The View from the Pedestal

Cara family, homeschooling, Parenting, Uncategorized, writing life Leave a Comment

Every get the sense everything is teetering around you? Then you glance around and notice it’s because you’re on a pedestal. Not one you sought, not one you wished for, but there you are. Some days my life feels that way. There’s the Pedestal for Mommy to four. There’s another Pedestal for the Homeschooling Momma. Then there’s professor, attorney, writer…the …

Homeschooling: Is it for you?

Cara homeschooling, Parenting 2 Comments

It’s that time of year when parents thoughts turn toward where their kids should go to school in the fall. For some, their thoughts will turn to homeschooling. How can you evaluate whether homeschooling might be right for your family? I have often heard my mom tell people that homeschooling is for every child…it’s just not for every parent. What …

Homeschooling Tips: to Test or not to Test

Cara homeschooling 2 Comments

This week students across Indiana are taking the ISTEPS. This week, my children are taking the Iowa Basics. Indiana does not require testing for homeschooled children, so why are we doing it? I don’t believe the point of education is to test my children. However, I do believe that testing them periodically (about every two years) provides me with a …

Great Foreign Language Tool

Cara homeschooling Leave a Comment

Every once in awhile I stumble on an app that is worth it’s weight in gold. And sometimes they’re free! Today I want to introduce you to one that I am thrilled with. It’s perfect for people who want to pick up a foreign language or brush up dusty skills. Maybe you’ve heard of it: Duolingo. It’s a free app …

Learning New Skills: German Anyone?

Cara homeschooling, kids and school 3 Comments

Don’t ask me why…but I must have been bored because in January I decided to learn some German. This from the girl who at one time didn’t want to learn any languages then took ten credits of Spanish and twenty credits of French in college…don’t ask! The kids and I have been working on it together. After lots of research …

Three Posts on Homeschooling Worth Reading

Cara homeschooling Leave a Comment

Just the other night I discovered a new to me blog thanks to my friend Jennifer Mull. She’s a homeschooling mom of eight that I go to church with and I love bouncing by her facebook page because I never know what kind of links she’ll have up there. Often they get me thinking. Don’t you love friends like that? …

Teaching friendship

Cara homeschooling, Parenting 1 Comment

Me and my longest running friend Joanna Friendship is hard work. Distance can get in the way. A busy schedule. Simple drifting apart. I’ve been reminded of that this week as I’ve tried to help my oldest navigate a tricky situation. What a a challenge. I’ve been trying to remember what it was like as a tween or early teen. …