I think I’ve learned more in the last two years than in the 20 years before that. Should I be embarrassed? I mean, besides things like finally understanding math (and that’s big big big!!! which you’ll know if you read my math post), I’ve learned Art, Ancient History, English Grammar (yep, it’s quite different from German grammar), Science, Geography and other things. And we’re only at the beginning. This is only first grade for my daughter and preschool for my son.
This week we started a Unit Study about the Oregon Trail. My daughter is, of course, quite fascinated by Sacagewea, while I’m amazed at the great friendship between Lewis and Clark and a little sad that Lewis died so young. My son loves the action scenes of the National Geographic movie we watched. Canoes in wild waters, the expedition pushing their up a snowy mountain, where they lose things and almost don’t make it. We all love the crafts and games we can play, and both kids love the reading time. We marked 1805 on our time line, and I really feel like my daughter is understanding just how long ago this is.
Also, and this to me is always fun to watch… my daughter learned to tell time, all of a sudden. We’d been working on this off and on, but somehow it just never clicked. Now she reads the clock, tells me how many minutes til’ a certain time, and how many past another, and helps her brother with it too. I sometimes am still baffled by the fact that my children will learn what they need to… all in due time. You’d think that watching them for 7 and 5 years I knew. But hey, if you’d asked me as little as 3 years ago if I would consider homeschooling, I would have laughed at you. 
Have a happy Saturday. The weather here is fantastic for a change. We’re going hiking in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge.
YAY! I’m so jealous! I’ve been a lump who looked busy and organized. Heck, I even THOUGHT I was busy and organized. Tough to find out now that I made a bunch of mistakes. So glad to hear you are making your way the way you want! I admire you greatly!!!! =)
My mom always asks me for forgiveness for all the mistakes she made with me. And I keep telling her that everything is good. I think I turned out just fine, and I wouldn’t have become the person I am if it wasn’t at least partly due to her raising me.
She’s smart and opinionated and has a huge heart. And I’ve learned everything I want to be from her and everything I don’t want to be. I aim to be like her in many ways… and I want to be completely unlike her in many others.
The fact is, she is my best friend, despite and because of all the mistakes that have been made.
And just so you know… I make a bunch of mistakes every single day.
But my kids are good to me. They don’t hold any grudges.