Annual Homeschool Renewal

Practically the second your baby is born you are required to make major, life-altering decisions for your child starting with their name and continuing with almost every aspect of their lives -- where they'll live, what religion they'll participate in, etc... At age five you have to think about school. Private? Public? Charter? Homeschool? All these options have pros and cons and you have to make a decision based upon your values, the needs of your child, and the future you hope to bring about by making the decision you do. It's exhausting!

Each summer as I start receiving the "back to school" ads in the paper I begin questioning the decision to homeschool. I wonder if it's truly working? Do the kids like it? Am I doing this out of a need to control every aspect of my kids' lives or is it for more altruistic reasons? These questions play over and over as the new school year approaches and I have to fill out my affidavit for the state declaring my intentions.

July 24 those questions, and more, were shouting loudly in my head and I needed some answers before I could proceed. That night we went to my in-laws for our annual July 24th celebration and I struck up a conversation with one of my sisters-in-law about, what else, school. Her son is five and I asked her if she had decided which school option (they were considering private or charter) she had chosen? She gave me a funny look and proceeded to tell me she had decided to HOMESCHOOL! My jaw dropped. This was a girl who, while listening politely as I would talk about homeschool, said she would "never do it" and that "it wasn't for her." I was stunned but I tried to maintain a look of calm on my face so I wouldn't frighten her away. When I asked why, again very nonchalantly, she said she had attended her son's kindergarten orientation and, after listening to the presentation, knew she could not send her son to school. She then listed off all the reasons I usually give for why I homeschool reminding me why I made my decision in the first place and, once again, confirming my reasons.

Obviously nobody knows what the future holds, but I am, once more, certain of my path which, at least until next summer, is homeschooling. Thank you universe.

Just Potter the Crowd

Let's see I homeschool, have my babies in my bedroom, don't scrapbook, and generally go contrary to what the popular culture seems to be doing. However, the boy wizard is calling once more and I will enthusiastically answer. Yes, I will be at Barnes and Noble this evening, with Avery and Addison, reveling in the pre-release activities. Then, tomorrow, I will stand expectantly at my mailbox (to the embarrassment of my husband) waiting for my pre-ordered copy -- which I ordered in February -- of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows after which I, and the other 3 million people who also ordered theirs, will spend the day finding out if Harry lives or dies.
If you have only judged the Harry Potter stories by the movies, I can see why you would stay away. The movies are terrible. J.K. Rowling, while incorporating facets from many great science fiction and fantasy writers really has created a rich and fun world filled with all sorts of interesting creatures. In a time where the bad guys aren't always as easy to spot as say a dark lord and his "death eaters" it's nice to enter a world where good is good, bad is bad and a wand-wielding boy and his friends are out to fight the fight to the bitter end. Go Harry! I'm with you all the way!

Halfway to 70

June 29 was my 35th birthday! In some ways I feel older and in other ways I feel much younger. For me, at least right now, age is relative and I'm glad to be where I am and doing what I'm doing. I keep a journal specifically dedicated to my birthdays -- meaning I only write in it once a year. It's fun to turn the page and see what was happening in my life exactly one year ago or five years ago. I'm able to get a quick read on my life. For example, birthday 32 took place in Queens, New York. Sydney was just 10 months old and I thought she was my last baby! It was incredible to turn two more pages and find two more babies!!

This year I spent my birthday in Eden, Utah (never been there before) watching Avery play soccer. It was hot! Addison and Sydney and Jack ran around making new friends, getting sticky and being indulged by everyone around us. Paige was Paige and she spent the day doing what she does -- whatever that is. When a few people discovered it was my birthday they asked me what I was going to do to celebrate? I responded by telling them that I was sure a cake would show up at some point, and that my family would make it a party. Maybe I've turned some sort of corner, but at the ripe ole' age of 35 I was quite content to be sitting at the field spending time with people I love. I realize that when I'm older I'm going to have plenty of birthdays where I can spend the day at the spa or take a trip or whatever, but, how many birthdays will I have where I can just watch my little kids be little? I know when I am 70 I will read back through my birthday journal and cherish the birthdays I am having now. Why rush things?! I'll be 70 soon enough. Heck, I'm halfway there!