I have been very, very distressed about the state of politics lately. Feeling that it was fueled by a lot more than issues, conservatism, and liberalism, I began to feel jaded and cynical. I still do. In short, I'm disgusted.
I had lunch with a good friend Saturday, and we went there. We discussed politics. He said something that helped me compartmentalize what I was feeling about the state of our nation and it's rulers.
"Politics is like sports", he said. "Everyone has a favorite team", he said. "They don't care who's right or wrong, as long as their favorite team wins".
Yes. I think that is the crux of the problem. There are also underlying issues that dictate which team people join, but I really think he hit the nail on the head.
Do you see some truth in this?
Do you think I'm full of crud?
Just curious.
You know you've done something right when your child wants to go back
I don't know that I ever promoted the homeschool-hybrid program my kids attended, but now I feel I must. You see, my kid graduated last year and right now would do anything to spend just one day back at her homeschool program.
I picked daughter up from school last Friday, at 4:30 sharp. It was the earliest she could get out of her on-campus job, and she had me high-tail it straight to the Artios Academies Hoe-down. It is a yearly square-dance fundraiser the "school" has every fall. Initially, she was coming home for a doctor's appointment on Monday morning, since she had a couple of days off (and a somewhat serious health issue), but as chance would have it, it was also hoe-down weekend, so that worked for her.
She was so excited to go that she had worn her cowboy boots and the ugliest square-dance skirt ever all day (at college), and she jumped in my care excitedly raring to go. So as any good mom would do, to make my kid deliriously happy, I drove her back to her old stomping grounds... and stayed there over 3 hours, even in my exhausted-from-driving-two-hours-each-way state.
She wasn't even the only post-graduatee there. There were about a dozen kids there who had graduated in the past 3 years, mixing in and enjoying themselves as if they were still living in homeschool land. I could see them refueling and soaking up the atmosphere and love of their homeschool family who they loved and missed. It was refreshing to see.
I even managed to reconnect with a few of my favorite homeschool parents from the past. I have to say, that in this group, I have always felt like a little bit of a sore thumb. I know that I don't necessarily mesh politically or even socially with this group, but the point is, my kid needed this program to become who she needed to be. My own comfort, I have always known, could and should be set aside for the sake of my child's growth and development. And even in that discomfort, I have still managed to find a few kindred souls.
As the night wore down and my kid stalled going home, closing down the party, she and her other previously graduated friends attempted to make plans to show up for "school" on Tuesday. I hated to disappoint, but since I hate driving at night and don't have powers of teleportation, I had to inform her that she could not visit/ i.e. disrupt Tuesday's lessons with her presence. It was time to return to the real world - back to college. She tried to protest and reminded me that this was her family... the place where she felt most at home, but I promised she could visit as much as possible during winter break, but she could not let it interfere with college.
I just feel like it says a whole lot about a school or program when your kid isn't happy to graduate (mine wanted to graduate, but then she didn't). It says even more when her heart doesn't want to move on and she feels so uber connected to highschool days, even in the midst of enjoying college. Most kids are happy to move on, but in this program, a great many kids are even happier to return, time and time again.
By the way, there are 6 Artios Academies across the US (and counting). If you are nearby any of them, please try them out. My kids attended the Academy as young kids... attended the Prep program in their middle school years, and primarily focussed on the Arts Conservatory in their high school years.
I picked daughter up from school last Friday, at 4:30 sharp. It was the earliest she could get out of her on-campus job, and she had me high-tail it straight to the Artios Academies Hoe-down. It is a yearly square-dance fundraiser the "school" has every fall. Initially, she was coming home for a doctor's appointment on Monday morning, since she had a couple of days off (and a somewhat serious health issue), but as chance would have it, it was also hoe-down weekend, so that worked for her.
She was so excited to go that she had worn her cowboy boots and the ugliest square-dance skirt ever all day (at college), and she jumped in my care excitedly raring to go. So as any good mom would do, to make my kid deliriously happy, I drove her back to her old stomping grounds... and stayed there over 3 hours, even in my exhausted-from-driving-two-hours-each-way state.
She wasn't even the only post-graduatee there. There were about a dozen kids there who had graduated in the past 3 years, mixing in and enjoying themselves as if they were still living in homeschool land. I could see them refueling and soaking up the atmosphere and love of their homeschool family who they loved and missed. It was refreshing to see.
I even managed to reconnect with a few of my favorite homeschool parents from the past. I have to say, that in this group, I have always felt like a little bit of a sore thumb. I know that I don't necessarily mesh politically or even socially with this group, but the point is, my kid needed this program to become who she needed to be. My own comfort, I have always known, could and should be set aside for the sake of my child's growth and development. And even in that discomfort, I have still managed to find a few kindred souls.
As the night wore down and my kid stalled going home, closing down the party, she and her other previously graduated friends attempted to make plans to show up for "school" on Tuesday. I hated to disappoint, but since I hate driving at night and don't have powers of teleportation, I had to inform her that she could not visit/ i.e. disrupt Tuesday's lessons with her presence. It was time to return to the real world - back to college. She tried to protest and reminded me that this was her family... the place where she felt most at home, but I promised she could visit as much as possible during winter break, but she could not let it interfere with college.
I just feel like it says a whole lot about a school or program when your kid isn't happy to graduate (mine wanted to graduate, but then she didn't). It says even more when her heart doesn't want to move on and she feels so uber connected to highschool days, even in the midst of enjoying college. Most kids are happy to move on, but in this program, a great many kids are even happier to return, time and time again.
By the way, there are 6 Artios Academies across the US (and counting). If you are nearby any of them, please try them out. My kids attended the Academy as young kids... attended the Prep program in their middle school years, and primarily focussed on the Arts Conservatory in their high school years.
Your character will be judged by how you respond to disappointment
Sometimes things won't go your way. How will you respond? What will your reaction say about your character?
My daughter spent 6 years in a homeschool drama program. For the program to be successful, parents needed to be on board and needed to each have a role in keeping it successful. Some years I was the parent organizer. Some years I was in charge of costumes. I did the job I agreed upon regardless of the role my child received in the play, even though there were plenty of times I was less than enthused about it. Meanwhile, from time to time, there was a parent who backed out of their responsibility usually because they did not like the role their kid received in the play. I had little respect for such behavior.
I think my daughter was in about 11 plays over the years. In only 3 of those plays did she get a role that she sought and that we as parents thought she deserved. There may have been one other show where she got a role that was at least interesting. Still she took the punches like a champ. She never once complained and always embraced her role. As her parent, I did my best to keep my grumbling at home, and even out of her earshot. After the initial dismay and disappointment, I also embraced my role and and did my job.
Sure I could have balked and screamed and walked away, but that would not have been good for the club as a whole. If every disappointed parent and/or child walked away, the club would have very likely ended and we would have had to search elsewhere for drama club. Instead, everyone accepted the roles given for the most part, sucked it up, and embraced the show. Sure, some had less enthusiasm than others, but we did it, and the club continues to flourish.
There are things going on in government right now, that as far as I am concerned directly mirrors such a situation. But instead of people accepting that the die has been cast and embracing it, they are holding their breath, stomping, and shutting down the club.
They are showing poor character, and yes, I am judging them.
My daughter spent 6 years in a homeschool drama program. For the program to be successful, parents needed to be on board and needed to each have a role in keeping it successful. Some years I was the parent organizer. Some years I was in charge of costumes. I did the job I agreed upon regardless of the role my child received in the play, even though there were plenty of times I was less than enthused about it. Meanwhile, from time to time, there was a parent who backed out of their responsibility usually because they did not like the role their kid received in the play. I had little respect for such behavior.
I think my daughter was in about 11 plays over the years. In only 3 of those plays did she get a role that she sought and that we as parents thought she deserved. There may have been one other show where she got a role that was at least interesting. Still she took the punches like a champ. She never once complained and always embraced her role. As her parent, I did my best to keep my grumbling at home, and even out of her earshot. After the initial dismay and disappointment, I also embraced my role and and did my job.
Sure I could have balked and screamed and walked away, but that would not have been good for the club as a whole. If every disappointed parent and/or child walked away, the club would have very likely ended and we would have had to search elsewhere for drama club. Instead, everyone accepted the roles given for the most part, sucked it up, and embraced the show. Sure, some had less enthusiasm than others, but we did it, and the club continues to flourish.
There are things going on in government right now, that as far as I am concerned directly mirrors such a situation. But instead of people accepting that the die has been cast and embracing it, they are holding their breath, stomping, and shutting down the club.
They are showing poor character, and yes, I am judging them.
~In Memoriam~ RIP Democratic Process
The Democratic process is dead. A law was passed. How does congress have the right to hold the country hostage over it.
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12 grade year of homeschooling, Finishing Strong
We are almost done with my college prep series. There will still be a video on completing the transcript. Stay tuned... meanwhile, ...
