Things I love to do

As I try to figure out what I am going to do with my life, since my kids don't need me anymore, I have been taking time to really, really, look at what I love to do.  Here's my list:

1.  I love being at home.  I am not the best housekeeper, and I don't really like to cook, but I like being here, available for my family.  Not just my kids, but my in-laws, nieces and nephews.  Let's not forget hubby.  I like being needed.... by people I actually care about.

2.  I like being involved in education and helping kids make educational breakthroughs.  I still don't know how I can make any money doing this, but it is not something I want to give up.

3. I love theatre design work!  A. Whole. Lot.  It plays into my strengths as an artist, which is what I studied in school, and I love the temporary nature of it.  You plan a show, you design the clothes and set, it gets used, and it goes away.  It is very project based, and I excel in this area.

4.  I love architecture. I'm considering real-estate and a profession... maybe.

I am going to encourage all of you homeschool moms to go ahead and make a list now, and not wait until your homeschooling days are almost done before you consider yourself and how you want to spend your time.  I feel like I should have thought about this at least a year ago, so I could begin to find a position working part time in a theatre or apprenticing or something.  Now I am behind the 8-ball and feel the need to get a job doing anything while figuring it all out.




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My best rules for getting a homeschooler into college

Thought I'd share an article I just wrote on Rules for getting your homeschooled child into college.

enjoy.



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ahermitt.com

Homeschooling chores I will no longer have to do

I just got an email about paying for registration for next year's homeschool program.  I stared at it for a minute, wondering when I should pay and then realized.... I'm done with that.  No more homeschool classes.  Wow.

Other things that I won't be doing anymore... with my kids anyway:

• Late night curriculum preparations, so kid can start homeschooling at a decent time the next morning. 
• Driving an hour for a 1 hour class or rehearsal, then driving back home. 
• Hanging out in coffee shops to kill time while my kids are in classes.
• Deciding between a traditional science class, or letting the child explore science from cooking or nature.  

She's chosen a college

This has been a crazy month.  We began with a serious illness for both of us, and her Flu turning into a sinus infection that made it near impossible to sing.  That sucked big time because she had competitions coming up and kind of dictated having a voice.

The first competition was a bust, but the scholarship competitions went well.  Both colleges awarded enough scholarship money to cover tuition, leaving us with only room and board.  One college however, (the parent's favorite) is less expensive, and there are some additional smaller awards that will take the balance all the way down!

So we are done for now.  She is going to a Women's college with an intimate drama program to give her more of the grounding we think she needs to compete on a higher level.  At some point in the

That was fast! (scholarship update)

Less than 2 days after auditioning for a theater scholarship, my daughter was informed that she'd won THE full-tuition theater scholarship.  One of these are given out a year.

This is not a huge theater school, but they have a respectable department, plus this school makes it possible for students to double major... daughter would double major in history.  

We are still waiting to hear from the school she auditioned for the week before.  They have an excellent theater program, but if she goes there, she will live and breathe theater and nothing more... not even a minor.

I bet you can guess which one we as parents are rooting for.


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Three weeks down, one to go

Originally, my daughter had 3 weeks in a row of performances.  There was 1 competition, then two scholarship weekends.  Well my daughter has tacked another competition on the end.  The logic behind that is that she has performed the same Shakespeare piece 3 weeks in a row... why not go ahead and perform it at the Georgia Shakespeare Festival, where it is most likely to be appreciated?

In the meanwhile, we are waiting to hear from the two colleges about the theater scholarship awards.  We also need to focus and get back into full homeschooling mode.  I feel like we are falling behind.

FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE
ahermitt.com

Doing more for me

I've resisted joining a gym for a long time.  The last time I belonged to one was when we lived in New Orleans, in 2000.  I also did Taekwondo from 2001-2004, which was more rigorous than joining a gym, but nevertheless, it has been 10 years since I made my fitness a priority... and it shows.

I am starting off with water aerobics, which I can already feel is strengthening my core.  I do that 4 mornings a week... and I will start going with my husband in the evenings for treadmill and weights in a reasonable amount of time... when my body stops aching from just doing the Aquafit class.  Fortunately the gym is literally around the corner, so it will be easy to come and go as we please.

Originally, I discouraged my husband from joining the gym since we have a fitness room in our own basement that we don't use, but so far, I am very happy that he ignored me and joined the gym anyway.  ... so thanks hun.  It's a family membership, so my daughter is going too and my son plans to take advantage of it whenever he is home.

FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE
ahermitt.com