to find out that our garbage truck workers (who we knew on a first name basis, due to the kids' love of trucks) who had known us for almost SIX years, still thought I ran an at-home daycare.

- My children are pretty much the same height, weight, and wear the same size clothes.

- Life feels like a daycare at times! With everyone interested in mostly the same thing at the same moment, sometimes I tell Steve I've spent the day doing "herd control."

- Imagine the typical young child's love of potty humor and silliness - and times that by THREE. Do the same with the amount of sibling bickering and disputes that need settling.

- Steve and I still have plenty of nights, after we've gotten everyone to bed, when we look at each other with one of those, "What were we thinking?" looks.

a silly Jonathan pose on his recent "America Day" celebration

But oh, is there another side of the story:

- Playmates and best friends that you live with all the time.

- Three kids at the same age and stage is a blessing in our homeschool - everyone learning and progressing around the same level together.

- That argument against homeschooling I sometimes hear, that it doesn't expose children to diversity, really doesn't apply in our case. (smile.)

- Three children at the same age, as everyone gets older, makes travel and other dreams of ours much easier and more practical to fulfill.

- When it works, when imaginative play sparks and creativity happens, it works really, really well.

- I get three times the enthusiasm, three times the kisses, and three times the "I love you's."

Oh yes, call me weird, different, or unique any day. Because the other thing you'll have to call me is blessed.

Extremely, wouldn't-change-it-for-the-world, blessed.

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the power of one day

Photo by promanex

One day is enough to change everything, isn't it?

In one day, we go from one season to the next.

In one day, from darkness to light.

In one day, we shed layers of cloth and accept layers of sunlight instead.

In one day, we say goodbye to the old. Hello to the new.

One day is enough to change us into parents, to accept a marriage proposal, to start a blog, to have a literary agent say yes after years of rejection, to risk it all, to take a first step toward mission and purpose and dreams.

If you're in a season of winter, my sweet friend, just remember this: It only takes one day to make a spring begin.

Wherever you find yourself today, keep heading in the right direction. In the blink of an eye, all can change. Though night seems long and growth doesn't seem evident, night becomes sunrise in an instant.

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Which season of motherhood are you in?

With spring's arrival, I've been contemplating the importance of the seasons in both nature as well as our lives as mothers.

So which season of motherhood do you think you're in?

Winter - Dark, hard to see growth, long nights

Spring - Growth beginning to bud and blossom, longer days, more light

Summer - Fullness of life in all its glory, Abundance and beauty

Fall - Maturity, learning to let go, the old dropping away to make way for the new

These seasons sometimes coincide with the ages of our children. But sometimes they fluctuate based on our own growth, needs (& sleep levels, perhaps?!): one day spring, one day winter.

I find myself in spring as a mother: seeing beauty and light in many areas of life, but also nurturing hopes for continued growth to blossom and burst forth--character growth in my kids, in myself, as well as professional growth, too.

What season are you in today as a mom? I'm leaving comments open today so we can talk about it! (And because I've missed being able to say hi--so let's chat!)

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