Our First Day Of 'Not Going Back To School'

Well. How relaxed am I today? I suppose this is the beginning of our third official year of home schooling. Today, I am very comfortable and relaxed and confident about my kids, our family and our continued HSing. It's really nice. I do not miss the feeling of "what about math?" and "they'll never make friends!!"

This year, we will ease into a routine that everyone can work with. Oficially, our reading has begun. Today, we read from a novel, a book of fables and from the translated tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. I think I would have had an easier time with the French, as the old English was a little tough for the kids. We had to stop every few paragraphs and re-translate, but hey, they were interested...

Part of the routine includes getting ready for the day and taking care of things (responsibility, accountability, yadda-yadda-yadda) and helping out. It's just a given, as far as I'm concerned - family life, right? We had to run errands (post office, photo shop, library) and - will wonders never cease - the kids were well behaved. After all the running around, we stopped at Hardy Park for an hour. Large muscle activity, dontcha know...recess, gym, break for mom, call it what you want. It was a great day to be outside.

As September moves on, our schedule of activities will fill up (Brownies, Beavers, Hockey, skating). We will pick a regular Library Day and finilize details around the Field Trip CLub. Once our activities are firmed up, we will add in official school-y type things. Workbooks, math, printing, writing, etc. I'm looking forward to Fridays (I think Fridays...) of Science Experiments and Swimming. Might have to add that in right away...or soon...the pool doesn't open until the 12th.

Today is wrapping up nicely...we weren't home 10 minutes and the neighbourhood kids rang the doorbell asking if Kori and Rai could come out and play. How cool is that??...despite mine and Brian's introverted tendencies, the kids are 'making friends'. It's kind of an ecclectic group...2 teenage girls, 2 11 year old boys, Kori, Rai and a 5 year old girl...but hey...they're all playing together, making allowances for the littler ones, listening to each other and getting along.

So not a bad start, all in all...plan in place and no major stumbling blocks. I'll let you know how it all pans out...