fulfilled

“A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove...but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.” - Forest E. Witcraft

One goal of our new homeschooling adventure with our youngest son was to cultivate his love of science.  Allowing him to guide the curriculum is proving to be exciting.  While working on mathematics, spelling, reading, we are also exploring microbiology, chemistry, geography, photography, roman numerals, and Latin... all chosen by him.

The result is bigger smiles, a soaring self-esteem, and an unstoppable desire to learn.  Think about how happy, content and fulfilled you would be if you had been able to pursue passions meaningful to you.

What would you choose to learn?

Comments

[Marcie]

If I could go back and re-visit and re-learn...I'd like to know more about the lives and habits of birds:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/home/2012/2/6/life-partners.html
And - I'm sure I wouldn't be able to get enough 'art':
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/home/2012/2/7/an-apple-a-day.html

[rakusribut]

hi tammy lee
your story moves me and brings tears to my eyes
so wonderful how you let your son decide what he wants to learn...
my school days were filled with boredom, due to my adhd, so i had to gain the knowledge and experience i wanted and needed in other ways
i remember that as a kid i mainly wanted answers to the millions of questions i had. i think kids are always eager to learn and they will if you provide them with the appropriate means. schools are often not capable of doing that. so bravo to you for supporting your son this way
as a child i used to want to build things, create something useful and functional from bits of wood, like a box or a table or a cupboard. i never learned how to, also because my hands are disabled and i cannot use carpentry tools without problems
but i am still fascinated by everything that has to do with construction, the way things are built, how engines and machines work, i immediately can see the beauty of a frame or the way a machine is composed of different parts that all work together.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rakusribut/6840406901/lightbox/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rakusribut/6389281951/in/set-72157628111780989/lightbox/

[Christina]

Would have loved to do the curriculum you are doing with your son! Have always been fascinated by natural sciences.

Here is my little scientist:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bugcycle/6840433079/in/photostream

[Valerie]

Now that I have a child, I find myself exploring the world around me more thoroughly. We take excursions almost daily and I hope the habit is so well-engrained that I'll keep doing it for myself long after he is grown. I learn so much about the world and savor it. This week we found monarch butterflies wintering near us...
http://journeyleaf.typepad.com/journeyleaf/2012/02/point-pinole-butterflies.html

[DebC]

As a family, we homeschooled for 18 years total,
three children from beginning through high school.
The youngest is now a college senior.
Self-directed learning is terrific;
my oldest son did a series of science experiments where he anodized aluminum.
He was, at that time, a paintball devotee, and he anodized several paintball guns.
He researched everything, bought commonly available supplies,
and all I did was document the process with photos.
One of the over-looked joys of homeschooling is the chance
for the parents to re-learn, or learn something for the first time, alongside your child.
So, this will be a great experience for all of you.
Enjoy!

[Jen]

Your words are so true! My daughter is only 21 months old and I love watching her and encouraging her to follow the passions she has already shown at such a young age. She loves figuring out puzzles and building blocks. She recently fell in love with fingerpainting:

http://www.jenniferkrafchik.com/2012/02/fingerpainting.html

[Anna]

Hi Tammy,
Kudos to you for homeschooling! We've had friends that homeschooled their kids, so I realize the commitment it entails.
If I could go back in time.....I grew up in a very artsy family, we were always drawing, painting, or making something, but I wish there had been some encouragement or emphasis on photography. I wish I would have come to photography sooner. Instead, I'm learning it all now and having the time of my life!

Here are some of my latest thoughts and experiments regarding focus ~

http://vandemarkdesigns.blogspot.com/2012/02/focus.html

[Kiran @ KiranTarun.com]

Before coming to the States, I never knew the homeschooling culture. But kudos to everyone who does it :)

[Christina]

i really love this post. hello, my fellow homeschooling mama! i think i would want to learn more about history... and gardening.
xo

[Flooring Ideas]

I must appreciate your efforts regarding this!

[Ceramic Coating]

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[Challenge Coins]

Cuando alguien te deja es mejor pintar la escena de blanco. Para muchos, la Gaytán de “Muñecos de Papel”, de “Baila Conmigo” y de “Dos mujeres, un camino” solo estaba dormida. Solo una canción, una foto pendenciera y todos vuelven a castigarse con esta chica sibarita y sus incomprendidas leyes del deseo.