A few days ago, we made the decision to send Mackenzie back to school.
We started our homeschool journey 706 days ago … that’s close to two years of learning together from home … that’s living and working closely with my girl as she moves from seven, to eight, to nine … it’s a long time …
My heart is full because I was given the gift and the opportunity to spend time with my child in this way … I am forever grateful for the time we got to spend together … I am thankful for the “extra” time she was able to spend with her grandmas and Nana … I love how she learned how to occupy herself, mostly by creating things (while I was working) … I’m proud of how much she’s learned … how much she’s grown …
I’ve learned a lot about her … and I’m starting to see (and accept) who she REALLY is … she’s feisty … she’s talented … she’s creative … she’s compassionate … she’s helpful … she’s resourceful … she knows what needs to get done, and she does it … she has an eye for justice … she’s sensitive … she needs A LOT of love … and lots and lots of opportunities to be creative …
I’ve learned and grown a lot too … I will continue to learn and grow … and she will too …
As our time together comes to a close and I send her off into the world, I hope she feels confident … I hope she feels brave … I hope she KNOWS who she is … I hope she continues to love the things that she loves now … but I also hope she’ll discover new loves … new ideas … and new ways of looking at things …
Am I sad that I won’t be a part of it all? Yes … I am … but I AM looking forward to being more intentional with the time we DO have together … my role as her mother is changing … but I will ALWAYS be her “teacher” … her encourager … her cheerleader … I hope to be her soft place to land .. and a listening ear when she needs it …
She will continue to grow … and I will too … she will continue to learn … and I will too …
Her roots are here … her firm foundation is here … with me … with us … right here in our home …
Another chapter of our story is closed (for now) … and I really can’t wait to see what the next chapter brings … for me … for Mackenzie … for our family …
She’s excited, and I’m excited too!
Our Life Well Lived - Leanne Hintz 