Diary of a Crazed Homeschool Mom

This year Nathan went to the International Community School in Winter Park, like he has every year since kindergarten.  At this university model school, he attends classes two days a week, and his teachers send home lesson plans for his "at-home" days.  So it's kind of like homeschooling, but with lots of outside structure and accountability.  Oh how I love this school!

For Julia, Wenxin and Katherine, however, this was the year I kissed all that outside structure and accountability good-bye and did something I've always dreamed of doing.  I homeschooled.

I chose the curriculum, I set the schedule, and I worried all the time, wondering if we were doing enough.

It's been a little hard for me to "unschool" myself.  ICS is more of a "school at home" model, whereas running my own homeschool program gives me the freedom to choose whatever style of instruction works best for my kids.  I've learned a lot and am still finding the balance.  I'm looking forward to our break this summer so I can evaluate and regroup.  And maybe rest. . . just a little.  I'm tired.

Teaching the children at their own pace, means I won't necessarily finish every lesson in the curriculum I've chosen.  I wish that didn't bother me, but it does. 

The other day I was trying to push through the curriculum, and the kids weren't cooperating.  Honestly, they didn't care that much about the Louisiana Purchase. 

We were all sitting on the floor around our giant laminated world map, when I temporarily lost my mind.

"If we do not finish our school work this year, you will all be attending summer school at Andover Lakes Elementary, " I announced.  "While everyone else is swimming and doing fun things, you'll be sitting over there at the school, doing work."  And then because I was on a roll, I added, "And it will be hot!" 

Hot?  Really?  This is not the 1970s. 

Back when I was a kid, we didn't have air conditioning in school, but I'm pretty sure times have changed. 

Like I said, I was temporarily insane.

They all stared at me. 

Julia glared.  "It won't be hot," she said.  "They have air conditioning over there."

And then, because I just couldn't let it go, I said, "I still think it will be hot."

"You know it won't be hot, Mom.  You're just trying to make it sound really bad to scare us."

Busted.  

Summer vacation cannot come soon enough.