Here We Go Again...!!

Well, we're almost finished with our first week of school, and it's been a little crazy!! I'm not sure where the summer went...actually, it's still here and in full force... but vacaton is officially gone. Kind of a double edged sword. I was really looking forward to starting up again, getting back into the routine, and just enjoying sitting down with my kids and our books everyday (and having everyone elses get out of Target)... but it's been tougher than I'd anticipated. Taking on two is a whole lot different than just the one! Kind of reminds me of when I brought my second baby home...you know what to do, and the routine is set, but holy moley it's a lot more work! Mostly in the sense that there is even less, or should I say none, of that free time I used to be able to squeeze in to my day here and there. We used to get done with school work and have an extra hour of baby's nap to use at our leisure...kids watch a movie or play with friends, mom read a book or play on the computer...I'm thinking those days are pretty much adios. Third grade is a bit more involved, and kindergarten offers almost no independent work time, so I start to feel like a ping pong ball after awhile!! Yet I've been assured that once you get it dialed in, things start to smooth themselves out and it gets better...I know I've offered that encouragement numerous times to lots of new mommies, so I'm truly hoping it applies here!

There's something else that feels a little different this year, too...I think it's the first year that it's very obvious my big kid is not in school when we're out and around. Before, it didn't seem like such a deal...he kind of passed for a big kindergartener I guess, so people assumed he was out early, or going in the afternoon...but it wasn't an issue. Now, I'm getting the looks. And even though homeschooling is actually quite common here, most people still don't think of it as 'normal'... so I feel like I'm under a microscope!! Like my kids are supposed to be super specimins that walk nicely in a straight line, never poke or torment eachother, and obey on command 100% of the time...or my great homeschooling powers are obviously ineffective and those little monsters should be in school learning something!! ok, so I'm way exaggerating... mostly because they completely mortified me yesterday in line at Barnes and Noble (acting like regualr kids who had been in the same store for way too long!) and I was convinced I was getting "the look" from three of the old ladies in line behind me... But seriously, people are noticing. Most don't ask, even though they want to, and the ones that do are usually very gracious and encouraging. I guess I'm just waiting for the one that isn't....like the wierd German woman at the park last year who told me off for not putting them in public school...any way...

Change is always an adjustment, and this year is a bigger one, but I'm confident that it will work out. God is good, and He always seems to help with the details that I could have never managed on my own. And there are so many fun things that we have planned for this year...more so now because Shelbi's a little older and things are getting more manageable. And even though life is full... and busy... this is where I know we are supposed to be, and want to be, no matter what. After all, what could be better than teaching your own kid how to read?? and write?? and go poo poo on the potty and not in the shower?? It's an adventure for sure, and I wouldn't miss it for the world... :)