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# homeschooling

July 8, 2015
0

## homeschool confessions

By Carrie Stephens | article, homeschooling, problems | No Comments

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light…

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September 3, 2014
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## homeschooling is not utopian bliss; OR how yogurt can ruin your life

By Carrie Stephens | article, homeschooling | No Comments

Most homeschool days, tiny bluebirds land on my pillow and gently wake me by caressing my rosy, well-rested cheek with their downy heads while singing sweet morning songs. My feet gently pad along the hallway to the kitchen where my personal barista waits for me, latte in hand. I then open well-organized folders with thoughtful, dynamic, and (obviously!) fun lesson plans. I arrange the manipulatives, I draw funny cartoons explaining the lessons we will cover…

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April 18, 2013
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## identity crisis at the doctor’s office

By Carrie Stephens | article, homeschooling, women | No Comments

I sit in a waiting room with the clipboard in my lap, filling out my family history and listing surgeries, giving dates of pregnancies and births, and answering all sorts of embarrassing questions. It’s truly astounding how much information is necessary for a routine check-up. As I near the end of the forms, the hardest question sneaks up on me. I freeze… Profession:_____________________________________ I cannot think of a decent answer for that question. Leave it…

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January 17, 2013
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## when you might want to go home

By Carrie Stephens | article, choosing, home, homeschooling, ministry | No Comments

I pulled on my boots and stuffed my things into my suitcase. Four days away and I can’t wait to see my babies. I want to wear sweats all day tomorrow, I want to read a million pages to them, and I want to bake them cookies, give them gifts, and kiss them again and again. But I don’t know if I want to go home. I don’t know if I want to go back…

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January 5, 2013
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## home is

By Carrie Stephens | article, homeschooling, house, projects | No Comments

I spent Wednesday, Thursday and Friday last week busily shuffling around my house doing all sorts of random tasks. It wasn’t until Friday afternoon that I realized what was happening. I was nesting. The spring semester of homeschooling begins on Monday and I know that I won’t get many more chances to be productive around here. The trim work hasn’t been painted in thirty years and the kitchen cabinets are way more “shabby” than “chic”. …

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October 12, 2012
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## for the love of homeschooling, just follow the instructions

By Carrie Stephens | article, homeschooling, momhood, problems | One Comment

When I said it was time for Spanish, one child apparently misheard me. Clearly, he thought I said “It’s on like Donkey Kong. I’m taking you down to Chinatown. Get ready, bring your best fight, I am about to own you.” “Spanish” apparently translates into the word “War” in kid-speak. The instructions were clear: “Sit on the sofa and repeat the Spanish vocabulary.” <Child flops on the floor, moaning.> The instructions were repeated: “Sit on…

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October 4, 2012
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## B.U.S.Y.

By Carrie Stephens | article, God, homeschooling, lessons in life, prayer | No Comments

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” -Jesus (Matthew 11:28-30) Thursdays are my crazy days. The boys have loads of schoolwork, the Lady has ballet, Boy 1 has baseball practice, I have to prep for…

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September 18, 2012
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## ten regrets at the end of a homeschooling day

By Carrie Stephens | article, homeschooling, tuesday top ten | 7 Comments

Sometimes, at the end of a long day of homeschooling, I want to crawl under a table and cry. In my heart is a hurricane of emotions, all caused by lots of thoughts, feelings, and challenges that can only be evoked by teaching my children. If this seems crazy or foolish, I apologize for putting you in the awkward position of having to view my mess. If you are nodding your head in approval and…

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August 24, 2012
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## learning to stand

By Carrie Stephens | article, faith, homeschooling, spiritual disciplines | 2 Comments

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” -Ephesians 6:13 Two weeks into our school year and it is apparent that the words “angry” and “homeschool” like each other a little too much around here. Sometimes the kids are irritated and mad about schoolwork, sometimes I am frustrated and mad about…

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June 26, 2012
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## ten thoughts on schooling your children

By Carrie Stephens | article, family, homeschooling, tuesday top ten | 2 Comments

Schooling is not an easy topic of conversation. It’s right up there with politics and religion. When people find out we send our kids to a UMS school two days a week and homeschool the other three, it is always interesting to see how the dialogue will continue. These are examples of actual responses I hear regularly: “So, you’re afraid of public schools, huh?” Um…no, we aren’t. “Oh, that is so wonderful. You really value…

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