Our First Year of Homeschool

Wonder + Whimsy: Homeschool Journal

11/11/2020

Our First Year of Homeschool

In January I set intention to my year with the words "wonder" + "whimsy," believing they are to be found daily in my ordinary life. We entered the year as new homeschoolers, feeling strongly called to pull our six-year-old, Braxton out of public school. Little did we know the strangeness 2020 would bring, with most families bringing their children home for the school year.

While I have been wrapped up in it, it has also thoroughly unwrapped me. Many days are filled with emotional struggles, character building, and sibling rivalry. Yet my world has also been opened to the many wonders of learning that in hindsight I feel I have foolishly left years behind me. I was fortunate to go to an elementary and middle school that instilled a true love of learning. In all the resources I have pursued this year, my mind has gone back to younger years that started me on a wonderful quest for wisdom.

Author Sally Clarkson said at the latest Wild + Free conference that she started out motherhood as a person who was "kind of shallow." After enjoying many of her wisdom-filled books I found this hard to believe. But her point was that she pursued a rich and meaningful environment for her children in her home which matured her in many areas of her life. As she talks about often, I also want to create an atmosphere that is drenched in beauty. I am inspired by my multi-talented uncle, Youssef El Deeb, on this podcast when he talks about his life slogan my grandmother inspired, “...there is a sweet part of life that you should choose to look at.”

So, this year's personal project–while similar to my 365 project last year–started as a way to appreciate the atmosphere I was pursuing. Amidst the attitudes and the messes I kept my camera at hand to document the sweet side. Each month I compiled a visual journal to share with my boys. No cirricula or how-tos here... just our visual journey for wonder + whimsy in an ordinary life.