Jennifer's Graduation Ceremony - Our Speeches.

And, just like that, we're all done!

The high school graduation ceremony we attended was part of the California Homeschool Network's annual EXPO -- a weekend convention loaded with things like seminars, spelling bees, a room dedicated to the teens so they had a place to hang out, a teen dance, and loads more. Whole families routinely cram into hotel rooms, often armed with hotplates and other cooking materials, to get through the weekend as economically as possible.

There were 17 total graduates, including Jennifer, this year. Each family was allowed a maximum of five minutes to present their child's diploma and to say a little something about their journey. They included a slideshow of pictures we all submitted - I, unlike several parents, did not include a picture of Jennifer as a toddler sitting on a potty!

Sue Patterson, an author and speaker in the homeschool community, spoke, and then it was our turn.

Here's what Brian and I said. I went first:

Jennifer, today marks the end of a season for us and for you. We've given you love, nurturing, and just enough dysfunction to make you funny! You've taught me so much about life and love. Being your teacher has been joyful, dramatic, hilarious, hugely rewarding, and it has proven to be both a giant blessing and the source of many lessons for me from God.

We did without a lot of things as a family in order to make sure one of us stayed home to raise Jennifer. We kind of stumbled into homeschooling. We figured, if I was going to be home all day anyway, well, why not? We've never regretted it for a moment. Homeschooling has shaped and defined me as much as it has our daughter.

One of the things I'd often say, half-jokingly, as Jennifer went off for a play date or any activity where she'd be away from me was, "Bring honor to the family."   

Jennifer, we want you to know you've nailed it. We are so very proud of you. Your life radiates beauty, passion and compassion for others. You are faithful and thoughtful, and whatever path you choose in life, we know you're going to make the world a little better with your special mix of weird and wonderful!

Then, Brian had his turn:

Doreen and I both share a rather odd sense of humor about a lot of things. Having a child together meant that that child was genetically predisposed to sharing in some aspects of that "odd-ness". I'm sure many of her friends would agree.

When Doreen says we "did without" as a family, that's not just the three of us, but it includes Jennifer's big sister, Becky. It was tough trying to make things work financially and still give Jenn a solid education. Becky's presence and influence also schooled Jennifer in other aspects of our humor and "odd-ness" and the value of sticking to something in order to make it happen.

Throughout Jennifer's school years, there were a lot of tears during math lessons, some during small arguments about priorities, even some periods during which I wasn't sure that homeschooling was the right thing to do. Overall, I can say from experience that the result is totally worth it.

The South Bay Homeschool Network (holla!), WISH (holla!) and EXPO provided many friends encountering the same struggles and some who'd been past all that. Seeing how others did it and even how we might do things differently was highly informative and valuable.

They say "it takes a village" – and it truly does. Jennifer's friends and experiences with these groups have strengthened not only her social skills and knowledge of other ways of doing things, but they've served to strengthen her resolve in other areas of her life, as well.

Jennifer, this is really the first of many different milestones you'll achieve in your life. Every time one challenge ends, there's another to begin - sometimes, you even have to start over from scratch. But I'm confident in your ability to meet those challenges. I'm very proud of the young woman you've become and I’m proud to be your dad. Congratulations, my sweetie! 

Jennifer followed up with her own brand of humor. She said something like, "I'd like to thank the Academy -- Samuel Cole Academy, that is." She thanked us and acknowledged her grandparents, saying that they would have shown up even if we'd done a private ceremony in our own living room. She said, "I can't tell you how many of my friends asked if that's what we do for homeschool graduation: stand in our living room and do a big ceremony!"

Jennifer was adorable. Her grandparents came out from Michigan to be here, which was amazing (our homeschool on file with the California Board of Education, Samuel Cole Academy, is named after Brian's grandfather. It is a great name, and he was a great guy, so it seemed fitting to preserve his memory this way). Our friends Courtney (from chorus) and Ashley (from church) came to the ceremony, as well as sister Becky, Becky's boyfriend Max and her roomie Natalie. Lots of our homeschool friends attended too, which was really great -- none of them had their own family in the ceremony, so this show of support sort of speaks to how wonderful this community is! She knew a handful of the kids who graduated with her, from different activities through the years.

We went to dinner afterwards at an Irish pub, where Jennifer could enjoy the "food of her people".