Sometimes the kids need a change of environment when we homeschool so I decide to move the classroom to STARBUCKS. Yes, Starbucks….because when you homeschool, you can do that! We take our butts, our books, and our bikes out to the land of Java so that Mommy can also get her much needed caffeine.

As we’re biking out there, they’re playing their usual game of “PRETEND”. The PRETEND banters alternate between the girls back and forth. Here’s some of their PRETEND QUOTES:

“Pretend our parents are dead and that’s why we only have bikes”.

(I guess if they have parents then they have sometime to drive them around in a car. LOL)

“Yeah, and pretend only our Nanny is alive and that’s who Mommy is.”

“Pretend we’re poor so we don’t have any batteries for the car and that’s why the car is dead”.

I don’t know why so many of their games involve having dead parents…are they trying to give me some kind of hint?? Here’s my theory: Have you guys noticed that all the big Disney Movies have only one parent? Snow White (mom’s dead), Cinderella (mom’s dead), Sleeping Beauty (dad-no mom), Anastasia (no parents), Arial (no mom), Jasmine (dad, no mom). What’s up with that???

ROD.

When we get out to Starbucks I see my new friend Rod. Rod is also a regular Java-addict and so I introduce him to my girls. (I think they’re alittle intimidated by his size but they see later that he’s just a big teddy bear.)

Today we do some spelling, writing, science, and reading. 

Then, the most amazing thing happened. I discovered that I am NOT the only one to homeschool at Starbucks! We meet these really nice ladies that homeschool as well!

And, we’re not alone! On a different day, I met these super nice teenagers that were homeschooling at Starbucks. You can always tell when you meet a child that’s been home-schooled. They’re super down to earth, well spoken and extremely polite! 

(Look who’s there again. It’s my friend Rod!)

All I have to say is, great minds think alike!

-Jane, Starbucks-Homeschooling Mom

We only eat out occasionally when I’m lazy to cook or there’s a special occasion. Today was a lazy day so we decide to take a bike ride out the INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PANCAKES for breakfast. Now, I’m a mediocre, well almost novice bike rider. My limited riding in my childhood involved a used Pink Panther bike my mom Fanny Mae bought at a garage sale. My sister and I shared it and we took turns riding up and down my neighbor’s 200ft driveway. Back and forth and back and forth and back and forth. You get the picture. Fanny Mae didn’t allow us to ride on the neighborhood streets for fear that we would get hit by cars.  

Luckily for us we live right behind one of the longest shopping strips in the Southeast and I get to hone my biking skills. Besides wrapping myself around a pole, I find it’s faster, healthier, better for the environment and overall much nicer to go by bike than by car. Best part of it all? Parking…and right up front too. That’s better than the front spaces! (I have been known to drive multiple times around the parking lot and stalk people to get a parking space up front.)

Dick was biking closely with Louise. She’s the youngest and smallest and tends to usually find herself at the back. It’s usually easier for him to bike with her since I lack his proficiency at biking.

Thelma and I are riding out front and as we’re riding my stomach is growling. I absolutely love this feeling of hunger. Those hunger pangs let me know that my body is eating my fat and I LOVE THAT! An empty stomach fuels me with so much energy whereas I tend to feel lethargic after eating.

My conversation with Thelma as we’re biking along the greenway:

Jane: I love that feeling when I’m hungry.

Thelma: Yeah, me too. I bet I could go a whole day without anything. Just drinking.

Jane: Really. 

Thelma. Yeah, I could. If I don’t eat for a day and just drink water will you give me money? (She’s an entrepreneur and is always thinking of ways to earn money.)

Jane: What?! Give you money? Like how much? $2?

Thelma: No! $24 (I think she has something in mind that she wants to buy and it costs this much. She forgot about tax!)

Jane: That’s too much! 

Thelma: Well, I need $24 for a bed and that’s $1 for each hour that I don’t eat. (Good math girl!)

Jane: No.

Thelma: Ok, how about $20?

Jane: No.

Thelma: $10?

Jane: No.

Thelma: $5?

Jane: No. 

Thelma: Then no. (She says nonchalantly.)

Jane: (I think it over and I’m being unreasonable.) Ok, no $5. 

Thelma: (Again, nonchalantly.) No, now it’s $25.

Jane: No, no, no. It’s ok. $5 is good.

Thelma: No. $25.

Jane: (I’m shocked that the price has gone up and more than the original for that matter! Impressed that she’s has such a business mind, I’m super-proud that she realized the value of her time and efforts and was not going to cheapen herself.)

Thelma: Well, you know what’s better than money? If I win, you have to sleep in the car with me alone. And if you win, I’ll give you a massage. 

(Thelma’s been begging me for us to camp out in our minivan but this is not something I want to do. But, I think it over and it’s only fair that I be willing to do something I don’t really want to do if Thelma is willing to go a whole day without eating. Fasting for a day would surely be difficult for me to do!) 

Jane: Hummm (wearily, with much hesitation) ummmm, o….k….i…guess…we…could…do that.

Thelma: Her face is beaming.

While we’re waiting to be seated at IHOP, Thelma tells Dick and Louise of our conversation.