Choir Concert

We spent yesterday afternoon at our choir concert/sing-through. We thoroughly enjoyed The Otherwise Choir last term and were disappointed (but understanding) when the end-of-term Christmas concert was cancelled. It was not possible for our beloved choir mistress to lead us this term and so we have been choir-less. Yesterday's get-together was a much belated full-stop to the term's work.
It was good to see old friends and to be re-affirmed in the community of home-edders that I am part of. We are a disparate bunch and, although we meet up at various activities occasionally and have much e-group contact, it is a heart-warming feeling to be together and participating in something communal.
Many of the choir members brought additional contributions: violin, trumpet, drama and song. It was fascinating and encouraging to me to see older children, who have never been to school, so accomplished and assured. It was fun to see the children, ranging from around 5 to 15 playing and laughing together afterwards.
My three each chose to read a poem, (my middle son, in fact, read two poems, one of which was his own compostition, and the beginning of a story he's writing,) and a number of people were kind enough to offer compliments on their performance. It was one of those moments when I have to remind myself to step back and appreciate what has happened. Through countless afternoons of tea and baking and poetry, all of my children feel comfortable with verse and confident to read aloud and I truly believe that the years of 'chapter books', the hours I have spent with them on the sofa immersed in classic children's books and more modern literature, has allowed a love of language to take root and to grow.
It is hard sometimes to see the progress made as my children learn and grow and it is occasions like Sunday afternoon when I see them shine and I can allow myself to feel that Home Ed is working for us and I am doing a good job!