He Said WHAT??

Fall used to be my favorite time of the year. I still love it. I love the weather cooling off and all of the pretty colors and knowing that Christmas is just around the corner. But now that I’m a mom it also reminds me that winter is just around the corner. Cold, Cold winter. Several months where I will be stuck inside with two children who have WAY too much energy to be forced to stay inside. Now, my favorite season is Spring. I ADORE the beautiful colors and all of the flowers. We eat every meal that we can outside. The kids want to be outside running around from the time they wake up until the time they go to bed. Their feet are DISGUSTING from playing in the dirt and even the roughest scrubbing will not make them completely clean. Collin and I get to sit on the deck and watch them run around like little jungle people, swinging from trees and yelling at the tops of their lungs. But the best part is knowing that we have many many many months of playing outside ahead of us. I love Springtime in the South.

I saw this definition of Southern in the Urban Dictionary this morning and I think it completely sums up Springtime for me (well, except the football part anyway. That’s Fall.) It said, “Growing up Southern is a privilege, really. It’s more than where you’re born – it’s an idea, a state of mind that seems imparted at birth. It’s more than loving fried chicken, high school football, and country music. It’s being hospitable, being devoted to porches & sweet tea, and each other. We don’t become Southern – we’re born that way.” I think Springtime in Florence is the picture of this definition. So…that was a lot of rambling just to say that I am LOVING this time of year.

There’s something that Collin and I have decided to do that I have announced pretty much everywhere except on the blog. I’ve talked about it on facebook and even written an article about it for She Magazine. We’ve decided that I will homeschool Mak next year. I know, CRAZY. I’m definitely one of those people who said “I will NEVER…” Funny how ideas change. We came to this decision based on a lot of reasons. I can’t say it’s something I’m committed to for the rest of his school career, but it is something I am committing to for next year. And I’m actually EXCITED about it! I’m fully aware that I could be dropping him off at the nearest school by week 3 or that I will be declared clinically insane and thrown in the nearest psychiatric facility for life by Christmas. Collin’s mother jokingly suggested a wine of the month club membership for my birthday so I can make it through next year. Might not be a bad idea. See, here’s the thing. Mak and I butt heads. A LOT. Things are definitely not always peachy in our relationship. This whole thing is gonna take a ton of work on both of our parts. That doesn’t change the fact that I think he is the coolest kid on the planet. I know it’s going to be hard, but I’m ready.

It’s not her turn to come home for school yet, but I’m hoping she will eventually. I love watching her mind work.

Last weekend the four of us took a nice Saturday trip to Lowe’s. Mak was staring out the window, searching for corvettes like he always does in the car. Clara Beth was singing the song that she was making up as she went along like she always does. Collin and I were in our own little worlds, him thinking about business more than likely and me pondering how in the world I will ever get these blessed children of mine to eat vegetables. You know, the normal stuff. 🙂 Collin parked the car and Mak all of the sudden pipes up with “What’s Rape?” Ahem. Excuse me, child, What did you just ask?? And then he asked it again. Collin and I looked at each other. First of all, why in the world does he even know this word? Second of all, how the heck are we going to answer this question? It was one of those questions you get as a parent that makes your heart start beating faster.

So, I asked him “Why do you ask?” He pointed to a billboard and said “That sign over there says Rape. What is it?” Oh. WOW. I’m a firm believer of being honest about the tough stuff when my kids ask tough questions, but how could I truthfully answer this one? There are so many other things I would have to explain before I could give an explanation. I quickly came up with “It’s when someone steals something very special from someone else. And it’s Very bad.” And that was enough to satisfy his six year old mind. WHEW. He took my hand as we walked through the parking lot into the store and never asked another question about it.

It’s not that I think he (or CB) will stay young and innocent forever or even that I want him to. Oh, who am I kidding, I would love to lock up that naive mind that is so innocent to the things of this world and never face the hard stuff. But I know that’s unrealistic. I’m so glad that Collin and I were the ones there to answer his question. And I’m nervous about the future questions that will undoubtedly come, but also excited about the chance to answer them. That’s an aspect of homeschool that I never really thought of. I’ve been thinking of it from the angle that I will be teaching him academics. But there will be so much more that I am responsible for. It scares the heck out of me, but I’m excited!

I know this has been a completely random post and maybe I lost you in the first paragraph. Oh well. I will be starting a homeschooling blog very soon. I want to document a lot of what we do because I’m noticing that I’m getting older and forgetting a lot of things, and this is something I want to remember. I’ll link to it here when it’s up. I know a lot of you think we’re nuts to be doing this and that’s okay. I welcome your questions and comments! Thanks for reading. 🙂