Homeshool Heaven

Tomorrow I get to go to the local homeschool expo, and I’m as giddy as a….well, as a schoolgirl! This time of year always thrills me. I get to look down the long aisles of people wanting to sell me things. Things I need, things I don’t, and things I thought I didn’t but now that I see them I know I must have them and how on earth did I ever get along without them??????

Breathe in , and out….

I love homeschooling. Yes, it’s harder than anything else I have ever done in my life, yes, it can be like pulling teeth at times when my nine year old wants to do ANYTHING other than her school work. No, it isn’t easy trying to balance a 4th grader, kindergartner, a preschooler and a baby toddling around. Yes, sometimes we eat McDonald’s just to get out of the house, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

I remember the moment Ponygirl learned how to read. We were going through a phonics book, because she wanted to learn. Mind you, she wasn’t even four yet…but SHE wanted to learn.

So she put together the sounds “r” “a” “n”.

I saw it click

“RAN!!!!!” she screamed at the top of her lungs while running around in circles as fast as her little legs would carry her.

I wouldn’t trade that for the world.

Yes, we have to sacrifice and go without, many times. Yes, I would like to have new couches (ones without springs coming out the back), or vacations, or going out to eat more. But this is what I am called to do. This is what I was meant for.

So I stay at home to raise and educate my children in a world that can be hostile, even violent. I want to make not only productive citizens, but movers and shakers, those willing to sacrifice for the good of other people.

As I type, I am hearing the Battle Hymn of the Republic playing in the background…

Back to reality.

It’s hard. Very hard. But I love it. I get to see the “firsts” and I get to see the light bulbs go off. I get to see the gleam in Superhero’s eyes when he understands that when a knight has three apples and a dragon rips off his head then eats one apple, there are two apples left.

So tomorrow I get to look at eye candy, all the gleaming new books, smell the unused paper, listen to people tell me how to organize my home (hah! More on that later), and have lunch with my friends drooling over the cool curriculum they just got.

Ahhh….I love expo time.