Thoughts on Homeschooling

We are still and may always be navigating this sea of homeschooling life.  It has only been a few months and I as much as the children (if not more) am still learning.  After much research throughout the fall I knew that one curriculum wasn't the way to go for us, after all each child is his own person and deserves the right to express that.  Not to mentions that I found different ideas from different schools of thought interesting and/or helpful.  I also knew that I didn't want "school at home".  By this I mean I didn't want to ring a bell in the morning, pledge allegiance to the flag, and do the same subjects in the same order for the same amount of time every day.  After all that is what they were doing in school, and this is home.  Beyond that though I wasn't so sure where homeschooling would take us,  I got some workbooks, talked to everyone I knew that was already homeschooling and tried to learn as much as I could.
I would like them to be learning every day (which they do whether I'm involved or not).   I do think that things like math are important, and while we do incorporate it into real life easily enough through cooking, sewing, and such,  we do some strait up math work.  It's boring, but we get it done.
I also studied both the state and national expectations for kids their age as far as public education was concerned so I could have some idea of where they were at and where they should be. 
But this morning I guess I had a bit of an epiphany of sorts.
I had written down some assignments for them on our chalkboard wall, math, grammar, nature study and geography today.  However, the boy wanted to go outside first and play.  I almost said "no, finish your work and then go outside".  Luckily a little voice inside me said "Are you crazy woman!  Let those children be out in nature, school's not going anywhere".  Fortunately for everyone sake I listened to that little voice.

So off they went in their puddle boots and a few less layers to "play".   When I went outside to see what they were up to I realized "hey, they ARE learning"!  To those of you who have been at this for a while I'm sure your thinking "well, yeah".  But I guess I just haven't thought about it in these terms before.  But there they were, working together to build a structure of sorts.  Learning to work as a team, learning about physics (Corey was all wound up about kinetic energy and what would and wouldn't hold the big heavy branches up). They put their heads together and got what they needed, it was brilliant. 
When I first walked out the front door I found this:

for anyone confused this is indeed a sled full of mud on my front walk.  My mouth was open I was ready to say "get rid of this mess", but instead I took a deep breath and simply thought "let them be, it's only mud".  I'm so thrilled with the day of learning they are having right now. 

 I learned a valuable lesson today, let go and let them follow their interests and passions. The learning will be there with them in all that they do, this is how they are wired!  I am happy with the path that we are on.  I realize there will still be bumps and unexpected turns, but I will try as I did today to see these situations as opportunities to explore, learn and grow.