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You wish for it with every breath. You pray for it to whatever god, rock, or spaghetti monster will listen. You hide in the closet in hopes that you might remember what it sounds like.

Silence.

But for the homeschool parent, it’s as elusive as Sasquatch or Nessie. Possibly even a figment of your imagination, since you can’t remember the last time it actually made an appearance in your house.

Until…..
[cut to the inside of my house this morning]
I’m typing furiously on my keyboard, answering one of the many emails I received since I last logged in. The hubs and my son who still lives at home have both long since left for work. The dogs (both in their twilight years) are lightly snoring on their respective beds. The only sound I hear outside of the clacking of my own fingers hitting the computer keys is the squeak of the mail truck pulling up to the curb. My heart leaps. I jump up excitedly and wave to our carrier from the window. Not because he’s brought anything important, mind you, but just because he’s there. A hit of the drug I didn’t even know I would become addicted to - - human connection.

There’s just something about homeschooling, isn’t there? Beyond the learning together, the frustrating battles of wills, and the spontaneous laughter. Beyond the financial sacrifices, the messy rooms, and the late night discussions. It’s that connection - - that complicated camaraderie - - that surprises you most. And when the end of it looms near, there’s only so much you can do to prepare.

But prepare we must. Because I’m convinced there is no empty nest syndrome like Homeschool Empty Nest Syndrome. One minute you are up to your eyeballs in glue sticks, map outlines, and high school transcript drafts. And the next minute you are finding excuses to wake up your dog to have someone to talk to. Those maddening, curious, magnificent kids who’ve turned our lives upside down are going to leave us. What are we supposed to do to be ready for that?

Trudge through those memories (and STUFF!) together
Take some family time as their months with you wind down to pare down the homeschool paraphernalia. Going through all those old books, papers, and projects is balm for the soul, a

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