Do you love baking? I know our family loves it! In fact, we have a tradition of making homemade applesauce, and using it in a number of baking recipes.
Here on the blog today, my friend Trudie Schar shares her love of homeschooling and gives us encouragement to make our own “applesauce.”
This fall I was making apple sauce. As I spent hours hunched over the apples I was cutting in half, coring, cooking, and blending in the Vitamix… I got to thinking homeschooling is a lot like making apple sauce.
Everyone does it just a little bit different. Everyone thinks their way is the best. Everyone uses a different assortment of apples. Everyone uses a slightly unique method of getting the job done.
Just like homeschooling.
Applesauce and Homeschooling
Let’s start with the apples. You ask anyone and they will have their own specific type of apple that they must use. Some will be cheap – like I just use what my neighbor gives me. Some will want to know how the apples were grown, so they grow their own. Some can ONLY make it using their favorite kind. Just ask and you will hear “I ALWAYS use yellow delicious.”
Some people always use what their parents did… some even do what their grandparents did. People even mix a couple types of apples to get their favorite blend.
It is certain — everyone has their own kind of apple.
Curriculum Choices
Just like homeschoolers. Some might just go for whatever hand me downs, or freebies they find on the web. (No shame in that… I’ve done it) Some people like to make their own curriculum. Some people always use the same thing. Some people use what their parents always used. Others have found their favorite and stick with it! Some people mix a few different types to get the school style they want.
But just like apples — everyone starts with a bit of a different curriculum. The processing of making applesauce is always so different for each person. Have you ever gone to someone else’s house for their applesauce day? They might peel the apples. Or maybe they just take out the seeds. Some people cook them and then run them through a Victorian strainer. Others cook and use the Vitamix. Then do you can or freeze it?
Routines and Schedules
It is certain — no two families do it exactly the same.
Just like homeschoolers. Some of us take Tuesdays off. Some of us do co-op. Other families do year round. Some families also:
- stick with the traditional school year
- sit their kids at a desk in a “school room” inside the house
- do school hanging upside down off the couch. (That’s us!)
- Remember, it’s also fine to sit at the kitchen table.
But just like applesauce — everyone does it a little differently.
Confidence In Homeschooling
Be as confident about your type of homeschool as you are about your signature applesauce.
Let’s say it again!
Be as confident about your type of homeschool as you are about your signature applesauce.
As different as everyone’s applesauce is, without a doubt, we each think our applesauce is the best. Or we tweak it till we get it the best. (Wink)
And as different as every homeschool is… we can be confident it is the best for our family. (Or again we tweak it till we get it just right.)
No two families are the same. Applesauce or Homeschool.
Don’t compare your applesauce or your homeschool with anyone else. Be confident in the applesauce and homeschool that works for your family.
Variety is beautiful to our great God!
Meet Trudie
Trudie is a homeschooling mama to four girls. You can find her at her website LearningLittleLessons.com, or on the Learning Little Lessons podcast where she equips and inspires women to pursue filling up with Jesus and invites them to a life that freely pours out to their family.
Have you ever thought about using fairy tales in your homeschool lessons? You can read all about it here: Top Ways to Use Fairy Tales In Your Homeschool