My So-Called Homeschool

Wow, that was quite a little unannounced blog sabbatical, wasn’t it?! The weekend with RJ was woooooonderful, and it’s just been busy as all-get-out since then. I’m on Squid’s laptop - when I get back to my computer I’ll post some more pictures. Here’s a quick round-up of our goings-on:

• The church let Jim know a couple of months ago that they would no longer be able to keep him on staff. The economy in Michigan didn’t just hit the autoworkers, you know.
• The week we got his last paycheck from the church, his ‘real job’ let him know that they are cutting the hours of all per diem (contract) editors. He will now be working four 4-hour days and one 8-hour day - essentially three paid days per week.
• I started typing for an online transcription service. You get to schedule hours based on the number of hours you worked the previous week, so since I can only work when the kids are sleeping unless Squid is home, I haven’t gotten diddly squat. Hopefully business will pick up there — I’ve been working standby (unpaid unless I get a job to type) from 10pm to 2am, usually with no jobs.
• Squid got another part-time job, but jobs are really few and far-between! His friend who works at Kroger corporate found him a stockboy job -not what you go to college for - but this man I married is bound and determined to do ANYTHING to support his family! He did find a better-paying p/t position, but he ends up working 3-midnight there and then going into the station at 3am for at least a 4-hour shift. So far, coincidentally, the station has asked him to stay the full 8-hour shift on the nights he’s just worked an 8 at his other job. So 2-3 days a week for the last couple of weeks he’s worked 16 out of 24 hours, with 4-hr breaks between jobs. Doesn’t make for a happy, cheerful Squid. But we’re making it.

Anyway, things are looking up. We’re still looking for paid ministry opportunities but in the meantime working with our church on a volunteer basis. We are struggling with our decision to homeschool. Squid has been very committed to keeping me at home so that can continue, but there may come a point where we have to put the girls in school so I can get some actual paid hours with the transcription. I -so- do not want to do that! There is a charter school very near us that is more child-led and smaller classrooms than the local public school, so we are investigating that. They’ve never been in school, so we’ve never had to go through any of the rigamarole. I’ve got to check up on their vaccinations, have them tested for grade levels, get them outfitted. Yech. I know if it doesn’t work I can just pull them out, but then they’re in the system. I really don’t want to put the kids “on the grid”, you know? I guess I’m just rambling on. My heart definitely knows what decision I’d like to make, but practically we’re saying “Can we really make that work?”

I know some of you have had financial struggles throughout the years — sometimes directly related to your homeschooling decision. Any advice, wisdom to relate?