So this is a day later than I promised. But I really needed yesterday to decompress after the conference and rest. Convention was great! The one thing I wish, is that the last workshop I took, I wish it could have been the first! It would've made the weekend a lot smoother for me and more relaxing. But, I'll get to that in a minute.
So the first thing I did on the last day, was go and hear the keynote speaker. They had one each day, but I didn't make it to hear the others. Seeing as I was there super early on Saturday and had nothing better to do, I went to hear him. He was talking about what they call "The third wave of homeschooling concerns". Well to catch you up (I didn't know what wave 1 or 2 was either) Wave 1 is where everyone is concerned that you won't be able to provide an adequate education for your children (this was big back when homeschooling first came about...the '70s I believe..). The 2nd wave is where they are concerned your kids won't be socialized (this isn't a huge issue anymore for most people, but was and is something homeschoolers get asked). The 3rd wave is concern that you are teaching your kids to be intolerant. Let me clarify this. "People" are concerned that because you homeschool you are teaching your kids YOUR values (duh! right?) and they are not being exposed to social values and therefore you are teaching them to be intolerant of things like homosexuality, gay marriage, abortion, planned parenthood, etc, etc. Well...yea...thats true. I am teaching my kids my values and Christian values which have very firm lines on these issues, whereas in the school system they would learn to tolerate those things and that its "okay". So I agreed with some of what he said, but some of his biblical references weren't right, which bothered me.
The first workshop I did Saturday was called "How Big is God?". It was an astronomy presentation by The 4th Day Alliance. I've seen their stuff before and knew it was going to be good. Basically they take pictures and films of the stars, planets, etc and put scripture with them and tell you how big and awesome God is to create all these universes and celestial things just for us. It really is a cool show and if you ever get a chance to see one, check it out.
Second workshop was okay. It was on "Rx for YOUR special needs". Basically on helping your special needs child. She really didn't touch too deeply on specifics which would've been nice. But it was an okay workshop and there wasn't really anything else I wanted to hear during that hour.
The final workshop I attended was great! I wish it was the first one I went to for the whole week (but wasn't offered until the very end). It was on planning, organizing and (something can't remember). Anyways, have you ever listened to someone speak and one specific thing stands out so much that it doesn't matter what else they said the whole time, all you remember is that one things? Well that was this for me. The lady put it very plainly and boldly that it really doesn't matter what you teach your kids and when they learn it. Now, don't take it the wrong way. Yes kids need to learn reading, writing, math, etc. But they WILL learn it, just maybe not reach the entire goal by the end of the school year. But what really got me was when she was talking about what to teach. Well, as a christian the one thing I really want to teach my kids is who God is, how much He loves them, and raise them to love and serve God with all their hearts, souls and minds. Well, so that means teaching bible. And really, if you teach by the bible, all the other important stuff will fall into place. Ex: God wants us to learn to read so that we can read the bible and learn more about him and what he wants for us. He wants us to learn science, because otherwise he wouldn't have made such wonderful things in nature. (etc...you get the idea). Well if I had thought about it this way from the start, I think I wouldn't have freaked out so much.
Well, that was convention day 3. Overall the convention was a good experience and I'm really glad that I got to go. I enjoyed hearing others who are in the same situation I'm in and seeing familiar faces who are so willing to help me along the way! I wouldn't say that convention was very helpful in getting me started with planning lessons and getting organized or anything, but it did bless me. And I know I said it before, but really I wouldn't have even been able to go if it hadn't been for amazing friends who willing gave up their time to watch and care for the girls so that I could go, distraction free for 3 whole days. Thank you again and again and again! I love you all so much! <3 <3 <3
Mya
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