Homeschooling Family Interview: Kim


Kim is a California girl and lives with her family on a 10 acre farm. They have a lovely cream-colored Himalayan cat...

1. How long have you been homeschooling (or if finished, how long did you homeschool)?

I have been homeschooling my eleven-year-old daughter since birth. She is a single child.

2. One of the main benefits of homeschooling is the freedom and flexibility it allows. Can you give us a few examples of how this freedom and flexibility benefited you (your family)?

My daughter was an early reader (at age three.) We didn’t have to wait until formal schooling began to indulge her love of learning. Also, my husband’s work commute takes him away from home from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every weekday, and sometimes on Saturdays. If my daughter had to get up and go to school at 8:30 a.m. every morning, she would be in bed before her father got home, and would never see him in the morning, either! Homeschooling gives us the flexibility of nighttime hours together as a family, without hours of homework or early bedtimes to interfere. If we want to get up in the morning to keep him company, we can always go back to bed and catch another forty winks!

3. Another benefit of homeschooling is the fun factor. Can you give us a few examples of some especially fun times you had as a result of homeschooling?

Field trips spring to mind for the answer to this question. We’ve gone to the Grand Canyon, combined with a Phoenix resort in September, when everyone is back in school, and we practically had the whole place to ourselves! We take advantage of weekday “homeschool” days at amusement parks, movies on a Tuesday afternoon, non-existent ski lift lines on a Wednesday, and even trips to Costco on a Thursday late morning when their samples are hot and fresh, and no one else is in line to eat them!

4. We all have funny experiences while homeschooling. Can you share one of yours with us?

When my daughter was three years old, and in the throes of fingerpainting joys, she decided one day that our Himalayan (cream-colored) cat wasn’t fancy enough. Thus, she proceeded to paint lovely, swirly patterns of blue and purple all over him - with which, of course, he eagerly complied because someone was paying attention to him! Fortunately, it was water-soluble, so we were able to bathe it off him without too much difficulty.

Homeschooling Family Interview: Peg







Peg and I don't know how to explain it, but when it comes to effective learning opportunities for homeschoolers, few things work better than cars and restaurants.

1. How long have you been homeschooling (or if finished, how long did you homeschool)?

I homeschooled my youngest daughter for three years.

2. One of the main benefits of homeschooling is the freedom and flexibility it allows. Can you give us a few examples of how this freedom and flexibility benefited you (your family)?

Oh, I loved the fact that I could come and go as I pleased. If I needed to go shopping, run errands, or keep appointments, I'd just have my daughter grab her backpack with her lesson papers and a book or two and off we'd go. Some of our best lesson discussions were held in our van or over lunch at our favorite restaurant. But for me the best part of it was when we went on field trips and could stay to our heart's content, nobody's schedule but our own!


3. Another benefit of homeschooling is the fun factor. Can you give us a few examples of some especially fun times you had as a result of homeschooling?


I can't remember a field trip that wasn't fun, but I must say the most fun was had on park days when we could just cut loose and enjoy ourselves and the company of other homeschoolers who appreciated the lifestyle.

Debbie Arrested Again?


I'm just trying to get the freelance writing thing going, that's all. I'm just trying to do the best I can to find ways to boost my creativity so why are policemen always getting in my way? Find out what happened in my guest post at freelancewriterville.

Homeschooling Family Interview: Meg


Meg happens to be one of those homeschooling moms who started homeschooling with a bit of apprehension. But now it sounds like she's really enjoying the ride. If you want to read more about her family life, she has a blog and it's appropriately named Get In, Hang On.

1. How long have you been homeschooling?

We fell into homeschooling our older child in the fall of '99. We had just moved to Indiana and there was NOTHING like the small private secular school he had been attending in California. He was entering 4th grade and after three years of classes of 10 kids and the same teacher, we thought that a public school classroom would be a bit of a shock.
I wasn't very keen with the idea, and filled my husband's ear with reasons why I couldn't do it. Lucky for us that private school he had been a student in was very helpful and supportive because we "started" right after we moved and were still living in temporary housing. I had no idea what I was doing.

He graduated high school last year (homeschooled all the way through) and is now a freshman in college.

Our younger child was entering Kindergarten when we moved and since we weren't really sold on homeschooling, we enrolled her in the public school. She lasted 2 years and came home in the fall of 2001. She's now in high school and continues to be homeschooled.


2. One of the main benefits of homeschooling is the freedom and flexibility it allows. Can you give us a few examples of how this freedom and flexibility benefited you (your family)?

I guess the freedom and flexibility has benefited us in three ways.

First, my husband's job includes some travel and we have been able to join him on most of it. Most of the travel involves him going to conferences and so while he is busy in meetings, the kids and I explore the area. This has allowed us to spend weeks learning the history and culture of places like: Washington D.C., New Orleans, Atlanta, San Diego, Maui, San Francisco, and Montreal.

At one point he had to go to New Mexico for a year and we all went with him. Because we were homeschooling, even though our son was in high school, the year did not require us to worry about transferring credits back to his school from another state.

Second, over the years we have had some health and personal issues impact our lives and the fact that we decide how and when "school" happens has allowed us to respond to the issues without falling behind. Whether it was as simple as taking a few days off to deal with a funeral or taking a three month break because of a massive seasonal allergy flare-up (in New Mexico). When we were ready to refocus on education, we could pick up where we left off.

And lastly, the freedom has allowed the kids to have control over what they wanted to study. It's made us jump through some hoops making it happen, but they have had the chance to explore topics and tangents as it's appealed to them.


3. Another benefit of homeschooling is the fun factor. Can you give us a few examples of some especially fun times you had as a result of homeschooling?

Where do I begin? I guess most of our "fun times" happen within the context of our homeschool group.

One year, our group did some overnight trips - Chicago and then St. Louis - and we all stayed in the hotel together.

The last two years we staged full length Shakespeare plays.

And it's great when we actually get enough snow to sled (MAYBE once a year) and someone calls for us all to go sledding together. Watching a group of 2 dozen kids of all ages sled is a lot of fun (though cold).

We also enjoy going to the family homeschooling conference in Chicago and realizing that there are 600 to 700 homeschooled kids running around for your kids to meet and get to know.


4. We all have funny experiences while homeschooling. Can you share one of yours with us?

Funny, instead of fun. Shoot, I know they happen, but I'm afraid that I can't think of anything in particular.

Homeschooling Family Interview: Lynette


Lynette enjoys homeschooling her family but sometimes the art projects get a bit out of hand. She told me she will pass on more stories if she gets a chance and I don't know about you, but I certainly hope she does.

1. How long have you been homeschooling (or if finished, how long did you homeschool)?

I'm halfway through year 8.

2. One of the main benefits of homeschooling is the freedom and flexibility it allows. Can you give us a few examples of how this freedom and flexibility benefited you (your family)?

My husband works a retail job. His hours are inconsistent and vary from day to day. His one day off a week is on a weekday. Sometimes he works a 1-11 shift. If my kids were in a traditional school environment, they would only see their dad a few days a week. With homeschooling, we can make their day off coincide with his.
Also, there is freedom to find just the right curriculum materials for each child. One size never fits all, so most home schoolers spend several years in experimenting before they find the right resources. Just when they find it though, the child's needs change and they are off on the hunt for a good fit again. With a traditional school, someone who has never met your kid chooses what they feel might work for the majority of the kids. Then the school is stuck with that choice - good or bad - for up to 7 years.

Homeschoolers take more field trips that relate to the educational subject at hand. We hit almost every museum and see opportunity for learning around every corner.


3. Another benefit of homeschooling is the fun factor. Can you give us a few examples of some especially fun times you had as a result of homeschooling?

We have many fun times. Whether it is time spent building tesselations on the floor for hours or painting each family member's feet and walking across a huge rolled out piece of paper for "F" week.

We've mummified a chicken and buried it complete with sarcoghagus.

We've eaten food from around the globe and across the ages. I mean, you can't learn about sailor explorers without baking a batch of hard tack, making your own jerky and drinking some lime juice. What good is a study about Australia without some Lamingtons? Canada without poutine?(French fries with brown gravy and cheese.)

My kids have discovered why blubber keeps a polar bear warm by wearing a blubber mitten.

We created our own plaid patterns for our Quinn clan with paint and fabric. You can still see the evidence of our plaid painting on our driveway.

We've hosted bubble festivals and played with dry ice.

We raised tadpoles until they were mature enough to hop away.

We've played games and spent time together. I've hosted other families with my yard filled with giant boxes and duct tape.

My kids have been allowed to be kids longer than public schooled kids. My son is 14 years old and is way into LEGOs. Homeschooled kids don't put down other homeschooled kids for being childlike, wearing their pants too short, not wearing designer clothes or having bed head in the mid-afternoon.


4. We all have funny experiences while homeschooling. Can you share one of yours with us?

I have more funny mom experiences and observations. They aren't so homeschool related, but I will share one for now....

My daughter has appointed herself as her little brother's preschool teacher. It's just that some of the things she teaches him are different than you would find in any curriculum. My daughter is by her nature from birth a messy, artsy, ball of gusto for life - kind of a cross between a Jack Russel Terrier and a mud pie. As a toddler if you gave her ketchup, it was paint. A strawberry on her high chair tray just begged to be squished within her fist - just for the experience of squishing it. No one has taught me to smile while gritting my teeth and counting to 20 better than this child. So, when bonus child number 3 came along and she announced she was going to be his preschool teacher, I smiled and said, "What a good big sister you are..." as a shiver ran up my spine.

One day bonus child #3 decided he wanted to paint. So I got him some paint and a paper and a brush. Well, it just wouldn't do for dear daughter not to paint as well, so she joined him as I smiled my gritted teeth smile and counted to 100.

Everything was fine until my son wiped his nose with a paint encrusted finger. It resulted in a little purple paint mustache. Dear daughter thought that was funny and added to his body paint with some decor of her own. Then he retaliated and soon his shirt was off and they were chasing each other around the room, paint in hair, on hands, splashed on the carpet - everywhere. All I could do was continue that labor and delivery breathing I had learned earlier in life while I searched for my camera and the carpet cleaning machine.

Homeschooling Family Interview: Becki

Today's interview comes from Becki. I think Becki is a potato chip lover and if you're smart, you won't make her stand in line to get some.

1. How long have you been homeschooling (or if finished, how long did you homeschool)?

We've homeschooled since fall of 1994, so that makes this our 15th year of homeschooling. Wow! The times flies when you're having fun (and when you're not, for that matter).

2. One of the main benefits of homeschooling is the freedom and
flexibility it allows. Can you give us a few examples of how this
freedom and flexibility benefited you (your family)?


Well, when we first began homeschooling my husband traveled for his job - a lot! Homeschooling allowed us to occasionally travel with him, but even when we stayed home it was nice to have flexibility in our schedules so the boys could enjoy spending time with their dad when he was home. When his scheduled flexed, ours flexed. We could take a day (or week) off school without getting special permission, or stay up late enjoying an activity together and not worry about being too tired in the morning. And a perfect snow day for us is when we go sledding on a fresh hill when the other kids are in school. ;^) We used to live in a subdivision built around a golf course and boy did we have some great sledding hills!

Freedom and flexibility have also been enjoyed in the area of academics. Our oldest was advanced academically and homeschooling allowed him to progress at his speed in whatever areas that interested him. He was a math whiz and taught himself to read before age 3. Really, traditional school wasn't even an option for him when he was old enough for Kindergarten.

By high school, he was enjoying participating in math competitions (and he even won a few ;^). Then, just as we were settling into our expectations that he would pursue a career in math, this son decided he enjoyed writing and he began creating a LOTR (Lord of the Rings) parody. He says he's embarrassed of it today, but I believe it was the freedom he had to spend hours writing it, sending installments to peers for their enjoyment and getting all sorts of kudos from people that served as the thing that encouraged him to keep on with it. His love for the written word was naturally nurtured in a way that a classroom setting couldn't possibly have done. By the time he graduated from high school he decided he wanted to pursue a career in writing and is now in a liberal arts college program studying the many aspects of professional writing - and we continue to be awed by his natural gift for the written word.

Another son had some learning issues early on and homeschooling has benefited him in that he, too, could progress at his own speed without the burden of negative labels he, no doubt, would have received had he been in a traditional school environment. High school for this son is looking very different than it did for our oldest, but we are just as much in awe of his natural bents as we were of his older brother's. This son enjoys having plenty of time to explore the mechanics of things - taking apart things that are broken and fixing them and sometimes fashioning new items altogether. Backyard Ballistics was written for this son. This son also enjoys sports and has always been involved somehow - this past year he was on a first-year homeschool soccer team in this area and he excelled.

For all our sons, we take advantage of non-traditional educational activities to learn valuable (and sometimes fun) skills and gain knowledge that will be useful both now and in their adult lives. I have enjoyed the freedom to determine when those activities qualify for credit on a high school transcript.

Some examples of these non-traditional learning activities have been:

The book my son wrote in 10th grade translated to a year's worth of English credit.

A 10-week clown class and subsequent involvement in clown ministry as well as participation in several significant dramas earned my son a credit in dramatic arts.

Our second son is a military history buff. He has watched hours of documentaries on military history and armament and has read many books and articles about different wars. He builds models of different military vehicles and exhibits them in 4-H (at least one went to State Fair). These are things he has done over the course of his highschool career and when I decide he's done enough, I will be granting him a year's worth of credit for Military History. Who knows how this particular study will benefit him some day? This son is also a natural musician and we love hearing him play his guitar for as long as he desires to. Having the time to work a part-time job enables this son to upgrade his instrument inventory when he wants to be challenged by something new.

Credit for Physical Education is granted through participation in many, many activities -- basketball, soccer, 4-H shooting sports, bowling, weight-lifting, golf, cycling, spelunking -- literally anything that exposes our sons to physical activities that they can enjoy into their adult lives.

Probably, the most important thing that I keep learning is that I must not dismiss a particular passion just because I can't tell today where a particular interest will lead. I continually remind myself to trust my sons' natural bents and inclinations believing that someday there will be a payoff for them that they were allowed to freely explore those things that interested them. Being lifelong learners isn't just a catchy slogan. It is the lifestyle of a homeschooler.


3. Another benefit of homeschooling is the fun factor. Can you give us a
few examples of some especially fun times you had as a result of
homeschooling?


Oh, I think going places together -- especially when the boys were younger (either with a homeschool group or just our family). Seyfert's potato chip factory in Ft. Wayne was a hoot. We've learned Indiana History not just by reading about it, but by traveling and visiting historical sites and living history museums when we can. When traveling west to South Dakota and Colorado to visit family, we took in historical sites along the way and seeing awesome landforms was a great experience for these flatlanders. Traveling south to Tennessee and visiting Civil War sites and the Chattanooga Aquarium was memorable. Even stopping into antique stores is an opportunity to learn about a different time period. And being able to do these things during off seasons greatly adds to the enjoyment factor for this family. No lines! We all know homeschoolers don't know how to stand in lines anyway - thankfully we're not tested on this skill very often.

Another great thing about homeschooling has been participating in our local homeschool group. Each year our group decides on a theme and we read books and engage in monthly activities to bring that theme to life. We've studied the Civil War, Christian Military Heroes, Jewish Feasts and Holidays, Pioneer Days, Inventors -- just to name a few. When studying Medieval times we enjoyed attending a dress rehearsal for a madrigal dinner put on by IU students - full dress, full props. Instead of mutton and wild game, we feasted on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches while the actors performed around us and drew us into the drama just as if we'd bought expensive tickets and been part of several hundred attending -- but we got so much more individual attention (and great pictures). But the most memorable event was probably meeting Steve Saint, son of slain missionary Nate Saint. He met with our group privately just a couple hours before he appeared with a Christian performer who supports his ministry. He shared with us very personally about his experience with the Waodani people in South America. It was awesome and life-changing -- and had we not had the ability to just take off on very short notice and drive to Bloomington (during a school day, no less), we would mostly likely have missed it.

Our boys participated in a Teen Service group during their Jr. High and Sr. High years. They have helped with a demolition project, raked leaves and shoveled snow for seniors and others who need the help, made casseroles and have done some house painting -- just as examples. They have had a LOT of fun serving others alongside their friends and making a positive impression of homeschooling in our community.

Even hard times are made better simply because we're all together and more focused than we could possibly be if the boys were in different places and on different time schedules. When my father was ill and dying, we spent countless hours over a period of several months driving the 30 minutes one way to go visit with him -- the boys often playing with fun things in the facility where he was cared for. We have some good memories of this time (and great pictures.) Had they been in a traditional school, it would have been impossible to spend the amount of quality time with Dad (Grandpa) that we did.


4. We all have funny experiences while homeschooling. Can you share one
of yours with us?


Oh, I don't know....we enjoy reminiscing about losing a tadpole (that had just developed legs) in our dining room and after searching and searching we finally concluding that our youngest son (who was a crawler at the time) had probably found it and eaten it. Eeewwww, I know.

We also count ourselves experienced campers now that we bought a tent and went camping as a family ONCE! We spent the night reinflating two air mattresses that had leaks (and being thankful we didn't have neighbors). I'm sure we were in violation of the campground's quiet hours. We didn't take enough wood for the weekend, so I cooked sausages and pancakes over some pretty pitiful coals in the morning. It took about a half-hour before the pancakes were solid and edible. I'm pretty sure they dried out (as opposed to actually cooking). We took it all in stride and no one complained. But come to think on it, no one has asked to go camping since, though.

And once we almost left our youngest in a baby swing in our friends' country yard as we quickly packed up our picnic items to head to the 4th of July fireworks show in town. We were actually getting into our vehicles when our friends' grandmother cried, "Is somebody going to get the baby?!?" I did not win any mother-of-year nominations that year.

I'm sure our funny moments are pretty typical and don't have as much to do with homeschooling as they have to with just being a family. Homeschooling is just one of the things we do as we live our lives together - bumping into each other, getting frustrated with one another, forgiving each other and encouraging each other. Homeschooling gives us LOTS of time together to do all these things. We've not done any of it perfectly, but it's been a life I've loved.

Homeschooling Family Interview: Billie

Today's interview comes from admitted night owl, Billie. I wonder if she typed out her interview answers at 3 a.m.?

1. How long have you been homeschooling (or if finished, how long did you homeschool)?

I home schooled my kids from birth. My husband did just decide to put the kids in this semester though. My oldest is 14... so that'd be 14 yrs... or if you want to talk more formal schooling... My oldest was reading at 3 1/2 so about 11 yrs.

2. One of the main benefits of homeschooling is the freedom and flexibility it allows. Can you give us a few examples of how this freedom and flexibility benefited you (your family)?

Homeschooling truly does allow great freedom! Freedom to teach what interests your child. Freedom to slow down or speed up the learning process as each child needs it. And lots of freedom where time management is concerned! If you're a night owl (like me) that means the family can adjust their school hours to fit when they get the most restful sleep.

Freedom to school around family illnesses or appointments. When my father-in-law was dying the kids took turns going with us to the VA hospital and seeing Grandpa while the other stayed home and schooled with their maternal Grandmas. They got the extra Grandma time and got to spend the last available moments with their Grandpa as did their father and I.

Freedom for vacationing/fieldtrips! That's one of my favorite. I love to vacation after the majority of kids go back to school in the fall or before they are let out in the spring. You get private tours, no crowds, shorter lines & lower rates.


3. Another benefit of homeschooling is the fun factor. Can you give us a few examples of some especially fun times you had as a result of homeschooling?

Fun? Hmm... how about JOY? The joy of getting to watch their great discoveries and achievments! Not just the first spoken word and the first step... but the first written word, the first read word, the first math problem, the first scientific discovery, the first everything! Why stop at rejoicing with the first step?!

And yes fun too! Playing learning games, giggling over the little mistakes or misunderstandings that happen, hearing all the cute funny things your little ones say. Going on fieldtrips. Park days or Game days with other homeschoolers. Nature hikes. Every moment of joy your kids have...you get to enjoy along side them.


4. We all have funny experiences while homeschooling. Can you share one of yours with us?

I can't think of a specific instance at the moment, though there have been plenty!
-Billie