Jesus & Doughnuts - The Best Way to Kickstart Another Homeschool Year!

When the topic of homeschooling comes up in conversation with family, friends or strangers, the feedback can be everything from positive and supportive to negative and demeaning.  I wish I had a list of all of the inappropriate things people have said to me over the years, because I think I could laugh at all of it now.  After 7 years of patiently learning to respond intelligently and gracefully to the misinformed narrow-minded opinions of "concerned" individuals, my skin is pretty thick.

And, seeing the fruits of my love and labor over the past few years in the boys' formation, intellectually, spiritually, emotionally and *gasp* socially instills within me a definite confidence and gratitude for our decision to homeschool. I truly feel blessed to begin another adventurous year of learning and discovery with the boys!

I get a little bit nervous, and a little bit excited, each year on the first day of school.  With the classroom decorated and organized, everyone's books and lesson plans in order, we're all energized and ready to go.

{Munchkins awake and ready to roll!}

This year, we have made a firm resolution to go to daily mass as a family before school, which is a reasonable goal now that we are no longer 30 minutes from church, but a mere 3!!

{We made it, praise the Lord!}

It's a beautiful experience to see other young families who are also striving to make the same early morning devotion as our family is.  Older generations are always eager to come up and visit with our family after mass, which is such a pleasure!

After mass this morning, I surprised the boys and took them to the local gas station to get a doughnut.  I had this great plan to talk about how "sweet" is the privilege of receiving an education and "blah, blah, blah" is what they heard.  Once I said doughnut, their little heads were in a sugar vacuum.  I should know by now that it's teach first, treats second.

7 years ago, I'm pretty sure that I served sugar-free, fat-free, gluten-free, taste-free pancakes with a side of scrambled eggs, a glass of fresh squeezed juice and a tower of vitamins for breakfast.  I wanted everything to be perfect, to run smoothly, to be engineered for excellence.  Haaaaaaaa!!!! Who's that girl?? She be gone, honey!!

{George explains why he believes he got the longest long john of the batch}

7 years later, my priorities are finally in line - Jesus and doughnuts for the first day of school. Both are food for the soul!! In my husband's eloquent words: Boo-yah!

{Sometimes watching my baby eat is like looking in the mirror.}

The boys are used to eating so healthy....they literally thanked me 17 times on the way home for their morning treats.  I love that about them. They roll pretty well with my constant "No, you cannot have pop, no you cannot have candy, gatorade is the devil, processed food is not food,  no, no, no...." so, when I finally say yes, to something, it really is such a wonderful treat.  And, they savor every bite with smiles on!

Time to hit the books!! 

We will have a lot of exciting moments to share with you this year, so stay tuned!!

Want to know more about our homeschool life? You can read about why we homeschool in a series of posts I wrote a while back (part 1, part 2, part 3).   Or, check out all of our topics under the "Homeschool" category at the top of the blog.

If you are remembering the feasts of St. Monica and St. Augustine today and tomorrow, enjoy out our celebration idea here!

Have a great day, everyone!!