Tuesday, September 22, 2020

WORKING PARENTS HOMESCHOOL AND JOB FAIR




Last Day of Early Bird Sales!


Yep, it’s the last day of the cheaper-priced tickets, which means this is a GREAT DAY to do a big promotional push! Please, we need everyone to do their absolute best to get the word out as much as you can today – newsletters/emails, social media, and so on. The more everyone pitches in to get the word out, the more folks we will have attend, and the more fun we will have at our virtual conference! So, if you could please send out that email, make that post on your social media, and so on, that would be great!

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS for $15






Wednesday, September 9, 2020

The Reluctant Homeschooling Parent




When I first started homeschooling my child, I didn't want to do it. That was over seven years ago, and fear kept me from pursuing one of the most rewarding accomplishments I have had as a parent. It's alright to not want to do something that doesn't feel comfortable. However, that shouldn't stop you from doing what has to be done anyway.


REALIZE YOU and YOUR KID AREN'T PERFECT

We all seem to strive for perfection within ourselves, but we need to give ourselves freedom to just be who we are without expectations. Once you stop trying to be like every other homeschooling parent you know or working parent you know, there will be a heavy burden of self imposed stress lifted. Don't just give yourself that pass of perfection, realize your kids feel the same way too. When they come home to homeschool, they experience many psychological and social changes that at their young age, they have no idea how to process.

TAKE NIBBLES BEFORE THE ENTIRE BITE

Don't try to push tons of curriculums, schedules, work or more onto your plate or your child when you first start to homeschool. Spend the first weeks or months filling in any educational gaps, making learning fun, and getting to know your child on a level you may not have been able to before. By spending the time to get to know your child's moods, abilities and build a foundation in learning, you will gain confidence in homeschooling.

MAKE TIME TO RELAX and PLAY WITH YOUR KIDS

Managing homeschooling while working can be daunting. Stick to the core subjects, but make it a point to play with your child for all other subjects that have some flexibility. Giving yourself and your child a planned moment of rest will allow you to thrive in many ways. A thirty minute nap can make a huge difference in your attitude and your child's mood no matter how old.

TURN RELUCTANCE INTO SUCCESS by making it a point to stay in the negative head space that is hindering your success.



Sunday, August 16, 2020

Back To School Conference Time!

 

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP 


It's here everyone~A Kick Off Conference for Christian Based Homeschool Learning

I am a speaker at the conference and am looking forward to seeing you all there!

Want to live a courageous life driven by the power of the Holy Spirit as you homeschool?
Want to restore your children's hearts to Jesus?
Want to intentionally create success for the next generation?

Global Christian Homeschool Conference
Virtual Speakers Pouring their Wisdom
August 17-21, 2020, 5 Days
Cost is only $20 – No, Really!

What makes this Homeschool Conference unique? God downloaded to me the idea of encouraging my brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the global homeschooling community. I chose mature Christian women and men who want to speak words of life into you, the homeschooling parent, so that you can stay home and mentor your children!

This year’s themes include:
1. The ABC’s of Homeschool, Diligent Prep for College,
2. Chats with Real Parents, Health & Wellness for Parents & Students
3. Courageous Living Teen Track, Unique Special Needs & Gifted Children,
4. Staying Power Marriage & Parenting,
5. Amazing Working Moms & Entrepreneurs

Features include:
• Passionate speakers that pour out words of life into homeschool parents
• Edifying Facebook community group where homeschool parents can interact with speakers, vendors, and homeschooling parents from around the world.
• Online “vendor hall” for attendees (will be photo albums in FB group).
• Giveaways during the “conference” week for attendees.
• Low ticket prices
• Unlimited, lifetime access to the conference (videos and handouts).

The Scripture focus this year is 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24. “23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP 


Saturday, May 23, 2020

REDIRECTING YOUR HOMESCHOOLER WHEN NEEDED

THIS YEAR DIDN'T GO AS PLANNED
So we redirected the path



Freedom in homeschooling allowed us to be flexible during a time that we thought we had everything planned perfectly for our son.

This May he was supposed to walk across the stage of the online college he had been attending and get his BS in Information Systems Management. He'd already started taking classes to also start his two-year program in Airplane Mechanics. The summer IT internship he was supposed to start got cancelled. He broke his collarbone and had to be laid off from his part-time job that he enjoyed.

Then things drastically changed when his graduation got cancelled, the Aircraft Mechanics program put him back on the waiting list to accommodate students that were displaced with the circumstances of the pandemic and new laws about social distancing.

REDIRECTING AND FLEXIBILITY

Know that you have time and there is no rush when homeschooling. Since my son was only 16 years old, he voiced his desire to have an actual college graduation. He was willing to work on other interest for a year so he would have the chance to walk the stage next year.

He added a minor onto his degree in Marketing since he said he was interested in that subject. He was only required to take three more classes.

In order to redirect and allow our child to explore a new path we:


  • Did a Mind Map and Brainstorm of other interest
  • Pointed out what was important to him
  • Identified areas he needed more help (like networking skills, desire to learn music, need to practice public speaking more)
  • Pointed out experiences he wanted
  • Gave himself permission to put a direction at rest (for now or maybe forever)
  • Pointed out what was most important to him
Speed Racer wanted a graduation. He also decided to table the Aircraft Mechanic program since it was something he'd decided to pursue in support of his dream of becoming a pilot. He did waver on becoming a pilot since the travel industry took a big hit - but we encouraged him to see the benefits of gaining a private pilot license for no reason but for personal and life growth. He agreed he'd still like to pursue the private pilot license and see what happens. 

PLAN FOR THE EXTENDED HOMESCHOOLING COLLEGE YEAR

He has changed his plans to include learning music, improving his breakdancing (hoping to be able to pursue the next Olympics in Break dancing), do a year of canoe racing since he missed the opportunity. For school work, he is minoring in Marketing, graduating in May 2021 with his sister who is graduating with her MS (at age 20 years), taking more computer programming classes, some homeschool classes in speech and debate so he can be around other teens.


HELP THEM TO SEE LIFE AS A GREAT ADVENTURE

In all the redirection, help them to see life as the great path of possibilities. Change is normal and can be fun as well as exciting. Closed paths aren't about the closing but about the learning and growing as a person.

by LM Preston, Author of Homeschooling and Working While Raising Amazing Learners

PICK UP A COPY OF BOOKS







Monday, April 6, 2020

GOT A BUSINESS? TIPS ON MANAGING IT AS HOMESCHOOLING MOM


MANAGE A BUSINESS AND HOMESCHOOLING IN CRISIS
by LM Preston



Business owners have a survivor nature. They are adventurous, take risk and think outside the box more so than most anyone. An entrepreneur knows about risk. However, knowing how to plan for challenges and crisis isn’t always a priority until it is too late.

PUT PRIDE ASIDE
The main issue most run into that have the ability to work at doing something they love, is to start to do something they don’t like – in order to make enough money to survive. This means, possibly doing things you originally considered out of scope of not a focus for your household or business.
There was a time when we were launching our real estate business that we needed to find money to advertise, my husband took a paper route delivering newspapers and started delivering pizzas on the slow days to put that money aside for our advertising. He fell back on those jobs throughout our marriage when we needed money fast and wanted the flexibility to make it. I also, took on babysitting other people’s kids overnight that worked night jobs to supplement. We did what we needed to do – not what we liked to do – to reach our goals.

ALL HANDS-ON DECK
If you live with others or others are invested with your business, everyone should do their part. Setting expectations for sharing the financial load of maintaining a home, a business is important. There will always -always, be a weak link. That is the case even among stars. However, identify the person, resource, or issue and mold it into the best representation of itself.

INCOME AND JUGGLING BUDGET OBLIGATIONS
Any household, business, or person, should strive to have multiple streams of income. Even if one parent decides to stay home, finding another source of income for the family that takes little effort to cultivate is important in relieving stress.

For a business owner, they need to have methods their business can create and funnel in income without it being as time or energy dependent. Some quick tips on how to do this:

-Compress resources: for example, instead of purchasing or doing a long term lease for an office space, do a Day-Office instead where you rent an office for the day or times you need it. This works well for micro-businesses.

-Don’t be the only source of income for your business: For micro-businesses it’s great that you can run everything yourself to make money, but what if you get sick? Fine other sources of income besides your time/body. For instance, I am a career re-imagination coach, education coach and writing coach – but there isn’t enough hours in the day for me to service everyone. I created online courses to support my readers, clients and students.

-Barter and Trades: If your business doesn’t have the funds or your household doesn’t, fine ways to trade your skills, time, efforts with others that will be able to do the same for you.

HOMESCHOOL DOWN TO BASICS
Now with many being forced to homeschool their kids, try to work from home, and deal with the stress of crisis, taking things bare bones can relieve stress. When homeschooling and working, own your flexibility. Have a schedule of work your kids can do independently based on their learning styles, attention span, educational gaps. Then assess how much one-on-one time you can spend with them each day. Only focus one on one time on Reading, Reading Comprehension, Writing and Building Math Skills. Make all other subjects secondary. Homeschooling is MUCH easier when you do it without state oversight by withdrawing your child from school and stating that you are officially a homeschooler. Doing so, reduces the amount of work required for your child to do and allows you to customize their education. Please see the HSLDA (Homeschool Defense) for the laws in your state: https://hslda.org/content/laws/

By LM Preston, Author of Building Your Empowered Steps and Homeschooling and WorkingWhile Raising Amazing Learners.

Purchase on Amazon and Barnes and Noble





Wednesday, February 26, 2020

The Multi-Ethnic Homeschool Moms Conference March 29-April 3rd

Is COMING!
Stay tuned for Early Bird Registration
CONFERENCE CLOSED
MY FREE COURSE IS OPEN
CLICK HERE


EARLY BIRD SIGN UP STARTS MARCH 24th til MARCH 28th $20

Registration Info:
EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION: MARCH 22 - MARCH 28
Early Bird Cost: $20
REGULAR REGISTRATION: MARCH 29 - APRIL 3
Regular Registration Cost: $40


CONFERENCE COMMUNITY FACEBOOK GROUP OPENS: MARCH 22

LIVE CONFERENCE DATES: March 29 - April 3

HERE ARE JUST SOME OF THE SPEAKERS





COME BACK DAY OF CONFERENCE with keys to UNLOCK





Friday, January 24, 2020

Doing School At Night and Weekends

You Can Do School Whenever You Want


Yes, as a homeschooling parent, you can change it up and do school at odd hours, working it around when you and your kids are both home and able to sit down and do work together

Schedule Alternate Times For Schooling

As we worked outside the home, we had to make alternate schooling time work for our kids. Doing so meant we had to realistically spend sitting down and giving one child attention.

Changing up the subject to work with our kid on what they needed help on most was ideal.

Mix in times when the child should be doing independent work. Help them to build the ability to do independent work.


Let The Kids Sleep In

The best part of having the kids work on their schooling in the evening is they get to sleep until they wake up. If you work from home, letting the kids stay up late and sleep in gives you time to work in the morning while they are sleep. 

Weekend Only School

You could make school year around, but only do one-on-one school during the weekend and project based, movie based, independent study and exploration based during the weekdays.

Try It For A Change

Even if you had a day schedule, try out an alternative schedule to change things up and to give yourself and the kids a shake up. You may find that it works better for you.

We did night and weekend school for the entire time we homeschooled since both my husband and I worked, now my kids are still maintaining the schedule even though they are working and college. One child who was an early riser, still does so, she just does things she enjoys before getting to work.