Where did the summer go?

I cannot believe that school starts tomorrow. I am not a happy camper. I think I’m more upset than the kids.

We’re attending a new one day a week home school school this year called Classical Conversations. Several friends in Georgia attend one and we’ve heard nothing but rave reviews. When we found out one was starting here we jumped at the chance to attend. The kids aren’t wild about the change – who likes change? – but they’re trying to make the best of it.

My biggest concern is the Latin. I do not know Latin. If I am to help them, as a good homeschooling mom should, I’m going to have to study right along with them. I would like to think I’d be excited about this opportunity to expand my horizons, but seeing as I am lazy beyond belief I am not looking forward to this.

Quite honestly, nothing has shown my lazy side more than homeschooling. Here’s what I’ve learned from homeschooling my precious kiddos: I am lazy and selfish. I really don’t want to work too hard and I want what I want when I want it and kids generally get in the way of me getting what I want when I want it.

Recently I heard a friend tell someone that she wouldn’t be homeschooling if she didn’t feel called to teach them this way. She was hoping to disabuse the person of the notion that all homeschool families sit around the kitchen table taking turns reading aloud (after eating a nutritious, hot breakfast), all while the scent of freshly baked bread wafts from the oven and dinner simmers in the crock pot...

Oh, pardon me! I just cracked myself up!

Honey, we’re doing good to shove some cereal in our faces before racing to the car to head wherever it is this supposed “home” school family is going that day. Fresh baked bread comes from bakeries. And the local pizza place is on my cell phone speed dial.

I should probably put a sweet spin on this, something like, “Yes, homeschooling is difficult but I love it! My children are enthralled with the prospect of spending every waking moment with me, and I with them. How wonderful! How precious!’’

Actually, I do think it’s wonderful. And I wouldn’t want to miss a precious moment. But it is hard and it’s not always fun. Even so, it is always worth it. Even if the bread’s store-bought and dinner’s cold cereal. Again.

And to Julie, my dear friend in Georgia who teaches Latin, please know I'm adding your number to my speed dial. Right next to Domino's.