How My Life Has Changed in 2 Years...

2 Years since my last post.  That's really sad....for a number of reasons.  Mostly, because we are no longer homeschooling, and as I look back on this blog (and my previous blog, www.angelbugbaby.blogspot.com), and reminisce of a time when life was slower and I got to enjoy my babies all day every day, I can't help but be ashamed of myself for being "too busy" to chronicle the last 2 years here.  I guess I took it for granted that I would always have the option to homeschool my kids, and that the only reason we would ever stop would be if the kids themselves asked to go back.

Things have changed...a lot.  All of my kids are now back in public school, and while they are excelling at it and making straight A's, I see changes in them, their personalities, their spirits.  I hate it.  But the fact is that life happens.  The economy took a nose dive, and when your husband works in retail, that's not a good thing.  We went from living comfortably to living paycheck to paycheck.  I started couponing, babysitting, mending clothes instead of buying new, shopping at Walmart instead of the mall...you name it, I tried it.

So when it became clear that a full-time job was the only option, I cried.  For weeks.  Truth be told, I still do.  But we're going to be ok.  I'm trusting that God has a plan for us.  I have faith.  I do love my new job.  I am back to working in the field of Domestic Violence, although not at the police department as I was before.   I am now a legal advocate at a local non-profit agency.  I worked very closely with this office at my previous job, and so I already knew a lot of people.

The only opening they had at first was in Atlanta, TX - about 40 minutes or so from my house.  I started in August, and by the end of February, I was moved to the local office in town...which I love.  I love my boss, I love the folks I work with....but my heart is still at home.  I've come to terms with it - I'm here for the long haul, and I made a commitment to do a good job.  I'm helping battered women, and I feel like my work is important.  I am so thankful for that.  Otherwise, I'm not sure that I could get up every morning and send my kids off on that big yellow bus.

I have to admit that I was a little nervous about their placement tests for public school.  I knew we were doing grade level work, but I was worried that we were doing different things at different times.  The good news is that my worries were for nothing - they all passed their placement tests with flying colors.  Their teachers are constantly bragging on them - they are usually the only kids that raise their hands with the right answers, and actually participate in class.  Trey loves the library and the various elective classes like photography and video, business venture classes, and athletics.  Addie loves band and all the friends she's made.  Lindsay loves her teacher (we were so lucky), and the science and computer labs, and PE.

I really just wish I had done a better job of chronicling our last 2 years.  I did put quite a bit of stuff on facebook, but I wish I had some way of going back and laying eyes on specific lessons, and fun times that we had during school hours.  I wish I had prepared them better for the possibility of reentering public school.  I always told them it would be their choice.  This wasn't their choice, and they felt a little blind-sided.

But this is what I've decided to do.  Just because we're in school and at work all day, doesn't mean we can't do little mini-lessons at home.  I am going to do a better job of spending our time together being productive as a family.  I don't mean chores or constantly running around.  I simply mean teaching them life skills.  Schools don't do that.  Schools don't teach them manners.  So I am going to step up my game.  From here on, you will see posts relating to Homeschooling the Public Schooled Child.  They may learn Math and English at a public school, but Mom is going to continue the lessons at home.

Stay tuned... :)  Hope everyone has a blessed week...