Sometimes the truth is shocking.  And sometimes honesty is uncomfortable.  It can even be confusing. Truth can rub us the wrong way and create tension.  It confronts a preconceived idea.

When I actually sit down to write, the process of writing is how I work through what I have been thinking.  For me, the “work” of blogging is what I do AFTER I have worked through an issue or tried out a new recipe.  Rather than hide my reality, I share in the hopes of helping someone in the world.

I’m not in a state of emergency if I’m actually blogging about it.  

So it appears that I need to clarify.

Why I Share My Life and Struggles

Brene Brown believes that we are wired for story.  We share our stories because “we feel the most alive when we’re connecting with others and being brave with our stories . . .”  In fact, neuroeconomist Paul Zak found that hearing a story —

a narrative with a beginning, middle, and end — causes our brains to release cortisol and oxytocin.  These chemicals trigger the uniquely human abilities to connect, empathize, and make meaning.  Story is literally in our DNA.  (Rising Strong)

This succinctly sums up why I write — why I share my thoughts, life, and struggles on my blog and through Instagram.  It’s not to create drama — but to process, feel alive, and connect with others.

Because I know that there have to be other individuals who walk through similar joys and struggles.

And when you unite around a common theme — community is created.  God didn’t design us to be islands.

Clarification On Our Hardest Homeschooling Year

Apparently, my previous blog post caused some misunderstanding.  I did not mean to suggest that I am on the verge of quitting educating our children at home or quitting Classical Conversations.  On the contrary:

Bring. It. On.

I am not scared to do the hard things.

And I’m not leaving Classical Conversations.  The families and students in our Classical Conversations community are my children’s playmates and high-school graduating classmates.  We have committed to “do life together.”

Sometimes life is messy.  It isn’t always pretty.  But in community, there is safety and room to wiggle and struggle.

Learning Creativity

I am learning how to be creative.  I’m leaning on my hubby, two other directors in our community and our Support Manager, who has swooped in like an Emergency Response Worker.

The problems surrounding our school year are this:

• We meet on two days in two different locations and I am a homebody massive introvert.
• I am a tutor/director of Challenge A.  This requires time and preparation.
• I still run a full time business with Young Living / Wise House Oils.
• I am having to learn a brand new language — Latin.
• I am learning a different style of writing — and this is laborious as my MAJOR was writing!
• I am still wanting to invest equally in all of my children.
• I like to have fun.  A lot of fun.

These aren’t unusual problems.  They require discipline, creativity, prayer, and diligence.

I’m learning valuable lessons.  Tools and knowledge that will help us make wise decisions regarding the kids’ educations next year and my role(s).

Upcoming Changes

Will I make some changes?  Yes.

Next year, we are planning on ONLY doing Classical Conversations Foundations/Essentials/Challenge on the same day.  While I may still be a Director next year of Challenge B, I will prepare during the summer.  It will help ever so much that one year of Latin will be under my belt.  We are receiving a tutoring session on Lost Tools in December, that I’m really excited about.

Vacation is in the near future.  Praise the Lord. I intend to enjoy it.

Does this Help?

So, does this help?  I am in no way saying that if you are considering Classical Conversations that you should RUN.  Quite the contrary.  I think we all are receiving a quality education.  No doubt about that.

I recommend Classical Conversations.  I just highly recommend having ALL your children attend on the same Community Day. And if you are going to direct — enroll in a good Latin course prior to teaching.

But when it comes down to it — there really is only one factor that truly matters.

Did God call you to do this?

The answer for me is a resounding YES.

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