Weekly Wrap-Up: the GrownUps Getting Ready for School edition

While the kids enjoy the last few weeks of vacation, M and I are getting ready to leap back into learning ourselves. I started reading my first assigned book... The Life & Adventures of Joaquin Murieta. It is for a class in American Cultures, to satify the Ethnic Study requirements for my bachelor's degree. I am always thankful for classes that are a little outside the box, that require something besides standard textbooks!

However, I will be using at least one textbook this year too, for a class in child health and safety. I'm also taking a full day of child/infant first aid and CPR, thanks to my sister, who needs to renew her certification. In total, I am taking 4 classes this semester, two online, two on campus.

M is taking two classes this semester, if he gets into the second one (semi-long waiting list). One is online, one on campus, and between the two, with the textbook and uniform requirements, his will end up costing more than mine! (I think). Yes, he has to wear a uniform to class. Thankfully though, he does not have to cut his hair, which is longer than mine by a good bit. He just has to tie it back really, really well. He is really excited about going back! And abot the idea of a real career. One of those midlife career changes, something he's wanted to do for a long time. A little boy's dream coming to life! I hinted a while back that I would share at some point his goal, so I will... He's going to be a firefighter! In many ways, this is the perfect career for him. It is both physically and mentally demanding. The scheduling works well for a homeschooling family. There is always a demand for well-trained firefighters around here, especially those with full Emergency Medical Technician training, which he'll have as well. They build a sense of camaraderie. He likes the idea of cooking for a bunch of people too, since he used to be a professional cook. I've spoken to local firefighters, all of whom have assured me that a healthy and fit man in his early 40's is certainly not too old to pursue this path.

One thing that works well about this is that he'll finish a semester before I do, which is great because I have to do a semester of student teaching. Balancing that and his extended Firefighter Academy would be difficult, so I'm glad he'll be done before I have to spend all day in a classroom.

So, you may be asking, why is a homeschooling mom trying to become a teacher anyhow? Well, truthfully, I have to work. Financially we need my income. I honestly can't see spending my entire adult life ringing up people's grocery purchases. I love teaching my kids, and have enjoyed the time I have spent as a classroom volunteer. But truthfully, I may not end up actually teaching... I don't plan to unless I have to. Instead, I hope to work as an independent study teacher, for one of the charter schools around here that cater to homeschooling families. Or I can tutor. Something a little more flexible than the general teaching gig. Yes, by then M will likely be making a lot more money than he is now, but I have student loans to pay off, and we want our kids to be able to go to college without accruing a lot of debt.

Anyhow, to wrap up this long-winded post, M starts school in about two weeks. Two of my classes start that week as well, and two the following week. The kids will start back up the last day of August (first week of September). This gives me just about enough time to get into the flow of being in school again myself before adding in the kids' educations!

If you've made it through this post, don't forget to stop by Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers for more Weekly Wrap-ups!