Dear Friends,

Well, I can hardly believe it. As you may have already read, our daughter Kelsey (17) graduated from our homeschool and is ready to start college. So this year, I am homeschooling only one child! That is a new concept.

I did start homeschooling Kelsey when she was in 2nd grade and home educated only her for a couple years. Ian (12 now) decided later that he wanted to start homeschooling Kindergarten when he was 4 1/2. Hmmm.

So I said, "Okay, then you are a Kindergartener." No big difference. He just came along with us on field trips and such as he always did.

But after years of juggling two kids five years apart, it will be interesting and probably a lot of fun to concentrate my teaching efforts on one child again. Not that my college student won't be needing a little help here and there, but now I can say "Ask your teacher!" like any other mom. Ha!

Over the last two years, I must admit the majority of my energy has had to go toward high school subjects like Advanced Algebra (not my favorite) and German 2. Kindergarten was not quite as time consuming.

So Ian, in 6th and 7th grade, sort of ended up tagging along again. He has always had his own curriculum and classes, but these last few years, Kelsey's high school requirements were much more consuming.

So I look forward to this year with Ian. One goal I have is to remind him that homeschooling can be fun. He groans at the talk of going back to school. I never really had this situation with Kelsey (except over Algebra, which is also not her favorite subject!). So this is the year I get more creative with Ian, find out what inspires him, and find out what directions he would like to go in his life. Along with that, I will need to re-inspire myself and remember why I began homeschooling in the first place. It is not all about getting in all the requirements or making sure a certain amount of hours of "schooling" get completed each week. To me, home education means teaching a child to love learning through all their lives and to discover who they are and what they really want to give and get in life.

If you are just beginning to homeschool or if you are re-energizing for a new year like me, remember to look at the big picture and listen to what your heart, your faith, and your instincts tell you. Enjoy your children. Teach them what you know is important. They have the rest of their lives to learn facts and dates. Childhood is fast and fleeting.

Happy Homeschooling!

Jan Jennrich