School of Smooches no more

 

Never before, have I heard Carlos say, “Mom, I really like school!” Even hearing those words tonight was a little bit shocking! Never would I have thought that I would be hearing them! Sending Carlos to “real school” has been an amazing blessing for him and our family.

Late last fall, Stephen and I knew that we needed to make some pretty big changes in Carlos’ education plan. Every day was a huge struggle and he was learning basically nothing because he was too busy trying to get the upper hand with me and everything was a fight! Carlos has always thrived on a schedule and with four other kids at home having a rigid-never-changing schedule is virtually impossible. So we started praying and I started researching. We visited several schools, but when we went to RVCS, something just seemed to click. In March, Carlos went for a day of school and while it was a bit overwhelming for him, the teacher emailed me to say that he had done very well. It took a couple of visits with the principle, mounds of paperwork and finally mid-summer it was settled……..Carlos was accepted as a student!

That was bitter-sweet.

Stephen and I are committed evaluating our educational plan every year with each of our children and while we are not die-hard homeschoolers, I’ve always felt that we would homeschool all of our kids for all of their school years. And to be honest it felt a little like failure. But failure is not always a bad thing, because in our failures something new can be born……if we are humble enough to admit and accept that failure and press on to something new.

The sweet part of this change…….I knew that this was a needed change. Since a lot of our conflict comes from my role as teacher, removing that aspect would allow Carlos and me to work on our, more important, mother-son relationship. It would give me more time to teach my younger children and a respite from conflict. A desperately needed respite!

I just didn’t realize how “sweet” this sweet would be!! Yes, the first few weeks were tough, so much adjustment, and yes, after 9 weeks he was in deficiencies in two classes, but based on his past performance I was sure he would be failing most of his classes (yeah, some kind of hopeful mom I am!!)!! And then tonight he says how much he is enjoying school…..that is truly amazing! Only God, only God!!

One thing that made Carlos’ adjustment to school easier was soccer. In July he started going to open field practice and was able to meet his classmates (the boys anyway) in a low-key environment where he really succeeds. Going to school that first day was not so overwhelming…… being the new kid because he knew all “old” kids already! And talk about soccer, Carlos had a phenomenal first year! He learned so much from the coaches. He learned to play with a team, not “be” the team. He had a couple of tough practices at the beginning where the coach really worked him hard, but it was so good for him and made him a much better player. This past weekend Carlos’ team was in the regional finals and won the championship game……Carlos scored all three regulation goals! It was an exciting game that went into double overtime and then penalty kicks.

 

 

Lest you thing that “real” school has resolved all hardship, conflict and difficulties……which it hasn’t…….. or that since my kid is in school most of the day he does not need a parent…….which he does………or that perhaps we never have homework issues……which we do……..but despite all these things our home is peaceful. Something that we’ve not had for over 3 years! The peace is so restful. We are blossoming at home and my son is blooming at school.