Only 6 Weeks Away...

...school for the kids that is!  Having surgery not only changed my life but our kids lives too.  Being told "hey you might not have made it through" makes you really evaluate things in your life.  Makes you look at what's really important.  The kids were on spring break when we came back from Mexico and they never went back to school.  

We cannot say enough good things about the Middleton School District.  Teachers and staff were wonderful.  All the bells and whistles you could ever want in a school.   However they weren't home.  Home for school.  For the most part, it didn't both us too bad.  At first.  The kids were content for the most part.  I was crazy busy with work and with going to school myself.  Jason was crazy busy with his job.  Little by little something just didn't seem to quite fit.  Like there was a piece of our lives we were missing out on.  A piece that we have always known should be there.  Enter life changing surgery.  Exit public school.

After the exodus to home, something really odd happened in our house.  A crazy phenomenon really.  The kids liked each other again.  The constant bickering stopped.  Siblings became friends once again.  Oh, and the dog lost weight since she was no longer sleeping the whole day away.  The missing piece had been put in place.

We tinkered with math and language arts for the remainder of the year and read a lot of books.  After being in school for the last almost two years, they needed a break.  I needed time to wrap my brain around what we had just done, even though I knew it was the missing piece.  Brain wrapped...let's do this!

I'm jacked for the new school year.  Really!  I've been slowly buying books and am getting closer to the end of the list.  We are using some old favs and we are gonna try out some new things.  I love the smell of books and I really love getting mail now days.  I can't wait to buy school supplies.  It's an addiction.  Really.  All those cheap crayons and notebooks make me giddy.  Who doesn't love the smell of scotch tape, glue sticks and new pencils??  Maybe it's just me.

Our journey isn't for everyone.  Our schooling choice isn't superior to others.  Our journey and methods and stances and outlook have changed a whole lot since we were last in the homeschooling sphere.  Thank God!  Truly.  As I put it on my Pintrest board, we are homeschooling without all the stereotypes.  You won't find a single jean jumper in our home.  EVER!  You won't even find us having "family worship" as part of our school day.  GASP!  NeWsFLaSh:  We may be homeschoolers but we are all original in the Waitley casa, cut from a very different cloth.  All of us are jacked about that.

(because who doesn't love the Dos XX guy!)

Back-up Plan Better?

Back-up plan implemented.  In all reality, better than the original.  With the exception of having to shop for school supplies twice!

We bought our home thinking we were in one school district.  Not that we really cared at the time but still...So we find out a couple of months ago that we are actually in a different district.  One that well, is HORRIBLE!  In our eyes anyway.  I'm sure there are lots of happy students and parents in the district, so maybe just a horrible fit for us.  I digress.  Back to where I was.  When the final decision was made to allow the kids to go back to school some place other than home, we were wait listed at the charters.  Tiny, minuscule district 15 miles away seemed like a great fit.  That was the original plan.  From the first sentence in this post you can guess, minuscule district didn't work.

Most districts around here have open enrollment.  So you apply just like to a private or charter school.  So apps sent in.  Mr. Smooth got accepted, Mini-Me and Itty Bit, denied.  Back up plan implemented.  Kids were a little bummed at first.  Original plan only schooled four days a week.  But back-up plan has something even better going for it.  I graduated from there.  

Talk about a speedy school.  Original school, we waited and waited and had to make umpteen phone calls.  So nice every time we chatted but never returned my calls.  Never followed through.  Back-up plan school apps done in less than two hours, phone calls made and teachers assigned.  They are on the ball.  I knew they were fantastic, not just because I graduated from there.

I teach this everyday in my job - identifying options, creating back-up plans.  Making sure that your expectations can be met by utilizing all available resources.  Honestly, it feels like my expectations have been exceeded.  Not only are they in a quality district that is close but they are in a place that feels a bit like home to me.  A place that offers them a lot more than they could have hoped for.  One that is better than the original.  

School Supplies in the Fall

Well, not technically fall but it has been cooler at night.  But school supplies.....our house abounds with their lovely smells.  And school clothes.  And backpacks.  And the thought that the 20th is right around the corner.

Mr. Smooth hugged me this morning and thanked me numerous times.  "Mom, thanks for letting us go to school."  Really?  Letting?  Like they haven't been to school in the past 3 months.  Short recap.  Out of school April 1st when we moved into the new house and homeschooled the rest of the school year.  Summer out in the country, no subdivision friends, away from school friends they had made in old school.  Bored.  Bored to death (not exactly dead but they get excited about a trip to Walgreens 1.5 miles away).  Letting us go to school?  Priceless.

They are still jacked about going to school again.  Miss Mini-me, so excited to have "besties" to hang with.  Mr. Smooth, can't wait to be teacher's fav (always is).  Miss Itty Bit, already planning her birthday party with all the new friends she will have.  Makes me feel peaceful to hear the excitement in their voices.

Kids looking forward to school, I'm looking forward to them being there.  Consistency in schedule definitely helps them excel academics.  No more when are we going to have friends.  Choir concerts.  PTA.  Shallow reasons?  Of course.  No granola bar wrappers on the coffee table when I come home.  Lower electric bill as 12 different electronics won't be running all day long.  Less garbage bags to buy because kids aren't home during the day to fill them up.  I know shallow.

When everyone is happy and at peace, priceless.

It's Almost Time

August 20th.  That's day number 1 at school for our three younger kiddos.  They're excited.  They're nervous.  The excitement wins out.  They are ready to buy school supplies.  Don't you just love the smell of school supplies in the fall?  (not fall, not my thought, from my fav. movie You've Got Mail.  You should watch it.)

Am I nervous?  Not this time.  I know they will be in good hands.  I know they will be getting what they need academically that doesn't come so easy at home.  Will they hear/see crud at school we don't want them to be immersed in?  Probably.  But, t.v. would have to go, music other than hymns (I have a strong dislove of hymns.  Just sayin'), classic literature, and on and on.  We don't lack parental involvement in our home.  Can we have honest, open discussions about things that they may question?  Absolutely.  That's our job.  

Love the idea of homeschooling.  Suck at it.  Not exaggerating, just a fact.  I'm ok with it.  I've made my peace with it.  Time to move on.  Actually looking forward to this change.  We've been here before but never with all the cards on the table.  We've never looked at it as the only option and a positive thing.  Gonna be a great year and experience for everyone.  That reminds me, time to start checking out the back to school sales.  Don't you just love the smell of school supplies in the fall??

Changing Labels

I didn't post yesterday so now I must post two times today to keep up with my personal goal of posting every day.  That sounded redundant.  Oh well.

There will be some page changes on our blog.  Label changes too.  Education is taking on a whole new look at our house.  OK, not totally new as it has been there before.  But new since I started this blog.  Feeling relieved. 

We aren't homeschoolers anymore.  Permanent change.  No going back.  Feels like a burden has been lifted.  The kids are unhappy and being very vocal.  My inner pride, I must do this to be a "good" parent, feeling guilty if I don't, feel validated if I do, feelings have been tossed.  Our kids' well being is at stake.

They've been telling everyone for a week now.  We hadn't made a decision yet.  That tells us something.  Maybe they know what they need and I (yes, me.  Jason (dad) always knew they were better off staying in school but the whole move thing at the end of the school year made us both question.  Ahhhh, I digress)yes, I, need to back off.  Actually, I need to stop questioning my life and my worth and feeling like my worth is tied up in homeschooling.  I think I got that one finally taken care of.  I've told Jason to verbally smack me back to reality if I ever go there again.  He gladly agreed.

 Changing labels.  I'm sure we will have feedback.  Some positive, some negative.  For what it's worth, don't care about the negative.  It's about the kids and what they need.  It's about what we need as a family.  So here it is.  Notus School District will be gaining three new students.  Dislike our district, on the wait list at the charter, so we will drive the 15 minutes to an itty bitty district that is ranked very high in our state.  So worth it.  So relieved.

Kids Are Revolting

The kids have been homeschooled again since April 1st.  Enrolled in public school the majority of the 2012-2013 school year.  Had it's problems, had it's positives.  Hanging out at home lots.  Has it's problems, has it's positives.  I flex my schedule when I can but a revolt has begun.  

Begging.  Pleading.  Nagging.  They want out.  Or should I say they want in.  August is their deadline for change.  They know the local schools start then.  They want in.  

We have always given our kids choice.  Sometimes we have made the choice for them.  Hasn't always been the right one.  Hasn't always been based on their opinion or their need.  We are giving our kids choice.  Not based on our opinion or theirs.  Based on what's best for them.

We've discussed it.  We've prayed.  We've talked.  Where do we go from here?  It looks like, we go in.  

Anxiety

 
I think I had an anxiety attack today.  I work in the mental health field so I see this on a daily basis.  Mind racing.  Impulsive decisions.  Hands shaking.  Talking out loud to myself.  Yep, I was a basket case and needed my own mental health services!

Thinking about our kids' education does this to me from time to time.  We have homeschooled for almost 12 years on and off.  Public school and private school thrown in here and there.  Our three younger kids were in public school in the 2012-2013 year for almost the whole year.  Enter anxiety attack (I think I have had these for my whole life but never really knew what it was).  Are we doing the right thing?  Is this bad for them?  I know they miss me, they want to spend more time with me right???  Throw in the fact that I was just depressed (cross country move, changes, trying to find our perspective, etc.) and the anxiety, well, let's just say it got a bit out of hand.  So I did what I do best at times and manipulated the situation a bit (I know, you're thinking I am the one who needs mental health services but don't we all at times?!?!?) and soon everyone was miserable.  Enter buying a new house.  New house, new district, only 6 weeks left of the school year, homeschool last six weeks of the year so they don't have to start a new school, awwwwww anxiety gone.

This morning.  Actually past two weeks.  It just reared it's ugly head this morning in a very visible way.  Are we doing the right thing?  Is this bad for them?  They are so bored and we are only a couple of months into this.  What happens when they have to do this day after day after day for months on end????  Are they going to end up being miserable????  They don't see me any more than before, when they were in school, they just get to be at home more (not so sure this is a great thing for kiddos who are very social).  Is this really a great thing for them or does it just satisfy some deep thing in me??

I put my coping skills into place, got ready for work, kissed my kiddos and headed out the door.  God and I had some pretty serious conversations today.  More questions.  Were they really happy in school and I screwed it up with my own insecurities?  Was it really that horrible of a place?  Did we do everything we could to make it a positive experience?  Why do I do these things?  What is that deep, somewhat crazy thing in me that triggers this???

No answers yet.  Mr. Smooth made a comment this evening when I got home from work, "I miss my friends and don't think I really like being home."  An answer?  Not sure.  Not reading anything into it.  He likes to talk.  But.....maybe I should listen more to my kids' feelings and thoughts (and not actually talk, just listen) instead of my anxieties?  Maybe I should only use my manipulation skills to make puzzle pieces fit into spaces they aren't supposed to fit in.  Definitely think it's something to consider.  

Summer is Bliss

Check out the website on the bottom of this pic.  LOTS of helpful info!

Is it sad to say that I am SO thankful it is summer and we don't homeschool year round??  Don't get me wrong, I truly love homeschooling our kiddos but summer time makes me smile.  

No giving up "me time" on Sunday evening to get lessons ready.  No worrying about whether or not the kids are actually getting their lessons done while I am at work.  No flexing my schedule to accommodate field trips with weird hours.  

Homeschooling and working outside of the home has challenges.  Wanna know what the biggest challenge is?  Homeschoolers that judge us because I work.  I get sick of hearing it's ok for moms to work if it's a money issue.  I may have started for a money issue but I LOVE my job and have no desire to quit.  Why can't I have both?  Love my career, love homeschooling and I have the best of both worlds!

Life is good for all when mama is happy.  My job makes me smile.  There are days when my kids ask me to go to work.  They need the break.  I need the break.  Make me a crappy homeschool parent?  I dare anyone to say that to me, although I know for a fact I'm judged for it by some.  Oh well, kids are happy and mama and daddy are doing a happy dance with them.