Part of Life

There are two things in particular I'm loving about our homeschool experience.

First and foremost, its teaching us all a little something about being kind and flexible.

I work fulltime as a commercial transactions lawyer. In english: I read and write contracts and advise the business on how to resolve and prevent contractual disputes. For me, this means work can sometimes feel unforgiving. When my clients need me they usually feel its urgent. It takes a lot of my emotional strength to be mindful of when something might actually affect the business if not done right away and when I'm letting some else's perceived emergency take me away from my carefully planned out day.

Adding homeschool to the mix for our family has meant earlier mornings on a consistent basis so we can get two math and two reading/english lessons in before work in the mornings (one kiddo is doing kindergarten and the other needed pre-k). It has also meant I've had to block certain time slots on my work calendar for school activities and respect them as I would any other professional meeting. And last but not least, its meant, just like any other professional meeting, sometimes moving the homeschool time slots around to a different time of day or a different day altogether to accommodate work deadlines.

This used to annoy me to no end. I always felt a failure at work if I didn't move the homeschool around or a failure at home if I "delayed" or "cancelled" homeschool to handle work. But over the last few weeks I've noticed that my kids have learned a new and valuable skill. They're flexible. They know our schedule generally looks one way, but that it's ok if it's a little different every now and then. They're still kids. They do better when I tell them the day's plan/schedule at the top of the mornings. But, generally, they rejoice when they get a cool morning to play instead of school and I get the same level of effort when, later that day during my lunch hour or right after work, or that next Saturday morning, I call them to the school table and say "this is to make up for Tuesday, remember?"

And kindness? Man, I didn't set out to teach it, but either my kids are literally angels or Nick and I are a good team and setting a good example. Why not take the self-pat on the back? On a recent day, in the middle of an adult tantrum brought on by increased stress and lack of sleep I began to feel better while noticing our son kindly and gracefully picking up the slack. He helped settle his sisters into the school table and between my half-mumbled and generally unclear instructions was extra present for his assignments and helped his sisters with theirs.

Secondly, home-schooling is making me (maybe all of us) a little more conscientious about our role as natural teachers. I enjoy seeing this!

About a month ago my brother in law was having a typical phone chat with the kids (he lives in North Carolina) when Luc started explaining how squares are special rectangles (incorrectly). Uncle Eric listened carefully and then took the time, without knowing he was, to review that morning's lessons. That's when Luc truly locked in the concept. It was such a lovely moment and reminded me I'm not doing this alone. This is what the village is really for. Not to spoil with unnecessary material gifts. But to teach, share, and support.

Also in the last month, whenever she's around at school time, Abi has started pulling our youngest out of the joint pre-k sessions (a little stretch for her) for one-on-one math work in Spanish.

School is quickly becoming a fully integrated part of our lives. And I feel more good than bad, more often. I'm starting to think all I have to do is make sure to facilitate these moments often and consistently enough to make, according to Florida law, "a year's worth of progress." We can do this!