The process

Hey, y'all! So you decided to homeschool. This is great news. I'm so happy that you have decided to take control of your child's education. The first step, get involved with HSLDA https://hslda.org/. This is an organization that protects the rights of homeschoolers. Depending on which state you are in, you have to follow a certain protocol. All of your questions can be answered by these lawyers. I highly recommend it. Once you do that, you have to fill out your letter of intent(LOI) and IHIP, again that all depends on the state you live in. For example, Texas has more freedom than New York. Hslda can also help with curriculum choices if you need help choosing. Now for parents who want to homeschool in the middle of the year, your process is a little different. On the hslda website, there is a withdrawal form that must be filled out depending on your state. You can choose to homeschool year-round, or six weeks straight then one week off. Whatever you choose, just make sure it aligns with your family schedule. So the process is not stressful at all. It just requires paperwork and focus. The process is pretty simple when you have the mind to do it, have a plan set forth, and the heart to deliver it. Just take your time because you can teach at your own pace. Well, I hope this can help someone in their journeys. Please don't hesitate to ask questions. Please check out my post How do I begin homeschooling. It's more detailed and also has curricula that you can use for free! Hope this helps 🌹

Caged Bird By Maya Angelou

A free bird leaps
on the back of the wind   
and floats downstream   
till the current ends
and dips his wing
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and   
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings   
with a fearful trill   
of things unknown   
but longed for still   
and his tune is heard   
on the distant hill   
for the caged bird   
sings of freedom.

The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn
and he names the sky his own

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams   
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream   
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied   
so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings   
with a fearful trill   
of things unknown   
but longed for still   
and his tune is heard   
on the distant hill   
for the caged bird   
sings of freedom.

Which one are you? Which one do you choose to be? If you are the one in a cage, how do you expect to become free? To the free one, how did you achieve said freedom? Is the bird in captivity any different than the free bird? Could the bird in captivity be freer than the actual bird that’s not in a cage? Last question, Have I provoked thought today?🌹🌹

Blind perception

Today I wanted to talk about perception in homeschooling and life in general. I'm realizing that even though I've been taught to see something one way, I had to learn to change the way I viewed things. In my sight, I can't see the great in me. Why is this? Because my perception was flawed. I have allowed the world to shape how I perceived things. It's not easy to let go of a faulty perception of myself. But then I realize "as a man thinketh in his heart so is he". I often have to watch my thoughts. I have to keep my vision in a state of positive perception. How do I do this you ask? Great question! Well, I have to remember the promises of Yahuah that He has towards me. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith Yahuah, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. I remember that He tells me to guard my heart. Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. These are just a few but there are so many others. At times we have to remember, (even when we can't see what's ahead) the promises of Yah and that He can change our perception (vision) in all things. We just have to be patient and allow it to happen. He is the potter and we are the clay. So let's take today to change our perceptions of our home schools, home life, jobs, etc, and one day we will be able to see clearly. I hoped I have provoked thought today🌹🌹

1 Corinthians 13:12

[12]For now, we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Really look at the photo. What do you see? Do you see something through your blind perception or is there something deeper? Comment below 😊

Finding Focus

What if we couldn't see? 

Would we still love?

Would we still honor the one above?

Would we appreciate the sun rising?

What if we couldn't hear? 

Would we still walk in fear?

What if we couldn't touch?

Would we appreciate a hug much?

What if we couldn't walk?

What if we couldn't talk?

A lot of what-ifs right?

I once heard if someone is lame in one of the five senses, the other four are more aware, more activated. Like if a person is blind, they can appreciate the beauty of hearing a hummingbird. Or if a person is deaf, they can appreciate the communication and reading lips. In this life, with all the created noise around us, (good or bad)  we don't stop to enjoy the beauty that life has to offer. There are breathtaking mountains, free-flowing lakes, flower beds, birds singing, and so much more. We were given five senses (and probably more than we are aware of) to enjoy life and also create life. I've never heard a hummingbird sing, have you? Today, let's take the opportunity to appreciate the sun rising, the birds singing, and even when the rain falls. I think often at times, life throws us off course and we lose sight of the things that matter. The pain passed down and the pain present keeps us from living. No more will I see through a flawed perception. No longer will I see life through the eyes of another. I will look at the beauty of life through the eyes of Yahuah. How he created life to be. Life can be beautiful still if we allow it to be. Even in the fallen state, Yahuah, is still creating life. Today take a moment to create and enjoy life through the pains of it. I hope I provoked thought today🌹.

P.s. "Raindrops keep falling on my head, and just like the guy whose feet are too big for his bed, nothing seems to fit, those raindrops keep on falling on my head, they keep falling". But eventually, a rose will rise after all that rain. Be encouraged and be optimistic 🌹🌹A change is coming. 

Love: The twist and turns

Today's post is inspired by love. In homeschooling children are exposed to love in the family. However, there are two sides to this equation. Even though they are exposed to love, they can also be exposed to division. Love is an action word that requires faith daily. For homeschooling to work, love must be present. There are times when we may not feel like walking in love. Love at times brings different emotions. It can be happiness, sadness, worrying, etc. Sometimes love can even mean staying silent even if you want to scream. Love means being patient even in the midst of chaos. In homeschooling, I’m learning how to love daily. Sometimes life throws a wrench in your walk and you may get thrown off, but love allows you to get up to either strive and go on or either let go. Both can be acts of love for a season to regroup. Marriage is seriously tested in homeschooling because as the children get older, curriculums have to change and we have to deal with pre-teen emotions. It can cause a strain on the marriage if we allow it. During these times some decisions have to be made on how to proceed. Love during this time can mean staying silent and watching how life will play out. During the twist and turns of love, our children are being taught daily how to handle and respond to conflict. It's okay to be angry, as long as that anger doesn't consume you to the point of developing a hardened heart. Our children are learning how to pray, resolve conflict, and have faith the size of a mustard seed. So during these twists, take advantage of the lessons that can be taught and also the lessons learned. Understand that at times you may fail, and that's okay. Just get back up again and continue forward. Learn to navigate through the twist of love and everything will fall in line the way it's supposed to. I hope I provoked thought today🌹.

1 Corinthians 13:2

[2]And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity(love), I am nothing. Selah 🌹

Homeschooling in the natural

Today, I want to discuss the beauty of natural hair. I’ve heard stories of little girls and boys being taunted in school by teachers, or even having their hair cut because it stood out too much. This can bring insecurity to the mind of a child. As a homeschooling mama, it's my responsibility to teach my children that their hair is beautiful. It resembles nature as seen in the picture above. When our hair is in its natural state it can withstand all types of weather. I teach my children they are beautiful the way the Most High made them. I show them images of little girls and boys that look like them. There are not a lot of positive images of black boys. So I use the resources that are available to me and also he can see the greatness of his father. The image that my husband shows to his son is of great importance. He sees a man working hard for his family. He shows him how to handle conflict and teaches him the right way, even as a toddler. We as their parents are responsible for shaping their minds despite what the world may put forth. In homeschooling, they can embrace their beauty. It’s no comparison of looks, no need to compete in styles of dress. They are very comfortable. Even if you can’t physically homeschool, you can still teach your children that they are beautiful. Remember, we are responsible for the shaping of our children's minds. If you haven’t today tell your children how beautiful they are and let them know that their hair resembles the beauty of creation. Well, I hope you all have a great day, and please feel free to share with someone who may deal with insecurity. Maybe this can help them in some small way. 😀🌹

It’s okay to cry in Homeschooling :')

 This was written at 3:03a.m

Sometimes I must let the tears fall

After I have given my all

When life throws me a curveball

I must be careful that I don’t stall

Running the race is not easy

When I can’t see clearly 

Am I giving my best?

Will I pass this test? 

Maybe I should slow down my pace

To win this here race

Running on dry

But I must continue to try

But then I realize 

It’s okay to cry

Now my vision is brighter

Holding my children a little tighter

Understanding the race is not for the swift

But fully prepared for the shift…

In the atmosphere…in this realm in time

I know this time is mine,

Mine to overcome

Mine to overrule

Mine to retain my jewels

But only after I realize

It’s okay to cry

Did you cry today? it's okay to do that you know. In homeschooling, we are free to share our emotions, deal with our emotions, and come to a solution to our emotions. Crying is a healthy way of releasing pain, deep-rooted hurt, and suffering. I worry that our people have not cried in a long time. Life’s circumstances have a way of making our hearts hard. This week, I have seen people set free from their ways, provoked thought in my mind, and even see life from a whole new perspective because of a book that I have read (The Alchemist). Yah has a way of hearing our tears ( yes our tears have sound) and answering prayers. HE tells us that he stores our tears in a bottle. To know that He, the one who creates the tears gives us the space and freedom to express this beautiful emotion to Him. He knows how many drops fall from your eyes and He knows why you are crying before you even began. It doesn’t make you weak to cry. Let go, let it out, and know that you are special in the eyes of Yahuah. Do it for yourself. I love you all, but know that Yahuah loves you more than I ever could🌹🌹.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to read, support, gave feedback, and shared on their social media. I’m forever grateful to every one of you🌹. Please take a deep look at the eyes of the models in the photos. What do you see? Do you feel anything? This is one of my boldest pieces ever because I decided to share a photo of a black man crying. Not as a meme, not in a mocking or effeminate way that social media depicts them. You can see both photos and see something in their eyes that they both share. Psalms 56:8-9 Thou tellest my wandering: put thou my tears into thy bottle:are they not in thy book? When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: for this know; for Yahuah is for me. Selah🌹Please feel free to share with someone.

The dry place in Homeschooling

Hey, y’all. I hope you all had a great weekend. Today, I wanted to discuss the dry places in homeschooling. When I say dry places I mean places that feel like it's a desert in your homeschool atmosphere. I saw a quote describing what going through the desert feels like. It says “A journey into the heart of the desert is like a pilgrimage into your own heart. Being in the stillness and vastness reconnecting you to the peace” Anonymous. Sometimes we may feel like wanderers in the desert, similar to how our heart wanders off due to life’s problems. There is a verse in scripture that says Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life, Proverbs 4:23. As a teacher, I must be careful of what I allow in my heart (mind) during the dry places in my life. If I’m not careful I could mess up the presence of the homeschooling area. Just because I homeschool the children doesn’t mean that I’m not exposed to certain things. My children may be unaware of these things, but I’m exposed to a lot more than them because I have to scan what they read or watch. I was not homeschooled so I have a mindset that I have to put off for them to receive the best if that makes sense. In dry places, I’m prone to give in to my emotions. I have to be very aware of this and stop in my tracks. Being a homeschool teacher I know how overwhelming it can be, so I can understand what public school teachers go through daily teaching children who are not their own. The same goes for caregivers. So to avoid staying in that dry place, I drink tea, write, pray, and recently added therapeutic conversations. I also have been reading alot more. I started reading The Alchemist. It’s an excellent read and describes how we must go through changes and the dry places in our life to find our purpose. So if you find yourself in a dry place, know that you will come out of it. There can be beauty in the dry space, and lessons can be learned there if we allow them to. This place helps you to reexamine your heart and you can see what’s important. So be encouraged, Mama, Teachers, Caregivers, and Leaders. Your work will be rewarded greatly. I hope I provoked thought today. Have a good one🌹.

🌹Update: I finished reading The Alchemist. I highly recommend this book because it will take you on an unexpected journey that will leave you very surprised by the outcome. Should I do a book review? If so please let me know in the comments🌹

The long road ahead in homeschooling

 

As I lay here thinking about what's ahead, I'm reminded of how far I've come. I know I could not do this in my strength. It takes courage to homeschool. As someone who grew up highly insecure because I had a serious stutter. I would get nervous reading out loud in a classroom setting. I would itch all over because, I knew I was going to stutter on p words, b words, m words, l words, c/k words, and last a words. I felt defeated. Why did I have to stutter? Why can't I just flow my words properly? I did notice one thing though, in my 12-grade year of high school, I had to do a presentation on Anthrax for the entire 12-grade science class. The auditorium was filled. I was to go first then my partner would go after me. I felt this burst of energy to do the entire presentation without one stutter. I always wondered why in smaller settings I tend to stutter, whereas I'm in larger settings I could flow? I think the reason is that I didn't know what was ahead of me. I couldn't see faces, hear kids laughing, or me itching. Whereas a smaller setting is more personal. You're more exposed to mistakes and people can see you. Over the years, the Most High took away my stutter completely. I learned to relax and breathe through my words. I'm sharing this because the road ahead is long. I have insecurities that I deal with, and I'm teaching my children to face the road ahead even if they don't know. Homeschooling exposes all my flaws and insecurities. Therefore I can acknowledge and fix the problem. Never would I have imagined I would be homeschooling three children. But Yah had a different plan for me. 1Corinthians 1:27 says, but Eloah hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and Eloah hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty To some, "I'm a fool to homeschool". To many, "I don't agree with her because she doesn't have a license to teach". Yah has chosen me for such time as this to be a fool to many, but wise in Him. The journey ahead is a long one, but I will overcome it, my children will graduate and both my husband and children will call me blessed, as per written in proverbs. Ladies, continue to be a fool to society. They may not agree with your stance, but they will respect you because your purpose is to confound the wise. I hope I provoked thought today. Peace 🌹

Having peace not knowing the next step in homeschooling

Good day. I wanted to talk about homeschooling with a peaceful mind. I realize that I don't have all the answers and that's okay. When I learn something new, so do our children. There is peace in not knowing ( I've come to realize that). We don't know what tomorrow will bring. You may have to move suddenly or change jobs. I know that the Most High will bring comfort in situations out of my control. When I need direction, I can always count on the Most High to help and guide me, whether that be through my husband or the Most High Yah himself. For example, I had a hard time figuring out the calendar days so it can be an even amount of teaching days and vacation days. I was stuck so I asked Yah for help. I'm reminded of my favorite verse in scripture which is Isaiah 41:10 "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; For I am that Eloah: I will strengthen thee, yea I will help thee, yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness". The schedule came out perfect. Yahuah gave me the wisdom to proceed without fear. For this, im grateful because even though I don't know everything I know Yah does, and this brings peace. My husband trusts me with his children because He trusts in the Father. I just finished up the school year and I now have a fifth-grader (9), a third-grader (7), and a preschooler (1). I'm going to need some serious strength this year to be homeschooling three children. But I know it can be done because there is peace in homeschooling. I hope I provoked thought today. Peace 🌹🌹

Homeschooling through the difficult topics

Today's topic is a tough one. Over the years there have been many school shootings and schools going into lockdown due to a active shooter alert. We all saw recently regarding the situation in Texas. These are some of the conversations that we have to have with our children. I can't imagine not knowing how my child is doing in a lockdown situation.  I once heard a saying "We have an animalistic right to protect the life of our offspring" As parents we have to make sure that our children are protected by any means necessary. Between the curriculum choices, racism, bullying for students and teachers, getting shamed by teachers, or even being touched(i didn't want to say the other word) by teachers and/or students, we really have to look at the whole picture of sending our children to school and keeping them safe. Unity is important in homeschooling, which is why it's time for people in our community to just stop. Stop the foolishness, stop the arguing, stop the blame game, just stop. We have to protect our children. There is no such thing as being overprotective. The life of your offspring is worth it. I am not shaming anyone. I understand in situations you just can not without the support. But a parent can even homeschool after the Child gets out of school. Let's have the conversation and be a support of each other.🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹