Back to school time

It's that time of year...school is officially back in session. Many moms count down the minutes until summer vacation ends, including me. But, instead of dreaming of an empty, quiet house, I'm looking forward to taking back our city! We are very spoiled during the school year, and we hate having to share our parks, pools, libraries, and museums with mobs of children during the summer. We are thrilled to return to "normal", when we get to wander alone through museums, swing for as long as we want at the park, and actually find the books we want at the library.

We have enjoyed our summer; we swam, played in the sprinkler, drew with chalk outside, ate countless popsicles, and went for many walks. Of course, all of these activities have to be done before 11:00am or after 7:00pm when it's not so hot that we melt when we walk outside. We have spent the daytime hours inside when possible, playing board games, doing art, listening to books on tape, and enjoying each other's company. We have also done schoolwork all summer, because for us, learning is year round. We haven't done as much formal work for the past few months because of Avery's rigorous summer gymnastics schedule. But we've kept up for the most part, and in the next few weeks we'll get back to our normal routine.

It's funny...being a homeschooling family is always part of our identity, but I am always more acutely aware of it at this time of year. Anytime we're in public, my children are asked what grade they're in (which, for some reason, is a mind-boggling question for Avery -- her answer is always the same, "uhhhhhhh..." with a sideways glance at me), what school they go to, or whether or not they're excited about going back to school. And of course, once these questions are answered, I get the raised-eyebrow look that homeschoolers know all too well. Some brave (nosy) souls even follow the "look" up with the innocuous question: Why do you homeschool? Of course the short version to this simple question is long enough to be a college thesis, and honestly, I'm just too exhausted and busy trying to keep my toddler alive to answer it effectively. So, when I saw this article linked on a friend's blog, I knew my problem was solved. I just need to make copies of this and carry it in my diaper bag, don't you think?