Downsized Mamma: Back to School!

 Even though this mamma felt a bit conflicted and sad over our decision to go back to public school I knew in my heart that this is the face I would see on Thing 2's first day of Kindergarten...and that makes me happy-sad!  You know, the happy my kid is so happy and growing up and spreading his wings but sad he isn't as little as he was yesterday. Yesterday he was home with me all the time and I knew all the ups and downs of his little world.  Yesterday he was sucking down popsicles on our back patio, creating Tye-die shirts at the kid's museum and sinking rocks in the ponds with me.  Yesterday we laughed and played and soaked up every last minute of summer because I knew "that day" was coming.  The day that we pulled up to the public school building and I had to RUN to keep up with him as he took off for the playground.  No lingering hugs or clinging to mom.  Sigh.  But I wouldn't have it any other way.
 I know he would learn just as much (or more) academically at home this year AND yet I can't duplicate the organized chaos of 20 kids that fill up my little man's extrovert tank each and every day at public school.  I also can't/won't practice self-control and following directions for 8 hours a day which is what we thought he would benefit the most from going to school.  And they take these lessons nice and slow in K whereas if we waited to send him in a few years we felt it would be a harder transition.
That all being said  we all enjoyed our homeschool time together and now I know that I COULD do it and survive should we need to do it again, which is a good feeling.  We will take it one year at a time deciding what each kid needs and doing our best to meet those needs.

You are stickin with me little man!  You CAN'T stay here!

Thing 2 he really missed seeing all his friends every day at public school.  Even though he also liked getting his work done in 2 hours instead of 8, he opted to go back with his brother.  That leaves this mamma downsized to one little Thing each day!  I'm bravely embracing the freedom this allows and jumping back into some familiar ministry roles I didn't have room for the past 8 years.   Fun! More on that soon!