I am most definitely overwhelmed...

Our trip to Disney is over, and even though the happy memories still make me smile (and probably will for a long time to come) its back to reality.

Just before we left on the trip, my husband expressed some doubts about my ability to homeschool Emily successfully.  She's a sweet girl but she does have her issues.  "If professional educators can't meet her needs, how can you?"

Full disclosure.  My first thought was "What the Hell?  I'm her MOM.  Of COURSE I know what's best."  But that, dear readers, was just my ego having a temper tantrum.  The very SAME temper tantrums I see my kiddos exhibiting!  The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.  Or, since this is a yoga blog of sorts, its *karma*.  (I don't know why I added the asterisks around karma, but I like it).

While it is true I am her Mom, I love the fact that my husband and I can be honest with each other.  Its a legitimate question, especially if you consider my history not only as student but as a college-level instructor for 8 years.  I was very invested in the ideas of traditional schooling for decades.  I fully bought in to the idea of rubrics and multiple choice testing, all the while bemoaning the fact that students nowadays didn't seem to care much about anything that wasn't on their phone screens.

From his point of view, I have lost my mind.

Time Flies: 4/18/2019

A better title for this post would be "The Yoga of Walt Disney World"

Last week the family and I were MIA (as were any new blog posts) because were were on our "let's try to get to Disney every three years or so" family vacation.

It was AMAZING!!!  I know not everyone is a huge fan of Disney, or theme parks, or corporate America.  I totally respect that.  But as far as this family goes, WE LOVE WDW!!!  The Magic Kingdom has provided us with some of our fondest family memories and traditions, and Disney's ability to provide our family with safe, gluten-free food means we can travel without fear of getting sick.  I am grateful for all of the thousands of people who helped make our trip magic, and we said Thank You to as many bus drivers, cafeteria workers, shop keepers, Dole Whip whippers, and ride operators as possible.

As far as homeschool goes, the Animal Kingdom is an A++ Highly Recommended destination.  Not only are there numerous opportunities to see wildlife in a natural setting, kids can earn "Wilderness Explorers" badges all over the park.  Topics range from bird habitats to paleontology, from bugs to recycling, and everything ecology related in-between.  Special needs kids like Emily, who can come across as a little socially awkward, are nonetheless encouraged to participate, answer questions, and pose theories.

In other words, I don't regret taking the kids out of school for a week in order to do this trip.  Not one iota.  I could go on and on.  But this is the photo segment...so here you go:

TBT:  September 2016

In Front of Cinderella Castle at WDW

Today:  May 2019

In Front of Cinderella Castle at WDW

Yes Nora is in the same shirt.  Whoops.  And Emily is frowning in the first pic because she had reached her limit of photos.  Same thing happened this trip, so I made sure to get a bunch of pics at the front end of the vacation this time around.  We were so successful that a co-worker of mine commented, "Your family is the poster child for how to have fun at Disney."

Best. Compliment. Ever.

Time Flies: 4/4/2019

TBT:  Emily has really upped her dinosaur game.  She's been fascinated by dinosaurs, fossils, and paleontology for most of her life.  It makes me happy to see how that this has inspired not only a love of science, but fun outfits.

Here she is in our Lakemoor home in October of 2013.

Roar! Says my little stegosaurus.

Today:  Here is another pic from Barrington Area Library's 2019 Comic Con, which featured awesome cosplayers, dragon crafts and photos ops, as well as T-Rex Emmers.

T-Rex meets the two-headed Dragon at BAL's Comic Con.

Co-op Meet and Greet. Or, this is really happening!!!

I have gotten very few raised eyebrows when I've announced to people I'm going to homeschool Emily next year.

This is either a good indication that we're on the right track, or the people around me are losing faith in public education.  Maybe both?  (That's not a nice thing to say though. I know a lot of public school teachers and they are heroes.  But then again, even they likely agree that things have gone astray...but I digress). 

Anyhow, I am very fortunate in that I work at a library that has a homeschool co-op that meets weekly and I can see firsthand the homeschool experience in action.  I see the same faces every week, some working one on one, some in small groups.  They all seem engaged (ok all but one.  There is one little boy who clearly does not like math and he spins his chair back and forth until I'm dizzy from watching.  But that woman with him is so patient, and she doesn't even know she's been a huge inspiration to me).  Furthermore, a work colleague who has homeschooled both of her sons for several years has been really supportive and introduced me to so many resources!  Thank you Amy!

And that is how I found myself sitting in a room with a bunch of mothers who are also looking to homeschool their children.  Of course they were all on time, and I was 10 minutes late to this Co-Op Meet and Greet.

Time Flies: 3/29/19

So far much of this blog has focused on the journey to homeschool, but there is another bridge to cross in the autumn.  Nora will be going into high school!  She has grown up so much, and is blossoming into a beautiful young woman.  And for all that, part of the little girl she was remains.  I hope it always does, because that girl is a star who shines bright.  Love you Nora xoxoxo

TBT: Monarch face paint to match her monarch dress (not pictured) ca 2010.

Monarch face paint inspired by her Halloween costume.

Today: Mermaid face paint to match her mermaid dress, March 2019.

Mermaid face paint inspired by Ariel, and out upcoming trip to Disney!

Pride and Prejudice: Its not just literature

One of my favorite movies (miniseries?) of all time is the BBC's Pride and Prejudice.  Most of you probably already know the story.  The handsome and rich Mr. Darcy embodies pride.  His sense of self derives from his lofty position in society, and he has all the reasons in the world to maintain the status quo.  Elizabeth Bennett, the "handsomest" girl in the story, is intelligent, headstrong, and witty.  After overhearing Darcy say something unkind about her family, she decides he has no redeeming values whatsoever.  Early 19th century hi-jinks ensue.

I think this story is so beloved because we are all Darcy and Lizzie rolled into one.  At least I'll admit to it.  We all walk around, trying to protect our slice of the pie, defend the status quo even if that status quo is making us insane.  Instead of letting negative feelings go, we let them color our perceptions like a pair of bad sunglasses.

So what does that have to do with the Yoga of Homeschool?  

At the end of the story, both characters have to examine the error in their ways.  

Right now Emily is still in public school finishing up the year, and its time for me to take a honest and painful look at the errors in my thinking.

Time Flies 3/21/19

Every Thursday I'd like to share a pic from when the kids were young, along with an image from this week.  Its amazing how far we've come as a family and how much they've grown.

TBT: In June 2010, Emily began extensive testing with a speech therapist, and occupation therapist, and a social worker.  Many of those tests were play based.

Playing with blocks to test her fine motor skills.  She had trouble then which has sadly continued to this day.

Today: Recently Emily had her second EEG to make sure her epilepsy meds are still working.  Since she's growing, the dose may have to be changed eventually.  Despite the fact this was a sleep deprivation exam, she was all smiles.  

The EEG isn't painful and doesn't involve needles, so she's usually in a good mood.