Spring and Homeschooling

I know this isn't the first time these words have been uttered: Isn't Spring so refreshing? It is. It really is. And you know what, even though I am still coughing like an 80 year old smoker I am feeling pretty good. The sky is bright blue and the trees are blooming and the sun is shining. It's too hot already. In the high 70's. Yet, I still feel like I am back in high school every time I step outside. I can smell the grass and feel the cold, March, Idaho breeze. I still have a callous on my finger from throwing the discus and I miss it! I miss throwing. I want to feel limber and powerful again. Not that I threw very far ever, but I threw it farther than most girls could, or would at least. I remember being sassy to Coach Arnt and my Dad. My Dad was great. He was always there helping us out and teaching us the proper form. My last name got me some street cred in the track arena. Nate held the school record, my Great Uncle LJ was an olympic thrower, and my Dad always came to teach us how to spin and throw better with impeccable form.

The bus rides to the meets were always fun too. Wearing my track uniform and my throwers sweats (we got matching sweats, mmhmm), with my portable CD player, sunflower seeds, lunchable, beef jerky, and powerade. Jenny and I would lay on a blanket if it was warm or bundle up under one together if it was cold. We would chat about boys and school and whatever else. Meghan showed up I think junior or senior year and we would chat about everything too: Led Zeppelin, religion, photography, and laugh our heads off about stuff that probably makes no sense to anyone else. It was grand. There was also the furtive glances at the cute track boys and flirting outrageously with the guys we were friends with.

Also, getting out of school early was pretty awesome.

I don't have a single picture of me throwing the discus. So, if anyone reading this just happens to (*cough* MOM!)I need it!

Talking about this brings up some things I have been pondering a bit when it comes to Atrion. See, I had an amazing childhood and teenage experience. I had awesome friends all along the way (except maybe in 7th grade when I switched schools for the year). I got teased and bullied, but I was able to stand up for myself or get over it. And it never got too bad. Not as bad as it gets these days. I also was a bully a couple of times, sadly. But I think that's how it goes with kids. Kids are pretty mean. I had an awkward stage. Which is lucky. I mean, you have to have one right?

Told ya it was awkward. Haha. This was my 9th grade picture. I was turning 15. I look like a turtle or something. The popular hairstyle was short like this but the girls could all get theirs to poof in the right places and look all nice but mine just looked like this. Oh well. Hair has never been my strong suit. Luckily, I grew it out and kept it that way for the most part.
Anyways, back to what I was saying. I have amazing memories and experiences of being able to have sleep overs and fun parties in elementary school. Every weekend our group consisting of Meghan Underwood, Anne Blackwood, Allyson Emmons, Sarah Pratt, and Alicia Egbert would do something fun like go to a movie or Skateland and then go to each others house for a sleep over. If we weren't all able to sleep over then we would pair off usually. I have great memories at every one of these girls houses.
Then their was my church friends. These girls were my rock. I had Kristin Allen and Jennifer Brown, and Rachelle Larson. Plus all the young women in my group and leaders. Jenny and I were inseparable most of our school years. I basically grew up at Kristin's house in the summer time and a lot of weekends. Rachelle was a year younger then me but we were bus friends and I would sometimes have to go to her house to catch the bus when I missed it. We were also in 4H together. This picture goes: Me, Kristin, Jenny. We are at Rachelle's house for mutual and my Gingerbread house collapsed. Also, this is a trademark Silvester facial expression. Some day I am going to make a video montage of all our facial expressions.

I also had my t-ball/softball team. Angela Silvaz and Brittany Hunzeker and Shannon Helsley. Early morning practices when the grass is slippery from the dew. Late games where there is barely a peek of sunshine on the horizon. Capri Suns and hostess snacks for after the game. Don getting mad when I don't run to second base.

Okay, okay. So my point is...the world is so much more dangerous and wicked and evil than it was in my day. I have decided to homeschool Atrion, but I don't want that to rob him of making as good of friends as I did in those days. I am happy that most of my friendships existed outside of school like with church, and baseball, but I also made connections in those areas because I knew them from school too. It's a difficult decision because I want him to have great experiences that he will cherish like I do, but I also know that it can go directly the opposite way. It's not all about being bullied. It's also about the kinds of things teachers teach (and are forced not to teach) in school. Plus, I love spending time with him and getting to explore places with him and watch the light bulbs go on. I think at a certain point it will be his decision whether he wants to go to public (or private) school or not, but for awhile at least I am going to teach him from home. I just don't trust the school system enough to give them my child who is so impressionable and mold-able and sweet and innocent. If all teachers were like my mom and all school systems weren't trying to make cuts and cuts and more cuts, then maybe I would consider it. But for now, it's a privilege to think I could be his teacher. Either way, I am his teacher. Always.
Also, please don't think I am bashing teachers. I love teachers. I want to be a teacher someday. A late bloomer teacher, but that's the way I roll. I have several teachers who helped shape me. I also have several teachers who I would love to tell off even now. But that's because I am fiery and they were wrong. But mostly, my school experiences were great.

I hope Atrion has a great childhood and that I can teach him to be strong enough to know who he is and what he stands for. I hope I can instill in him the virtues that will make him a good man, husband, and father. I hope the world isn't cruel to him, but if it is, I hope he is strong enough to know that this life isn't all there is. Our Heavenly Father has a plan for him and I am so excited to be a part of it.