“Back to school” is a funny phrase when it’s your “first to school.” Ruby is our big kindergarten girl and we tried out a few school festivities that I hope may turn into back to school traditions.

Ruby and I had a back to school shopping date together. Since it was a “date” Ruby requested that she get to wear lip stick and mascara too. And I agreed to the happy occasion.

To wrap up the back to school festivities we had a back to school dinner of hot dogs, corn on the cob and chocolate milk. (Chocolate milk taste like happy childhood moments and felt ever so appropriate)

I made crowns for the stars of the dinner- my babies. I want them to know how special they are and worth celebrating, hence the crowns! School and learning is, and always will be, the adventure worth taking.

Marc and I felt that “Have Courage and Be Kind” would make a good theme for our school year.

A picture of my Love and the cautiously optimistic homeschool teacher. I have such mixed feelings about homeschool. I loved going to school growing up. I love learning, the spark of curiosity, and the miracle of small things growing. (Watching seeds grow in to small plants always amazes me) When my kids were little I had the small wish and prompting to homeschool them. But now that actually homeschooling is here I have been working hard to not let my fear swallow my joy and excitement: fear of failing, fear of depriving them of a thing I loved in public education, fear of the cultural stigma of being a “weird homeschool family,” fear of my own stubbornness, fear of Ruby’s stubbornness.

But I love watching Ruby when she makes connections in the baby steps we have already made in reading and writing. She lights up entirely. And that fills my cup more than anything I have found. Plus, I selfishly hate the idea of another teacher getting the best hours of every weekday with her. And this nudging feeling for the last several years (years) that homeschool is something we needed to try. And so here we are.