Years ago, when we made the heady decision to bring our children home to educate, we didn’t foresee how difficult it would be. Had I stayed with the status quo, there would have been no parent/child conflict over academics or schedules, no sleepless nights questioning my ability to do this crazy thing, no defending [read more] …
Younger Years: K-8
Summer Plans and Pitfalls
Spring is not yet here, but I am answering parent questions daily about how to structure their child’s summer. Usually, the temptation is to fill it too full, to sacrifice quality for quantity. If we are not careful, we can start to view summer as a time to build resumes with flashy credentials rather than [read more] …
Creating an Excitement for Learning
The world is such a fascinating place, filled with interesting people, exciting things to learn about, and endless possibility for exploration. Why is it then that so many kids are jaded and have not the slightest curiosity about how life works? With more data available quicker today than ever before, it appears our young might [read more] …
Job Training Starts in Childhood
Do your kids ask enough questions? After visiting with numerous managers, I’ve come to the conclusion that many millennials have never been trained to ask good questions on the job or taught to see things from another’s point of view. Employment is regarded solely as a way to fulfill their own financial and career goals. [read more] …
Why Does Service Matter?
Well, to be very candid, often it doesn’t. If a child is merely meeting a school-imposed community service hour minimum or just dabbling (three hours serving in a soup kitchen, two hours at an animal shelter . . .) then community service doesn’t mean much at all. A little here and a little there doesn’t [read more] …