Midterms.........

The kids have been in public school for a little over a month, and I can't believe it is already midterms.  The time has gone fast and I feel good about how we are coming along.

I am grateful for the perspective I have gained from having homeschooled and now also public schooled the kids. It has been hard for me to figure out where I fit in with my homeschooling friends, now that I don't.  A few have made comments that I am no longer tired, stressed, exhausted, and so on as I once was as a homeschooling momma.  But, guess what???  I still am tired.  And stressed. And I do go to bed exhausted just like I did before. I may not be stressed about the same things as before, but trust me, this is hard too.

Rewind to last fall or so.  I was sitting outside at 3:15 while my kids rode their bikes and scooters.  Just taking a break.  School was done for the day and I had about an hour to chill before I needed to get dinner figured out.  I waved as minivan after minivan drove back and forth past my house as the public school mommas were picking their kids up from school and coming back home again.  I realized how my day is flip-flopped from theirs.  My day was super busy and hectic while we did school until just after lunch time.  But, it calmed down a bit as theirs was picking up.  They had to go get their kids, help with homework, get them to after school activities, AND get dinner done.  I did not envy their crazy afternoons and evenings.  We both were working hard to raise our kids and take care of our families.

My routine has changed a bit now.  Now, I have to get up no matter what, and get my kids off to school.  There is no more "Well, we're running late today.....".  We can't be 15 minutes late starting school anymore.  I have joined the line of cars taking and picking up my kids. Which I was always so happy I did NOT have to do as a homeschooler.  But, I am in two different carpools; one for junior high and one for elementary school so that has helped on the number of times I am in the car each day.  Audrey and Noah think it is spiffy to go to the school when it's our turn to drive.

 My housework must be done by the time the kids come home so I can give them 100% of my attention.  I have been getting dinner done and ready to put in the oven in the morning and that is helpful. Our weekends have been taken up by Sasha's assignments a time or two, which is different for us. (She has realized that junior high is harder than she thought it would be. Turning in assignments late is not a good idea.  Waiting until the last minute to finish reading a book for a book report is also not a good idea.  She has been working hard and continues to do better and better at juggling all her assignments. Waking up is NOT her favorite thing.  No surprise there!).  She has her first band concert this month and we are all so excited.  We LOVE having a flute player in the house!  It is so pretty and soothing.  She has a natural gift for that as well as piano.

Addie isn't crying anymore because she misses me.  That was breaking my heart.  Now she cries because she hates having a test each Friday.  That girl!!  But, her name gets drawn regularly from the Treasure Box on Fridays so that seems to help with the whole test issue.  She compares herself to her peers and that is hard if she doesn't get as many right as someone else did. I have been helping in her class every other Monday and I love it.  She LOVES school lunch and is the only one that eats it everyday. I love picking her up on Fridays because her class comes outside to play some kind of game until the bell rings.  Watching her run and scream and play with her friends makes me so happy and fills me with a joy I can't explain. She jumps in the car, so happy to see me, chatting up a storm about this and that.  She gets her homework done in record time each day; I never have to remind her to get it done.

Seth has struggled with his emotions, which is nothing new for him.  He is no longer at home where things he does and says are a little more tolerated by his family.  Being around his peers and his teacher is giving him the much needed environment to help him control himself when he gets frustrated.  We have had some very hard days, and we both have cried more than once.  Him at school, and me here at home.  But, his teacher is wonderful and the principal is too.  Between the three of us, I am certain Seth will continue to do better and better. I am also helping in his class every other Monday to help with reading groups and I think it has been helpful to be there.  I like knowing his classmates and his teacher better.  (Oh, and 4th grade boys can make a variety of weird noises, just so you know).

It has been a hard adjustment for us and I knew it would be.  I knew the first few weeks would start off ok, and then the challenges would set in.  And they have.  I am grateful for prayer.  I have gotten on my knees more regularly and with more sincerity than I have in the past few years when we were homeschooling.  We are looking forward to Fall Recess next week.  We will be in our jammies, watching cartoons and eating junk if you need to reach us. ;)

Carry on............