Tales of Homeschool Ducks

Homeschool Memoirs 2008-09 Aug. 20, 2008

Here is my first assignment: This week, we want to hear about YOU. The author behind the words. The Momma behind all the homeschooling kiddos. Just write up something about you, your family, and your home. How long you’ve been homeschooling and why you decided to homeschool. It doesn’t have to be anything lengthy at all, but we’d love to hear it! You might include a family photo too!

Well here it goes. I have resisted starting another blog, but wanted to do one for homeschooling. So this will give me a good starting point ... having an assignment to do.

My name is Annmarie. I am a mom to 5 "always been" homeschooled children. We decided to homeschool when my oldest was 3.5 years old. I was working full time as a RN from 3pm to 11pm and was thinking if he went to school I would never see him again. I had just became a Christian and subscribed to a Christian parenting magazine. They sent me one of those deck of business cards with one from Christian Liberty Academy in it. I received a packet from them which change my life forever. While I never ordered their curriculum the information spurred me on for more.

In 1998 I came home full time to teach my then two children (4 & 6 years old). I had always wanted more but at the time that was all God had given me up until then. Little did I know that God would then bless us with 3 more children in the years that followed.

Many homeschool conventions later, we are still homeschooling our 6, 7, 8 year old boys, 15 year old daughter and 17 year old son. We are an eclectic bunch and very relaxed homeschoolers. My oldest is in his final year of homeschooling. An apprentiship opportunity has come up for him so it may take him two years (or more) to finish his "required" subjects.

Things are a little different for us as we have a child with a life threatening form of Lupus. She does have many doctors appointments to attend. This month she will go to 5 appointments. Next month we have to go see a specialist for a second opinion 3+ hours away. She then has a follow up with her regular Reumatologist a couple of weeks later. She does go to several different types of doctors because her Lupus effects her neurologic system and has damaged many different systems of her body. One bright thing is this fall Make a Wish is granting her wish. But it is a surprise still, so I can't give it away right now.

Here is a photo of us taken a couple of weeks ago by our Fresh Air Child: