Well, here I am, almost a year later, typing the third installment of a series I thought might revive my blogging. I’m sure I have masses of people eagerly awaiting this post. I hope you don’t mind me laughing a little at myself. Honestly, I would be surprised if more than ten people saw this that are not bots or scam-related. I’m ok with being incognito. 
So, back to the tale of our homeschool journey. During my boys’ elementary and middle school years, we looked at most curricula available at that time, tried much of it, and found several things that worked for us. At least some things worked for my boys at different stages. That is a part of the beautiful gift of homeschooling: We can customize what we use and how we use it. If I put together a list, I’m sure I would leave some out. I know I have forgotten some. There are so many new curricula that have come out in the past 10 -12 years. It is mind-blowing. We have also tried various formats the past few years. We have done traditional textbooks, some workbook series, some online classes, and some video classes where you have a teacher teaching it. We have also, as usual, dabbled in different styles, as is our eclectic nature.
As the boys grew, they were often less interested in doing projects with Mom and more about getting the schoolwork done so they could get on with doing something else. They also wanted to do their schoolwork more in other parts of the house, and our little schoolroom hub was used less often. So we got rid of materials we had outgrown and rearranged things so our dining room became a little more schoolish without becoming an actual schoolroom. This has worked well over the past few years. The old room became a bedroom, and we could divide the boys more. During this time, we did some renovations to our old home, and a young man (who we knew from church) stayed with us some while completing high school. During this time, my younger 3 also started participating in a homeschool co-op. My oldest was in his last year and wasn’t interested, but the younger 3 enjoyed going. We had taken part of different groups through the years. We did 4H for many many years, all 4 played baseball, all 4 played basketball, 3 played youth football, and there was the occasional groups we met with as well. Between all that and regular church attendance, I can say they were socialized just fine.
My oldest started working as well. Then my oldest graduated! How did that happen! Unfortunately, it was 2020, and we know what a crazy year that was for such things. He did try doing some courses through a community college but with the events of the year, the classes were online and it was not a good fit. He transferred to a Christian college and is in his 4th year as a business major. He works multiple jobs, is a full-time student, and is very busy. He also felt God lead him to ministry and took up working with the children’s church service in our church. During all this he has met a lovely young lady who has become a big part of his life.
My second son started working during his last year and half of high school. During that last year, he had some back issues that required surgery. He is working a job now that he enjoys and has talked about starting vocational school to help further his horizons and training. He does a great job playing bass guitar at church and plays a lot of guitar at home. He is a big sports fan, likes to hunt, and has grown into a fine young man.
My youngest two sons are in the 11th grade now. I can’t believe how these years have flown. They both have 4 classes they are taking right now with one of the boys taking 2 of his as dual enrollment. They have both also started working. Both boys have amazing interests they plan to train for, and we will see what the future holds for them. As to what curriculum we are using this year:
- CTC Math
- Learning Language Arts Through Literature – British Lit.
- Queen Homeschool Fishers of Men Bible Class
- Berean Builder’s Chemistry
- One of the boys switches out a couple of these for his dual enrollment.
I can’t believe this has caught me up with our homeschooling journey. I don’t know where the years have gone, but we have been blessed to spend them at home. God has always been central to it all, from the church my husband pastors and all we do there to our nighttime Bible time sitting around the living room while praying and catching up a little from the busy day. I am so thankful to God for it all. And His guidance. And His continual presence.
As my homeschool journey is getting perilously close to being finished, I have been asked by many, what will I do now? I don’t know. I have thought about many different options, including nothing at all—just being an at-home wife and mom with adult kids. I could stay busy with that, and I also have church and a couple of community organizations I am a part of. I’m really not sure yet, but I had a thought today. What about something of a homeschool consultant. Maybe a website with so much information on how to get started, local laws, philosophies, curriculum, etc. A hub of sorts for my semi-rural area. What do you think? If you homeschool, do you think this could be useful? Please tell me your thoughts on this. Someone to point the way. I don’t know it all now, but when I started in 2006, I would have liked to have had more connections with someone. I would have a lot to learn and research to do. I had thought of this before, and my husband and I even discussed it. This morning, while reading an email, I really started to think about it. Weighing out the pros and cons of getting anything like this going. Then I took my son to the orthodontist, and when we were scheduling the next appointment, I said we were flexible and we homeschooled. The lady there asked me what program I use and so forth. They are thinking of homeschooling, and she has a preschooler. I thought, wow, that’s crazy. She asked me about all that, and I was just thinking about starting something this morning. So, as I contemplate where God is leading me and the next steps of our homeschool journey, what is your opinion on this? Will my journey end next year as mine graduate, or is it taking a different route?