Monday morning approaches.  We’ve lost an hour of sleep from Daylight Savings Time (not a fan).  Add that to my already sleep-deprived day, and I’m not ready to gear up for academics tomorrow.  Yes, I could totally blow off studies, and we could sit around and do nothing.  You actually could do that as a homeschooler, but that’s not really my nature.  I work by a schedule. I know what needs to be taught and covered, so I must stay focused and persistent. I’ve been reading more on the Chinese culture and their parenting style, so I’m feeling as if I’m in a bit of competition with them and anyone else who’s intense on academics and succeeding.  I don’t want to go out in left field with this, but at the same time, my kids could be trying to get the same jobs or trying to get into the same college as they will try to do one day.  Note that I don’t transfer these feelings onto my kids.  They’re really just something that I’m constantly thinking about to myself, and it drives me to study, research, and refine what we’re doing at home.  Here’s my global thought on the whole bit of all…I want my kids to pursue their interests and where their gifts are.  They don’t have to go down the Ivy League road if it’s not the right fit for them.  However, if they would like to even be competitive for consideration, they have to be prepared for such.  That’s why I desire to train them early with a solid educational foundation. It’s easy to prepare them for anything if started at an early age.  Not so easy when you start late, and then it’s usually too late.