You
know how some people would rather be the dead guy at a funeral rather
than the one giving the eulogy? That's me. I hate standing up in front
of a group of people and talking.
Even worse is talking about myself.
Today
was the first day of a new semester and wouldn't you know it? I had to
do exactly that. "Why?"I ask. My life is boring. I don't do anything exciting.
My life is school with my son and my own classes. What would
a CIS class full of college age people find interesting about my life? We all are attending college classes, so that just leaves
my son. College kids that I know are never big on the Mommy Brag stories.
"Hi,
my name is Shelle. This is my first year back at college in twenty odd
years. I spend my days virtual schooling my son and working on homework,
his and mine."
"Really?
That's wonderful!" enthuses my new professor.
He then proceeds to ask
me a billion questions and has to comment on every answer. All the while
I am still standing in front of 40 people, trying not to show them what
I had for dinner.
Recently
in my favorite online forum there was a rather vocal
discussion about whether or not schooling at home is, a new parenting fad or
an educational trend. One of the major sticking points was acceptance into college.
It occurred to me as I was up there sweating profusely, that this
wasn't the first time a college professor was excited to learn that my
child was schooled at home. In fact every teacher I have had at this level,
eight since September, has been excited and supportive of my decision
to do this with my child.
I
would imagine the fact I am in school myself says something about the
level of commitment I have to education and that may color their
perception, but it does make me wonder why there is such a disparity
between the general belief that kids schooled at home won't be accepted
into college because of their lack of education, and college professors/teachers being excited that these kids are getting great educations.
I
also have to wonder what it says about me, that I get through this
seriously uncomfortable moment by thinking about what people online would have to say about it.
I didn't die! I
swear it would have been easier!
