I think many of you know we’ve about had it with the school system here.  Not that our two have had any major problems, (aside from the school harassing us and our doctor the whole time Emily was hospitalized a few years ago) but what we’ve seen and heard doesn’t sit well.  Budget cuts have forced then to abandon many programs, No Child Left Behind means that at all levels they are teaching solely to the end of the year tests (and those are no great fount of knowledge, I assure you) , and in the upper schools the administration has a tendency to treat the kids and parents rather badly. 

W’e’ve thought long and hard about the options, researched every angle thoroughly and at the end of the day we are confident we are making the right choice.  Next year, we are homeschooling.  We’ll take it one year at a time and see how things go.  On the plus side for me?  I’ll actually get to make use of that darned degree I got that cost me an arm and a leg.  The plus side for my kids?  I know how they each learn and can make sure they are taught accordingly. I don’t think they realize yet that I will expect more of them than their public school teachers have, but they are excited nonetheless.  No more bus bullies to worry about.  They’ll still have Girl Scouts and Book Club so they will have plenty of play time with other kids, and I am feeling better having made the decision (it doesn’t hurt that I know at least 3 other homeschooing families within 3 miles – 2 in our very neighborhood). 

Yes!  I mentioned Book Club!  I have joined two of them.  One is with a group of other women meeting once a month and one is with that same group but also with our daughters.  It has been not only a fabulous way of branching out into the community and getting to know new people, but also – the books!  I would never have thought of a lot of the books that have been chosen (I tend to get into reading ruts where I devour only one genre for a few years) but I am totally digging the selections.  If you love fiction, you MUST read The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield.  Hands down the best book I have read in a long, long time. And for those young adults in your life?  The Wanderer by Sharon Creech is excellent.  In fact, if Milkshakes gives birth to a girl she will be named Sophie in honor of the protagonist.

As for little (huge) Miss Milkshakes, she is getting closer and closer and fatter and fatter.  Susie’s coming this week to help out with vaccines and whatnot.  Hooray!