Auroras don't care about bedtime!
As I struggle to write this about me page, it's mid-June, the sun is shining, and it's 71°F, positively toasty by Alaska standards. The sky is the shade of blue I have only ever seen here - if you read the section above, you know I am qualified to comment on sky shades elsewhere (if you didn't read it, I'm not offended, just know I put time into that for you!)
I am watching a bald eagle catch the updraft, lazily circling the garden. Above it, a float plane flies to what I presume is a pristine, glacier-fed lake somewhere beautiful, remote, and rugged. There is still a little snow clinging to the mountains, and a neighbour just sent over a picture of a moose with her calf nibbling the strawberry plants in the garden bed.
This is summer in Alaska, and I can't wait to get outside!
Homeschooling gives us the freedom to learn as a family, grow together, and create memories before the days when our little kids are adults and have to do the adulting themselves.
In the winter, when the Northern Lights paint the sky at 2 am, nothing is stopping me from waking the girls so we can go outside and watch a spectacle that only a few people get to experience, no need to worry about beign tired at school; we get to gently move into our day and perhaps add in an art lesson to reflect the beautiful that we just saw or spend time researching the aurora phenomenon.
I am aware that so many families experience life differently. Although the summer school break is in full swing, some kids are indoors attending summer school, glued to electronics (Disclaimer: my kids are watching telly right now, but they got too hot and have been outside for hours; 71°F is hot for Alaskans!) or just not able to experience things that they and their parents wish they could.
From all the conversations I have had in the checkout line, I know that many families are dissatisfied with their children's education. They are unsure of how to address the situation and effect a positive change. If they are considering homeschooling, questions arise about what they would teach and how to do so. Do they have the patience and talent to teach? What about time and space and resources, or worse, what friends and family might think?
All these questions can be answered and resolved, and the best part is that when you get that figured out, it won't matter that Auroras don't care about bedtime because you won't have to either!
About Me
Hello, I'm Emma, and I can't wait to get to know you!
But first, let me tell you a little about me - I'll try not to make it awkward!
I am a Mum to four daughters, and as you might be able to tell by the use of "Mum," I'm English.
Two-thirds of our family currently resides in Alaska, where we homeschool two of our four daughters. The older girls, the missing one third, have graduated to their own homes and seem to have decided what they want to be when they grow up; gosh, they worked that out much quicker than I did!
You may be thinking that England to Alaska is quite the jump, but let me tell you, I didn't come here directly. Nope, it was a circuitous route via many states: Washington, Georgia, Alaska (for 4 years), Maryland, Missouri, Arizona, North Carolina, Michigan, and then finally back "home" to Alaska. I promise I was not a fugitive on the run from the law; I was just a wife following her husband and his career. If he was trying to shake me off, he failed because twenty years after we began our adventure, we are still together and doing pretty well, even if I do say so myself!
With all that moving comes a lot of upheaval, both physically and emotionally. Saying goodbye to friends, packing up favorite things, and heading out, often thousands of miles, to a place you have never seen before is a big deal. Finding schools is an even bigger deal...and don't get me started on finding a hairdresser!
However, we have done it very successfully many times, and the option to homeschool has always been available to us. When I sat down to add up all the combined years of homeschooling experience we have, it was 23 and counting. Yikes, that makes me feel old!
However, every relocating cloud has a silver lining, and mine is being able to share our experiences, offer support, cheer on, answer questions, champion, and encourage other homeschooling families, no matter where they are in their journey.
And..
How can I help you?
The content, courses, and community I have here at Old New Skills Workshops can be a game changer in your homeschooling journey. From live coaching sessions to planning pages, kids' educational content, curriculum ideas, and in-person learning events for the whole family, I am confident you will find plenty of resources to inspire, help, and uplift you on your journey.
What will you gain?
My hope and intention when writing any new content for Old New Skills Workshops is that families will find resources to help them grow, learn, and thrive.
You will find a space that offers community and support, meeting you where you are and providing a helpful guiding hand. As you become more confident, I hope you will feel comfortable in sharing your experiences and knowledge, and becoming a guide to other just beginning their family's journey.