Tis the Season for Homeschooling, Fa, La, La, La!

Rosie enjoying a laugh with a favorite athlete. Photo contributed by Ruth Alumbaugh for HTNP.

Our home school has shifted gears considerably since the last installment to HTNP. In fact, this time around, you only get to hear from ME, the mom who quit her day job with the State of Connecticut to devote her time, energy and life to her children/family.

So, where are we now in the process of homeschooling? So glad you asked!

This past summer, Rosie (who is 14 years old) got herself a job at the Windham University Club doing landscaping work. She was up at 6 a.m. many mornings, lugging dirt, debris and driving a golf cart on whatever her assignment was for the day. I am pretty proud of her, since she just walked into the place and asked for a job… and got it.

So, I have a pretty independent young teenager who was working AND going to school at the same time since she started her job the end of April.

This past summer, Jonathan, going into his senior year of high school, took a pre-calculus class at Quinnebaug Community College. Through much toil, study and struggle, he aced the class.

Jonathan, in his fencing gear, posing for a photo with his photography mentor at The Chronicle, Roxanne Pandolfi. Photo contributed by Ruth Alumbaugh for HTNP.

He also got a job working as a freelance photographer for the Chronicle, a local newspaper. He is very fortunate to have gotten a job he loves and one that he gets paid for, too!

Fast forward to this past fall and Jonathan has gained admission to QVCC and is a fully matriculated college student.

In fact, he is dually enrolled in the local community college AND our home school high school! He is earning college credit during his senior year of high school.

When he takes 12 or more credit hours, he can take a FREE class at Eastern Connecticut State University, as well. He is even enrolled for classes in the fall.

He continues to enjoy his job at the Chronicle (perhaps you’ve seen some of his photos?), as well as fencing whenever he can. He is one busy young man.

He has also gotten his driving permit, so we are driving with him as he heads to getting his own driver’s license and vehicle.

Rosie proudly displays her Quinebaug Valley Community College ID. Photo contributed by Ruth Alumbaugh for HTNP.

Rosie is homeschooling this semester but has gained admission to QVCC, too! She is going to get her college feet wet in January where, at the ripe old age of 15, she will take her first college course in drawing. This will supplement the academics she is already taking. This course is 6 hours a week and garners her 3 credit hours when she matriculates.

I can’t say enough about how the local community college is really on the cutting edge of getting some of the educational cream of the crop. Most other colleges won’t let you even stick your big toe into the classroom unless you are graduated from high school, have a transcript, or have taken your GED. My kids have done none of that but they are able to move forward educationally, nevertheless! I am really grateful for this shift.

So, what am I doing? I am glad you asked. I am shifting, too. I find myself grieving the loss of my children since they are now into adulthood. And I find myself coordinating scheduling more and doing more administrative stuff rather than hands-on academic tutoring.

However, there are life lessons that can still be learned at home even while children are at the stage my children are at. Here are a few…

• Time management/planning – How do I steward my time so I can get my academics done well and on time?

• Budgeting skills – How do I spend my money? What do I save? How can I avoid borrowing?

• Communication skills – This area is of utmost importance to me, as we are all going in various directions at times. Appointments, jobs, trying to schedule family time when we are ALL together, being faithful to our commitments, and saying we are “sorry” when we mess up….these are all things that are part of growing up!

• Sexuality – Yeah, you were wondering about this issue, weren’t you? Well, we feel it’s important to discuss this area when it seems appropriate for us as parents. Neither child dates, but we talk about relationships, friendships, and what each of us values. We get to know one another through this process!

• Household chore coordination – I used to incorporate cooking and domestic training into the kids’ schedules. Now, I find myself doing more of this. I also find myself giving the kids more freedom to do things on their own time clock. However, when the laundry on the floor of a bedroom gets up and walks itself to the hamper, I know that I MUST intervene!

Jonathan helps with Website design, business cards and more. Photo contributed by Ruth Alumbaugh for HTNP.

It’s a different season of life. I recently started substitute teaching in the public and private school system. I continue to give piano lessons. I continue to accompany for choral concerts and occupy the bench at some local churches when they need an organist. I continue to make cookies and spend time at the University of Connecticut with international friends quite frequently.

But I still haven’t hit the nail on the head when it comes to what I am going to be when I grow up. I wonder how long it will take?

If you’d like to contact Ruth about homeschooling questions, please write to editor@htnp.com and your message will be forwarded to her.

Posted December23, 2012

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