Confessions of a Natural Learning Newbie Part 1: Mom Finally Learns to Relax

It's been 16 full weeks since I've "forced" my kids to "do school".

Saying something like that out loud or typing it up and publishing it for the world to see would have scared me to death a year ago. However, much has changed here at Life and Love Learning Center and now I am able to write it with complete confidence. I've learned that my kids love to learn and are really very good at it. I've learned to set the workbooks aside and let God and life direct us to our next learning adventure. It's taken me since November or so, thinking and praying the whole time but I guess you could say I've actually learned to relax.

Don't get me wrong, I do still have a plan (I'm kind of a control freak to be honest). I have my Bible learning plan and my Spring and Summer Science Series. And I set a game or a project or some suggested activity on the table almost every morning and hope the kids will have at it. The difference now is that if they're not interested, I try not to push it.

I'm really enjoying the path we're on partially because I believe it has actually gotten me more involved in my children's education than I was before. In the days of workbooks and curriculum I took the books off the shelf, we sat down at the table, did our work and then it was done. I was free at that point to take off the "teacher hat" so to speak and go on with my day. Now I have to make myself available as a resource, tutor, instructor and fellow learner at all times of the day.

For instance,

• Shooing the boys out of the kitchen so I can finish dinner is a thing of the past. Now I say, "Who wants to help me cook?" and I get my volunteer as involved as possible, sharing information and technique along the way.
• Games that we played every once in a while before have taken center stage in our home because Monopoly Jr. is great for learning addition, subtraction and multiplication, Wheel of Fortune for spelling and reading, Risk-geography and strategy, etc.
• I'm presenting them with, signing them up for and escorting them to more classes that they're interested in because we now have the time to enjoy them, where before it may have interfered with "school".
• We're doing more hands on science experiments instead of relying on books and worksheets.
• We're serving more and looking for volunteer opportunities in the community (again we now have time to do this).
• I'm not just presenting them with material anymore, now I'm paying closer attention to their interests, answering lots of questions, teaching them to use the Internet and library and generally helping them learn to learn.

Days like this and this have proven to me that natural learning is working and that it's a great fit for my family. I don't have to "force" them to "do school" and I don't have to stress out about their education. They're learning everyday and they're loving it!

Confessions of a Natural Learning Newbie Part 2: How We've Gone About the Work of Deschooling