Putting it all on the table
“DADDY! THERE’S A DUCK IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.” Little did I know the effect this simple declaration by my 10 year old before she went to dance class would impact my Saturday. At the end of it I was still in my PJs, soaked from head to toe, covered in dirt, but with a couple happy families. And I had more knowledge of storm drains than anyone really needs.
THIS WILL BE THE GIRLS’ LAST MONTH IN A TRADITIONAL SCHOOL. Starting in May, Marcy and I have decided to homeschool both Bella and Kaylee. It wasn’t the easy choice, and for as many people as we know who homeschool, we always said that would never be us. Never let it be said that learning isn’t a lifelong experience, because we have gathered new facts, done our research, and changed our minds.
WE’RE ABOUT TO MAKE ANOTHER HUGE CHANGE FOR OUR FAMILY. Many who know us know that we have had a contentious relationship with the public school system, and this has been the last time I will try to make it work. We always thought that we should make public school work, because both Marcy and I went to public school and we turned out fine. We always treated private schools as a second choice for when there was a serious problem. It has become clear now that public school is not what it was 25 years ago, and it still...
I BELIEVE IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. I think it can succeed, educate our children, and be the best choice. But what we have now is just a political leftover: something they slice a little more off of whenever they need to reduce a budget number and something the affluent, which most of our politicians are, rarely remember is not a choice for most people. I was educated in a public school system, but my children will not be after this week.
WE ARE A FAMILY OF SCIENCE GEEKS. Weather, physics, computers, cooking… we just love to figure out how things work and try it for ourselves. This year is shaping up to be extra scientific between classes and trips and Bella getting more inquisitive. I even worked in a trip for just me to go see where they smash tiny things together very quickly!
I HAD NO IDEA THAT ONE YEAR LATER, I WOULD BE WHERE I AM NOW. No longer a business owner, no longer a homeowner, and happier than I have been in quite some time. The only real constant has been my job. Even the family has had an addition and several subtractions. To describe the last 9 months as crazy is an understatement. Best to start at the beginning.
