CHN's Expo

I have so much in my head right now that I am afraid to start writing because I don't know where to start.  I guess I should have started earlier!

Dan and I attended the California Homeschool Network's Expo over the weekend. I went last year with my Grandpa and was thoroughly inspired, so this year I really wanted my husband to experience it with me. So he went along. I know he didn't particularly want to go, but he will do things for me when he knows that I have it in my heart to do it. So there we were. Childless for two days at a conference. We went home for the night since the conference was close by so we did have the kids at night. They spent the two days with one Grandma and then the next. Let me tell you how nice it was to hear someone speak on a subject and then have a quiet moment to discuss it over with my husband. We had so much fun. Well, not fun. I don't have the words to describe it, but we are a closer parenting team and couple because of the last two days.

There was one suggestion from my husband. There should be some sort of Dad prize in the goody bag. Coupons and flyers for educational products are great for Mom's but he would have liked to see some sort of toy or candy for him, much like the prize in a happy meal.

Another great thing is that he got me to look deeper into the conference than I would have if I had attended alone. He asked me what I wanted to get from the two days, confirmation that I knew what I was doing or new information or experiences? Either one was good for him, but he suggested that I leave my comfort zone for a bit and check out something new. So we did. And boy what treasures we found!

First of all, Jim Weiss, Professional Storyteller. What an amazing man! We attended a session by him about historical stories and just fell in love. What he does is research these stories and retells them in such a way that you are riveted by stories you may have heard a thousand times. Not just the story either. He explains things during the story and repeats words or phrases in other ways so that you can infer meaning. What was wonderful for us was to find someone else that believed that the stories of our heroes, fictional or otherwise, meant so much to children. They inform, inspire, and teach values. It was wonderful. If you are interested his website is www.greathall.com

And now on to my second treasure, math! Those that know me are taking a second look at that sentence, I know. I am not good at math. Don't get me wrong, I can add subtract, multiply, and divide small numbers. But after that I really use a calculator and higher math, well forget it. Except Trigonometry. I really love that. But I digress.

We were drawn into this speaker because she said she would show us how to teach math to our children using an abacus. My husband had just commented earlier about using an abacus and how ancient people through around those beads like it was some kind of magic. So off we went. I was enlightened. My husband is great at numbers so he wasn't has boggled as I was but he was impressed and really wants to use this system to teach the boys math. I can't explain it but after listening to her speak for about 10 minutes I realized why I hadn't been able to go farther in math. It wasn't that I was "not a math person", it was that I wasn't taught in a way that made any sense. I could go so far with the way I was taught, but after that I was lost. It just got too confused for me. Her website is www.alabacus.com and I strongly suggest you read her work!

I'm about typed out now, so I will end here. Bottom line? We had a great weekend and I'm inspired knowing that I have done right by my children having them home with me since birth. The stories we read and the discussions that we have daily have all led to two amazing little boys. And we plan to continue raising them this way so that they become free, happy, intelligent men that know how to get what they need for themselves.