Purpose of this Blog

I recently listened to a Read Aloud Revival "Author Access" by Andrew Clements. One of the things he said really struck me. He said: you either talk, or you write. I have never been a talker. One thing I love about my husband is that he is great at expressing himself verbally. He can argue, he remembers facts right when they're needed in a discussion, he's convincing. I admire it in him because I am not like that and I have always wished I were. When I heard "you either talk, or you write" I realized for the first time that I may not "talk", but I DO write! I've always kept a journal, ever since I was a young girl. When I struggle with an issue, I write it all out to get my thoughts in order so I can figure out the root of the problem. I love being organized, especially on paper. I recently asked my son what I'm good at and he said "you're really good at making lists!" I make excel spreadsheets and to-do lists for everyone in our family. I have pages and pages of notes from all the different "self-evaluations" I've done over the past six years we've homeschooled. I've NEVER considered myself a writer. In fact Beginning Writing was the one class I postponed until my senior year at BYU because I was so scared of it. But, I guess I'm a writer!

Over the past six years I've been asked a lot of questions about homeschooling. What does your day look like? What about time for yourself? What philosophy and curriculum do you use? The list goes on and on, but the biggest one is: Why do you homeschool? Of course I have my answers. My very well-researched, well-thought-out, probably written-out-somewhere-in-all-my-notes answers. But when I'm in the moment and someone throws a question like that at me? My mind goes blank! It is so frustrating. If Steve is around I look at him to either take the conversation out of my hands and answer the questions himself, or to at least give me prompts or reminders of what my real answers are. If he's not there I reply with a blundering half-answer that doesn't really answer the question being asked. And what ever does come out of my mouth definitely does not have the passion, clarity and inspiration that my real, well-thought-out answer would show.

So, the purpose of this blog is to direct my friends, family, acquaintances and I suppose strangers to my REAL homeschooling answers. And hopefully my passion and love for homeschooling will shine through here like I wish it would in person. ;)