Feeling overwhelmed? Here’s a way to get organized, be more relaxed, and get more done. Gather all your projects and obligations, then sort them into manageable categories. Make lists that free you to think more clearly and act more effectively. Advantages to “Next Action” lists rather than “To Do” lists. (Based in part on David Allen’s book Getting Things Done.)

Reclaiming parents’ essential roles in children’s lives. Working to ensure that family (rather than work for pay) is the basic building block of society. Strengthening family bonds by spending time together. Communicating values, principles, and beliefs to children. Maintaining close contact with grown children.

Organizing your daily life and homeschooling to meet the needs of people who thrive on order and enhance your family’s learning, play, and relaxation. Involving children in chores. Easy and enjoyable ways of keeping the house clean. Resolving conflicts among family members who have different housekeeping styles and standards.

Save on homeschooling expenses (field trips, classes, books and supplies). Clothe kids for close to free. Sell for profit using eBay, Craigslist, resale, consignment. Make coupons pay. Reduce costs for groceries, utilities, home improvements, pet care, insurance. Bargain and trade. Thoughts on splurging, affording entertainment, and speaker’s family’s approach to getting out of debt.

We all have a philosophy of homeschooling, a set of background and often deep assumptions that influence our day-to-day decisions whether we realize it or not. Join a group of new and experienced homeschoolers and ponder questions such as: What are the most important things children (and parents) gain from homeschooling? Does homeschooling have fundamental downsides and, if so, how can we compensate for them? How much does it really matter which approach to homeschooling (complete purchased curriculum, unit studies, unschooling, etc.) you choose? Might some children be better off in school?

When dealing with someone who’s very different from us, or even among fairly similar people, we can gain a lot from acknowledging and accepting personality differences. Ways to identify and understand differences in temperament, such as the difference between an introvert and extrovert, and take them into account in homeschooling. Ideas to solve practical problems and resolve conflicts so we can function compatibly and productively while taking differences in stride. Perspectives that make it easier to relax and enjoy differences.

Gardening to fit your available space, time and money, and to keep learning something new. Finding the next adventure, whether it’s involving children in gardening, extending the growing season, foraging (for fruits and nuts, etc.), grafting fruit trees, practicing permaculture, exploring fermentation, or something else. All levels of gardening experience welcome.

Hear about a three-week long road trip to New England, taken by a homeschool graduate and her mom in a tiny camper. Suggestions for planning a route, choosing places to visit, packing essentials, keeping the trip affordable, finding good food, keeping a record of a trip, and other topics.

How do the reasons that we work for pay affect the way we combine working, parenting, homeschooling, and the rest of our lives? How do we find time and space for the kids and make sure they get what they need? How do we deal with our feelings of pride, accomplishment, frustration, inadequacy, exhaustion, etc.? How do we get help from and give to our homeschooling community? How can we accept compromises when the ideal situation is simply not available? How do we make changes when circumstances change and previous approaches no longer work?

Hear about a family whose passion is serving those in need. By knitting and sewing a variety of items to sell, four homeschooled sisters raised money to donate to various causes, including a village in India. When they felt called to see firsthand the fruits of their labor, they created another business to earn money to help cover the costs of a family trip to India in February 2011. In January 2013 they returned to India, so their journey continues. Also see F-6.

Making crafting with kids more relaxed and satisfying for everyone. Balancing kids’ activity with opportunities for parents to be creative. How-to information and resources for (1) easy, relaxed, and creative ways to sew clothes, bags, etc. from cloth, felted wool, and recycled clothes; (2) needle felting little animals, balls, patches, etc.; (3) finger painting; and (4) bookmaking. Presenters are mother-daughter homeschoolers. NOT a hands-on workshop.

Ways to get out and stay out of ruts, get “unstuck” when faced with seemingly intractable problems, turn criticism and conflict into a stimulus for positive growth, liven up your homeschooling through preemptive creativity, and nurture the creative problem solving your children will need as adults. Drawing from other approaches (unschoolers learning from families who use a purchased curriculum and vice versa) and using cross-fertilization among subject areas (what works for memorizing multiplication table may help in writing that college essay). Share something unusual that worked for your family and learn from others in the group. Homeschoolers of all experience levels and approaches are welcome.

An overview of the purpose and benefits of documenting your homeschooling experiences and activities. Finding a method that suits you and meets your needs. Ideas for simple records that save time yet are meaningful and retrievable for portfolios, credentials, college applications, etc.

Challenge your ideas about how much stuff you need. Ask: “How is stuff useful?” Discover the freedom that comes from not having to spend as much time and energy taking care of possessions and the possibilities for doing more of what you love. Learn how to declutter. But beware of the pitfalls of going too far as a minimalist. Presenter lived happily in a 650 square foot house with her husband, 3 children, and family pets.