by Rachel DeMille Beginning Again A favorite movie has a scene where one of the characters has lost his way, and, following the counsel of a trusted advisor, he goes "back to the beginning." It is there, he knows, that he will find his guide [...]
I’m on a hike. My pack is rubbing my shoulders sore. I’m hungry. The sun is beating down on my neck. I’ve been needing to duck behind a bush for almost 40 minutes. But I press on, enjoying the pure air, the light rush of [...]
Our 16yo daughter is, and always has been, a self-starter. She'll probably make us famous some day with her knowledge of the Classics. She knows Shakespeare really well, she currently teaches a mythology class for local students, and she reports to me from time to [...]
Rachel, I do have one little question, if you don't mind: which age of children do you spend the most time on/with (I know the balance thing—and I know what I do—but I want to hear from another mother with very special demands and a [...]
What American Homeschoolers Say They Want The biggest educational trend in the United States is the growth of alternative schools. The Supreme Court decision on vouchers, along with numerous state-level efforts to empower non-traditional education, is indicative of this trend. But the big changes are [...]
Body sculpting, surgical/chemical alterations, therapy . . . our culture is obsessed with hiding, cutting out or otherwise purging its flaws. We want to be persons with no weaknesses. Even our college entrance exams, job interviews, courtships and business dealings all seem to hinge on [...]
Some time ago I read an article in the NY Times about a man who defrauded investors of billions of dollars. Not really news these days, I guess. Seems like there's a lot of creative bookkeeping going on out there. It's an inventive way to [...]
I’ve been asked by a lot of people, “How do you homeschool when your life is in chaos?” Well first off, let’s be honest with each other. There are at least three types of chaos, and the How To is different for each one. [...]
I had an epiphany yesterday about woodstoves and warmth--if a little bit more metaphysical than the reading on the thermostat. I was pondering about the struggle I've had of late getting off my personal conveyor belt. Not with TJEd, you'll be glad to know; but I've been in a personal rut and have wondered in vain for several weeks how to break free from my habits.
