I know my homeschool mom friends have some questions about this public school journey, so here's some random observations.
No, my patience is not multiplied because I see the boys less during the day. Our evenings can be intense with about an hour of homework each day and reading. They get home at four, we do homework, dinner, and hangout before baths and bed. It's fast and furious for those 4 hours, in some ways I feel I'm fitting in what we used to do all day into that time frame. Crazy I know. I also feel they could go to school for a shorter period and learn the same amount if they tried, but who am I to say?
I am trying to get my chores done and dinner prepped for the most part so I have that intentional connection I'm missing with them while they're home. This usually means cleaning up dinner and packing lunches after they go to bed. That's why I don't blog at night, I'M EXHAUSTED!
Am I getting so much done now? Yes, and no. I am able to get a lot done, but I feel like I'm catching up on 5 years of neglected things.
Yes the boys have picked up on subtle "crude" talk, but I'm convinced this would of happened anyway, at the park, at church, where ever. I don't desire to shelter my children, I want to teach them as we walk this life together. A very wise friend of mine, who's boys are in high school and college, comforted me with this nugget of wisdom: "The heart is the same. Whether you homeschool, christian school, or go public. You might delay the losing of innocence and revealing their sinful hearts, but only delay, not avoid. Because the heart is the same." Thank you for that.
God confirmed that when he allowed my boys to hear about sex the first time before they even started school. I saw this as God's grace to me. Why? Because now I won't have to feel guilty for sending them to public school vs. homeschool when they hear crazy things (for kids) because it started before they even entered Kindergarten! So, I know it's crazy but I was thankful we walked through that initial chat before school started. I know there will be many more conversations, I'm thankful to have a husband that takes pride in raising his boys actively, not on the sidelines.
One of my proud mom moments that I want to remember is last week. Zek had a crazy observation at the breakfast table the other day, "My friend said he didn't know God but how can that be true if he just said it?" This kid is an old soul in a 5 year old body. To reason out how someone can talk or comprehend a God they don't believe in, and still not believe, was unfathomable to him. Smart kid. Good question.
If you have any more questions feel free to ask!
