Science honors and homeschooing

Along with everything else around my yard, my list of things which need to be done is blooming and expanding quickly.  The days are flying by and as all gardeners know, the time sensitive "must do's" take priority. 

Add to that the worst allergy season I can remember, household responsibilities, and time spent on campus... some things are obviously not going to get done... so don't be surprised if a couple days go by before I can say hello again.  :)

We attended the reception for honors students in the Science Department over the weekend at the University.  As I looked around at the large crowd, I texted Stephanie that I had just realized her dad and Christopher were dressed alike and that her hubby would fit right in (with most of the others in the crowd).  She texted back, saying they must be wearing khaki slacks and a blue shirt... yepparroo... (and navy blazers for our guys).  After all, these people are nerd-ish and darn proud of it.  :)

As I listened to the plans for the senior honorees... which included further education at places like Harvard and MIT, jobs at prestigious companies, etc.... I stood amazed at how God works.  As late as Christopher's junior year of homeschooling, I was concerned about him getting INTO college with his dislike of certain important subjects like math.  Little did I know he would end up on the Dean's List and in the Honors Program of one of the most difficult science curriculum in the country.

For someone who hadn't taken "real" tests until the community college or filled out a lab report, he has caught on quickly.  A friend who has helped tutor him the last couple of years was impressed by how he has learned to study during his freshman year.  Of course, when one spends hours and hours and hours studying each day... one will become very good.  :)

He's the president of one of the science clubs on campus, has a leadership position in another, and is in the midst of interviewing for a couple internships this summer (we're praying the research internship on campus goes through!).  He just found out yesterday he has been given a scholarship for next year, in addition to the grant money... which looks like next year is paid for if he again lives at home.

As I had plenty of time to ponder during the reception, I thought of all the flack we have taken through the years.  First in our decision to pull Christopher out of the public schools for good through the decision to have him take an additional year at the community college for additional math and science studies... with lots of opinions and finger pointing in between. 

Yes, Christopher will graduate later than friends his age due to that additional year at the community college (we spent the money to have him take his senior year of high school there, too) but when he entered University, he was well prepared for excellence.  The entire cost of a semester at the community college is the same as only one class at the University.

Of course, I believe he would not be who he is today if not for the homeschooling journey.  We took him out of the public schools after a disastrous first grade, homeschooled second grade, put him back in the public schools third grade only to realize he had been "labeled" as stupid.  I wonder what they would think of him now.

At the end of third grade, we dusted the public school sand off our feet... turned our backs... said goodbye to the nice teachers (which were most of them) and good riddance to the two or three who made his life and ours miserable... and began the marathon run of homeschooling all the way through high school.

I know homeschooling is not for everyone and I've seen it done badly as well as great but I am so happy we made that journey.  It was very hard work, especially when Christopher was still quite young and we worked through the ADHD symptoms.  But it became a source of great joy as the years went on and the lifestyle of our family became that of a homeschooling family.  Our life has been greatly blessed and expanded beyond anything we ever imagined at the beginning of the journey.

Now... all these years later... my grandchildren are being homeschooled by their mommy.  Times goes so fast... or as I often tell my husband, "Tempus Does Fugit".

Now, I must make my way to the wheelbarrow to move compost to the garden and make the time later to bake a cake for my husband's birthday tomorrow.  A load of laundry must be thrown in the washer and dishes set to soaking before going outside.  Lots to do and all just a little at a time.

Picture: Jesse Wilcox; allposters.com