101 Cherished Moments from Our Virtual School Journey
Each time I place one of my daughter’s graduation announcements in an envelope, these words jump off the page as though I’m reading them for the first time. “We are pleased to announce the graduation of our daughter from INSPIRE Connections Academy.” This shouldn’t come as a surprise to me. The final assignments have been completed, the ceremony planned, graduation announcements mailed, cap and gown have been purchased, and the diploma is being printed.
My daughter and I have spent over a decade together working toward this moment. As she readies herself for her big day, I can’t help but look back in amazement at everything she’s accomplished and the academic milestones she’s reached along the way. Starting the education journey with a virtual school seemed like an easy decision to make for both of my children. It was the right choice. I made it for all the right reasons—exceptional teachers, specialized and engaging curriculum, and pristine school track record. I saw my son graduate in 2009 and am now seeing my daughter reach the starting gate for the rest of her future too. I have a deep assurance in my heart that my choice was the right one.
As I thumb through pictures from the past 15 years, I am in awe of another precious gift that the virtual school choice has given me. Flexibility—a simple word that delivered more than I had ever hoped for. While the school helped prepare my children with the book knowledge they needed, it also offered us the rare gift of time that has bonded us together as a family. Working together with the school teachers, our family was able to structure the school day schedule and overall schedule without sacrificing the requirements of a quality virtual school. This scheduling flexibility allowed us to accommodate a variety of unexpected opportunities our family may have otherwise missed out on. And still, my kids learned everything they needed to excel and prepare for their transition into adulthood. Here are some of the most cherished memories of things we experienced during our virtual schooling years:
- Slept late because we stayed up all night watching meteorite showers
- Found a beautiful rock, and another, and another
- Built a rock garden
- Created a family museum
- Took spontaneous family road trips
- Ate a lot of lunches together
- Had Wednesday night pajama parties
- Camped out in the backyard
- Made pumpkin pies from scratch
- Watched Sammy Sosa hit a home run
- Cried together on 9/11
- Spent hundreds of hours volunteering in our community
- Planned gardens
- Gathered cool leaves during long walks
- Walked in a parade
- Read books on a trampoline in the warm spring sun
- Searched for items on scavenger hunts
- Made kites without a kit
- Found the longest string possible to see how high the kite could go
- Chased a kite until we couldn’t see it anymore
- Laughed so hard we cried, and then did it again
- Felt the sand on several beaches
- Jaunted out for a picnic lunch by a lake
- Cuddled up for a long winter nap
- Saw every animal in the zoo
- Watched puppies born throughout the night
- Started a business
- Played backup “mom” for my daughter’s babysitting jobs
- Advocated as a family for school choice in our own backyard
- Patiently built models from start to finish
- Fed a tomato worm because there was a chance it was a caterpillar
- Found a real caterpillar and watched it turn into a butterfly
- Tried amazing new hobbies
- Finger painted with chocolate pudding
- Celebrated the first “A” on every report card together
- Heard the first words read aloud
- Experienced countless AHA! moments
- Brainstormed to overcome obstacles
- Made homemade presents for each other
- Racked up countless smiles with heart-shaped apple slices served during math lessons
- Learned how to connect with outstanding teachers
- Played in the mud during science lessons
- Dissected owl pellets
- Raised pigs
- Delivered a surprise party in the middle of the day
- Adopted grandparents
- Started new family traditions
- Took a three-day train trip through the Rocky Mountains on the California Zephyr
- Cuddled up together during social studies LiveLesson® sessions
- Climbed mountains
- Supported community orchestras
- Helped friends in need
- Cooked for a party of a hundred friends
- Watched baby birds hatch
- Went spelunking in the North Dakota Jewel Caves
- Overcame fears to try something new
- Walked a mile on the Oregon Trail with new friends
- Made new family friends all over the world
- Celebrated the first day of school with a sleepover
- Explored a lava tube with flashlights
- Made keepsake snow globes
- Created our own school yearbook pages
- Surprised friends with flowers
- Experienced the joy of teaching kids about random acts of kindness
- Reported a fire and saved a home
- Tore apart used appliances and put them back together again
- Created a scale model of the solar system with friends
- Buried a time capsule
- Planted trees
- Learned that math wasn’t just numbers on a page
- Raised money to help tsunami victims
- Made bird feeders every fall out of pinecones gathered on evening walks
- Constructed obstacle courses for rainy-day fun
- Celebrated good news together the moment we got it
- Learned to play the djembe together
- Declared every first snowfall of the year an official snow day
- Played in the rain and got as wet as possible
- Picked apples and berries in secret spots
- Took cooking classes together
- Learned first aid and put it to good use
- Put family first on several occasions
- Learned to get along together, even when it wasn’t easy
- Hunted down ingredients for old family recipes
- Floated the river on a warm September day
- Went fishing
- Mastered the snowboard
- Studied American Sign Language as a family
- Shot off on a virtual trip to the moon
- Shared innumerable spontaneous moments of happiness
- Helped my kids achieve their best, even when it wasn’t easy
- Ran out the door to see critters in the field
- Survived driver’s education twice
- Listened to old-time radio shows while sipping hot chocolate and nibbling cinnamon toast
- Hosted Tuesday afternoon art parties with friends
- Spent the day “in Greece” with webcams and Greek treats
- Watched pheasants flock together in the field and cranes in the pond
- Cared for sick friends in need
- Spent a month in Texas to help a grandparent
- Spent a month in Maine to help a grandparent
- Watched street performers in Seattle
- Answered the question “why?” thousands of times
The few memories I’ve gathered together on this list will continue to grow, as I’m sure yours will too.
Have you started a list of your favorite memories? We’d love to hear it!