Fantasies

Yesterday I was reading the Stanford application guidelines for homeschoolers. Yes, I'm probably way ahead of myself here, but hey - a girl can have fantasies right?

One thing I thought was cool (though I wonder if it is really true): Stanford admissions doesn't just look at what you have accomplished or what you know, they want to hear about the student's learning process. They want to know that the applicant is curious, interested, even passionate about learning. It even states something like, "This is not 'the one with the most and highest AP test scores wins'". I guess they are wanting students who will continue zealously pursuing their studies - not just kids who "got into Stanford". I like that.

But one question they ask homeschooling students to answer in the application essay is how and why did your family decide to homeschool. Now, excuse me, but ARG was four when I decided to homeschool. Isn't it a little weird that a question more appropriately addressed to the parent is asked of the kid?

It made me think that I need to write about our decision to educate the kids at home, so that they can learn to articulate it for themselves. The problem with talking or writing about homeschooling is that it usually threatens or in some way alienates the audience (the majority of whom do not homeschool). I try hard not to disrespect or disparage other people's choices, but when I expound upon my strong distrust and dislike for public schools (and to be honest, any institutional schooling).....well, you can see my problem.

DON'T WORRY I'm not writing "Why I Chose to Homeschool" today. (do I hear a collective sigh of relief?) But I am feeling a strong desire in me to figure out how to communicate about it in a fun, non-offensive way. It might be an impossible feat.

Perhaps if I just focus on the positives of homeschooling, without harping on the negatives of institutional schooling I'll do better. Ya think?

Speaking of fantasies.....

I want to go to Spain. With my kids. For a month. At least.

I want to have a memorable and fun-filled 40th Bday without having to make plans ("oh that'll happen," she says snidely)

I want to go back to school and get my masters or PhD in history.

I want to lose 20 lbs.

Well, like I said, a girl can have fantasies......