Homeschool to High School

When I'm wrong, I am not too proud to admit it.

Justin, I was wrong.

You have made me so incredibly proud, these past few months. You have taken on the responsibilities and pressures that come with attending high school, and you've taken them on with more maturity than I ever imagined. Obviously, there is always room for improvement, but I did NOT envision that you'd be taking the reins of your education this quickly.

When we started homeschooling you, I distinctly remember you declaring that you were "Never going back to school, ever again, EVER" and I took you at your word. You are, quite often, determined about your opinions, so I couldn't foresee the sudden switch that took place in 8th grade. You knew what you wanted and nobody would stop you from achieving your goal of going to high school, not even ME; that's pretty remarkable, especially for a pre-teen. I know this year has NOT been all sunshine and roses for you, with lots of surprises on what school would really be like, and we still argue at times and have wildly differing opinions on what is important/necessary/acceptable, BUT you are dedicated to your education and future in ways that make me marvel. You have become a pretty awesome teenager, with goals and plans of becoming an even more amazing man... Just writing that makes me tear up.

I don't tell you often enough, but I am PROUD of you. So is your dad. So are your grandparents. So are all of us who have watched you struggle through the years. I love you, and honestly don't care all that much about the grades you get this Finals Week because the effort you've invested is worthy of a solid A+ across the board.*

*NOTE, this does NOT give you free license to goof off. STILL STUDY.

Adjusting... quietly.

The elephant.

It's in the room.

I haven't mentioned the presence of its road-mapped skin for fear it could stampede in revolt (as elephants are known to do).

But the thing about elephants is that they are insanely difficult to ignore.

Especially when you are as tentatively optimistic as I feel right now.

So I'll whisper it, ever so softly, and perhaps the great beast will forgive my admission...

High school for my eldest is going well.

He's...succeeding.

(ducks and throws arms over head)

Academically, he's doing good, and I knew he would; my kid is incredibly intelligent and has an amazing memory. But also, he's thriving with the responsibility. He wakes without fuss, makes his lunch and leaves on time, every morning. He remembers his homework and does it all on time - EVERY day.

He has stated that his goal is to Ace every class, including P.E. So far? He's on the right track.

Most importantly, he has remained true to himself and has tried out a club, started private piano lessons* again, and still manages to walk up to bed, every night, without fail, at 10:30 - WITHOUT ANYone prompting or reminding him to.

Good God, did I just jinx myself? I am knocking on wood and tossing salt over my shoulder and doing that little "tou tou" spitty thing I see old ladies doing to ward off evil spirits (or is that what they do to put curses on people?). I am crossing my fingers AND all of my toes that he continues on this path.

And I am quietly returning to my chair in the corner and praying that my boasts remain truthful; hoping fervently that my joyful noises were hushed enough to allow that massive elephant to stay asleep...

*For about 18 months around 2nd grade, he took piano lessons and was something of a freaking musical prodigy but the issues he had back then led  to a series of events that caused us to let him walk away from piano. He came back to piano on his own this summer and is, once again, sailing through the lessons and skills.