To commemorate Sonlight Curriculum’s silver anniversary, they are hosting a year-long blog party on the 25th of each month. The topic for this month is Introduce us to your family. Are you just getting started homeschooling? Or do you have graduates? Or somewhere in between?
I first began homeschooling in 2000. My kids were 5 years, 2-and-a-half years and 3 months old. Since it was only Kindergarten, I was pretty confident that I could handle it, even if I did have a newborn! I had attended a homeschooling convention the month before and had found out about Sonlight at a workshop (thanks Shawne and Katy!). I ordered my materials and was so excited to be able to homeshool using BOOKS and have a plan! (Love the IGs!) Although it was challenging, that first year was so fun and it gave me the confidence to try it again the next year. And the next. And the next. Over the years, we have enjoyed our time together reading, learning, and traveling to visit many places that we had learned about.
Fast forward 15 years and now my kids are 19, 17 and 14.5. I’ve been homeschooling for 15 years and all of them with Sonlight, with some supplemental stuff thrown in as well as joining various co-ops and support groups. My oldest is now in college, a sophomore at the University of Florida. He used Cores A through H before going to a private high school. My second son is now a junior and is currently doing Core 300. He is dual enrolled in our local community college for math and writing, takes advanced Physics at a co-op and Italian 2 through Landry Academy. My daughter is a freshman and she is currently doing Core 100 as well as taking Geometry, Biology, Spanish 1 and Logic through PEP, a local co-op.
Although my career as a homeschool parent will draw to a close in three years, I will cherish the time we’ve had together: the fun, the memories and the great stories!
Although my career as a homeschool parent will draw to a close in three years, I will cherish the time we’ve had together: the fun, the memories and the great stories!
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| On a recent trip to the Eternal City |
Be sure to check out what other bloggers have to say about homeschooling with Sonlight!
Nice to meet another mom with older kids!
It’s nice to meet you too 🙂
Loved reading this. Made my eyes leak a little. 🙂
Awww! Why Nat?
Great to meet you and your family! What a wonderful heritage you’ve managed.
Thanks Julie! Let me be clear that it hasn’t been ALL rainbows and roses! But I have no regrets!
I was hoping you would write about homeschooling some day- I love hearing about this. I’ve taught a few homeschooled kids when they came into high school for the first time and they were always so well rounded
Deena, I used to have a homeschooling blog but I’ve let it languish. I’ll be blogging more about that topic over here now that I’m participating in this blog party! So you’ll get to hear more on the subject in the upcoming months! 🙂
I love “meeting” homeschoolers with older kids!
I remember that feeling of meeting a more mature homeschool family. I liked to see what their kids were like. Not that our kids are EVER going to be like someone else’s kids. But I did used to fear that I might mess them up in some way. I no longer fear that.
Pleased to meet you 🙂 Thank you for sharing
Thanks so much for joining in, Sheila! Your getting-started experience sounds much like mine. Looking forward to reading more of your posts throughout the year.
Loved meeting your family and learning more about your homeschool journey. Looking forward to more posts in the days ahead. Blessings!!
I’m about where you were when you started – 5, 3, and infant – and I love getting to look ahead and see that it can be done beyond early elementary grades, and that it can be enjoyed.
I wish you the best Sheila! It’s been one of the best decisions we’ve ever made for our family!