I'm in Retirement .......Twenty-five Years of Homeschooling Is Ending!!!!

I began homeschooling twenty-five years ago in 1986 when my son, Patrick, was just three years old. On August 31, 2011, my son, Christopher, will finish his last class in high school, and I will complete twenty-five years of teaching my children.....all twenty-one of them. Christopher is the only one I taught from kindergarten through twelfth grade. All the rest were home schooled through fourth grade to ninth grade depending on our family situation at the time. Some of our children have special needs and did not continue through high school although one graduated from technical school and one will hopefully get some technical training. The other special needs children will continue learning, but  I will not be "formally" teaching them. Of the non special needs students, five have graduated from universities, two are presently university students, and one will be a university student after high school. Their occupations are: two are graphic artists, one is a television producer, one is a certified financial planner, an aerospace engineer, professional actor/director, a professional musician, and a technician in film, radio and television. One of my daughters was a National Merit finalist.
Some of those twenty-five years were difficult years.....especially when most of the kids lived at home and I had a lot of students to teach......But, as you can see from their success, it has all turned out pretty well. In reality, I'll always be teaching. That was my initial career choice and I have a Masters degree in education. But, above the career choice, I love teaching. I can't imagine going through a single day without teaching or learning something myself. The love of learning is ingrained in me.
But, I'm looking forward to not having the responsibility of having to meet goals and the pressure of knowing that "the buck stops with me" so to speak..... Now, hopefully, I can be more relaxed and can breathe a bit easier. Twenty-five years is a big commitment....regarding any endeavor a person chooses to undertake! I'm so grateful to have had such interesting, marvelous children!! They have made the journey a blessing! Thank you to all my prodigy!  You have made the past twenty-five years of teaching spectacular!! Thank you for putting up with me and loving me through all my mistakes! I love you all!