Although we got our feet wet this summer, we are now "officially" homeschooling! (according to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, that is). The bus paused in front of my house this morning, but the boys took no notice...we were having breakfast and singing instead.

What I built up to be a monumental adjustment for my six year old son, has turned out to be of no significance to him. Although I got my paperwork into the school district at the end of July, I received no reply until last week...two days before the start of the school year. My son was even listed in the local school assignment roster. I became very agitated that my well-laid plans didn't allow for such snafus.

After making some phone calls I sat down with my son to explain the whole situation; I did my paperwork, the district had not gotten to it yet, so although a bus may stop at the house, but he is not getting on it. Despite the horrifying image in my mind of a bus loudly honking at the end of my driveway, screaming kids hanging out of the windows, my son was not the least bit phased. As long as he can go to music lessons, read some books, and make a model of a tidal pool this week, whatever happens with the bus or the paperwork doesn't matter in the least.

This leads me to realize that the kids are not the only ones getting an education in this homeschooling setup. What we are doing has nothing to do with public system. We are setting our own priorities, our own schedule, while keeping our own values intact. Whatever happens outside the realm of our explorations won't change that.

In the meantime, my son will build a tidal pool, design and fly his own kite, practiceaddition with "magic beans", and spend the day dancing and singing. That's because being happy and exploring the world is what children are supposed to do. I'll be smiling, and not dread the autumn for the first time since giving birth, because I'm doing what is right for my children and my family.