Introduction

I am learning all the time.  The tombstone will be my diploma.  ~Eartha Kitt

     One of my earliest memories comes from when I was about seven years old. We had just moved to Hawaii and though I was constantly surrounded by books, I had never been in a large public library. I walked through the doors of that shining building -- and it did shine, white and glowing in the warm Hawaiian sun -- and stopped. Books everywhere. On shelves that reached to the sky, on carts, on tables, books and more books. Right that moment I knew what my goal was: I was going to read EVERY SINGLE BOOK IN THE LIBRARY. Satisfied that I had a goal, I marched into the library and began looking. The librarian, a lovely, quiet lady, came over to offer her assistance -- I think she must've seen my face when first I walked in. She asked what she might do to help and I explained what I had decided to do and that I was in the process of selecting my first books. Guess I floored her (bigger grin) because she stared at me with the look of absurd disbelief that the sane give the insane. 'But' she said, after she regained her voice, 'but honey, I don't think that that is possible. You see, we get new books in every day.' That stopped me. I looked at her. Indignantly I demanded 'well, how can I possibly read ALL the books if you keep getting new ones!' She smiled slightly and shook her head, whether in bemusement or disbelief I don't know. 'I would suggest that you select one area and focus on that and when you finish with that subject, go on to the next.' I considered her thoughtfully and nodded, 'Okay.' 

    

    That early decision has shaped my life to this point -- I am STILL trying (LOL) to read my way through the library though, as I have grown older, I have learned to select amongst the myriad of choices. I generally DO NOT read true crime -- why scare myself silly? There are a few that I have read, mostly in order to understand the detective mentality -- the Jack the Ripper casefiles comes to mind. Fascinating to see what a retired detective made of that information. I have not read many automotive manuals, I admit, though I have looked through a few and I have an abiding weakness for what my sons' laughingly call 'Junk Fiction'.  Hey, we all need our guilty pleasures! But in all else, I follow the librarian's advice. I select a topic and read voraciously on it. At the moment, as a relatively new Homeschool parent/teacher, that subject is education and BOY is there a ton of material to wade through!

 

      So, is this an introduction? Perhaps not your standard one, I admit. A standard intro would read something like: Clueless Homeschool mom of two boys, ages 8 and 4, explores the world of learning and hopes not to fall to hard in the process. Living in the vast green expanse of Western Washington with boys, cats and a husband, she fantasizes about the day the boys take over cleaning the bathrooms... And that is true too but I thought I would offer a bit more. In that little bit above is the summation of my educational objective for my sons -- I want them to (1)learn to set goals (2)follow where their hearts lead and (3)seek to learn something new every day of their lives. I want them to love learning for the sake of learning as well as for the sake of utility. I want them to know the wonders of this world so that when the dark shadows loom they will have a shining light to guide them home. Boy, am I poetical this morning or what? Apologies.

 

      So yes, I am a newbie Homeschool mom. I do have two boys, both of whom keep me challenged -- though I suppose that many people would suppose that it should work the other way I am a curriculum junkie, always looking, seeking, exploring. Our house is stacked floor to ceiling with books and papers, maps and computers. What little wall space is left is occupied by the drawings, painting and cartoons created by my ever inventive sons. Periodically I long for the quiet blankness of a Japanese aesthetic but that is not to be, at least not any time soon. Acceptance is my mantra. Maybe some day I will achieve it!

 

      And I am writing this blog -- why? For a number of reasons: as a way to maintain my sanity, a source to which to return when I doubt myself, a record of our achievements as well as our failures, and as a help -- for anyone out there who, like me, sometimes wonders if they are completely alone in the wilderness, lost without a compass or map. Not to worry, there are others wandering about in that same place... some even make it out alive, or so I have been told!

 

     One source I have found useful to date is the Homeschoolbar