The other day I looked over some articles and journal entries I had written prior to the start of our homeschooling adventure. I had to laugh because I was so uptight over what to do, how to do it, and who needed to be notified. I was so wrapped up in planning, scheduling, and establishing a routine, that I really had no clue what our days as a homeschooling family would really be like.

I must admit also, that at first I was a bit fearful taking the boys out
and about during "school" hours. I'm not sure what I thought would happen; a Truant Officer accosting us in the Produce section while the boys and I weighed bell peppers, perhaps. I would literally wait until later in the afternoon to do our jaunts to the post office, bank or grocery store.

In hindsight, I can see this was a manifestation of me remaining in the
Public School mindset. I was nervous because part of me still believed we were doing something against the rules. It is pretty ridiculous, because if I, as a parent, do not have the right to take my children to do banking at 11 am, really what am I teaching them about homeschooling? Why hide if you are proud and assured about yourself?

Part of the beauty we have found homeschooling is flexibility. If we are
out of bread, we go get it. This doesn't mean we trash all lessons for the day, we just merge our house-running duties with our schooling to the point that it is hard to tell where one ends and another begins.

Despite the presence of police officers in construction sites we have
driven past, school crossing guards, and a slew people going about their daily routines, I have learned to relax an awful lot, do what I need to do, and show the boys the beauty of just being on your own terms.

Catie Hayes-Gosselin. Catie is the proud homeschooling Mama
of two young spirited boys, ages 6 and 4. In addition, Catie works at home running her web/graphic design business, Townsend Craft & Graphics and is the Founder of WomanLinks, a supportive community for women from all walks of life.
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