I'm Thinking About Homeschooling: Part 1 - Now What?

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If you're reading this post, than I'm assuming you're considering homeschooling as a serious option! If so, congratulations! It's one of the most rewarding things you can do next to being a mother to your kids. They do go hand-in-hand. Both are very difficult and have their own set of challenges and both reap so many blessings and rewards.

When I started homeschooling 16 years ago I honestly didn't know where to begin. I didn't know where to turn to for help. I didn't know anyone who homeschooled, I had no idea how to turn on a computer and there weren't even very many books on the topic. I was lost! I wished I had had someone... anyone to give me a little guidance. If I could go back in time and give myself advice, here's what it would be.

Where to Begin

You might be asking yourself... Where do I begin? My suggestion is educate yourself first about what is the best way to teach your children. The majority of home schools do not look like a public school class room. That doesn't mean we don't have structure, most of us do the best we can in that area. But homeschooling is a way of life. Below's a list of books that I hope will be helpful to you in your search for a teaching method for your children.

As you read through these books, take notes and remember that these books are reference books. They are meant to be referred to over and over again. Once you decide what style will work best for your family, you'll want to start working on a plan and looking for curriculum. I'll discuss planning and curriculum choices in other posts later in this series.

What To Do With the Kids 

If you've already pulled your kids out of school and still don't have a your plan or method worked out... don't stress too much about what to do with your kids while you're preparing to homeschool. Seriously, focus on figuring out how to teach them. It might take you a few months and that's okay! You'll save yourself a lot of grieve in the long run if you take the time to learn what's going to work best for your family first.

In the meantime, keep lots of things on hand for your kids to do. Here's a list of activities to have on hand for kids to do when mom is busy. Please take your child's age into consideration when choosing from the list below. You also don't have to spend a lot of money. Be creative with what you already have on hand!

• First and foremost, READ to your kids often... not sure what to read?
• keep lots of books available for the kids to look through and read as well
• legos
• building blocks
• pick-up sticks
• magnet letters and numbers
• go fish (and other card games)
• abacus
• sidewalk chalk
• paper dolls
• finger puppets
• play doh 
• finger paint
• pipe cleaners
• beads
• flash cards (I know, not a toy, but some kids will pick them up and use them)
• puzzles (geography and other educational puzzles) 
• butterfly net
• habitat kits (ant farm, butterflies, frogs)
• model cars
• Add your ideas to the comments

Stay encouraged! There's a lot of support out there now for new homeschoolers. But first thing, focus on a plan for you and your kids. You will not regret the time you spend investigating all the methods.  

Upcoming posts in this series:

• learning styles
• choosing curriculum
• how to plan a school year 

A Wedding Menu to Make Your Mouth Water

We was debating about what to serve at Cassie and LaMar's wedding reception. We knew we wanted appetizers. But did I want to prepare it all myself? Or hire someone to cater? In the end, I was planning to prepare the food with my 3 sisters' help.

I spoke to a good friend (Dianne) about it and she was, first, not excited about my menu, and second, sure I was nuts for trying to do it all. Dianne offered to prepare all the food herself... she did enroll some help from her husband, daughter and another friend of mine and her daughter. What awesome friends I have!!

Let me share what we were planning to originally serve:

• pulled-pork sliders
• egg salad sliders
• chicken salad sliders
• large bowl of shrimp (to self-serve cocktails)
• 3 different cold salads
• spinach dip and fancy crackers
• chocolate dipped strawberries
• 3 spa waters

Yeah, my friend wasn't impressed. I was somewhat okay with the menu, but I was concerned about the amount of work it would take with everything else I had to do for the wedding.

I did end up making the chocolate dipped strawberries myself, which took most of the night before and  morning of the reception (FYI, Cassie and LaMar got married the morning on Friday, March 8 and the reception was the evening of March 9th).

Dianne put together an amazing menu, created a detailed shopping list for me and then got to work. Let me also mention that all this happened about a week before the wedding! Dianne was also in the process of moving! Here's the amazing menu we ended up serving... I'll link to the recipes, when possible. 

These are homemade sweet potato chips. She deep fried them in coconut oil so there wouldn't be that smell you get with vegetable oil. They were delicious and stayed crispy!

They put ranch at the bottom of the baguettes. We were trying to avoid having bowls of dips and things of the table. It worked well.

She found this on a members only site. But I think you get the point. They added a light dressing to this salad.

photo credit

Broccoli Slaw

We used disposable wine goblets for the shrimp cocktails. She added mango salsa and cucumber under the cocktail sauce. I think these turned out beautiful and what a crowd pleaser these were!

A baguette slice with a slice of roast beef, cucumber, tomato, and cheese 

                                              

photo credit

A pastry filled with cheese, tomato and basil... so delicious! 

photo credit

Twice Baked New Potatoes

Grapes dipped in caramel bits, then crushed nuts! Yes, these were another crowd pleaser!

                                         

I dipped about 300 strawberries. We used to do this for a fundraiser at church and I was mainly in charge of dipping. I don't know how I managed to forget how long it actually takes. One of the longest processes is cleaning and choosing the best ones to dip.

photo credit

We used strawberries, kiwi, pineapple, grapes, and blueberries... I may be missing something but you get the point. We served them on a platter similar to this in this same way... only much taller!

We served water, lemon water and lemon and strawberry spa water. This photo was taken (by me) while we were still setting up, so it's not what the finished table looked liked.

It was difficult to get a great picture of our totally fun popcorn bar because it was in front of a window, but it was a HUGE hit with the kids! So much fun! I purchased the popcorn here. We had 6 flavors... a plain, caramel, cheese, chocolate, snicker doodle, and fruit. I purchased the little cups to hold the popcorn in at Oriental Trading. I found most the apothecary jars at Home Goods for around $13.00. I got the scoops at a local kitchen supple store.

I added a post about the wedding cake here. 

The kids and we were thrilled with how the food turned out! What a blessing to have such amazing friends who will step up and lend you a hand when you really need it! 

Photo credits, unless otherwise stated, are by kelly lynn photography.