Tabling Veganism, Thinking Homeschooling..

So the vegan thing isn't happening right now. I am incorporating more meatless meals into our menu, but it's really hard to come up with a good variety of cheap and interesting vegan meals! I need to keep building up a recipe base, and hopefully one day we'll be there 100%. I worry about missing out on nutrients and not getting enough protein. I know, beans have a ton of protein, but we are pretty much beaned out right now. I also worry about getting pregnant (hopefully soon!) - I don't know if I could/should be vegan while pregnant? I know people do it all the time, but they are experienced at it... I don't know. I guess I still have fear that I would be depriving my body of something. More research needed! :)

Next topic - Homeschooling. This is something I have been thinking about since moving to Arizona in 2001. The schools down here are not great, and that has been a concern of mine since before we even had the Nat Bug. Now that we are a couple of years away from Kindergarten, and there are budget cuts galore happening down here, I've ramped up my research. I am lucky enough to be on a wonderful message board, and the women in the homeschooling forum directed me to some great articles online and also recommended some books. If anyone is interested, I am reading The Well-Adjusted Child right now - this book addresses the whole "socialization" issue, which is the number one concern *I* have, and the number one comment I get if this topic comes up, especially from older people. So I'm reading it to learn more about homeschooling, to decide if it feels like a good fit, and so I can have some information to give people when the topic arises. Also, do a Google search for homeschooling information - there is a TON of research out there, from all sorts of sources, about the benefits of homeschooling. Also, some really interesting stuff about college admissions people, and their opinions on the homeschooled kids they see entering college. (If anyone wants some links to the articles I read, let me know! One of the sites was jam-packed with info, but it's authored by a lady on my message board, so I don't know if it's kosher to link that here w/o asking her first.)

I also went to a local homeschooling group this week for their park day, and it was so nice. The kids were really respectful and so kind to Natalie, who was a good 5 years younger than the youngest kid there, I think. The ladies I spoke with said they have a lot of families, and they usually have more people at the park days, with lots of young kids Natalie's age. When the weather heats up like this, people don't come as often. I think we may officially join this fall and get involved in all the activities they have. They have camping, moms and dads nights each month, the weekly park days, theatre trips, debate team, etc. SO MUCH going on!!

Right now, I think we have decided to keep Natalie home through kindergarten and see how it goes. I'm going to incorporate some Montessori and Waldorf ideas in the setup of our home, and also start working on letters and numbers more "formally" in the next year or so.

I'm excited when I think about it, but I still have that part of me that wonders if this is too weird. I'm so glad I have a few years to try this on for size to see if it feels right, hanging out with other homeschooling families and thinking like a homeschooling mom.