In that spirit, we’ve asked some homeschooling families a series of questions about how they homeschool, what challenges they face, how homeschooling fits with family life overall, etc. We hope you enjoy their stories as much as we did!

This is an ongoing series — if you are a homeschooling family interested in being profiled, please contact us.

Our first interview is with our always-inspiring friend Jennifer McKinnon from www.jenthemom.com. She and her husband Chuck homeschool four beautiful children…

FAMILY HACK: Please introduce us to your family members–names, ages, and a brief description of personalities, interests, parents’ occupations, etc.–whatever you feel comfortable sharing.

Jen McKinnon: We are a family of six, four children and two eccentric parents. Chuck, 36, went to school in Alberta Canada. He is extremely intelligent and for Junior High School was sent to a gifted school. He learned quickly that the school did more research about the students than providing a higher education for the students. It was at this school that he believed that education coincided very little with the reputation of the school and more with the style of teaching. Chuck is now a Usability Specialist working on some very exciting projects. He is working for a company that doesn’t have an office, allowing all employees to work from home. This allows us to strike a great balance between work and family.

I am 29. I am originally from North Las Vegas, Nevada. I grew up with very little money and in a neighborhood that was known for its violence and crime. I learned to fear going to school and realized that teachers and staff have very little control over the matters that are important and abuse their power over the things they can control. I have been a blogger since 2003. I have written articles for several birthing magazines in my area as well as a parenting site online. My eccentricities include being involved in organizations that support women’s right and at the same time taking great pride in my domestic abilities.

My oldest child is Jason,9. He is my builder. He loves Lego and is always adding to his Lego city. He has started moving into woodworking and built a go cart out of odds and ends from the garage. He’s also great at sketching drawings, gymnastics and learning breakdancing movies off of online videos. He has inherited impatience from both his parents and a distaste for math from me. I have had to learn to be creative with the way I present his schoolwork.

Jocelyn,7 is my voracious reader. She is an amazing reader and loves using her imagination to change the stories. She is reading Chronicles of Narnia right now. She’s also very gifted with her social abilities. She can be friends with anyone and loves them for their strengths and has patience with children that may need patience. Jocelyn learns things very quickly and enjoys moving on to new projects. For her I try to have a variety of activities available that I can pull out as she is ready to progress.

I also have two little ones. David is 3 and Laurelyn just turned 1. It’s a balancing act, trying to have time to teach the older kids and still be aware of what the little ones are doing. David is my tank. He’s all boy and likes to build and break things. He’s obsessed with tanks, monster trucks and construction vehicles. He loves to pretend and he’ll walk around all day pretending to be a soldier or a monster or a superhero. Laurelyn is my baby. She was the first baby I was able to have at home with a midwife. She’s adorable and I love snuggling her and playing with her.

FH: When and how did you first become interested in homeschooling? What factors were involved in your decision to homeschool?

JM: Chuck and I talked about the possibility when Jason was an infant. We weren’t sure if conventional schooling would be best for our kids. We didn’t trust that the public school system had our child’s best interests at heart. When Jason was in first grade things started to get difficult with his teacher. Jason was struggling badly enough for me to take him to the doctor who said that we had a very stressed six year old. The teacher was in her first year and she was struggling with all of the personalities in the classroom and some of the children were struggling because of it. We decided to pull him out of schooling and homeschool him before he gave up on learning all together.

FH: What was your own educational experience like growing up? How did that experience influence your decision to homeschool your own children?

JM: Chuck felt that the time spent in schools was a waste of time that he could have spent actually learning. I felt that schools were a place of insecurities and abuse of power.

FH: How would you describe your homeschooling philosophy? Do you use a specific method or curriculum?

JM: I believe we are eclectic. We do some unit study work and some book work and some unschooling approaches as well. I try to use all different approaches to schooling because I have such different personalities in our home. We are all readers so we do a lot of reading each day. This year we are using more books than we ever have before. I fell in love with Susan Wise Bauer and now we are using her Writing With Ease. My kids love map work and they love learning about the figures of history so we’re also using her Story of the World curriculum.

We’ve also decided to use Saxon Math every day and there has been some switch flipped in my kids’ heads because they’re loving it so far. I’m ordering Jessie Wise’s First Language Lessons for the Well Trained Mind as well so I’m looking forward to that coming in the mail. I love buying my homeschool books online. Who on Earth wants to go shopping with a brood as big as mine?

FH: Do you belong to any homeschool organizations?

JM: I belong to our local community homeschooling organization and I participate on my homeschool board yahoo forum.

FH: Do you meet with other homeschoolers on a regular basis?

JM: I wish I met with other homescholers more often but I find that we’re always meeting with kids wherever we go. Being part of the community homeschool association allows us to attend regular social gatherings as often as we want.

FH: What educational opportunities or resources in your community have you made use of?”

JM: We frequent the library weekly at least and we visit our Science Center regularly. The kids participate in some of the classes and field trips that the local community association puts together like fencing, gymnastics, camping as wells as trips to the Zoo, local farms. Homeschoolers seem to be community oriented and our local homeschoolers are trying to make it easier for locals to get information and access to local growers. This has been a great learning experience for the kids about our own consumption and how our food is grown.

FH: Do you have a daily homeschool routine or does your daily schedule vary from day to day?

JM: We try to stick to a schedule as long as the schedule serves us and not the other way around.

FH: What does a typical day and/or week look like for your family?

JM: Generally we have a schedule. After breakfast Laurelyn has a nap, David watches a movie and the older kids and I start school. By the time David’s movie is finished the older kids are involved in their different projects and are less likely to be distracted by him. We go outside for the afternoon and do hands on learning with the different subjects the kids especially interested in on any given day.

Our weeks looks busy every other day. I try to have every other day be a slower day so the kids don’t get burnt out from all their after school activities.

FH: What have you found most rewarding about homeschooling?

JM: I love the freedom. We can go to the fire station because one of the kids wants to know what the firemen wear to keep them from burning in the fires or we can read all day and putt off our ‘book studies’ until tomorrow. I love the self confidence that homeschooling has given back to my kids, especially Jason. I love watching one of my kids find a question they want answered and searching for the answer on their own. They know they can come to me if they want but they also know that they have all the ability they need to find information. I am proud of my kids every day for their ingenuity.

FH: What have you found most challenging about homeschooling? What are the biggest stressors in trying to do a good job of homeschooling your children?

JM: My time is no longer divided by long quiet spaces while the kids are at school. I have to manage my personal time very well or I will easily get behind. My biggest stressor is having the ideas for our homeschool day organized so that I can be ready with information and activities when they’re minds are ready to absorb it. I worry that I’m not doing enough.

FH: How has your homeschooling experience differed from your expectations?

JM: I thought that homeschooling would be like a full time job, just like it is for public school teachers. I expected to be working on homeschooling constantly. I have found that once my first year and a half was over and I had gotten over my fear of failing my children that I am more than capable and I can do I with less time than I expected. I know now where to go and what I want to do to be prepared for school in the morning. It’s actually a lot easier that I expected and it’s much easier than having them in public school because my time is mine to manage.

FH: If you have been homeschooling for several years, what changes have you found yourself making as you discover more about your kids as learners, and rethink educational goals and methods?

JM: I’ve only been homeschooling for 2 ½ years but so far I’ve discovered that book work is not the best approach for my kids. If we are going to use a book we don’t do every lesson from front to back. Instead we pick and choose and as soon as they have grasped the concepts we move on to the next lesson we choose.

FH: Do you have a long-term plan for how long you will homeschool?

JM: My plan is to homeschool as long as it is working for my kids. If they are still learning and developing a love for learning then I will homeschool until they’re going off to university.

FH: How has homeschooling affected your lives as parents? How do you balance homeschooling with your own need for grown-up time?

JM: I think homeschooling has been great on my marriage. Chuck is very supportive and he is extremely appreciative and impressed with everything I do for our family. It allows him to appreciate his good fortune in marrying such a wonderful and humble person, don’t you think? Chuck and I balance our school, work and family time by making our Friday night dates very important. If for some reason we can’t go out then we set aside some time to watch a movie or go for a walk.

FH: What challenges and benefits have you found in homeschooling more than one child? How has your family’s particular combination of ages, genders, personalities, interests, etc., shaped your homeschool as a whole?

JM: We have a relaxed and fun environment because that’s the only way to keep the kids’ attention when there’s two little kids that need my attention as well. We also have to be relaxed because we get interrupted by snack time or nursing time or nap time or snack time again. I love having several ages and personalities though because it keeps it fun and I am always needing to find some new way of doing things. It makes it enjoyable for me as well. I like change.

FH: How do you make homeschooling work for your family’s schedule and lifestyle? Has a parent’s work/schedule changed to accommodate homeschooling? Does a parent work from home?

JM: My husband is now working from home so that we can better take advantage of the local independent advantage of homeschooling. I can homeschool the kids from anywhere so we might as well do some traveling, right?

FH: What, if any, misunderstandings about homeschooling have you encountered from your family, friends, neighbors, etc.

JM: I have started having people do pop quizzes on my kids but I quickly point out how rude that is. I feel like I have been met with lots of support although I don’t have any friends who have started homeschooling.

FH: How do you answer questions about your kids “socialization” ?

JM: I’ve only had people who don’t know me well ask about social interaction. People who know me know that my kids get plenty of social interaction.

FH: What encouraging signs have you seen that homeschooling will prepare your children well for adulthood?

JM: My kids are self starters. They decide they want to see something or build something or know about something and they set off to get it themselves. They have also had great opportunities to learn about their community because we are out in the community more often then if they were in public school.

FH: If you could pick a famous person, living or dead, to homeschool your kids for the day, who would you choose and why?

JM: My mom. I believe that children need to feel loved in order to learn and the only person who can love my children almost as much as I do would be my mom. She’s also a natural teacher and fun to boot.

FH: What is your homeschool “dream scenario”?–if time, place, money, location, etc., were no object…

JM: My dream scenario would be us living in France temporarily. Chuck will be out getting pain au chocolats for breakfast while the kids and I started our homeschooling day. We will do school on a blanket under a shady tree while the little ones are playing in the garden. When Chuck gets back we all sit together eating our breakfast and discussing what we’re learning about. We end school with lunch and then spend the afternoon exploring the area and learning about the history of where we are. That would be perfect!

This is an ongoing series — if you are a homeschooling family interested in being profiled, please contact us.

My Mom whooped another common sense kitchen tip on us recently. So, I turned the video camera on her and had her show us how she keeps grilled shrimp moist and steady on a skewer.

Finally, be sure to soak your wooden skewers in water before you skewer your shriimp. It keeps them from bursting into flames.

BTW, do I get any points for not making any lame “shrimp on the barbie” jokes?

Special guests Susie, Jack (and Hannah) help me demonstrate how a damp paper towel can change your life. Well, maybe not change your life, but it will help keep that flexible cutting board from creeping off to Nova Scotia.

“There are Five Environments you can live in on this planet. There’s The City. The Desert. The Mountains. The Plains. And The Beach.

You can live in combinations of them. Maybe a city in the desert, or in the mountains by the ocean. Or you could choose just one. Out in the plains somewhere, perhaps.

But you need to get out there and travel, and figure out where you thrive.

Some places you’ll go to and you’ll feel yourself wither. Your brain will fog up, your body won’t respond to your thoughts and desires, and you’ll feel sad and angry.

You need to find out which of the Five Environments are yours. If you belong by the ocean, then the mountains will ruin you. If you’re suited for the blue solitude of the plains, then the city will be a tight, roaring prison cell that’ll eat you alive.

He was right. I’ve traveled and tested his theory and he was absolutely right. There are Five Environments.   If you find the right combination, or the perfect singularity, your life will click…into…place. You will click into place.”

This story resonated with me. I spent decades in a city that didn’t fit me. While living there I read a book called Life 2.0. It profiled dozens of people who had left large coastal cities and thrived in smaller towns. Like a woman who worked in high finance who left New York for South Dakota.

I was inspired by the stories of how technology made working remotely possible, but I was skeptical about the people being happier. Then, I moved to a place that made me feel great, like I could do anything. As Patton Oswalt said. “Everything clicked”.

So, I decided to think about the places I’ve been in my life and how they made me feel. Below are a just a few and how I would sum them up in a sentence or two:

Charlottesville, VA – (Mountains & Plains)
Family, literary, casual, lovely and historic.
I love it here. I feel creative, clearheaded and relaxed.
photo by: Tim Jarrett

San Diego, CA – (Beach & City)
Physical, active, singles – no seasons, perfect weather you take for granted.
A popular favorite that makes me feel out of sync and nervous.
photo by: Tomcio77

Buenos Aires, Argentina – (City)
Stylish, smart, creative, a nightime city.
This place gives me a buzz…in a good way. I feel inspired, energized and balanced.
photo by: Ana Cotta

Rhone Valley, France – (Mountains & Plains)
Food & wine, agriculture, nature, earth, seasons and time, tradition.
I felt warm and alive in the Southern Rhone, while the Northern Rhone felt vacant and dim. What a difference a few miles made.
photo by: Michael Davis

Kauai, Hawaii – (Beach)
Tropical, relaxed, dramatic scenery, feels small, remote and disconnected.
I could live on the lush, rainy north side of the island. The dry and sunny south side was pretty but felt generic
photo by: Jeff McNeill

What are you best and worst environment experiences? Let us know in the comments below.

Traveling the world sans pants just got a lot cooler.  Google’s Street View has always been a great way to see panoramas of streets from all over the world. Today they’ve added some great improvements.

Instead of having to inch along streets using those evil forward and backward arrows, you can now use their spiffy new “pancake” to get around. Check out this short video to get the lowdown.

Solution: Get out the hair-dryer … apply heat to the sticker … after heating up the sticker — it will then easily pull off (without leaving much residue). The remaining residue can be removed by using a touch of lighter fluid on a rag.

Warning: Once the culprit realizes his/her sticker is gone, they will seize the opportunity to put a new sticker in its’ place. If this happens — repeat the ’solution’ (you may find yourself hopelessly in an endless loop). Consider yourself plugged Greg.

via Gregory M Brettell of Reno, NV
Greg kindly asked us to shamelessly plug a Memorial Day tribute he created featuring original music.

TR McCormick of Dillingham, Alaska shared this useful tip:

If you lose anything on a floor and cannot find it. Use a flashlight down on the floor sideways. This causes the object to leave a shadow and you’ll find it right away.

Place a large coffee mug that is 1/2 full of water in your dirty microwave oven. Bring to a rolling boil, then let it sit in the closed microwave for 10-15 minutes. Wipe clean with a paper towel.

UPDATE: Some readers have warned of the possibility that microwaves can overheat water which can explode and cause burns. Here’s what Snopes.com has to say on the matter:

Yes, water can “explode” in the fashion described above. However, it takes near perfect conditions to bring this about, thus “exploding water” is not something the average hot beverage drinker who would otherwise now be eyeing his microwave with trepidation need fear. Odds are, you’ll go through life without ever viewing this phenomenon first-hand, and if you’re one of the rare few who does get to see it, you will likely not be harmed by the experience (that would take your standing right over the cup at the instant it happened, and the liquid’s bolting up and hitting your skin).

Nuff said.

There is hardly ever a need to pay full price for kids clothes — even the super nice wear-to-a-wedding ones. Kids grow so fast that their clothes are usually “used” before they are barely worn. So, today we’ll cover 5 ways we dress our kids for a fraction of the full price tag.

1. Easy Amazon Deals

Amazon.com offers huge discounts on clearance items. The trick has always been finding them. We’ve made this a snap with the links below.

Amazon.com Baby & Kid’s Clothes Discounts
90% OFF – Baby & Kid’s Clothes.
80% OFF – Baby & Kid’s Clothes.
70% OFF – Baby & Kid’s Clothes.
60% OFF – Baby & Kid’s Clothes.
50% OFF – Baby & Kid’s Clothes.
40% OFF – Baby & Kid’s Clothes.
30% OFF – Baby & Kid’s Clothes.

2. Clothing Stores – The Markdown Schedule

Clothing stores such as GapKids, Old Navy and Target drop prices dramatically when they need to make room for new inventory. I’ve managed to buy stuff for my kids at 50-90% off by shopping off-season for the upcoming seasons. This is a great way to stock up on socks, tights, underwear, basic T-shirts, and other items that are impossible to find used. Grab a winter coat in February for $5, and you won’t be rushing out with your credit card next year at the first hint of snow.

All major retailers have a markdown schedule. Here is Target’s schedule. Note: This may vary from store to store. Ask a store employee about your particular location.

TARGET’s WEEKLY MARKDOWN SCHEDULE
Monday – Infants, Kids Clothes and Electronics.
Tuesday – Women’s Clothes and Domestics.
Wednesday – Men’s Clothes, Garden, Toys, Health and Beauty
Thursday – Lingerie, Shoes, Housewares, Sporting Goods, Luggage
Friday – Cosmetics, Hardware, Auto, Home Improvement and Jewelry

TARGET’s AFTER HOLIDAY SCHEDULE:
All holidays except Christmas follow the 3-3-2 rule:
The first 3 days after the holiday are 50% OFF.
The next 3 days are 75% OFF.
The next 2 days are 90% OFF.
After that it goes to salvage.

Below are some examples:

4th of July
July 5 = 50% OFF.
July 8 = 75% OFF.
July 10 = 90% OFF.

Halloween
Nov 1st = 50% OFF.
Nov 4th = 75% OFF.
Nov 7th = 90% OFF.

Other retailers may have slightly different schedules. Chat up an employee at your favorite store to get the inside scoop. Don’t forget to check retailers online coupons for updates and surprise sales.

3. Ebay For Box Lots

eBay! hosts another plethora of clothing options. Again, it helps if you’re willing to buy off season. The bargains here are usually in the “lots” of several items, and people trying to clear out the closet or get rid of inventory rather than make a huge profit. Narrow your search by size, gender, and specific brands that you like (e.g. gymboree girl 3).

4. Thrift Shops – The Designer Secret

Thrift shops are a great place to find really expensive, high-quality kid’s items in pristine condition. Why? Because people tend to “preserve” these designer items, not letting their kids wear them. I routinely find gorgeous stuff with the tags still attached. Since I’m only paying a couple bucks for it, I’ll definitely let my kids wear it!
Prices are low because the items are donated and the selection spans seasons, sizes and styles so you can afford to be quite selective. Warning: Knowing this little secret will turn you into a complete clothes snob. Once you know where to get Ralph Lauren for a few bucks, you’ll never buy clothes at Walmart!

THRIFT STORE TIPS:
1. Think Twice.
It’s very easy to get carried away when the prices are so low. So, think twice before you buy — no matter how cute and cheap they are.

2. No Returns
Usually the return policy at thrift shops is minimal to non-existant, so make sure you check for missing buttons, broken zippers and stains before you buy.

3. Consignment Stores
Consignment shops offer pre-screened, generally more-organized, high-quality items with a heftier price tag. Sometimes worth it, sometimes not.

5. Yard Sale Strategy

The best bargains are found at yard sales. Most of the time the seller just wants to get rid of stuff so the prices are rock bottom. Seek out sales in the Volvo-driving neighborhoods and your kid will soon have a designer wardrobe for less than the price of a nice bottle of wine.

YARD SALE TIPS:
1. Go early for the best selection.
2. Go late for the best prices.
3. Don’t be afraid to make an offer — “Can I take all of these for $5?”

General Bargain Hunting Tips:

Think Ahead.
If you’re willing to shop off-season and ahead a few sizes, you can get great quality at bargain prices, and avoid those last-minute expensive shopping sprees. Invest in some plastic storage bins, make some labels and you’re all set. Organizing this stuff is essential — otherwise you’ll end up buying more than you need and not using it.

Keep A “Need List”
Keep track of sizes and clothing needs in something you keep with you, like a small notebook or PDA. The next time you’re in a thrift store wondering if your son has rainboots for spring, or what size they should be, you’ll have the answer without going home and digging through the closet.

What’s Your Secret?

Do you have a tip to share? Let us know your deal snagging secrets.