Christ is Risen, dear readers!
Every month here at Patterns for Life we highlight an individual homeschool mom through a written interview in order to encourage and inspire our readers. We know it can be helpful to meet — whether virtually or in real life — other mothers who are in the trenches with us here and now, and can relate to our daily struggles and joys.
This month we are pleased to introduce Juliana, a seasoned homeschool mom with plenty to share.
1. Tell us about yourself and your family.
My husband and I are in our late 40’s, married nearly 22 years. We have six children: 19 (and on her own, going to nursing school) 16-year-old son, who plans to do running start next year — that is if the funding isn’t ended! 14-year-old daughter, the artist of the family, 12-year-old daughter, the bookworm and naturalist, nine-year-old son —who’s just being a very nine-year-old boy these days. Five-year-old daughter — I get to start homeschooling my last child this year after turning 48!
2. How long have you been homeschooling and what motivated you to start in the first place?
We have been technically homeschooling since my oldest was 5, so since the Fall of 2011. Though, if CM homeschooling is an atmosphere — hopefully it was happening before then! My husband and I discussed homeschooling at our very first meeting — on an airplane! I knew that if I had children, I would homeschool them. My husband took a little while to come around to the idea. I had been homeschooled for some of my childhood and I saw the positive and negative of that experience and (somewhat arrogantly) wanted to improve upon it. A church friend, finding out I wanted to homeschool, introduced me to Charlotte, Mason, and simply said — very Slavic-like —this is the best way to go. I am eternally grateful for her advice.
3. Describe a typical homeschool day in your home.
This has changed over the years. I no longer have any babies. Those days were different. Now, however, I am able to rise earlier — having hopefully gotten a decent night’s sleep. I have my cup of coffee, say my prayers, begin heating up the oatmeal and the children begin emerging. My youngest, 5, is usually first, and sometimes “joins” me for my prayers — i.e. she colors or looks at a book while I hopefully pray, trying not to get too distracted with her chatter. My older (12 and up) children tend to start their schoolwork as soon as they get up. I encourage them to start with their assigned (AO) scripture readings or whatever spiritual book I have assigned (subbing from the AO list). Around 8:30-9 we gather for breakfast and prayers.
It’s Lent now and so we are trying to be more intentional with prayers before breakfast. Other times it is the other way around. At breakfast (always oatmeal, except for Saturdays), I read the daily readings using The Bible and the Holy Fathers and the Prologue of Ohrid.
Cleanup follows and then I work with my 9 year old son while the others do their independent work. I haven’t started any formal work with my youngest yet, except daily Mother Goose poems and her 9 year old brother reviewing phonograms with her — which currently has begun to backfire. Various readings, math, reading lessons, piano practice, interspersed with various interruptions ensues until Lunch. Unless it’s a day where I’m getting dinner done early by making it for lunch, we eat leftovers from a previous day. During Lunch, I read something aloud — right now it is an interesting mix of The Ladder of Divine Ascent and then a re-read of Red Sails to Capri. The latter isn’t a typical Lenten read, but there was a need for a little levity, especially given the former book. Again, we clean up from the meal and then finish up whatever school work is finished. Sometimes we race off to our CM co-op or nature walk (Tuesdays) or there might be an appointment or extracurricular class to get ready for. The rest of the day consists of finishing our schoolwork, hopefully attending to our chores, getting dinner ready and often running to a class or co-op. Our church just started a co-op between our parish school, St Macrina’s Academy, and parish homeschoolers. I am helping with Shakespeare, folk singing, folk dancing and now during Lent — making phosphora.
Then, dinner, this time my husband reads aloud while we finish and clean up. This could be anything from The Hobbit to a spiritual read. Currently it is alternating between The Way of the Pilgrim and From I-ville to You-ville.
We then have some free time/finishing up of any work - school, chores, then evening prayers and bed!
4. What is your favorite part of homeschooling?
It is definitely digging into the books themselves. From Understood Betsy and Pagoo to The Sea Around Us, The Land of Little Rain and The Count of Monte Cristo — I love these books! I’m terrible at pre-reading, but sometimes I manage to read them alongside and sometimes it’s just hearing their narrations that helps me love these books. Occasionally, they are something I’ve already read, but that’s happening less often with my high-schoolers! I will try to work on that this summer and moving forward.
5. Does homeschooling affect the way you parent? If so, how?
Absolutely! I know my children in a really profound, intimate way from homeschooling them; parenting is a part of this and also springs from this. It can get messy. I sin minute by minute, with my impatience and pride. But they hopefully see my repentance and I see theirs. I see that homeschooling has helped me grow in patience over the years. Parenting alone will do this, but homeschooling heightens the need, for sure! Charlotte Mason’s emphasis on the personhood of the child has been incredibly helpful. When I’m having a difficult moment with a child, it helps so much to reorient myself by considering that they are a person, with a soul, which I am either helping or hindering at any particular moment.
6. What is your least favorite part of homeschooling?
I am terrible at keeping a schedule, staying on task, pre-reading. I have friends who are terrific at organizing themselves, their homeschool life and schedule — this is not my strong point. I am very much a go with the flow kind of gal, but am trying to get better at organization!
7. What have you found to be the most humbling aspect of parenting/homeschooling?
Every day I see my own sins being replicated by my children, this is terribly humbling. I also fail daily in getting it all done. We have gone a year with no Art Study or dictation but have excelled in other areas. I never get it all done, but by the Grace of God, we are still learning, still growing.
8. Looking back to the beginning of your homeschool journey, what are some things you wish you had known? What would you tell your younger self as she was just starting out?
I sometimes yearn for those zealous beginning years now that I am a 47 year old mom. But I also see a lot of lack of patience and love that went along with that zeal. Even though I was in the baby stage, always having a baby and toddler — I still seem to have managed to get more done; BUT I also yelled a lot more, had a lot less peace. It sounds so cliche, but I do resonate with those who tell us to remember to enjoy our children, that the time is fleeting. I have a child out of the house already and another who is starting to chomp at the bit to follow. I think this is my last year of homeschooling him. Revel in those early years! Yes, do math every day and don’t throw school to the wind too many days, but go for lots of nature walks, watch the birds and just love on your children.
9. How does your faith affect your homeschooling?
It permeates everything we do! We have the blessing to be able to attend most any weekday/feastday service that is on the schedule. Our morning time with the liturgical readings and the Prologue is foundational to our days. My children often pray the 3rd or 6th hour as their morning prayers, or sometimes they join me for my daily Paraklesis. This is all normal for them. Their Orthodox friends from church have become their best friends, simply because they are the most comfortable to be around, we share our Faith! When a child is really struggling with a sibling, it is fairly normal to have them make a prostration to each other, ask forgiveness. Our Faith has given us all this.
10. What are some of your favorite homeschool resources?
Ambleside Online, for sure. I used the Alveary in some of my younger years and that was great for a time. When I got to the point that all I really wanted was a booklist, then I switched to AO. I love Right Start Math and the Anne White Plutarch guides. I host a Well Read Mom book group and while this isn’t a homeschooling resource, the enrichment I have received has definitely added to our homeschool life. I’m pretty simple, that’s all I can think of for now.
11. What do you consider to be the most rewarding aspect of homeschooling?
It is definitely the relationship that has been cultivated with my children and also my husband. I could be defined as a relational being, it’s what makes me tick. So, having an atmosphere that cultures this is so many ways is just riches. I also love the attention that has been developed along the way: a son that interrupts my read-aloud to loud-whisper that a flock of cedar waxwings has just alighted on our cherry tree, a daughter who categorized moss and lichen for fun. Folk dancing has now become a big thing for our family — I really, really hoped it would. My two oldest hosted contra dances for their 16th birthdays, which was a dream come true.
12. Anything else you’d like to add? Not at this moment, I’m just relieved to finally get this to you! Forgive my taking so long. Feel free to get back to me with any questions. I can hopefully be more timely with just a question or two!
Thank you, Juliana! I love that your daughters hosted contra dances for their birthdays! What a fun idea. Seeing the activities to which we introduce our children begin to take on a life of their own is such a rewarding thing.
I resonated with so much of this! And am inspired by how fully you incorporate your faith at home.