A Homeschool Mom’s Letter to Saint Nick ~
Written by Kara Anderson
Hey there, Santa.
This is little Kara Anderson (Barbie Dream House, 1982).
I wanted to let you know that I have been pretty good this year, all things considered.
I have stopped trying to do all the things on Pinterest.
Prefer to listen?
I have been generally responsible with my Amazon Prime account, forcing myself to wait 24 hours before impulse-ordering curriculum materials.
I currently owe the public library just $9.75!
(But I do have 16 items on hold …)
A homeschool mom’s letter to Saint Nick
And so, because I’ve been a pretty good homeschooler, I was kind of hoping I could ask you for a few extra things this year:
1. I’m wondering if you could give me three extra hours every Saturday. I love getting kicked out of the craft store at closing time as much as the next woman who needs exactly 42 Popsicle sticks, but between groceries, errands and trying to pick up our home, I could use just a little longer each weekend for homeschool planning.
2. I want all read-alouds to be as good as The Mysterious Benedict Society and Mr. and Mrs. Bunny – Detectives Extraordinaire.
3. Speaking of books, can you get all of the original Nancy Drews turned into audiobooks? All read by Laura Linney? And can you have her call flashlights torches?
4. Is 40 printer cartridges a lot? That feels like a lot. Maybe 35.
5. I’m wondering if whenever I find myself comparing what we do to another homeschool family, if you could have an elf sneak out from behind a corner and Taze me.
6. I’d like watching Downton Abbey to count as “History.”
7. I want my four years of Spanish back.
8. I’d like us to actually travel to all the places mentioned in this book series. (afflink)
9. I’d like a stocking full of answers to adorably awesome quandaries.
10. I’d like to meet a version of myself from the future, who comes back to tell me that it all works out – that they grow up happy, find fulfilling careers, caring relationships, and know how to do their own laundry and cook spaghetti and change a tire.
11. Whenever I say I am going online to check “just one thing,” I’d like you to crash our WiFi.
12. Next time someone says to me, “Don’t you worry about socialization?” I want to have the bravery to say, “I used to, but not since we’ve started letting them out during the day.”
13. I’d like DCFS not to show up after I say that.
14. I’d like Bill Nye back on television. He’d probably do it if you asked. He seems really awesome like that.
15. I’d like more days where we make paper boats and float them in the creek, and nights when we snuggle under blankets outside and whisper stories. I’d like to remember that learning comes with us wherever we go.
16. I’d like to remember to see my kids as they are. Every day. I’d like to not make value judgments based on how I learned that learning happens.
17. I’d like society to show more respect for kids. I’d like to move this one to the top, actually.
18. I’d like peace on Earth, and I’ve heard a few times that it has to begin with me, so I’d like to remember to smile and hug these small people when I really feel like crawling behind the fridge and eating chocolate.
19. I’d still like chocolate.
20. And I guess last, Santa, I’d like to remember to be grateful – for the opportunity to homeschool, for this chance to watch my kids grow and learn–and for the memories we are making every day.
Because the truth is, I already have so much. I just want to remember to see that.
Yeah – I think that’s the gift I want this year most of all.
What would your homeschool mom heart appreciate most of all this year?
And then they hated math: My journey into unschooling
Brilliant!
Love this! And thanks to you, I now know to only ask for printer cartridges for Christmas. My kids were so excited that all of mine are currently almost empty. Like I’d won Bingo or something.
I promise you when you look back on your home school experience all the self doubt and questions will be but a faint memory. What they will remember is the time you spent with them, not the bad day when nothing went right and the science project was an epic fail. I had many days where I questioned if I was doing the right thing by home schooling my daughter. She is a well rounded, creative , and loving individual. She is not socially awkward and is comfortable in her own skin.
My daughter (now 26) would say homeschooling was a success. She told her friends she would home school her children ( no babies yet).
I hope this is helpful to someone out there.
P.S. I love your list a lot of this was not available when I home schooled my daughter Becky.
As, my kids grow older and become great thinkers, I know that the kid will be fine. Merry Christmas.
Mine is close to #10: I want my future self to come back to me and tell me if I did something wrong and what I need to do to correct it now, so they will grow up to be men of honor, integrity and virtue who serve their King with all their hearts, souls, mind and body.
I can relate to all of these! A well-written, enjoyable read. Thank you.
Monique B.’s latest post: Nature by the Numbers | December 2014
Yes to all of the above, especially the future me, Bill Nye, and chocolate. Merry Christmas!
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I adore every single thing on this list. It’s the best thing I’ve read all week (and I read quite a bit!)… thank you so much for writing it and sharing it with us. I never imagined myself on this homeschooling path but now I cannot imagine myself anywhere else. 🙂
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Thank you! Thank you! You made me laugh and cry at the same time. #10 made tears spring to my eyes – I must really want that! Is that on Amazon? : ) I’ll trade you my 6 years of French for your 4 yrs of Spanish. What was I thinking?
Merry Christmas and God bless you and yours! Warmly, Kim
LOVE it!! All except #14. This made me laugh so hard. Thank you.
I only owe the library $8.40 and immediately following reading your blog I went and picked up the 6 books waiting for us! This was great.!
Not sure if you’ll get Bill Nye back – but Smarter Every Day is a favorite around our house. https://www.youtube.com/user/destinws2
I was seriously laughing out loud at #6. I watch Downtown Abbey Sunday evenings after the kids are in bed and I am getting work boxes ready. The list is beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
Loved this! It truly made my night 🙂
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