Another year is about over, and I see that I haven’t been here in quite some time.  Part of the problem that I’ve had in posting here is not knowing how personal this should be; part of the problem is not knowing exactly what to talk about.  The two problems are similar, but not quite the same.   I’m still not exactly sure, but I’m back for another try.

This last school semester has been good for my homeschooling ego.  My son started UL this semester, and ended up with a 4.0 GPA.  I was very happy, both for him and for myself.  Another child that I hadn’t ruined by homeschooling.  He’s making friends and making good grades–two things not necessarily linked for college students.

I am trying to reconcile the lessons that I’ve learned over the past (almost) 20 years of homeschooling with the image that I’d like to project.  I’d like to be seen as the uber-organized, tightly scheduled homeschooling mother who is never bothered by interruptions.  The mom who always gets everything done in the house and with schooling and never lets outside events compromise what needs to get done.  Instead, we are often interrupted.  There are some days when I look around and wonder what we did that wasted so many hours.

But both of my college student children have 4.0 GPAs (for the time being), and so what we actually do–as opposed to what I wish happened–seems more than suficient.  We cover the material that the schools cover (and sometimes more) and add in extra-curricular activities (this year dance, acting and voice classes, a full scale musical theatre production and a ballet, along with Girl Scouts).  We’re getting it done, even if it seems always to be a little breathless.

The question I have is whether or not any of the breathlessness is necessary.  Can “one” homeschool and be relaxed?  Is it a part of homeschooling (at least for me) to have some part of my brain standing apart and worrying whether  we’re doing it right?   Will I ever be convinced in the moment that the education that my children are getting is enough?

Or is homeschooling just like the rest of life, where you never see the answers to the test until after the test is done? 

Posted: December 29th, 2008 under Uncategorized.
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