Day Three and all's mostly well

Lest I seemed pessimistic in the previous posts, be assured that I am not. My daughter seems to be enjoying school, and I figure the biggest bestest thing she's getting so far is the hanging out time with friends. That's mighty important. Not much is happening in the classroom.

She did have some math homework today, which took her maybe a half-hour to finish. They do math in class, too. They did a bit of art in art class. She was allowed to leave at the scheduled time, so it took three days to get it down. Everyone at the school has been very nice.

I call this Unmothering because that's how it feels to me. I'm no longer in the picture for a lot of her waking hours five days a week. As a homeschooler I was a kinda-unschooler. She was involved with a formal educational program one or two days a week with other homeschoolers, where another person taught her science and social studies. I hired math tutors and they would get through a school-year of material in two to three months, meeting once or twice a week. The rest of the time we pursued what interested my daughter. She is interested in art, and anything Japanese (including Anime and Manga, big time!). She is interested in names of native plants and what sorts of things they can be used for. She loves to cook. But it was lonely for her I think, though she never complained that it was. She is an only child with only one parent and that's how it's been for us.

So now my parenting is happening in only five to seven hours a day, five days a week. At 14 this seems okay, she is in a process of being on her own. That doesn't mean I have to like it. Meanwhile I am plenty busy with my own stuff and the tons of work there is. Most of it does not generate income, it's the work of life. I get done what one person can.

We're in the last month of summer. This is when the beautiful ironweed blooms, gracing roadsides and fields with a royal purple that nourishes the eyes. The moon is almost full and we had a gorgeous moonrise this evening. The days are warm to hot and the nights are cool. A fan pulls the cool air into the place at night. It's spartan living at the business on school nights, but it's comfy enough for now.