Horse + Boy + School

Well, I guess I had it coming. 


What was I thinking: trying to raise my son to be free, to think for himself, and feel like he could do anything he put his heart and mind to? Is this what comes of nurturing his self-esteem, supplying him with lots of raw materials and supporting his dreams? 


When one thinks of teenage rebellion, the picture of a kid demanding to go from unschooling to a public high school probably isn't what pops into most people's head first - or ever. 


It was entirely his idea. And, like most acts of rebellion, it was a big surprise. I sure didn't see it coming.   


One day we are all merrily sleeping till 10 and staying up till 2 because my husband works nights. My son reading books or drawing, riding horses or exploring outdoors all day. Doing plays (and even a film as an extra), recording lightsaber choreography, making swords or making music all night... working hard, playing harder and learning all the time.

Next thing I know he is commuting across state lines from our rural western Wisconsin home to downtown Saint Paul to a performing arts public charter school. 


Whoa.

Did I miss the part where aliens abducted my son and left a changeling in his place? Or did I simply choose to ignore the signs that he is hearing the call to join a larger band of gypsies? He is searching for his tribe out there... he found something that spoke to him in theatre, and now he wants more.

Yes, it does look like a fairy tale castle.
But it's still school...

In the past ten years we have gone from Waldorf school to homeschool to unschool and now, literally, back to school. 


What have I learned in the last ten years when it comes to schooling? Expect the unexpected. 


And, what have I repeatedly NOT learned in the last ten years regarding schooling? 
How to "fit in" with other people, and how to navigate remaining true to my self while not being a hypocrite. School always feels as though it's forcing these lessons on me. These are some of the reasons I don't like school. But that's me.


The only real lesson here? 
That this is my son's journey, not mine.


(I just realized - I'm sort of out of a job here. Oh well, it didn't pay worth a damn anyway... but I liked the hours and I sure loved the company.)

Horse + Boy.

My baby just turned fifteen years old... I am in shock. Where on earth did the time go? 


It seems just yesterday he was in third grade and had started riding lessons on a big ol' cowboy horse named Ice (he had pale blue eyes). On a late November day, Ice went down in the icy mud (ironic?) taking my son down with him. Ice was fine, my son broke his wrist. 

 A Harry Potter t-shirt, a pirate headscarf, fingerless gloves and a black velvet cape -
sort of Errol Flynn does Zorro.

Then we started homeschooling, and after the winter off from riding, my son got back on a horse. This time he rode a pretty and willful Welsh Pony at our barn named Matilda. The ground was a lot closer from her back. 
When it came to riding, my son's concern was getting hurt again. Matilda's only concern was getting back to the barn. Fortunately it wasn't long before Matilda got too short for my growing son.

The battle of wills is rather evident in this charming picture.

So, my son began riding our 14.2 hand mare, TigerLily. 
TigerLily is a sturdy paint with canon bones like tree trunks. She loves this boy, but that love didn't extend to a good work ethic. In riding lessons with TigerLily, he learned about clarity, respect and consistency. She learned what she could get away with, tolerating the work and loving the attention.


Not too long before TigerLily, too, got too short. My son is a "tall drink of water" for his age - he is six foot two inches tall so far, and his legs hang down so far on her sides that everyone at the barn jokes that he could click his heels together under the girth and and say "there's no place like home..."

TigerLily loves her boy...

Then one of our dear neighbors, who board a tall handsome 16 hand Arab gelding at the barn, kindly offered this horse as a lesson mount for my son. These two hit it off immediately. This willing horse comes like a happy dog friend at the sight of my son and the halter, and they seem to understand each other completely. It's a good thing our mare loves this gelding too, (they are contented pasture mates) or jealousy might rear its ugly head - you know mares! 

Two wonderful boys.

This fall, my son wants to try high school... I'll miss being able to simply "go up to the barn" on a whim with him - to ride, to explore the woods or just hang out with the horses. I hope that horses will always be a part of his life, somehow. I guess I did my part, making sure he had the chance to experience for himself the magic, the power, the beauty and the love of horses. 


(Oh, if only he can find a nice horse-girl to love out there, somewhere... )