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Friday, January 04, 2008
Our family will resume school on Monday. I've put in a solid six hours today getting things ready for diving back in: hunting for good maps, websites, etc...collecting the books for the newest part of our history and literature studies...making copies of graphic organizers for writing assignments...updating Edu-track and running off assignment sheets. I've also gotten a packet of stuff ready for The Papa to take to Hawaii so he can conduct Tapestry discussions via speaker phone next weekend. I'm taking a short trip out of town Sunday and Monday, so I am working hard to have everything ready for the kids to start without me after a short meeting tomorrow night to discuss expectations and answer questions.
I still marvel at the feeling of having only three students this year. And as I located assignments for my 6th, 8th, and 10th graders, it hit me again that I don't have that many years left. It's a bittersweet thought. I'm sure that when it's "over" I will have lots of nostalgic angst and perhaps even some regrets for all that didn't get done. But I will also enjoy looking back on what, God willing, will be 29 straight years of homeschooling and close the chapter with joy and gratitude.
As my career as a homeschooling mom winds down, I'm enjoying other pursuits that I haven't had or taken time for in years. I'm reading more, I'm working some, I'm blogging (!) nearly every day, I'm teaching myself new stuff via internet tutorials, and I'm traveling more. I'm hoping to add some sewing and/or knitting this year and maybe I'll find something I've never done before. Not painting. I've promised myself most of my life that I wouldn't greet midlife by taking up oil painting. Nope, not me. It won't be me with the smock and the canvas and palette out on a hillside. I'll paint with my pen, thanks :-)
Anyway, I still enjoy the process of planning the academics and learning with the kids. When I hear people say they're tired of it after five years, I don't understand. Oh, I definitely had times at the five-year mark when I was tired and wished I could have some time off, but not because I was tired of the life or the choices we made. It's draining, yes...and that's why I thank God that I have a husband who has always, from the very beginning, done all he could do to give me breathers and vacations and help and understanding. Without those things I'd never have lasted 23 years.
And now, I'm going to get into my jammies early and slide off to Holly Springs...
I still marvel at the feeling of having only three students this year. And as I located assignments for my 6th, 8th, and 10th graders, it hit me again that I don't have that many years left. It's a bittersweet thought. I'm sure that when it's "over" I will have lots of nostalgic angst and perhaps even some regrets for all that didn't get done. But I will also enjoy looking back on what, God willing, will be 29 straight years of homeschooling and close the chapter with joy and gratitude.
As my career as a homeschooling mom winds down, I'm enjoying other pursuits that I haven't had or taken time for in years. I'm reading more, I'm working some, I'm blogging (!) nearly every day, I'm teaching myself new stuff via internet tutorials, and I'm traveling more. I'm hoping to add some sewing and/or knitting this year and maybe I'll find something I've never done before. Not painting. I've promised myself most of my life that I wouldn't greet midlife by taking up oil painting. Nope, not me. It won't be me with the smock and the canvas and palette out on a hillside. I'll paint with my pen, thanks :-)
Anyway, I still enjoy the process of planning the academics and learning with the kids. When I hear people say they're tired of it after five years, I don't understand. Oh, I definitely had times at the five-year mark when I was tired and wished I could have some time off, but not because I was tired of the life or the choices we made. It's draining, yes...and that's why I thank God that I have a husband who has always, from the very beginning, done all he could do to give me breathers and vacations and help and understanding. Without those things I'd never have lasted 23 years.
And now, I'm going to get into my jammies early and slide off to Holly Springs...
Labels: Books, Homeschooling
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