Over on "HOOville" one of the ladies asked me the following (inset) questions. Thought I'd share the answers here.

What is it like...to be officially "done" with homeschooling? I can't imagine it - in some ways it sounds great, in others very sad. We are excited to see what path ds follows as he grows but it's hard to imagine my life not revolving around him! Was it a gradual thing for you as ds got older?

Surreal is probably the best word to describe it. For at least the last 3-4 years, he's been doing his work fairly independently. I've had it all written down on what was expected and he knew that what was written down for M-F had be finished before the next Monday so if he wanted free Saturdays or Sundays, he had to get to work. He really started becoming more independent (with me gathering materials and telling him what he was to do with them) when he turned 12. So it's definitely been a gradual "weaning." Not anything like if you have a child 8-10 (or younger) where you have to be sitting right there next to them, orchestrating almost everything--we were there at those ages, too!

I still have some math to correct and his transcript and/or portfolio to put together to be completely done. I've been juggling several things lately and have them hanging over my head (http://donnac.com/reviews.htm and my Friday Columns to stay on top of), plus I needed to get my website up and running, as well as this message board moved, etc. The first deadline for college applications to get in (A&M) is January 15th, so I have a little time, but not much!

How is ds doing, what is he doing, and does he have any insights on the transition now that he's a homeschool graduate?

Hmm, how many times can I sing this son, or how many times I sing "same song, same verse"! LOL Not here, but elsewhere and "IRL"... no worries, I'm getting used to it.

He has no idea what he wants to "become," what to study, where to attend college... nada, nothin', no clue. We are applying at TCU (relatively next door, easily a 5-8 min. drive, could be walked or bicycled to from home, but due to $$$$$$, I'm not expecting much), UT Arlington (Glenn's alma mater & where I attended my 2 years in college -- public school & relatively close), A&M (my dad attended summer classes to get his accreditation to teach ps high school and is a very big Aggie due to that), and to TCC (Tarrant Community College - the junior college may be where he begins his higher education; get the first 2 years out of the way cheaply and in-town, possibly help him figure out what he'd like to do in the future). We're giving him a partial "gap year" between now and the Fall of 2009, when we do expect him to be in some college program. During this time, I want him to do some volunteerism and possibly get a part-time job. First order of business has been (and is, as he's finishing up this week) getting his room decluttered and reorganized so I can complete the winterizing process (tape up a blanket on the east dormer window, the 2 north-facing ones have been done already, and get the enclosed oil-heater out and working) to make sure the room is warm enough for mom, as well as getting a bit more floor space open in there for the both of them.

Do you have any new ventures in mind now that your hsing time is free?

Well, I know I will continue to market my book and keep the website up and running (as well as HOOville, of course). I know that I will continue being at the Arlington Book Fair in May(s). That location is easy and fairly easy to do financially.

If wishes were horses... or money.... I'd travel all over the US talking and selling my book. It just takes a lot of outlay to do that and we're just not making enough for me to do that. (There's not just travel, eating, & lodging expenses, but booth costs and speaking costs [You don't pay to speak only if you are the keynote speaker, at least for the most part].) It's too much $$$ right now for us. Although I'm always willing to do a road trip where I might stay & be fed with someone to help defray costs... so I'm always open to exploring possibilities. :)

I want to get more training in my art. There's a place in Atlanta, GA where you go for a week for about $2,000 (counting travel, eating, & lodging expenses on top of their fees) and learn not only more mural techniques (trompe l'oeil as well as marbling techniques, etc.) but they help you set up a business plan and you come away with a full portfolio of work to show prospective clients. I would like to do more mural work as well as more watercolors. I need to find out about shows in Fort Worth that I can enter to get that kind of exposure also.

I also have at least 3 books on the back burner of my brain... One will be the companion book of Homeschooling Only One and its title will be "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Graduation." It will show what I did the remaining years not covered in the HOO (grades 9-12) as well as be an encouragement. I dealt with a bad case of depression in 2004-2006 and it definitely affected how Mike's high school years were handled. I'm not happy about that, but perhaps the Lord had me/us walk that journey to encourage others. (The homeschool journey is not all a "Homeschool Magazine Cover Life"---all picture perfect, etc.) Another is a historical fiction and the other is a book about grief (our journey with Richard, Mike's younger brother).

Glenn has asked me to be thinking about getting a job. I am still dealing with a "cup of acceptance" on that one. It's been over 19 years since I had a "time card" type job and I do not relish the idea of going back into the workforce in that capacity. I'd much rather work with my artwork and such and be on a more independent schedule. He wants the same for me (and I've shared with him the above hopes & dreams) and says we're not at "critical mass" yet where I have to get out there "NOW." I know I need to get to the point where I'm willing to do what the Lord wants me to do, even if that means an 8-5 or 9-6 office job, or even a 10-9 retail job. So I'm working on that. Not sure how that will all pan out, but we'll see... we're not desperate by any means and we're confident we are in the Palm of God's Hand, in His caring and He is ever-faithful. We'll be ok. :)