In tribute to my 37th birthday, I reflected on my life. Life has taken me to so many places I’ve never imagined. Homeschooling was not something I thought of ever doing with my family. Eleni’s piano teacher first brought it up me when she was 5 years old and thought to myself, I would be out of my mind to be doing something like that!
The other day I was having coffee with a friend (another homeschool mom) and as we chatted for 3 hours, we went through curriculum talks, enrichment classes, what to expect when my kids become teenagers, updates on public schools, sharing reasons in why we opted out on public school and shared stories of where we are now as a homeschooling mom. It’s her first year homeschooling her middle school kids and my 2nd year, but we shared some similar personal issues. One topic brought my attention and got me thinking about it for a few days. How as a homeschooling mom I’ve changed in my lifestyle.
Three years ago, I would simply drop the kids off school and the hours they were in school were golden. I mean, it was a time where I would spend for myself. Gym, coffee, shopping, groceries, pampering, last minute errands, and more would be within these hours. There are some things I still do in that list but it doesn’t come easy any more. Maybe some things I had to give up forever.
Now my “women’s who lunch” idea has disappeared almost completely because I no longer have this time. It’s definitely a luxury time and I no longer have that. I appreciate it these hours so much more when I do get the chance to have a lunch with my friends or any social activity. But now, I started to feel guilty of time. Time is valued so much more at a different level. As a homeschooling mom it is really hard to balance your personal time separate from family time to let’s take things a bit more serious when we are working time. There are no breaks from each other what so ever other than the 2 days they go to co-op school. Let me tell you, those 2 days are pretty damn glorious because I really cram every single possible thing you can imagine in those 5 hours. But even still then I find myself doing what teachers would be doing researching in materials and what else I can do to upgrade their learning experience. After all, I did signed myself to do it the harder way so I better make it worth it right?
So, in result I’ve noticed myself changing. I’ve changed of way I look at my life, my children, and our future. It’s funny how perspective changes when your circumstances changes. I spend less and less time for myself, but I’m totally okay with that. At least for now.
In the past I worked in the fashion industry in a corporate brand, family business, then trying my own business. During the time, I was passionate of my career and this idea of myself being a career women and belonging to a group was important. Today, I found another passion. Homeschooling my children gave me this passion. There is nothing more gratifying feeling than to see the tree bear its fruits. I’m invested in my children and their education and it makes me happy to literally see their progress step at a time. Knowing exactly where they stand in life today and helping them prepare in what is to come. I know that I won’t be here forever and there will come a day where they will make their own choices, but by then I hope that all this work will help their minds to make the right decisions. We all know we can’t shelter completely but we can train a mind to think. This is my ultimate goal in life for them.
