Thursday, July 08, 2010

Mommy's Good Old Days - 3rd Grade

This post is part 5 in a 15 week series sponsored by Mommy's Piggy Tales that encourages women to record their youth. Week five's assignment is age 8/3rd grade.

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Third grade was a year of changes for me. My oldest brother was beginning his senior year at the Christian school I attended and my other brother, who was to enter 7th grade and I were ceremoniously told that we would be homeschooled. What ?! Homeschooled?!

I guess I knew what homeschooling was, at least I don't remember it being explained to me, but in our large church, which ran the Christian school I attended, almost all of the kids I knew went to school with me. I couldn't imagine what it was going to be like to have to stay home everyday while my friends were at school.

My mom tried her best to make the school day as typical and normal as what my brother and I were used to. She made us dress for school (I even had to wear a skirt!) and we rearranged part of the kitchen to house our school books and papers. We started the day off with the Pledge of Allegiance and she told us to call her "Mrs. (insert maiden name here)" instead of "Mom". Needless to say, that lasted all of about 2 hours and we went back to calling her "mom" from then on. And we quit dressing up for school, although mom wouldn't let us do schoolwork in our pajamas.

The year went by quickly. I enjoyed the freedom that homeschooling provided, and I was usually done with my work by early after lunch. I played outside more and ran errands with my mom and stood silently by her side while strangers questioned why my brother and I weren't in school. Homeschooling, by no means a new trend in the late 80's, was still not as common as today, so most people assumed we were truant when they saw us in the grocery store at 10 AM.

I missed my friends that year, specifically my best friend Stephanie, but our friendship survived on seeing each other on Sunday and occasional sleepovers. My mom decided that homeschooling was not her calling in life and the next year my brother and I were enrolled again in our old school. I don't regret losing that year at my Christian school, except for missing out on an amazing teacher that all my classmates raved about. But overall, I enjoyed the experience of being homeschooled and I think it made me just a little bit more willing to try it with my own kids.

5 comments:

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

So fun to read from this home school mom of 22 years! I wonder how my children will tell their story one day...LOL. Always fun to hear about others that home schooled so long ago.
Fun to hear all the stories and memories
Enjoyed

Missy said...

I don't know if my first comment went through or not, so I'll try again.

I really enjoyed this post. It reminded me of cozy warm family kitchens. :-)

Ginny Marie said...

I have to say, I admire anyone who home schools! It is definitely a challenge. Sounds like your year at home was a lot of fun!

gianna said...

You can do anything once. I heard that somewhere (I think I was in college). How interesting. I wonder why your mom decided to try homeschooling you!
Anyway, at least it was a positive experience in the long run!

Linda C said...

I am enjoying your series of growing up memories, Donette! :)

Looking forward to more!

Linda