One Mom. Two Kids. One Public School. One Home. One Foot in Each World.

I often feel like I have a foot in two worlds: the world of being a public school parent, and the world of being a homeschooling parent. They are so very different. They have different languages, different cultures, different ideals. I often feel like we don't quite fit in one world or the other, because while we're fully committed to both of our children getting the best of what they need, we're not fully committed to one method of education over the other. My homeschool peers don't want to hear about my public school mom life, and my public school peers don't know the first thing about my homeschool mom life. It's a strange place to be. 


My Bay (who made the decision, with her dad and I helping, to attend public high school) is a cheerleader. It's been a great experience for her. It keeps her crazy-busy, but she loves it. We all went to her first home game, homecoming week, to support her and watch her cheer. The football was the side show for us. Our eyes were on our daughter. 

This week also meant another milestone for us: Bay's first homecoming dance. Isn't she the most lovely freshman ever?

Bay and her date

I lead two lives when I have two children learning so very differently. I have to speak the language of homeschool: nature study, co-ops, lesson planners, and curriculum, and I have to speak the language of public school: Common Core, parent handbook, booster club, cheer squad, home game, concessions, seminar. 

And while this will remain primarily a homeschooling blog, I will have occasion to write about being a public school mom, too, from time to time. Tuna, thus far, wants to follow in her sister's footsteps and return to public school for high school. May this maiden voyage with Bay pave the way. 

Then and Now: How Time Flies

We are, officially, back to being a school of one fish. Bay began her high school career this morning. 

Bay's schooling has been diverse. She's attended civilian public schools, online (k12) virtual school, traditional home schooling, Army schools, and eclectic home schooling. She began in public school. I wanted to put her in private school, but the money wasn't there. 

In Kindergarten, I expressed concerns over some things I saw happening with Bay. Her teacher said it was all normal, what I was seeing. I doubted myself. 

kindergarten

(Later, she was informally diagnosed with dyslexia, which I suspected all along.)

In first grade, I saw the same things with no improvement, plus her teacher bullied her. Her first grade teacher was a bully. So, we switched schools to finish out the year with a better teacher. It was okay, so we stayed for second grade too. 

first grade

She was still having issues with dyslexia and the school refused to test her or offer help.  So, we homeschooled with a packaged curriculum. 

second grade

Fourth grade was a year of k12. That was a tough year. K12 is intense, and there is no good reason to throw six hours of work at a home schooler. School doesn't take that long when it's one-on-one. 

The following year, we enrolled Bay in the Army school on post. Her teacher was awful but Bay enjoyed fifth grade nonetheless. 

Sixth and seventh grade were at the Army middle school on post, which was terrible. Bay was being bullied like never before, both physically and verbally, and the school wasn't able to stop it. We withdrew in the third quarter and homeschooled the rest of the year. 

eighth grade

Eighth grade, we moved to Germany. For the first quarter, we were in transition, so we continued to homeschool. Since we were in the midst of a transcontinental move, I enrolled Bay in time4learning.com's eighth grade program. It was quite boring and intense on the reading, but I felt like it filled in the gap well enough for the time being. 

We enrolled Bay in the middle-high school here on post (another Army school) and she didn't do well. She was having a lot of trouble with other students, to the point it was impacting her entire life. Out she came again and we unschooled her eighth grade year, very successfully. She learned things no other school or curricula has ever taught her. It was a wonderful year. 

However, Bay really does love school, so we decided together that she'd go to high school. 

So, we bought supplies, and new clothes. We bought lunchbox stuff. And this morning, I took her picture like every year before. Then, off she went to begin a very new adventure. 

ninth grade

Later on today, she will be trying out for the cheer leading team. I have my fingers crossed for her. 

So there you have my oldest daughter's school record. It has been a long, winding road to get to where we are now. I am completely confident she'll shine in high school, and I love the person she's become. She is a joy to have around, and I will miss her company.