It's a done deal. I'm no longer a homeschool mom.
Our youngest graduated last Saturday in a private ceremony here at our house.
Private in that no other students graduated with him, but not at all exclusive. We invited many people who've had an impact on N's life. From church, from his baseball team, from neighbors and long time friends...and of course, the relatives...we estimate about sixty people crowded into our home. The original plan was to have the ceremony in the house with a huge Italian themed supper in the gardens. An inch of rain (on top of several that week) nixed that idea. Instead we moved furniture, set up tables, and had a cozy buffet supper indoors. Purple and gold abounded.
We had a little fun with the ceremony, using the traditional words of a wedding ceremony to begin...dearly beloved, we've gathered here to unite N with his diploma...if there are any objections. GRIN Of course, I had to demand he turn in his last research paper. wink, wink. We asked a couple of long time friends to share a few stories and thoughts, then opened the floor to others. Several people, including big brother, K, shared funnies and sweet sentiments. Finally, after a few closing thoughts from my husband and me, N was officially graduated.
It was a blast! Literally, in that we set off a selection of fireworks after dark...but also worth every hour of time we put into planning, prepping, and implementing...just like homeschooling. Lots of work, but worth the effort.
Mmmmmm...ice cream sundae bar. Sweet fun.
Even though I've been looking forward to this day for a while, I still can't quite believe that my official homeschool days are done. Whatever will I do with my time now? ;0)
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8 Other Creative Souls are Saying:
It was a beutiful ceremony Debbie, but I know what you can do with your time now. You must mentor mom's like me who are just starting this fabulous journey called home education, after all you are a PRO! Love ya!
That looks like great fun. Congratulations to mom and son.
What a great way to celebrate a graduation! Congrats to your son.
CONGRATULATIONS to the graduate, and to YOU Deb! That looks awesomely lovely and I may take some hints from you - John will graduate probably this fall. I love your pictures of the event!
Congrats Deb - no doubt a job well done. Bet you'll be able to fill up that time in a million new ways. Or just sit and contemplate, create, and write.
Plus, they graduate but keep coming back, and coming back, and coming back - older, wiser, and admitting that maybe YOU knew something after all.
Thanks for sharing the pics. Now, where's my ice cream?
Joanne
Congrats...to both of you!! Sounds like it was a fun time despite the rain. And what would a Mc gathering be without fireworks?! :)
It looks like you a wonderful celebration -- what are your son's plans? Jan
What a lovely way to mark such an important milestone!
I may direct Jennifer to you as a resource. Ben is 4 but won't be starting Kindergarten till Fall 2010. But she is going to homeschool which I see more and more as very important in the scary "indoctrination" climate I see in so many of our public schools.
She has been doing research and gathering materials for a couple of years now. I'm impressed. I don't know that I could have done it, but being overseas so much, we were fortunate to have had access to very good private international or
American schools which were very "community" oriented. Our best experience was (overseas) Stavanger American School in Norway - best domestic experience was the Katy ISD in Katy, TX - so many members of the church were teachers!
Worst experience? Definitely the International School of Port of Spain in T&T. Domestically, it was the public schools in St. Tammeny Parish north of New Orleans - thank goodness we were there only a few months or I would have had to figure out an alternative!
Perhaps you can avail yourself as a homeschool teaching resource for those who are thinking about it but don't have the confidence/direction/leadership to begin such a venture? it's a thought!
Anyway, congrats to you all again.
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