Hello! This is my first attempt at a blog, so forgive me if I seem like I don’t know what I’m doing, because, well, I don’t. But I attended a homeschool conference this weekend and am truly inspired to try this.
We are just about to start our second year of homeschooling. My son, whom I will refer to as ObiOne as a nod to his Star Wars obsession, is 11. Loves to read, dream and build with Legos. He’s an only child, and sometimes that makes me feel like a bit of a homeschooling outsider, since most of the people I know who homeschool have at least 2 kids. There’s not really any organized groups around here that meet on a regular basis (very rural environment), so the “socialization” issue sometimes becomes just that, an issue. Have thought of starting my own group, but just don’t have the time right now to give it the attention it deserves (I also work full-time outside the home – more about that later).
Like I said, I sometimes feel like an outsider in the homeschool world. Seems like everyone I meet or read about who homeschools is so organized, creative and together. I hear stories about field trips, scrapbooks, plays, fantastic projects and other really great stuff. I’m equally inspired and discouraged, because organization is so not my strong point, at least at home. Darling Husband, who is the polar opposite of me in so many ways, doesn’t understand how I function. “On the fly, dear, on the fly,” is my reply.
Which leads me to Desperation Education. While I had thought about homeschooling since ObiOne was an infant, the realities of our daily life just didn’t make the idea feasible or attractive when he was ready to start formal schooling. And, he did well in public school. Until The Incident. In fourth grade. I’ll skip right to the end and fill in the blanks later, but suffice it to say I left the school building that morning determined that ObiOne would never darken it’s doors again.
But what to do??!!
I was desperate!!
Ta Da……Homeschool!
Didn’t matter that I have the organizational finesse of Wookie, that I work a full-time 3-11 job, that I’m trying to start my own home-based business, and that Darling Husband essentially said “You’re on your own.” (not as bad as it sounds, I’ll explain later) I can do this! It’ll be great. Visions of ObiOne suddenly discovering his latent astonishing spelling prowess under my tutelage filled my mind. I could see him standing on the stage at the National Spelling Bee, award in hand, the podium littered with the groaning bodies of those he had left in his wake, saying “Thanks, Mom, for pulling me out of public school, and helping me achieve my full potential.” We’d make the rounds of the morning talk shows, another homeschool sucess story!
Warp speed to reality. ObiOne still, shall we say, has not tapped into his apparently very well hidden and probably nonexistent spelling prowess. I also have not made any appreciable difference in his handwriting (sore point with me), science fell by the wayside, and social studies got so far off track that we’ll need a tractor beam to pull it back in. Art and music? Forgetaboutit. Thank heavens for the History Channel….wait, no, did I just say that!!!??? aaaarrrrgggghhhh….Delete….Delete…You are inferior(doing my best Dalek imitation).
Sigh….
Thus begins Desperation Education. Thanks for listening. Tune in next time.
