First Day of Co-Op!

"Nobody had to go see the discipline person, today! Oh, but poor Mrs. Fowler; she didn't have a job."

These, the words from my 1st-grader when I said I felt this first day of co-op couldn't have gone any better.

Of course, we know the success isn't measured in how few demerits were handed out but in how few potty accidents occurred (okay, my daughter was the only one -- thanks for bringing it up).

In all seriousness, it seems it wasn't just rain pouring down over our little co-op in Gilbert, Ariz. Grace flooded the hall of St. Anne today. You could feel the Holy Spirit at work, and I think from what I could tell in talking to other moms, we all seem to feel this co-op was just what we needed in our homeschool journey -- the right fit at the right time.

Hats off to our teachers and assistants today, who managed to make it look like we'd hired them on from local prep schools (no, you're not getting paid; get that out of your head). Kudos to the snack and coffee ladies, who added just the right touch of allergen-free hospitality. A super thank-you to our music instructors, whose vocal talents managed to balance out the off-key notes disseminating from some tone-deaf bloggers moms who shall remain nameless. Great job, as always, by our fearless director, who presented the concept of faith while doing a mean monkey impersonation. Bravo. And let's not forget our kids, who overcame the desperate inclination to pounce in puddles to arrive on time, ready to give their all and learn to say words like "cuneiform".

This is a labor of love, but I think we'd all agree, these kids are worth it. God gave them to us -- and rumor has it He knows what He's doing. So let us finally say thanks to Him for the fruits that did and will continue to grow from this first day of co-op. In the words of Fr. Sergio, "I thought it would be louder."