You might be a homeschooler if...

Can I just tell you how much I needed yesterday's co-op session?  It was just a breath of fresh air that reminded me that I CAN do this.  I know I can, but sometimes those wisps of encouragement are just helpful, and they can truly come in any form.

So, you might be a homeschooler if...

10. You are easily adaptable to changes in plans...because they are inevitably GOING to happen!

9. There are 18 children between the ages of 2 and 9 sitting at the same table doing the same activity...and actually doing quite well, I might add.

8. You know the only dad that brought his kids to co-op because his adorable 2-year old continuously runs out of his sight and then starts shouting, "Daddy!  Daddy!  Daddy!"

7. You have multi-age siblings sitting at the table mentioned in #9, so you can watch with glee as you see the perfectionists and their not-so-perfectionist siblings.  Can I just say it is AMAZING to watch brothers and sisters do the SAME maze and see the end result?  Both of them got to the end, but their trips there look quite a bit different!

6. The word curriculum (especially in the spring) comes up about three dozen times in a one-hour time span.

5. You get excited because a mom that has been homeschooling longer than you talks about switching up her curriculum...AGAIN...this year, and it makes you not feel so guilty about doing the same thing.

4. You are thrilled that above-said mom HAS the curriculum (and isn't using it) that you are thinking about using next year.  AWESOME!!!

3. You discuss with another mom how to make salt water taffy and turn it into a complete science lesson.

2. You talk about new situations and discipline issues that come from them.  At least SOMEONE can offer a bit of support because they've been there before.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST

1. One mom suggests that as soon as the weather is hot enough (Spring, oh spring, where art thou?) and there is no wind, putting a long table out in the yard with lots of glitter, glue, paint, and any other imaginable art supply on it; having the kids do art in their swim suits; then running through the sprinkler for clean up.  And another mom says, "Hey art and P.E. credit all wrapped up in one!"

I l.o.v.e. this community of people who have chosen to be odd man out in a public school world!  I love the conversations and the support.  I love knowing I am not alone on this journey.  I love that if I am having doubts about some aspect...I will hear that doubt from someone else's mouth and I can gain strength from the fact that if they were able to work through it...so can I!