Homeschool

I love homeschooling my 3 little beauties, I do.  That's not to say that there are not rough moments or days or (dare I say it) weeks.But I do love learning at home with them.  What I don't like are intrusions.If I am approached about homeschooling by someone who is genuinely interested I don't mind at all answering questions or letting them know what resources are available.  What bugs me are the ignorant comments.  You know the ones

"Is that even legal?"  or "will the school LET you do that?"  (OK HELLO this is my child I get to choose how they are educated not the school.)

 " Oh but the school gives you all the books, and supplies you need right?"  Well actually no they don't give me anything thank you very much it all comes out our pockets.

 "You just homeschool so you don't have to pay taxes"  WHAT????  Ok I pay taxes just like everyone else same amount.  They don't cut me a break because I am homeschooling.  In fact in our state, because we have to notify the BOE our children are counted in the infamous 4th friday count. This means that our schools are getting money for students(mine included) that they are not even servicing....in ANY way.

"You just homeschool because you are cheap, you don't have to buy back to school clothes and supplies"  Well, alrighty then.  Last year I spent over $1000 for 2 students (That was just curriculum).  I bought all my own supplies for them including special art supplies for my then 5th grader. I had to feed them breakfast and lunch.  They still need clothes and shoes since we are not nudists.  They even have backpacks and lunch boxes ,we usethem for school on the go and field trips. which by the way we pay for those also.

Sometimes Silence is golden people!

Blessings
TopMom

Settling In ...

Tonight I am thinking about settling in.  Autumn is officially here and right on schedule came cooler temperatures. I love autumn and I love settling in for winter.  We will soon leave for a vacation to visit grandma and grandpa in Florida and then to the beach for the week.  I jokingly say I am stocking up on my vitamin D for the winter.  When we get home, and to a lesser extent these last few days before we leave, We are putting things to bed for the winter.  Taking down the pool.  Harvesting the last few bits of yummy goodness from the garden; mostly peppers, a few tomatoes both ripe and green, and lots of yummy sweet potatoes.  TopDad has been mowing for the last few times of the season, cleaning up around the outside of the place.  We need to work on getting those cellar doors fixed before the cold weather sets in.

Lately I have also been thinking that, after 7 years here in the bluegrass state, maybe I am finally settling in here.  It has been a LONG HARD fight for me.  After 20 some years as an Air Force wife I was used to moving and landing in a ready made community.  Here in our small town everyone is mostly family and or has known each other forever.  They are tight knit and honestly, while they are friendly,  they don't think to include "outsiders".  Or that is how it seems to me.  So it has been a struggle for me, I am not from here, I don't work outside the home. I homeschool my children, Most people my age have teens or grown children.  Most people with younger children are much younger than me.  We still do not have a church home (that is still excruciating to me)  But I have persevered and now I feel like maybe it is finally paying off.  Slowly and surely I am settling in to a life here.  For that I am immensely thankful.

Blessings,
TopMom