Happy (not) Back to School Day

This summer has been full, and it has been hard. Trips to Park City, Steamboat, Breckenridge, WY, and South Dakota fill my memory card. Our suits are constantly drying out in the backyard, popsicle sticks are a common discard and we've had more than one scratch on the knee from fun outside play.

Austin has learned how to bike ride 6 miles comfortably, do flips off the diving board, and ran in his first triathlon. He has cemented friendships outside of school and has had a blast hosting sleepovers complete with backyard fires and tents that were built to be abandoned as it gets dark outside.

Oliver has become self sufficient at swimming, a trooper on long hikes and has fallen in love with camping in the backyard by himself.

But there have been fevers. And vomiting. And late night sessions holding Oliver as he just cries. And cries. And cries. There have been hours of research, doctor appointments, and unknown health issues. There has been an emotional toll and a physical toll that doesn't usually come to mind when I think, "summer."

If I was looking at the calendar and seeing that we had only two more weeks to be together, my heart would be freezing and I would feel an incredible crush to squeeze in the fun that these feverish days and nights have been stealing from us. It is with a huge sigh of relief that I sent the official notice to our school district that our family will be homeschooling. I love that the calendar still has about a month of open play time before we will start our school and I am resting easy during these hard days with Oliver, letting him say no to park play times, pool visits, and birthday parties. I think about it and wonder how sometimes the universe just lines everything up just right. Had we not opted for this upcoming lifestyle, Oliver would be looking at an unknown future of possible many missed days of school meaning a hard transition for a kiddo that already feels best at home.

As back to school photos fill my Facebook feed, I smile at the cute outfits, the backpacks that look too big, and look forward to the stories of new teachers and friends. I am also able to breathe easy and look forward to our Back to (home) School Day.