January 12, 2006

  • Ch-ch-ch-ch-CHANGES . . .


    (Turn and face the strain)

    Ch-ch-Changes
    Don't tell them to grow up and out of it
    Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes . . . . . .  .

    One of the changes in my life that I haven't made public on Xanga:  I am no longer educating my kids at home.  That's right.  No more homeschooling.  No more unschooling.  They are both in an incredible and wonderful public school, which they both love.  Stormy started in October and Lovebug started last week. Today makes it exactly one week for Lovebug. 


    I have good and bad moments about the whole change.  Interesting feelings to work through.


    On Tuesday, Stormy received her very 1st report card.  She received straight A's in her academics and straight E's in her arts (E=Excellent).  The report was actually five pages long.  While looking the report over, I kept looking for more.  I re-read every thing twice, three times, four times.  Where is the information about what she does every day?  What exactly was she exposed to to learn?  There was no intimacy in the report.  Just the facts, thankyouverymuch!  It doesn't help that her teacher doesn't send home graded work either.  Apparently, she throws all the papers in a box once graded.    I feel so cut off.  Seperate. 


    These feelings are mine.  For Stormy, there is no turning back.  She loves being at school.  She loves the new friends.  She loves the acedemics.  She loves the immediate feedback.  She loves getting a grade. 


    We'll see how she feels next year in middle school! 


    All I know for sure:  The door will always be open here at home. 


    Lovebug is really enjoying school too.  She loves all the activity.  She gets to paint almost everyday.  An art teacher visits almost everyday.  Today the music teacher comes and she's looking forward to that.  She's there for a short time everyday, so it's not too bad for her or me.  I don't feel so cut off from her.  I do get a sense of what she does everyday.  It's more like being with a glorified sitter.  She "plays" most of the time.  Stories, art, blocks, eating.  How could she not like it?


    That's today's installment of Changes.  Many, many more to come.

Comments (5)

  • Oh goodness......how is life without kids in the house for 8 hours? I've been SO tempted to put my two older ones in school this week. I'd miss them too much!
    I know what you mean about feeling cut off too. Jeannette has been in PS since the beginning and I've rarely felt involved. Odd isn't it?

    Heather

  • It must be a real conflict. On the one hand, the socialization is good, but who knows how their peers will influence them. You just don't have as much control. But then control is an illusion, anyway. Well, you'll have some time finally to yourself. That's not bad. :goodjob: I'm glad they like it.

  • Hi! Hey, you've been blogging. I'm finally reading.

    I took your advice and went to get some real coffee. Should I delete that post? That bad? Or should I leave it up... as a WARNING?!? (evil laugh)

  • wow - I'm curious how you came to this decision... only because I myself came to that conclusion last year!  But I ended up pulling my son out of the private school we had chosen after only 2-1/2 months.  I really felt cut-off as well - that's a hard transition from homeschooling to not knowing what they are doing every day.  I remember having the parent-teacher meeting and the teacher telling me how he was doing with writing and math, blah blah blah.  And I said, "yeah, but WHAT goes on here every day?"  It was odd.  Anyway, that's not WHY I took him out - just interesting that you mentioned that as well :)  

    Glad your girls are enjoying it, though!  If my son hadn't cried his eyes out every morning and begged me not to leave him there... well, I might have lasted longer :)    who knows. 

  • I'm glad your kids are enjoying the experience!

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