About Last Week – Kindergarten Graduation, Our First Swimming Hole, and Ending the School Year
It has been a whirlwind of a week here on the homefront! I’m sure many of you have been experiencing quite the same rush as we have here at the farmhouse. Especially if you are facing the end of the 2022-2023 school year.
We homeschool our girls so we will be continuing on with our curriculum until the middle of June this year. And, that’s because we need a few more weeks to cover lessons, review topics we’ve learned so far, and just ease into the end of the year.
However, here in Tennessee the last day for traditional school kids was Friday. And while the homeschool community likes to march to the beat of its own drum, we also like to end our year a few days before the public schools to avoid some of the crowds we wouldn’t normally get at our local pools, splash pads, and swimming holes.
So, our last day with our homeschool co-op was Tuesday, and that included Sadie’s kindergarten graduation!
Sadie's Kindergarten Graduation
Sadie will be turning 6 at the end this September (after the school cut off date), and full disclosure I have planned to really dive into Kindergarten in the upcoming school year. It’s not that I don’t think she’s ready for first grade. I do believe there is no rush for her to start a more formal education, just yet. Just so you know, there is a school of thought (that I agree with), which states that children should not be expected to start a more rigorous academic calendar until they reach 6 years of age.
Trust me, I know there are varying opinions on the matter. And, Sadie is expected to do homeschool work here at home. Especially reading, writing, and math. But, if there are days she would rather not sit for school work, I do not pressure her to do so. Next year, there will be higher expectations in that regard.
Whoa, I just got off track a bit! Let’s get back to our whirlwind week now, that I’ve given you a glimpse into my thoughts for homeschool next year…
A Flight Risk
Sadie did so well the entire evening! Her big sister, Nora, let her borrow one of her dresses for the big occasion. And, Sadie couldn’t be more thrilled!
However, the entire time, Sadie was a flight risk. We had no idea as to whether or not she would end up on stage. Which is why they put her at the back of the procession.
But, she made it! And, when it was her turn, the teacher shared a few of her favorite things (friends, color, store, etc) with the audience, and then she was handed her Kindergarten diploma.
That Tuesday was a long day, and late night. The girls did not wake up until 10 am the following day. So, it was a more relaxed day here at home of self -care (for the girls that’s extended bath time), homeschool, and spending time outdoors.
A visit to the doctor but first...
Thursday we were off to the splash pad to meet up with some of our homeschool friends. Let me tell you, the community aspect of joining a homeschool co-op is unmatched. We have met some pretty amazing families this year.
But, we had to cut our splash pad hang out short so that I could head on over to the doctor in the afternoon. My ear had been clogged for over a week, and I couldn’t figure out why. I tried all of the home remedies, like olive oil, peroxide, even homeopathic ear drops, and nothing!
I would have stretches where I could hear just fine then, moments later my hearing would become muffled again. It was unbearable. So, I headed to the doctor to make sure I didn’t have an infection or damage to my eardrum with all of my at home attempts to resolve the problem.
Turns out, my ear was clogged with wax, yuck! As someone who q-tips her ears religiously, I was mortified! So, I had my ear flushed (a very painful experience), and uncovered why my ear was clogged. I will spare you the gross details. But, if you’ve ever had your ear flushed, you know how painful that can be. I’d compare it to having my eardrum jabbed with the blunt end of a pencil over and over again. Not fun.
An East Tennessee swimming hole
That leads us to Friday, when we visited our very first swimming hole! The experience was unforgettable. Once we arrived, I spent a lot of time just looking around, mesmerized, taking it all in.
We trekked about an hour south toward Chattanooga, met up with some friends, and spent most of the day relaxing by the water. The girls waded in the water (swimming lessons are on the docket for this summer), built dams with rocks by the river, and explored the river’s edge. We brought a picnic lunch, and a change of clothes for the ride back.
It was one of the most relaxing days we’ve spent outdoors in a long time, and we have plans to go back this summer!
