About Our Family
Months before COVID-19, our family was in the process of preparing for the biggest journey of our life: A YEAR OF HOMESCHOOLING AND TRAVEL.
In 2021, we had planned to take a break from school, as we knew it, and embark on a different kind of adventure with our family; one that would include more time with our children. Little did we know that a quarantine would thrust us into the homeschooling journey much sooner than we had planned. The opportunity to practice this whole new scene was actually a blessing. I feel more prepared than ever, to walk this journey. So, here we go… I (Christi) stepped away from my career to stay at home for one year to teach, learn, snuggle, play, cook, travel, and whatever life may hold. Kyle will continue to work and provide for our family and we will take as many trips as possible, while staying safe and connected at home with friends, family, and church. There are still many unknowns, as Covid has already halted all plans for current travel, but we’re going to take it one step at a time. So, what brought us to this point? Keep reading if you’re curious.
Our journey started 16 years ago. As newlyweds, we decided that travel should be important..
The idea of occasionally venturing away from work and the daily stress of life seemed like a far-off dream, but one we wanted to strive for. So, with zero money in the bank, we decided to start small. Our budget was small, but we managed to allocated $30/a month for travel. It took us 5 years to save up for our first big trip to St. Thomas, and by that time, we had a baby with us, too. That trip will always be one of my lifetime favorites, no matter where we go next; the saving, the planning, the experiences, the memories… we were hooked!
The next few years, we delved into pursuing careers and growing our family to include our four children: Julianna, Grayson, Sydnee-Claire, and Esther. Family vacations were kept simple. However, Kyle and I would travel to further destinations to celebrate anniversaries and step away from the kids for some quality time together. I highly recommend this! It will keep you sane! Now, the children are older and they’ve started to realize that they’re missing out on all the fun of backpacking through Switzerland, swimming with whale sharks in the Bay of La Paz, and scuba-diving in the Cayman Islands to name a few. We could actually imagine taking our kids to farther destinations, but there just wasn’t any time to take longer family trips…
Our family seemed to be split in all directions. There was school, drama, ballet, volleyball, karate, swim, and speech therapy; not to mention homework, spirit weeks, book character costumes, concerts, tournaments, and the list goes on and on. All of these are really good things to be involved in. However, we were having a hard time finding moments to slow down, catch a breath, and mentor our children the way we felt they needed to be.
The idea of homeschooling had been taking up residence in my heart for a while, but I just didn’t feel that I could be a homeschool mom and have my children actually still like me. Do you know what I mean? Who wants to be with your children all day, every day? My youngest was getting ready to go to Kindergarten, and the moment I had always waited for was finally here. At last, the house to myself and time to run errands when I wan’t working. However, as I surveyed our busy schedules, my heart began to yearn for something different. I almost couldn’t believe I was even considering homeschooling. Was God playing a cruel joke on me?
Do you ever feel like you’re on the hamster wheel of life, trying to keep up with all the expectations of today’s culture? That’s the way I felt, and as I took a step back, I began to realize that my children were the ones suffering. They were trying their best to keep up with the demands, but we were asking too much. Their little hearts and minds were not meant to be weighed down with so many requirements. I began to see stress and apprehension, and I didn’t even have the time to properly address it …. because we had to keep going!
One day it hit me: these are the choices that we have made. And, if we made the decisions, we can unmake them. No one is pressuring us to race through life at this speed. So, here we go! We’re taking a drastic decision to step back and take a year to breathe, rest, and strengthen the bonds of our family, while schooling at home and traveling when possible. It may seem like a sacrifice, but I’m willing to wager that the payoff will be greater.
There’s more, read on.
Taking a year to homeschool does not mean that you are making the decision for the rest of your family’s schooling career. You have permission to take it ONE YEAR AT A TIME. And, it’s as much about your heart as it is your time. Taking a break from conventional schooling only allows you the time needed to take the NEXT STEP, which is the harder one to do. The real part of this whole thing that holds significance is realizing that you, the parent, posses unique capabilities to speak into your child’s heart as only you can do. Every child yearns for uninterrupted moments with their mom or dad. They may never say it, but they need and cherish time with you. It is finding the teachable moments, as they come, and not letting them pass you by because you’re rushing out the door. A homeschooling year will look different for every family, and may not include quitting your job; but for us, it is taking shape into a year of stepping away from my career and bringing my kids home. And, at the end of the year, we’ll evaluate the results and decided what the next year will look like. We are leaning in towards God, trusting Him that those heart nudges that I felt were His permission for us to step out of our comfort zone, go against social norms, and chart a new path for our family.
If any of this strikes a chord with you, follow us on our journey. I’ll be updated the blog on my choice of curriculum, along with past and future trip itineraries for amazing trips that you can take with your family. Let’s connect together, no matter your choice of schools or philosophy of family vacations. Life is better journeyed together! With love, Christi
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