The Homeschool Convention

Have you ever cried at a homeschool convention?

I know, I should be asking, "Have you ever been to a homeschool convention?"  But let's just assume that you have.

The first seminar I went to I had tears pushing the capacity of my eyelids.  I was so happy.  So relieved.  So thankful for the presenters' encouragement.

The title of this first seminar?  Ballistic Homeschooling:  Teaching and Appreciating Boys.

Someone else understands boys.  Falling out of your chair, or knocking the chair over and sitting on the table is not unusual.

This husband and wife team who spoke have six boys and the room was filled with hundreds of other parents of boys.   Teaching boys is different than teaching girls.  And this is so hard for me because I am a former girl trying to understand and love and teach a boy.

"Why can't you just do the worksheet?  Just keep your pencil right there next to the paper.  Don't lift your head.  Don't randomly tell me about the missiles on your latest Lego creation.  Don't absent-mindedly draw on your pants.  Don't get lost in outer space.  Just write the answers on your worksheet!  Oh please, just write the answers on your worksheet."

So I cried.  Just a little.  Because it felt so good to be surrounded by other parents who are begging God praying for patience and wisdom every minute of the day.

Other seminars I went to (choosing from 380 topics)...

Preparing Sons For Life...The Mom's Part  (I went to several about boys.  So thankful that we can acknowledge that boys are different from girls and we need to parent and teach them differently.)

Charlotte Mason:  Excellence Without Sacrifice  (Pretty much what we're doing.)

Sequential Spelling (The spelling program we use)

She Senses the Worth of Her Work - Finding Value and Beauty in This Crazy Homeschooling Life (Paul suggested this one.  The speaker is married to a former MLB player and had us laughing a lot.)

Help!  How Do I Teach This Highly Distractible Child?  (She must know Peter.  This was fabulous.)

Writing With Ease:  K-6 Writing  (Another one that I cried in.  Seriously - tears of thanksgiving that this woman wrote a writing philosophy that so works for Peter.  I love it and want to spread it to others as if it held the power of the gospel.  This was by Susan Wise Bauer who I want to send a love letter to, along with a bouquet of flowers.)

Teaching a Foreign Language  (So-so)

Homeschooling the Real (Distractible, Impatient, Argumentative, Unenthusiastic, Non-Book-Loving, Inattentive, Poky, Vague) Child  (Another by Susan Wise Bauer.  We all laughed in response because everything she said was sadly true.  Anna and I are this picture that Susan Bauer took.  This was half the room.) 

From One Homeschooling Mom to Another  (Michelle Duggar of the famous Duggar Family spoke about dealing with our parental anger and teaching character traits to our children.  Insightful and convicting.)

Rebuilding a Culture of Courageous Boyhood:  Biblical Wisdom and Timely Tips for Transitioning Our Sons Into Noble Manhood  (Basically, buy your boys swords and encourage them to be manly.)

The Grand Finale was a performance and talk by the Duggar Family.  They were cute.  Talented kids.  Lovey mom and dad.

And now I'm back.  I feel like I was gone for months.  Nice day off today, together with the family.  And tomorrow starts anew.  I can do this!  I can educate my boys.

Oo, but we have a field trip in the morning.  So I won't have to actually implement what I learned until after lunch.