Wednesday, February 6, 2008

A Mother's Dilemma

To play or not to play?
NE IL is again being hit with a Storm. This time we weren't surprised, as if, like I've said, such a thing can happen in this area at this time of year. We're hearing upwards of a foot of snow today. That won't stop us from going into town for lunch. After all, Joe would worry about us if we didn't come in for our Wednesday slice of pizza.
But I digress. Today this homeschooling mom was faced with a Snow Day. The local schools--even the community college, which NEVER closes; ask my son!--have closed, due to weather. So, do I cancel school today for MSP, since her school friends are all home, "having fun?" Or do I hold school today, and save tomorrow, when the wind will have died down, for a snow day? This is the dilemma faced by the homeschool mom.
Well, the decision is out of my hands. I explained both options to MSP, giving her the right to choose. She chose (duh) today. No delayed gratification for this girl! Tomorrow she'll whine...but, oh, well.
And that is the fun of homeschooling. We have the ability to choose how to spend our time. This is one of the benefits I didn't see when we first started, and it's been one of the most valuable for our family. In fact, our list of reasons for homeschooling has changed dramatically since we started, and "freedom" is right there at the top. When Grandma is sick, we go to the hospital. When big brother is being deployed, we take off for Texas. When JP4 was in his freshman year at the local high school, he was actually PENALIZED for taking off to go to his great-grandmother's funeral. Compassion is never in big supply at the local public school. But things are different now. And we LIKE it!

1 comment:

Elephantschild said...

Yes, FREEDOM. I can't imagine being tied to the School district's schedule.

I think as we get into the later years this will become even more precious to us; Sparkle will be able to travel with Daddy many times throughout the school year as she gets older. Yay!