How to Deal with the Emotions of Sending the Kids to School

I know I’ve talked about having peace with our decision to send the kids to public school this year, but guys…

Life is a Battle!

I ended up calling my mom the other day to just talk it out a bit (moms are really amazing at listening!), because I still desire to homeschool!

Talking has helped me deal with the emotions of sending the kids to school.

I know sending the kids to public school was what we need to do for at least this year. Among other thing, doing so has given me a deeper appreciation for the gift of home schooling.

You know, I have these heart desires…. homesteading, homeschooling…. but we’re not at a place where we can take advantage of them in the ways that I would love to. There’s a disconnect from where we are and where we want to be.

Some days or moments are so difficult to be in the present. That’s when I remember that this is the lesson I’m being taught right now – I’m learning how to stay in the present while dreaming of the future. I know I romanticize it all quite a bit. I mean, I’ve attempted homeschooling! I couldn’t handle it emotionally! LOL But I hope that isn’t always the case.

I see a lot of good coming out of our decision to send the kids to public school. The biggest of which is getting a baseline for Daniel. I babied him for way too long, and he knows that I won’t push him hard enough. He doesn’t do it on purpose, but I have never given the guy enough reason to believe in himself. It’s been amazing watching him come home with this new sense of achievement. He had spelling words last week – you know, the basics – at, cat, dad, etc. I was worried for him. Did he understand the whole concept of spelling? On Thursday, I decided to see what he could do. Guess what? He started sounding those words out like the best of them. No, he wasn’t perfect, but I had definitely underestimated his ability.

It makes me wonder – what else am I underestimating or rushing through in my haste to get to the end goal? This is one of my reasons for having all those smaller, quarterly goals. I need to slow down, and not just smell the roses. I need to savor the smell.

Thanks for listening!

♥ Nicole

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