It feels like just yesterday and yet a lifetime ago. Ten years ago right about this time we were in what I call The Hard Years. Who am I kidding? Raising these amazing G2e kids all years are hard years. But 2011 into a good chunk of 2012 was hard. Sob myself to sleep, stress pinned in the red zone, "I can't go on I must go on" hard. We had just moved across the country and our 10 year old son was struggling badly. The school he was in just didn't know what to do with an out-of-the-box divergent ADHD 2e kid. How do you solve a problem like a 2e kid? Ah, if only life were a musical, amirite? So after a lot of tears (mine and his), a lot of worry (mostly mine), and a great deal of wine (all mine, though I did share with my husband), we pulled him to homeschool at winter break.

Suddenly homeschooling.

I never expected to homeschool and yet there we were. I can say with ten years of perspective that it was, hands down, the best thing we could have done for our son and our family. But at the time it was a terrifying decision during a time of immense familial upheaval. If this all sounds familiar you've either lived this yourself or you've read If This is a Gift, Can I Send It Back?

This month's theme is Suddenly Homeschooling and I'm sure you can see how it's a topic near and dear to my heart. Julie Schneider writes about the most important things to do when you find yourself in that situation, words I wish I'd had a decade ago. I'd also like to encourage you to check out Betsy's post at BJ's Homeschool on how to get started homeschooling, something that might come in handy to those of you on the fence.

Finally, I'm thrilled to announce that Perspectives on Giftedness is finally available for purchase! A compilation of essays by GHF writers to make you think, wonder, and laugh, it's available in print and ebook form for your reading pleasure. Please to enjoy.

Stay healthy and safe, my friends.

So, what’s giftedness all about? Well, some of our most popular GHF writers aim to answer aspects of that very question in Perspectives on Giftedness: Sound Advice from Parents and Professionals. This volume presents essays from parents who have been there, educators who are working to get it right, and psychologists and other professionals who understand the rich complexity that is so often part and parcel of giftedness. With a plethora of wisdom, a touch of wit, and oodles of compassion, the writers cover a range of topics related to giftedness, gifted children, gifted education, twice-exceptionality, and gifted adults. It’s all about presenting an array of perspectives in the hopes that doing so helps you develop your own and provides a bit of a lifeline in those times when you feel yourself treading the gifted waters. We’re here to remind you that we’re all sharing the same pool and to invite you to jump in—the water’s warm and so is our welcome!

The most important thing to do right now is to grant permission to yourself and to your child. 

Permission for what?

 

No longer constrained by the school schedule, you get to take a breath and move at your natural rhythms. Sleep when you are tired. Eat when you are hungry. Do things that feel good. Rest. Read. Play. Get outside as much as you can. 

 

If I had to guess then I would say you are a product of the public school system. So you have deeply ingrained ideas about education. But you are suddenly homeschooling so you have at least a glimpse of or curiosity about how education might be different. Give yourself permission to explore as much or as little of the alternatives to the achievement-oriented, deficit-model that drives most of the schools in the western world.

You are capable. You know a lot. You are resourceful. You CAN create a learning plan for your child that is as joyful as it is challenging.

Your child is capable. He/she/they can and will learn. Trust their rhythms...sometimes it might seem like they aren't learning a thing and then they'll speed through months worth of work in a week. Trust that their interests will bring rise to everything they need to know, including "academics" but more importantly the soft skills of resilience, persistence, and self-care.

As a homeschooling parent you are different from the vast majority of parents in your neighborhood. And even within the homeschool community you will be different. You get to be. 

You get to set intentions for your homeschool life - both the learning part AND the living together 24/7 part. Your intentions can be as vague or as specific as you need. Plus you get to change them whenever you want. 

You can and should do your due diligence. Research educational philosophies (self-directed, unschooling, classical, secular/eclectic/academic, etc.), curriculum, local and online classes, and local and online communities. Read stories about homeschool. Ask for advice. 

But in order to do all that well and maintain a loving and lively home and family, you need permission to do it your way. I give you permission. More importantly, you need to give yourself permission. 

So take a breath, pour yourself a comforting beverage, and smile to yourself. You and your family deserve to enjoy finding your way in the homeschool life.

Julie Schneider, MSE, MA is a homeschooling mom, writer, community-builder, advocate for neurodiversity, ally of the LGBTQ+ community, and tea-drinking yogi. She is an incessantly creative problem-solver who likes to empower others. So after listening to homeschoolers asking for a different way to investigate math, she blended her academic experience in

engineering and curriculum & instruction with her life as a homeschooling parent to author Boco Math One and create Boco Learning.

For those of you who can give at least $500 we have created a special recognition program where you will be listed on the GHF website and in our monthly newsletter, The GHF Journey, as valued members of the community. Donations may be kept anonymous.

GHF connects all sorts of people who love gifted learners. We offer both family and professional memberships to support and encourage adults working to create new ways of educating gifted learners. Our members educate gifted and twice-exceptional kids, whether it's traditional homeschooling, running homeschool co-ops and micro-schools, finding a fit in public, private or charter schools, or a combination. Many write to foster understanding of gifted and twice-exceptional learners, mentor students one-on-one, teach online classes, provide services specifically designed to meet the social and emotional needs of gifted and twice-exceptional learners, and more. All are finding their way on the gifted and 2e path, and we hope to provide community for us, across the lifespan. We’d love for you to join us.

GHF is a 501c3 organization. Please consider supporting our community with your most generous gift today. For more information on our organization, please feel free to contact us at info@ghflearners.org. Thank you!