- Robin: I'm the mom, the teacher, the writer, the beekeeper, the dyer.. I put color on stuff. Mostly this means yarn and fabric, but occasionally color gets on the floor, the stove, the walls, the table, me [a lot] and on one memorable occasion, the dog, but that was really his fault since I had no idea that he would want to roll all over the huge canvas backdrop drying out on the grass in the yard. He was only green for a few days.
- Eric: The builder, the dad, the hauler of heavy wheelbarrow loads of gravel. And sand. And manure. I asked him what nickname he wanted me to use. He likes 'The Fixer-Upper' because it isn't clear whether he fixes things up or needs fixing up himself. I'm not so fond of 'The Fixer-Upper' as a nickname because the best way to abbreviate it lends itself to some not very G-rated interpretation. He also asked me if 'middle aged guy' [see About Me] means that he now gets to run around with a broadsword burning and pillaging. I said no.
- K1: Kid 1
- K2: Kid 2
- Tibby: the K9
- Blue, Dobby, Nell: the cats
- The ducks: the ducks
- The chickens: the chickens
- The bees: the bees
3. How much land do you have? We have 40 acres. Most of it is trees and brambles.
4. Can I use your photos? Maybe. ONLY if you give me credit and a link right with the photo. I will not be nice if you steal my work and don't give me credit.
5. Can I use your stories, recipes, etc? Maybe. ONLY if you let me know, give me credit and a link that precedes what you have excerpted from the blog. I will not be nice if you steal my work and don't give me credit. Trust me, I can be a real bitch.
6. Is homeschooling hard? Not at all - as long as you like spending a lot of time with your kids, as in 'attached at the hip'. If you like your kids and don't mind being with them all day, then homeschooling won't be a problem.
7. I want to know more about homeschooling. What are some good homeschooling resources? My favorite books are by John Holt: Teach Your Own; Learning All the Time; How Children Fail. These will give you the inspiration and the arguments you need to make the decision and defend it to all of your nosy relatives and friends who might try to talk you out of it.
8. What about homeschooling and socialization? All of the homeschooled kids I know are well socialized and more mature than their public schooled peers.
9. What about math? or science? or something I don't know how or don't want to teach my kids myself? The internet is a wonderful resource. There are hundreds of excellent computer games/programs out there to use for those subjects. In addition, there are tons of organized homeschooling groups around. Do a Google search to find one near you. Once you get involved in the homeschooling community, you'll be amazed at how easy it is to form co-ops or find tutors for the subjects you are afraid of.
