Mom vs. the Dot: Making it COUNT!

 Would you believe the first day of homeschool this year was taught by my husband? Yep - he's great! I work only 2 hours a week doing some filing at an office, and that happened to be Monday morning. I missed the first day of school.  Over the weekend, I broke out their books, opened new marker boards, and wrote out their first day lesson plans. My hubby ticked through them like a pro.  The first day teaching two kids?  He rocked it. So today (Tuesday) was my first day of homeschool for the year. I usually have all sorts of expectations built up that first day.  We're going to take on spelling, multiplication, learning to read, resetting the calendar, and climb Mount Everest!  I carefully scoured ebay, amazon.com, and publisher's sites this summer to choose just the right curriculum and products.  I excitedly unwrapped each precious package as it arrived in the mail.  With a gleam in my eye, I knew this year was going t...

"I want to hold on to my kids a little longer," a parent explained while discussing why she decided not to send her little one to preschool.  I don't blame her.  Not one bit.  Our kids are going to be in school for many, many years to come.  If you keep them at home, they will benefit from extra time with mommy for one or two extra years before entering kindergarten.  Bully for you, I say.  "That's the question of the day.  Everyone is asking me when my little one will start preschool," she continued.  While I watched her 4-year-old yipping and skipping around the park, I knew her mom and I had something in common...besides being moms of little ones.  We love our kids.  We love being moms.  We are not rushing, or at this point, even willing, to relinquish our mom duties and joys to someone else. A teacher who may or may not see the wonderful potential in your child - their creative energy, their fantastic abilities, the...