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When I started this fools odyssey I had no idea what was in store for me. I made the mistake of thinking I needed to pretend we were at school and try and stick to a schedule. After a couple of months, my son said he really liked me teaching him without him realizing it. I questioned him on it and he said you ask me to do things and tell me why I need to know them. When I'm done, I'm proud of myself and I feel smarter. Now I know that I don't have to be writing in a workbook and sitting at a desk to learn. I need to be able to get up and move around. I know there's more to being smart and learning than just doing book work. It's thinking before you act and figuring out the best way to do things.

He said his favorite things were home economics because he learned how to run his household and money management. Nothing motivates him more than doing chores to earn money for Hotwheels and Yugi-Oh Cards. I got him an ATM machine for kids from Hammacher Schlemmer and he puts all his money in it. Then he decides if he wants to put it in his savings account or to spend it. His first case of buyer's remorse was painful to watch but it taught him a lesson he hasn't forgotten.

He made me realize that I had forgotten my role and previous success in teaching him since he had been in school and I had been out earning a living. I didn't forget how to teach him, I had just lost confidence in my teaching abilities. I'd already done the hard work of teaching him how to walk, talk and read. He just needed that spark that ignites the love of learning.

One day I was watching Jeopardy and he walked in the room and was amazed that I kept getting the answers right. We have a movie trivia ongoing battle and he must win at all costs. He asked what my secret was and I said reading. You see me reading everyday. I read things that interest me and also watch the history channel, biography, discovery channel and the science channel. I remember the things that interest me and write them down in a notebook if it's something I might want to research later. Not wanting to lose anymore Jeopardy games to me, he watched me closer and mimicked me until it became habit.

Now that he's been deprogrammed from the system I see a much happier and healthier child. I didn't expect such a drastic change. Things didn't turn out the way I expected but they turned out much better and we have a stronger bond. He realizes he's important in making our household run and that children have great potential, they just need the opportunity to experience it. Now he enjoys going to his Grandparent's homes and cooking his speciality - Tamale Casserole. He got the recipe from the back of a can of tamales. We go shopping and he reads all the labels - I've created a monster! My mantra is Knowledge is Power and he agrees.

I hope we make even greater strides in the coming year. We both know it's possible.