I would have hoped Christians saw the many reasons to pull their kids from public school before Obama started inviting boys and girls to share bathrooms and dress in the same locker rooms.
But, if that’s what it takes, we’ll take it. You see the government just simply doesn’t need to be educating our children. It can’t even balance a budget. It hates God and is altogether corrupt. It has an agenda that reaches far beyond the three R’s, yet we continue to entrust our children to their counsel and methodologies.
(Per one comment below, I suggest that the fear of someone taking advantage of the new bathroom laws is miniscule compared to the harm being done by the indoctrination of your children by a humanist worldview. When we understand the profound implication of THAT, we will understand the urgency of getting our children out.)
Many of you are considering an alternative, for the first time ever, to public education. And you should be, and I’m so glad you are. But you are afraid. (Ask me how I know?) And you have a list of reasons why you just don’t think homeschooling is possible.
I’m here to help you think through some of those fears and talk you off the shelf. God has entrusted the care, teaching and yes, education of our children to us. We cannot let our excuses fail them.
#1. I’m not qualified to teach my children.
Yes you absolutely are. See, you’ve been brainwashed. You believe, based on your own school experience, that a child can only learn when someone imparts their knowledge to him. How did you teach your child one of the most complicated systems on the planet before he was 3–the English language? Or the thousands of other pretty miraculous things? You didn’t. He was born with a survival curiosity that enables him to learn things when he needs to learn them, provided he has access to it. That never changes. The most important thing you can do as a teacher, is to show him how to read and use the tools available to him (which are now greater than any generation before us). The world needs self-learners. Homeschooling is the very best way to create them.
(See Homeschooling Q & A Part 2: “Am I Qualified to Teach My Child?”)
Also, if you don’t already homeschool, you are not aware of the enormous arsenal of resources available to students learning in a non-traditional setting. Right down to free online classes. There is nothing your child can’t learn from home if he has basic reading/attention skills.
One more thing: “Matthew Lieberman from UCLA notes, “For more than 75 years, studies have consistently found that only a small fraction of what is learned in the classroom is retained even a year after learning.” That’s primarily because the curriculum and classroom work they experience has little or no relevance to students’ real lives.” Based on that fact, the classroom is actually not the best place for a person to be educated, so we should be relieved to embrace a different approach.
(See Think Outside the Classroom for more ideas on a simple, non-traditional approach to homeschooling.)
#2. I can’t afford to homeschool. I have to work.
I had to work too, on paper, when we decided to homeschool. But I didn’t. And for years we did without a lot of things. Paper towels were considered a luxury. But we survived, never had our power turned off, and we did it. I wouldn’t trade any physical comfort (or paper towels) I missed or sacrifice for being able to impart important values to my children they would have missed if they were in public school 8 hours a day. There are so many ways to save and make money without working a full time second job. Additionally, I have heard of couples who still figured out a way to homeschool while they both worked outside the home. When it’s important enough, we find a way. That’s a lesson I am certain of. (Read our story of living on a budget and getting out of debt in Finding Financial Freedom.)
Additionally, it is very possible to homeschool without spending a dime. Between free classes/information on the web, free, ready-made curriculum, Khan Academy, the library and just the enormous privilege of having access to so much information, you don’t have to have the bells and whistles that shiny curriculum offers to provide a well-rounded education.
#3. I don’t want them missing out.
In my estimation, it’s kids who have to sit in a classroom all day every day who miss out. I’ve never understood this reason, except that we are so programmed to see education through our own tiny grid of experience, that we can’t see anything else. Without the time restraints and pressure of traditional school (including the ridiculous demands of extra homework at night), homeschooling affords the freedom to pursue activities and interests not otherwise possible. There are all the recreational activities available if desired, social outings, field trips, clubs–you name it. We have to limit our activities because there are just too many. (Currently I have 4 in football and/or cheer, 2 barrel-race training, and 2 about to start art class and all at Bible Co-op twice a month.) Not to mention more time to simply pursue what your child’s passion is, or spend some time just being a child, a tragic missing element among most schools. Homeschooling is not a lone venture in a locked house somewhere. It’s a world of opportunities. Far more, in fact.
(See: Q & A Part 1: “I’m Interested in Homeschooling. But Won’t My Kids Miss Out?”)
Let me ask you to consider a counter way of thinking about “missing out”: there is great pressure in today’s parenting circles to provide more and more opportunities (sports, music, etc.) and the feeling of failing our kids if we can’t/don’t. Remember first, that a life free from busy schedules and hurried appointments if a gift and a boon to our child’s development. Also, think of the thousands of accomplished (fill in the blank) of the past who had far less advantage to succeed and still did. Our child’s success doesn’t depend on our ability to afford or provide just the right opportunities. In fact, the best thing we might ever give them is the determination and problem-solving skills born from a lack of privilege.
#4. Socialization.
This one is largely a myth. Homeschooled kids are very involved with peers, friends, extracurricular activities, etc. As much as you/they desire to be. But also, socialization is the process whereby people learn to interact appropriately with other people and handle various social situations. Sitting in a classroom with same-age peers for most of the day does not, to me, offer a quality environment for teaching proper socialization. A child who has opportunities to interact with all kinds of people and all kinds of ages in all kinds of situations, those, logically, are the better socialized. Parents are the very best teachers of social behavior. It’s why God gave children to them.
(See: Socialization (Homeschooling & Peers): I Do Not Think it Means What You Think it Means)
#5. I need my time away from them.
This one might not be as readily verbalized, but especially once a parent is accustomed to having someone else handle their children for the bulk of the day, the idea of being with them all day is nothing short of terrifying. Look, I am an introvert with eleven children who loves my quiet time. I get you. But homeschooling doesn’t mean you can’t have that. It does mean some sacrifice–I won’t lie to you. But honestly, spending the days with my children is one of the greatest blessings in my life. Now that I am accustomed to it, I can’t fathom the day without them. While our time alone may be cherished, it may not be the right thing if we are sacrificing more important things. When responsibility calls us, we are stronger than needing more quiet time.
I just hope to offer you some thoughts to ponder if you are seriously considering homeschooling. I have many real life friends who have come to me wanting to homeschool and I see the fear in their eyes. I hope if you are that parent you will remember the power of the God we serve, and that He equips us for every good work so that we do not have to muscle up the strength ourselves. Trust Him. Follow Him. There is no life more exciting than the life of faith.
27 comments
This is so awesome. I have been addressing many of these issues as well, although, you’ve touched on some things that I haven’t, yet. I just can’t even fathom how parents can still send their kids to school in this day and age without batting an eye. I can’t. It gets me so frustrated.
Thank you, Shelly. Yes, it makes me sad and confounded too, and particularly tricky when you have good friends and family there.
Hi Kelly,
I thank you for this interesting article. My kids are currently in public school – elementary school. I have long thought about homeschooling, but just don’t know if or how. It seems so huge to tackle. What to teach, what order, will I cover it all, what are they supposed to know for each grade, how can my kids learn – can they do some of it on their own? I can’t be an upfront teacher for all of their subjects in all of their grades. I used to be a public high school teacher until we had kids, so my teaching experience is what comes to mind with homeschooling.
But I wanted to ask you about this new thing President Obama has said – about allowing transgender students to use whichever bathroom or locker room they identify with. First, am I understanding this correctly – it’s the bathrooms and locker rooms? It’s hard to find a good source to become educated about this and what it means for my kids in their school.
Second, I read a news article that said that the parent/guardian of the student must first notify the school of the students’ gender preference change. Wouldn’t this be a safe-guard so to speak? That not just any student can decide on any given day they are a different gender? So would there be a big impact on my kids anyway? Wouldn’t it be a small amount of students who actually change gender preferences?
I am really confused about this, and am left wondering what in the world we do? In the public schools, are our kids really at risk of a predator because of this? What are the real dangers of this?
I’d really welcome feedback. I want to understand this issue fully. I don’t want my kids to be at risk. I don’t want my kids to begin to question how God has made them, and I don’t want them to think this is ok. Is teaching God’s way and what pleases the Lord at home enough to combat what they see and hear as normal at school – especially regarding this issue?
Thank you!
The article that I read in our newspaper this morning stated that there are no limitations to this. Virtually anyone could use whatever bathroom they choose. Even with a parent’s note, I know that I would never feel comfortable having my daughters use a restroom that a male could enter at anytime- regardless of what he feels like he should be. I honestly think that instead of enabling something that is a known mental disorder, we should be helping them work through the issues, as we do with other mental illnesses. It’s about time someone takes into account the rights of the students who shouldn’t have to be confronted with situations like this. It’s just insanity.
Jill,
It’s very encouraging that you are asking questions and trying to understand what this all means. And I hope you hear me in the spirit of (desperate) love I am writing this. The logistics of who uses what bathroom is really, really small in the big scheme of things. If that is the only thing you are concerned about, you may consider the danger of your child becoming the victim of a predatory act under the guise of new bathroom rules small enough to risk it.
But what you and all of us should really be concerned about is the social engineering/experimentation that is being done on your children, and especially the indoctrination that is, and has been, taking place. The agenda of the public school system is to raise a society who does not hold to an absolute truth to govern life, but rather embraces humanism, the belief that truth is subjective and everyone is obligated to bow to another’s subjective truth, in order that, ABOVE ALL ELSE, no one is offended.
However, such a society does not breed love and peace as the initiators hope. It breeds anarchy because it is in direct contrast to the laws of the universe, set in place by its Creator.
That the school system is trying to program our children to despise the wisdom of God and embrace their humanist worldview should be far more terrifying than the thought of a boy making his way into my daughter’s bathroom.
BUT, I’m thankful for this very tangible demonstration of the whole thing, as I think it has caused parents to really understand a little more about what’s happening.
Did that make any sense?
By the way, I have several articles here about other reasons I feel strongly Christians should remove their kids from public school if you want to check out the category in the side bar “public school.”
Thank you for searching. I’ll pray the Lord helps you find the answers.
Kelly,
Thank you for responding! I don’t know how to say it, and in all kindness, I just do not see it. Is it just that I don’t understand? I want to see it, I want to see what’s going on in the public school system. I’ve heard a little about agendas in public schools (I watched the video IndoctriNation), but I don’t see it in the school my kids go to. What I’ve heard seems extreme, with all the hidden agenda stuff. Can that really be true? My kids’ teachers want to help their students learn, and they care about their students. I don’t recognize any “agenda”. Where is it? Am I missing it? This is so hard to navigate, and we want what’s best for our kids. It’s so hard to even be considering an option other than public school, as it is outside the “norm” and among my family we already stick out with our family size choice. And my husband is a public high school teacher. I will take a look at your articles about public school. I want to learn. I really want to understand this.
Hi Jill,
I don’t think that any of us mothers who have chosen to homeschool feel we are adequately equipped, especially larger families. All of us have been in the same position you are facing – lots of questions and even fears. What curriculum will I use? How will I multi-task between mother, teacher, counsellor, chef, housekeeper…? How will we survive on one income? More important than any of those questions is: WHO does God address when He speaks in reference children? The answer is that He addresses their parents. Consequently, it is our responsibility to be teaching our children (whether we are religious or not) and not the public schools.
Your children’s teachers may be very kind and genuinely care for your kids, but they do not have a long-term, vested interest in their lives. Only a parent can have that sense of commitment and future vision for their children. The actual public school educational system has had agendas from the very beginning. I read a book that was written many years ago about a former teacher who began to investigate into how the public school system was prying into the personal lives of family through innocent surveys, tests and homework assignments given to their children. The school’s main objective was to target the families of faith and put doubt into their children’s mind about the absolutes of God’s word.
If you are a believer in Jesus, the best advice from one Christian to another is to pray that God will show you the subtleties of the public school system and that He’ll give you a yearning to impart what is most important to your children, 24/7! 🙂
Hi, Kelly ~
We’ve been homeschooling for eight years. As I read your article, I clicked on the Khan Academy link – Wow!! How have we never seen this before?
Thank you for the new tool!! Sharing. 🙂
May The Lord richly bless you and your beautiful family ~
melissa
I homeschool and while I agree with most of it, I disagree about them missing out. I feel like my kids ARE missing out. I did a moderate amount of extra curricular as a kid/teen in school myself, and learned to play violin, to sing in a choir, and did theatre. IN our situation, with my own 5 kids, we can’t afford to pay private lessons for those things and their young years are passing by. I can try to teach violin, but with a 2 y.o. in the house, it happens about 1-2 times a month. And in the busy days, h/sing with a newborn,the focus tends to be on math and language. My creativity with how to teach things that take a lot of time and planning that I have to do is NIL. I can barely keep food on the table and the clothes clean. We recently squeezed the budget and had some help from family to put 3 of them in karate lessons. We managed for 4 months, before it was just too much $$. $145/month for 3 kids. And this was a cheaper place! I also have ALL boys and my hubs is gone to work and works at a job he can’t bring them to. They are rough/tumble/wrestle boys that I frankly just don’t know what to do with most of the time and can’t afford anything. I can’t take them to hike if I don’t strapping a 30 lb toddler on my back… this is a point of frustration to me and I don’t know how to change or fix it.
Laura- Wow. You have a lot on your plate. You sound tired and exhausted, and you somehow seem to feel that what you are giving your kids is not enough. You have listed what you are NOT able to offer your children, and maybe that can be discouraging. (I know that we could not afford Karate, or many of the other things your mentioned). But what you may possibly be missing out on is listing what you ARE giving your boys.
Do they have more time with you than they would typically have if they were in public school? Yes.
Do they have more time with their siblings than they would typically have if they were in traditional school? Absolutely.
Do they learn about God’s Word more than they would at a public school or even a Christian school (as a girl who went to a Christian school, I can tell you the teaching is mediocre at best)? I sure hope so, but if not you can work on that!
Do they have opportunities to wiggle and jump and squirm during class in a way they wouldn’t if they had to sit still at a desk? Yup.
Do they get to explore their own interests, and find creative ways to incorporate their schooling into their little lives even if you don’t have the energy to get creative? Sure!
Do they have more hours to explore (even if it is bugs on the driveway, and ice crystals on a window, or the local library) than they would in traditional school? Oh definitely.
I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea. You may have forgotten the reasons why you homeschool (maybe not, I’m just guessing here). If you did it because you wanted them to be violin virtuosos who reached black belt by age 12 and actors who make Brad Pitt look like a beginner…than maybe your homeschool goals are a bit lofty. (Especially all those activities for one young kiddo).
But if you chose to homeschool to BE with your children, to love them, to encourage them, to disciple them, to give them a superior education, to train them, and to guide them to God, then you can do that with no creativity, no monthly budget, no spousal support, and no room to run.
With that said, what can you practically do? I hear ya. Life with little boys is hard. I also have 5 boys (10 and under, and 1 girl), but sometimes I think their little internal motors never wind down!
While I don’t know you, allow me to suggest:
-Institute a morning recess. Boys need to work off energy. Run at a park, run around the kitchen, have a cartwheel contest, have a jump-in-place contest. Just wear them out!
-Get more sleep (you posted at 11:40pm). I know, I know. How can you with little ones. Turn off the computer by 9:00pm, and attempt to get more hours of shut-eye. Take a mid-day nap/quiet time. Little ones can learn to nap in the afternoon or take a quiet reading hour. My kids are age 1-10 and we’ve done it for 10 years now. I helps a ton.
-Don’t forget your daily time in the Word.
-Get together with homeschooling moms you know for encouragement, or pray that God will introduce you to some if you don’t know any.
-Don’t fold clothes. Seriously. Kids 5 and up can do laundry, and they don’t have to fold stuff. Clean less. Make meals simple. Cheerios can be your friend. Use those energetic boys to help out around the house (vacuum, dust, clean a sink, make pb&j).
-Lastly, make a list of what you really hope to accomplish with your boys (think big picture), and see if you are really aiming too high. (If you were really the 7 year old who had all those extracurriculars all at once, it may have been a bit much. Maybe your boys could do less and still be happy, productive adults.)
George Washington, Abe Lincoln, John Calvin, …these men didn’t have drama lessons, weren’t violin virtuosos to my knowledge, and couldn’t necessarily kick the tooshie of a dude in a dark alley, but God still used them in mighty ways. Even without the lessons, your kids aren’t really missing out.
You ARE doing a good job. You ARE enough. Hang in there. I’ll be praying for you!
Laura,
Nicole has given you some great things to consider. It’s easy to get discouraged — I’ve been there myself. Taking a glass-half-full approach (rather than the glass-half-empty philosophy when circumstances are less than ideal — aren’t they always?) helps.
I read with interest the parts about your musical background. (I’m a piano teacher/performer/composer, though I couldn’t do all that when my kids were younger — my youngest child is now eight; they do grow up someday, quicker than you think!)
Anyway, I’d like to offer you some ways to help your kids get the music education you obviously value for them. (Good for you.)
First, I wouldn’t beat myself up if you can only get in violin lessons once or twice a month. Is/Are the child/ren whom you’ve taught violin practicing their instrument every or most days? Then that is good! Much of students’ musical success is based on how well they can take what they learn in their lessons and apply it during the practice period between lessons. Over time, they learn to critically appraise their practice, and step closer to being good self-learners with the skills they’ve amassed.
You are in an excellent position, being able to hear your children daily practice the lessons you’ve taught them. Maybe think in terms of each practice day being a 2-minute mini-lesson day, where you give small tidbits of information that can help fine-tune their practice, instead of thinking, I hardly ever have time to give a full lesson. Instruction doesn’t have to necessarily come in the same way those of us who studied musical instruments in the past probably received it, i.e. formal lessons once per week.
Regarding the study of instruments, in my experience as a teacher, children who have started musical instruction at older ages (eight or so and up) rather than younger have advanced much more efficiently. What can take a five- or six-year-old years to learn often takes an older child mere months. The olders are much more able to practice with discernment, needing little assistance in honing their listening and playing skills as they approach their instruments. You as a home-teaching mom will have a lot of pressure taken off you by waiting to give formal instruction until the children are older and more self-sufficient. It’s a win-win for mother and children. (This applies not only to musical instruction, but also home education in general.)
In the meanwhile, put on YouTube, or library CDs, or what have you, and have quality music playing throughout the day. The children are getting an important aspect of their musical education in a very pain-free way! Play a recording of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons violin concertos — an invaluable piece for all current and future violin students to get exposure to!
Or turn on Bach for your morning chore time with the kids, or whatever your routine is. Nothing more energizing than Baroque music in the a.m.! In doing so (with any piece of good-quality music), much about musical construction is internalized just through listening, and greatly enhances any future specific instruction on an instrument that the children might study.
The other thing I would say is that, if in the future you do consider sending your kids out to someone else for private music instruction, you could do what you did with the karate lessons and ask family for help in funding lessons. A friend of mine with grandchildren has said that some of her adult children and their spouses have asked them (the grandparents) to give gifts of lessons, organized sports activities, etc. in lieu of toys and the like for Christmas, children’s birthdays and other gift-giving occasions. My friend loves to do this, knowing her grandchildren are getting good-quality services that have far-reaching future benefits.
You learned to play violin, sing, and acted in theater, Laura? Those are neat things! Can you find 5 or 10 minutes of each day to just pull your violin out of its case, rosin up your bow, and simply play for a few minutes? Your kids will probably love seeing/hearing you do that. I’m more of a piano person, in that that is my instrument of choice to play when I want to make music, but my kids love it when I get my viola out and play that once in a while. (Though I am very rusty, LOL!)
Sing around the house. Maybe some of your favorite pieces you sang in your choir days. In college choir, a couple of my favorites were selections from the musical Cats, and Aaron Copland’s Old American Songs collection. (Did you ever sing “Ching a Ring Chaw”? Fun piece!) 🙂
With your theater background, your kids would probably enjoy hearing you read a play in different voices, or being given the opportunity to act out a play themselves.
Or maybe even let your older children write a play themselves, and present it to the family!
You sound like a very creative person, Laura. I pray the Lord will infuse you with strength in this busy season, and give you the extra energy that helps facilitate the creative spirit. Blessings.
Laura,
To add to the great advice already given (and speak to what Catherine said), you could ask an elderly person, particularly, and often they are THRILLED to teach just to be able to invest in your children. My children have an excellent piano teacher, in her 80’s, and has been teaching 2 to 3 of my children for 5 years. She will not accept payment and has even paid half of their tuition for piano camp. Also, you might ask about bartering for this arrangement.
6 arrows mentioned youtube and I would remind you that there are free lessons on there (and other sites) as well. My daughter learned some guitar from watching videos, and two of my girls are amazing gymnast from watching/copying videos they’ve watched. Thankfully, we live in an age where there are far fewer limitations than once were.
Laura, I am there with you in SO many ways…currently laid up with sciatica, pregnancy #5 due Sept. 1, at which time I will have five kids, the oldest just seven, and at least four boys! Oh, ANd a husband preparing to deploy, and basically NO family around and no friends (just moved, still church hunting!) Here is my conclusion: yes. Absolutely, my kids ARE missing out. I have a social guy who has no friends at the moment (see, new to area, still hunting church, JUST located a homeschool group!). I have a project guy who would LOVE to do every hands on unit study activity, which I cannot organize. I also have a potty trainer (thus, the sciatica and a dirty bathroom) and a 16mo whose motto is “Faster, higher, faster”. But compared to activities/extra curricular stuff? We have peace. We have time to play. My kids are still literally oblivious to crude language (which will come, I KNOW, but meanwhile I don’t have to teach the 3yo not to say certain things), and at prayer time my oldest prays for a discerning heart and my 5yo prays, help us live our lives worthy of the Gospel. We do parks, museums, picnics, and figure out violin practice and piano practice daily, somehow….what I’ve decided is, mainstream will tell us that the benefit to taekwando and this and that is building character–which amounts to a little smear of non-religious “do the right thing”, once you’ve paid your tuition (or, had the government pay it for you, those free school activities cost SOMEbody money). Family, and living as a family with parents and not educators/trainers/teachers/tutors, is a tremendous privilege and advantage. I’m not raising spoiled one-trick show ponies! I’m raising men who, among other things, I want to be entirely without entitlement or self-indulgence. Activities aren’t bad, but they aren’t the big thing.
Kelly, You are totally right. I have 9 kids. We’ve been homeschooling for … um.. forever! The oldest is 23. (I only have 6 in school now) I don’t know what grades my kids are in. I don’t care. They are learning and progressing. My girls and I are learning to spin wool. My kids all ride horses and take care of the animals. (we live on a ranch 45 miles from town) We have always homeschooled and I can’t imagine any other life.
I forgot to add… In my experience a lot of people will be happy to teach children that are interested in what they know. Our spinning teacher is teaching us for free, just because my girls asked. I know of others that would teach painting, music etc…
Great article. These are all the reasons I have always wished I could homeschool my kids, but unfortunately its just not a plausible option for a single parent.
Ana,
Let me encourage you that homeschooling as a single parent can work.
I’ve known two different single homeschooling dads. In one case, the dad was divorced, and he decided at some point to pull his kids out of public school for them to be schooled at home. In the other situation, a homeschooling friend of mine died when her youngest was still in high school. The daughter stayed with another homeschooling family while her dad was at work, so that she could enjoy the fellowship and camaraderie of another Christian family instead of being home alone during her dad’s work hours.
Single parenting and homeschooling can be a plausible option. Here is an article that gives some encouraging considerations that may be feasible in your situation.
http://www.notconsumed.com/can-single-mom-afford-homeschool/
I pray your church home, if you have one, and/or a local homeschool support group or homeschooling families you know, be of assistance and a blessing to you in your desire to homeschool your children.
It just occurred to me that Abraham Lincoln was home schooled, or self taught, studying by firelight at night after splitting logs all day. Where there is a will there is a way. God has a plan for each of us & he will carry it out His way & in His own good time. Lucifer is enjoying his seat in the Blue Room, but God will win. Just when we think things can’t get any worse, they seem to get unbelievable, but we must hold on to our faith to ride out these storms. We don’t know what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future.
“We don’t know what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future.” I love that!
Kelly, have you read: “The Book of Learning and Forgetting” by Frank Smith?
It is a fantastic book that I only discovered recently… such an awesome underscoring to what you’ve written here. I think you would really enjoy it 🙂
Also, today, I wrote just on the same topic… I love when serendipity calls many of us to the same places at the same time!
http://mothersofthenations.com/2016/05/17/learning-is-not-a-fight/
Bless you, sister!!
Bonnie, I’ll have to check out your post and that book. I have not read it but love to read on the subject of how we really learn. Thank you!
It’s astonishing what an idiot you are. I’m laughing my butt off at your ignorance, your lack of understanding of any world that isn’t your own, and the way you are creating more ignorance via your poor children. Perhaps you should mention how your parents help support you? How the community built you a house? You are nothing but a grifter, Kelly. Ugh.
Ahhhhh…my long lost
friendrandom person from the Seattle Washington area who has commented under about 50 different aliases, how I have missed you and your distorted perception of who you think I am. I would mention how my parents support me if, um, they actually did. (And be sure they would be glad to help out, as all good grandparents wish to do, if they themselves were financially able instead of scraping by on barely any salary from running a children’s home and pouring out themselves, including their finances, for other people’s children). And in case you missed it, I have an “about me” page where I have a very specific link to the entire story from our tornado experience, including the generosity from the Body of Christ that helped us build our home back. So yeah, I did already mention it. I’m not an idiot, I’m not ignorant, and my children are pretty awesome, thank you.I have to laugh because my kids are only 2 and 4 and I actually posted something on Facebook the other day that said we are planning on homeschooling but there are days I really long to see a school bus. So amen to #5!!
We have always considered homeschooling for our daughter, but bc of her learning disabilities, I honestly felt I needed the assistance of “professionals.” And we had wonderful experiences in pre-school programs and even in elementary school. So I will not say that public school was a nightmare for us.
I will say that 7th grade was a nightmare. The special education coordinator who was supposed to be her advocate was the worst bully of the bunch. She and I both cried almost every day. Then I got angry. I finally told my husband that if I was going to have to fight with someone to try to force them to educate my child appropriately according to the law, why shouldn’t I just “fight” with my child myself… We can try a million different things to see if they work and if not, we can try something else…
I was nervous, but I feel at peace about our decision. She is actually excited about “starting school” (she doesn’t realize we started in June – don’t tell her – lol). We have had some backlash in our families, but I ended those “discussions” by letting them know the only people who get a vote are us. They also simply do not understand her learning disabilities or her autism.
We blindly followed God’s call (although a tiny bit grudgingly – lol) when He pushed us toward foster care, which led to her adoption. So I should have followed His call to homeschool her earlier, I know. We are doing so now finally!!!!!!
Christy,
Yay! I love it. You are such a great mom. And you know more than anyone, what your child needs. It won’t be without difficulty, but it will be the best! Write me anytime, even if you just need to vent. 🙂
Yes! Thank you. Such an encouragement. We actually homeschooled for 3 years, then decided to put our children into a small rural public school. I find that I miss being the one to teach my children. They honestly learnt much more at home, but I do struggle with the socializing part. We live 40 minutes from the nearest town, and dont get together with others a whole lot. School has been good for them, in becoming more considerate of others. Yet, they also pick up some bad habits, so I’m not sure if the good outweighs the bad!