We were home from the NICU with Sarge for less than 48 hours when I knew I had to do something to calm the insanity down even just a little. Having all three kids home 24/7 just wasn’t going to be best for anyone.

My convictions are very strong to homeschool my children. I want my children with me during these formative years. I want to do as Deuteronomy says and teach my children the Scriptures as we are going about our days. We feel homeschooling gives us the best opportunity to do this.

We make plans and then life happens and that is exactly what has happened to our family over the past several months.

I had awesome plans for our little family of four this school year! I had spent all summer preparing and by the end of July I was more than ready and more than excited to begin our first official homeschool year.

When I thought my life was going to be consumed by homeschooling my two daughters, God had other plans for me.

Adopting a newborn baby was no where near in my plans! But Sarge was in God’s plan for my life from the beginning.

I have had to alter my plans tremendously this year. Nothing has gone as expected.

As I was wracking my brain as to what I could do to change the dynamics of the household to make life a little more manageable given our circumstances of suddenly caring for a newborn infant with high demands because of his health issues, Little Bug’s preschool popped into my mind.

Little Bug went to preschool at a church when she was 3 years old and she had a fabulous experience there. I started contemplating sending Sweet Pea, who had just turned 3 years old.

I knew in my heart that it was the right thing to do, but it killed me to do it because of my strong convictions to keep my children home with me.

Since our move, this preschool is literally within walking distance to our house! To drive there takes only 2 minutes. Talk about convenient! The school is also an excellent school. It’s at the church Mama used to work at and the director is one of her best friends from 30 years ago! When I found out Sweet Pea’s teacher would be the director’s daughter and there were only 6 students in the class, I began to feel a peace about sending Sweet Pea to preschool.

This is just a season. Just because I have put Sweet Pea in preschool doesn’t mean that I won’t homeschool her! For now, this is just what is best for our family. Sweet Pea goes to preschool on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Three mornings a week only having 2 children to take care of just helps the craziness level tamper down some. I do Little Bug’s school with her while Sweet Pea is in preschool and Grams is here helping with the baby so I can focus on Little Bug’s school.

Originally, I said I would pull Sweet Pea out after Christmas but now I am considering letting her finish the school year (May 18th will be her last day). Preschool has been a positive experience for her and I am actually glad now that she is getting to go!

The Ready-Made Preschool that I purchased for Sweet Pea this year can be done with her next year when she is four! I don’t think I will attempt to start it while she is going to preschool. It will be fine to do it next year with her! It’s been ready and waiting for her since mid-summer and it will just wait until next Fall!

Sweet Pea’s first day was September 26th!

- Elaine