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13 Homeschooling Tips from the 1990s

Education, Guest Blogs, Mom Stories, Teaching

By Guest Blogger: Diane Napierkowski

1. Learn from little children. Meditate on why Christ would say that we need to become as little children spiritually and see if there is anything there that you can glean and apply to your homeschooling.

2. Work WITH your child’s mind. See your children’s minds as little trickles of water when they are born that turn into torrents of water as they age and work WITH that current – their own interests and curiosities.

3. Find the child in YOU. Do not lose the child within yourself.

4. Be authentic. Do not homeschool unless you are enjoying it. Hire a teacher to teach piano if you hate it. Your kids will pick up on your loves and hates.

5. Broaden the parameters of their world. Expose and explain HONESTLY the ugliness of the world, human nature (Hitler, Nazi’s, etc.) as well as the good. Be HONEST WITH CHILDREN. Respect their intellect.

6. Take your hands out of the dishwater. Meditate and roll around in your mouth the phrase, “The Teachable Moment.” It is a GOLDEN NUGGET when you see it in your child. Take your hands out of the dishwater, if necessary. Don’t let it slip away.

7. Keep honesty in the home. Express your own emotions honestly. Teach them to express themselves honestly and openly to those they love and trust.

8. Realize that the best things in life are free. Play and have fun. Plan picnics just anywhere. They are cheap and low stress. If you’re homeschooling you might be struggling financially because of educational expenses or whatever. Remember, the best things in life are free: Affection Libraries Delight 🙂

9. Self-sufficiency. Teach your kids to cook simple foods for themselves.

10. Grab every moment. Take EVERY opportunity to broaden their minds. A ride in the car can be enhanced with a guitar, a French book or a history tape.

11. Don’t be discouraged. Expect and anticipate anger from others. You are trampling on sacred ground when your example threatens some or when you are veering off the path they have taken. Take strength in knowing that Leonardo Da Vinci’s siblings kept him out of the will, that the NAACP felt threatened by Martin Luther King, Jr., that Jefferson was hated by many, that Lincoln and Edison were homeschooled and hated by some, etc. Even Einstein had strained relations with his family. Even Christ was hated by his siblings and neighbors. You are in GOOD company if you are hated in your town or family. Use it as a way to grow and mature.

12. Salty sour food! Give kids acidic foods like citric acid, pickles, lemons, tomatoes and natural salt from Utah (Real Salt©). I don’t know why this works, but it does!

13. Wine. Have a little wine now and then at supper time.

Family Photo 1994

Author Bio: Diane is a mother of five who home schooled her children and is passionate about learning, teaching, seeking the truth, living a healthy lifestyle, and spending time with her family. When not working as a Quality Engineer, she can be found supporting her husband in their family run fundraising business at Great Lakes Promotions.

August 17, 2017/by Stacey Maaser

Reflections on a Homeschool Journey from 1987

Education, Guest Blogs, Mom Stories, Teaching

By Guest Blogger: Diane Napierkowski

Written December 1987

Homeschooling Pros

No peer pressure (parent pressure instead)
Able to get along with all ages
**More of our values
Already I feel ostracized at Bushnell
*Very much a family
Enjoying these years instead of enduring these years
*New nicer friends, friends who respect religious conviction
Easier vacations
More respect from kids
*Kids get to be kids
No Christmas compromise
*No Rock ‘n Roll on the bus
Less busy work
Less sickness
*Sickness won’t interfere with school
*Twins won’t miss the big kids
Won’t feel that someone else has control of our children
Less $ spent on clothes
Lots of fun!
*Field trips
**More excitement about parenting
Next kids esp.

Cons of Homeschooling

**Can I do it
**Can I do it well
*Less kids to play with
Ostracized by teachers if they return
Expensive
*No free time
*Hassles with family and friends
*Maybe new friends won’t like our religion
*Lunch-time and $
*Learning well already
Court case
Brethren reject
Less stylish clothes
Dad added: ***Is it the best use of our time, that is using the government (?) for the good it does and then adding our own good
May fear telling world about our religion
Homeschooling Pros and Cons Original List

The Decision to Homeschool

When I was in the middle of 2nd grade and Jarrod was in the middle of 1st, they pulled us out of public school to homeschool us. I ended up going back to public school in the 8th grade, my brother Jarrod went back in the 11th grade, and my three younger siblings, Andrea, Lisa, and David were homeschooled K-12.

More than anything, being homeschooled allowed us to follow our own passions. Sure we did our workbooks and mastered the necessary skills, but the majority of our days were spent engaged in creative and imaginative play, exploring nature, and pursuing our own interests.

Family Photo 1988: Stacey, Rich, Jarrod, Andrea, Lisa, Diane, and David

First Day of Homeschool: Jan 4, 1988

Wow! Was it scary! “Is the school going to call? What will the neighbors say? Russ? Mom? Can I do it? Do I want to?” I needed encouragement today. But Barb Welch is in California for the refresher. Rich calmed me down markedly yesterday afternoon. “Remember why we decided on this, Di? It was for good, sound reasons, well thought out. We have legal protection, etc.” I needed to be reminded of all of that. We worked hard and long. Flash cards, work books, 2 pages each book minimum. School zone book 1 pg. Jarrod. Stacey and Jarrod spelling words.

First Day of Homeschool

First Year of Homeschool: June, 1989

What about the cons? Yes, I can do it and do it very well! There are fewer children to play with, but it’s really special when they do come over. No problem with being ostracized if they return. The money is well spent and fun to spend! I have plenty of free time – they help out with the baby, twins, etc. Good kids. No hassles from family and friends. Very minor occasionally, but it doesn’t bother me. Money and time spent on lunch is no big deal. TV is no problem. Just hard, fast rules with few exceptions on TV and Atari. They are learning well now. Brethren don’t reject much. The kids do wear less stylish clothes. It is definitely the best use of our time. Our short comings surpass their strong points. Our religion just is. It’s not like we’re so different anymore.

What about the pros? 75% peer pressure gone. Definitely can blend in with all ages well. More of our values. No tug of war with school over whose kids they are (values, etc.) It is fun! We are very much a family. We are definitely enjoying these years. Jennifer Metskar – new good friend. Not many more. Kids are more respectful, polite. They are socializing and want to be cool still. Holidays don’t phase us at all. No bus ride. No busy work. Still get sick. Twins love them. No fear AT ALL that someone’s taking my kids away. LESS $ spent on clothes. Lots of fun. We need more field trips – Lansing, etc. Parenting is natural, what it was meant to be.

Family Photo 1989: Rich, Diane, David, Stacey, Jarrod, Andrea, and Lisa

Homeschooling Goals for 1989-1991

Play the piano
Speak Spanish
Know all the countries, US States, capitals
Know the presidents
Do real well in math and enjoy it
Read avidly
Be into Church literature – studies, etc.
Be able to write stories (interesting), reports, letters
Get exercise, ride unicycle, water ski, snow ski
Be interested and self-motivated in science
Be very comfortable on computers
Type

Family Photo 1990: Diane, Rich, Stacey, Jarrod, David, Andrea, and Lisa

Family Photo 1991: Rich, Diane, Stacey, Jarrod, David, Lisa, and Andrea

Stacey Wants to Go Back to Public School (8th Grade): July 31, 1993

Pros of Going Back to Public School:

She wants to
More variety of involvement and education (pottery, woodshop, reports, sports, etc.)
Makes high school easier
More people
Easier to learn
Have a change to excel

Cons of Going Back to Public School:

Fear that she’ll go over the deep end (common sense, though, says she won’t)
Less free time
Mandatory learning
Not home until after 3
No sleeping in or up late
No after school sports
There are gangs
Lots of hallway kissing
Age in which most girls have sex

Family Photo 1992: Diane, Rich, Stacey, Andrea, Lisa, David, and Jarrod

Family Photo 1993: Jarrod, Stacey, Andrea, Rich, Diane, Lisa, and David

Family Photo 1994: Jarrod, Stacey, David, Rich, Diane, Lisa, and Andrea

Update: Jan 25, 1995

Stacey’s in school – She has gotten into a “cool” attitude – disrespectful.

Family Photo 1995: Stacey, Jarrod, David, Rich, Diane, Lisa, and Andrea

Family Photo 1996: David, Lisa, Rich, Jarrod, Diane, Stacey, and Andrea

Family Photo 1997

Family Photo 1998

Family Photo 1999

Family Photo 2000

Family Photo 2001

Family Photo 2002

Family Photo 2003

Family Photo 2004

Family Photo 2005: Stacey and Scott’s Wedding

Update: Jan. 20, 2015

Stacey is considering homeschooling! I’m typing this up for her!! She’s a precious friend who uplifts me.

In Conclusion

So many of my young friends are asking me about my homeschool journey. It is so wonderful to see another generation of homeschool parents who are asking the same questions that I did. As time goes by, I feel even more happy about our decision to homeschool. A few doubts such as my inability to teach footnotes used to make me feel like a loser. Now I see that the greatest gift I could give my kids was to remove obstacles from them finding their own true norths. I think they each have.

August 16, 2017/by Stacey Maaser

The Metamorphosis of Motherhood

Guest Blogs, Mom Stories

By Guest Blogger: Lisa Hogan

Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to be a mother. It’s what I wanted to be when I “grew up”. Then I graduated college, got married, and my husband informed me that we were broke and had to work a few years until we could have children. That was hard, but I threw myself into my work and learned to enjoy the flow of it. It took longer than I wanted, but finally my husband said we could start trying for a baby. One month went by, then another, then another. Every month was a let down. I eventually thought we were infertile and became a bit depressed. But I just decided to focus on work, fashion, recipes, and travel, and time passed by. I liked my life.

After one year it finally happened. I was pregnant! I could hardly believe it. It was what I had always dreamed of. I was ecstatic! Everything was wonderful.

Then reality hit. I couldn’t exercise like before. I had to cut down on caffeine and sugar. I couldn’t eat all sorts of other things that were dangerous during pregnancy. Harumph! Besides that, I started to “show”. Everyone was telling me how my face looked different. They wanted to touch my growing bump. Then I started getting forgetful, gassy, bloated, and my acne got worse. Call it hormones, but it was a big reality check. As I approached the due date this baby made it hard to sleep, caused cramps in my legs, and I couldn’t even walk very long before I started to ache all over. I retired from work the last month and a half and tried to read all I could for the future that awaited me.

Then the day arrived. Labor! It was everything I expected and more! After trying for a home birth, I ended up in the hospital, and after 36 hours we finally got to meet Tristan. I was now a real MOTHER! It was amazing. I felt all those mama hormones start to surge through me. I loved this boy. He had been a part of me, and now on the outside he felt like he was still part of me. It’s like the umbilical cord was and is still there.

Again, reality soon set in. I didn’t get my body back as fast as I thought. I could no longer leave this little boy without leaking milk, feeling anxious about him, or missing him terribly. Going out to eat was no longer fun and relaxing. While at a restaurant, he would start to cry, we would get embarrassed, I would try to nurse him, the nursing cover would fall off, no one really got to eat their meal, and we realized that it just wasn’t working anymore. Don’t even get me started about sleep! That didn’t happen much with a small baby. Also, talking to other adults would typically end in some sort of small catastrophe with a crying baby at the end.

Anyways, this is where I think new mothers can learn a thing or two from the butterfly. A caterpillar might be happy and carefree, eating away, focused on herself and the needs of the moment for awhile, then at some point the desire for something more switches and she encases herself and becomes a pupa. In this stage the caterpillar sacrifices EVERYTHING from it’s past life. To move to the next stage, the caterpillar, and a new mother, has to sacrifice everything. There might be a bit of sadness and nostalgia as you realize you can never really go back to those carefree days of just eating leaves. A mother really does transform too. She becomes something totally different. Those first few months are crucial as she becomes forever bonded to this new little person. When the butterfly emerges after it’s encasement there’s a lot to learn and do. A butterfly now can dart around on the wind, pollinating flowers, finding a mate and producing more caterpillars. It’s an exciting new stage.

Metamorphosis_of_a_Butterfly_Merrian_1705

Metamorphosis of a Butterfly (Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons, by Merian Maria Sybilla, 1705)

Being a mother I feel like I have changed in so many ways. As my baby started to be content to stay on the blanket for while, and as he slept more, I could start to gain some of my “old” life back, but all of it with a different focus and appreciation. There is a different goal in life, and a lot of it revolves around this new little baby. There is so much to learn and do as a mother. It is difficult, and you do have to change the way you do just about EVERYTHING. But after this transformation, there is a new sense of duty and excitement to life. There’s so much fulfillment in wearing an outfit that suits crawling around on the floor above any expression of fashion.

Bottom line, once a baby is on the way, your life is beginning to change, and it’s a wonderful journey. Don’t yearn for the caterpillar stage once you’ve become a butterfly. Embracing motherhood means SO MUCH when you let it really change you. When you embrace these changes, you love your new wardrobe. You love dancing with your baby. Rocking them to sleep. Delighting them with a peekaboo or a tickle. When they are peacefully asleep after a day of adventures you feel so accomplished. I never thought I would find someone I would be so HAPPY to share my raspberries with (and I love raspberries by the way).

I am a mother, and I absolutely love that it defines me now.

The Metamorphosis of Motherhood

Bio: Little sister of Stacey Maaser. Mother of a tender-hearted 2-year-old boy. Resting somewhere between an all natural hippy, and a modern, super clean city girl.

February 9, 2016/by Stacey Maaser

How Motherhood has Changed Me: A Testimony

Guest Blogs, Mom Stories

By Guest Blogger: Renee Washburn

Up until the point where my husband and I considered starting a family, I never really gave motherhood that much thought. However, when I was just a baby, I had a great infatuation with other babies and children. One of my first words was “baby”, and I always migrated to other babies throughout my childhood and my preteen years. I began babysitting on my own at 11 and tried starting my own babysitting business. From that point on, I always had a job each week until I graduated high school.

It was just in me. I loved babies and children and I felt like I could relate with them. Throughout my 20s, I was always involved in the youth programs with our church, and to this day still have many young people around me. I always thought that when the day came for my own baby, it would just be second nature, but there was something that I hadn’t thought about. Pregnancy. Labor. Delivery. Oh crap, I have heard nothing but horror stories! I was scared to have a baby inside me growing and then have to “deliver” it?! But it seems as thought God knew before the foundations of the world how much I would learn and learn to love this phase and the passion that would develop to help others see how amazing it truly is.

Planning for a Baby

About a year before our first born was conceived, I had inherited a whole stack of baby books from a friend. She knew I had been thinking about having a baby so she thought it would be nice for me to understand a little of what I was getting into. I was sure thankful for that! I read the beginning of “What to Expect When You Are Expecting” and what options are available for expectant moms. I did have some clue as to the options in regards to pain management, and I had heard that my mom was able to give birth naturally. She spoke about it a lot while I was growing up and her choice of breastfeeding and how it was the most natural. Well, me being a person who chooses the natural, God supplied route, I was interested in learning about natural birth. I had heard about such a thing as “midwives’ and thought that might be nice since I didn’t really like medical doctors all that much. In this section of the book I saw that there was such a thing as a “birth center” and a “certified nurse-midwife.” I liked both those options so I instantly decided this was my choice.

Now to see if Dallas, Texas had either of those options. (I am a planner, and I feel like I need to have a plan set before I start the actual journey.) So sure enough, Dallas had both of those, and it seemed somewhat affordable. But we first needed my husband to get a good job that would allow me stay home with our children. This process lasted for months and months and months until it just became clear it was not available. Then we found out that my mother was sick and my dad was having a challenging time taking care of her, my grandmother, and working full time. Time to move.

So we packed up what we had and headed across the country to New England to live with my parents and grandmother! It was a great change from the tiny apartment we were living in to a large 3,200+ square foot home with an apartment attached for my grandmother. One evening after we had settled in, my husband and I were watching “Call the Midwife” (a show that we had both had grown to enjoy) when an advertisement for midwives in Connecticut came on the screen. My heart warmed and I immediately knew this is who we would have a baby with! Little did I know that they were indeed Nurse-Midwives, but they did ONLY home births!!! Home birth?!?! What age are we living in? The early 1900s? I didn’t know of anyone who had a home birth and thought it was a little crazy. But I knew how God worked in me and I knew that I needed to give this a chance. So I set up an appointment to visit their home quarters down on the shoreline and asked a million questions..and I wasn’t even pregnant! But as I left, I felt peaceful and knew this was it. I trusted them. I believed they knew what they were doing and had my best interest at heart. So the next weekend we got pregnant and the journey began.

Pregnancy

After the 7 weeks of morning sickness (which I now know is due to a lack of protein in my diet), I began my research on how to best grow this being inside me, take care of myself, and have a successful delivery at home. One of my midwives suggested looking into a birthing class when I was about 12 weeks along because I had so many questions! So I found the closest Bradley Method teacher, for the best price, and boy did I find the BEST teacher! She was a mother of 4, had a home birth, and was studying to become a midwife! She had loads and loads of information and really just helped my husband and I immensely. I felt so blessed to have had her. God is sure good!! Every time we learned something new, I felt like my brain grew and my eyes were enlightened. And each time I gave glory to my Heavenly Father because I knew that this is His will for all women and He knew how bad I wanted it!

As the months crept along, the anticipation grew, and we were more prepared than ever. I would only let positive images and thoughts and stories into my mind and heart.