Today, like every day in Arizona, is sunny and warm. I started my day around 7:00am when my 9 year old came in and snuggled in the bed with me. I did not have to wake her to prepare her for her school day. We had a leisurely breakfast, went over our scripture memory, discussed the rivalry of Jacob and Esau in our Bible study time and then went out to the park to play around 8:00am. We have a lovely park across the street from our home and my older two daughters played viking warrior princesses while I pushed the little one in her stroller through the gardens. I did not have to rush out the door to drop my older two girls off at school. We came in and had some computer time, and then the internet went down, so it was time to change gears. We spent time working on our handwriting, having individual reading time, and read "The Secret Garden" together. We ate lunch together and the girls spent time writing and drawing in their journals about the observations in their own "Secret Garden". They enjoyed the fresh air, the soft green grass, and cutting flowers for me to put in the kitchen. The baby chased the girls in the garden and they all came in with smiling faces and rosy cheeks. We spent the afternoon at the splash pad across the street. We did all of this while most of the other children were in school. This is not a typical day, but it is an example of the joy we get out of unexpected turns and adventures in this homeschooling journey. While we do spend time on core subjects, we also spend time reading great literature, learning new languages, discovering art, playing and using our imagination. My girls ask a lot of questions and we try to take the time to research them and answer them. We go on fantastic mountain field trips (we saw two red tailed hawks released last week!). We are making new friends on this journey as well. My girls can play with children of many ages, not just in their age group. And my girls are not pressured to grow up too quickly, for they truly have not figured out that playing with stuffed animals and pretending to be princesses are just not "cool things" to do anymore. When I was 9 (my oldest daughter's age), I was very concerned with grades, who was "going" with who, and making sure I wore the right clothes so I wouldn't get picked on at school. During most of my elementary and high school years, I have very few fond memories of the institutions that were supposed to educate me. I find myself learning about history, literature, and art through my daughters' eyes. Many of these wonderful learning adventures were never covered in the schools I attended. I have no idea why. I spent most of my academic years trying to ace my tests. I had no idea that I truly did not know how to enjoy learning, for learning's sake. I pray that I may pass this gift on to my children, and that they may have a beautiful childhood.
I know the homeschooling journey is not for everyone, but for those who are considering it, I want to say that I cannot imagine anything better than the joy of learning in freedom.
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