Yes; I am over-the-moon that my introverted 14 year old, whom I home-schooled for 7th & 8th grades because she refused to go to school; is an active, happy Freshman at our local high school.

Am I knocking home-schooling? Never. We had fun, and we learned together. But as a single Mom who works 50 hours a week, it was more than difficult.

To have her come home and be excited as she tells me what happened during her day, and to see her waiting outside for me to pick her up, surrounded by friends; tears and happiness.

I am so proud of her for doing this, because I know as much as she tells me about the exciting things; she is stressed about the halls full of kids she doesn’t know, the teachers asking her questions, and trying to find her way around a 3-story school.

She is determined to belong, while being herself. And that makes me more happy that anything else ever could.