Feb. 15, 2008 - Valentine's Day Bah-Humbug
My youngest son, three, has now started pre-school – two days a week, for three hours each. Not too bad as far as school and away from home time. But this week was valentines and there was too much competition – candies, gifts, everything from all the other kids. I felt so poor and stupid – we only put a card (nothing else) in the boxes. And they were leftover cards from years past to boot! Only one other classmate just gave out cards. It reminded me when I worked full time and my eldest went to pre-school full time and how competitive and crazy the parents were there – expensive gifts and tons of candy. Then today we had a homeschool co-op and we had to do valentine’s day cards there. It wasn’t as bad – lots of homemade cards and I didn’t feel that competitive edge. Yet this reminds me of a possible problem with choosing to homeschool – not gelling with a particular homeschool co-operative group. I love all the parents in the group which we belong, but some of the kids have grown up and the teens want to hang together and it’s hard to get anyone to participate in the activities. It’s just not working for us and even one of the leaders is looking for some other sort of option as far as classes. It’s more of a play group which is fine but I don’t think we can afford it next year and the way this one is set up, it’s hard to watch my younger son in their rental space. So, for homeschoolers, a possible problem could be searching for a co-op that works for you, at that time. I assume our needs will keep changing. Every family has to find what works for them.
