We are an eclectic homeschooling family of five. This blog was started so that we could keep track of ideas that fly through our heads, random thoughts that come out our mouths or adventures our feet may travel. We use no curriculum and sometimes it feels as if time is passing and we are forgetting to notice where we’ve been; so this is a journal of sorts. It is first and foremost for us, but we enjoy exchanges from others on their own journey.
For a day job we run our own portrait photography business Bellies, Babies & Tots Photography from home so that kids, learning, work and life can intertwine. We also have a cafepress shop where we express our smart alec tendencies at The Eclectic Parent.
So to friends, family and other wanderers that stop by, welcome.
6 responses so far ↓
1 Jessica // Jul 27, 2007 at 10:24 pm
Hi!
I just wanted to say that I absolutely LOVE your page and I miss your children!!!! It sounds like they are having a wonderful summer
I am officially moved in to my new place here in the Windy City and the job search is on! It has not been as easy as I would have hoped, but I am keeping the faith that there is something out there for me
Take care everyone!
2 Annalise // Oct 5, 2007 at 2:40 pm
Hi! Just found your blog; love it! Do you guys live in Phoenix? Because the photos at the kid’s museum look like the one we go to in Mesa. We live in Central Phx. I’m a SAHM to a 2 yr. old, who is almost certain that he will be homeschooled. If you don’t mind; (I know you’re super-busy), I’d love it if you could give me some tips about it when you can.
Thanks!
3 Karen // Oct 7, 2007 at 1:11 am
Annalise, yes we’re in Metro-Phoenix. If you keep looking through our site you’ll probably recognize the Phoenix Zoo, Arizona Science Center, Mesa Southwest Museum . . . hmm tips on homeschooling? If you browse through the Parental Ramblings category you’ll get some (some of it is just rambling, but some is specifically parent thoughts on homeschooling like this: http://eclecticparent.com/blog/2007/04/23/curriculums-and-lesson-planning/ ) If you have 2yo the firs thing I’d say is keep up whatever your doing - read to them, let them play, let them do art, bang pots and pans, most off answer all those questions they ask. Eventually why, why, why leads to “why is pointing your feet at people rude in Thailand?”
The questions grow as they do so keep them in the habit or asking.
Let me think a while - check back and I’ll see if I can post some tips for you in a blog entry.
Karen
4 Tara // Jan 29, 2008 at 8:57 am
Hello. I tried to find your email, but couldnt, thats okay. I just wanted to say that I absolutly love your website. I still havent finished reading through it but it gives so much insight to unschooling, and homeschooling in general. The advice is great! I have a really hard time explaining my thoughts on homeschooling to other people (family and friends) but you put it into the exact words I was looking for. Expecially your posts on socialization, my thoughts are exactly the same, I just couldnt put it into words like you did. By reading your posts, it doesnt sound like you have too many people around you that disagree with your dicision to homeschool, but I have the opposite problem, I have no one that agrees. What adive would you give? I know that these are all lifestyle choices, and need to be personal dicision for me and my family, but its hard to have every.single.person think I am out of my mind. I just want to say that Ive always thought highly of homeschooling and homeschooled children, but reading your blog and seeing your kids, totally confirms my beliefs. Just reading what they say/do and seeing the pictures of their crafts/writing really gives me inspiration. This was just the website that I needed to find…I was feeling a little down about it all. Thank you!
5 astra // Sep 9, 2008 at 1:31 am
Hi,
just browsing for ‘mom’s blog’ & I found yours. Are you former teacher? In jakarta, there’s some kind of trend of homeschooling but they use national curiculum & there’s test at the end of school year. Your method seems so much fun..
6 Karen // Sep 9, 2008 at 5:14 pm
I actually have an education degree but by the time I got done getting it I wasn’t very interested in teaching in schools. Some states here do require you to submit curriculum for approval or take tests, etc, but Arizona pretty much lets you do your own thing
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