Changes, changes

The school year is coming to an end. While I'm very excited about this it also means change is in the wind. I'm not one for change. I know it's a part of life but I get very comfortable with things the way they are. I'm looking forward to having Jonathan home for the summer so that I can have all the kids together again. It's been great in some ways to have had him up at the local school and in others hard as I don't feel like we have the time I'd like together after he gets home. While the other two are done with all their school work by 3, Jonathan is just getting home and still has to complete homework and his chores. By the time that is over (since he fights doing his chores) I'm in the kitchen making dinner and then it's off to evening activities then bed. So, I miss the time we used to have all together. I hope summer lets us be together more often.

The biggest change happening this year is that Nathaniel has decided he wants to attend the local middle school for 7th grade next year. I have a lot of mixed up feelings about this. I figured I would be teaching him at home through middle school also then letting him decide for high school what he wanted to do. At the beginning of this year he announced he was wanting to attend Mt View next year. That came out of the blue and took me a little bit to get used to. I'm glad he warned me at the beginning of the year :) Though I've been able to not think about it most of the year. However, we just had to fill out his registration forms for Mt View and the other day was my last conference call with his teacher from ORCA who has been working with him for the last four years. I tried very hard not to get emotional over the phone with her :) Ms. Bartosz has been wonderful for him and very supportive. It's been great to work with the same teacher all this time as she's really gotten to know him. I feel like Nathaniel has really grown this year, both academically and as a person. He's mellowed out quite a bit and is such a great calming influence in our home. Now he's going away :( I know I make it sound so final. Like I said I get used to things and don't like to see those things change. Nathaniel has been such a tremendous help to me while he's been home and I don't want to lose that. I'm just being selfish there. It's been rather nice to run to the store really quick and let him stay home with the other two. He has very much enjoyed this new responsibility and I have very much enjoyed letting him grow in that responsibility :) I love watching Nathaniel's interaction with Seth. Some days Seth's toddler antics really get to Nathaniel but for the most part they get along great and Nathaniel is very loving toward his little brother. I'm afraid some of that will be lost when it's time for him to be gone most of the day.

I am looking forward to having only ONE child being schooled at home. Since we started with ORCA I've always had two children to work with. So, another change. I hope Elizabeth doesn't get tired of me and doesn't get too bored with her older brothers being gone for most of the day. I am looking forward to having more time with just her and Seth, and, fingers crossed, maybe a little extra time for myself and some projects I've been putting off :) HA! I am worried about the curriculum next year as they are changing it. A big reason Jonathan chose to go back was because they had changed the higher grades this year. The 4th grade stuff was just too hard and so confusing. Nothing seemed to tie together. I couldn't even follow where they were going with the lessons!! The only class he really enjoyed was the math! So, new 2nd grade books, another change to deal with. It's been really nice not having to read her stuff this year as I've already been through it twice. I just hope they are better then the 4th grade stuff or we will have to look at other options.

Anyway, some big changes around the corner. I know my kids will be fine, I'm more worried about me and handling it all without losing it :)