As most of you know, Keli and I have decided to homeschool B&B. Homeschooling allows us to accommodate our boys' unique learning needs and styles, focus on their interests, and nurture their emerging talents. We have the flexibility to adjust the pace of learning to fit their stage of development or our life circumstances. If we need to take a week off to deal with a family issue, we can. We can tailor the curriculum to best fit their preferred learning styles. Also...homeschooling is a lot of fun. Keli gets to learn along with our children! She never has to miss a field trip! She is the room mom, fundraiser chairperson, and chief curriculum advisor! What more could we hope for! Although homeschooling is becoming more popular, it is still considered countercultural.
If you have read much of my blog, you probably know that I try to bike to/from work as much as possible. As a result, I am in much better physical health and more of our family time now revolves around healthy outdoor activities. This also means that I don't ride in a comfortable, climate-controlled, zippy, gas-guzzling vehicle very often (not even once so far this week). That is definitely countercultural.
Several years ago we sold our widescreen TV, surround sound system, Xbox 360 and moved our piano into the living room instead of a TV. The idea was to keep the TV from being the focal point of our free time. We have since purchased another TV, but it resides in the basement and doesn't get used very often accept for once or twice a week when Keli and I or B&B watch a movie. This has made a big difference in how we spend our free time, and Keli and I spend more time talking now than we ever did before (yes, talking to your spouse is a good thing). We also spend more time reading now that the TV isn't as conveniently located. I also can now avoid my, less than helpful, ability to zone out the rest of the world when the TV is on. B&B also get more of my attention than they would if I was glued to the tube (which I probably would be). Again, this is considered countercultural.
All of these changes initially started with some inconvenience but resulted in more positive results than negative ones. It's interesting how many things in life are better when you live countercultural.
Think about it. Is the way you live your life just a result of seeing how everyone else lives theirs?
5 comments:
Hey Bobby,
Just want to encourage you and Kelli on home schooling. Jen and I (really Jen) home schooled Megan and Taylor through second grade. It has been very rewarding in their lives and ours. I believe that the strong foundation we instilled in their first few years has led to them being very good students and really helped establish better study habits. It will be rewarding (and challenging) for the whole family and playing the "principle" role along with the father role can be demanding on the way you oversee conflicts that arrise in the teaching process. Good luck and keep us up on your progress.
Thanks Jim, I appreciate the encouragement.
"principle"... hmm, I think I need a pay raise. ;-)
We, too, moved our TV out of our main room and put it in the basement several years ago. This decision has freed us from the constant flow of negative that is communicated through the media.
This is the #1 reason why our life started moving in a different direction.
Our passionate desire to positivily impact other people's lives is directly impacted by what goes into our eyes and ears. The more we focus on what is pure and right and true, the more time and energy we have for others.
TV and public (or private) schools are big influences on children. Those two often have more influence than parents as the children get older.
Homeschooling with a child centered methodology and Christ centered content, your kids will be more family dependent than peer dependent, and they will have more of your characteristics than their peers.
Cherish the time and experience as they become more independent teenagers and adults.
Being counterculture is a good thing, imo. To be in the world but not of the world. Finding that balance is a life long pursuit.
I sometimes spend too much time reading and responding to blogs, forums, websites. 8-) Balance!
"Balance"... That is one of the things I struggle with the most personally. I get focused on one thing, and sacrifice in other areas as a result. Luckily, Keli is much better at keeping a balance in our lives than I am.
Dale... your probably getting to know me well enough to notice when I get things a bit out of balance. Feel free to point that out to me. ;-)
NickC... I know you can spot it, because you already point it out to me. Thanks.
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