The ole' dog days of summer. It sort of seems like they have just arrived in the past few weeks. But alas, time marches on. The school year either has just kicked off, or is about to (depending on your area). We tried to squeeze in as much summertime fun as we could fit into the schedule. We enjoyed several state parks, fishing, hiking, exploring, zip-lining, and even one super short trip to the beach. Now it's time for the kids to climb back into the academic saddle. This is where I want to say, yall didn't tell me how hard it is to make sure your kids are in the right academic environment. Each of our kids is very different. They need different things. They need to be challenged in different ways. As parents, we want to put them in the best place for them to succeed. This year, that means the youngest is at one school, the oldest is at a different school, and the middle one is being homeschooled. We do feel like that's the best for each of them, but it's not the easiest logistical solution. I tip my cap to all of the parents that have made those decisions in the past, and I empathize with those that are making them now. (like us) It is not easy. Do the best you can with the information you have available. I'll also share some advice my dad gave me when we were first dealing with this decision. This advice always gives me comfort during this process. My dad listened as I explained all the pros and cons of the school options when Jersey was just about to start elementary school. After I finished he said: "Send them to whichever school you want, but what goes on inside the four walls of your house will have a bigger impact on how they turn out." Thanks Dad.
