Even though I "started" this blog in '07, I have never posted a thing. Why is that? Maybe because I have a couple of other blogs, in various states of neglect and/or hopeful progress, depending on the time of year (summer is easier) and my mood (variable at best), and this one ended up on the back burner, standing ready for a rainy day. And that certainly describes today. And the last several days. And weeks.
Of course, there has been an occasional glimpse of the bright sun that we, as native Californians, recognize as the birthright of those of us who live in this golden land. But a glimpse is not enough for me. I am one of those who crave sunlight pouring down on me at all times. (Night would be good, too.) I live where I live for many reasons, but the main one is the sun.
Homeschooling is like that, too. I do it for many reasons, probably none of which align with the stereotypical ones the media on all sides likes to list as our common creed. Uh, no, not me. I homeschool, and always have, because I am anything but stereotypical, though on the surface, it might appear otherwise, and many have tried to falsely label me (and others I know) with convenient tags.
I homeschool because I believe it's best for my children - the best way for them to learn about the world, about other people, and about themselves, the best way for them to build relationships within their family, the best way for them to discover and follow their passions, and the best way for them to prepare to be activists in this world -- people who insist that change for the better is possible and who work to effect that change.
So on days when it is rainy and gloomy and depressing, on days when explaining, for the fifth or fifteenth time, how fractions work or how to form a cursive capital G properly or how to outsmart the trickiest SAT questions in order to earn a top score, I remind myself why I am doing this thing called homeschooling. I remind myself that all of these years have proved repeatedly that this way of living and learning does work best for our family. I remind myself that the sun will come out again, pouring down on me its reassuring peace, giving me the motivation to continue on the path we have chosen, enjoying where we live and how we live, the choices we have, and the ways that we can make a difference.
