Marisa is real new to fencing but loves it ...and what's not to love? She gets to use a weapon and no one yells at her for pointing it at another person.
What is really cool about this though? Well, if Marisa wasn't homeschooling there would be no way we could commit the time to this. She was finding it difficult, almost impossible actually, to get all her homework done after a full day of school. We would also have a tutor come once or twice a week and were going to baton (which is also a weapon of sorts) lessons on one school night already.
Her frustration level was so high from school itself and the homework was so laborious, that it seemed like we had virtually no time between the end of schoolwork and winding down before bed. There was just no way she would have been able to fit in two nights a week of fencing in addition to twirling on a physical or emotional level.
Now, although we have a lot to do and are involved in a number of things, there is far more flexibility. Since I'm working with her one on one, as is her tutor, we get more accomplished in a shorter amount of time and with far less pain. Because she's less stressed, I'm finally starting to see some results. She's reading with a little more fluency (and willingness). I have her working on large grid graph paper for math and it seems to help her stay organized. She's trying hard to be very neat.
But truly, the best thing is that her confidence level is way up. Marisa, who wouldn't walk into a store and ask a clerk anything, now will (very politely I might add) asks for what she needs. She doesn't hesitate or shy away or have to be coerced to do it. She comes across as very grown up (Marisa???) and articulate.
She is becoming a stronger twirler. I watch her practice and the frustration that was there in the first half of the year is gone- it's like she's found her stride and she's keeping pace with it. She wants to join travel team next year and I think we can fit it in.
She's completely comfortable fencing. Marisa is moving with purpose, listening and slowing herself down. Most amazing is that she's able to wear the facemask which not too long ago would have just been impossible.
The other night we were driving back from twirling and I told her I was very proud of her; that she seemed to really be coming into "her own." I asked her why she thought this was happening.
She said, "Homeschooling."
Nuff said.
