I took the plunge and returned to graduate school this semester.  I am working on my second Masters degree and will continue until I complete my PhD.  I personally think I have lost my mind, lol.  Right now I feel like an insecure student who is questioning her own abilities.  I know I will get back into the swing of an academic life eventually, but I really hope it is sooner rather than later.  I’m hoping that after a few class sessions I will be back to my old self in the classroom. 

The way classes were scheduled results in an extremely weird Monday night for my family.  I have class until 8 pm and Heathen Dad has a class that starts at 8:20 pm.  Did I mention our classes are about an hour away from home so we just take one vehicle?  Now you see how it is a weird night. 

It really is a family adventure.  The kids get to hang out with their daddy while I’m in class and then we have a parent switch-a-roo.  When it got late on the first night of class, my daughter ended up asleep in her carseat and my son stargazed while we waited for my hubby to finish up.  Sure we don’t get home until late, but the kids get to sleep in the next morning if they need it.  Oh the joys of homeschooling! 

I decided to write about this today because I have received a few emails about our homeschooling schedule.  Schedules are designed to fit the family, they must be flexible.  You can’t just design the “perfect” schedule and expect all homeschooling families to fit.  I never pictured my kiddos hanging out on a college campus after 10 pm, but here we are doing just that.  Our schedule has changed to fit the current needs of our family.  It is actually a little exciting to see how many educational things we will be able to do on Monday nights, just because we are out of the house that late.  I think we will bring the telescope a few nights just to get to stargaze while Heathen Dad is in class. 

The craziness of our manic Monday schedule is just for this semester.  We hope to keep our classes on separate nights in the future.  This semester will be an adventure.  We might end up missing the adventure when the semester is over. 

That’s right, I think she’s gone nuts.  (See there I go referring to myself in the third-person – call the white coats!)

People who have been here at Heathen Homeschoolers know I’m actively involved in our local homeschooling groups, homeschool two children, started this blog to spread the way of heathen homeschooling, take care of the house, dream of becoming a blogging superstar, act as a taxi service to the children, hoping to start speaking at more conferences and events….you know the usual mom things.

I have been thinking I need more.  Yeah, this is where questioning sanity comes in, lol!

I know this comes as no shock to anyone….academics are highly prized in our house.  Heathen Dad is currently in college because things didn’t work out for him back in the day (dang all nighters playing with computers – silly geek).  I am so proud that he decided to go back and complete his degree.  He’s even talking about working on a graduate degree  after he graduates with this one.

I had started working on my doctorate immediately following graduating with my masters.  I had to stop taking classes because of scheduling difficulties.  At the time, I was still working and quitting just wasn’t an option.  I look back now and see being forced to take a break from classes as a good thing.  As time has gone by, I realize that I was working in the wrong field.

Ok, so this nutty Heathen Mom (oh heavens, there I go with third-person again, lol) has been dreaming about going back to school again.  It has gone a tad past dreaming….remember me walking across campus in the rain to get a copy of my transcript on Friday?  Yup, that’s right, I just completed my application essays for admission into another graduate program.  I figure there is no harm in applying.  If admitted, I will have until later this summer to make a final decision.

So tell me, have I totally lost my mind?  Is it time to call the white coats to drag me from the house?

One thing that is on the mind of many parents of high school students this time of year is the ACT. It is important to remember that there is a registration deadline for each test. You can’t just decide to sit for the exam two days before the scheduled testing date. Below is a chart of the 2008-2009 testing dates.

* The September 13, 2008, test date is available only in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and West Virginia.

** No test centers are scheduled in New York for the February test date.

Visit the ACT site for more information or to register for an upcoming testing date.