Homeschool Class of 2009!

Wow! On May 23 my son passed through the major milestone of high school graduation. We were surprised to find that there were so many ways to graduate as a homeschooled child. Many have private home celebrations and others graduate with their local homeschool group. We decided that our son would graduate with the state homeschool organization, because we wanted the official diploma and liked the idea of a traditional graduation. NCHE (North Carolina Home Education) Association put on a wonderful graduation at the convention in Winston-Salem last weekend. They were very well organized and everything went smoothly and easily. They ended up splitting the graduates into two different graduations, since there were so many of them (about 300 were there in person -- even more received their diplomas through the mail).

Since our son is now an adult, he will go by his real name on this blog for now on. Here is Timothy in his cap and gown waiting in the hallway to come into the graduation hall.

Isn't he HANDSOME?!

The way NCHE conducts their graduation is with an adult commencement speaker and then each set of parents are called forward to present the diploma to their graduate. It was lovely, warm and family friendly -- just as a homeschool graduation should be. 

Here dh is handing over the diploma.



My poor husband, David, got caught in the back. This picture does not depict what an important impact my husband has had on our homeschool. I am so grateful for his support and agreement that our children be homeschooled. It has been filled with sacrifice, lifestyle change/expectations, and two years that were particularly hard financially to keep me at home instead of in the workforce. However, he never wavered in his belief that we were doing what was best for Timothy (and later our other children). THANK YOU, DAVID! Here's to 12 more years of homeschooling and a great 10 years under our belts.

When the graduates were filing out of the hall, Timothy threw his cap to Tom Sawyer. Tom Sawyer was a very happy boy with the cap on. He is our most likely next graduate in 11 years. Goldilocks is supposed to go before him, but with her severe academic delays, she may be held back a year or more somewhere along the line.



A few family shots ~



Grandpa Dean, the photographer, was also in attendance but is always on the opposite side of the camera!

After graduation, we went to dinner at the Sweet Potatoes Well Shut My Mouth restaurant. It was delicious!

Hurray, Son! We are so proud of you!

Blessings, Dawn