August Thinking

I like August. I like working on new schedules and systems, figuring out and getting down a new or updated routine. I like new books, textbooks, and school supplies. I like the challenge and excitement of (the prospect of!) learning new things. August seems to me like nearly the end of summer. In my mind, a scene plays out: I look summery; I can almost feel the warm bronzy-ness of my skin. My hair is up and I have on shorts and a tank top. In the sunshine, I run down a pier toward a beautiful, rippling blue lake, where there are dancing reflections of leaves about to change color. August is the exhilarated moment when I am in the air, warm and glowing, a split second from plunging into the cold, clear, refreshing water. I feel awake, alive, hopeful, a bit daring. Wonderful, really. About to leave the familiar, languid days of summer and enter something equally enjoyable, albeit different.

(Maybe I'm just revealing that I'm not much of a swimmer? The dock is more comfortable for me than the water. . . but I still find the water enticing.)

I have been busy cleaning out and organizing, rearranging, thinking through my systems, planning school, and trying out new aspects of our daily schedule. Whew! It's fun and exciting for me. It reminds me of a conversation I had with my cousin last week. She is a teacher and is preparing for the school year. I asked her if it has gotten easier each year and she said it should, but that because she loves this season of preparation the work hasn't really decreased. I understand that! There is something so energizing to me about preparing for the next season.

Ah, but then there is implementation. That's the difficulty, right? To set us up for success, we will be adding things in gradually over the next few weeks. Our home-centered education will be more intense this fall than it has ever been. (This is both fun and daunting for me.) Already I see the boys balking at copy work and math drills. Still, they did pick up their new handwriting books today and started working on them, without my knowledge! My children are learning to do chores diligently and well. (I simply can not keep up with everything and need more - free- help!) This is a training period, but I must say I love having someone else clean the toilets for me! Braden starts class again next week and I want to do all I can to support him this final year of law school. More transitions are looming on the horizon. I guess I should hang on to my August thinking.