Playing School

Tuesday, August 5, 1980
Dear Diary, when I woke up I ate breakfast and worked on potholders. While I was doing that Chris came over. We played a couple games then went up to her house. We played more games, and then I went to music lessons. When we came back we had supper. Then we went to the lake. [Brother] and I went swimming then we had a little something to eat, and went to bed.

Friday, January 4, 2013
Yes, it has been a long time. A long, LONG time. How long? Well, that Baby I kept writing about is now 6... and we live in a different state. A lot has happened, but this early diary entry has me focusing on one aspect of my life in particular.

That friend Chris? I remember her well. I remember mostly how we always played school in her basement. What is it with little girls that makes them want to play school and house? I suppose it's our innate desires to become mothers - and many of us also want to be teachers. I did... I mean, I wanted to become a mother and I wanted to become a teacher. I'm proud to say I've now done both.

I have been a mom for 15 years. It is the most rewarding job I could ever have. Most demanding, too. Most tiring... most draining... most exhausting... but by FAR, the most rewarding. As for teaching, well, I never got a teaching certificate. My college degree is in something much more generic and much less glamorous... let's just leave it at that. But when we moved where we are now, we decided to give homeschooling a try. I was very excited! I eagerly attended the local homeschool conventions, organized all of our curriculum, and enthusiastically sat my boys down at the dining room table and... taught. Well, maybe that's an overstatement. In reality, I sat them down and said... LEARN. Okay, so I taught some here and there. I took them on field trips that we all enjoyed. I read them stories. I had them complete their assignments. I answered their questions. But the majority of their learning came from the curriculum we chose.

We did that for 3 years. It was a challenging 3 years, but we became so close because of it. We vacationed whenever we wanted. We slept in. We had all of our meals together. We laughed, we fought, we got on each others' nerves... but we solidified our relationships with each other and we will all look back on those three years at home with great fondness. (or am I assuming too much?!)

But alas, the time came for our oldest to go to High School - we said that would mark the end of our homeschooling. So now all three are back in public school and I find myself with quite a bit more time on my hands. Hence, I have rediscovered this blog. (Took me a bit longer to find the old diary... had to rummage through the crawlspace to find it, but it couldn't stay hidden from me forever. It's as if it exudes a certain energy that allows me to hone in on its exact location...)  

So anyway, since I am officially retired from teaching, I guess I'll go back to playing house.  Despite my early childhood practice, I still haven't figured out how to do it right.