Long and rambling

Long and rambling.

Next week will be our first official week of homeschooling – and I’m exhausted!

I do not feel like I even had a summer vacation.  I love my baby girl, but the summer of her birth has been a blur in my mind.  June was spent getting use to her, recovering from my Cesarean, getting use to nursing again etc.  July was the month I spent mostly transcribing medical reports mine and vacation coverage.  (Hmm, vacation… I’ve heard of those before!!??) And then August – what the heck happened to August?  And now it’s time to start homeschooling and I am less than enthusiastic.  I am burned out – crispy.  Fried.

Soccer practice has already started so I am carting the 3 older ones to and from their respective practices and games.  Piano lessons started yesterday and I signed over my 9 month commitment to get them there, make them practice and pay for the lessons.  I just think it is very important to have some experience of accomplishing a musical instrument even if you’re not great at it – just to have the experience of studying music and knowing how to read music.  Mr. Pete also insisted that I put Sam into a composition class so that his writing will improve.  Calvin is in a history/writing/ literature class.  These classes are put together through our local homeschool group and the teacher is WONDERFUL!!  Still the monthly payments are going to be a bite so I’m going to try and rev up my eBay  and book sales.  

And then there’s paying for gas at almost $3.00 a gallon.  

I’m taking it one day at a time.  

And now then I feel so ashamed.  My problems are so small compared to what other wives and mothers are going through right now on the Gulf Coast.  That really is TRUE survival in its most basic form.  Those women are worried about their families, their health, and wondering what to have for dinner takes on a totally different meaning.  It’s not what to these people, but when and if dinner will even be available.  It makes me sad for them, and mad at myself for my ungratefulness.  

I’ve decided to help in a more concrete personal way.  The woman that is teaching the literature and composition classes just sent out a big e-mail.  Her sister-in-law lost her home in NE and now it appears her husband will be out of work since work no longer exists.   They need clothes – really everything.  So when I go to class on Thursday I’m going to take some canned goods and some T-shirts.  I will do that every week for awhile, giving what I can.  I think I’ll do the cash thing through Catholic Charities too.  It’s everybody doing what they can, and all chipping in together according to our means that will help us overcome this disaster too – like we always have and always will.