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Dear youngest homeschooler,
I look at your homeschool days and realize something. To many, I have failed you. One day you may even think that I failed you. Homeschooling by now is second nature to us, and in many ways, your “formal” education has fallen through the cracks.
To my youngest homeschooler, I’m sorry,
That your school gets pushed aside
That your portfolio is a ripped up folder instead of a photo scrapbook
Your books are worn out
That many of the fun activities I do with your sister are not that age appropriate for you
That you’ve been drug to co-ops and field trips since infancy
That you never got to truly nap
That you don’t know a life without school
That I rarely got to take you to storytime
That your sisters taught you your ABC’s
Dear youngest homeschooler, for all of the above, I am sorry. Truly sorry. However, I’m not sorry that,
You’ve been able to experience a life of learning.
That you’ve been coddled and loved on since birth.
That you have experienced things your sisters never got to.
That by the time I got to you I realized what worked and what didn’t.
That you have had more time for play-based learning
That the tears from homeschooling have been less often than your sisters.
That in some way I now “kind of” know what I am doing…
Dear youngest homeschooler, I am not sorry that you are here. I hope you know that you filled the ache of babyless days and that you have bene our loved and spoiled youngest child. Yes, your homeschool years may look different and for that I’m sorry, but believe me when I say that even though some may feel your education and our recordkeeping has been lacking 😉 The love we have for you has not!
*PS: Someday we will get caught up on that preschool portfolio. Maybe… *
Thank you!!
ohmygoodness – I could have written this, too, Misty! My “poor” #5 baby has SUCH a very different homeschool experience. But I do appreciate how you included the upside, too. It’s so easy for me to forget about those aspects…
If you haven’t already, hope you’ll consider sharing this at our Coffee and Conversation link party today! I just KNOW it’s a word of encouragement for at least one of our readers there… 😉
You are very welcome! So glad it encouraged you 🙂
I LOVE this! A great encouragement to me with my little ones who I feel like are missing so much “academic” learning – thank you for reminding me of all the truly good stuff they are experiencing in our home school!
Ha! My baby learned to read American Sign Language before he learned to read print, because his big sister was learning it and he just came ready. 😉