Homeschooling with a Cocker Spaniel

     We have always, with the exception of kindergarten for Benjamin and one semester in a Christian school for all three kids, homeschooled our children. Whether you are for it or against it really doesn't matter in this story and ultimately we are the ones who will have to answer to God for our choice to do so anyway. Our sons have graduated homeschool highschool and both are continuing their education on their own through two universities' distance education programs.
     Alannah is homeschooling grade 11 this year and finding it quite a challenge. It isn't because of the work load, she has that pretty much under control. It isn't because she too is taking a college course, in floral design, along with her highschool requirements. No, her challenge is how to homeschool with a cocker spaniel.
     To understand her problem you must first understand the nature of a cocker. A cocker is only happy when it is between your feet when you walk or laying by your side or on your lap when you are sitting. They suffer from separation anxiety to the point that they will even accompany you to the bathroom. Now maybe you see the problem Alannah is facing.
     In the mornings she works at her desk in her bedroom doing her school work. Lilly Rose, her cocker, will lay on the bed watching her or she will sit in the living room willing her 'mama' to come out of the bedroom by her some what constant crying. In the afternoons, Alannah will work on her florist course in the livingroom while sitting on the love seat. Lilly will crawl up on the couch and lay across her lap, which makes it hard to turn the pages. When you have to lift a cocker to turn a page it does present some problems. Sometimes if Lilly feels that Alannah has studied too long she will simply put her head under the book and close the cover shut.
     If all else fails in her attempts to gain her mama's attention she will pull the never-fail cocker stunt: she will look at Alannah with those beautiful doe like eyes and just melt her heart. How can anyone study after that? It never fails to distract her mama. Now a good cocker lives it's life to protect and care for it's human. Lilly Rose feels like this is her job in life. When she feels that her mama will get eye strain from studying too long she makes sure her mama gets some play time. She's very thoughtful that way.
     When it comes time for Alannah to have a job and she needs to explain why she may not have a completed high school diploma, I am going to tell her just to write: reason mama to a cocker spaniel. That should suffice at least to anyone who has ever had a cocker.