Back to School Blahs...

I can't believe it is already the 1st of August. The summer has flown by and it is now time to think about fall wardrobes, church activities that will be starting again and most importantly the dreaded Back to School rush. I am not fan of going back to school. I love having the girls home with me and all the fun activities we get to do during the summer. I enjoy spending this time with them. Every year since Emma started Kindergarten I begin to think about her going back to school and I realize that she is already another year older. I can't believe how quickly this season of life is passing. Lydia is going to pre-school and Emma is heading into 2nd grade and for the first time in 7 years I will be home alone for 3 mornings a week. I have very mixed feelings about that. I think Lydia really needs the structure and socialization that only pre-school can give her right now, but I also think about the fact that this is my last year with her before she starts "real" school and part of me really wants to keep her here with me a little longer.
Every fall when the back to school commercials and the school supply sales begin I start thinking how much I would love to homeschool them. We have several church friends who are homeschooling and they love it. Emma begs to be homeschooled, but I worry about what her social life would be like if she was at home all the time. We are not a socializing family. We don't have get togethers, we don't play sports, we don't go on outings with friends much and I think about how isolated she will feel if she doesn't get to be around her school friends, however, I also see how much she is influenced by those friends during the school year. Her personality definitely changes when she is home during the summer. There is less sassiness, less arguing and more manners, and I definitely think about what she will be exposed to the older she gets. When I watch the news and see the problems that children face everyday at school it can be scary. I do love her school though, and we could not ask for a better place for her to be. Emma really does thrive on going to school. She looks forward to it even when she doesn't admit it. She loves the activity, the friendships and her teachers. I don't think I could challenge her at home the way she is challenged at school. I really believe God led us to this place and this school because she is surrounded by love and attention and good godly teachers who influence her with their examples and we are truly blessed. So the debate rages on between me, myself and I over which  is the better decision and I continue to pray about what is best for them, but for now it looks like I better begin to get organized and take advantage of the tax free weekend because it is time to head Back to School.