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I'm Sara, the voice behind Chasing Jupiter and mum to two young boys.
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  • “In dreams, we enter a world that’s entirely our own.” -Albus Dumbledore 🌙 _____________________ Naps on a Sunday afternoon are my favourite. Even I was able to close my eyes for a few minutes... rare moments in parenthood. _____________________ How do you like to spend your Sunday’s? 🌿
  • “Whatever an education is, it should make you a unique individual, not a conformist; it should furnish you with an original spirit with which to tackle the big challenges; it should allow you to find values which will be your roadmap through life; it should make you spiritually rich, a person who loves whatever you are doing, wherever you are, whomever you are with; it should teach you what is important, how to live and how to die.” -John Taylor Gatto 🌿 _____________________ Once in awhile I find myself questioning my ability to teach my children. Have you ever done that? Or been asked “but do you have a teaching degree?” It’s possibly one of the most questions I get when people hear that I homeschool. _____________________ The secret I’ve learned, you don’t need to be a teacher with a degree. You don’t need to have a natural talent to teach. But you do need to want it. And what better motivation to get better and to learn than your own children. _____________________ To teach is to be a student at the same time. Forever learning what education is, or more importantly what it isn’t. Willing to make mistakes and do better tomorrow. Knowing enough to know we don’t know it all and we don’t need to know it all. Teaching, learning, and growing happens all day, every day. It doesn’t cease when our schedule for school is complete for the day. It’s never-ending. From childhood through adulthood. _____________________ Teaching and education by today’s standards is not what we need to live up to. Not a degree, curriculum, homeschool style or philosophy dictates whether or not we are teaching our children well. Education is So. Much. More. than what we’ve been led to believe it is.🌿
  • “Hoot Owl Hoot” has been a favourite in our house for a few years now but my youngest has nearly outgrown it now.🦉 We love games and it’s time to replace a few to match their age and ability. What are some favourite games in your house? I’m building a Christmas shopping list and would love some ideas for fun card or board games to play as a family. 😃
  • “It's a most serious mistake to think that learning is an activity separate from the rest of life, that people do it best when they are not doing anything else and best of all in places where nothing else is done.” -John Holt 🌿 _____________________
  • “Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book.” -John Green 🌿 Have you ever read a book like that? There are so many I could list here. Books I feel would enrich the lives of so many homeschoolers, parents, and, well humans in general. We all need more of those books in our lives. What books fit this category for you? I’ll be digging out some of my favourites to share soon!
  • It’s a wet, cold, dreary kind of day, but just what was needed as we are all on the tail end of a virus the boys and I have all had for the past week. And I just have to say, I am incredibly thankful for my husband and his ability to sit with our kids while they throw up without throwing up himself. 🤢 Unfortunately I never did develop a stronger stomach after becoming a mom like everyone promised I would. So I snuggle them and comfort them and he takes care of the mess... he’s my hero. What made you thankful for your spouse this week? ❤️ (picture is a throwback to our anniversary at the beach on a stormy day... happy memories for a rough week! Here’s to good health and the end of this awful virus!)
  • “Kids are born curious about the world. What adults primarily do in the presence of kids is unwittingly thwart the curiosity of children.” -Neil deGrasse Tyson 🌿 _____________________ I read an article a few days ago that shows the number of questions children ask in a day begins to dramatically decrease throughout their school years. They gradually become passive learners. Their interests and questions become second place to the teachers agenda and next weeks test or assignment. Imagine if the early years was a time of freedom to explore the world. Freedom to follow interests not for the sake of a test but for a genuine passion to learn. How different would the world be? I wonder. ____________________ Like all parents, I remember the continuous string of questions. On after the other. Questions not easily answered without a bit of research. I wanted to say “ I don’t know” or “god made it that way” and move on to the next question. Thankfully I had a child who would not settle for my non-answers. Through him I learned a few things, not to mention many of the answers to his questions. ____________________ 1. Listen for the questions, whether I think it is important or not. If they’re asking, it’s important. 2. If I really cannot help him find an answer at that time (being a homeschool parent can get busy!), either point him in the direction to find the answer himself or get him to write it down so we can research it later at a more convenient time. 3. Include his current questions and interests into the curriculum. Show him that I value his interests as not just a “hobby” but as a great asset to his school day. ____________________ Homeschooling is unique. It’s outside-the-box. It’s an opportunity to question. For our children to keep questioning and following their interests without being told to be quiet, follow the lesson, or wait until the appropriate grade. ____________________ Your turn... what unique interests have your children been learning about lately? 🌿
  • “The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination and brings eternal joy to the soul.” 🌊 _____________________ Every so often my husband and I have a chance to get out exploring without the kids. It’s different. Sometimes I even feel a little guilty they aren’t with us, even though we go on plenty adventures as a family. Do you ever feel that way when you get time away from your kids? 🌊 _____________________ Despite those feelings, I have to say yesterday was simply amazing. Just the two of us. We hiked further than we normally would. Explored rocks and ocean side cliffs in a way we wouldn’t if we had the little ones by our side. We weren’t concerned with the wind and the rain. It was refreshing. It was just us. Like it was when our adventure together first began. 🌊 _____________________ We need these moments in time together, as a couple. A reminder of the person we loved first. Long before our children came along and a reminder to cherish the one that will be by our side long after our kids have grown and moved out. 🌊 _____________________ So let your kids have fun with their grandparents for the day and go on an adventure with your spouse. A real adventure together... not the grocery store... (we cant be the only ones who go to Costco when we get a sitter...🙄) Don’t feel guilty about leaving the kids behind for a day while you cultivate the kind of relationship with your spouse that will stand the test of time. Be reminded why you became best friends in the first place. 🌊 _____________________ Okay... I’m done being cheesy. I might even share some embarrassing tales of our adventure soon. For now the picture will have to do. When was the last time you got out to do something fun with just you and your husband? 🌊
  • The aftermath of our morning routine. 📚 We started Coyote Peterson’s book Brave Adventures and both the boys love it! Seriously. It’s one of those books that they frequently stop colouring or drawing to just look up and listen intently. We have been watching his YouTube channel Brave Wilderness and studying animals so I think the book holds more meaning to them. Have you read it yet? What are you reading this week? 📚

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