Thursday, August 27, 2009

Countdown to 8th Grade

I am fight, kicking and screaming as I am just not ready to start school. We've had a very busy summer, got a lot of things done, yet I still have a lot of projects to complete. We start September 8th, so I still have a tiny bit of time.

I am looking for volunteer opportunities for Thomas. So far I have not had any luck. In the past, we have volunteered at our local Humane Society. I'm not to keen on going back there. Even though we support them with donations, I personally didn't enjoy sitting on the floor playing with kittens, kittens who would jump out of your hands and be on the very top of the cages--it was nearly impossible to get them down. I also worry about picking up germs and bringing them home to our pets. Thomas is not old enough to volunteer by himself there, so I have to go with him.

I have not found any other volunteer opportunities. We could work at the local seniors' home, but all we would be doing would be passing out afternoon cookies. I suppose that may be okay, but I'd rather do something more. Again, I would have to be with him.

Apparently our town no longer has the Meals on Wheels program. I would have done that in a heartbeat. Our town is full of senior citizens. I would love to find something where Thomas could interact with them. Now that his only grandparent that showed him love and interacted with him is gone, he has a void in his life. No one will ever replace Grandpa Charlie, but maybe we could make a difference in someone's life whose family isn't near. I don't know how to find them.

So I need to get on the phone and start making inquiries.

I plan on taking Thomas to a monthly homeschool swim in a town about 45 minutes from us this year. One local motel will let us pay to swim there, but it is just so gross there that we've only gone once. We could also go to a town 20 minutes from us to swim. I'm thinking a weekly afternoon swim may be a good idea to add to our already too busy schedule.

I have to map out our math, geography and science yet. Everything else is ready to go. So much to do, so little time.

I wish I were a little kid again, as time went soooo slowly and now it goes so fast!

4 comments:

Wendy said...

The time does fly. The summer is just about gone!

Maybe he could do Habitat for Humanity. Or perhaps he could do storytime at the library for preschoolers? Just a couple of thoughts.

Now, back to your regularly scheduled summer!

Unknown said...

I was just thinking about the library as well. I know that my library loves help.

Elisheva Hannah Levin said...

About volunteering: Thomas is at that awkward age when he really could volunteer by himself but is not quite old enough by today's standards. (I was a candystriper at a local hospital in 8th grade and got myself there by city bus. Those were the good old days).
We are just finishing up that period of our lives. The Boychick is now in 10th grade and they let him volunteer on his own at many places. Keep plugging away at what is available to do in your town. There's always something!(How about yard work for an elderly neighbor?).

Sara said...

Do you have a Volunteer Chore Services near you? I think it's organized by Catholic Community Services, but it screens people and connects them with seniors or folks with disabilities who need help with household chores. I did it when I was in high school, so I don't know if they would take an 8th grader, but it was a great way to build a relationship with a senior.