A Progress Report | Kate

Of my three virtual school students it has been Kate who has surprised me the most. I knew Faith would do well and I knew Cole would have challenges, but I really wasn't sure what to expect with Kate. Just coming out of her Kindergarten year I wasn't well versed on her learning style or any educational strengths and weaknesses she may have had. She did her Kindergarten homework independently and went above and beyond what was required of her but yet virtual school still seemed like a shot in the dark. In the beginning of this school year I could tell she wasn't really digging it. She spoke of traditional school often, and I knew she was missing the social aspect of school and all the attention that the setting of an elementary school brought her. She is a little girl who can't step foot outside the house without people falling all over her thanks to her red hair and vivacious demeanor. Last year even her siblings' classmates knew and loved her. Virtual school really doesn't lend itself to that kind of attention and the big blue eyes, red hair, and sparkling personality lost it's effect on me yesterday some time ago. Her fall gymnastics schedule has relieved the need for social stimulation while field trips and events with other virtual school families will start soon. Curriculum wise she is breezing through the work, and since she has a lighter load than the other two, she usually finishes first. Any normal kid would be just fine with that and find something else to do but Kate begs me for more. I spoke to Dr. W. about the situation on Tuesday and she told me that I should allow her to work ahead in the curriculum. The problem with that is that she can not do so independently and I have been using the time after Kate is finished to work one on one with Cole. Dr. W. told me she would try to send some enrichment work Kate's way. It's funny how having a child excel and feeling like your not doing enough for them produces the same amount of guilt as if she was failing in this environment. My conclusion is that parenting just comes with a heap of guilt. Period.

P.S. Dr. W. also told me Tuesday that she is using me as an example when people ask her if it's possible to virtual school two children. She said, "I tell them that we have a family doing awesome with three." That made me feel pretty good. :)