Is Change Messing With Your Sanity? IWSG

This is the month.

THE MONTH.

The month people go back to school. (Were you expecting something else?)

We've homeschooled for twenty years. Twenty. You might think I know what I'm doing after all that. Three graduates and two more inching forward with 9 years until the finish line... In those twenty years we've tried all kinds of things:

• Workbooks
• A kinesthetic education
• Virtual classes
• DVD classes
• Hosting co-ops
• Library classes
• A Montessori approach
• Establishing a teen book club
• Attending small co-ops
• Creating fieldtrips
• Early college
• Attending LARGE co-ops
• Hosting parties and events
• Running a drama program...

We've run solo, done groups, and used a hybrid. It's always easy to up the scale/scope/commitment, but it's terrifying to scale down. I remember the days of going it alone, always wondering if I was doing enough, worrying about the balance of experiences...

This school year, we're pulling away from the major supports we've utilized since 2018. Going solo. To be fair, we have a strong support group of friends but stepping back means everything falls on my shoulders.

And why are we doing this? 

To chase a dream. (Literally.) Because I can't do both. It's too much.

So we're giving up the familiar, comfortable, status quo for something that feels impossible, heavy, and ALL ON US. Doesn't that sound smart?

But here's the thing: it's either worth it, or it's not, and we can't know without trying. That's the deal with going after your dreams--if you don't put everything on the line, you are choosing the mundane. The boring. The unchallenged. And there's nothing wrong with that, but I'd rather live without any what if's. Which means I'm choosing (consciously, intentionally) the unknown and the burning shoulders that go with carrying the load. May my muscles grow rather than charring to cinder. 😂

What big dream would you risk it all for?

Thanks to our awesome co-hosts for the IWSG: Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Natalie Aguirre, Sarah - The Faux Fountain Pen, and Olga Godim.

This month's question - What is the most unethical practice in the publishing industry?

I'm going to skip the question this time, but I'd love to hear your thoughts. 

What changes are you facing that have your heart pounding? Do you have a big dream you'd throw your status quo to pursue? Have you ever stopped to intentionally rewrite your personal narrative?

True Heroes: E for Get Your Brain Working

True heroes are all around us, in our every day lives, but some people stand out. During this A-Z Challenge I hope to share several of my real life heroes, and invite you to share yours in the comments.

We home school. I know that's crazy to most people, but I'm just beginning to really see the results--in character, in understanding, in individual creativity and accountability. Some days I still think we're insane and wonder why I ever agreed to this, and then I think about people like...

instein, Albert. My son freaks out about this guy--who was so brilliant he got lost when biking back to his own house, or who forgot to put on pants, or who was so invested in his work he didn't even realize his second wife was blind initially.

Besides figuring out the Theory of Relativity, a theory for the time-space continuum, and a formula for discerning the energy of any mass, he is known as one of the most brilliant minds of our time. The guy was dyslexic and came from Germany, leaving behind a country ruled by Adolf Hitler for the safety of the U.S (as a non-observant Jew). He also helped build the atomic bomb (unintentionally), which, say what you will, is evil, but has proved a power that gave this nation its standing in the world as one not to be threatened.

What do I admire about Einstein? His crazy study and personal championing of free thought. He clashed with conventional schools and their way of thought. He was always pushing the boundaries, imagining and then seeking to prove some far-fetched and impossible concept. If only we had a few more free thinkers like that in our midst, can you imagine the society we'd live in?

If you haven't heard yet, for the month of April ONLY, MOONLESS is $1.99!

Recent reviewers have said: "I was transported back in time, right beside Alexia Dumont as the fate of her future loomed in front of her. Loved the connection between Alexia and her blue-eyed, swoon-worthy rescuer, Kiren. Crystal Collier did a great job of interweaving the historical and the supernatural and she definitely left me wanting more!" --Kristin Smith

"Not my typical genre so I started it with some reservation! I was completely roped in by the end and cant wait for the sequel. Very unique and interesting story line. I am hooked." --Linda Voorhees

"This was an interesting take on fantasy, that encouraged increasing involvement as the story progressed. Was hard to put down, especially as the characters and their roles became more developed." --Kenneth Lent

 Get your copy HERE.

And in case you missed my announcement (this blogosphere has been a busy place for the last week!) I'm moving. Yay! We're building a gorgeous new house, and I'll be in transition this summer. Because of that, my publisher has been kind enough to push back the release date for

and I'll be announcing the release date on MONDAY. Wahoo!

What is your take on creativity vs common education? Do you admire Einstein? Have you ever known anyone so gifted they almost couldn't function in society?

How to Find Happiness A-Z: E

When in your life were you happiest?

Image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net

I have a tenancy to push myself, often too hard. A couple years ago I went back to school online. While home schooling 3 kids. And working to get a musical produced. And serving as the president of a children's organization. Was I suicidal? Probably. But it was invigorating, and I felt more alive than I had in a long time. Why?

Education.

I was growing--pushing myself to expand mentally in ways I hadn't in a long time. My reading speed quadrupled. My test-taking confidence sky-rocketed. My confidence in being ready to teach my oldest kid high school subjects intensified.

I remember countless hours spent in public school, doodling on my notebook or staring off into oblivion. I despised the assignments I was given, questioning why it was necessary to know this specific information.

Being forced to endure hours of school is not an education. An education is merely intelligence, knowledge, or confidence in our own abilities that we obtain through our experiences. Just because someone has completed "school" doesn't mean they have an education. Education comes from every human interaction. It's ongoing and continuous. I submit, happiness comes from continued growth and learning. It's when we stagnate, like a pond with no inlet or outlet, that we feel a blandness settle in.

Happiness comes from growth. Growth is a result of our education. Do you feel yourself stagnating? What are you doing to further your education?