Guess what I just did? I just wrote a letter to the Superintendent notifying him of our intent to homeschool next year. The letter has been signed, printed, sealed in an envelope, stamped, and it will be mailed today. I’m officially homeschooling.
Yup, things just got real.
What prompted the whole-actually-making-it-official-today-thing? I met a mentor!! A neighbor, actually. Someone in my neighborhood who really does this homeschooling thing and who is completely down-to-earth and kind and funny. And I had the pleasure of meeting her equally kind and down-to-earth high school aged son. It was clear to me that not only is she homeschooling, but she’s homeschooling well… he was so well-spoken, happy, and well-mannered.
And, to help me get started, they gave me four boxes (!!!) of books and catalogs and games. I am completely, totally, overwhelmed by their generosity and kindness.
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| I know I’m a nerd, but is there anything better than a big pile of books that you have yet to read? |
I could have talked to them forever. I actually *might* have been late to pick up Seuss and T from summer camp because I literally lost track of time. I loved hearing about their journey. The ups, the downs, what has worked, what has not. It made me feel like I can do this thing, and I am so excited to get started.
Just now, as I’m typing this post about this awesome mom and her son, they stopped by to drop off the sweetest “welcome to homeschooling” basket for Leo. This time, Leo was home from camp so he was able to meet these two wonderful neighbors. “Mum! I met a homeschooler!” he gushed after they had left. He’s so excited to get started. I’m excited to get started. We are both feeling happy and excited and blessed.
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| I’d say he’s just a wee bit excited, as he immediately constructed a desk out of the boxes, complete with a “PRIVATE DO NOT DISTURB UNLESS IMPORTANT” sign. |
I am officially homeschooling. I can do this homeschooling thing. Down the road, when I have a couple years of homeschooling under my belt, I will find a newbie homeschooling mom who is flying by the seat of her pants and I will pay it forward. I’ll tell her my stories and give her some tips and overwhelm her with good books. Just as this wonderful mom and her son did for us today.
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“n the end, though, maybe we must all give up trying to pay back the people in this world who sustain our lives. In the end, maybe it’s wiser to surrender before the miraculous scope of human generosity and to just keep saying thank you, forever and sincerely, for as long as we have voices.
~Elizabeth Gilbert
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Yay for finding a mentor! What a huge encouragement. I found one who gifted me with several boxes of books. It made all the difference in the world as we proceeded with our homeschooling journey. She still impacts me daily with her encouragement. I wish you the best as you start your “school” year!
Thank you so much, Mia. I hope your year goes well also. 🙂
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