And so it ends...

Homeschooling isn't ending for our whole family, but Bee has decided to make the transition to public high school, preferably a magnet program.  We've really struggled with structure since school has started, and he wants to be around more people.  I am feeling stretched too thin.  My husband and I went to our high school reunion this summer, and I think that got Bee thinking that he didn't want to miss that experience. 

I'm happy and relieved about the whole thing, to be honest.  He was supposed to be doing 9th grade this year, but he's a relatively young 9th grader, and my husband suggested that the best thing would be for him to apply to the magnet programs as an 8th grader this year, to avoid complications with trying to apply as a transfer student from homeschool.  To my surprise, Bee was amenable to this.  He can still go to college if he wants to on time because we have dual credit options, but he doesn't have to.  I am happy about this choice because I think he needs the additional year to mature.  I think he will be extremely well prepared for a magnet program or honors classes in the coming school year. 

So, this year will be focused on planning and study skills for Bee, as well as continued academic development.  And next year, I will only be home schooling Bug!  (Dot will still be too young to be in school.) 

This has also made me think about Dot.  She is a May birthday, and I think I will have her start "kindergarten" at age 6 and keep her a year back.  And then if she wasnts to accelerate in middle/high school, she can have that option.  One thing I've finally learned in my 14.5 years as a parent is this:  Don't rush!!! 

EDITED TO ADD: Three semesters later, a new beginning; we brought our Bee back to homeschool!  

Good Sources for Boys Husky Sizes

I have 2 boys, one skinny and on the short side and one chunky and on the tall size.  This means that I can't hand down clothes from one to the other, and I have had to become an expert on both body types. 

The skinny one was very hard to shop for as a toddler, but now it's much easier to find clothes that fit him.  The chunky one was easy to shop for as a toddler, but as he reached the tween stage, normal boy clothes no longer fit him well. 

So I had to work a lot harder to find him clothes that flattered him and fit well.  I have to shop online because the husky sections in stores are nonexistent or abyssmal.  This requires me to plan in advance so that I can get free shipping. 

Dressier Pants:  These can be really hard, especially for dressy styles!  The best I have found for khaki and dress pants are Land'd End husky.  In some styles, you can have them hemmed for free to the correct inseam. 

Jeans:  Sometimes Land's End offers boys' husky jeans, and sometimes they can be hemmed to a good length.  Also, once the boy gets tall enough, men's jeans at Land's End will custom hem them as short as 26 inches. 

Dressier Shirts:  Land's End and Old Navy have a lot of great options. 

Casual Pants and Shorts: Old Navy has great options in athletic shorts and pants in husky styles. 

T-shirts:  I like both Old Navy and Land's End for colorful shirts in husky sizes.  I prefer patterns because they hide stains!  I have found great, fun shirts in husky sizes. 

Underwear:  This has been a problem.  I was going to have to go to men's underwear, which I worried might not fit right, but I found that JC Penney offers husky underwear styles in colors and patterns that boys like.  I have ordered some to try. 

Pajamas:  I have had a lot of trouble finding these, but I see that JCP is now offering boys pajama pants in husky sizes as well!  I will have to give these a try for the winter.  Right now we are using very stretchy boys pajama shorts from Target, but they look like they may be getting a little uncomfortable.  Men's pajama shorts are an option I can try too, as he approaches 5 feet tall. 

Swimsuits:  Land's End makes some nice boy's swimsuits and rash guards in husky styles.  These do run really big.  My son can wear XL husky in some styles (with a little room to grow), but in swimsuits, the L Husky is fairly big on him, and the drawstring has to be tightened pretty tight.  The XL husky swim trunks I got were enormous, and he could not wear them, so I put them away for a future year. 

We have had a much easier time finding clothes for my skinny boy--slim pant sizes are easy to find in most stores, and most boys' pants have adjustable waists that can be buttoned really skinny.  As he's getting older and filling out, he is starting to ask for regular rather than slim fit.  For shirts, he wears an adult medium for height, but they are a little baggy.  The shirts that fit him best are Old Navy XXL boys.  These are cut slim for a boy but are long enough for him.  He still wears boys underwear, size large. 

Where do you shop for your husky or slim boy?