This post is part of the iHomeschool Network’s 10 in 10 link up. Today’s topic is a fun one that allows me to get a little personal: top 10 questions.
1. Is your name really Jimmie?
This question is also asked in the form of, “What’s your real name?” Ouch. That sort of hurts. Is it that hard to believe that a girl can be named Jimmie?
Jimmie really and truly is my name.
It gets worse when people refuse to believe me and probe with, “No, your real name. Your legal name. The one on your driver’s license.”
Actually, like I said, Jimmie is my real, legal, on my passport, driver’s license and birth certificate name. Honestly.
2. Did your parents want a boy?
Double ouch. No, as far as my mother relays the story, they did not have a particular desire for one gender over the other. I am the oldest. I was named after my dad, James (called Jim).
I like to follow up this question with a barb: my brother is named after my mom.
That makes them think for a moment, and then I tell them my mom’s name is Patricia. My brother’s name is Patrick.
3. Did you name your child Jim or Jimmie?
No, in fact, we avoided the letter J altogether. My husband comes from a family of J’s; his mom and dad and all four boys start with a J. Needless to say, we feel the letter J has been fully represented. It was time to move on to new letters of the alphabet.
4. Is your daughter’s name really Sprite?
Okay, I guess if my name is Jimmie (and you think that is totally bizarre), you may believe that I would name my child something that means fairy.
Some people have actually believed that I was an avid Sprite drinker and named her after the soft drink. Uh, no. I don’t drink soft drinks and would not name my child after a beverage anyway. If I did, she would be called caramel macchiato or Starbucks or Keurig.
No, her real (legal, on her passport and birth certificate) name is Emma. For security reasons, I wanted her to have an online pseudonym, but I think we’re past that stage. So this is my official announcement.
Sprite is hereafter Emma!
Wow. Four questions just about names. On to other topics.
5. What curriculum do you use?
Oh, this used to be easy to answer when I bought boxed curriculum. But as the years go on, I have become more and more eclectic with my selections.
I use all sorts of things, much of which is not a “curriculum” at all but living books and plenty of writing practice. I tend to make things up as I go, especially in the area of language arts which is my specialty. For math we love Teaching Textbooks. But nothing else is easy to label.
6. Weren’t you in China?
Yes, we spent 8.5 years in China. And now we are back in USA. Believe it or not, a whole year and a half has passed since we left China, and we still find ourselves in the adjustment phase.
We had to leave suddenly and unexpectedly. There was a lot of trauma involved, and it’s not something I can discuss on a public forum like a blog. But if you go to BEECH Retreat next year, sit me down for a cup of coffee and I’ll share it with you in person. (But bring tissues; I may cry.)
7. How are you everywhere online?
Well, I’m not literally everywhere, but I have made my presence known in the homeschool circle. I did that through many years of slowly building content at various platforms such as Squidoo and Hubpages, contributing to HOTM, guest posting, and of course writing on my own blogs. My online empire began over five years ago. It is a steady investment over time.
8. Can you speak to my homeschool group?
Yes, I would love to. Now that I am in America, I am available to share with your local group or speak at a homeschool convention. I recently spoke about notebooking to homeschool moms in West Palm Beach at Homeschool Connections Conference. Shoot me an email.
9. Are you finally on Facebook?
Yes! Jimmie’s Collage has a Facebook fan page. There is also a fan page for The Notebooking Fairy.
10. Are you going to homeschool “all the way through?”
This, of course, means will I homeschool for high school. And I am not offended by this question at all. Many parents feel a sense of confidence about early grades but feel utterly lost for upper grades. I understand where they are coming from.
But I also believe in the process. Homeschooling has worked so far. It will continue to work. And honestly, my child is ruined for any other type of education. I don’t see any way she could ever manage in a public or even private school setting. It would crush her creativity, exhaust her physically, and damage her spiritually.
My plans are always in God’s hands to change as He wills, but for now, yes, we are going to homeschool “all the way through.”
This post is linked up at Angie’s Top Ten Tuesday.
If you want to join in, post a top ten post of any topic and link up there.
Hi and welcome! I'm Jimmie and this is my online collage of our Charlotte Mason homeschool. Taking just a little more time to document our learning shortens the learning curve for other busy homeschool moms.
Feel free to browse around my posts and freebies. My aim is to bless each reader with something useful. 
{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
It would crush her creativity, exhaust her physically, and damage her spiritually.
This is exactly what it would do to my daughter!!! I loved reading these Q&A’s about you.
Amber recently posted Kinda Sorta Veganish..
Amber and Jimmie, this is the line that struck my core as well. Sprite (I still like to call her that) is clearly flourishing in this environment and the life experiences you had and have on a daily basis can never be duplicated in a sterile institutional setting.
I never thought it was weird that your name is Jimmie! One of my dearest older friends when I was a girl was named Jimmie. She was a lovely, elegant woman who had lived in NYC all her life working at the Waldorf-Astoria as a librarian and then retired to our tiny town in upstate NY. I have a very fond spot for the name Jimmie!
Sarah at SmallWorld recently posted Top 10 Homeschooling Questions People Ask Me (and my posts that answer them).
Aww, I have an Emma too! Love the name.
Tristan recently posted Five Things for Friday 6.22.12.
Twitter: thesetemptents
June 26, 2012 at 10:33 am
I know several Michael’s that are girls. Jimmie is a beautiful name! But then again, my name is kind of odd so I’m used to it.
Aadel recently posted Ten Questions I Constantly Ask Myself About Homeschooling.
My mother-in-law is called Johnnie. It’s her middle name but she has always gone by it – she was named after her dad who was killed in WWII when she was a baby. I like it!
I love what you had to say about how your daughter would fare in public school… I have similar thoughts about my kids. I was asked, “What’s wrong with public school?” (by a public school teacher). That’s a loaded question! I like your answer – it pretty much sums up why I wouldn’t want to choose that either.
Jennifer recently posted Top 10 Questions People (Really) Asked Me.
My dad’s name is Jimmy; not James or Jim but Jimmy. On some of his school records, they spelled it like yours. And I’m named after him. At the time, Jamie was only a boy name. It wasn’t til a few years later that Jamie caught on as a girl name. My family has some funny names, especially as you go back a few generations; I think it’s a Southern thing. I even had a great-great-(great?)-aunt named Vinnie!
I’m giggling at your online empire. It’s true, but I think you should add a mwahaha after that.
Fascinating! I admit, I had wondered about the name. My husband’s name is Teddy, and when we first met (I was the receptionist – he was a graphic artist), literally the first thing I said after he introduced himself was: “I don’t believe you.” So he pulled out his driver’s license. The rest is history…
Jennifer in MamaLand recently posted Shiva Asar b’Tammuz, Tisha b’Av and the Three Weeks – for kids.
When I was growing up people use to ask me if my dad’s name was Daniel? It’s not.
I enjoyed this fun post, and I have to tell you that my mil is named Jimmie too. I love the name Emma…so beautiful. I have to admit that it will seem strange at first not to read about Sprite anymore.
LOL Great post, Jimmie!
I have an Emma too, but she’s my youngest. It’s a beautiful name. I think my Emma is going to be the super creative type too. It’s fun to see their little personalities develop.
Funny story about names: when I taught school, fresh out of college, I was warned by one of my “wise” old co-teachers about kids with names beginning with J. Nothin’ but trouble, she said. Then she named off some of the expected “trouble makers” coming into my class–all J names. When I was pregnant with our first child, I was afraid to choose a name beginning with J! LOL Hubby and I still laugh about that… I’m pretty sure it’s not true, but maybe you can confirm that for me???
I’d love to hear your China story some day. In fact, I’d just love to sit and have coffee with you some day. Thanks for all you do to bless the homeschooling community!
I used to get the “Are you going to homeschool through high school” question all the time- mostly disapprovingly and often followed up with the “How will they get into university if they don’t do the exams” (usually required for university admittance where I am) and “How will they cope if they get in”. Now that I have homeschooled two through high school (both of whom are doing very well academically at university) the comments have changed. The assumption is that I’m pleased with the academic benefits of homeschooling. And I am. But the biggest advantages for us have been social/emotional. The kids have been free to stay true to themselves without so much peer pressure/bullying and they’ve retained their love of learning.
My husband and oldest son have a family name that is quite unique. We get asked about that often, so I understand.
I liked your answer for the last one. I’ve been trying to explain this in a kind way to others who think my 10 year old should finally go to school. He’s beyond being able to be put into a box now.
Joy recently posted Who me, picky?.
Lovely to read, Jimmie, but I was surprised by the first questions on your name. ‘Jimmie’ sounds perfectly fine and female to my West-European ears.
Kindest greetings from Belgium, Paula
Paula Kuitenbrouwer recently posted Summer Break; Blog Break.
Hee hee! Empire!
. I love your blog!
And here’s to Emma’s coming out!
Blessings, Sandwich
I’m with Jamie; I think you should add a mwahaha after the “online empire”. You work hard and it shows!
I love your daughter’s name. I tried for that one when my daughter was born but at the time, the show Friends had just introduced a baby named Emma and there was a wave of that name here so my husband wouldn’t go for it.
Eddie – The Usual Mayhem recently posted 2012 Readathon Week 2 – Friendship.
I never doubted your name. I have no idea why you needed to leave China, but I am sorry it still hurts. I can’t imagine having to leave my home in a hurry.
Blessings, Dawn
Twitter: definity
June 27, 2012 at 11:38 am
Jimmie, I loved your questions – and your answers! (And I love your name – and Emma’s!)
I did have to laugh at your Keurig comment – because sadly if I picked a drink passion, Sarah would be Gold Peak tea or Diet Pepsi, neither enticing monikers for a 12-year-old girl!
On a more serious note, I only wish I had realized sooner how much public school was hurting Sarah physically, creatively and spiritually – and I am so proud of women like you who have helped show me the way!
Joan recently posted How did we get here? 10 reasons we chose our relaxed homeschooling style.
How wonderful to hear all the inside details about your family names. I had a good giggle at the ‘reveal’ on your brother’s name!
I totally agree that homeschooling “ruins” our children for the normal-sausage-machine-system-structured public schools, but somehow several of my homeschooling friends’ high school children have wanted to run that gauntlet and be part of that whole experience. My kids don’t want to go, and for all the reasons you list, plus a few more of our own, I’m relieved.
Nadene recently posted Why would a school teacher homeschool?.
Hiya Jimmie!
For the record:
- I realised Jimmie was your name.
- I realised that your darling daughter was not REALLY named ‘Sprite’ (however I’m afraid that she will always be Sprite to me even though Emma is a lovely name!)
- I know I don’t comment much anymore but I still love reading your blog and have for many years now – I think nearly from the beginning of your blog.
- I still use the lovely set of Chinese items that your friend sent me to review for her new business years ago! We use them with my childminding kids every year on Chinese New Year.
- I’m glad you are settling well in the States now and I would LOVE to catch up over a cuppa and have a chat someday! Unfortunately there is still an ocean between us most of the time as I’m still in England!! Maybe one day on one of our trips home. (I can dream can’t I?)
- I still LOVE your blog!
Can we still think of her as Sprite?
I totally agree. Even though there are some days where I might think, even just for a quick second, that our local (really good) school might do my son some good, that thought is quickly sqelched by the reality that he really would not like it or do well at all. There’s just too much independence that comes from homeschooling that doesn’t translate well into a brick and mortar elementary-high school setting.
Thanks for everything over the years, your blog is one that I try to follow regularly.
Great list, Jimmie! My good friend Billie (named after her dad Billy) would totally say the same thing.
Twitter: NotInadequate
June 29, 2012 at 6:05 pm
My husband is named Jimmie. It’s a family name. He has an aunt called Jimmie, too. He is constantly annoyed by people who refuse to believe that’s his given name and insist on putting “James” on things. Doctor’s offices, banks, house buying/selling paperwork… it’s a conversation he’s quite sick of having.
In conclusion, I never thought it was weird, I thought it was cool. I have a girl cousin whose nickname is Sam and I always envied it. Deb is boring. Plus also I’ve gotten a lot of “Debbie does Dallas”-type jokes in my day, which are tiring.
Deb recently posted Heartbreak.
Ha, now try answering the “are you homeschooling all the way through?” while living in a country with a state that ends highschool at grade 10 & then takes of with college for a measly 2 years only to be replaced by university until a student has what they need to be hired in their desired work field.
Kendra recently posted Weekly Wrap Up: Week 15.
Twitter: dana_wilson
July 2, 2012 at 5:39 pm
Great idea for a post, Jimmie! I enjoyed reading about your top ten questions! Just my two cents, but I have had other girl-friends with the name of Jimmie and I like it that name for girls
Dana Wilson recently posted Music Training Impacts Brain Function.
I really loved reading this post, Jimmie. It was such a fun read, and left me smiling.
Angie recently posted Advice for New Homeschoolers Just Taking Their Kids Out of Public School.
Ha! I have never wondered if your name was really Jimmie. I have, however, wondered if Sprite was really named Sprite. .. and why.
I was named after my dad.. my first name is Terri and he is Terry. Therefore, they used my middle name, Michelle, in order to avoid confusion. Ironically, when I was 13, my dad remarried. The new wife had a child named Michelle. So, I have a sister named Michelle. We never give any thought to it, but you should see people’s faces when I speak of “My sister, Michelle.”
Michelle recently posted Charlotte Mason Principle #2: Children are Neither Good Nor Bad.
I’ve always liked your name and thought it suited you. It’s lovely.
Emma is a beautiful name for a beautiful girl. It has always been one of my top 3 favorite girls names but I only had 2 girls. I’ll have a hard time not thinking of her as Sprite though. lol
Giggly Girls recently posted Preschool, Kayleigh Style.
I’ve always thought your name was “Jimmie” and your daughter’s name was not “Sprite”! I enjoyed reading your top 10 and am sorry to hear that there was a lot of trauma involved in leaving China.
Dana recently posted Garden of Your Mind.
Twitter: LearningWMom
July 11, 2012 at 11:28 pm
I’m very late catching up on all the blog posts I’ve missed the last few weeks, but I just wanted to say I loved this! And I wish I could sit with you in person to talk about China. I lived there a year myself. Maybe one day. =)
Jasmine recently posted Training Your Children in Home Economics.
My me was name was Jimmie Lee. She was one of the sweetest, godliest ladies I’ve ever known. She went on to be with the Lord 2 years ago. I’m some what named after her, Jamie. I love the name Jimmie.
I’m a new follower and new to homeschooling! I’ll be homeschooling my son for kindergarten this year! Excited and nervous all at the same tune! So glad there are so many resources online! Thanks!