The short week after Labor Day flew by quickly. Both Zack and I had adjusted to our school routine without any major fall outs. We were given an invitation to attend a social event for the online academy. This is where we would get to meet his teacher and other students personally.
Since Zack’s parents would still both be at work, I agreed to accompany Zack to the park where our social meet and greet was held on a Friday. I was surprised to see hundreds of other students from all grade levels in attendance. I hadn’t expected that many other families to prefer home schooling to traditional schools. It was quite an eye opener for me.
Zack was enjoying the activities that were set up, like the bean bag toss and stalls where you could win prizes. I noticed that he initially kept to himself. As we circulated more, he took interest in a group of kids his age who were working on some crafts. The kiddos quietly bonded over what they were making. Some play dates for the kids were scheduled among the adults.
We finally made the circulations all the way to Zack’s class teacher. Mrs. Ryerson was a warm, friendly and straight forward lady. She managed to instantly bring Zack out of his shell by asking him about his favorite subjects and hobbies. She really had him engaged. She also gave me encouragement by expressing her gratitude towards all the Learning Coaches who dedicate so much of their time and effort. They truly are the most invested teacher for their child’s education as well as their biggest cheerleaders.
After this social outing, I realized that there were many ways for home schoolers to socialize with others and plan out events and field trips. I also observed how Zack was thriving with not only his schoolwork, but also mingling with people when he was in a situation where he was totally comfortable. That is when he would let his guard down and overcome his anxiety. I also learned how perceptive he was for his age. He could easily tell who was sincere with him, and that is who he wanted to be near. I respected him for that. I could tell that more good things were coming our way with our joint effort in the way of knowledge.