Heh Spunky,
I just got back from our state convention and Sally Clarkson shared many of the things you just wrote!
We actually started last Monday. We find that starting in mid-August allows us to school for the required number of days and still take extra days off here and there as needed.
By "required number of days" I mean the number required by the Ontario government. Ontario's educational laws are pretty good regarding homeschooling (although individual school boards can be supportive or obnoxious). The major requirement in the educational act is that kids be in school for 180 days a year. In the public schools, some sick days are included in this, as well as field trips by clubs (e.g. if the ski club goes away for a trip in the middle of the week, this counts as school time). We however only count actual days studying, or educational field trips.
Thanks for several reminders I needed to start our year out right! Wish I lived closer to Detroit to attend the picnic. We're just starting to study the Civil War this year.
I appreciate your contribution to this project. New schoolers especially will benefit I hope.
Thanks for the tips, Spunky! 
THIS is why I read your blog. I am a "check list" mom and I find myself more focused on the number of checks at the end of the day than relaxing and enjoying the day with my two sons.
I'm doing better though. I begin the day reading to my son and what we get done is what we get done.
Thank you Spunky for sharing your wisdom to a floundering homeschool mom who tries to do everything perfectly and fails miserably.
Amy Jo
This is about my 20th time I have read your blog. You are my only comment on my very new blog and I am truly thankful that I can so quickly link to your blod . Every time I read your posts, I am inspired. As for this post, thanks for reminding me to stay focused on the real reason I homeschool. Especially for reminding me to be content in the moment. Sometimes I get so busy that I forget to savor every moment that God has blessed me with. Thanks for grounding me.
Thanks for the tips!
I have a question though. I also am required by my state to have 180 days in a school year. I have never read that it specifies these days as Mon.-Fri. however. So today we spent 6 hours on a back road adventure where we got to witness nature plots planted by the government, read signs warning of pesticides in use for an awful hemlock killing parasite we have recently endured, catch crawdads and salamanders (kids seen first hand that we are indeed the salamander capital of the world), and even hiked a bit of Bartram trail and talked about who William Bartram was and how he kept a nature journal like we have started doing. Oh, and my 8yo brought along her brand new Bird Guide book that she saved her own money from chores to buy (she is so in love with it that it is under her pillow now as she sleeps lol). Anyway, on to my question....should I mark this as a school day on my attendance forms I have to send in monthly? I mean they certainly did alot of learning today even though it wasn't the typical day with our regular school books. Anybody else have to do this? How to you handle it? I mean for us everyday is a "learning" day. For that matter, is there ever a day really that a child doesn't learn something? Should I mark them all?
I would definitely count that as a learning / school day. Just because the schools are limited to Monday through Friday, doesn't mean we are. I'm not offering legal counsel, but my Spunky advice is to count it. I'd have to say 180 days like that and your children are going to be brilliant! If you're still cautious, talk to a veteran homeschooler in your state who can help you note it properly on whatever forms you have to fill out.
Great job!
Thanks to all the others for your encouragement. If all my mistakes help a few moms out there enjoy their homeschool experience just one minute longer, these posts will have done their job.
If all my mistakes help a few moms out there enjoy their homeschool experience just one minute longer... (emphasis added)
*disappointed pout* Harumph. What about us homeschool dads who need this encouragement, too? 
steve
Gina,
In NC I am required to school 9 calendar months...but we count almost every single day every month as a school day because I feel like learning never ends and that is the beauty of home education!
Sorry about that Steve! Thanks for speaking up for the dads too!
Just teasin' ya, Spunky
steve
This is great advice. Why is it that I can dole out good stuff like this to other moms but then freak out when my husband suggests we don't start school until October this year? But...but... was my initial reluctant response. I am so tainted by years of government schooling and brainwashing! Education is what happens EVERY day. Schooling is a whole different thing.
By the way, our friends who head the Home Education Foundation in New Zealand pointed out to me that in NZ they specifically call what they are doing "home education", purposely avoiding the term "homeschooling". I think it's a change worth making here, too.
-Kendra
I know this doesn't really pertain to this post, I commented here a few months ago about trying to decide whether or not to homeschool my son. I just want to say thank you to everyone who gave advice and after doing alot of soul searching and research, I have decided not to homeschool my son. Thank you again to everyone. Good luck in all you do. I have posted a more detailed explaination here
http://christina-justtrying.blog...g-
decision.html
We have already started to finish last years work!! Having a baby in Jan. knocked our school for a loop. We took 3 mos off in the winter, worked through the spring, took a month off for vacation and we are back at it. When we feel we have completed last year we will start next year (after fall break)! I think school will begin for the new year in November. And we are ok with that!!! My kids have majored in art this year and have loved it. We have hundreds (and I'm not kidding) of pages of drawings and poetry, cards and cartoons, castles and cars all over the house.... spilling out of drawers and papering the walls. All of it unsolicited, and greatly loved.
Number four. Thanks for the reminder. I am ALWAYS feeling guilty for something I should be doing...even if what I'm doing is glorious!
Excellent list Spunky!
Just wanted you to know that this list gave me a big ol' lump in my throat and will be posted within plain view (along with Karen E's and that of the Dumb Ox Academy).
Your words are full of God's Wisdom. Believe it or not, I have been thinking about postponing a much-anticipated trip to see Grandma & Grandpa because I "Have To Get Ready To Start School on The Same Day as the Public Schools."
Dangerous thinking for a homeschooler.
Anyway, God bless you, Spunky. You'll be in my prayers of thanksgiving today.
Margaret I have a follow up post I just wrote about a fall we went to see Grandpa. Let's just say, in the end I'm glad I listened to my husband.
Hi, Spunky,
I really enjoyed reading your list, too. Thanks. And thanks for stopping by my place.
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