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Lea Ann Garfias | Homeschool Made Easy

Lea Ann Garfias | Homeschool Made Easy

Homeschool Made Easy

Pajama School

June 22, 2011 by Lea Ann Leave a Comment

Pass it on!
From the archives, a review that is worth a second look ...

It was with great excitement that I picked up my copy of  Natalie Wickham’s book.  I, too, am a homeschool graduate, and I could not wait to read an honest account of growing up counter-culture.  Imagine my delight, upon beginning the first chapter, to discover that Natalie’s homeschool beginnings were so like my own.  I identified with her first day of school-at-home: the carefully arranged  desks in the meticulously prepared homeschool-room; the carefully-chosen wall-charts, assignment notebooks, and workbooks; and the nervous excitement while saying the pledges to the flags.  I also relished Natalie’s honestyregarding the natural emotions homeschoolers face when the newness wears off: the anxiety about leaving friends from the former church-school and feeling like an outsider at times during church activities; the struggle with family relationships in the first year while siblings adjust to being home all day together; the periods of adjustment every time Mom re-evaluates her teaching styles; and the strain of trials on the entire family as they deal with tragedy while learning together.  She shares each of these with us, and how they overcome them with joy and strength.

Pajama School is not merely an account of homeschool success, though you will certainly come away encouraged in your teaching by reading Natalie’s story.  And it is not merely an amusing tale of growing up at home, though the irrepressible homeschool humor shines through on many occasions.  It is not even a treatment of biblical principles, although Natalie does discuss her wrestlings with peer-dependency, feminism, courtship, politics, entrepreneurship, bitterness, institutionalization, higher learning, and pride.  More than these, Pajama School is a transparent look at how the Lord can use family discipleship to begin a life-long relationship with Himself.

Natalieis honest, painfully honest at times, regarding how God used her unconventional education, her committed parents, and her own sinful yet broken heart to accomplish His will in her life.  As she says,

The Lord has a way of using the right people at the right time to teach me, counsel me, and help me understand different areas of life from His perspective.  That’s an education far above and beyond what I could have ever learned from a textbook!

  – Pajama School, page 50

You can find out more information on Natalie Wickham’s Pajama School – Stories from the Life of a Homeschool Graduate on the Pajama School website. Natalie offered a special discount at the end of her “Ask the Grad” profile this week; use the code at Sibro Publishing to buy your own copy of Pajama School today!

Pass it on!

Filed Under: Homeschool, Products Tagged With: Books, college alternatives, family, homeschool graduate, homeschooling, HSE, Motherhood, Natalie Wickham, pajama school, review

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jenny says

    July 29, 2010 at 9:07 am

    I want to read Pajama School!

    Reply
    • Lea Ann Garfias says

      August 2, 2010 at 3:01 pm

      Congratulations, Jenny. You won!

      Reply
  2. Jenny says

    July 29, 2010 at 9:11 am

    I put a link on my blog!
    http://manyhatsmommy.blogspot.com/2010/07/book-giveaway-on-another-blog.html

    Reply
  3. Jenny says

    July 29, 2010 at 9:12 am

    Posted this on FB
    Book give away on my friend’s blog!
    http://manyhatsmommy.blogspot.com/2010/07/book-giveaway-on-another-blog.html

    Reply
  4. Jenny says

    July 29, 2010 at 9:13 am

    Questions for homeschooling grads
    1) When you were in it, what was the best thing about homeschooling?
    2) Now that you’re done, what was the best thing?
    3) When you were in it, what was the worst thing?
    4) Now that you’re done, what was the worst thing?

    Reply
  5. Angie R. says

    July 29, 2010 at 11:11 am

    I want to read Pajama School.

    Reply
  6. Angie R. says

    July 29, 2010 at 11:21 am

    I facebooked about it

    http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/profile.php?id=1382561821

    Reply
  7. Angie R. says

    July 29, 2010 at 11:29 am

    http://jeffratzlaff.blogspot.com/
    I bloged about the giveaway

    Reply
  8. Alicia says

    July 29, 2010 at 11:44 am

    I want to read Pajama School!

    Reply
  9. twighee says

    July 29, 2010 at 11:55 am

    I want to read Pajama School!

    Reply
  10. twighee says

    July 29, 2010 at 11:57 am

    FB link

    http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/kaylizabeth

    Reply
  11. twighee says

    July 29, 2010 at 12:02 pm

    Blog post
    http://twighee.wordpress.com/2010/07/29/homeschool-book-giveaway/

    Reply
  12. Dovey says

    July 29, 2010 at 4:47 pm

    I want to read Pajama School!

    Reply
  13. Dovey says

    July 29, 2010 at 4:50 pm

    Ask the Grad — Does homeschooling make you resent your parents more than traditionally-schooled peers? I mean, when you have trouble with school, you tend to blame teachers, but that’s your parent when you’re home-schooled. When you have boundary/discipline issues, that’s also your parents. When you have sibling problems, you tend to complain to your parents. When you have character issues, you tend to blame your parents. I’m just afraid, being a homeschool mom, that I’m going to be a scapegoat for all and/or perceived problems that my children have. I want to be close with my children.

    Reply
  14. Lisa Lawrence says

    July 29, 2010 at 7:55 pm

    I want to read Pajama School!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  15. Lisa Lawrence says

    July 29, 2010 at 7:56 pm

    BTW…I am a homeschool grad who is now a homeschool mom.

    Reply
    • Lea Ann Garfias says

      July 30, 2010 at 5:37 pm

      Lisa,

      Would you please contact me via the contact form in the “About Me” tab and leave your email address? I would love to know more! Thanks!

      Reply
  16. Maureen says

    July 29, 2010 at 8:24 pm

    What are the:

    Top 3 best things you experienced/have done homeschooling?

    Top 3 worst things you experienced/would never do homeschooling?

    Reply
  17. Maureen says

    July 29, 2010 at 8:26 pm

    I want to read Pajama School!

    Reply
  18. Debra says

    July 29, 2010 at 9:24 pm

    In the comments below, say “I want to read Pajama School!”

    Reply
  19. Kelly B. says

    July 29, 2010 at 10:45 pm

    I’m too old…that’s too much work! I’ll just have to buy it. LOL!!! 🙂

    Reply
  20. jewelryprincess says

    July 30, 2010 at 7:08 am

    I want to read Pajama School!!!

    Reply
  21. jewelryprincess says

    July 30, 2010 at 7:15 am

    For Ask the Grad:
    Can you share a part of your personality/character that homeschooling developed into a strength that may have otherwise been neglected or a weakness?

    Reply
  22. jewelryprincess says

    July 30, 2010 at 7:18 am

    My FB post:
    for my homeschooling friends or those considering it: a book giveaway from a homeschool grad– http://whateverstate.wordpress.com/2010/07/29/book-review-and-giveaway-pajama-school/

    Reply
  23. Noelle says

    July 30, 2010 at 10:21 am

    I would like to read “Pajama School”.

    Reply
  24. Noelle says

    July 30, 2010 at 10:27 am

    Posted the link on my blog: http://alittlechocolate.blogspot.com/2010/07/pajama-school-giveaway.html

    Reply
  25. Noelle says

    July 30, 2010 at 10:29 am

    Also posted on FB… http://www.facebook.com/nstiekes

    Reply
  26. Panama corporation says

    June 23, 2011 at 10:25 am

    .by Natalie Wickham.Reading Level Ages 16 – Adult.Reviewed by Kathy Davis on January 18 2010 17 10 27.As a homeschooling mom to three boys Pajama School brought me both sighs of relief and smiles. The authors recollection of her homeschooling days gave me much needed encouragement. What about socialization team sports band the prom and high school requirements?

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Back to School for Mom | Whatever State I Am says:
    June 27, 2011 at 6:03 am

    […] mentioned last week that I was taking definite steps to study the difference between biblical Christianity and secular humanism.  I want to further understand how humanism has over-taken our culture and crept into our belief […]

    Reply

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