The Great Kaysby

18 Parks In 21 Days

My maps app wouldn’t let me put all of the stops on one trip plan!

A couple of years ago, LilKsby and I were standing in line for a roller coaster, and we met someone who was working on going to 7 different amusement parks in 10 days. We didn’t get to chat much because there wasn’t a long line, but I remember thinking that it sounded like a fun adventure! After that day, I didn’t give the adventure much thought; however, over the past few days on a long car trip, I got to thinking about two things. One was that it would be fun to research travel itineraries and blog about them. The second was remembering the amusement park anecdote. Both of those things got me thinking about if money were no object, what would be a great amusement park journey?

Thus…18 Parks in 21 Days!

For this particular itinerary, I recommend starting at Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville, KY. Its proximity to Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport provides an easy start to the trip as travelers could fly in from all over the country, rent a car, and be at the park within 30 minutes of landing as there is less than five minutes between the two. I also recommend purchasing a season pass while at Kentucky Kingdom. The pass will be beneficial at other parks that are owned by Herschend as they provide admission discounts to season pass holders. https://www.kentuckykingdom.com/

Following a day in Louisville, head south on I-65 for approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes to Bowling Green, KY. Here you will find Beech Bend which has an amusement park and campground. Highlights include The Kentucky Rumbler roller coaster and Sea Dragon which was purchased from MJ’s Neverland Ranch. It is a small park with a big heart! https://beechbend.com/

Next up is a drive to the Midwest experience Six Flags Saint Louis which is actually in Eureka, MO (approximately 4 hours, 52 minutes). Thought it currently has the Six Flags name, this park has been sold and is already being independently operated. In 2027 it will no longer retain the Six Flags name. https://www.sixflags.com/stlouis

Staying in the Show Me State, the next destination is one of the aforementioned Herschend Family Entertainment properties. Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO is approximately 3 hours and 21 minutes from Six Flags. Of all the parks that I have not been to that are on this list, this is the one that I want to visit the most. Why? They have rides and a cave! I have loved both since I was a kid! https://www.silverdollarcity.com

After a day in Branson, I would travel north to Kansas City, MO (approximately 3 hours and 18 minutes) to experience Worlds of Fun! When I would visit family as a child in the summer, I would always see ads for Worlds of Fun. For the sake of nostalgia, I added this park to the itinerary though it is a bit out of the way (if there can be such a thing when it comes to fun). Once again, I recommend purchasing a season pass. Several of the parks on this list fall under the Six Flags umbrella since they acquired Cedar Fair which will allow benefits to be used multiple times. As of this publishing, World of Fun is operating as a Six Flags park. After the 2026 season it will operate under its new owner: EPR Properties. https://www.sixflags.com/worldsoffun

So far on this journey, I have intended for parks to be visited on consecutive days. If you leave each park with an approximately four hour travel time around 7 pm, you can easily be halfway done with your drive – accounting for a brief dinner and fuel stop – and in bed at a hotel by 10 pm. Leaving the hotel by 8 am will provide 9 hours of sleep plus time for breakfast while allowing you to be at the next park by 10 am. The trip following Worlds of Fun is the first exception where more than one day will be needed for travel. The trip from Worlds of Fun to Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, IL will take approximately 8 hours. This park is north of Chicago, and extremely close to the Wisconsin border. If you’re like me and have a goal of seeing all 50 states, you might as well check Wisconsin off the list by going through it! https://www.sixflags.com/greatamerica

The next stop on the journey (approximately 3 hours and five minutes) is Indiana Beach in Monticello, IN. For a park that isn’t owned by one of the major amusement park conglomerates, this one has a lot of attractions! https://www.indianabeach.com/

Staying in the Hoosier State, journey south approximately 3 hours and 52 minutes to Holiday World/Splashin’ Safari! Of all the parks on this list, this one is my favorite! We went here several times as a kid, and everything that made this park special then is still present today! This park has always provided extras like free parking, free sunscreen, and free non-alcoholic drinks. It is also the only amusement park that I have been to where one of the owners – a member of the Koch family – came up to us to ensure we were having a good time. https://holidayworld.com/

Last up on the first half of the itinerary is Kings Island in Cincinnati, OH (approximately 2 hours and 59 minutes). If you only get to do one thing at this park, ride The Beast. This incredible roller coaster lives up to the hype! I especially recommend riding it in the dark! There are also several other great coasters at this park! As it is now owned by Six Flags, that season pass will come in handy again! https://www.sixflags.com/kingsisland

At this point, you could easily loop back to Louisville and end the journey if 9 parks in 10 days has been enough for you. If you’re still up for more adventure, head north for approximately 3 hours and 23 minutes to Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH. Personally, I have never been to Cedar Point, but I have heard from MANY roller coaster enthusiasts that THIS is their park of choice! https://www.sixflags.com/cedarpoint

Once the day at Cedar Point is complete, travel approximately three hours and two minutes to West Mifflin, PA. Here you will find one of the oldest parks on this list: Kennywood. Given I have only been to PA in the off-season or for romantic mountain getaways, I have never been to any PA amusement parks. That said, Kennywood constantly comes up on travel blogs that I read. It’s 125 years old, and they have this great combination of old school rides and modern thrill rides! Add On: After I wrote this portion, I went to an amusement park with LilKsby, and we met three young men who work at Kennywood! They shared that some of their rides are among the oldest – and best kept – in the country. They also recommended Phantom’s Revenge for Hyper Coaster enthusiasts! Oh, and they told us that Kennywood is also a Herschend park now. https://www.kennywood.com/

Following the day filled with nostalgia and excitement, head to Hershey, PA (approximately 3 hours and 24 minutes) to experience Hershey Park! This is another park that has been recommended to me by coaster enthusiasts, but this one was recommended with a caveat. We all know that if you are traveling with children, you should make sure that there will be something they can ride based on their height (and sometimes weight). According to my source, this park is where they ran into the most difficulty finding something for their child to ride as they were too big for most of the kids rides, but they were not big enough for most of the thrill rides. Keep in mind that this would have been about 10 years ago. I also personally understand this frustration as the first time I went to Kings Island as a kid, I was in the dreaded in between stage (this was before they had a water park too). That aside, it looks like a great park from the Hershey complex parking lot. Be sure to checkout Hershey’s Chocolate World while you’re in the complex! This portion is open year-round, and I can attest to how much fun it is! https://www.hersheypark.com/

Next up is the shortest drive of the itinerary at approximately 1 hour and 16 minutes (which means you can enjoy Hershey Park even later)! This will take you to Dorney Park in Dorneyville, PA. This park opened in 1884! Nestled in the heart of the beautiful Lehigh Valley, at Dorney fun can be had by all ages be they ride enthusiasts or interested in shows! https://www.sixflags.com/dorneypark

After Dorney is the other drive where I recommend taking a travel day. Clocking in at 5 hours and 55 minutes, the trip to America’s Historic Triangle is the second longest on this journey. However, since the next park is in the Triangle, there is PLENTY to see and do on the travel day besides sit in a car. Side note, in the future, I will do a full blog on America’s Historic Triangle as part of my upcoming – and yet untitled – series about homeschooling and travel. Once you’ve rested up and perhaps brushed up on some history, you will be ready to tackle a place that was not part of the triangle during the Revolution: Busch Gardens. This park has rides, shows, and animal experiences! Oh, and they have a WIDE variety of food options beyond the standard amusement park fare. https://buschgardens.com/williamsburg/

Another short drive (also approximately 1 hour and 16 minutes) will take you to Kings Dominion in Doswell, VA. When it was originally built, Kings Dominion was designed to be a sister park to Kings Island. This provides a level of familiarity for those who have been to Kings Island as some of the rides at Kings Dominion are the same. However, the Rapterra roller coaster sets them apart from their sister! Rapterra is the second ever winged coaster built in the US. Fun fact, the first one was built at Holiday World! https://www.sixflags.com/kingsdominion

Three more parks to go! Can you believe it??? Next up is Carowinds in Charlotte, NC just about a 4 hour and 45 minute drive from Kings Dominion. Carowinds is also a Six Flags park, and if you are making this trip in 2027, you will get to try what will be the World’s Largest Log Flume Ride! They are also known for Fury 325 which America’s tallest and fastest Giga Coaster. https://www.sixflags.com/carowinds

After a brief stay in North Carolina, it is time to head to Georgia! In approximately 4 hours and 6 minutes, you will arrive at Six Flags Over Georgia. This is the last Six Flags property on the list, and I think it will be worth it! They have a multitude of attractions for the whole family! https://www.sixflags.com/overgeorgia

Last but not least, it is time to make the approximate 4 hour and 7 minute trip to Pigeon Forge, TN to spend time at Dollywood! Dollywood is the final Herschend property on this list and my favorite of their holdings that I have visited. Mr Kisby, LilKsby, and I have been to Dollywood during the summer and at Christmas. During both seasons we were able to experience great rides, entertainment, and food! There was something for all of us to enjoy! Dollywood is a must visit! https://www.dollywood.com/

If you bought a roundtrip ticket when flying into Louisville, you will need approximately 4 hours and 31 minutes to loop back to Louisville from Pigeon Forge. Afternoon or evening flight? You might as well pop back into Kentucky Kingdom again! After all, you’ve driven over 4,250 miles and spent 2 Days, 18 Hours, and 52 Minutes doing so. One way ticket? Spend the night at Dreammore Resort or Heartsong Lodge at Dollywood. Amazing accommodations! You can then fly home from Knoxville.

And there you have 18 Parks in 21 Days!

I would love to know what parks you’ve been to that are on this list and what you think! Drop a comment!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

Can You Relate?

Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Pexels.com

July 27.

I haven’t blogged in a month and a half. I’ve had the intention to pause and post, but somehow the minutes, hours, days, and weeks have slipped passed me. When I look back over our calendar, I can tell that we’ve been blessed to have a full schedule. Yet at the same time, I find myself thinking: where did the time go?

Can you relate?

I would love to say that I have missed out on connecting with my readers because I have had something MAJOR, something EARTH SHATTERING, something GINORMOUS happening. Reality is I have spent a lot of evenings participating in summer reading challenges, playing Duolingo and Minecraft, and re-watching favorite shows.

Can you relate to me now?

I have spent a good portion of the time as Mama Taxi shuttling LilKsby around to different activities like swim lessons and summer reading. I have also spent a great deal of time going through parts of our house and purging unneeded items. I’ve also done my best to make the schedule as easy as possible on Mr. Kisby as he’s working to complete his Masters program.

If you’re a mama and wife, I know you’re starting to relate to me!

I’ve also been volunteering and working on publishing my next novel. “Maple Frost” is almost complete, and fingers crossed will be out within the next four days! ❤ I’m also ramping up for the school year to begin and having a plethora of ideas for projects to tackle next.

Can you relate?

What have you been up to the last few weeks? I bet I can relate!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately…”

The older I get, the more I understand what Thoreau was implying when he wrote about his time at Walden Pond. Admittedly, I would have a difficult time adopting his practices of simplicity, but I understand the yearning to be around nature, pursue things that bring genuine joy, and declutter. Plus, if I have a friend who will let me build a cabin on their land for free, then that sounds cool too! Let’s say we don’t have a buddy with a lake and some woods or the carpentry skills to build our own house. Can we still live like Thoreau?

Maybe.

It wouldn’t be easy, but it would be possible to live with less material things. Likewise, it would be possible to unplug from technology and do things the archaic way with pen and paper. Plus, how much happier would you be if you daily took time to pursue your passions and purpose? Perhaps the world would be a more peaceful place!

Could you do it? Could you live like Thoreau?

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

I Love Thee

What’s the oldest things you’re wearing today?

The oldest things I am wearing today are the oldest things I wear each day: my engagement and wedding ring. Mr Kisby gave me the engagement ring just after midnight on May 15, 2011 after the world’s most beautiful proposal involving a note of okay from my dad written on a napkin. The wedding ring is a simple band much like Mr Kisby’s inscribed with “I Love Thee” on the inside. The inscription was inspired by the rings in Baz Luhrman’s Romeo + Juliet. These will be my forever oldest things I wear!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

“Look At This Stuff, Isn’t Ot Neat?”

Do you have any collections?

Much like Ariel – my favorite Disney Princess since the 90s – I have some neat stuff, and you might just think my collection is complete! I’ve collected a number of things over the years. As a little kid, I remember collecting baseball cards and similar trading cards that were for Full House, Family Matters, and Perfect Strangers. By the time the Beanie Baby craze hit, I was well versed in collecting things! Me and my mom had a weekly route for scouting out the most valuable Beanie Babies. I still hold the Princess Diana one very near and dear. At some point in my adult years, I started collecting shot glasses as they were once cheap souvenirs. I have also collected stuffed animals, wine glasses, coffee mugs, and socks at different points in life. Currently, it’s Legos and toys related to hobbies. For LilKsby, we have started a postcard and a quarter collection. As I reminisce on various collections, I love the memories that go with them! Good times!

What do you collect?

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

Technically…No

Have you ever broken a bone?

I love this question! Officially, the answer to this question is no. However, it is highly likely that the answer is yes because of not going to have injuries checked. Back in our LARP days, I likely broke two – possibly three – fingers on my left hand. Since I knew that if they were broken, they would likely just be taped together, I just did that myself. I also might have fractured or broken my wrist roller skating as a kid. At the very least it was likely sprained because it hurt for a week. I’m no stranger to minor hurts and sprains!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

To the Class of 2026…

Once again graduation season is upon us. Whether you are graduating from high school, college, or something else, I’ve got some free advice. Feel free to pretend I’m your celebrity commencement speaker. In fact, you’re welcome to read my words in the celebrity voice of your choosing…

First and foremost, congratulations on your accomplishment! There may have been people who helped you along the way, but the majority of this you have accomplished yourself. It took hard work; it took dedication. It may have even involved some blood, sweat, and tears. Yet you did it! You persevered even when it was difficult, and now you have (or will be mailed) the diploma to prove it. Well done!

Secondly, it’s okay if you’re not feeling completely okay about the future. Change – even when it is good – is scary. There’s always unknown factors that are out of your sphere of control, and that can be overwhelming. The good news? You’re not alone in your feelings, and without trying something new, you will never know what you’re capable of achieving.

Along the same line, it is okay if the job you thought was your dream career turns out to not be it. You can always change career paths, get more education, etc. It’s okay to start over in your 30s. Some of my closest friends started again in their 40s. It’s also okay if your career goals change as you do. You do not have to stay in a miserable job for the next 40 years just because it matches your degree.

With this it is important that your timeline is unique to you. Just because it seems like the societal expectation is graduate, find a job, get married, buy a house, have kids, etc does not mean you have to follow that order. It’s okay if you never want to marry, have kids, etc. Likewise, the age at which you do these things does not matter. I’m thankful that I was 29 before getting married and 36 before having a kid. I wasn’t mature enough for such adult things in my early 20s.

If the timeline you thought you were on doesn’t pan out, you can always go home again. If you find yourself living out on your own, with roommates, with an SO, and it doesn’t go as planned, you can always move back with parents or other family members. This is also true for jobs, additional schooling, and financial planning not going as planned. This is another area where I speak from A LOT of experience. I had living situations, educational plans, and job searches not go in my favor at various times. Thankfully, I was welcome at home until I figured it all out again.

Finally, it is okay if you make mistakes. Making a mistake does not make you a bad person. Likewise, if you find yourself doing something that goes against your values, you are not a bad person. Part of being human is erring and on occasion doing things we know we shouldn’t. The real test is in how we get through these crucibles, and if we use them to become better people with a desire to reaffirm and stick to our morals or continue doing what we know we shouldn’t. With this remember that you are uniquely you, and you are not what/who others say you are. They don’t know the full story because they aren’t you.

Wishing you a bright future where all your dreams come true!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

Resilience

As I was reflecting over another year around the sun, one word came to mind: resilience. Last year, exactly one week after my birthday, the crushing blows to our “normal” existence began. Our lives quickly started to feel like a country song, and the title would have been “Everything Gets F’ed Up On a Thursday.”

With everything happening, it would have been super easy to put all life goals on hold. It would have been super easy to wallow in self pity and do nothing. However, in life you have two choices when things are not going well. One, you can do nothing. Two, you can exhibit bounce back ability!

Through a lot of prayer, tears, emotional roller coasters, and open discussion as a family, we chose bounce back ability. Was it easy? No. Was it worth it? YES! Did we learn from it? ABSOLUTELY! Were there days when it was hard? Of course there were!

But we persevered, and now almost a year later, I can say…

We can survive the storm because we have each other.
My faith is stronger.
My drive and resolve to be successful are stronger.
Even on tough days (because let’s be real, some days I still miss my cat terribly!), I can do one thing to move forward.
I have learned to focus on what I can and cannot control.

As I start this next year, I’m not going to say it’s going to be all sunshine and rainbows. I can’t know what the future will bring, but I can know that I’ve learned resilience.

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

It’s More Than One Day…

I have been thinking of the right words to describe Easter 2026. All day yesterday, I felt like I was supposed to post something like, “Hallelujah, He is Risen!” or “Happy Easter!” However, I found myself struggling to express those sentiments, and today, as I was doing my daily devotion, I figured out why. Easter is more than one day.

For Catholics like me, Easter begins with the preparation period of Lent starting with Ash Wednesday. I look at Lent as the warm-up, the pre-game show, or self-reflection that comes before a big game, performance, or period of self-growth. It is a time to prepare for what is to come by revisiting the miracles that Jesus performed, the obstacles and temptations he encountered, and his humanity; it is a time that gets us ready mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and physically (we do a lot of sit, kneel, stand Catholic Cardio) for Holy Week.

Holy Week is like the final countdown to Easter. Beginning on Holy Thursday, we remember the washing of the feet and The Last Supper. This year I experienced the most beautiful recreation of these events. At the Mass we attended, some of those who had their feet washed were then the Eucharistic Ministers. I could not think of a more perfect way to show being like one of the Apostles tasked with spreading the Good News of Jesus. Then on Good Friday, we returned to Mass. Our Good Friday service is very different than a typical Mass as it consists of the Liturgy of the Word, Adoration of the Cross, and a Communion Service. Hearing the Passion on Good Friday is always moving as it is an eloquent portrayal of the humanity and divinity that Jesus experienced in his final hours. Also, having just a moment to personally reflect at the foot of the cross is always moving. If you open your heart to adoration and kneeling before the cross, then the Holy Spirit will fill your heart with the love and light of Jesus. Even if you have committed the darkest sin, you can ask God for forgiveness in your final moments and experience all that He has to offer. Not sure? Look up Saint Dismas. Dark Saturday as it is sometimes called follows Good Friday. On this night we celebrate the Easter Vigil, and even if you are not Catholic (or even religious for that matter), I recommend you attend this Mass. It covers everything from the beginning and encompasses the promises of the Resurrection beautifully. The Mass even begins in the dark and slowly transitions to light as the Mass progresses much like the return of the King.

Obviously Easter Sunday follows, and most people are familiar with what happened on the Third Day. Hence all of the “He Is Risen” posts that were made yesterday. But what happens after? In the Catholic Church (and some other Western Churches), the celebration of Easter has just begun. The week following is called The Octave of Easter, and each day celebrates a portion of the Resurrection and subsequent events. As an example, today highlighted Mary Magdalene and how she ran to spread the joyous news after seeing that Jesus was alive. While I read tonight, my attention kept being drawn to the “she ran” portion. When is the last time that you literally ran to tell someone about Jesus? Me? Never. I only run if I’m being chased. Along the same line, when is the last time you symbolically ran to tell someone about Jesus? There was a time when I never would have blogged, posted, or talked to others about my faith. Yet here I am, laying it all out on the line. Could it lose me followers? Maybe. But is an earthly loss worth being honest about who I am? Absolutely! I look forward to the remainder of the events chronicled during the Octave of Easter and on through Pentecost as that is truly the conclusion of Easter.

What is the meaning of sharing how Easter is more than one day? One, I would love to see more people (myself included) attest to the power of the Resurrection all of the time. Two, I want people to realize that Easter starts with a day, but it is actually a full season of rejoicing. Go forth to love and serve the Lord all year long!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

PS…for those who are like me and have experienced periods of doubt, questions that others may not ask about the Gospels, and an opportunity of judgement free reflection on the works of Jesus, checkout the following titles on Amazon by yours truly: Matthew & Me, Making Your Mark, Life Lessons with Luke, and Journeying with John.

Month End Mania

This one goes out to all of my biz owner friends in the audience!

How often to you get to month end and think, “How did we get here? How’s it __________? Where did the month go? I’m so behind!!!” More often than not, this has been me in the last twelve years that I have taken my direct sales business more seriously (because let’s be real, there are still moments when I don’t work as diligently as I should). Also, I say twelve years because those first eight years were kind of a crapshoot. We’ve all been there too, right? Yet there are still months when I find myself wanting to scream and shout on the last day of the month, “Who needs skin care? Who needs makeup? GO TO MY WEBSITE NOW!” Luckily for all of those in my immediate circle, I have gotten a lot better about not making desperate last minute social media posts to finish goals that I have allowed myself to procrastinate on achieving. Again, I’m honest and fully recognize that I have to say better and not perfect.

That said, two things have made the difference for me. First and foremost, I consistently remind myself of what I can and cannot control. In both businesses – our direct sales and our publishing – I cannot control the number of people who actually make a purchase. I cannot control the number of people who follow our socials, click on our website links, watch our YouTube channel, etc. Remember your granny saying that you can lead the horse to water, but you can’t make it drink? Turns out that is true in a WIDE array of areas. When you accept that there are things you cannot control, you can obtain peace. So what can I control? I can control the number of people that I contact, the number of appointments that I hold, the amount of content we post on socials and YouTube, etc. I can control how much networking I do, and I can control how much time I invest in working towards goals. I can also look up to mentors when I need help, motivation, etc. The second thing that has made a difference for me is learning that I don’t have to win every prize. This was a REALLY hard realization for my reward driven personality. However, I found that when I tried to win EVERYTHING, I would be so distracted that I would not win ANYTHING! Learning to narrow my focus to what I really want to achieve has mad a big difference!

Thanks to what I’ve learned, even though I’m not quite at my March goal, I’m not freaking out. I am proud of what I have accomplished, and I am using what I have learned to propel me into April.

Biz owner friends, who is with me?

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

April 25th

What is your favorite type of weather?

As Miss Congeniality taught us “April 25 is the perfect date because it’s not too hot or cold, so all you need is a light jacket.” Oh wait…the question wasn’t describe your perfect date! It said describe your favorite type of weather.

Weather is fascinating, and I find that I love all different types of it and cannot choose one favorite. For example, I love snowy weather especially when I can sit inside with a warm beverage next to our fake fireplace and watch out the window. I love feeling like I’m somewhere between inside of a snow globe and in a Hallmark movie. I also love stormy weather! Let me preface this by saying I do not like tornadoes. However, there is nothing like watching a thunderstorm move across an open field or playing outside in a warm summer storm. Plus, I’m a big fan of sleeping while it’s storming or raining heavily. The sounds can be very comforting! Finally, I love sunny weather that’s perfect for outdoor activities like gardening, golf, hiking, and water activities. This weather leads to a lot of family fun!

The weather I’m not a fan of? Wind warnings, sleet, and ice storms. Those have all led to some not fun times!!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

Myth Busting: Homeschool Edition

Since we began homeschooling LilKsby when he was three, I have heard a lot of different misconceptions about what it means to homeschool. Today, I saw some that really take the cake. I kept thinking about these throughout the day, and though I know the people who were commenting on this particular post will never see my blog, I want to bust a few myths about homeschooling.

Myth #1 – Homeschool students don’t learn science. Let’s start with the one that left me the most shocked. I understand that there are some people that teach science with a non-secular world view. However, most families we know who homeschool including ourselves either use a science curriculum, piece their own together, or do a combo of both (what we do). He’s only 6, but LilKsby has learned about the solar system, dinosaurs, a variety of animals, various ecosystems, plants (including having to grow some), the water cycle, and more. He enjoys science so much that this morning (a Saturday morning) he woke us up and asked us to read about The Big Bang. We have also done more science experiments than I can count!

Myth #2 – Homeschool students can’t learn because their parents aren’t college educated and/or teachers. Let me count the ways that I can bust this myth! First of all, most curriculums for homeschool are designed in a way that anyone can teach the child(ren) no matter their educational or occupational background. Two, within our homeschool community, many of the parents are former teachers myself included. Additionally, many of the homeschool parents I know have at least one college degree. In our house, we have two parents with five degrees between us. I’m not usually one to brag about our levels of education, but sometimes I like to remind people that, “Yes, I am qualified to teach LilKsby” and “Yes, Mr. Kisby is qualified to teach LilKsby.”

Myth #3 – Homeschool students never get any socialization. Actually, LilKsby gets socialization with a variety of ages across a multitude of settings. First of all, we are part of a homeschool group. We have events multiple times a year. Guess what they include? Socialization! We also have opportunities to participate in a plethora of events at the library, gyms, and stores. Along this same line, LilKsby has no problem interacting with adults in settings that are going to benefit him as an adult. He can order his own food in a restaurant; he can talk with the bank teller or cashier at the grocery. He also knows how to ask for assistance in a store if we can’t find something.

Myth #4 – Homeschool students never go on field trips. Off the top of my head, this school year alone we’ve had eight field trips. They’ve been science, history, and performance arts related. Hey, look! There’s science showing up again!

Consider these myths busted!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

Can You Help Me?

“Can you help me?” It should be such a simple question to ask; it should be a judgment free question ask. Yet how many of us as children/teenagers preferred to do bad on a homework assignment instead of ask for help? If I wasn’t typing my hand would be raised. For a plethora of misguided reasons, I never wanted to ask for help in school. Likewise – unless it was to read something aloud – I didn’t want to be called on in class either.

Fast forward to today, those of us who were afraid to ask for help in our youth are now adults who are trying to break free of the toxic habit that is not asking for help. Yes, I said toxic habit. Why? Because not being comfortable asking for help has caused many people I know to be over stressed, over committed, and feeling as though they are doing something wrong because they cannot figure out everything on their own. Spoiler, I used to be (and sometimes relapse into) one of those people!

What changed? The realization that we as people are not meant to be strong, independent, and capable of doing every single thing ourselves. We are not meant to do every single thing alone. In fact, people were created to need other people. We learn from one another. We all have different talents that can compliment one another’s skills. We are designed to need assistance from other people so that we can in turn assist others! It is human nature!

Along with the realization, I knew that from the time LilKsby started learning that I never wanted him to be afraid to ask for help. Mr. Kisby and I tell him all the time that you learn by asking questions and asking for help. I want LiLKsby to grow up with the understanding that we have the potential to be better as people because we help one another.

So today I am giving you permission to ask “Can you help me?” You may just find that doing so will change your life!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

Ready, Set, Travel!

Daily writing prompt

You’re going on a cross-country trip. Airplane, train, bus, car, or bike?

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Given that I started this blog to be about food and travel back in 2018, I absolutely love this question! Of these options, the only one that I have not done is a bike trip (neither motorcycle or cycling). Also, I should note that for me “cross-country” is limited to about half of the country. However, I have found that my preferred method of travel completely depends on the type of trip. For example, I have only ever flown for business trips. The last two times that I flew for business it was a matter of wanting to be away from home as little as possible. When it was just me and Mr. Kisby, it was no big deal for the two of us to hop in the car and go on extended road trips for business or pleasure. We would take our time and explore the areas we were visiting. Since LilKsby has come along, I try to be gone from home for business trips as little as possible. It has become standard to fly out super early the morning the conference starts and fly back immediately after it ends. Along the same line, I have also greatly consolidated how far I’ll travel for business by car. What can I say? Family comes before career for me!

Now if it is just a fun trip and my family is with me, I’m choosing to travel by train or car. I love how much of the country you can see with these two methods. I actually have two train trips on my travel bucket list. One is for New England in the Autumn, and the other is going West to see the plains and mountains. I am also a big fan of cross-country travel by car (provided you have the time) because of the number of things that you can stop and see randomly. Some of our greatest adventures have been when we see a sign for something and go see it on a whim!

Bus travel is interesting because you can see a lot and do not have to worry about doing the actual driving, but with the bus trips I have done, you lose some flexibility. However, I loved the time I did a bus trip to Chicago with my aunt because we did not have to deal with Chicago traffic, and we got to see A LOT of awesome sites! That trip was a little different because the bus dropped you off for a weekend. Other bus trips that we’ve done were more precise guided tours. Those have little flexibility because if you’re not on the bus when it’s time to leave, you are left behind (kind of like if you’re not on the boat at the cruise port when it’s time to go). Although these trips had the big bonus of taking us to way more places than we would have visited independently and being part of the tour allowed us to skip lines at some of the places.

I guess you could just say that if it involves travel I am for any method of transportation if I have the time!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

Lose Yourself

Daily writing prompt

What activities do you lose yourself in?

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“Lose yourself in the music the moment, you own it, you better never let it go.”

I can’t be the only one who saw this prompt and thought of those song lyrics, right? (Side note LilKsby hates when I end questions to him with “right?”) But sometimes I do lose myself in the music that I’m listening to. Music is powerful! I can hear a song lyric and be mentally teleported back to a moment when that song lyric was significant. Song lyrics remind me of events, people, places, etc. Hearing a song lyric often leads to trips down memory lane. Just yesterday, “Walking in Memphis” was playing in a restaurant, and I immediately thought back to a cousin’s funeral. The connection between music and our minds is hauntingly beautiful.

I am also prone to losing myself in my writing. I did a writing retreat at the beginning of the month, and I was enamored by how much I could sit and write with intentional, focused time. I’m not sure exactly how many chapters I cranked out, but it was a lot. I am super excited for this Hallmark-esque romance to get published soon!

I have also been known to get lost in things that our entertaining. Last weekend, I binged episodes of Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief. I couldn’t believe that I literally sat there and watched five episodes. That’s not something I do! Just today, I got caught up playing Minecraft. I’ve been getting lost in video games since like 1988. When it’s Countdown to Christmas season, I get lost in Hallmark movies. There’s just something calming about knowing there is going to be a happening.

Now it’s time to get lost in writing my next chapter!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby