Like I Have Time For This?

August is winding down, and even though we school pretty much all year long, I do take pains to make major switches in things right around the end of the summer. Also, during the LOOOOONG process of moving back to the East, I intentionally took about a year and a half to complete first grade. I knew, somehow, that we would need those extra months when things were hectic and the house was nothing but towers of cardboard boxes. And hasty take out. Frazzled Moments With Tantrummy Children. And there were so many days like that. Too many. I can’t bear to even think about it anymore. Egads! Why am I reliving it now, in this blog post, after it’s all over with?

Whoa. Flashback.

Okay, I’m over it.

Anyway. The point is, it’s been almost 2 years since I sat down and ordered up a whole big mess of curriculum, and can I just say: Ordering Curriculum Is Fun!

Man, I’ve GOT to get out more. Can you believe what I just wrote up there?

I am SUCH a homeschooler.

Anyway. I had a lot of fun looking through all the catalogs, and I exercised a fair amount of prudence so that when it came time to haul out the ole’ Visa card, RegularDad’s hair didn’t turn completely white. And the day I filed the Affidavit, boxes began arriving, and the girls began OOOOOH-ing and AAAAAHHHH-ing as I opened each box and let them pull out the books. And my 5-year-old practically cried for joy when she saw that she’d be doing HER VERY OWN SAXON MATH K MEETING BOOK this year.

They couldn’t wait to begin, of course. So we started our school year last week, and the girls are thoroughly enjoying themselves. Me? I’m exhausted. I’m learning how to handle teaching two kids now, and we’ve added a couple of new subjects to the schedule as well. I added a writing program to match our grammar program, and my 7-year-old requested Latin, even though I was planning on waiting one more year for it. So, our days feel a lot busier, academically speaking. It seems as if a big chunk of our school year this year will be learning how to take it easy and enjoy the work. Some subjects we’ll do every day; some we won’t. At this age, it’s all about immersion in the basics, and exposure to the extras.

Last week and this week, I’m focusing more on easing our way into a daily routine. Next week, we’ve got one more vacation to take: we’re spending a week at the beach. Then it’ll be September, and back to the regular grind — not just the academics, but all the extra-curricular stuff like Girl Scouting as well. It promises to be a wild and crazy year around here. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

For those of you who are curious about the actual list of what we’re using this year, click the RegularCurriculum tab at the top of the page. I’ve listed everything there for your convenient perusal. Because I know you’ve been perched on the edge of your chair, biting your nails, waiting for this information. Yeah. I know you. Don’t try to deny it.

You are SUCH a homeschooler.