I was so close.....

I have a very good reason for not posting in over a week. I have been enthralled by this book.



I started reading The Other Boleyne Girl a couple of weeks ago after a friend lent it to me. My only knowledge of this part of British history prior to starting the book was vague at best. I knew that Henry the VIIIth had started the Church of England in order to end his marriage. I knew that he had sired many children in and out of wedlock in the hopes of gaining a legitimate son - but that was about all I knew of the time until Elizabeth came to the throne.

One of the great things about my historical ignorance of this period is that the story has been all new and mysterious to me. I didn't have all those cumbersome details already in my brain to dilute the wonder I have felt as the tale unravelled. The tangled web of deception, love, courage and treachery has all but consumed me since I started reading. Most of what happened is quite horrifying when I really think about it but it is quite captivating to read about.

When I have mentioned what I am reading and my lack of prior knowledge to others, several well-meaning folk have offered to fill me in on the history. For the past two weeks I have carefully dodged any further information so that I could carry on in my blissful ignorance. It has been tough - some people have come close to divulging details but I have stealthily avoided them.

Last night at 1:30 am I forced myself to put down the book and get some sleep even though it was at a really great, tense moment. I was tempted to cancel all my plans today and stay home to finish the book, but I used great restraint and carried on as normal.

After a fantastic day with good friends and a delicious dinner at an Indian restaurant Daniel and I started our half hour drive home. Of course, my mind floated back to my book and I was looking forward to getting home to read it. As we drove I thought I could be ever so helpful and give Daniel a little history lesson about Henry the VIIIth. After all, isn't that what any good homeschool mom does during a lengthy car journey? Truth be told it was mostly an excuse to keep my focus on the book while also engaging in some conversation.

So, in my best intellectual grown up tone I began to recount the story of Henry the VIIIth as I now knew it. Daniel listened (somewhat) politely for a minute or two and then he interrupted me. "Yeah, I know mom and then he...."

Daniel then proceeded to give me a full account of the historical details including all the ones I didn't know because they are yet to come in the book. I have been so careful not to let anyone tell me what to expect and in one split second he totally wrecks the story for me. I couldn't believe it! Worse still when I mentioned what he had done, he thought it was hilarious. There he sat laughing for the rest of the drive home... while I fumed.

Now I am slowly finishing the story, but it just isn't the same. I know what is coming and it is unfolding just as Daniel said it would. .... darned homeschooled kid - Where does he learn this stuff?

:-)

Homeschoolling Conference...

I spent the day at a homeschooling conference. This is our third year of homeschooling and I have never attended this conference so I thought I would give it a try. My hesitation in the past was that it is a Christian homeschooling conference and I was concerned that the content would not be heavily relevant for me considering I am not a Christian.

Unfortunately I was disappointed with the Keynote speaker and I will likely not attend tomorrow because of it. I found her talks were almost entirely sermons on how to live a devout Christian life with only a couple of references to homeschooling thrown in.

However, I feel the whole experience was worthwhile because of the talk I attended in the afternoon. The speaker's name was Paul Faris and he spoke on the subject of homeschooling through high school. He is a home school graduate who now works as a lawyer and serves as the Executive Director of the Home School Legal Defence Association.

The Association funded an independent study on the achievement of homeschooled kids compared to public school kids. It was very interesting to hear the results of that study. The homeschooled kids out-perform public school kids in every area. The findings were that they are more likely to vote, to volunteer their time, to have a love of learning, to be employed and to attend post-secondary education. Faris mentioned that the evidence suggests that the # 1 influence on the academic achievement in a child is their parent's involvement - and there really is no higher level of involvement than homeschooling. He is such an advocate of homeschooling and I found him really inspiring.

I think High School is a common time for families to re-evaluate their decision to homeschool. There is a big concern about children not achieving a traditional high school diploma. Faris argued very strongly that the benefits of kids staying at home far outweigh the benefits of the diploma. He gave some great tips about how these kids can gain entrance into University. He mentioned that the University of Saskatchewan is so excited and impressed by homeschooled kids that they are chomping at the bit to accept them. This was all very comforting to me as we are approaching the high school years.

I was very inspired by this talk and the connection I made with other homeschool families that I am now considering going down to the coast to attend a secular homeschool conference.

What would possess me......?

I have spent the day preparing for a trip and I can't help but wonder what would possess me to agree to sleep on a concrete floor in a cold room with 33 other people - some friends, some I have never met - for a whole night. As I look at the ridiculously thin mat that will be cushioning me from the hard cold floor I am starting to question my sanity. I am a very picky sleeper. At home I have the softest, coziest bed and I usually need complete quiet in order to fall asleep.... and ... I can be a touch on the grouchy side if I don't get a reasonable amount of sleep. hmmmm. This could be a problem.





The good news is, though, that if I do spend the whole night awake I will have this to look at:

It could be worse, I guess.

You see, Daniel and I are joining a group of homeschooling families for a sleepover at the Vancouver Aquarium. We both love going to the Aquarium so I think it will be a fascinating experience for both of us. We will get to see the nocturnal creatures come out after dark. Then we sleep in the Beluga viewing room which has a huge window into the Beluga tank. I find the whales mesmerizing to watch and I think it will be a beautiful backdrop for the night.

The actual sleeping part is worrying me a little though. I just don't see how this 2 inch thick piece of foam is going to replace the 2 feet of cushioning I am used to having under me while I sleep.

Oh well, I guess it is only one night and, all in all, it is worth it for the adventure.

Homeschooling is Sweet!

Some days are sweeter than others, but today definitely qualifies as a sweet homeschooling day.



Here is what Daniel made today.

Mmm, mmm, mmm! I don't even care that the one earmarked for me is the slightly deformed one that is only half covered with caramel.

This was one of my favourite treats to make when I was a kid, so it brought back great memories of making caramel apples with my mom.