The Reinforcements

Well, we are started and on our way into this journey of homeschooling. Some days there have been tears, but most days are filled with smiles and accomplishments and teaching moments and lots of lightbulbs as things "click". Its really cool to be a part of that and be able to short-circuit that negative self-talk. What a blessing it is to provide encouraging perservering words for a "can do" spirit instead of seeing them hide their frusteration in a classroom and never know how to stop beating yourself up. It is wonderful and busy and challenging and worthwhile and a ton of other things. We are on Day 14 tomorrow of our 180-day curriculum so things are moving along. It feels really good to relatively know what our new normal is and feel like adding some other extra-curricular things on. Maddie starts her riding lessons on Wednesday. If Megan likes what she sees, she'll start a few weeks later. We'll be hitting the Children's Museum on Friday to try that out - we've been before, but that was about 5 years ago.

We still miss seeing friends, but that is one-step closer to being rectified. I attended a homeschool group planning meeting tonight with around 40 other homeschooling families. To describe the group, think the MYC group that I used to lead on some major steroids - it is great!!! Run by the members, very welcoming and inclusive, limited requirements of your time, but plenty of opportunities. There was lots of laughter and sharing of plans and invitations and encouragement tonight. I am very relieved that we have an opportunity to meet some friends through activities that are planned. What a relief that something works out to fill that void! We'll be doing several things that others have already planned and now have ideas on what we can plan for ourselves and invite others to. How exciting - it is all new to us, so the world is our oyster as they say. Tomorrow its get the things we want to do on our calendar and then figure out what we want to add. What fun!!!!