- Get up.
- Do chores.
- Read Bible. Write in S.O.A.P. journal.
- Start math.
- Answer door and greet 80 year old neighbor who asks for help spreading gravel.
- Take 2.7 seconds to decide that sounds more fun than algebraic equations.
- Learn how to drive a stick.
- Which also happens to be a tractor.
- Practice interpersonal, cross-generational communication, also known as “social skills”.
- Work on “listening skills” and “following directions”.
- Drive on back home with the feeling of satisfaction in doing an important job.
- Tease sisters.
- Finish algebra and other school work.
{ 16 comments }
I keep trying to find the balance. We tend toward more life stuff and less bookwork.
That’s great if you live on a farm! But what about city folk? Suburbia? There is barely any grass around here and what grass there is is mowed by Homeowner Association hired gardeners.
I have younger kids, only one is homeschooled – and no tractors in our neighborhood! But we try to drop off meals for people after births, deaths and during sickness. And share from our garden, or our baking. We also try to be hospitable as a family, inviting people over who could use a friend (or just a break!).
Adopt a senior citizen home, either one for those still moving around who just need a gathering spot or a full care home. Society not only has snubbed having kids this generation it started a while back and many of these people have few kids, and few visitors, some have no family or just no family close enough to visit.
They love Valentine’s Day cards, fresh muffins and cookies, and breads. Find a reason to visit with goodies once a month.
Social skills?? *Social* skills??? for homeschoolers…..? Surely not!
I love this, btw, and our kids are blessed to be in a similar position, where Science may be ‘interrupted’ because uncle’s sheep needs help lambing (interrupted? or aided?); or Maths may have to be left because Dad is knocking down a partition and help is needed shifting wiring for plugs.
Would I swap this learning for anything else in the world? No way
Love, love, love! This is really what home schooling is all about. It’s LIFE learning! And having the flexibility to serve others is such a gift!
Wonderful!!!!!!!
Thank you for this post! We are much more relaxed as well, but honestly I struggle with it sometimes (because of comments from family, who maybe aren’t…. should I say supportive) So thank you for the reminder and encouragment!
We’re more relaxed too, but I haven’t figured out yet to make it work for their portfolio. I’ve got some, ummmm, critical famiy members too.
I love this post. I have four sons, and this was SO them. Teenage boys are a blessing, and a challenge. I am thankful for both. Homeschooling can be SO good for social skills, contrary to what the “world” believes. We live in the city, so we have no tractor, but we have different interruptions. And that is okay.
Have a lovely day!
Fantastic
This is a great post! My older 2 kids recently helped our neighbor rake and really enjoyed it. It will be fun when they are older and can be even more helpful.
We just got a “new” tractor on our property too and that seems to be the preferred entertainment – I mean, work – for every male in our house. Sometimes I think my hubby and boys just dream up new reasons that they can say that they “need” to work on the tractor.
I love the simple life lessons. I remember as a child working on a farm and it was way better than school work. I love going home in the summers to work on the farm. My family still lives on the same property but we no longer have a farm. What great life lessons and what a great memories he will have working with the neighbor.
I think your neighbor is a very wise man. What a blessing, especially during this season of Mr. Smockity being absent often.
Yes, this has been a huge blessing while Mark has been gone! In fact, I may or may not have secretly requested that the neighbor call upon The Boy regularly when Hubby is gone.
I love this post!
Thanks for sharing.