School days

When we moved to Arkansas, we decided to homeschool our kids. Alana attended part-day Kindergarten last year in Utah and she wasn't a huge fan. I prayed and Stuart was completely supportive. I was a little nervous because of the baby and I didn't know how I would juggle a new baby and homeschooling, plus everything else I do!

We enjoyed homeschooling. We studied Egypt, built a volcano, attended some local homeschool events, went to the county fair, and had lots of freedom. Alana found hundreds of insects, skinks, frogs, and snakes. We watched monarchs migrate and hummingbirds feed on our back deck. I was learning a lot about what worked for us and I felt mostly successful.

Then the baby was born. After a week of Alana and me butting heads like crazy and my kids watching movies full-time I decided to offer public school as a choice to Alana. She jumped on it. Apparently she was quite lonely for other kids. I did not see us socializing in the near future, so we enrolled her in school starting after Christmas break. She started last week.

On the first day of school, Jan 5, Alana woke up extra early and full of excitement. She could not WAIT to be with other kids. Stuart and I dropped her off together while his parents stayed with the other kids.

When I picked Alana up, I could immediately tell it had been a rough day. Apparently these wimpy Arkansans don't go out for recess if it's below 40 degrees F. WHAT!? Also Alana did not eat enough and it had been more than 3 hours since lunch so she was quite hungry. She has a rough time coping when she's hungry.

Every day when I pick her up I ask her to tell me 5 things she liked about the day. I guess her teacher is a yeller, and it is difficult for her to think of even 1 thing.  It took a few days to get into the rhythm of school, but today when I met her, Alana declared "it was awesome!" I'm so glad she's enjoying it!

I haven't decided what we will do for school next year. Charlotte will be in Kindergarten, and it's all day here. Fortunately I don't have to decide yet!