Monday June 15

I didn't blog on Friday because we didn't do too much. Connor went to Chess club, and then he left to go to Pennsylvania with his aunt and uncle for the weekend. Today we went to church, played Risk, studied Chinese, practiced guitar and went to Tae Kwon Do class. At Tae Kwon Do, one of the students (an adult) asked me quite a few questions about homeschooling. She wasn't being critical, she was just curious. She wanted to know if we take the summer off, just like "real" school. (The answer is no). I explained that although Connor is done with his Math, Geography and a few other subjects, he also takes guitar and Chinese, which he needs to continue all summer in order to progress. Reading is another activity we do every day, all summer long, and I hired a math tutor to work with Connor over the summer. In Tae Kwon Do class, Connor is extremely focused, attentive and driven; I think the woman was asking about homeschooling because she sees Connor at his best. What I find annoying is that I feel we are constantly being measured and evaluated because we are homeschoolers. Kind of a pain, but I guess it goes with the territory. I just need to memorize a standard answer to say when I get questions. I know that after Ken died, I just started saying, "I'd rather not talk about that." I simply got tired of giving out a long explanation to virtual strangers. People are curious and determined to offer their opinion, but I refuse to be put on the defense all the time. My family, and those who know Connor well, know that homeschooling is right for us at this time. It might not be right later, or for another child, but for us at this minute, it works.