Lessons from 2010 and Resolutions for 2011

It is 2011 already! 7 days into the New Year (it's our anniversary today! Woohoo!), I want to share the lessons we learned from 2010, and our homeschooling resolutions for 2011. I want to be more "accountable" and have positive pressure from you, my dear readers. :) So feel free to comment below, and share your own lessons learned and resolutions too! :)

Lessons Learned From 2010

1. Homeschooling is NOT easy. But we believe that it is God's calling for our family. And when God calls, He also supplies. His grace is sufficient for us. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

2. There is nothing wrong with unschooling. Especially when your child is only turning 4 years old. Kids will have to deal with so much when they get older, and they deserve all the time to play, laugh, sing, dance, be read aloud to, discover, explore, etc, etc while they are still young.

3. Support of family, friends and other homeschoolers is essential for every homeschooling family. I am grateful to many who have been sources of encouragement, information and guidance especially since we arrived in the Philippines. Special mention goes to Teacher Mamas Josette, Michelle, Blessie, Monica, Jennie, Martine and Chame. I thank God for you! And my parents who are totally supportive of our homeschooling/unschooling!

4. It is okay to shift from one homeschool provider to another, or to have different resources from different providers, or to have no provider at all and just get your resources from the internet. What is important is what works for your child, and that everything is wrapped up in prayer and planned for well. (Must remind myself about this once we decide on which homeschool program/curriculum to use!)

5. Do not underestimate your children. Hubby and I have not been formally homeschooling our preschooler, but he learned to write his name (TIM) without our directly teaching him to do so, amongst many other things. A lot of times, people ask what school he goes to, and he proudly answers "homeschool!" 

6. The 4Rs of homepreschooling, as described by Susan Lemons, is a great way to assess one's "progress." Focusing on relationships, routine, readiness and reading aloud to (our kids) are one of the best ways to homeschool your preschooler.

And now for our Resolutions for 2011, which boil down mostly to three:

1. We will be more active in discerning for what homeschool program/curriculum to use for Timothy (and Therese). We will do more research, ask more homeschooling parents for inputs, attend more orientations and be MORE OPEN to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

2. We will offer all our homeschooling plans to the Lord through Mama Mary's (and our patron saints') intercession. We will continue to enforce the 4Rs and remove all the negative attitudes and bad habits to make way for God's will to be more clear and homeschooling to be more efficient! (Away from me, procrastination and poor planning skills, in Jesus' name be gone! ;-)

3. We will be Catholic in all we do - not just in our homeschooling, but in EVERY thing. We will strive to be the best Catholics that we can be, and champion the cause of homeschooling among more Catholics and Christians, especially those in our circle of influence. Of course, we will be open to the inputs of our Christian brothers and sisters, especially those who are homeschoolers themselves.

Pray for us please as we continue in our homeschooling journey. We offer up prayers as well for all families out there who wish and hope for a better 2011! May God bless us to live our lives with purpose and passion! :) Happy New Year everyone!