The circus has once again come to our town! The Hager Family Seven Ring Circus is a thrilling adventure for all ages. Step right up to the first ring and you will see the daring young high-schooler swinging through Algebra II with the greatest of ease. In the second ring the brave Kindergartener will thrill you as he swallows flaming phonics and spits them back out into whole words! The lovely middle-schooler in the third ring balances cautiously on the back on Algebra ½. That fourth ring will capture your attention as you watch the 4^th grade contortionist twist pencils to create the most amazing art work! Watch out for the trained monkey in the fifth ring. He will keep you smiling, but don’t turn your back! He’ll pilfer your pencil and ruin your textbook in no time flat! Just the thought of the strong man entering the sixth ring stirs the heart of all the other performers. He is able to lift their spirits effortlessly. Not only is his physical strength inspiring, but his spiritual strength shoulders the hefty burden of raising this large family of performers. The most talented of all is found in the last ring. It’s the juggler who can balance an unlimited number of items at great speed through any obstacles encountered. If the items begin to faulter she immediately sets them back orbiting in their straight paths once again.

Most spectators will breathlessly exclaim, “I just don’t know HOW they do it ALL!” Although each performer tries his best, it’s the Ring Master whose loving guidance brings each talent together making it the incredible show that it is.  Many desire to join the show, but find that the pay scale is unsatisfactory to them. Actually they just don’t understand the long-term benefits package!

            Homeschooling is indeed a curious show in this world! But it’s certainly not all fun and games! It’s always with much dismay that I’m exclaiming at the end of our school day, “This place is a circus!” However, this year I’m sincerely trying to find more humor and joy in all of the confusion. The show will be quickly over, leaving me with an empty tent. For now, I’ll sweep aside the debris, grab a seat and enjoy the antics of those goofy clowns!