Soon enough, social media feeds will be flooded with those charming back-to-school photos: kids flashing toothy grins, decked out in colorful outfits, and clutching shiny new backpacks. “BACK TO SCHOOL 2023” will shine on a little chalkboard. (Seriously, where do all these moms find those chalkboards? Did I miss the memo in prenatal classes?) “LUCAS GRADE 3, OLIVIA GRADE 1,” they’ll proudly display, holding signs meticulously crafted in their mom’s perfect handwriting.
The signs will reveal their favorite colors (red or blue, perhaps), their dream jobs in a world that’s changed so much, and a few adorable tidbits like favorite foods and pets. There will definitely be pigtails and sweater vests. It’s all undeniably cute, and yet, it’s half heartwarming and half overwhelming — this urge to freeze a moment of childhood in time.
In contrast, in our world, we’re still in our pajamas. School began for us sometime in August, but it was so gradual that it snuck up on us; we didn’t realize we were learning until we found ourselves knee-deep in “The Aeneid” and using “Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons.” For homeschoolers, back-to-school season feels just like any other day, which is both fantastic and a little disheartening.
Take trips to museums or the zoo, for example. Our homeschooling routine involves morning lessons and afternoon outings, so as the public schools fill up with students, our favorite places become eerily serene. No more kids tossing sand in the dino dig pit or shouting about gorillas being monkeys, which my sensitive 5-year-old, Max, finds utterly unacceptable. “They’re apes,” he mutters, but the older kids don’t hear him — they’ve been trained to tune out the little ones, especially when they look like they just rolled out of bed.
We relish the quieter spaces; we can roam the zoo hand-in-hand or stand and ponder exhibits without being jostled along by a crowd.
However, back-to-school also ushers in a wave of field trips. Oh, the chaos of field trips. They’re louder than a rock concert (and trust me, I’ve been to some loud ones). The teachers are often overwhelmed, and the kids, dressed in matching shirts, seem to burst with energy, screaming about lunch while running over my 3-year-old. I understand their excitement — my kids would be just as wild if they were in a different environment.
This time of year also means our homeschool co-op starts back up. This requires me to wake my kids from their cozy slumber every Friday morning — a challenge for children who normally sleep in until they feel like it. I rush to get myself ready, a task I usually save for noon, throw on some makeup, gather supplies, and pack lunches. For a mom who typically enjoys a leisurely morning, this is a serious adjustment. We drive to a local church for some structured learning and socializing. My older two kids have ADHD, which makes co-op an interesting adventure without the support of an IEP.
Back-to-school also means deals on school supplies — a treasure hunt for many. I envy those long lists of items; instead, we splurge on expensive science kits that catch our fancy. We don’t require binders or pencils (my children prefer those pricey gel pens), but we do stock up on watercolor sets and gallons of glue for slime experiments. We can’t resist new crayons and markers, and why not throw in a couple of protractors? It’s pure joy.
Once we return home, the new supplies become our playthings. I scroll through social media, checking out all the adorable back-to-school photos. It gives me pause. What if I posed my kids outside, wearing their pajamas with messy hair? The sign could read: “LUCAS READING: GRADE 5, MATH: GRADE 1, SOCIAL STUDIES: WHAT DO YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR? SCIENCE: ALL THE THINGS.” I’d need a tiny sign, but maybe that’s the point anyway.
I know homeschooling isn’t for everyone, but it works wonders for us.
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