We’re closing out the school year here. It’s been a year of adjusting from a lifetime of homeschooling to public school (4th and 7th grade for my sons) and Junior College for my 17 year old (one more year of charter online homeschool for them, and 3rd year of co-enrolling in college courses). Frankly, I thought it would all be a lot harder. The kids have proven adaptable, and emotionally intelligent, which have been key in navigating new environs.
I’m both surprised and not surprised. They wake on time, make their breakfasts, pack their lunches, and after a scuffle about socks, are ready to go before I am, typically. I’m wrapped up in the bakery in those early morning hours, getting ovens to temp, feeding starters, scaling the mix and putting together dough while they take responsibility for themselves. As the year comes to a close, Gabe’s finishing with Straight A’s, Leo’s working well with others and being a great friend, and Sophie is out there engaging in the community and making art, reading books, watching films, and writing poetry like life depends on it, and of course it does. I’m proud of these humans.
It’s also been a year of rediscovering my few extra brain cells that I’m not spending in the deep and heavy work of teaching young folks how to read and do long division and interpret the world around us. I still do love to make time for a read aloud though. (Ocean Vuong with Sophie, The Outsiders with Gabe and Judy Blume with Leo)
Anyway, let’s finish soft and strong in our heads and hearts. Everything we hope to strive for, tabled for a summer of stretching out in the long days in the sun. I’ll leave you with this photo of Leo. Books falling out of his hands, clutching a skateboard, strawberry in the mouth. What else is there?
