In keeping with the motto of "Encouraging, informing, and connecting the homeschool community," the HSBA has a fun new meme starting today ~
Homeschool Memoirs. Many of us blog as a way to record our memories already. With the weekly themes, you'll continue to have an ongoing record of your homeschooling adventures, plus you'll have the opportunity to learn from and share with other homeschoolers. Each Wednesday the theme is posted and you have the next week to get a post up. Then go back to the HSBA, sign the linky, and see what others had to say about that week's theme. This should be a lot of fun! If you want to find out more, click either icon and check it out.
The first theme? Tell a bit about yourself. Who's the mom behind the blog? What's your homeschooling story?
I looked into homeschooling when ClayGuy was getting ready to start kindergarten. Things never quite came together, though. A friend made a comment (I can't even remember the specifics now) that ended up leading to public school. We lived just a couple of blocks from the local elementary school. It was a small, very community-oriented school. Having a high number of homeless students, the staff was very attentive to the needs of the kids and worked hard to ensure that they were all on a level playing field, at least while in school. It was a nice school and seemed a good place to be.
Both boys attended this school from kindergarten through 5th grade. We never had any intention of sending either one to the public middle school. Our assumption was that when 6th grade began, they'd be heading to a Christian school. As we started doing the math, we quickly realized that our budget and the school’s tuition were never going to become friends, not even acquaintances. That started us down a somewhat convoluted path (bunny trail) towards homeschool.
So we brought ClayGuy home for 6th grade and left the Comedian to finish out 5th grade at the public school. I was grateful because it gave me just ONE kid to work with while trying to get my feet wet that first year. The next year, the Comedian stayed home with us, causing me to get wet all the way to my hips.
We're just about to start our fourth year; ClayGuy's heading into 9th grade and the Comedian will be in 8th (well, if you utilize the public school system grade levels). Last year wasn't a great year. We floundered much of the time and it seemed that I never could get my footing. My running joke was that we attended Slacker Middle School. I'm happy to say that we left that place behind. With God's help (I can't do
any of this in my own strength), we won't be going there any more. Nor will we visit Slacker High.
I suppose that really wasn't much about me, now was it? Okay, briefly then (she says with a maniacal laugh):
- I'm a crazy and scattered woman, bouncing from one thing to the next and back to something else in practically the same moment. I tend towards an all-or-nothing mentality, which makes balance a very elusive goal. There is no middle ground. Or if there is, it's forever lost to me.
- I love Jesus and have been walking with Him since March of 1990. I got off to a slow start, but He's a patient God, for which I am ever grateful.
- I have a wonky sense of humor. I love to laugh. Until it hurts. And then laugh some more. Until I can't breathe.
- I enjoy creativity, but don't fit it into my life as often as I'd like. I love photography and would like to learn so much more. I've been scrapbooking for about 12 years. I'm an avid reader and usually read multiple books at once.
- I love games and puzzles and words. Am a Scrabble junkie. Mostly with my mom. Also Boggle with her and/or my sister. Lately we've been playing some Yahtzee.
- I fly by the seat of my pants, yet love the idea of a tidy and structured life. But feel confined and restrained at the thought. I'm very contrary to myself. I make myself nuts with all sorts of strange little self-talk. Back and forth I go. One little me on each shoulder (not devil and angel - more like OCD me and whimsical, carefree me).
- I am consistently inconsistent. That's the only place I have a solid habit built into my life. Well, that and drinking Dr Pepper.
- I drive a white mini van. It's practical. One day that will change, but it works for now.
That's enough for now. If you're even still with me. I can get
a little quite wordy at times.
So I'm wrapping up plans for a new, unslacking sort of year. Because my boys grow and change almost daily, homeschooling (and parenting) is a constantly moving project. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I’m blessed and honored to have this opportunity.
Somehow I could never get back to grading and assigning last night. Some things just don't seem so important in light of such tragedy. So we'll be a little behind schedule this morning. It's hard to wrap my brain around all this. Sweet little Christian is safe and happy in the arms of Jesus. His family knows this. They know they'll see him again. Yet I can't fathom how incredibly devastating to have this loss in their lives. My heart just breaks for them. Praying for peace, for comfort, for everything they need right now.
