101 Cherished Moments from Our Virtual School Journey

Each time I place one of my daughter’s graduation announcements in an envelope, these words jump off the page as though I’m reading them for the first time. “We are pleased to announce the graduation of our daughter from INSPIRE Connections Academy.” This shouldn’t come as a surprise to me. The final assignments have been completed, the ceremony planned, graduation announcements mailed, cap and gown have been purchased, and the diploma is being printed.

My daughter and I have spent over a decade together working toward this moment. As she readies herself for her big day, I can’t help but look back in amazement at everything she’s accomplished and the academic milestones she’s reached along the way. Starting the education journey with a virtual school seemed like an easy decision to make for both of my children. It was the right choice. I made it for all the right reasons—exceptional teachers, specialized and engaging curriculum, and pristine school track record. I saw my son graduate in 2009 and am now seeing my daughter reach the starting gate for the rest of her future too. I have a deep assurance in my heart that my choice was the right one.

As I thumb through pictures from the past 15 years, I am in awe of another precious gift that the virtual school choice has given me. Flexibility—a simple word that delivered more than I had ever hoped for. While the school helped prepare my children with the book knowledge they needed, it also offered us the rare gift of time that has bonded us together as a family. Working together with the school teachers, our family was able to structure the school day schedule and overall schedule without sacrificing the requirements of a quality virtual school. This scheduling flexibility allowed us to accommodate a variety of unexpected opportunities our family may have otherwise missed out on. And still, my kids learned everything they needed to excel and prepare for their transition into adulthood. Here are some of the most cherished memories of things we experienced during our virtual schooling years:

1. Slept late because we stayed up all night watching meteorite showers
2. Found a beautiful rock, and another, and another
3. Built a rock garden
4. Created a family museum
5. Took spontaneous family road trips
6. Ate a lot of lunches together
7. Had Wednesday night pajama parties
8. Camped out in the backyard
9. Made pumpkin pies from scratch
10. Watched Sammy Sosa hit a home run
11. Cried together on 9/11
12. Spent hundreds of hours volunteering in our community
13. Planned gardens
14. Gathered cool leaves during long walks
15. Walked in a parade
16. Read books on a trampoline in the warm spring sun
17. Searched for items on scavenger hunts
18. Made kites without a kit
19. Found the longest string possible to see how high the kite could go
20. Chased a kite until we couldn’t see it anymore
21. Laughed so hard we cried, and then did it again
22. Felt the sand on several beaches
23. Jaunted out for a picnic lunch by a lake
24. Cuddled up for a long winter nap
25. Saw every animal in the zoo
26. Watched puppies born throughout the night
27. Started a business
28. Played backup “mom” for my daughter’s babysitting jobs
29. Advocated as a family for school choice in our own backyard
30. Patiently built models from start to finish
31. Fed a tomato worm because there was a chance it was a caterpillar
32. Found a real caterpillar and watched it turn into a butterfly
33. Tried amazing new hobbies
34. Finger painted with chocolate pudding
35. Celebrated the first “A” on every report card together
36. Heard the first words read aloud
37. Experienced countless AHA! moments
38. Brainstormed to overcome obstacles
39. Made homemade presents for each other
40. Racked up countless smiles with heart-shaped apple slices served during math lessons
41. Learned how to connect with outstanding teachers
42. Played in the mud during science lessons
43. Dissected owl pellets
44. Raised pigs
45. Delivered a surprise party in the middle of the day
46. Adopted grandparents
47. Started new family traditions
48. Took a three-day train trip through the Rocky Mountains on the California Zephyr
49. Cuddled up together during social studies LiveLesson® sessions
50. Climbed mountains
51. Supported community orchestras
52. Helped friends in need
53. Cooked for a party of a hundred friends
54. Watched baby birds hatch
55. Went spelunking in the North Dakota Jewel Caves
56. Overcame fears to try something new
57. Walked a mile on the Oregon Trail with new friends
58. Made new family friends all over the world
59. Celebrated the first day of school with a sleepover
60. Explored a lava tube with flashlights
61. Made keepsake snow globes
62. Created our own school yearbook pages
63. Surprised friends with flowers
64. Experienced the joy of teaching kids about random acts of kindness
65. Reported a fire and saved a home
66. Tore apart used appliances and put them back together again
67. Created a scale model of the solar system with friends
68. Buried a time capsule
69. Planted trees
70. Learned that math wasn’t just numbers on a page
71. Raised money to help tsunami victims
72. Made bird feeders every fall out of pinecones gathered on evening walks
73. Constructed obstacle courses for rainy-day fun
74. Celebrated good news together the moment we got it
75. Learned to play the djembe together
76. Declared every first snowfall of the year an official snow day
77. Played in the rain and got as wet as possible
78. Picked apples and berries in secret spots
79. Took cooking classes together
80. Learned first aid and put it to good use
81. Put family first on several occasions
82. Learned to get along together, even when it wasn’t easy
83. Hunted down ingredients for old family recipes
84. Floated the river on a warm September day
85. Went fishing
86. Mastered the snowboard
87. Studied American Sign Language as a family
88. Shot off on a virtual trip to the moon
89. Shared innumerable spontaneous moments of happiness
90. Helped my kids achieve their best, even when it wasn’t easy
91. Ran out the door to see critters in the field
92. Survived driver's education twice
93. Listened to old-time radio shows while sipping hot chocolate and nibbling cinnamon toast
94. Hosted Tuesday afternoon art parties with friends
95. Spent the day “in Greece” with webcams and Greek treats
96. Watched pheasants flock together in the field and cranes in the pond
97. Cared for sick friends in need
98. Spent a month in Texas to help a grandparent
99. Spent a month in Maine to help a grandparent
100. Watched street performers in Seattle
101. Answered the question “why?” thousands of times

The few memories I’ve gathered together on this list will continue to grow, as I’m sure yours will too.