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Thursday, April 23, 2009

Being there

I'm going to a homeschooling conference tomorrow and man, am I looking forward to it. It's not just the fact that I'll be able to shop in the vendor hall, although don't get me wrong, I love curriculum browsing. And it's not just the fact that I'm going to have two days of soaking in some very good teaching on a multitude of family and parenting topics that my heart so badly needs to hear right now. And it's not even just the fact that I'm going to be experiencing some of that "absence makes the heart grow fonder" me time mythos that will no doubt hit the reset button on my mommying cruise control.

All of these things are good, but they're not what I'm really looking forward to. What's really got me excited is the fact that I will not be alone.

For starters, Benny is joining me in attending this particular conference. We have the ride down, all day sessions, the vendor hall, the ride home and a whole other day to do it again. Together. Which sounds like a lot of time, but trust me, it isn't. Because frankly, we could talk the entire time and not run out of things to say.

But even that much quality time with Benny isn't enough to have be as thrilled as I am. (Sorry, Benny!) My joy goes even deeper than time with my best friend.

See, there are some things that are just meant to be shared. And you know what I've discovered? Homeschooling is one of them.

By its very nature, homeschooling is a semi-solitary thing for most of us. That's why it's called homeschooling, after all. You do it at home. Out of the public realm. In your most private space. Just your family, finding your own way.

You may participate in a co-op. You may belong to a support group. You may have the benefit of some fabulous forum friends. But at the end of the journey, you are the one responsible for the education of your brood. And that can be a very daunting thing.

Having people that walk the path with you makes that burden so much lighter. I can't imagine my own homeschooling career without the guidance of my cousin or my best friend. When I doubt myself, when I'm lonely, when I feel like a failure, when I can't quite put my finger on a situation ... they are the people whose voices I want at the other end of the line. The women who are right alongside me in the trenches. The ones who have taught phonics and lived. Who understand what it is like to simultaneously make grilled cheese sandwiches and read aloud from a historical novel. Women who feel my pain when I say that a book has fallen flat, or that a rabbit trail has taken on a life of its own. People like me.

Going to a homeschool conference is an even bigger extension of that sense of comfort. Finally--finally!--walking in to a building and knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are not the only one who truly understands how it is that you can feel a call that sets you so far outside of the mainstream. Seeing another mother who can't quite figure out what to do with her hands because she is so accustomed to having them full of giggling babies and a sweet 8 year-old boy who hasn't given up loving his momma's hugs. Hearing families talk about how their lives revolve around their home, not their offices or their kids' sports teams. Seeing the sense of purpose on the faces of other parents--parents who put thought, prayer and love into the educational choices they make for their children.

This is what I'm looking forward to: for two days, Benny and I will not be alone in praying when we sit down for lunch. We will not be the only people whose sons are more interested in knights than in video games. We won't be the only ones who have said no to things that most people don't question. We won't be alone when we stand in front of a table of books on purity, homemaking or womanhood. No one will look at us with raised eyebrows when we simply are who we are.

Instead, we'll be surrounded by like-minded women and families. No one will be able to spot us as fish swimming upstream. We will blend.

"It's your own little version of Mary Grace Heaven, isn't it?" my husband asked last night as I waxed poetic over the notion of not looking horribly overdressed just because I'm wearing a skirt.

"Gosh, no!" I told him. Heaven, I'm hoping, will be far more diverse. I really want to see some Bikers for Jesus in heaven. And Marc Driscoll. And my dad.

I don't want heaven to be populated entirely with people just like me. The world is much bigger, much more beautiful because of its variances and nuances. I think God made differences to keep things spicy--kind of like a bright red throw pillow on an all-white couch. God is surprising. He didn't stop with vanilla ice cream Mary Grace clones; instead, he kept churning out flavors all the way down the line. Pistachio. Butter pecan. Death by Chocolate. Rainbow sherbert.

And
that's good.

But tomorrow, I want to float in a sea of vanilla. I want to feel like I am just one of the crowd. Like I could actually--for once in my life--go with the flow. Because for me, that's the beauty of a homeschooling conference, especially one sweetened by the attendance of a dear friend: for once, there's no explanation needed. For two days, I can just enjoy being there.

10 comments:

anya* said...

That sounds wonderful! I hope you two have a wonderful time and come back feeling refreshed- then write a bunch of posts for the rest of us about it!

Unknown said...

So Am I!! Cant wait@

Benny said...

Yay. I'm so excited too. Excited for 4 hours worth of car ride talks. For many inspirational speakers that might just shed a little light on the areas of mothering, homeschooling and Christian living where I find myself floundering around in the dark (you can't answer ALL of my many questions after all, Mary Grace!). For fun school stuff to scope out. For that feeling you so eloquently described of going with someone's flow. I'm just excited for all of it!

So the kids stuff is set for Daddy to take over for the time. My things are set by the door and my shirt is neatly ironed. I'm ready to go!

WOO HOO!!!

Benny

Luke Holzmann said...

As much as I like vanilla, I do love me some butter pecan [smile].

Be sure to say hello to the Sonlight peoples!

~Luke

Unknown said...

I went last weekend. I thought I was set on my curriculum before I went but i changed EVERYTHING once I got there LOL! Using Horizons for math, LLAL for language arts and KONOS in a box for science and history. Have you used KONOS? HAVE FUN!

Anonymous said...

What a great start to my day! I found myself on the verge of tears, grinning widely, and vigorously nodding my head in agreement.

Thanks, MG. :)

Elizabeth
(aka Skylark)

Unknown said...

Just came back from the conference I was at. Went with Math U See. Arent you using Math U See?

Kindred Blessings said...

I'm so glad that I have you too cousin! I wish we lived geographically closer so that we could go to conferences together.

kw said...

I can't wait to blend at our homeschooling conference at the end of August. Not many people homeschool where I live and it is going to be nice to be around like minded people. Thanks for a great post!

Susan said...

The first time I walked into the CHEA convention about 10 years ago, my jaw hit the floor. I couldn't believe that there were really THIS MANY people homeschooling! Up to that point I was doing it "for now" but at that moment it became "what my family does." Ella is starting kindergarten in the fall and it never occurred to me to do anything but keep her home.