Big Baby

She keeps reminding us that she's nearly an adult, but we don't believe her. We see a toddler when she turns and flashes a cheeky grin. We see a little girl aching to become a ballerina when she twirls into the living room. We see a child who's just trying out her new bicycle when she sits all big in that driver's seat in the truck. Nope, we're not convinced. She's still young and dependent and just dreaming of being grown up. It can't really be happening, can it? She turned 17. But that's just a number. Our big baby still likes being carried and we choose to disagree that this kid, of whom we are so proud, is nearly an adult. 

Happy birthday, Big Baby. We love you :)

Days Fifteen and Sixteen: Truth Or Dare and Blessings

She'd planned everything from the menu, my grocery list, team-building games and contests, question and answer times, outdoor fun, Blessing Day and now, fourteen girls squished their bodies round a circle, atop sleeping bags, pillows and couch cushions, filling the room with their laughter and giddy shouts. They were playing Truth Or Dare and I had to smile as I heard dares of sticking a hand into the fish tank for twenty seconds or licking a spoonful of spices. Molly has sweet girlfriends and all that silliness is about as carried away as they get... besides chatting in low whispers till one o'clock a.m. Since Molly is becoming a teenager, we allowed a big sleepover party and, as it turns out, only half were able to spend the night--another sign of great kids and families. Never offended, always grateful for the standards kept.

Almost 13!

Truth Or Dare?

Late night sparklers since it's also Victoria Day weekend!

 

Warhead candy eating contest--no sour faces allowed, and no spitting it out!

Blessing Day returns for the 13th year! Off to bless our staff with cookies and juice on this very busy long weekend.

Cousins love cookies!

Stopping thirsty workers who appreciate a moment's break for a refreshment. 

Helping to put away abandoned carts.

Plenty of babysitters around.  

More cousins loving Blessing Day cookies.

 Handsome Owner/Operator

Everyone is amused by the raspy little "God bless you!" from Ashanti.

Last two friends to go home. Some painting on the driveway.

I'll be writing more about our girl when she actually turns thirteen, but for now I'll just say that this fabulous kid picks pretty darling friends :)

Day Twenty-Seven: Homeschooling Highschoolers

I sat shoulder to shoulder with other eager parents as the keynote speaker for Homeschool Legal Defense contended for carrying our children through their highschool years at home. I'll never forget how he challenged us to think about why we would place our child into the school system just because they enter grade nine. Who made that grade disassociated from grade eight and what makes us suddenly abide by a standard we've been ignoring up to this point? What makes those children abruptly profit less from home education? Learning is still learning and how you arrive at the knowledge and skills your child needs is a decision each family makes. Whatever level that child is at is the level you continue to teach, regardless of the credit system being something the general population adheres to. I wrestled in my mind as to whether or not I could handle teaching highschool. Then I realized I had already trained my girl to become an independent learner and she has been mostly working on her own for about three years.

My Homie

 

I slipped off my shoes when I walked through my front door and mulled over what I had learned. I began boiling a pot for the potatoes when my husband entered the house. I shared all the nuggets of wisdom I'd gained that day and he agreed there was no other way for our family but to simply continue what we were doing with our oldest. "Highschool" would just be the name of the next step, not a daunting idea or an overwhelming change, but just another grade.

Plastering Daddy with a concocted yogurt facial while he's watching the game?--priceless :)

 

However, fear did begin to grip me as I later rifled through websites looking for answers for curriculum choices and advice. The more I read, the more I became confused. When we sat down with our daughter and told her we felt she should stay home the following September, she was quiet. She shared that she had been hoping to attend the Christian highschool where her cousins went but only part-time. She still wanted to be at home but take a course or two there. We thought about the possibility and concluded that schooling the other kids and running her back and forth for classes in another city wouldn't be feasible. She responded well. I asked her what her desire was for curriculum, promised her a laptop for grade eight graduation, and planned what we'd be involved in for her grade nine year so she could look forward to it.

 

Now second semester is quickly approaching and Meghan is tracking her hours and credits. She strongly desires to have everything she does quantified and so we looked up the Ontario requirements and do our best to stay close to them. Our friends and family have opted to use highschool resources that do not require tests and exams and will decide what to do about transcripts at the end of grade eleven. Since many homeschooled kids have entered university by being placed in school in their senior year or by taking correspondence or online courses for their transcript, it is a viable choice. Thankfully, in Canada, homeschooling is legal in every province. But each family and student must make their own decisions based on how it works best for them.

selfie

 

As we journey, I'll be better able to give wisdom on the subject of homeschooling through highschool but at this point, we know that our daughter enjoys the extra time for her competitive dance and to connect with her friends and family and we love having her around! The more families we encounter who homeschool through highschool, the more kids we see who are simultaneously planning their futures while using their schoolwork to achieve an early acquisition of this objective . Some of them already have small businesses! Many are aware of what career path they want to take and are streamlining their subjects toward that goal and even taking university courses concurrently with highschool. The possibilities are wide open for these kids. Our daughter has known for a long time that she would like to open her own Christian dance studio with nutrition and wellness as a large component. You go, Girl!

 

For more information and support, you can click here for the Home Scholar and here  for the Homeschool Mom and here for Homeschool Legal Defense and here  for Ontario Homeschool.

 

If you're planning on joining us in the journey of highschool at home, may God bless you as you do!

Autumn Tradition and Growing Up

She sits there all teenager-ish on the wagon ride, sipping her hot chocolate, and I am distinctly aware that they're all seeming a lot older than usual. We visit this place almost yearly but this time all my children sit quietly, bumping along, arms resting on the rails, pointing out pumpkins and brilliant leaves shining in the sunlight. This time there were no tantrums in the corn maze, or crying because of the cold temperatures, or falling from the hay bales. There was only one bathroom break and one moment of begging for a treat. It's not until I'm at a location that I frequent only once every few seasons that the disparity between who they were last fall and who they are now is obvious.

I stand at the opening of the corn maze and in one minute they all race out exclaiming this is way too easy now and how the riding toys are too little. We just may be out-growing this place but I still savour the aroma of the freshly baked pies, choosing pumpkins and apples and taking photos in the crisp air. And as we load up our goodies and pile into the truck at the end of the afternoon, one by one they call out, "Thank you, Mommy for taking us!". I pull out of the driveway of this nostalgic farm and I'm thinking about how much they're growing up but also, how much this autumn tradition is still a sweet thing.

Working Girl

When we get to missing our biggest girl, we trot down to the nursery for a quick visit. She doesn't always want her proud momma to take photos, but I do anyway. She'll love me for it one day :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

She's a great help to her Daddy as she avails herself for the work of weeding and watering, condensing and organizing tables. She'll discover as she grows, just how blessed she truly is to have the opportunity at her fingertips. For now, she prays as she labours and chats with cousins. She's joined the Connon's culture and growing up before my eyes.