I’ve known today’s punk beautiful young woman her entire life!
She is the niece of my closest childhood friend, DeDe. When she came home to Seattle for her grandfather’s funeral; she asked me several questions about home education and “how we had done it.” She was considering the options before her. We had a lovely conversation!
A couple of weeks later, I received the e-mail below. I was so humbled, I cried.
Krista is a beautiful young woman, inside and out. Her husband, Eric, is delightful. They have two darling children and currently make their home in Wyoming.
All I did was open my mouth.
Yes, it’s something I do well.
Based on the content of her e-mail; it is my hope that you will open yours.
There are many people that would benefit from the principles of Leadership Education…
in every educational model…
and walk of life.
Next Saturday, June 5, 2010, in Temecula, California…
there will be a day long seminar…
highlighting the principles of Leadership Education.
If you are interested in attending; you may contact Jennifer McLaughlin at jmclaugh08@yahoo.com or (951) 302-2111.
TommyMom is sponsoring one scholarship for you or someone you know…
that is interested in exploring Leadership Education…
or revisiting the basics.
Leave your comments, and a winner will be chosen Wednesday.
If you have already registered and are the lucky winner…
you may either choose to be reimbursed…
or bring along a friend!
Hope you win!
WOW!!!! I’m devouring my new favorite book, “A Thomas Jefferson Education.” I met the postman every day at my door, anxiously awaiting it’s arrival.
The book finally arrived on Friday and I immediately set my son up with some quiet play, put my new baby girl to sleep, and dove right in!
Now this is all I can think about!
Oliver DeMille has very eloquently put into words what my instincts have been telling me for years.
As a sidenote; I always have several notebooks that I write in all the time and as I read this book I’m quickly filling one of them with things like; “Ways I’ve been inspired by TJEd…” and “Talking points for Eric…”
Eric’s completely sold by what I’ve shared with him, and plans to start the book as soon as possible.
How have I not stumbled on this before?
I’m so very glad you recommended this to me.
This is truly a great gift you’ve given me and I plan to pass it on to as many others as I can.
I’ve always been a fan of the Classics but I used to consider them a guilty pleasure. Now that I know how profoundly and positively they can affect our lives I feel free to indulge as often as I am able.
I’m so looking forward to continuing my own education! I’m so glad I have more time to study and prepare to become my children’s mentor. This has finally made up my mind to home educate and given me a clear direction for their education.
I started out with a Leadership Education and was home educated through the second grade before I was put into public school. When we were given a placement test for public school, both my friend and I tested at the sixth grade level.
However, our parents decided to put us in fourth grade so we wouldn’t be too far ahead of our grade level.
My first two teachers were completely L.E. and I excelled in both the fourth and fifth grades. I was in their advanced placement programs for all available subjects including a college level English program, where we studied the Classics, in exactly the form DeMille recommends.
I received many honors at Graham Elementary. I was among only a few students in the school chosen to write an essay for a contest. I won and got to read my essay before the whole school (and parents) in a special ceremony. The essay went on to a district and eventually statewide competition. I’m telling you all this, not to brag; but so you get an idea of how I was thriving in TJEd and ended up falling so far through the cracks.
In Jr. High I ended up on the conveyor belt and couldn’t figure out what had happened. First semester of Jr. High I pulled all A’s. Second semester I quit and just focused on my social life since there was nothing left for me academically.
After that semester I was lucky to pull C’s and a few B’s. I managed to barely pass most of my classes since I was good at taking tests I hadn’t studied for!
I never bothered to do homework since it was so incredibly boring.
I was a typical case of someone falling through the cracks on the conveyor belt.
In fact I dropped out of school all together at 16.
Fortunately I went on to get my G.E.D. and eventually got some college credits under my belt. I really want so much more for my kids, and even for myself, now that I know how to fill in the gaps of my own education.
I had this conversation with my husband roughly three years ago.
In it, I described my ideal school for our children, and it looked just like this! I remember telling Eric that I wanted my kids to love learning more than anything.
I knew this was the key because this is where the public school system lost me.
I also knew that reading and writing were the foundation for every other subject.
I wanted to give my son a great learning foundation, build confidence and a sense of security and then set him free to pursue his own interests.
I’ve rambled on MUCH longer than I intended so I’ll end with this; I hope you realize that you’ve just become my Mentor. Honestly my hope is that God will one day lead a mentor into my life that is a little closer in proximity, but until then…you’re it Obi Wan 
I plan to keep bouncing ideas off of you and reading your blog often. I love the way you present ideas and tell stories. I am truly grateful that God has brought you back into my life.
Most Sincerely,
Krista
I don’t have a problem opening my mouth – I tell everyone and anyone about Leadership Education and have suggested the book more often than any other book I have read. I am currently re-reading A Thomas Jefferson Education in preparation for Saturday the 5th. I am looking forward to being inspired as usual.
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Exactly! Awesome email. Thanks for sharing!
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I actually consider myself a reformed punk but you know, whatever.
I’m in serious need of further inspiration. My son is unique, one-of-a-kind. He is extremely active physically and mentally. I guess the popular term now is, “Spirited.”
Lately I’ve been having serious doubts that I have what it takes to inspire and mentor a person like Rocky. He challenges me every day and honestly, I’m exhausted! I’ve been scouting out schools again and having guilty daydreams of what I could do with myself if Rocky was in school full time .
A close friend said Rocky could be summed up in one word, “Very.” Everything he does is, very. Very happy, very sad, very excited, very obstinate… He definately puts his whole heart, imagination and energy into whatever he does. Blessing right???
Any other parents out there have serious doubts that they have what it takes to do this? I think its time to go back to the beginning and re-inspire myself. Thanks for posting my story Teri. This is great timing for me. I feel a spark of enthusiasm starting to catch fire again.
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Teri Reply:
May 30th, 2010 at 11:30 am
Krista,
I’m so glad you feel that you can be honest. That’s sometimes half the battle in a culture such as ours, that is geared to comparing ourselves with “the Joneses.” You need to realize and then KNOW that YOU are the expert on YOUR children. God gave them to YOU…not someone else. That was the deciding vote of confidence that sealed the deal as to which individual would be best qualified to speak into their lives.
You are also so very right when you say that you need to “go back to the beginning.” Again, in American culture; we tend to think that making huge, visible progress is what indicates knowledge and ability. However, if you look at Eastern cultures in contrast to this thought process; constantly visiting and reinforcing basics is what actually brings about mastery. And it very often involves hard work. No bells, whistles, or accolades.
You simply must be the “expert” on deciding what’s best for your family. This would include education. I think that there are a couple of key things to consider here. What is it that you are wanting to accomplish where your son’s education is concerned? You answered that quite eloquently in your e-mail to me. Revisit it. Can those objectives be accomplished successfully in a classroom of say, 20 kids, and one teacher? In this day and age, that would be a small classroom. However, you DO live in Wyoming which isn’t particularly known for hugely dense populous in outlying areas! ;0)
While Rocky IS a unique, one-of-a-kind individual; he is nevertheless, a very normal B-O-Y. All of the characteristics of little boys are manifesting themselves in your descriptions of him! You grew up in an environment full of girls and women. This needs to be considered as well. I would suggest two things in closing: 1. Read or listen to “Wild at Heart” and “Bringing Up Boys” for STARTERS into the male psyche and physical mysteries; as you need to educate yourself as much as possible to these things, not living in a practical environment while growing up that brought experience. 2. Learn and study the 7 Keys of Leadership Education found in “A Thomas Jefferson Education” and “Leadership Education.” They work. Always. Whenever something is “wrong”, you can go back and see immediately what isn’t being implemented. It’s a simple fix. Notice I didn’t say easy. Raising children into responsible, capable adults never is! However, in SPITE of all of our mistakes and good intentions…if YOU work, so will this method! Of course, it goes without saying that PRAYER is huge in all things! XO ~ Teri ;0)
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I wholeheartedly echo everything Teri said! I struggled a lot with self-doubts when I was home-schooling, but now, looking back, I know it was worth it. The best part is, the boys say it was! They are grateful that I spent TIME with them. They know that Ciro and I have sacrificed for them.
Don’t forget, that the two best things you can pass along to your children, is your love for God, and the love for your spouse. The best home-schooling in the world is nothing without those two in place.
But, of course, you already know that!
We LOVE you, and hope to see you again soon!
Ciro, Diana, CJ and Julian
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I know I am late reading this story…but I loved it!…and even shed a tear
I too am a young mom, I am 33 and my kids are 13, 10 & 3. I suffer from ADHD and barely got out of high school with all D’s!!! I eloped 8 monthe after graduating, marrying my high school sweet heart & had my son 10 months after that and well…the rest is history!
It’s the WORLD that gives us doubt, not us! I feel empowered when I read the TJED, (I haven’t “officially” started) I know I can do it..it’s when you hear stupid things like “you’re so young, do you really think you have enough life experience” or “but you didn’t even go to college” or , and this one kills me..”but your poor kids will be stuck in your APARTMENT all day” because you know, we lock them in all day ???? HA HA HA
My theory is this: We as mothers ALL have this intuition that Leadership Education is right, it is the woman that FEAR that THEY THEMSELVES could not do it that give snears and rude comments!…the very same woman that mocked me for choosing this are the ones that now ( after completeing my first official “home education” for my kids are saying “wow, that’s awsome, I wish I could do that”
age, education, money status. none of it means anything when it comes to your childs education…THAT IS THE PUBLIC SCHOOL WAY OF THINKING IF I’VE EVER HEARD IT!!!
Man, I am a RAMBLER…!
KRISTA, YOU CAN DO THIS! …and so can I!
-from another self-reformed punk
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Teri Reply:
June 7th, 2010 at 11:15 am
Thank you for being so open and willing to share from your personal experiences; so that others can benefit. I’m so glad that you “stuck it out” and gave it a try…no doubt about it! Leadership Education works; when you understand and implement the Phases and Keys. No secrets…just simplicity….which is what makes it so “hard” for some! XO ;0)
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