One thing that the changing of the months and years brings us is this steadiness. In an ever changing life and an ever changing world, the months, seasons, and festivals will always be turning round and round. It can bring us and our families peace and stability if we choose to embrace it.
What we are celebrating this month:
Rogation Days – May 27-29
Memorial Day – May 28 ( a great time to look at summer plans)
The main thing I am doing this month is taking my own advice about minimalism in my life, where I don’t have the opportunity super downsize and roadschool. We live a pretty typically American suburban life in many ways! You can read the advice I am going to take to heart here. Sometimes we really are our wiser selves and then lose track of that!
homeschooling/education:
Our older two children (freshman and senior in high school) will both be attending hybrid high school programs in the fall. Our senior will have classes two days a week, and our freshman four days a week – both with modified shorter days. So whilst we technically will still be homeschooling, I will not be doing the teaching. I feel okay with this, as things are shifting for myself as I near age 49 and things are shifting for our family. As many of you know, I am going back to school myself beginning in July with a pelvic floor health certification and clinical doctorate in physical therapy and eventually hope to open a mother-sized practice for women’s health.
We will still be totally homeschooling our youngest child, who will be in fourth grade. He won’t have the opportunity to be in the one day a week program we were doing last year due to the long drive and my need to be on this side of town for teens. Instead, he will be banking on our local cub scout troup to get some time with friends and projects.
This will be the third time I have been through fourth grade, but first time with a ten year old boy, so I have many fun ideas and some things a little outside the box. If you want to follow along, try following @theparentingpassageway on Instagram. I will try to post homeschool plans both on there and on the Facebook page, but Instagram is the safest place to be to not miss anything!
where is the blog these days?
Well, unfortunately no one really reads blogs anymore. Compared to its heyday, readership here and in blogs in general, is super low. I write mainly for myself at this point, I think, and still hope to compile all these posts into ebooks at some point in the future.
For the most part, you can find me on IG (I am on Facebook as well, but I don’t always like the negativity and divisiveness of FB and therefore think about getting off Facebook daily, so IG may be your best bet to follow me). I will continue to write here as well, but I do wonder if it will drop off to be just IG in the next few years.
The other place you can find me is on the wonderful forum that The Child Is The Curriculum. It is an amazing place, and has all your curriculum shopping needs, discussion groups, book studies, and everything all in one place! I love it, and hope you do as well.
Lastly, you can always email me admin@theparentingpassageway.com to set up a consult by phone – I have half hour and full hour paid slots.
Can’t wait to hear what you are up to in May!
Blessings,
Carrie
The Parenting Passageway 
I still read your blog!!!!! But I hear you on blog’s status in general. When I started our farm blog in 2006, it felt like we had a lot of readers. I’d meet people in our state for the first time, and they’d say: “Oh, I’ve read your blog!” Now, social media is definitely where the action is at. I don’t love the shift. It feels like the medium really does change the message. I find myself with a lot of anxiety when I put on IG — will people like it? Etc etc etc
I still stick to my blog for my own creative output.
That’s exciting about your high schoolers! Is that an in-person program? I wonder if something like that exists elsewhere. I love the idea of shorter days. Why do we ask high schoolers to put in more physical hours than we ask college students???? It’s never made sense to me. It’s a LOT.
Also, very important question: to kegel or not to kegel? I want to know! I want to maintain my pelvic floor health, but I read so many contradictory things about what’s best to do (including that I can damage my floor with kegels done incorrectly). It’s overwhelming! Best wishes with your return to school! That is very exciting!
I think both FB and IG can have their own pressures for sure, Katie. That’s what is great about blogs in general!
Yes, my high schoolers go to in-person programs – one program, the one my rising senior has been a part of, has more AP classes and such the one my rising freshman will be a part of is more an outlined track that doesn’t really have honors level or AP but she likes that because then she doesn’t feel pressured that she should be doing “more”.
Ah, Kegels! It totally depends if your pelvic floor is weak or if your pelvic floor is tense and has a hard time relaxing – in that case kegels won’t be helpful. As i go along in my program I will be sure to write some posts. ❤ That part is interesting – my program is combination online and some weekends for working therapists, so I am grateful for that format! Lots of love, Carrie
All lovely plans Carrie! I just wanted to say that your blog is still one of my top resources and the first place I refer people to. Even if people aren’t reading blogs when new material is posted, I still think it’s a great place for longer thoughts and plans to be recorded, and as an archive of ideas to have out in the world. Thanks for all your hard work! Take care, Helen
On Thu, May 2, 2019 at 10:06 AM The Parenting Passageway wrote:
> Carrie posted: “One thing that the changing of the months and years brings > us is this steadiness. In an ever changing life and an ever changing > world, the months, seasons, and festivals will always be turning round and > round. It can bring us and our families peace and ” >
Hi Helen! Thank you so much. I agree that is the best part of blog writing. Heck, I refer to my own writings when I get lost in the weeds. Hahahaha. But sometimes when I write I don’t think it is really coming from me, but more pouring through me, so then I have to go back and look at it again! LOL.
Blessings and love, Carrie
Carrie,
I have more to say and my own you-inspired May post to share later, but right now i just want to say that I relate to the feeling that my own blogging has been for myself for some time now. I don’t think I am alone when I say that you are likely wrong that your readership has dropped off. I don’t comment often but I read every single post. I am subscribed to your blog so I can read right in my email. In fact, the only blogs I really read these days are the ones that offer that subscription option. There is so much more than can be detailed in a blog, without getting lost in other posts and comments, than elsewhere on the Internet.
With warmth, Nicola
That’s great insight about the subscription part, Nicola. Thank you, dear friend. Lots of love to you – Carrie
Well, I still read blogs. I am not on Facebook and I think Instagram is more for the younger generation. Besides, you cannot really write there.
So true, Eva. I am so glad some people still read blogs! Love to you ❤ Carrie
Dear Carrie, I have been reading your blog for years! It has been a rock of wise advice but also such deep reassurance and I come back to it again and again when I need reminding/informing of the developmental stages of my children and just to read your posts in general. I do see that Instagram is the ‘new blog’ but when you want words more than pictures I wonder if it can replace it? Anyway, I am deeply grateful for all the time you have spent posting here. My children attend a Steiner school here in the UK although we have also homeschooled for a time. You have helped me so much with challenging parenting times so I just wanted to say thank you so much for The Parenting Passageway and for your dedication to it.
Isabelle – thank you for your kind words. I love all my UK readers – there are a lot of you, and I appreciate you all. ❤ Love, Carrie
I’m having the same thoughts about how to simplify my life. I’m not sure it’s going to work, though–at least until my high schooler graduates next year. We are now adding physical therapy and occupational therapy to our schedule of outside activities that had me already feeling life was bursting at the seams. Whew!
My daughter will be increasing her time spent at her hybrid school and will be gone all day except for Fridays. So I can relate to the feeling of having just one child to homeschool.
Lots of hugs! It is a strange feeling in one sense to feel like you have only one to homeschool, but in another sense my high school teens are so ready to fly – one is really ready to go to college but still has that senior year, and the other is really independent, always has been, and is so ready to be out in the world. I think the hybrid situation is still a pretty wonderful deal, because we still get that family time. But I so relate to life bursting at the seams! I think that is just life with teenagers these days if they have anything to do outside of school. Lots of hugs and love, Carrie
I just wanted to say that you do not write only for yourself, and that you continue to encourage me! It was wonderful to meet you at the Southern HS conference, and it has been wonderful to have a Waldorf guide who is also a Christian and to follow your journey with you as your children grow. this helps my melancholic self to know where we are headed. Thank you for all you do, always. ❤ Jen
And I love reading your complete thoughts here. I find IG and fb in general so frustrating in that the writing is so short and always leaves me with questions.
Right? That is why I keep writing here. It just seems people don’t really have time for complete thoughts anymore…they want to read as they scroll by… Blessings, Carrie
Lots of love to you Jen!! ❤ ❤
I still read and love the blog. Thank you for your good works!
Your blog has been heaven-sent for me in my parenting. Thank you for writing for so many years!! I would personally still read it, but understand the departure. Ebooks of your writing would be awesome!
I also enjoy reading your blog ❤️
Still reading here too. Although I feel the shift as well. I have always written my blog more as a journal for my kids as they homeschool so that they can go back to see what we did when they were in school since we do not have a year book. I used to have quite a bit of traffic. That has changed a great deal lately.
Exciting news on your school! I am a DPT also-I went back when I was pregnant with my third. I only volunteer at our local free clinic now. I really enjoy it. I keep wondering if I will go back to working as a PT or not as my kiddos move out. It’s fun to watch others go through the developmental changes adulthood too.
I’m another faithful reader of your blog, though a more recent one as I only discovered it a few years ago. It has been such a source of wisdom, comfort and inspiration to me on my journey through motherhood with my littles. I’m so glad you are continuing to write it for now. It is a constant nourishment to me. I wish you and your family much joy in the upcoming school year and congratulations on your own new developments pursuing your career.
Thank you , Kate! Many blessings!
Another here who has been following your blog for years. You are my first go-to when planning a new school year. I do follow you over on Instagram as well, but love the depth and wisdom you’ve offered here. 🙂
Thank you Kirstin! I appreciate you!
I join the chorus….I still read EVERY entry here. I also refer family, friends, and fellow therapists here for all of the great information on each developmental age and how to address difficult behavior. Of course, all the homeschool info keeps me going on our own homeschool journey. Thank you so much for what you do! Your words have made such a positive impact in my family’s life!
Thank you OT Meli! ❤
Your writing is wonderful and your blog is my favorite! I so appreciate all of your guidance with family things and Waldorf homeschool. I will continue to read as long as you write, here or elsewhere! I really do enjoy the blog format on a regular basis.
Thank you Maureen! Such kind words ❤ Blessings, Carrie
I read your blog practically every day, and I’m so grateful for your writings. I read every good blog I can find, but yours tops the list. I want to shout it from the mountaintops…I STILL READ BLOGS!!!
Of course, if you’re done, I totally respect and honor that. But I hope you’re not done!!! Please, please, please always leave your archives up. Such a wealth of information for new mamas…and old ones, too!!!
Lots of love, Chris! My beautiful regular readers are the whole reason I keep writing! Look for more to come soon since summer is soon upon us and I will have a little more time. Blessings and love, Carrie
OH so much to say. So much gratitude. I love checking in on your blog, as I am now with a cup of tea 🙂 You have been a friend along the way for sure. I can recall so many distinct “Aha” moments, capturing so many fabulous ideas, finding encouragement, affirmation, sincerity…hope…! Having moved from the SE to Colorado several years ago, you are also a connection to the SE for me. A place I miss dearly, too. Sheila