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 Leslie. Turns out she is homeschooling her middle school daughter, for all the exact same reasons I am considering it for Beth. They are both enjoying it immensely. Katherine's daughter picks out recipes to make for dinner and they cook many afternoons. Katherine's husband calls them the $100 dinners because they buy fresh herbs and all kinds of different ingredients! Katherine believes her daughter (also adopted) doesn't have the ego strength to easily withstand the cliques and cattiness that accompany the tweener scene.


Yesterday morning I had the television on and I caught about 20 minutes of the Today show. I haven't had the TV on in the morning in ages. It just so happens that the 20 minutes of a two hour show I happened to watch was about issues of "tweeners" and how school and social pressures are significantly on the rise for that age group. The girls appear to be especially affected. Suggested remedies included more time with parents!


I have some details to arrange because we are coming to this party midyear instead of enrolling in August. However, if it goes as I hope, I will probably pull Beth out within a couple of weeks. She's ready to do it, too.


One of the first concerns voiced by folks unfamiliar with homeschooling options is the question of "social opportunities." Most homeschool pros that I questioned about that just laughed. Their kids are so busy doing things they wouldn't have time to do otherwise ... social engagements are not a problem. In Beth's case, she's an accomplished swimmer and spends 6+ hours a week at practice, not to mention swim meets scheduled throughout the year. This provides lots of opportunities for social interaction. In my area, there is a gal who has started a music program for homeschoolers, including a choir, band and orchestra. There are several options for "enrichment" programs which range from simple unstructured playtimes to projects, special events, special study groups, etc. Of course, there are unlimited opportunities for field trips, too.


Homeschool proponents point out how only in school are kids (or people in general) segregated according to age. Homeschool enrichment groups allow kids of all ages to interact. Some of the kids have disabilities of one sort or another, but everyone learns to flex and get along with all ages and all kinds of people.


More coming about this ... I'll tell you more about how virtual school works.


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