Introductions – where are you from?

Hi I’m Linda in Illinois near the MO boarder.  I have twin 18 year old daughters, who would normally be graduating next year 2011, but due to hurricanes and illness will be doing an extra year, maybe more.  The girls were in PS and then we took them out and initially used textbooks, because that was what they were used to – over the years we have become quite eclelctic, and now are mostly CM.  We found that when life happens or disasters happen, it can really cause a textbook education to go off schedule and cause a lot of stress.  We used living books during that time for all but math and science, and found that the books could travel with us during evacuations and the numerous moves we had to make after the hurricane before we settled here.  That taught us a lot, about CM and how it can be used through all kinds of crisis effectively.  Now with illness hitting one of my daughters very hard and her having days where she can do very little work,  and the other daughter having mild cerebral palsy we find that CM is a perfect fit.  Life is full of challenge – and CM fits in perfectly.  My husband and I have been married almost 21 years, he has just retired from 24 years in the Air Force and is now in a new civilian job.  He still travels with his new job, and so life has not changed too much, we are blessed he found a job quickly.  We are heading toward the end of our homeschool journey, but my daughter with CP wants to do college at home, because life on a campus would be too much for her, as she tires quickly, so I have that to look forward to.  My daughter who is ill at this time, may take longer to graduate than even we had accounted for, but her health is what matters, and we will do whatever is necessary to restore her and if it takes extra years, so be it.  It is lovley reading about you all, this is a wonderful forum.

Some of that reply was sent to you rebekahy:)  Sending warm thoughts your way, as it should be a beautiful Spring day today:)

My name is Michelle.  We are Australians living/working in Jerusalem, Israel.  Our 3 children (ages 8, 6, & 1) were born here and only think of Australia as a nice place to visit 🙂  We have been homeschooling for 4 years and started with Living Books Curriculum last year to try and introduce more CM methods into our education at home.  Homeschooling is considered “out of the ordinary” in Israel but is slowly on the increase.  Last year we started a Co-Op for foreigners homeschooling in Jerusalem.  It has gained in popularity and we now have 11 families who participate.  This is a real answer to prayer.  I only found the SCM website and forum recently and I’m so thankful already for the help I have found here.  You are all so wonderful.

Blessings and Shalom from Jerusalem,

Michelle

Big Texas Howdy here!  We live in Houston (on the very edge of the the SE corner).  My dh and I have been married for 13 years!  We started in San Diego, my hometown, and moved here in 2003.  I LOVE homeschooling here…you are completely on your own.  I have an almost 8yo ds (his bday is Sunday!) and a 12yo dd.  We have homeschooled from the beginning as we didn’t want our dd learning about “alternative lifestyles” in grade school!!  I have been on this site from the beginning I think and it is a constant source of inspiration, I am grateful for it.  We have been CMing  almost since the beginning and never realized it!  As I Christian we are taught not to covet so I wil not spend the rest of the afternoon droooling over Misty’s 10 acres!  We would love to own country property and God willing one day we shall!

Hi everyone!  This is Bridget from East Central Iowa.  This post is so much fun!  I have been hsing for 7 years.  I have three daughters and one boy.  Been hsing from the get-go and wouldn’t change a thing.  Dabbled with CM at first; didn’t think it was strenuous enough:0  Went to an eclectic approach.  Switched to a classical approach, and then finally ended up doing CM.  We’ve been using CM for 3 years now, and I can remember the day my eldest daughter said, “Thank God for Charlotte Mason MOM!”

We live in a nice city, the grass is green and the trees are leafing out.  Our magnolia is blooming in the front yard, and the birds are everywhere.  Our family is crazy about nature, in particular, birds.  We’ve been going to look for ducks and water birds for weeks now.

Nice to “meet” you all.

Hi Everyone,

Add me too I’m from South Carolina. I’ve been homeschooling for 12 years. Through the years have looked at CM and AO. I shied away due to heavy needs for documentation. LOL! I should have never let it bother me so much. ugh. I’m here and hoping to make some changes to our learning ways. I’ve 7 children. One already grown and out of the house. Six still at home ranging from 17 down to 5. Their ages are ds17,dd15,dd13,dd10,dd7 and ds5. We have a mix of special needs.  We’re an Air Force Reservist family with dad seemingly always deployed the past 8 years. We’re currently getting ready for another deployment. Tomorrow, I’ll pass the half century mark and listen to my children tell how “old” I really am. I ignored my bday last year since Dad was in Afghanistan and this year I choose to turn 15 instead I told everyone I was only 5 this last year. I gotta stay young to keep playing! I don’t wanna grow up!

MeadowLark loving the Sonshine and the sunny days of spring!

By the way… Who all is going to the seminar in Charlotte?

Hi There!  I’m Betty from South Florida.  It’s a pretty spring day here.  I’m from Cuban parents raised in Miami now living a little north of that.  Finally moved into our new-to-us-home!  I’ve been married to my best friend for almost 16 years.  We’ve been homeschooling from the beginning using CM methods.  I have a 14 yr old daughter, twin 12 yr old boys, and 6 yr old busy, little daughter. 

Homeschooling has been a challenge for us.  We’re not the conventional poster children for a homeschool family.  We travel alot with my dh all over Florida and other states.  This presents its own challenges and blessings.  I also have chronic fatigue and celiac (as well as one of my sons).  There are days I can barely move for the fatigue.  This year has brought many changes for us as well as more tiredness, but it’s all of the Lord and I know He has a good purpose for it.  I’m clinging to that! 

I do enjoy to read and to knit and to take nature walks.  So far, I see I’m the only Floridian?  I know there are more of us out there, though sometimes it feels like I’m the only CMer I know!  Many Blessings to you all.