And We Are Done!

We graduated our twins two weeks ago. I have been trying to write about it since then, but I just can’t yet. It was a wonderful day, and no, I didn’t cry (by sheer willpower), and I loved that there were still people hanging out, playing board games and laughing 6 hours later. It was the perfect day. It honored our wonderful children and the blessings from their grandparents was a wonderful way to launch the twins. Instead of writing more, I am just going to copy my talk from that day.

19 years ago, Scott and I started talking about homeschooling. Okay, I started talking and Scott started cautiously listening. Eventually, he gave in and told me I had one year with Connor, so I better not mess up. No pressure. 16 years later, here we are. I am infinitely grateful Scott gave me that opportunity and supported us through those many years along with the many nights of crockpot meals, things in the refrigerator marked, “Science experiment – don’t eat”, Science Saturday with Daddy, and a distracted wife who spent many, many, many nights debating endlessly whether Art of Problem Solving was better than Singapore or how was I going to keep Caileigh’s attention during grammar. I have had the best job and I am grateful everyday to have been their primary teacher k-12th.

Caileigh and Collin have been very different students, and they required me to stretch and learn to teach the same material to opposite personalities. For many years, Caileigh had a balance ball, a rocking chair or eventually just a duct taped square around her desk with a plea to just stay in her square and not bug her brothers. She sat on the desk, under her desk, hung from the desk or just bounced. One of my homeschool mentors once asked me whether my priority with Caileigh was to get her to be still or to learn and my answer was, “yes”. Honestly, though, Caileigh was always the first to think out of the box, literally in her case. She always saw the possibilities of what could be, never listened or even recognized the word ‘can’t’, continually asked why not, and brought so much joy to our lives. Caileigh was and is, a fierce fighter, an independent spirit and a compassionate friend. In the summer of her 9th grade she was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease and has battled with that for the past 4 years through nausea, severe fatigue, sickness and meds designed to kill her over active white blood cells.  She refused to let it her define her and took a full school load with straight A’s, Captained a Nationally ranked Bible Bowl team, achieved two more Karate belts and was a proud active member of the ever so successful Up a Creek Robotic’s FRC team. I am so proud of her and have learned a ton about grace under pressure from her.

Collin has ever been our little man.  The first to say thank you, the caretaker and defender of the people he deems as ‘his’ and a steady and constant friend. Gain his loyalty and friendship and it’s yours for life. He is a quiet leader who leads by example. Fiercely competitive, he spent a year losing to me on all the games to teach him to lose and win with grace. You’re welcome to everyone who has had competed with or against him. Collin was a great little soccer player, and had a natural gift for anything sports related. In school, he was steady and calm, but liked the schedule to stay the same and for me not to throw anything crazy his way. He was definitely the student who learned methodically and loved history that included battles, fighting or conflict. Fiction was never his favorite, unless it was Star Wars or Lord of the Rings. Much of his mandatory reading time was spent reading biographies or just books with a lot of facts. Collin may be quiet, but he has strong opinions and a strategic mind which has been beneficial as a Captain of a Bible Bowl Team or for Robotics.  He can see the best, most efficient path and researches all of his options to make the best, most informed decision. Once that decision has been made, though, nothing can change his mind. He is determined and I look forward to watching how God uses him to change our world.

While I have had the privilege to be their main teacher, I am grateful for all of you here that have taught, mentored, befriended, and coached Caileigh and Collin. You have been an integral part of their current success and a huge part of their future success. From my heart, I am so thankful for all of you and your influence in their lives.