School day jitters!

Yesterday, my 8 year old cherub went off to school - he, glowing with excitement to see his friends - I, with a heavy heart and worry of what's to come. He's a smart boy but I don't think the public school system is for him and I worry that he will fall through the cracks of the educational system thereby not reaching his true potential. This year my son entered grade 3. The dreaded EQAO test is on the table for this year - I am going to do some research to see if this test is mandatory. I don't want him to have to go through the angst of having to write a test that he won't benefit from - is it not a system set up for someone else's accomplishments, that being the public school rating system? How does writing this test benefit my son?

I have been wracking my brain for ways that I may be able to stay home and homeschool my boy. He would be a perfect candidate for this type of hands-on learning. I feel like time is running out and that if I don't jump on that wagon soon I will miss my opportunity to homeschool. Presently, "mommy" is still cool to be around, there's still lots of hugs and kisses and snuggles but from what I hear of other parents, this too will change. Although, I keep telling myself that our family is different - we are the family that plays together, works together and therefore stays together. Right now my son desires to be with us and enjoys fully engaging himself in every opportunity that comes into our home, from vacuuming the floor to putting a puzzle together to pulling weeds from our garden - will there come a time when he thinks this is all to "close" for him to endure? What is that "magic" age where your child comes to you and proclaims that he doesn't want to come on that family RV vacation? Does that happen only to families who don't really value time together - I don't know - but it's something that I am concerned about.

Fortunately, we have always encouraged open discussions and we dialogue constantly on a variety of topics, thereby encouraging communication. So far, life is grand in our little home and I can only do the best that I can but these are the little nagging fears that appear in my dreams and my thoughts every so often and of course, every day that he gets older, these thoughts grow baby thoughts and before you know it - wham - I have a full head of thoughts and worries that haven't even happened yet!! Well, that's how my brain works - always thinking - like a chess game - trying to protect my family and keep what is precious and good close to my chest.

It's the second day of school today - so stay tuned for more thoughts on the subject!