Starting School

School has officially started for the Roberts Family. We waited very impatiently all last Wednesday for the fed-ex truck, and when it arrived I ran outside to offer the driver assistance with the large boxes. It turned out that the boxes were much too heavy for me to carry. The man laughed at me and said, "So...You're a teacher? These your textbooks?" I shook my head and told him that I was the student, we were homeschooled, and I was only fifteen. "Well, I've never seen a kid so happy to get some school books," He replied. Then he drove away, leaving me and Momma to haul the boxes inside. We immediately began the sorting and shuffling of more that one hundred books and papers. It took all night to finish the project, and after we were done the books were forgotten. We still had a few weeks of summer right?

Yesterday I was woken up at eight (Yes, I'm complaining. This will probably make all those people who have to get up at six want to throw things at me.). Momma told me that school started today. We were pretty excited, but felt like summer shouldn't be over quite yet (Again, I shouldn't complain. Most of my friends started back weeks ago.). Emma and Claire got through their first day with no fits.

Today was a different story. Emma woke up in a bad mood, and it all went downhill from there. Momma tried persuading, and, when that didn't work, spanking. Momma has no tolerance for nonsense when it comes to school work. Emma ended up having to do all of her work in the office, under the supervision of Momma. Claire seemed fine all morning until I started school with her. I tried to stay calm, but I regret to say that I failed. She flopped on the floor, screeched her chair on the tiles, and wailed over me so she couldn't hear my instructions. After ten minutes of this I had completely lost my cool. Claire had ten minutes of time out. And, yes, she did come back and do the school work. Did you really think I would let her have her way just because she screamed a lot?

When the morning meltdowns were over, we had a good day. I finished all of my school work for the day in less than two hours. I now know what the words bipartisan, monolithic, and unilateral mean. The girls finished their work so they got to ride the four wheelers. Claire will do much better tomorrow, and Emma is excited about science.

Even after all the crying and fighting, I enjoyed today. I get to spend my days with three of the people I love most in the world. We learn new things, and, more importantly, we learn them sitting right beside each other. When we finish school we get to spend time together. I wouldn't trade that time with my family for anything. I'll be going to college in less than two years, and I won't ever get the chance for this kind of bonding with them again. I couldn't think of a better way to spend my days. Homeschooling is the most rewarding and wonderful thing I've ever experienced.

-Kate