It’s been so long….so very long…

But I’m back! Aren’t you so happy?!

I don’t have any clever excuses. I had to take a break from the blogging world.  And I’m coming back a little lighter!

Ha ha ha…..ha……ha….

Get it? You did notice the chance of scenery, right?!

I’m trying to simplify, and that includes this bloggy baby of mine.  I gave her a little “mommy makeover” for her first birthday and I think she looks FABULOUS! A little nip here, a tuck there, and she’s all shiny and pretty!

But enough about her, let’s talk about me. The biggest news in this mommy’s house is that both Cheek and Deet will be home schooled this school year. The decision was not made lightly. I mean, this will seriously impact my timeouts! And I know what you’re thinking…”Whaaaat? Home school? Does this mean they’ve moved out to the prairie and they’re churning their own butter and shearing sheep?!”

Yes. That’s exactly what it means. Except, not really.

Both kids are enrolled in charter schools, two different ones, but that’s a long story. It seems that home schooling your kids is growing in popularity and there are actual WAIT LISTS to get into charter schools. Cheek will have most of her schooling at home while taking some outside classes, and Deet will have two full days of school on site at a learning center while learning math and language arts at home. I mean, as much math and language arts as a Kindergarten kiddo can learn. But that’s the beauty of it! They will both learn at their own pace, which (not to toot my kids’ horns) is pretty accelerated.  Come to think of it, Deet may just be the next Doogie Howser! Cheek has decided that she wants to fulfill some of her writing standards by penning her own blog. She came up with the name of it on her own and I must say I’m pretty proud of her. Trying on Homeschool will be her take on this new experience and it should make for some interesting reading!

I’m also looking forward to blogging about this next year. I’m sure it’s not going to be all sunshine and rainbows so I’m going to need to vent. Aren’t you excited?!

So that’s it, Timeout 4 Mommy is making a comeback with a face lift (but a cute one, not a Joan Rivers one) and I’m THRILLED! I missed you!

I actually started this post last week and then things got crazy at our house. Cheek got a call to work on the set of a movie as a photo double of the principal actress. If you read my post about Cheek and her hair you’ll share in my total excitement (and surprise) at this development. So far she has worked 2 out of the 4 days that she will be needed. Being the organized (or anal, depending on how you look at it) person that I am I emailed all of Cheek’s teachers so that she could get homework for the days that she would miss. It is a requirement that kids on a set do 3 hours of school work every day. Here’s the response I got…it is the school’s policy that no assignments be given out ahead of time unless you know you will be gone for 5 or more days. Uh, ok. THEN this…also, she will be missing some very important instruction for the state testing on March 1st. First, let me get this straight, you try to be a responsible student by getting work that you HAVE to do per the law in California but you are denied access to your assignments per your California school’s policy. So the school would rather you fall so far behind that you are struggling then to give you the assignments so you can stay up to date? Second, my daughter is getting the chance of a lifetime, something she’s wanted to do FOREVER, do you think we give a rat’s ass about state testing??? State testing is a rash that won’t go away. It’s irritating and it bugs me. I won’t get rid of it unless I sever the limb.

I have been disenchanted with our state’s school system for a few years now and it’s not getting any better. In fact, it’s getting worse each year.

It has come to my attention that there is a lack of tact being displayed by some teachers in our local elementary school. This, of course, is word of mouth since I don’t have a child attending the school anymore. But it’s relevant to me because Deet will start Kindergarten there in the fall. Needless to say, when current parents at the school speak up, I listen. Here are the examples of what I consider indiscretions so far….

#1.  A teacher whose husband unexpectedly, and sadly, passed away last year impregnates herself with his sperm (post life) and announces to her classroom that if they would like to know how she became pregnant with no living husband to talk to their parents.

#2.  A sub, who was previously a full time teacher at the school, tells the class about a 10 year old girl who was sexually assaulted by “gang-bangers” at another school and shouldn’t they all feel so lucky that they attend such a nice school.

#3.   A classroom is collectively working on a writing project and the article they are all given is one about suicide.

#4.  A man is arrested after school hours breaking into the school.  On him they find child pornography. A letter is sent home by the principal to tell the parents how safety is the priority of the school, giving all the details of the arrest, and letting parents know the porn didn’t have anything to do with the school’s students.  Now, while I understand the purpose of the letter, it was sent home in the folders of the kids amongst homework, returned work, etc.  Moms I have spoken with that have children that can read express their frustration with the fact that they had to explain child porn to their little ones.  Discretion was in order here I believe.

These examples combined with the fact that teachers can’t even teach anymore because so much emphasis is placed on passing state tests has led me to researching homeschooling. It’s looking very attractive, let me tell you. But I’m reaching out to my readers to see if any of you homeschool and if you can share your experiences and resources. I have done some searching on the web but there is SO much information I don’t even know where to start! I would love to hear your stories!

Thank you from the bottom of this frustrated (but hopeful) mommy’s heart.