Guarding Your Marriage

by on February 15, 2012
in family time · 33 Comments

Written by contributor Kris Bales, of Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers

So, why am I talking about marriage on a homeschooling blog? Because, in the last couple of years, I’ve seen the marriages of several fellow homeschooling families end in divorce.  Now, don’t misunderstand — I’m not saying that these couples didn’t take steps to guard their marriages. It’s just that seeing the fallout of divorce tends to strengthen my resolve to hold tight to what I have.

It’s easy, as a homeschooling mom, to fall into the trap of giving the best part of your time to your kids. By the time you’ve schooled all day, cooked the meals, done the laundry, cleaned the house, run the errands, and everything else that goes into managing a household, there can be little energy left for investing in your marriage.
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Kris’s Homeschool Day in the Life (with a 16-, 12-, and 10-year-old)

by on January 6, 2012
in organization · 16 Comments

Written by contributor Kris of Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers

I used to think that there wasn’t any such thing as a “typical” homeschool day. However, this year, with no outside classes (currently), we seem to have settled into a fairly predictable routine.

Well, we had, anyway. With the start of the new year, my younger two kids are starting a completely new curriculum, which means that we’ll be tweaking our schedule and figuring out a new routine that works with our new curriculum.

That’s life on the edge in a homeschooling household.
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Kris’s Biggest Homeschool Mistake: Teaching in Subject Blocks

by on October 12, 2011
in a mom's education · 14 Comments

Written by contributor Kris of Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers

I‘ve been homeschooling my three kids, ages 16, 11, and 10, since 2002. Well, technically, I was only officially homeschooling the oldest way back in 2002. That year was not without its mistakes – the biggest of which was thinking that I had to model our homeschool day after a public school day, complete with the Pledge of Allegiance and recess.

Okay, so the Pledge wasn’t so bad, since I wanted my kids to know it, and my daughter definitely enjoyed her midday half hour outside when the weather was nice, but some of the structure was a little over the top for our rather relaxed family.
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Overcoming Homeschool Mom Burn-Out

by on September 2, 2011
in inspiration · 34 Comments

Written by contributor Kris of Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers

Homeschool mom burn-out. It’s a horrible feeling. I’ve had bouts with it off and on over the course of our nine-going-on-ten years homeschooling, but never as bad as this last year.

I was done. Wiped out. The last few weeks of our 2010-2011 school year can only be described as “muddling through.”

My kids will all tell you that this summer was the most boring ever. And, they’re probably right. We didn’t do anything remotely educational. We didn’t do much that was even especially fun. There was entirely too much video-game-playing, TV-watching, and Internet-surfing.

And, I can only muster up the tiniest bit of guilt over that because I needed it. I needed a couple of months to decompress.

I didn’t think I would be excited to start school this year. In fact, I was dreading it. However, when the first day started getting close, I was surprised to find that I was excited.

There were three things that I think helped me bounce back:
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5 Tips for Nature Study

by on July 22, 2011
in methods & philosophies · 24 Comments

Written by contributor Kris of Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers

Though we’re not always consistent with including it, nature study is one of our favorite ways to spend some of our homeschool day.

It’s fun, relaxing, interest-led learning in a real-world, hands-on environment.

Following are five tips for making nature study an anticipated part of your family’s education (because you’ll be learning, too, Mom):
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Summer School: A Time for Skills Training

by on June 15, 2011
in home maintenance & management · 17 Comments

Written by contributor Kris of Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers

Summer. A time for swimming, sleeping in, watching a little more TV, reading a few more books, cook-outs and family vacations. In short, summer typically offers a more relaxed schedule and a little more free time.

Even if you school year ’round, chances are your summer schedule isn’t as packed with outside activities as normal.

More time and less structure can make summer the perfect time to learn some new skills. No, I’m not talking about the three R’s. I’m talking about those things that can make your home run more smoothly when school is back in session.
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