I suspect it has seemed that I have been extremely silent on my son. He's been fairly odd about my blogging, being a teenaged boy and feeling odd about privacy. Yet, I have been wanting to post an update, so I will hope that he is too exhausted when he returns from camping to remember to check. ;) If not, he'll just have to understand that I couldn't possibly be rude to my dear friend JoVe!
Things are going really, really well. Ty said the other day that this summer has felt like one long work day, and that is quite the case. I can see that the 4:30am wake up schedule is taking its' toll. Two weeks ago he even asked how long until school starts, so it must be getting bad. He's got two weeks left, then a week off before we start. But, his bank account and work ethic have definitely reaped the benefits of the experience.
He has been away a lot as well- off camping, hiking and going to concerts and such with friends. He's had his buddies over some here ,too, and still seems to find time to play Xbox live and chat on his computer. It's been odd, but he is just at an age to stretch his independence.
As I said, he is looking forward to the start of school. Last spring, after a number of conversations about his future, responsibility, and goals, we came up with a plan for his junior year that gives us high hopes. He is still dreaming of attending Green Mountain College in VT and majoring in Environmental science. The program seems a dream, but we all have some concerns about his ability to balance academics and social since homeschooling has offered so much "mom" structure.
So, for his junior year, we have "handed him the keys" in more ways than one. He is taking most of his academic classes at the co-op---algebra II, American Governement, literary analysis, and biology lab, as well as my intro to psychology class. He is doing Rosetta Stone Spanish and biology at home on is own. In the fall, he will also be doing an SAT prep class. In spring, he is going to be focusing a lot of extra time on his Eagle scout project, which he is hoping to do with the Wildlands Conservancy.
My role in all of this moved totally away from teacher toward parent. I won't be checking up on him and giving him little reminders, even for my class. He knows that this is the year he will show us that he is capable of organizaing and managing his academics and social life. If he does so, we will all then start looking into ways to make the expensive dream school happen. If he falls into bad habits and does poorly, we will redirect the focus toward smaller state school for the first year. He can always transfer later if he wants it badly enough.
As a mom, I have to say I am really enjoying where he is, standing on the edge of something big. It is also nice to give him the responsibility...as I know I've taught him well, but it is all ultimately up to him. I no longer feel this personal worry that his success or failure is a direct reflection on me, which I am certain has given our relationship a lighter, more fun feel.
Now, I am able to focus on teaching the same skills to Girlie, knowing that in a few short years she will be standing on the same mountain!
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