Home School Life

That really is my goal. Throughout my teaching years I felt that my life was so busy I couldn’t even think about it all. I could never say that my work was done. There was always something more to be doing. Towards the end of last year I couldn’t wait to graduate the class so that I could finally say my work was done. I became giddy thinking about all of the projects I could do. Working on the house, knitting again, cooking good meals . . . all of it would be possible again.

Now that my year away from full-time teaching is a reality, I’m suprised at how easily my days are filling. This week has been particularly full.

The primary reason is because I’ve been working at the school more. The kindergarten teacher’s son has been sick so I’ve been subbing in the Waldorf kindergarten wonderland. What a joy it is to spend the mornings with a delightful crew of 4, 5 and 6 year olds. I’m determined that the kindergarten assistant position is the best job in the school!

I’ve been grateful to get the little bit of extra work, but it has made homeschooling The Girl a bit difficult. Fortunately, her dad lives just around the corner and he works at home, so she has a place to be, but she and I have been doing school in the evenings after dinner, which is definitely less than ideal. She is still doing some of her more independent work when she is with her dad, but we’re not having those delicious main lessons that we both love so much.

As a result I’ve taken to reading to her from a very good version of the Ramayana that I got from the library. I checked out a child’s abridged version and then an adult version and we both have found that we much prefer the adult version. Unfortunately it is pretty lengthy but full of wonderful description that is really holding her attention. My desire to get through it quickly has me reading about an hour each night — which after talking with kindergarteners all day has my voice wearing thin. Still, we’re enjoying it and it means we get some solid mother/daughter time in in the evenings. (It also means that the Big Boy sometimes feels that I’ve neglected his homework help needs, but I’m rationalizing it by saying he needs to become more independent anyway.)

My full, rich life has also been populated by knitting projects. I started a sweater for the Little Boy (which is turning out to be big enough to fit The Girl). I’m finally making the lacy scarf I promised my mother last Christmas. And I’ve got a sock on the needles as nice, easy to pick up anywhere knitting. I’ve managed to get a bit of knitting on the sock done while I’m with the kindergarteners, who have proclaimed surprise at my “toothpick knitting.”

I was hoping to get some pictures to post, because my mother revealed to me that she has an extra digital camera, but I am horribly disappointed with the pictures I am able to take with that camera. Somehow the size of the screen makes every shot look terrible so I’m just not inspired to photograph. Looks like I’m going to have to bite the bullet and buy myself a camera. Perhaps with my kindergarten subbing money? Suggestions?