Articles by: Emma

Autumn Trees

Sonnet 73

That time of year thou mayst in me behold When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang Upon those boughs which shake against the cold, Bare ruin’d choirs where late the sweet birds sang. In me thou seest the twilight of such day As after sunset fadeth in the west, Which by and by black night doth take away, Death’s second self, that seals up all in rest. In me thou seest the glowing of such fire That on the ashes of his youth doth lie, As the death-bed whereon it must expire, Consum’d by that which it was nourished by. This thou perceiv’st which makes thy love more strong, To love that well which thou must leave ere long. — William Shakespeare 

Family cooking hoppers in Srilanka Oil on Canvas by Raja Segar

Adulting Skills Idea List

For us; one of the purposes of homeschooling is to help our children become a force of nature for good in society as adults. But how do you get from diapers to discipling? There are so many skills that many of today’s adults are missing from their repertoire that really shouldn’t be.

The Habit of Fortitude

The Habit of Fortitude

It can be exhilarating for your children when they realize that they can own what they have to do, so that they can do it no matter what. Fortitude is more than a habit… it is a culmination of several habits combined with a deep conviction.

Mommy Mob Movement

Mommy Mob Movement

Ladies from all life stages have shared with me how hard it had been for them to find and grow authentic, deep friendships, especially in the years of raising littles. We struggle to find not only the time to pursue mom-mates, but also to find ways to grow these associations into deep, lasting relationships we can rely on instead of just acquaintances.

Encouragement from a ‘Retired’ Homeschool Mom - "It's about the long game."

Encouragement from a ‘Retired’ Homeschool Mom

If you are educating your children, you are doing GOOD WORK. As a Homeschool Mom, sometimes we might feel that we should be “doing something more”. No. Teachers don’t also try to be lawyers or bankers at the same time, right? Well, YOU are a teacher. Don’t let society try to tell you that you are “just a” anything.

Walk like an Animal

Walk like an Animal

It’s cold here, like really cold. We finally are warming up slightly, with 0° – 10° this week. It’s been -25° or so for the past month. Makes it hard to want to leave the house; which leads to cabin fever, which leads to crazy kids and stressed out mom. An easy way to break out of the rut, and burn energy in the process is having the kids go through different modes of walking that exist in the animal kingdom. (this makes a great segue into the mechanics of the animals that cause them to move that way!)

Homeschoolers Terms and Definitions

Homeschoolers Terms and Definitions

Home Education is a scary thing to start. Very daunting. Here is a list including a good start on the vocabulary associated with ‘Creative Learning’ Homeschooling is a type of education where children learn outside of a school setting under the supervision of their parents. The family determines what is to be learned and how it is to be taught, while following whatever government regulations apply in that state or country. Today homeschooling is a widely accepted educational alternative to traditional public or private schools, as well as a valuable method of learning in its own right.

Why We 'Officialized' Our Homeschool

Why We ‘Officialized’ Our Homeschool

Some homeschoolers who use a lot of school-like structure and think of their efforts as duplicating school may automatically seek out a name for their program, just as they naturally use school textbooks and start the day with the Pledge of Allegiance. In some states, homeschooling – or one of the options to homeschool legally – may actually be the formation of a family-size private “school;” hence, that school has to have a name. Why name your homeschool? Some co-ops and umbrella schools might require your family’s education plan to be identified by a name. If you make a student or teacher ID you will need a school name. Some incentive programs like Book-it ask for it. If you are planning to prepare high school transcripts at some point, it’s nice to have a name to put at the top. It will help your kids identify with a thing bigger […]

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Homeschooling: Our Reasoning

Homeschooling: Our Reasoning

Homeschooling is becoming more and more popular with an average increase of 2-8% every year according to the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI). What once was a stigma is now slowly becoming the norm. What used to be considered “cutting-edge” by many is almost “mainstream” today. And why not? The benefits are a plenty and it’s never been easier to enroll in a homeschooling program that provides the curriculum and teaching aids for the parents. But let’s face it; the road of homeschooling is not all sunshine and roses all the time.  Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of homeschooling your children…