Life Trips are Field Trips

Home schooling is a way of life for us, it's not just about the required amount of instruction.

What I mean by that statement is this...

Every day there are learning opportunities. If you get in the habit of looking for them, they happen all the time. For example, My youngest and I were walking to a local cafe' for a quick lunch on one of the days I wasn't feeling very well. As we stood in the crosswalk and NOT ONE car stopped for us, I talked to her about Driver's Education.

These 'opportunity lesson' discussions usually start off by me saying "Did you know..."

I will paraphrase what I said to her.

"Did you know that when you are learning how to drive, there are certain rules you must follow? One of the things you must learn is that pedestrians (yes , I used that word with a seven year old - then I followed it with a synonym),people that are walking, have the right-of-way. The driver's are required to stop and let the pedestrians pass if they are in the walk way. When people cross outside of the walkway, it's called 'jaywalking' and is not only illegal, but dangerous."

I was quiet for a moment, waiting.... for driver's to remember this tidbit and to see what my child would say. You never know.... she is like me after all. :) She said "We are in the crosswalk, so why aren't these cars stopping?" Out of the mouth of babes!

Another one of my 'catch phrases' is "That's a really good question!"

So the conversation continued even after we FINALLY were able to cross the street (in the crosswalk). Small town charm isn't all it's cracked up to be~

The point I'm trying to make is that almost every situation can be a learning opportunity. Sometimes I think we forget that these young people haven't learned everything we know, so we just go on about living. I have four kids and have been a homeschooling parent for 16 years and counting. I've repeated myself, no doubt, but maybe my kids have learned more things. Hopefully, I've instilled in them common sense, which doesn't seem all so common anymore, and to really examine the situations that happen to them.

When you go to the grocery store, teach the kids the names of all the produce items. You might learn something new too! Then later, (after you have learned them - or learn WITH them) teach the kids how to say the food names in a foreign language!

Teach the kids how to compare prices with unit pricing and budgeting.

I also think it's very important to help children learn about LIFE (not the game but we own that and it's not a bad idea to play it a few times on bad days to liven up the mood).

LIFE is NOT ' 9 to 5 '... Homeschooled children will realize this very quickly when they start mixing with peers and soon be thankful that they have a superior way of looking at life. One of my GOALS is to teach my children HOW TO LIVE without me and the world. ALONE.

They need to be able to make it without another human telling then what to do 24/7 be it me, their dad, a boss, the President, whomever.... Life doesn't come all wrapped up in a beautiful fancy bowl for every person.

Teach them to "go with the flow" of life. If life hands them a jumbled mess one day, teach them how to swim through and harvest the necessities and climb out safely. Don't forget to share the knowledge you have not just help them learn what's required.

Homeschooling can be beautiful!