Back to School
Filed Under: Homeschooling, Parenting
When I was school-age, September was a time of renewal. I enjoyed getting new school clothes, a new haircut, and the hippest Trapper-Keeper-type school supplies. I cleaned and purged my bedroom. I planned for weeks what I would wear for the first day of school. I looked forward, with a mix of excitement and apprehension, to a new year of social and educational experiences.
That yearly cycle stuck with me for many years after I finished my schooling. This September, seeing the back to school ads in newspapers and on TV, and reading blog posts about Moms tearing up while their little ones climbed aboard the school bus, it hit me. September is no longer the “start” of my year.
We don’t follow a curriculum or schedule that begins in September and ends in June. And because my children are not going “back to school,” we don’t have the ritual of buying new clothes and school supplies. We do have schedule changes that are related to sporting activities (because they mostly run on a “school year” basis), but I don’t have that cathartic feeling I used to have every September. And I’m happy about that. For me, it means that I’m engaging my children and encouraging learning all the time - not just by the calendar or the bell.
PHAT = Parenting, Homeschooling And Technology. That about sums up my life at the moment. 
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Jenny | Sep 18, 2006 | Reply
I never understood how homeschooling works and such. I’ve never been. But I remember the Trapper Keeper hunts and the Disney Princess notebooks and school supplies I forced my mom to buy me. When I go back to school (college) I don’t know what I am gonna do.
Chrissy | Sep 18, 2006 | Reply
I too had this same lightbulb moment this year. We had a not back to school party and it was a shock to me that it was back to school time! Although gotta love those cheap art supplies! Smiles
Lydia | Sep 19, 2006 | Reply
Yes, yes, in a way, I am glad too. Because after that anxiety and anticipation, the actual school year was inevitably a let down. But in some ways I miss the rituals — we did go shoe shopping. But no Trapper Keepers. Hehehe. Wasn’t it always true that the perfect Trapper Keeper would fix your life in every way?
sandy | Sep 19, 2006 | Reply
Big yay for making learning apart of living and not something with a start and a stop.
We don’t homeschool and don’t have plans to as the kids get older and actually “school age” vs “preschool.” Of course, I mean that in the literal sense. We do quite a bit of learning and intellecutal growth at home - and always will. We will have starts and stops to desks and teachers. . .but not to learning. We strive to make learning a part of each day - not just for our kids but ourselves - and that is how it ought to be, no?
Trying to understand | Sep 20, 2006 | Reply
How long do you plan on home schooling? I don’t agree with home schooling, but that is based on my not understanding of it. Maybe through knowledge I will support it, and maybe I still won’t.
Doctor Homeschool | Sep 20, 2006 | Reply
I must admit that I miss the back-to-school ritual. Call me materialistic, but I enjoy purchasing the crayons, glue and paper at the beginning of the “school” year. This is the time I choose to stock my homeschool supplies. It fills that void. However, I wouldn’t trade homeschooling for anything and am happy that our school year is not determined by when the school supplies are put on display at Target. Enjoyed your post.