Today Beth and her friend, and Dora and I visited the building where the Lawrence Virtual School is housed, and where each Friday the LVS parents meet for a social event. I am excited to announce that all systems are go for Beth and me to begin her virtual school experience in about a week! We came home today with some incredible schooling materials. The folks I met could not have been more helpful or more pleasant. I am truly excited to begin this adventure with Beth.

While the kids played this afternoon,... more

Thinking about school conferences this morning reminded me of some of my “best” school stories. Julie and I were talking the other day about folks who simply can’t believe that a school (or school system) would retaliate against parents. People just don’t believe how ignorant, vindictive, retaliatory, and yes, abusive, school systems or staff can be to beleaguered parents. I have heard unbelievable stories from parents, and of course, I have a few of my own stories to share.

For... more

This morning I had school conferences. I couldn’t help but remember past conferences … this was the same school that brought me to my knees a decade ago. While I don’t remember specific conversations in specific conferences, I do remember the overall experience. Kyle and Stephanie were stellar students and their teachers couldn’t say enough good about them. Of course, the other two kids were not so academically and socially delightful, and those conferences were usually about me trying to explain the big picture and the school making excuses for my poor little... more

OK, sorry guys, but many of you homeschooling parents who are reading this blog are "not normal" in terms of your families and you don't need me to tell you that!

In my research about homeschooling, I have learned that some traditional homeschoolers don’t think virtual school is really homeschooling. The former group homeschools because they want to pick the curriculum, and in many cases they want to include religious instruction. Some take issue with the government involvement and prefer to homeschool to avoid a variety of restrictions imposed by public... more

Dora is locked in the throes of passive-aggressive behavior to the max. She’s always mad about something and it is coming through every action and body movement possible. I guess she’s really relaxing and letting it all hang out—‘cuz it is. Fun fun. She went to school this morning looking like her finger got stuck in a light socket—all because she was mad that I told her she had filling manure bags in her future because she was struggling so much to do even the simplest chore. That was enough to set her off and she decided not to get her hair done. Not a problem... more

How many times are you reminded about something or prompted about something once that "something" is on your radar screen? I remember being pregnant with Kyle and Stephanie and seeing pregnant bellies everywhere I looked.

The same phenomenon is happening with this homeschooling thing. God must be talking to me, because it seems as if every time I turn around, something else is prompting me to explore the idea of bringing Beth (and eventually Dora) home for school. Last week at the ATTACh conference I had several opportunities to speak to Katherine... more

Last night was a double-header. Dora has been struggling to regain control since the exhausting conference, the therapy sessions, and a note from her mom. She has been the passive/aggressive queen. Beth is struggling with school—not academically, but socially and emotionally. She’s not the happy camper bouncing off the bus that she was last year.

My husband is traveling this week and I have been a solo parent … (wait, that’s not much different than normal … oops, did I say that???) Last night I had Dora in the rocking chair from 7:15 until a few minutes... more

Yesterday I picked Beth and a couple other kids up from school and we headed to a school skating party. Dora was hoping to be completing her first afternoon at school, but it didn’t happen. (See links below for previous installments on this story.) We hadn’t heard back from the principal in time for Dora to attend school yesterday. However, I had an email waiting for me when we returned home last night … Dora will start next Monday and attend for half days for as long as necessary, as determined by me and by her teacher. She won’t start this week because the teacher... more

I’m still waiting to hear from the local school bus company whether or not my kids will be able to ride the bus for free. My neighbor and I carpooled last year but she now has her kids on the bus. Therefore, I either put mine on the bus or drive all the time myself. Our house is the first one in the subdivision. Rules state that you have to live 2.5 miles from the school to receive free busing. Apparently, we are 2.43. Every other house in our 14-lot neighborhood qualifies for free busing except us. The bus picks up the kids next door and stops between our two homes.

If... more

In my previous post, I was discussing the advance arrangements I am trying to put in place prior to bringing home another child. A reader inquired how I was able to get the school on board with a half-day schedule. Perhaps I should clarify that the teacher is on board and the principal has agreed to something along those lines, but it isn’t written in granite yet.

You folks have no idea what kind of baggage I have with this... more