Jumping back on the blog-wagon with Seven Quick Takes, courtesy of Kelly over at This Ain’t the Lyceum

We belong to a homeschool co-op … a Classically Catholic Memory (CCM) program that meets every other week on Friday mornings. It is pretty-much the social center of our homeschooling life, and my daughter and I both enjoy it immensely. It provides structure to our year, we learn about our Catholic faith,and we have both made dear, dear friends. My eldest, non-homeschooled daughter has even found some baby-sitting clients from the group. Win! 

This year, instead of leading a single age-group class, I am teaching a 30-minute Science class to each age group. This involves me preparing a lesson to illustrate and explain the Science memory work for that week. For example, this past week the memory work was “What are two kinds of electricity? Static and Current.” I explained how electricity works, did demonstrations of both static electricity and electrical current, and had them complete a cut-and-paste project that was added to their Science “log book”.

As much as I love, Love, LOVE this program, I am a profound introvert with decent public speaking and teaching skills. Which means although I am well equipped to teach dozens of children of widely varying age, it takes a LOT out of me. I had found that I definitely go throughs stages around each co-op meeting.

1. Optimism. Usually the Monday before Co-op. I will have my lesson planned ahead of time, and it will be wonderful. I have grand ideas about experiments and demonstrations, and how to pull it all off.
2. Denial. Wednesday. Not running out of time, it will be fine. I can prepare my lesson Thursday and I already have all the materials I will need on-hand.
3. Panic. Thursday night – or sometimes even Friday morning. Running out of time. Missing an ingredient. Printer out of ink.
4. Resignation. Early Friday morning. Ok, the cart is packed. Lesson plan printed. Grace’s bag and snack and map are ready to go. Let’s just get in the car and go and get this over will.
5. Excitement. Arrival at the church hall. Hello, friends! So happy to see you. High-five the kiddos, admire the babies, hug the mom-friends. This is wonderful. LOVE!
6. Disappointment. Co-op is over. Already? That went so fast. Grace had such a great time. The children were so bright and engaged. Sorry to see you go. Let’s get together very soon for coffee/playground/mass. We will miss you.
7. Death (well, Exhaustion). Friday afternoon.Whew … mission accomplished. Adrenalin crash. Wrung out, drained, and almost asleep in my chair. Yes, of course you may play outside with the dog for four hours instead of finishing your schoolwork. Mommy is just going to sit here quietly. How many hours until bedtime? Can I get away with another fend-for-yourself night instead of making dinner.

What is amazing to me is that many of these stages sound negative, but my overall feelings about co-op are so positive and full of warmth and love. So true, the most rewarding things you do are often the most challenging.