It’s been three years and I still haven’t gotten the hang of it. Here in the south the kids head back to school around the first week of August. Yesterday was the first day of school for many Tybee and Savannah students.

This is when everyone announces “Summer’s over!”

“What??” I exclaim, “It was 98 degrees today and there is still six weeks of summer left!” According to the farmer’s almanac, the last day of summer is September 22.

When we hit the reset button on our life almost four years ago, we not only sold everything and moved 500 miles away, but we decided to not live according to everyone else’s rules and schedules.

I lived too many years doing what I was “supposed” to do or living up to other’s expectations of me.  Rushing around every morning to meet deadlines and schedules for each of my kid’s schools. This included putting them on busses and shipping them off for almost 10 hours a day, or carpooling to get them where they were expected to be. One year I had four kids in four different schools and a nursing baby on my hip as I started my business from home.  No wonder I thought I was losing my mind, I think I actually was.

When we checked out our schooling options during our move to Georgia in the fall of 2011, imagine how surprised we were to learn about public online cyber school. It turns out that about half of the states in the U.S. offer this, but so many people don’t know that it exists. Cyber school is free public education that takes place via the internet.

It is still very different than traditional homeschooling that you may have heard of. Because with online school, there is a full staff of teachers and administrators that handle all of the operations of the school. I will be the first to tell you that I am NOT a teacher! The parent responsibility in cyber school is to keep the students on task, take attendance, and drive them to a mandatory state testing site one week out of the year.

About a week before school starts, a large box arrives at our home. It contains all of the supplies needed for the year. Text books, art supplies, science beakers, thermometers, head phones, litmus test strips…you name it, it’s in there. So when other parents are frantically searching the best sales for paper, pencils, binders, tissues, antibacterial wipes…etc… we are still hanging out on the beach.

Since Sean and I both work from home and we are in control of our own schedule, this is a perfect fit for the life we were seeking. 

We have been able to be available  in a bigger part of our kids’ days. We usually have a pretty relaxed, non-rushed morning, enjoying breakfast and sitting on the deck together. Usually laughing, telling stories and sharing life together. 

Once we start into our work day, they fire up their laptops and begin their lessons. A few times a week they will have “live lessons” this is where they have an interactive video feed with their teachers going through lessons, or discussion groups with classmates.

The most beautiful part about this schooling option is the freedom it buys us as a family. As long as they have Internet connection, they can be “in” school.

For years I have dreamed of traveling with our kids. Our hope is to spend a little time during the winter months in other countries exploring the world to gain a bigger scope and expand their worldview.

We are also currently planning a few days to south Florida this fall for snorkeling and camping. I want to teach them that traveling does not have to cost a fortune. You don’t have to wait for “some day” to arrive. You just have to make it happen. It’s as easy as grabbing a tent and snorkel gear and doing it. I’ll keep you informed as this trip comes together.

For the skeptics that ask with great concern about my kids’ social skills…well then, I guess you just haven’t spent any time with them. They are quite a social crew.

Baylie (17) is able to work two part time jobs here on the island and still hang out with her friends.

Kyleigh (14) has several friends that are enrolled in cyber school too, Many times, they decide to get a week’s worth of work done in three days so they can have a four day weekend. She is, also involved in two youth groups. Keeping faith denomination boundaries at bay, she attends both a protestant non-denominational church youth group, a Catholic youth group and weekly Mass here on Tybee.

Ava (11) has recently graduated from attending the past two years at Tybee Island Maritime Academy. Which was an amazing experience for her. She will be returning to cyber school at home this year. She serves as an officer on the Tybee Youth Council, participating in our local city government, and continues to be a teacher’s helper at her previous school. 

As parents of five kids, we have always taken each year and each kid as they come, making the best education choices we can with what we have for each of child as we navigate through unknown territory.  For now, we are thankful that we have cyber school as an viable option and we are grateful for our days that are spent with them laughing, learning and living life together…and we can enjoy six more weeks of summer!