Last week was the official end of homeschooling for my oldest daughter. She graduated. Literally while I was sleeping.
I am in the hospital battling blood infections and a few related problems. The timing for the teacher evaluation was set weeks ago, Friday. There was no turning back whether mommy was healthy or not. After all this is all about my beautiful daughter and HER education.
Our homeschooling journey has been unpredictable but I wouldn’t trade a second of it. I have loved homeschooling my precious first born.
Over the years things have changed drastically at first I was her teacher. Taking her by her hand and walking her step by step through each level of learning. Trying to encourage her to love the journey. But always with the vision in my mind and she just followed along.
My beautiful smart daughter had hiccups in her learning. Dyslexia. Mitochondrial encephalopathy. In her high school years a stroke!
She never let it stop her.
As she grew we transitioned from a teacher student relationship to mom becoming a guide. Walking along side my daughter and pointing out options rather than dragging her through hoops to finish, tests to take. Encouraging my daughter to create and take over the big dream of her own life.
Our family and homeschooling grew in ways I never even imaged possible. I thought I would hate raising a teen, that’s what culture says right?
Culture is wrong. I am deeply enjoying raising teens.
Friday when my daughter was to be evaluated for her graduation I was still in the hospital. We were going to use technology and have me Skype into the meeting. However the quirks of hospital life/scheduling happened. Minutes before the evaluation began I was taken to have a central line placed in my chest.
I was literally sleeping while my daughter graduated.
Not how I had it planned. Not how I had hoped things would turn out. In the end there is some comfort to know that it is my daughter taking this step into adulthood not mommy pushing her through the final hoop of childhood.
Having had the honor of watching a child blossom into young adult dealing with several special needs I can honestly and clearly tell you that homeschooling your child with special needs is a successful educational choice! It is a responsible choice!
Most of all it was the right choice for our wonderful daughter and family.
While I grieve that you are in the hospital again, my sweet friend, having to miss milestones like this, I am so thankful that you have built into your sweet kids’ lives all these years! What a legacy you have in them!