Home-Office Management for Parents Homeschooling Families in

Transcription

Volume 11, Issue 3
Home-Office Management
for Parents
Homeschooling Families
in Business
A Life of Integrity
Convention
Highlights!
HEAV Board of Directors
Anne Miller | President/Executive Editor
contents
Williamsburg | [email protected]
Al Linder | Vice President |
Manassas
[email protected]
Vicki Bentley | Secretary |
features
Dinwiddie
[email protected]
Mary Musick | Treasurer |
Monterey
9
[email protected]
Rustburg
[email protected]
Patrick Ryan | Purcellville
[email protected]
Rick Boyer |
12
Home-Office Management for
Parents: Seven Tips for Managing
Your Time, Debbie Williams
14
Homeschooling Families in Business
Advisory Board
Florence Feldman | Convention Director
Virginia Beach | [email protected]
Linda Linder | Manassas
[email protected]
Cherrie Moore | Virginia Beach
[email protected]
Joy in the Journey
Stories from Our Readers
22
A Life of Integrity, Joel Orr, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Yvonne Bunn | ex officio Board Member
Murfreesboro | [email protected]
Projects, Personnel & Convention
departments
4
From the Editor, Mary Kay Smith
5
Letters
Vicki Bentley | Office Manager
Kitty Hepler | Office Financial Assistant
6
Virginia Kids Did It!
Publications Staff
8
From the Executive Director’s
Desk, Yvonne Bunn
Florence Feldman |
Director
[email protected]
Office Staff
Michael Grice | Update Editor
[email protected]
TinaMarie Hintz | Update Project Manager
[email protected]
Mary Kay Smith | Magazine Editor
[email protected]
Dr. Joel Orr | Associate Editor
[email protected]
George Bunn | Advertising Director
[email protected]
Ideas in Marketing, LLC | Design & Layout
[email protected]
Please pray for us!
Send address changes to: Home Educators Association
of Virginia, 2248-G Dabney Road, Richmond, Virginia
23230-0745; Fax: 804-278-9202; E-mail: [email protected];
Phone: 804-278-9200; or Web: www.heav.org.
For fastest service, send your former and new addresses.
10
Freedom Watch
25
Resources, Nancy Coleman
24
Coming To Virginia
26
Classified Ads
✹
✹
THE VIRGINIA HOME EDUCATOR l 3
FROM THE EDITOR
On the Cover
Mary Kay Smith
wasn’t sure it could be done. After all, how many
wedding cakes have you seen that can be successfully carried on a head? But the request came with
the assumption that this was nothing unusual, and
when you are trying to be helpful and earn money as
a teenager, you are reluctant to turn business away.
So I made the cake. It was three-tiered; rectangular for strength; and though it
had a decorative topper, it didn’t have separating pillars—I doubted the lady’s skill
was that good. But when she came to pick it up, she easily balanced this one on her
head and walked regally away, thrilled to have a real wedding cake decorated in yellow icing roses and white icing swags for her special day.
Unless you are a milliner, I doubt you can boast that the fruit of your business
has been carried away on someone’s head. You probably won’t even be able to relay
an experience like mine when our car slid along the muddy Ubombo Mountain road
past chickens and goats to another wedding, my mother and brother helping me
hang on to the various tiers of the cake as my dad directed, “Hold on—here comes
another pothole.” But everyone in his or her own business will have some kind of
story to tell!
Cake decorating didn’t start out as a business for me. It was a hobby and, in fact,
I only continued it as a business through high school and then turned it back into a
hobby. My first wedding cake was by request, as a favor to an African pastor and his
nurse wife. From there, the idea spread to his relatives and co-workers, and then
beyond to someone I’d never heard of, who walked several miles through the bush
to carry the cake home on her head.
Many businesses start out that way. Sometimes we forget that a skill we have
acquired is marketable to anyone else. It’s true that some pastimes are best left as
hobbies—you don’t want to “burn out” doing something you enjoy a little but not
enough to work at several hours a day. But often hobbies are the beginning of successful home businesses.
Are you considering starting a home business? Wondering how to choose, or
what’s involved? Take a look at the business ideas in this issue, and maybe you’ll find
just the information and inspiration you need. We showcase part-time work by kids
and moms as well as full-time self-employment ideas by parents who have decided
to “do it all” out of their house. Maybe one of those options is right for you—for
now, for a while, or from now on. I
The purpose of The Virginia Home Educator is
to provide a forum for the discussion of Virginia
homeschool issues. The views expressed in this
magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the
Home Educators Association of Virginia.
The Virginia Home Educator is sent quarterly to
Virginia’s homeschooling families without charge.
To receive a free subscription, sign up at
www.heav.org.
To inquire about advertising or submitting an
article, please contact HEAV at PO Box 6745,
Richmond, Virginia 23230-0745; or e-mail us at
[email protected]. HEAV reserves the right to edit
for style and space, and to refuse any submission
deemed inappropriate for our publication.
Permission is granted to reprint any news items
from this magazine, providing proper credit is
given; all other material is copyrighted. For
reprint permission, please contact the editor at
[email protected].
© 2005 Home Educators Association of Virginia
Submission Deadlines:
Fall 2005—September 15 • Winter 2006—December 15 • Spring 2006—March 15 • Summer 2006—June 15
4 l THE VIRGINIA HOME EDUCATOR
Vending Machines: Brianna and Ezra Edmonds of
Edmonds Solutions
Note Cards: Renata See
Tupperware: Kathy and Dan Macklin of Spirit
Enterprises, Newport News, 757-874-2119
Alpaca Farm: Cornerstone Farm Alpacas
Photo Credit: Tupperware and Usborne Books photos
by Seth Fisher, Through My Lens Photography
Volume 11, Issue 3
Home-Office Management
for Parents
Homeschooling Families
in Business
A Life of Integrity
Convention
Highlights!
Index to
Advertisers
Alpha Omega Publications . . . . . . . .12
Alpha Omega - Power-Glide . . . . . . .21
BJU Press . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFC
The Bread Beckers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
The Cropper’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . .10
Covenant Home Curriculum . . . . . .12
Dr. Alan Toler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Dr. Martin Forman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Eagle Funding Group, LTD. . . . . . . . .18
Etiquette School of Virginia . . . . . . . . .5
Fork Union Military Academy . . . . . .13
God’s World News . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Greathall Productions, Inc. . . . . . . . .25
Hampton Roads Naval Museum . . . .23
The Home School Foundation . . . . .14
Home School Legal Defense . . . . . . .24
Home School Legal Defense . . . .OBC
Keystone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Patrick Henry College . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Professor B’s Power Mathematics . .IBC
Richmond Piano . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Roanoke Bible College . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Science Museum of Virginia . . . . . . .23
Seton Testing Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Shiller Math . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
LETTERS
KINGS DOMINION HOMESCHOOL DAY
We were happy to be able to take advantage of the
Homeschool Day at Kings Dominion in April, as we’d never been
to an amusement park as a family. I wanted to let you know about
one of their policies: they allow parents to swap out with the
babies. One parent stands in line, rides the ride, and then the
other parent gets their spot right on the next take-off. It worked
great! And on all but one, they let one of the boys ride again with
me, no standing in line twice! I’d never heard of that, and it’s not
in the brochure.
Also, they said on the phone that you can take in a backpacksized bag, so we loaded a diaper bag full of Gatorades and a
backpack full of snacks. That way we didn’t need to pay the
exorbitant prices for anything to eat or drink, or even hike back
to the van for lunch. We thought someone else might be able to
use this info on a future trip. It was a huge help to us! It was a
great day! Thank you for your part in it.
Andrea Kelly, Crewe
THANKS TO YVONNE BUNN AND HEAV
On behalf of the Richmond Hospital Education staff, I would
like to thank you for presenting the topic “Homeschooling”
during our staff development activity yesterday. The general information you presented, as well as the specific information regarding
laws, procedures, and statistics was very informative and wellreceived. You provided us with information that is timely and
relevant as we interact with families and school-division personnel.
Many of us had been presented with questions relative to
homeschooling—from families, health-care professionals, and
community services representatives—and we appreciate the opportunity to increase our knowledge and awareness and to learn
directly from you.
Thank you for sharing your expertise with us. We look forward
to working with you as a resource.
Medical College of Virginia
Requests Homeschool
Information
The Medical College of Virginia and Richmond Children’s
Hospital invited HEAV representative Yvonne Bunn to present
the benefits of home education at an in-service training about
chronically ill students for the hospital’s educational administrators and tutors. Yvonne presented statistical information
about home education, the positive outcomes of recent studies,
and the requirements of the Virginia law.
The Children’s Hospital’s educational staff is made up of
teachers and tutors who work with children of all ages from
preschoolers who are developmentally delayed, to high school
students who are unable to attend classes because of severe
medical conditions. In recent months, the staff has become
aware of more and more parents who are interested in homeschooling their chronically ill children because of the educational consistency it could offer for a child who is in and out of
the hospital.
As a result of this presentation, MCV is forwarding HEAV’s
contact information to parents who are interested in gathering
information and resources about homeschooling. Very Truly Yours,
Evelyn B. Waddell, Ed. S.
Assistant Director
Hospital Education Program
VIRGINIA KIDS DID IT!
Congratulations to Susanna Klicka, who won second place
at the Manassas Art Show at the ArtBeat Gallery in Manassas! In
March, the ArtBeat Gallery featured about 80 pieces of artwork
from more of than 55 homeschooled students, ages eight to 20,
in a special exhibit entitled, “Artists of the Future.” All exhibitors
are students of Patty McMahon Rice, a portrait artist and art
teacher for 11 years in Fauquier County. These pieces are on display in the Capitol Building for a year.
To learn more about Patty Rice’s artwork, the ArtBeat
Gallery, or the HSLDA 2005 Art Contest, go to the following
websites: www.pattyrice.com; www.hslda.org/contests/art;
www.artbeatgallery.org.
Congratulations to Ben Smith, Cascades, who received
numerous honors as an outstanding Eagle Scout in Virginia
Veterans of Foreign Wars
(VFW) competitions. He
was made Arlington’s John
Lyon Post 3150 Eagle Scout
of the Year, and then went
Ben Smith, VFW Post 3150’s
Eagle Scout of the Year, receives
his award and congratulations from
Post Commander, Greg Moscater.
on to win the same honor in the 10th district, and then second
place in the state! For information on VFW’s Eagle-Scout-of-theYear program, go to www.vfw.org.
Henrico County 4-H Titans LifeSmarts team won the state
competition at Virginia Commonwealth University in March. The
winning Titans include Jordan Anderson, John Cummings,
Briana Dawkins, Nathanael Goodman, and Matthew Vinson.
sixty six teams applied on-line; 34 teams had at least four students
to complete the test, and the top 16 scoring teams were chosen to
compete at the state competition.
Henrico 4-H had two teams qualify. The second Henrico 4-H
team was composed of Josh Clark, Nicole Clark, Katrina
Larson, Kristopher Larson, and Ariel Simon.
Then, along with coach Karie Dawkins and assistant coach and
4-H agent Kendra Kyle, the Titans went on to the national competition in San Francisco in April. It was an exciting competition
with 34 teams dueling it out to be the LifeSmarts Champions.
The Titans won their first match and did well in their second
match, losing by just one question.
LifeSmarts is a Jeopardy-like competition about consumer
information. Check the website www.lifesmarts.org to
learn more.
The Titans and coaches at the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco.
Congratulations to Michelle Lesensky’s P.E.A.C.H. homeschool team of Crystal and Steven Valdez, who took first-place
regionally, and fifth-place in the state, in the fall Stock Market
Game. This was the first time P.E.A.C.H. homeschool group
participated in this program, and they sent two teams.
Participants were provided game money of $100,000. With
that money, the Valdez team created a growth of $44,219 in a
matter of a few short months...totalling $144,219! Winning team
members have been invited to the Federal Reserve Bank in
Richmond for an awards banquet, and also to James Madison
University for an awards ceremony.
To learn about this program, go to www.smg2000.org.
Congratulations to 17-year-old Olivia Williams, Stuarts
Draft, who won a $1000 college scholarship awarded by the LeeJackson Foundation of Charlottesville for the year 2004-2005.
The scholarship was awarded for an essay Olivia submitted last
year entitled “Stonewall Jackson: Soldier of the Cross.” She was
also awarded an extra $1000 bonus for her essay being judged
the best of all private and homeschool essays in Virginia! To find
out more about this contest, go to www.lee-jackson.org/#essay.
Congratulations to homeschool senior, Marissa Heebner,
on her accomplishments in swimming and academics. Marissa
was recruited by NCAA Division I Western Kentucky University
to swim for the Hilltoppers. She has been awarded an athletic
scholarship and the university’s Regents Scholarship for academic achievements, leadership, extra-curricular activities, and citizenship. Marissa has been swimming competitively since age
eight. She has been a
Potomac Valley Swimming
Scholar Athlete and USA
Swimming Scholastic All
A m e r i c a Te a m m e m b e r
throughout high school.
She currently trains with
Curl-Burke Swim Club.
Congratulations to Capital Baptist Homeschool Co-op,
Annandale, who did a great job in their second year of the Odyssey
of the Mind competition. In April, they entered four teams in the
NoVA West Regional Tournament, and all four teams placed in
four different problems! Two teams took first place, and went on
to state competition.
Their Division I team, in the “Get the Message?” category of
the state competition, was also bestowed with the highly prized
Ranatra Fusca award, given to a team that shows exceptional creativity and willingness to take intellectual risks.’ This award is
not given out each year unless an exceptional team is identified.
Their coach was Patty Whelply.
Their Division III “Stunt Mobiles” team took second place at
state finals, making them eligible for world competition in
Colorado in May. Their coach was Kathy Rossell.
"Stunt Mobiles" world team, top row from left: Joseph Rossell, Alexander
Klein, Sam Ducat (w/ mask on), Paul Christophersen, and Charissa
Eagy; bottom row from left: Claire Rossell and Ben Rossell.
To find out more about this program, go to www.odysseyofthemind.com.
Congratulations to eightyear-old Meredith Collins,
(Fincastle), who won first place
at the 2005 Virginia State
Scholastic Chess Championship
Tournament held in Yorktown
in March. Meredith competed
with 99 other students from
kindergarten through third
grade, finishing with five wins
and one draw in six games.
Her record was matched by
another student from Richmond,
earning each the title of cochampion; however, Meredith was awarded the first-place
trophy based on a tie-breaker system.
Meredith is a member of the Greater Roanoke
Homeschool Chess Club, the Roanoke Valley Chess Club,
and a student of Life Master Neal Harris of Hendersonville,
NC. She learned to play chess at the age of five from her
older sister, Emily, who is now ranked 33rd in the United
States among girls under age 13. "Get the Message" team, top row from left: Kristin Clermont &
Barbara Montgomery; bottom row from left: Anna Milograno,
Rose Ducat & Katie Ruggles
FROM THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR’S DESK Yvonne Bunn
I
t’s hard to believe the 2005
HEAV Convention has come
and gone. It’s now a memory,
but what a great memory!
I’ll long remember some
of the highlights: the children’s
program filled with eager children waiting for the day’s activities; standing-room-only workshops with practical
information; keynotes with stirring messages of
encouragement, as well as the fun-filled, hand-clapping
music of the Hunt Family Fiddlers; a used-curriculum
sale with more books and clients than ever before; an
exhibit hall with parents, book-carts in tow, circling first
one aisle then the other in search of resources; halls
packed with people meeting and greeting and scurrying
from workshop to workshop; and a graduation filled
with family and friends cheering one moment then
crying the next.
What an opportunity to connect with others! Not
only did counseling and sharing take place at the HEAV
tables, but also in the workshops and keynotes, in the
exhibit hall, at the single-parent luncheon, during the
support-group leaders’ luncheon, and all among new and
experienced homeschoolers! What a wealth of information was shared!
Although we’re still processing our convention records, we
believe we had more people in attendance than ever before. I’ll
be sure to give you the exciting statistics in the next issue. I’ve
included a few notes below from some of the many people who
filled out evaluation forms or sent us e-mails. Everyday we
learn about new, exciting things that happened. I believe these
comments will bless you and encourage your heart just as they
have ours.
I want to thank you (and Cherrie Moore) for the single parents’ luncheon. As a newly divorced homeschooling mom, I will never forget the faces
and stories at that luncheon. It may have changed my life. I am heartbroken
to be among this group, and yet I am now also overwhelmed with pride to
be among such an inspiring and courageous group.
I came away so incredibly stirred by the vision of these ladies that is leading them to homeschool their children despite almost insurmountable odds.
This truly is a new movement in our land—of women committed to shepherding their children to safety in creative home education after disaster has
struck their family unit.
Homeschooling may not be for all broken families, but at least single
mothers are hearing there is another option out there and can say, “By the
grace of God and with the help of Christian family, there is a new way.”
I went to the HEAV conference barely hanging on by my fingernails,
wondering if I would find any encouragement at all because of my circumstances. I came home a woman of incredible vision because of those stories
I heard. Thank you for caring enough for the widows and orphans that you
and Cherrie provided such a rich avenue for inspiration.
With blessings and thankfulness,
Jan E.
Thank you for all the work you did for graduation. The ceremony was
very well done and everything seemed to be performed with excellence.
Thank you also for the special mention that Sarah’s dad could not
be present because he was deployed. After serving in the military for about
25 years he was surprised to be called to active duty from the reserves. We
kept praying that he would be able to make the graduation; however, that was
not in God’s timetable.
During graduation, I was able to contact Jay on my cell phone and
held it so he could hear Sarah’s name called. Then I gave the phone to her
so he could congratulate her. That way he felt connected. Sarah is our only
child and this was an extra-special time for us. Thank you again for going
the extra mile in honoring our request and making special mention. We are
very grateful.
Sincerely,
Debbie S.
My only challenge is how to get to go to all the workshops that I want to
attend. Thank you for putting this convention on every year. A.W.
(We know it’s hard to do everything! Don’t forget to get the tapes for the sessions you couldn’t attend! HEAV)
You did a super job! I can’t believe you do this with volunteers! N.J.
(Thank you, volunteers. We could never do this without you! HEAV)
For my first visit, my expectations were exceeded! Thank you! L.T.
This is the best one I’ve been to so far! A.A.
Photos taken by Seth Fisher, Through My Lens Photography
2005 HEAV CONVENTION
To order convention tapes and CDs, visit www.bestchristianconferences.com
FREEDOM WATCH
Approval vs. Notice
HSLDA
In May, the Office of Student Services of the Virginia
Beach City Public Schools notified homeschooling families
that they must report their intention to homeschool their children to the superintendent by August 1st of each year. Their
attached Notice of Intent form repeated the mistake. The correct date is August 15th.
Her letter also suggested that parents must “apply” to
homeschool and obtain “approval” from the school system.
Under Virginia law, homeschool families do not need to either
apply for, or obtain, approval. Families simply file a notice of
intent, and they can begin home instruction immediately. The
author of the letter said she would correct the date and review
the language before sending it out again next year.
This is not a trivial issue.
If “approval” were required, the government would
have far more power over families. Parents might not be
allowed to start homeschooling their children until they
were approved. Because Virginia has a simple notice
requirement, parents’ rights are more robustly protected.
The requirement of notice, as opposed to approval, is an
important safeguard to our liberties. When officials imply
that approval is required, we must respond.
Army Opens Doors Wide
to Homeschool Graduates
HSLDA
After the Army’s five-year pilot project to place homeschoolers in the Tier 1 category ended in October 2004, the
Army chose to open the door wide for qualifying homeschool
graduates. That means they have all the same benefits and
positions that are available to traditional high school graduates
without having to obtain a GED. The Army is able to do this
with the blessing of the Defense Department.
The Army now offers qualified homeschool graduates a
variety of enlistment incentives, including enlistment of homeschool seniors into the Future Soldiers program.
Under current Army policy, applicants who qualify as a
homeschool graduate will now be eligible for the same enlistment incentives as a traditional high school graduate.
This is part of a special test program the Army is developing to predict first-term attrition among Army enlistees.
Currently, the best single predictor of an individual’s likelihood of adapting to the military is a traditional high school
diploma. However, many individuals with alternative education experiences are successful in the military.
Homeschool graduates seeking to enlist in the military
need to meet the following criteria:
1) A homeschool diploma and transcript are required at the
time of enlistment. The course work must involve parental
supervision, and the transcript must reflect the normal
credit hours per subject used in traditional high school.
2) Must score 31 or above on the ASVAB.
3) Must take the 20-minute Assessment of Individual
Motivation (AIM) test. The AIM test score will be used
to obtain data and will not affect his/her enlistment.
4) At a minimum, the last academic year (nine months)
must be completed in a homeschool environment.
Virginia Beach Policies Challenged*
HEAV
Judi Munday, Sarah Olbris, and Yvonne Bunn of HEAV
met with Denise White, Coordinator of Student Services and
homeschool contact for Virginia Beach Public Schools, to
discuss Virginia Beach’s testing policies for homeschoolers.
Mrs. White insisted that in Virginia Beach, homeschooled
children can only be identified as learning disabled if they are
evaluated by the public school system. No other form of evaluation would be accepted—not by a psychologist, psychiatrist,
certified special education instructor, or other professional. We
challenged Mrs. White on the legality of this policy.
Mrs. White also indicated that LD students may be placed
on probation and would have to show progress as compared
to the Standards of Learning in order to continue to
homeschool. HEAV will continue to attempt to reason with
Mrs. White and the Virginia Beach superintendent on these
excessive policies.
*Note: HEAV also recommends that Virginia Beach homeschoolers use the Notice of Intent form on our website at
www.heav.org instead of the form they received in the mail.
The Virginia Beach form requests more information than the
law requires.
Newport News Offers Services
HEAV
HEAV was invited to represent homeschoolers at a meeting with Newport News Public Schools. Robert Pietrasanta,
Director of Special Education and Assessment Services, indicated the Newport News Board of Education had set aside a
percentage of their funds for private and homeschool services
in their community. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss
the service that would be most useful for private and homeschooled students. The limited funds would be channeled into
only one service.
The meeting included private school representatives, several
Newport News Public school officials, a homeschool parent of a
special-needs child, and HEAV representative Yvonne Bunn.
The general consensus was to use the funds for speech therapy.
If you are a resident of Newport News and would like
more information about this service, you may contact Robert
Pietrasanta at 757-591-4597. THE VIRGINIA HOME EDUCATOR l 11
Home-Office Management for Parents:
Seven Tips for Managing Your Time Debbie Williams
A
s a home-business owner you can
budget your finances, create
whiz-bang proposals, and effectively maintain a client list. But when it
comes to working with unauthorized personnel—those under twenty and less than
five feet tall—your mind draws a blank.
The thought of your three-year-old picking up the ringing phone and sharing her
philosophy of life gives you the shudders,
and you’re not quite sure how to balance
family time with productive work time.
Use these seven tips for managing
your time, and effectively limit interruptions from your own residential staff.
Office Hours
Set office hours and stick to them. Post
this list on your fridge or bulletin board
where your family can see it, and remind
yourself to close up shop at the appointed
hour. Being accessible 24/7 is not the road
to success if you are spreading yourself so
thin that your family barely recognizes you
and your phone rings around the clock.
Focus on work during office hours, and
then transition into parent and spouse
mode at the end of your day.
Performing a simple ritual such as
straightening your desk, or making tomorrow’s to-do list, will help you move from
worker to parent in a simple but effective
way, even if your commute home is just
down the stairs or across the kitchen.
Blocked View
Close the door and walk away, or put
up a decorative folding screen to block the
view of works in progress. If you walk by
your home office or desk piled high with
reports, it’s hard to focus on what your
family needs from you. Although many of
us can and do multi-task quite well, it’s
fairly impossible to concentrate on everything equally well—something you hear
and respond to will suffer in the process.
Mentally hang a CLOSED sign on
your office door, and resist the urge to
reopen for “just one more thing.” Your
family will thank you for it!
Boundaries
Establish boundaries: create a “donot-touch” pile or “do-not-enter” zone in
your work area. Determine how much
input you need from the members of your
family when it comes to work, and let
them know what you expect from them. If
you allow your four-year-old daughter to
color at your desk so you can keep her
nearby, then don’t be surprised when she
colors your sales report or presentation
handouts. Consider making a niche or
small desk for her to use as her own office,
complete with office supplies. Be sure to
instruct her in the use of your office, such
as what is usable and what is not allowed,
so that there are no misunderstandings.
If you do not want anyone in your
work area under any circumstances,
then tell your family your wishes up
front. Don’t wait until there is a disaster to notify them of the rules. One of
my clients made her rules crystal-clear
by hanging a construction-paper sign
on her door: a stop sign meant “Do not
come in under any circumstances (work
in progress).” A yellow smiley face
meant “Come on in and keep me company; let’s work together.”
Phone Rules
Create phone rules such as: no talking
allowed, use an inside voice, or whisper
when mom or dad is on the phone. Screen
calls during melt-downs or family time; do
not allow children or unauthorized persons to answer your business line—or only
with instruction.
Early in my business as a professional
organizer, I instructed my family to
whisper while I was on the phone. Not
only does this prevent unwanted background noises during a business call, but
it also respects their need to carry on a
conversation.
Screening your phone calls during
temper tantrums (and we’re talking about
your kids here, not you!) helps you focus
on home matters when they need to be a
top priority—don’t worry about the
caller; if it’s important, he’ll call back or
leave a message. Use “caller ID” to your
advantage—I have a unit on every phone
in my house.
Unless you have older children or
phone-savvy spouses, I recommend that
you don’t allow anyone else to answer
your business line. When you’re elbowdeep in diaper changes or mediating a
fight among siblings, the last thing you
need is to switch gears and speak to
someone wanting to sponsor your sales
conference!
Quiet Activities
Assemble a “quiet-activity box” for special times such as phone calls, writing
time, or times when you need to really
focus on your work. If your children are
infants or toddlers, stash toys in a milk
crate or wicker basket and pull these out
before returning phone calls or sitting
down to balance your checkbook.
Preschoolers love looking at books or
creating masterpieces with markers, and
these should be used only during special
times. Older children might enjoy watching a video or working with modeling
clay, and that usually provides you with
15 minutes or so of uninterrupted time
(if you’re lucky.)
If all else fails, just tell your little Junior
Partner that Daddy needs a few minutes to
finish working on a very important project, then set the kitchen timer and place it
in view but well out of reach. When the
timer rings, the coast is clear and it’s time
for some family time with Dad.
Break Time
Use “Kid Multiplication” when all
else fails: give them 10 and get back 20.
It’s amazing how perceptive our sons
and daughters can be when it comes to
sensing stress. Quite often children are
like barometers, and taking a break when
they suggest it is just what the stress doctor ordered. If none of your tricks work,
then it’s time to just set the work aside,
take a short break, and read a story or
work a puzzle. Your child will let you
know when he’s had enough, and before
long will be back at building towers and
fighting aliens. After a short kid-break,
you’ll be rested and ready to get back
to work for a few more minutes. I’ve
seen this magically happen time and
time again, both with the clients I work
with and in my own home. I guess it’s
fair to say that if you just can’t beat
them, join them.
Schedules
Work WITH, not AGAINST,
your kids’ schedule, by utilizing naptimes
or when they are doing independent
schoolwork. This is probably the best
advice I can give to anyone working
from home, especially if you are just
launching your home business. Trying
to force your family’s schedule to fit
into your mold creates tension and
upheaval. If your children are young,
work when they are napping or after
they go to sleep at night. As they grow
older, you can do a little work when
they are having a snack at the table or in
their highchair. Then when your spouse
walks in from a busy day at the office,
it’s time to take a break and become the
best mom or dad you can possibly be.
In Summary
When the kids are awake needing
your attention and affection, it’s time to
evaluate your priorities and determine
how much you will be available to cater
to their needs and desires. This is something that every parent has to figure out
for himself—there is no magic formula.
You can choose the easy route, by keeping the lines of communication open
and reassessing the rules on a regular
basis; or take the bumpy road and work
around the clock, making your family
resent you and your business. But the
journey can be rewarding and filled with
wonderful adventures. Happy motoring
to you!
Debbie Williams is an organizing strategist,
homeschooling mom, and founder of the online
organizing site www.Organizedtimes.com.
She is the author of Common Sense Organizing
(Champion Press, January 2005), and hosts
a weekly syndicated talk radio show, “By
the Book.” THE VIRGINIA HOME EDUCATOR l 13
Homeschooling Families in Business
Stories from Our Readers
Clevermoms.com
By the time my second child was born, I was constantly looking for bargains to make ends meet, and resorted to online shopping at night when everyone was in bed.
I noticed that there were sales, discounts, and codes for hundreds of online merchants, but no easy way to locate them quickly.
I decided to put together a central site for moms to quickly locate
what was on sale; the best deals at any given moment; and coupons
for those pesky code boxes when they checked out online.
CleverMoms.com started with just a dozen merchants and has
grown to over 500 online merchants, and now includes
CleverDads.com—which focuses on shopping for men, and
CleverBabies.com—which offers maternity, baby, and toddler deals.
My advice for anyone starting a web-based business is that it
is really much harder than it looks. It takes many hours of hard
work and commitment. Also, you may have one idea in mind but
if you find your customers want something different, add it or
change your business completely to meet customer demand.
For example, CleverMoms started out as an online resale
shop—like a mini e-Bay for moms—and flopped. Everyone was
clicking on the coupon box to see the string of coupons I posted daily. So, although I was upset about my poor resale shop failing, when I listened to my customers, the site became an
astounding success. CleverMoms was one of the original online
coupon sites in 1997; it survived the dot.com burst, and continues to thrive.
Anne Fognano, Mama in Charge, Leesburg
www.CleverMoms.com; www.CleverDads.com;
www.CleverBabies.com
WriteAtHome
I was a public high school English teacher for ten years, struggling to feel like I was making a difference. In 1994 I agreed to
teach an after-school writing class for homeschoolers, and that
immediately became the highlight of my teaching week—as 12
eager, attentive, and unusually bright students gathered to improve
their writing skills. I tried to determine if there was any way to
make a living just teaching enrichment classes to homeschoolers.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t see a way to make a realistic go of it.
Then the idea struck—there aren’t enough homeschoolers in
my area to make enrichment teaching a realistic career, but certainly there were nation-wide. What about all those homeschooling parents who felt ill-equipped to teach writing and didn’t have
access to support programs like ours? I began exploring the possibilities of using the Internet to teach writing. Before long, I found
that the Web not only made it possible to teach writing, but actually improved the quality of the instruction I could provide.
That’s how WriteAtHome was born. Our youngest daughter’s nursery was transformed into an office, and voila—home
business! Of course I had to supplement my income with freelance writing, substitute teaching, and house painting while getting WriteAtHome off the ground, but within two years, we
grew from five students to over 300. We now involve about 20
writing instructors (we call them “writing coaches”) who work
from their homes to provide encouragement, critique, and evaluation on student papers.
I am able to provide a genuinely helpful, high-quality service
to hard-working homeschoolers; and provide gifted writers and
teachers the opportunity to use their gifts from home. And I can
do it all while being on-hand for my own family, supporting my
wife in our own homeschool. What a joy.
Brian Wasko, Virginia Beach
[email protected]; www.writeathome.net
Everyday Education
I began writing for homeschool publications and speaking at
conventions in the 1990s, and began my website several years
later. These were wonderful opportunities to share things I had
learned while homeschooling, teaching high school English, and
helping students transition from high school to college. As I
talked to homeschoolers and heard the same questions and concerns over and over, I recognized that there were some areas
where I could provide answers through books or workshops.
My first book, Transcripts Made Easy, was written just after
my first two boys made the transition into college. Most of the
systems I read about record-keeping and transcripts created far
too much busywork for my taste—all I wanted was a simple
guide to keeping basic records and creating a credible transcript.
When I couldn’t find it, I decided to do some research and write
it myself. I am now working on a third edition.
The Beat-the-Clock Essay Workshop was created in response to
the anxious questions I kept hearing about the new timed essay
on the SAT. Because homeschoolers do not tend to do a lot of
timed writing, the idea of having to write an essay in 25 minutes
seemed quite intimidating. I created a one-day workshop that
provides a simple, step-by-step guide for planning and writing an
acceptable essay in the allotted time.
I am also working on two books, Doing College Your Way
and Essays Made Easy. I offer an occasional e-newsletter with tips
on writing, test-taking, and college issues through my website.
For other homeschool parents who are considering a
business, I would suggest the following:
• Keep priorities straight—your family is your first responsibility.
• Start small, especially if your children are small.
• Choose something that meets a need you understand.
• Remember Micah 6:8 daily.
Janice Campbell, Ashland
[email protected]; www.everydayeducation.com;
www.transcriptsmadeeasy.com; www.essayworkshop.com
Professional Home and Auto Inspection Services
After working in the insurance field adjusting home and auto
claims for nearly 11 years, my husband John encountered several
increasingly difficult work situations. After lengthy consideration,
prayer, and counsel from our friends and pastor, we believed that
God was calling our family to begin the journey of self-employment.
Initially receiving support through adjusting auto claims on an
independent basis, the business goals are now focused on building a home-inspection company for people purchasing a home.
John also wanted to use his flexible at-home position to allow him
more involvement in training our four children, and in carrying
out his care for our small-group members more effectively.
We have been grateful to see both of these desires come to
pass. God has faithfully provided as we have learned to place our
(sometimes wavering) trust in Him for our paycheck. Our needs
have been consistently met, and we see that whether we are
employed by a company or working independently, it is the Lord
who sends the finances and we are no more “safe and secure” in
a corporate setting than when encountering the fluctuating work
load that can accompany a home business. Our place is to serve
the Lord, and His place is to provide.
We would love to offer the services of our home business to
the Christian community.
John Robertson, Midlothian
[email protected]; 804-763-0371
Cleaning Service and Seminars
When my husband’s business started to decline, he was
able to supplement our income
with construction jobs until he
fell and broke his hip and femur.
Desiring to generate needed income without sacrificing
the homeschooling of our
children, we looked at what
we knew—cleaning the house and entertaining hundreds of
guests, including foreign missionaries from 32 different countries.
We wrote down all the knowledge we had gained about keeping the house “company clean,” and started the business Clean
Impressions. The girls and I clean several houses each week; my
husband oversees our business, cooks for and entertains
our frequent guests; and I conduct cleaning classes and
Clean Impressions Seminars, teaching people how to clean
efficiently and still enjoy having company. Other topics at
each seminar include: how to clean your house without hazardous chemicals, time management, hindrances to a clean
house, getting your children to help you clean, and spring and
fall cleaning tips.
To schedule a cleaning class or host a Clean Impressions
Seminar at your church or homeschool group, please call us!
Gene and Faylene Lawson, Charlottesville
[email protected]. (website under development);
434-974-9142
Homeowner Association Management
I began Dukes Consulting & Management last year. I manage
homeowners’ associations in the Woodbridge-Springfield area.
I have about 15 years experience in this area, and I prayed
for 12 of those years to find a way to work at home so that I
could raise my own children while still earning a little something to help out the family. Nothing panned out. Just when I
despaired, two associations responded to my proposals and
hired me to handle their accounts.
It is difficult juggling work (which is flexible enough that I
can work at night and weekends), home, and the children. But
with God’s help I manage, and it seems to get better every day.
I’m thankful every day that the Lord answered my need and
provided an income through a business in which I very
well-versed.
Janet H. Dukes, Woodbridge
Computer Repair/Personalized Pet Poetry
We offer two home-based business services. My husband is a
certified computer-repair technician and consultant, and makes
house and business calls, offering a variety of services, including
upgrades, repairs, consulting, tutoring, anti-virus protection, spyware removal, etc., for his company Kane Computing Solutions. I
serve as his secretary.
I also offer the service of personalized pet poetry. All poetry is original work, and I include the animal’s name, some personality traits, and the owner’s name in every poem. I do not
use a form—it all comes from the heart. I then mat and frame
the artwork, and ship anywhere in the USA. My fee for each
piece is $65. I do not have a website; however, I can provide
samples of the poetry via e-mail (see below).
By providing a service from home, I find it easier to be a
constant support for my child. This fits well with my view of a
strong, united, healthy family environment.
If you have something you are good at, I encourage you to
explore and expand it to fit it into your home routine. It may
start slow, it may be a long, difficult road, but I think you will
find the rewards more than compensate for the efforts.
Best advice—believe in what you do and don’t give up. God
gave us individual talents; if He believes in us, then we should
believe in ourselves as well.
Shelley M. Kane, Mt. Crawford
[email protected]; www.kanecomputers.com
Graphic Design
I’m a 15-year-old graphic designer. My brother got me interested in his computer-drawing program when I was ten, and I
progressed to Corel Draw 8 very quickly. By the time I was 12,
I was helping my mother make marketing and promotion materials for her job.
I got a business license for my graphic-design company when
I was 13, and my first client was a performing-arts school in
Williamsburg. I traded a huge website for free dance, theatre,
and voice lessons (see www.evspa.org).
I used my own money to purchase a custom-made computer,
computer programs, printer, Graphire tablet, and scanner. My
mom contributed a nice camera and a telephoto lens. I have many
other expenses yearly such as the business license, web hosting,
accounting fees, office supplies, film, printer ink, and my cell
phone. I pay for all of these things with my own checking account.
I have studied branding, marketing, business development,
design, and Internet marketing. I’ve also learned a lot of business
math. Since starting my business, I’ve learned how to present a
professional image to the adults I work with. I am very knowledgeable about my work, but sometimes it’s hard for adults to
look past my age. My clients always end up raving over my work
and my prices. I’m building a reputation that businesses can trust.
At first, I was so eager to work with clients that I offered
advice and assistance and didn’t always get paid for my efforts.
I’ve learned the hard way to always sign a contract with clients
before I do any work for them. Although minors cannot be held
to a contract, they can be sued for fraud. Contracts help clients
to feel confident of my seriousness. Now I ask for a third of my
fee upon the signing of the contract, too.
Blake Bess, Mathews County
www.contraststudio.com
Calligraphy
I was the owner and sole operator of a mobile auto-repair
business in 1996, when I took a year-long class in calligraphy. In
1997, Calligraphy by Michael Noyes was born! Initially selling to
my auto-repair customers, I began to sell artwork at local craft
shows. Today I travel around the country as a full-time vocation,
exhibiting at both art & craft festivals and national church conferences. My work is also sold in Christian bookstores.
Working in the home studio, the family helps out with the business. My wife does all the accounting, and our four children do
some production work. And sometimes a family member will
accompany me to a show and help with sales. Our home business
has been an excellent instructional tool for our homeschool.
My calligraphy—contemporary
renderings of Bible verses, prayers,
and spiritual sayings—is intended
to convey the love of God to all
who view it. In this sense our business is a ministry. Our prayer is
that you, too, might, through this
art, enjoy a sense of that divine
presence and blessing.
Michael Noyes, Colonial Heights
[email protected]; www.michaelnoyes.com
Office & Fax: 804-530-3904
Note Cards
I am a freshman at the Catholic University of America, majoring in psychology and art. I began my note-card business three
years ago to raise money to work with the poor in Appalachia during the summers. My note cards are hand-drawn, then printed
and copied on the computer onto high-quality paper. All of my
work is done using graphite or watercolor pencils.
I have a catalog of Christmas and note cards, and I also accept
commissions for invitations and wedding, birth, christening, communion and graduation announcements, as well as pet and house
portraits drawn from photographs. For further information, a
price list, or to see examples of my work, please contact me.
Renata See, Chantilly
[email protected]
Coloring Books
My name is Noël Rascher, founder of Noël’s Novelties. My business markets coloring books featuring my hand-drawn brides. I
have always loved to draw, which made coloring books a natural
business for me to develop.
In order to sell my books, I attend bridal shows and market the
books as gifts for flower girls or young wedding guests. I have also
created flyers that I place on community bulletin boards, and I
have designed my own recently hosted website.
One piece of advice I would offer
future business owners is to consider
having business cards. They are easy
and inexpensive to make on your
home computer! I keep my cards on
hand to pass out at a moment’s
notice. This helps people remember
my product, and is an excellent reference when they decide to order.
Noël Rascher, Springfield
[email protected];
www.noelsnovelties.com
571-214-3282
Devotionals for Homeschoolers
After graduating from homeschool, I faced a challenge—
what to do. I wanted to encourage other homeschoolers, and
remain at home to learn, grow, and serve under my parents’
direction. After pursuing other options unsuccessfully, I began
researching a thought I had toyed with for years—starting a homebased business. I spent several weeks researching the legalities of
starting a business. I then made a few trips to the county offices
and became the official owner of my very own business, Christian
Perspective.
The Lord’s first project for me was a Christmas devotional
called Jesus—The Promised One, designed to encourage families to
look to the Lord in one of the busiest times of the year. To sell the
devotional, I developed a website.
I also began sending out free monthly e-mails of encouragement, and I have now almost completed my second project—
a handbook for parents on how to teach math biblically.
The Lord has used each challenge of operating Christian
Perspective to teach me and remind me to trust Him. The challenges have forced me to learn or develop many skills, such as
accounting, html programming, and publishing.
For anyone considering a home-based business, remember to
let God use every aspect of the business to teach you. You will be
surprised by how much you will learn!
Katherine Loop, Fairfax
[email protected]; www.christianperspective.net
703-352-0681
Homeschool and Family Resources
When we began our family 12 years ago, we did what most parents
do, and sought out resources that would help us be better parents. It
became clear to us that the best resources were those put out by individuals or small businesses. With these same resources, we later began
one of our dreams by opening Home & Heritage Family Bookstore in
2004. Right now it is strictly online, but one day we hope to become
a physical location, and even begin publishing some great books!
We want to be a blessing to today’s families by offering many of
the books, tapes, and videos that have molded our family throughout the years. So, please stop by our website and find resources that
will encourage you and your family as much as they have ours.
Jarrett and Andrea Kelly, Crewe
www.homeandheritagebooks.com; 434-645-9790
We firmly believe in schooling our children at home because it
allows us to incorporate religion into our curriculum. But, as any
homeschool parent can attest, it is an expensive decision.
After a lot of research and prayer, we decided to open an online
store, Carroll’s Classical Learning Shop. We provide many learning
resources, teaching aids, and other products that are helpful to the
homeschooling family. Our goal is to offer discounted products
that will help supplement curriculum and help make school fun.
Our product is something we know—our children have tried just
about everything we carry on our website.
Our advice to anyone considering a home-based business is to find
out what you like, and then find out if you can make money doing it.
If you are working at something you love, then it will not feel like
work, and you will probably be much more successful.
Research your ideas. Start-up costs and supply/demand may
affect your decision. And pray. God will steer you in the direction
you need to go.
We are offering a 20-percent discount to anyone showing proof
of homeschooling. We offer free shipping on any order over $100.
Please contact us for more information.
school families. Although it may take more time and effort than
you initially thought, it can be both a tremendously valuable
learning experience and a blessing to all.
Don and Melissa Carroll, Chesterfield County
Randall Caldwell and Family, Haymarket
[email protected]; www.vision-harvest.com
703-754-0696
We saw a need for a tool that would help us with homeschool
lesson planning and scheduling. We built a simple spreadsheet
program to help us do this, but soon realized its shortcomings.
We then tried several commercial software programs, but
none of these met our needs either. So, after seeking the Lord’s
direction, we began development of our own program using
C++. We decided to call it Homeschool P.R.O. (for Planning,
Recording, and Organizing).
While developing the program, we also reviewed other products and built our website. We selected Vision Harvest as the
name for our new business, organized as a corporation, obtained
all the necessary permits, opened a business banking account,
and placed ads in several homeschooling magazines. Just six
months after launching our website, we are getting ready to
release version 1.2 of the program, which has already received
very good reviews in homeschooling magazines.
Our children have been very much involved with various
aspects of the business from the beginning. It has been a wonderful, hands-on homeschool learning experience for us all, and
we recently published our first book, The Religious Tradesman.
We very much recommend a home business to other home-
Usborne Books
After homeschooling
our first year, my family
was really starting to
experience the financial
burden that decision can bring. I was invited to an Usborne Books
Home Show and immediately knew that this was a sign from above.
Not only were these award-winning books the solution for my
struggling students, but Usborne was the answer to my struggling
income as well.
Getting started as an Usborne Books Independent Educational
Consultant was a breeze. I have an upline supervisor who is always
accessible, and a message board full of other consultants willing to
offer their advice. In four months, I had earned a nice income and
most of the books my third- and fifth-graders would be using for the
school year for FREE.
Usborne has so many other avenues that most direct-sale
companies don’t offer (home shows, booths, book fairs, a
Reading Incentive Program, and more). As a consultant you
can get many award-winning books for FREE, and many at
huge discounts.
Please feel free to visit my website to learn more about the
company, the wonderful books, and the income opportunities.
Charmin Parks, Washington, D.C.
www.ubah.com/M1360
202-213-6497 (Mon. to Fri. after 5:00 PM; weekends, anytime)
Also selling Usborne Books is Sherry DuShaw, from
Forest. You can reach her at [email protected];
www.ubah.com/X0673 or 434-534-8205.
Creative Memories
I “fell into” Creative Memories through my family’s need for
photo and memory preservation. As my friends found out what I
was doing, a thriving home business replaced my daycare income in
a few months—and in a quarter of the hours! I work my business
part-time in flexible afternoons and evenings.
As my family saw the tremendous potential of this opportunity,
they backed me 100 percent—my son hauled boxes and set up a
computer-database and customer-service system, and my daughter
handled inventory, customers, and sales when I was away. The children set up for my workshops, process brochures and paperwork,
and appreciate the blessing of being able to all be at home together
while making a healthy income for our family.
We have built a thriving business that allowed us to maintain our
household, replace the furnace, save toward family vacations, and
ultimately enjoy many opportunities for travel and fun. My husband
and I get luxurious vacation trips alone, and incentive gifts for the
whole family—including audio/TV/DVD and sports equipment.
Penny Kay Lamons, Fairfax
Creative Memories Senior Unit Leader
[email protected]; www.CreativeMemories.com/PennyLamons
Also selling Creative Memories is Lara Riley, Ft. Lee,
Petersburg. You can reach her at [email protected];
www.creativememories.com/lriley; or 804-862-1053
Equestrian Business
My daughter has started her own equestrian business. She
boards horses and gives riding lessons at our leased nine-stall barn
with large riding ring. It began with her interest in horses and riding at the age of ten. I initially hoped the interest would wane—
too much time, too expensive! But she persisted, and earned her
own way. At 12 she was paying for, and earning, free ride time by
working. Our homeschool schedule allowed us to take day classes
and work at times no one else was available.
Shannon read prolifically on horses, horse care, training, and
riding techniques. We decided to do “Business 101 Live.”
Finding appropriate school horses, insurance, suppliers, and
advertising, have been only a few of the many decisions and
responsibilities. Getting up seven days a week and going out to
feed and care for animals, some of which belong to other people, is intense. The life skills learned are priceless. It will be a
while before we can say the business is profitable; we can nevertheless already state it is a success.
We consider the initial cost equivalent to a first semester at
college; with good potential for full recovery! The most difficult
part for me was overcoming the “you-have-to-go-to-college”
mentality that I didn’t realize I had. Trusting Shannon’s skill is
something I learned gradually; her knowledge long ago exceeded mine on the subject! Profit is not the only motivation here;
she is gaining very saleable skills and continuing to homeschool
herself in business.
Bernadine Venezia, Leesburg
Little Venice Stables
21036 Gulick Mill Road, Leesburg, VA 20175
703-785-9571
Grooming Services
I learned to groom pets before my kids came along, and have
been grooming for more than 20 years. I am a certified master
groomer, grooming contest judge, grooming school teacher,
speaker, and certifier, and have been featured in newspapers and
on television.
I specialize in show dogs, coloring and creative styling, geriatric, and rehabilitation work with special-needs animals. I love
giving dogs shampoo massages as well as brush massages.
Sculpting their coats into works of art appeals to my creative
inclinations. Some of my clients have been Millie and Ranger
Bush, as well as Redskins pets.
To get into this business, I apprenticed at two different
grooming salons. I became certified through Professional Pet
Groomers Certification, International Pet Groomers Association,
and National Dog Groomers Association of America. It took me
two years of full-time work before I felt my skills were ready for
the competition level. And for the first 15 years while building
my two salons, ten- to twelve-hour days were the norm.
I now set my own hours and work around my homeschooling needs. I have a 22-foot RV, which has a back room outfitted
as a grooming salon. My sons can go with me to my grooming
clients and play or do their schoolwork in the front room of the
RV, while I work in the back.
To do this kind of work, you need training, determination,
experience, patience, as well as a certain amount of natural ability.
One must be prepared to deal with all the “earthy” components of
animals—you might be bitten,
scratched, spit up on or messed
on; and you’ll have to clean up
bloody broken nails and “owies!”
But if grooming appeals to you, I
do have a groomer-training program for homeschoolers ages 16
and up who live in the Northern
Virginia area.
Kathe Barsotti, CMG, Herndon
Custom Creatures Master Grooming Mobile Services
703-727-1578
Alpacas
We are a first-year homeschooling family, and we are also in
our first year of running a home business, Cornerstone Farm
Alpacas. We raise and breed alpacas for their fiber (wool), and we
also sell their offspring.
Alpaca fiber is stronger, softer, and warmer than sheep’s wool,
and contains no lanolin. It is used in high-fashion apparel right
now, but the goal of alpaca breeders in North America is to break
into the commercial industry so that alpaca fiber is used in more
common items. Our goal is to breed alpacas with excellent conformation, wonderful temperaments, and exquisite fiber. We also
want our farm to provide a little escape for our visitors, where they
can take a breath of fresh air and enjoy these incredible animals.
We originally were interested in alpacas as companion animals
after seeing one at a local festival, but as we did more research,
we realized that they are gentle, easy to care for, and can be a
good tax shelter. We also liked the thought of being part of an
industry that has the potential of changing the textile world.
Mostly we liked the idea of a family-oriented business where we
all can be involved—in the care of the animals, in attending
shows, and in managing the business.
Our biggest tip before you start your own business is
research, research, research! It is also extremely helpful to speak
with a lawyer or accountant so that you can take advantage of
all the benefits available to small-business owners. Lastly, make
sure you pick something you will enjoy.
In the meantime, come visit us! We would be thrilled to
have visitors—just call first to set up a time.
Daren and Chris Wingard, Windsor
Tupperware
Like many other stay-at-home moms in decades past, I sell
Tupperware. I started doing it just as a way to get things cheaper for myself, but have found that the money earned from selling
helps to purchase some of those needed “extras” (like groceries!).
Most of the time I get to work from home, and many times my
friends have “playgroup parties.” The kids play, I tell about
Tupperware, the other moms get some social time, and we all
have lunch.
I sell Tupperware because it is an established product with a lifetime warranty, my hostesses get free product, and I earn money.
If anyone is interested in having a party in your home or online,
or if you’re interested in shopping online, please contact me!
Jennifer Minson, Manassas
www.my.tupperware.com/mugsysgirl
Also selling Tupperware is Sara Jane Strylowski, Manassas. You
can reach her at [email protected] or 703-392-1386.
Nutrition and Wellness Business
I have run my own Shaklee business since 1994, when a
friend encouraged me to try Shaklee’s vitamins and protein
drinks. I had a two-year old and was expecting my second
child, and I needed something to help me through labor,
delivery and then caring for two little ones. Plus I had digestive problems, muscle pain, continual sinus infections, and
seasonal and food allergies.
After taking Shaklee for a few months, my health began to
improve, and I had lots of energy. I told my friends, and they
had the same results. I wondered if I could earn a part-time
income this way, so I asked my friend how to begin.
I’ve found Shaklee products easy to share. My weekly goals
vary depending on what season of life or what time of year it is,
but if I spend a few hours a week working the business, it
grows. I’m always ready to share this gift of health.
There are many benefits in running a Shaklee business: work
when you want, no inventory, no quotas, no territories, customer online ordering, personal discounts, tax deductions, and
information about improving the health of my own family.
I’ve found Shaklee’s products to be of the highest quality
and economical. They are all-natural and chemical-free, and
come with a 100-percent money-back guarantee! If this sounds
like something you could get excited about, let’s talk. I have
loved it and bet you will, too.
Marie Cress, Fairfax
[email protected]; www.shaklee.net
703-802-6860
Natural Soaps and Beauty Products
I am a 13-year-old homeschooler. In 2004 I created Cosmic Rae,
a business that makes and sells natural soaps and beauty products.
Product lists include our best-selling white moisturizing heart
soaps, and the favorite—eucalyptus-leaf soap bars. Both these
soaps are made with all-natural moisturizing glycerin. We currently have over 20 different soap models, ten different colors,
and countless options for scents.
This spring we designed a new product line of bath salts and
lip balm. Bath salts come in two sizes and four colors. We offer
wonderful gift-wrapping and seasonal packages, and ship orders
anywhere in the U.S.
I’ve been interested in business my whole life and I’ve also
loved craft projects. My mother got me interested in soap-making, and Cosmic Rae sprang into action when my parents bought
250 packages of soap from me for holiday gifts.
I’m very pleased with how far Cosmic Rae has come. My
advice to any teen or family who is thinking about a home business is to do something that you enjoy.
Rachel Osborne Schwartz, Washington, D.C.
[email protected]
Gift Baskets
Arts and crafts have always been a favorite activity of mine. As
a homeschooled senior, one day I put together some personal
beauty items in a basket, decorated it, and sealed it with a bow.
My neighbor saw it, offered to buy it as a birthday gift for a friend,
and my entrepreneurial journey had begun.
I thought a home-based business would be a fun venture and
a good learning experience for me. For that first year I mostly sold
baskets to friends and family. Upon enrolling in the local community college and majoring in business management, I decided
to expand and offer my product to the general public. The name
of my business is Baskets by Caryn.
Although gift baskets are not a new idea, my decorative baskets are unique in that they are designed for the recipient and they
come with more than 15 items, plus a surprise gift, for only $25!
Specialty baskets for weddings, new babies, anniversaries or any
holiday, cost between $28 and $35.
I will continue working from home while I am in school. As the
word gets around and the business increases, I plan to rent a kiosk
at our local Army PX shopping center, and to create a website.
I think it’s important to have a business doing something you
love. Baskets by Caryn offers a product that is attractive to the customer in both price and presentation. I cannot imagine any other
business I would enjoy more.
Our goal became one of giving our kids a head start in
learning about finances. We began to brainstorm different jobs
that the kids could get started in, and happened on a deal for
vending machines in the Trading Post—two afternoons a week
filling vending machines.
We bought Quicken for Business accounting software, and
the kids went with Dad to purchase a business license. We visited businesses and inquired about placing our machines.
Next we agreed upon a $5-a-week salary for each of the children until the machines were paid for. Then came the fun
part—purchasing the snacks and drinks, and filling the
machines. We are still fine-tuning—learning to be more efficient with our time; learning what snacks our customers prefer;
and learning that it takes time to pay back a loan.
Our business goals are to relocate machines that aren’t
bringing in a profit, to pay off our loan in a year, and to use
profits to purchase more assets that will make money for the
kids. The children would like to be financially independent by
college graduation. I am satisfied that this new experience is laying the groundwork upon which my children as adults can
decide “the way [they] should go.”
Brianna Edmonds (11) and Ezra Edmonds (9), Dinwiddie
County Assisted by their parents G.C. and Alicia Edmonds
Edmonds Solutions
804-469-3465
Caryn M. Graves, Newport News
[email protected]
757-877-3457
Vending Machines
Last summer, while pondering the direction my children should
go (Proverbs. 22:6a), I checked out the audio book on finances,
Rich Dad, Poor Dad, from the library, and realized here was clearly
something we could use.
A Life of Integrity
Dr. Joel Orr
omeschooling and home-based
businesses are an excellent combination. Besides the obvious benefits of working together as a family, you
have the opportunity to model for your
children the integrity and continuity of life,
in all of its many activities. You are who
you are, whether dealing with clients or
customers—or with your children. And if
you’re not, your little “cloud of witnesses”
will be quick to point it out!
Like many people my age (58), I was
raised by parents who worked outside the
home. Although they owned their own
print shop at different times, work—
whether for themselves or others—was
always separate from home. My brother
and I knew little about their businesses,
and even less about jobs they had.
So in many ways, I was not wellequipped to deal with the home-based consulting practice that my wife and I wound
up founding. I had to learn many lessons
“the hard way.”
However, my children—most of them
H
now homeschooling parents—were active
participants in our business, with all of its
ups and downs. That may be part of the
reason that five of the six are now selfemployed.
I’ve often been asked (always by men),
“How do you maintain consistency in your
spiritual life at work and at home?” Working
from home makes it almost impossible to
do otherwise. Yet I often travel a great deal,
spending time with clients in other states
and other countries. So I have had to face
that challenge—the temptation to accommodate ungodliness, or to lower one’s standards, when far from home.
Having a wholesome and Godly home
life makes it much easier than it would be
otherwise. I don’t have to think about
whether I ought to take part in dirty-joke
sessions over dinner in a fancy restaurant; I
change the subject, or excuse myself.
If a questionable business practice is
put on the table for consideration, it’s
easy for me to point out that it’s always
better to do the right thing.
What makes it easier? Having
helped my children face issues of character and morality and spirituality. Just
as they learned these things at our family dinner table, I learned how to teach
them by example rather than by preaching at them; how to respect their moral
personhood by requiring them to do
the right thing; and how to forgive
them and love them through their lapses—and repent and receive their forgiveness through my own.
Most homeschool moms do this anyway, but when a dad quits his outside-thehome job and starts a home-based business,
he is often not prepared for the intensity of
the enforced family intimacy that is part of
the deal. It is a “growth experience.”
But biblically and historically, it is the
way most of mankind always lived. It’s
only relatively recently, in the Industrial
Age, that people started “going off to
work” in factories and offices.
Today, technology has made it possible to once again operate home-based
businesses. The Internet has opened new
worlds of commerce to anyone who can
access a phone or cable line.
What’s more, since you don’t need a
building, a staff, permits, a parking lot,
and so many other “brick-and-mortar”
accoutrements to open a store on eBay
or Yahoo!, you don’t need a lot of
capital to get started.
Your on-line purple petunia store
didn’t pan out? Close it and open an
ocarina emporium. With drop-shipping,
affiliate programs, and pay-as-you-go
merchant accounts, the cost of experimenting is next to nothing.
The Industrial Age has been largely
supplanted by the Information Age,
which is now blending into the Age of
Knowledge. Non-tangible intellectual
property—expertise—can now be inexpensively packaged and marketed, in
newsletters, reports, blogs, and printon-demand books.
And the same Internet that is your
“farmer’s market” can also be your
university research lab, for staying on
top of your area of expertise, and for
finding and developing new ones.
How liberating for children to grow
up in a home where mom and dad show
them how easy it is to move from an
inspiration to a money-making business!
And how edifying for them to learn the
principles of customer acquisition and
retention, money management, and
growth, as part of homeschool!
But the most important lesson you
are teaching your children as you engage
in a home-based business is integrity—
being all of a piece. You are demonstrating to them that the values to which you
hold them at home are the ones to which
you hold yourself when dealing with the
world. You are showing them that a
God-centered life is a life of power and
fulfillment. You are exemplifying love in
all your conduct, in how you treat others. They are learning that prayer is a first
resort, not a last resort, when facing
questions and challenges.
I thank God for America, where we
can still homeschool and have home-based
businesses. We must not take these
privileges for granted. Dr. Joel Orr has spent most of his adult
life working from home. Contact him at
[email protected] or visit www.joelorr.com.
Resources
Nancy Coleman
How-to Books
An excellent resource that lays out the
basics of how to start a business is The
Everything Home-Based Business Book, subtitled Everything You Need to Start and Run
a Successful Home-Based Business. Written by
Jack Savage, it covers the qualities of a successful home businessperson, good reasons
to start a home business, bad reasons to start
a home business, zoning issues, variances,
dedicated business space, storage, parking,
utilities (including phone lines), and taxes.
Mr. Savage describes how to create a business plan, what technology you need, legal
issues and contracts, daily operations, bookkeeping, and promotion and sales.
It also delves into familial issues that
are particularly pertinent for homeschooling families. These include determining your financial needs, considering
your children as assets, respect for time
and space, telephone wars, and handling
friends and neighbors.
Lastly, Mr. Savage covers personal issues
such as staying motivated, feeling
swamped, setting goals, and overcoming
isolation. While this book is not written
from a Christian perspective, it is conceptually family-friendly and is well-written. I
found it at Borders for $14.95.
Another “how-to-get-started” book
is Home-Based Business for Dummies.
This resource follows the general format
of the “Dummies” series. It covers topics
such as making the Web work for you,
marketing, transitioning from a job to a
home business, health insurance, retirement planning, and their famous “topten lists” that cover ten things to avoid,
ten tips to succeed, ten myths about
working from home, and ten things to do
if times get tough.
Business Classes and Legal
Resources
The U.S. Small Business Administration,
www.sba.gov, is an invaluable resource.
They provide highly recommended—not
to mention inexpensive—classes on starting
a business. The classes will teach you how
to write a business plan, what legal issues
you may encounter, how to retain a lawyer
(which they consider essential), how to
establish fees, and much more.
Each state has at least one SBA district
office, with multiple resource partners to
support the needs of the small business community. Business owners who have attended
their workshops have a high rate of success.
For information on Virginia’s office, go to
www.sba.gov/va. A link to their trainingclass calendar is on the homepage.
While this resource does not necessarily fall under the heading of home
business, many resources recommend a
critical analysis of your financial need
prior to establishing a business. To
determine your fiscal health and to prepare a budget on which you can thrive,
consider utilizing one of Crown Ministry’s
budgeting tools found at www.crown.org/
cart/budgeting.asp or The Pocket
Idiot’s Guide to Living on a Budget
($9.95).
Disclaimer: While searching for online information for this article, I encountered an amazing
array of scams and misleading websites. Some of
the links were even listed as resources in helpful
books. The resources listed above were thoroughly
researched before recommending them, but I
would strongly urge caution when searching for
home business opportunities online.
Coming to Virginia
Caledon Natural Area State
Park, 11617 Caledon Rd, King George,
Virginia, is sponsoring a Homeschool
Event Day on Friday, September 9, from
9:00 am to 5:00 pm. They will have eagle
tours and programs provided by about 30
different organizations—environmental,
historical, local farms, state and federal
agencies, storytellers, and many others.
The cost of the event is $6 per person,
with children under the age of six being
free. You must sign up for times to take
part in the eagle tours; all other programs
will be on the lawn of the visitors’
center. For information, contact Kim
B o s h e l a o n We d n e s d a y s t h r o u g h
Sundays at the park at 540-663-3861 or
[email protected].
Belvedere Plantation, Fredericksburg.
We invite you to join us on October 6 for
our fall fun harvest celebration. We offer
three different tours.
Fall Harvest Tour
(preschool through second grade)
Take a hayride to the pumpkin patch and
pick a pumpkin to take home. Participate
in a pumpkin plant talk and learn about
pumpkins. Sample Belvedere honey and
learn about bees, visit the animals in the
barnyard, and checkout the barn with
rope swings and lots of hay!
The Pumpkin Science Lab
(third through fifth grade)
Take a hayride to pick your pumpkins and
then participate in a lab to determine scientific facts about pumpkins including
density, circumference, and buoyancy.
Sample Belvedere honey and learn about
bees and their uses. Enjoy the 80-foot
pumpkin mountain slide and, if time
permits, walk down to the old barnyard to
feed and pet the animals.
Maize Maze Adventure
(third grade through high school)
Participate in a hands-on exercise on the
history and uses of corn and the history of
mazes and labyrinths. Then try to complete the maze in assigned groups. After
completing the maze, enjoy the pumpkin
mountain slide. Teachers receive a followup booklet with mazes and worksheets.
For reservations please call 540-3734478. For questions contact belvedere
[email protected]. For all tours, we ask that
you bring your lunch and have a true
country picnic. Concessions are also
available.
For all tours, we ask that you bring your
lunch and have a true country picnic.
Concessions are also available.
Homeschool Success Seminars
“How to Begin Homeschooling: What
You Really Need to Know”
Are you thinking about homeschooling?
Do you have questions about getting
started? Or have you already begun, but
need help? Would you like to know
more about record keeping, scheduling,
choosing the right materials, testing, or
support options?
This informative seminar includes:
• How to prepare
• The ins and outs of the Virginia law
• Testing and evaluation options
• How to choose curriculum
• How to teach several levels at once
• How to get the support you need
• Where to find the best resources
• Some things to avoid, and
• Some secrets of success
Be sure to come early or stay afterwards to peruse our resources. While
you’re at our Homeschool Resource
Center, you may also schedule a free
curriculum counseling session with
an experienced homeschool teacher/
counselor for answers to your specific
questions.
Dates: August 30, September 15, and
October 13, 2005
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Place: HEAV Office and Resource Center
2248-G Dabney Road,
Richmond, VA 23230
Registration is available at the door,
but pre-registration will guarantee a seat
and allow us to notify you of any schedule changes or space limitations. To preregister or for more information, contact
the HEAV Office (804-278-9200 or
[email protected]). We accept Visa or
MasterCard. THE VIRGINIA HOME EDUCATOR l 25
Want to advertise in this spot?
HEAV members receive a free ad!
Jr. & Sr. High Classes at Centreville Homeschool Enrichment Support Services C.H.E.S.S. offers affordable small classes taught by teachers with a passion for
homeschooling. Sept.- May. Subjects include lab sciences, Spanish, math, history,
health, writing, logic, art, SAT prep, and more. Contact Tara Taylor,
[email protected], or phone M-F 12-6 p.m. (703) 753-1901.
Guitar Lessons with: Michael Bailey
Loudon County’s most requested guitar teacher is coming to Winchester!
Berklee College of Music Graduate
15 years of teaching experience
Playing Experience with nationally known Artists
Teaching all levels from beginner to advanced
Instruction in Chords, Scales, Theory and Technique
Call for Lesson times
and Availability
540-877-1001
‘Like New’ Musical Instruments
1. (Student) Piccolo
2. 1/4 Size Violin with Case + Bow
3. 1/2 size violin with Case + Bow
4. Flute with Case (Newly Reconditioned)
E-mail: [email protected]
Sue Morgan Tutoring Home School Tutor Instruction
VA St. Board of Education License: Early
Ed-Gr. 4, Middle Ed. 5-8, Secondary-history
25+ yrs. Classroom experience: remedial reading, writing & math
Phone (804) 232-1054 or
e-mail [email protected]
Need credit card processing service?
Homeschool family can help you. Lowest rates available from the
2nd largest credit card processor. Great prices on equipment.
Convention vendors: wireless, cordless equipment available.
For reference contact HEAV.
Call Phil Owen 276-859-0748 or e-mail [email protected].
Love candles & decorating?
We are expanding in the area Join our direct-selling company
No cash investment Unlimited earnings
CALL: SAMANTHA at (804) 452-0231
2248 G Dabney Road
P.O. Box 6745 • Richmond, VA 23230
Non-Profit Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 297
Richmond,VA 23230
HEAV–Your
source for
homeschool
help!
Train up a child in the way he should go…

Home-Office Management for Parents Homeschooling Families in

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