"Today is the first day of the rest of your life"
This really sounds very cheesy, but that's how it feels. My almost thirteen year old does not want to go to school. To be fair, it's not totally her fault. We slowly unschooled her without meaning to for the past year and a half. She attended, more or less, an alternative school for one year in the past school year, where attendance was not mandatory. She was happy there. She went regularly, at least 3 o 4 days a week, and occasionally all 5 days. Participated in all kinds of activities. But eventually, near the end of the school year, got bored and frustrated with the lack of curriculum and discipline at the school. Having friends wasn't enough. She had left the previous middle school because people were mean to her and the real bullying had started. I knew it could only get worse so the alternative school seemed the only "alternative" at the time. Then summer came and with it the separation of her dad and I. A second separation in 3 years. It must have affected her because she did not want to return to school at all. She wants to homeschool. She cleans the house, cooks, not all the time but regularly, I should be happy but I'm worried. As a now single mum working full time how do I "homeschool" properly? Is there such a thing? These has caused even more friction between her father and me.
So today I start this blog. It's the first day of I hope many days of thinking, planning, doing something about EDUCATING ERIKA. For those of a certain age this should be a familiar title, Educating Rita...the film with one of my favourite actors, Michael Caine.
Wish me luck!
