Today is the first day of our training program to conform to the schedule of the institution known as school. One of my favorite things about homeschooling and what kept me going even when other parts were tedious was the luxury of sleeping in. None of this getting up while it was still dark to get ready for the bus – I would smile sleepily from under the covers as I heard the slapping of sneakers on pavement as kids ran past our house to beat the 8am bell.
Until now. A week from this moment my three will have their happy behinds in real chairs at real desks (or maybe they’ll be at lunch on an actual playground) and I will be wondering what to do with all this extra time that life has handed me for the next few months. I’m sure I’ll be rubbing my bleary eyes wondering why the day feels so long when it’s only 11 am and debating whether it counts as napping if I go back to sleep after the bus leaves.
Since we’re easing into things we got up at 7am. Except I really need to ease into the easing into part too, so I woke up at 7, but didn’t open my eyes until 7:20. Then I pulled my netbook into bed and checked my email/facebook/bank account/entertainment news. You know, all the important stuff. Finally, I got up and staggered into the shower and then sat around in a fog for the next two hours, wondering how normal people do this before 10am every day.
I briefly considered having Lucy be the “morning mom” and embracing the role of “nighttime mom,” but that would certainly add years to the amount of therapy they’re already going to need, so I’ll probably end up being the morning figurehead while Lucy does the heavy lifting. Just call me the Queen of England, backed by a Parliament of one.
After we were all up and dressed and fed (I made breakfast the night before – baked French Toast with caramel made from scratch. See? All my best work happens at night) we sat around yawning at each other with nothing to do and no motivation to do it. Good thing we have six more days to practice.