I don't know what to do. I love the idea of homeschooling and indeed I love much of the reality, but I am still not sure how to get everything done and Bayan has been loving the couple of days that he has spent in the classroom. He is so ready for this. Ruhi has begun to like school and for the first time in ages seems really happy to go. Anisa would prefer to stay home, but sometimes I think she really needs that extra structure and to find herself outside of her comfort zone. I am seriously unimpressed with schools here. I think that academically they are dropping the ball big time and that, in general, they are damaging to the emotional needs of children. Mehran has another viewpoint. He thinks that kids should be in school. They should not be kept home. They should see what a harsh place the world can be and should suck it up and learn to deal and live with it. In some ways I think he has a point. They should not be bubble wrapped, but I also don't think that they should be exposed to constant swearing, inappropriate and dangerous attitudes and constantly surrounded by peers who apparently have very different values. So we continue to compromise. The kids are attending a little school that offers a more wholesome environment 4 days a week and I do homeschooling with them on Friday. This helps with costs and also with the feelings that they are not being introduced to appropriate learning material for their age (specifically maths. But this is something that is across the board here. Most schools are still teaching division and multiplication through grades 6 and 7. I have issues with that. But I'll spare you and move on.) I can see that Bayan, especially, wants to stretch his wings. There has been no drama or tears about starting school. He organizes himself, puts his lunchbox and drink bottle where they need to be, gets his reading folder sorted and waves me out the door, saying: "See ya Mom. You can go home now." He doesn't even need a hug for cryin' out loud... but
I do. All I want is just to snuggle him up in my arms, give him a big kiss and bring him back home with me. He is so bright and so charming and I miss him. I
really miss him. The other day he came up to me grinning from ear to ear and said in a super excited voice "Look Mom! I have
diarrhea. My teacher gave it to me." The smile froze on my face. Then he pulled a new reading
diary from his bag and all was well once again. I love hearing about parts of his day and am sad not to share in them as much as I did and despite the fact that I am sitting at home with this gorgeous baby conjuring up fun activities for the kids to do when they return, and despite the fact that they are doing well and are happy, part of me is not. I love that they are all OK, but I am sad that they are growing up so fast, that they are moving on and I am sad to find myself letting go, even though I think (
maybe) it is for the best...
When I brought Bayan home from the hospital the girls and I made up a game where I would become a "tiger" and chase them around the kitchen (it is open on two ends with a raised bar around most of it -so we pretty much ran in a circle and I could catch a sneaky view of the kids, but with them being shorter than the wall they didn't have the same advantage...tisk, tisk, a shame that is.) while holding the "baby tiger" (Bayan). The girls loved it. We played it often and then we just kind of stopped. Well, there is a new baby tiger in town. And, while not 100% sure what all the fuss and giggles and screams are about she sure is an excellent spy for the mummy tiger.
Who allows the baby tiger to peer around corners (while she pauses to catch her breath, because man those kids have got energy) before resuming the chase. Judging from the squeals when they spot her little face I know weather to break right or left in order to catch them for a good-night hug, because once they are caught it's game over and time for bed. Theoretically anyway. Problem is they are hard to catch. This is normally as close as I get.
They are fast, they work together and they are so much taller than they were so I have lost my stealthy advantage. It's just not fair, but it sure is fun. 
At least I've got my spy... and an adorable spy she is too.
