Thursday is library day, because it is the one regular activity Saoirse, as second child, has been given consistent access to and is hers alone. The “preschool leaps” program is designed for children ages 3-5 and at nearly 3, Sooshi seems to have aged out already. She flops down obstinately and rolls her eyes whenever group participation is required. She would never been seen in public hokeying or pokeying. Today, for the first time, she just up and left the group, wandered over to the early readers stacks, chose a book and went to sit next to Alden to “read.” Not a joiner, maybe. But, the girl can knead some dough. At least she knows what she likes.

Before we left for the library, we made a quick sponge and then dough from our Waldorf Essentials recipe booklet. We used the Kindergarten Classroom Bread, which took way more flour and yeast (2 TBS!) than any bread I have made so far, but it was oh so easy and really pretty delicious. Best of all, of course, the kids had fun making a super peachy* sun with a raisin face. We shaped and baked when we were back home and our sun bread was ready just in time for afternoon snack.

We are still working on our schedule (or rhythm, as they say in Waldorf circles) because I have been slow to process anything other than when they are generally hungry (first thing in the morning, 11:30, 2 and 6, if you care to compare notes.) Adding illnesses, car trouble and snow days has complicated things, but I sense a few more patterns emerging. Of course, once it’s written in stone, they will unleash unseen glacial force to change it, as is their way. And I will try to roll with it, as is mine.

*”Peachy” is the kids’ derogatory term for anything excessively cute. Especially things with overly large eyes, or ultra-anthropomorphized objects. Alden in particular is often disturbed by “peachiness” while Saoirse mostly just thinks it’s funny. She has a soft spot for big eyed things, so I suspect she is just playing along with the peachy game.

Continuing our Candelmas theme for the week, we went to the home of some new homeschooling friends. The host mama provided the candle making supplies, another homeschooling mama friend provided clay to make candle holders (and a story of the biblical origin of Candelmas,) and we contributed a few small ornaments (amethyst beads, tiny shells, cloves and acorn caps) to press into the wet clay. The children all brought their imaginations and enthusiasm and we stayed for hours, talking, laughing, playing and snacking. We came home very tired, but very full.

Though the weather was glorious and spring like (and the groundhog predicted an early spring!) we spent most of our day indoors. A morning doctor’s appointment ruffled our feathers and morning journal was forgotten.

After lunch, Alden opened his Lego store, which consists of several little figures and “set ups” of his own creation, on his small work table in the kitchen. I chose a 20 cent piece, which was a remarkable bargain, as it came with three mini figures and a SLIDE, for crying out loud. I presented Alden with three nickels and five pennies in a heap and asked him if I had enough. He laid them out carefully: nickel, nickel, penny, penny, penny, penny, penny, nickel.

He pointed to the first nickel, “five?”

“Yes, five.”

“Five, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen…twenty! Yes, you have enough. Here!”

And that was math for the day.

Day one.

We have yet to come up with a name for our little home school. Does it need one? I like the idea, I think.

Today was the beginning of Candlemas/Imbolc/St. Brigid’s Feast. Tomorrow is Groundhog Day! We briefly discussed the significance of these celebrations and how they loosely relate to a gradual returning of the light, with winter being halfway over.

Alden started the day with morning journal, after breakfast. This is carried over from his first grade class at school school, as it was his favorite activity of the day. Morning journal involves a prompt, which I write and he copies and finishes, along with an illustration.

Alden plans to spend spring doing exactly what he loves to do in winter: drawing.

Later we made these Martha crafts, only, our own way, of course.

I have written this post twice and have twice abandoned each draft. Beginning to write about the process of beginning homeschooling has been analogous to finally making the decision to homeschool! Being that the subject is one on which almost everyone has an (often strong) opinion, I would like this space to be relatively free of the doubt and anxiety that can plague those of us charting this course, while also avoiding being dully circumspect. How does one practice good self-preservation techniques, while also presenting an authentic account of one’s reality? Sometimes I think perhaps I’m planning my own education as much as theirs.

The story of how we have arrived at this place in their education is not particularly interesting or unique. So where do we begin?

Let’s start fresh, with day one, and see how things take shape. This will be our homeschooling diary.  Thank you for joining us ❤