This summer, my fourth child is now my size, even though she is only 12. Many children outgrow their mothers. The unusual thing here is that I am 6’0” and three of these four older children are daughters. We have a remarkably tall family. Now that two-thirds of my children are nearly fully grown, we felt we could justify the expense of two adult XL mountain bikes. Our home has easy access to trails, so, without pausing to read an instruction manual or get feedback from experienced bikers, we began biking.

I’m a homeschooling parent. Here are four ways my summer is likely different from yours. Doing Algebra Poolside For my family, school continues year-round. We don’t have an official “last day” in June, nor do we have an official “first day” in September. We keep going. This horrifies many people. “Your children NEED a vacation,” decry some skeptics. “That is not a humane way to live,” is the accusation. By continuing academics throughout the summer, I send two important messages to my children.

Uncrowded, empty stretches of beach. Single family homes lined up behind the dunes. No lifeguard on duty. This is our experience each time we visit the Barrier Islands near Wilmington, North Carolina. What does it mean if there is no lifeguard on duty? No supervision. No additional help. No one else to blame. Sounds like homeschooling. Benefits of a Lifeguard Since we have a neighborhood pool in walking distance to our home, my teens have chosen lifeguarding as their summer job.

In our family, summer continues throughout the summer. Here are some of the books we’ve enjoyed reading and some of the MOOCs we use to learn. No affiliate links here; just my personal recommendations. Books The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements by Sam Kean How to Read the Constitution–and Why by Kim Wehle

There are many things I love about homeschooling conferences: meeting new people, the energy of a live audience, and the feeling of belonging. Being together as a large group of homeschoolers is balm for the loneliness we sometimes feel in this solitary endeavor. I enjoy hearing passionate speakers introduce new topics. Despite these perks, though, there are some disadvantages to these conferences. Only a few people are heard. (We don’t often hear from those that are just beginning their homeschool, or those that lack confidence and are teetering on the edge of their commitment.

There are many dimensions to success, but these ideas are the ones I often consider. In my experience, success is a brief moment; there is no fermata. Success is a glimpse. Homeschooling in the present tense gives me consistent glimpses of success, fleeting though they are. Success is easily identifiable progress. Success is the ability to concentrate on a single task. Success is completion of difficult academic coursework. Success is a broad education including many areas of study.

I know nothing about de-worming, but I sure like this image. I clipped it from a magazine years ago, and it makes me laugh every time I look at it. Perhaps those who aren’t currently homeschooling, but are considering homeschooling feel confused about the complexity of the task. De-worming doesn’t seem any simpler when I see a horse without legs. But, let’s have a closer look at the text below and see if we can apply it to homeschooling:

Is this how the professionals do it? While stumbling through a complex Calculus concept involving parametric equations, I wondered if there was a better way to help my student understand. What tips and tricks do Calculus teachers know that might help me here? Fortunately, searching for something this specific is feasible, and I can quickly learn what to do. But, there are other areas of homeschooling, as in any new endeavor, where we may wonder if we’re doing it the way the experts do it.

“You don’t own a laminator?!?” my friend responded with shock and surprise. “You’re a homeschooler, and I thought all homeschoolers would own one!” Nope. Not this homeschooler, and that doesn’t mean I’m not a “real” homeschooler. At what point can you decide you are authentically available for the label of “homeschooler”? Do you wait until you’ve officially offered notice to your local school board? Do you wait until you’ve taught your first lesson?

We may think our envy is innocent, but it has enormous impact. We begin by thinking, “I don’t have what I want.” We look around and notice someone who does have the thing we are lacking. Perhaps the thing we want is obedient children, or academic success, or financial security. We start to think about why they don’t deserve what they have. We pass judgment on them and their worthiness. If we can’t have it, we don’t want them to have it either.