Homeschool Monday - Cadet Airman 1st Class Huntington!

Many homeschool families take the summer off, but we decided to just scale back a bit.

We're sneaking in some "learning" with the fun of our local Civil Air Patrol.

Last fall we allowed Hannah to join CAPs so she would have opportunities to not only get out and meet new people, but to learn self-discipline. You can read about it here...on our Homeschool Daze page.  Well, we are so proud that she has promoted twice already, and is on her way to getting her rocketry badge.  Last Thursday she promoted again to Cadet Airman 1st Class, 

and because she had participated in robotics before, they put her in charge of leading the teams to build some robots last week.  She got frustrated trying to get the older cadets to listen to her, but overall she did great.

That was Thursday, then on Friday they mustered out to Camp Butner for summer encampment...

FOR 10 WHOLE DAYS!

She's taking classes in Wilderness First Aid, and she will receive training on gun safety, and shooting an M-13.  She flopped back and forth between excitement and terror for the past 3 weeks, but she went....

that's Hannah marching wearing the red glasses.

I got a call from her early this morning....crying and ready to quit.  :(

After she calmed down we talked and she told me how she had her first flight yesterday, and even got the chance to control the plane.  I reminded her that the first few days would be the hardest, and now the rest of the week will fly by...between flying and first aid and the rifle range, before she knows it...it will be Sunday, and graduation.

I have to tell you, encouraging her to stay was soooo hard!  I was ready to jump in my car, in my pajamas, to go get her and wrap her in my arms and just protect her from the hard parts of life.  But I know that this will ultimately be good for her.  For her self-esteem, self-discipline, and independence.  Our dream for our daughter is that she becomes a leader, not a follower.

Enjoy the video of her promotion....and if you have children, homeschooled or not, consider enrolling them in ROTC or The Civil Air Patrol.  You will not regret it.

Be blessed,

Debbi

Homeschool Monday....find support.

Early on, when I started to homeschool Hannah in 4th grade, I had no idea what I was doing.  In many ways, I still don't, and that's ok.  BUT back then, I felt so overwhelmed.  I googled homeschooling, and most of what I found just made me feel inadequate or poor.  Many of the sites where just on-line schools, and it was the strict schedule and set up that was part of Hannah's problem.  So I posted my frustration on facebook, and my wonderful niece in NY came to my rescue riding a white horse.  Ok, she wasn't on a horse, but she mailed me a book, The ABC's of School Success by Wesley Sharpe, ED.

Now, I am not recommending this book, because I did not read the whole book, just the part on homeschooling.  Besides, it was not the book that encouraged me, it was that someone who has been there, and done that, reached out to encourage and uphold me in my decision to homeschool.  It's unbelievable the number of people who look at me as though I am crazy.  But they don't understand that parents who choose to homeschool do it out of a deep love for their children.  Otherwise, we parents would save our sanity, and keep our free time, and send our children to public schools.  lol

What I'm trying to say, that while the percentage of children that are homeschooled is in the minority, it is growing by leaps and bounds every year.  And those of us that have walked this road, need to look for, and support the ones that are just starting.  I also want to plug a page on facebook that has been indispensable to me.  Practical Homeschooling.

If you're new to homeschooling, don't give up.  Ask for help.  It's out there.

Be blessed,

Debbi