Ah, and you all thought this was finally the baby post? Nope. Tricked ya. Baby is still comfortably late...
OK so at the risk of offending some and inspiring others, I am going to write down the top reasons that homeschooling works for our family. I know some have strong opinions one way or the other about homeschooling. Some would love to do it, but imagine themselves sitting at home hour after hour pulling their hair out while screaming at unkempt children to sit and get to work. (OK, so perhaps this is occasionally true.) Others are completely against it, deeming it almost child abuse or brainwashing. We as a family, though, have our own subjective, highly individual reasons for making this choice. Some of these reasons are obvious and a bit stereotypical, others you may not expect. Read if you are interested!
10. I am an overprotective Mom. (OK You can all say "I KNEW IT!" and prove me guilty.) Its true, though. Alright, so if I really felt that "over" protective was the right word, I probably wouldn't be that way. But protective in the sense of some of the things the average child is allowed to do, I simply don't feel comfortable with. Take for instance, letting my kids go over to the house of a child where I do not know the parents well. My oldest is 6 and I just could not imagine trusting a stranger to make sure the conversation, content of any tv shows and video games, as well as play with siblings represented the type of values we hold dear in our family. If you take it a step further and ask whether he would be allowed to do sleepovers, a childhood tradition which I enjoyed, the answer is no way in h&*% unless it were a very close friend of our family or a relative. Even then, I think I would be a nervous wreck. Those who disagree will certainly say that my overprotectiveness is sure to backfire and result in highly rebellious children with whom no trust is established. Certainly, that is a possibility. But right now, I have to go with my reason and my gut. I could send him to school knowing this is our families policy, but it just seems like that would be setting him up for difficulty and conflict with us.
9. My children are energetic, and I think it is unrealistic that children should be cooped up in a classroom for so many hours. My children love to run, play, laugh, talk out of turn, and entertain each other with all varieties of imaginative and active games. Sometimes in the winter, it is difficult to find an outlet for their energy, but most of the time I love that about them. In an age when so many children are facing health problems due to poor diet and inactivity, I love that I can give mine the opportunity to run, play, and be children. Some have said to me, "But, isn't that what the REAL world is like, shouldn't they get used to it now so they can have a job someday?" Unfortunately, the adult world often times does force us into rigid schedules and sedentary lifestyles, but childhood does not need to be that way.
8. School is simply too many hours away from family. I am so highly blessed to be a stay at home mom. I have developed a very close relationship with each one of my children and miss them terribly when they are away. They have also developed incredibly close relationships with each other. Yes, they fight like normal children. I am simply one of those people who believe that quantity time is more important than "quality time". It is being real with each other, knowing each others faults and learning how to deal with them, learning to love each other and enjoy each other despite the ups and downs. I believe that many people in today's world deal with an incredible amount of loneliness, due to the shallowness of relationships that are developed out of convenience or having one thing in common. Today sports and other commitments often represent additional hours away from family, so I wonder where is there time to develop that closeness? I want my children's relationships with each other and their parents to represent the unconditional love that the family unit was designed to provide.
7. I have been incredibly impressed with the kindness of most homeschooling children. Sure, there are kind children in public school. I am sure there are homeschooled children who are bullies. But, from my limited perspective, the average homeschooled child who I have met has been genuine, wholesome, and kind. There have been a number of times I have been impressed with the thoughtfulness or inclusiveness of a child at the park or playground, only to find out that they are homeschooled. So without generalizing too much or offending too many people with wholesome, genuine, public schooled children, I will stop there.
6. There is little in a public school education that I find to be of lasting value. I am sure there are wonderful teachers out there. Many are caring, dedicated individuals, who do there best to provide and rich education to each student they care for. Nevertheless, the majority of the content is dictated by public policy; reflecting the political and educational winds rather then what has proven "tried and true" over the course of many years. As a mom designing my own curriculum, I have the opportunity to choose! I can scan the great childhood literature, most of which I never got to read in my less then stellar Catholic school education. I choose what I think would be the most interesting and beneficial to my child. I can expose them to great art and music. Will we study American History this year or the Middle Ages? We have the flexibility to go with their interests as well. Just this morning the kids found a strange insect in the backyard. They wanted to know what it was and why it was in our yard. All of this we were able to do without missing a beat. The ability to engage more fully in a topic or area of interest opens up so many possibilities.
5. Along with choosing the content, I also get to choose the method of delivery: Does my child learn best from a textbook, from an engaging story, from writing, teaching, acting, or seeing? Perhaps he needs to touch and feel the material we are engaging. Already this year with math, Peter was struggling with some of the concepts. We stopped working in his workbook a few days and did only manipulatives. Once he understood all the concepts, I was able to explain to him what it looked like on paper. It was a much better result! Last year my analytical child took off in reading because I chose a highly phonics based approach, with no "sight words" or guessing from pictures. I know my children and I am able to come up with the approach that works for each of them.
4. I genuinely enjoy "doing school." While there are times I want to slack off and let them watch tv for a day, or where they test my limits with rebelling against doing schoolwork, I don't think it is any worse then an average parent's battles over homework. On the other hand, nothing beats the thrill of seeing your child light up with enthusiasm at having finally understood a new concept or pridefully showing off his artwork. I think there is a certain closeness that is developed from learning and accomplishing together.
3. I don't like crowds. Homeschooling allows us to do everything from Dentist appointments to trips to Great Escape when there are fewer people to contend with. I thoroughly look forward to getting "off peak" rates on our family's vacations in the future.
2. It allows us to see our extended families more. Brendan oftentimes is called to work away from where we live now and in the hometown I grew up. I love that I can easily pack up the kids and see the Grandparents for a few days, without missing a day of school. I love that I can easily take a day or two off when other family is in town, and catch up when we have slower days. I think I would have a very difficult time with Brendan's travel schedule without the flexibility that homeschooling provides.
1. You guessed it: Faith. I can respect many different sets of values and perspectives, and the individuals that embody them, but when it comes to our Catholic Christian Faith, I believe that my children were tremendously Blessed to be born into the Truth. I believe that I have a tremendous responsibility to teach them and to help form their character for the demands of their Faith. I also truly believe that during the young, impressionable years, it is better to learn one's own Faith well in an environment that truly supports it then to be exposed to many differing sets of values and beliefs at once. Many of the other families that we have met through homeschooling share our Faith and our values, providing a wonderful community and context for learning and sharing their Faith. Perhaps I am wrong about this, but I think that it is only after a person has learned and seen the truth, will he or she can recognize what is a lie. Therefore, these years I will try my best to teach, mold, and model their character as I am sure God is giving me the Grace to do.
Feel free to comment: positive, negative, or in between! There is no perfect solution and not one solution that works for every family. This is what works for our family right now. It could change someday! God Bless!
Elaine
Not offended, only inspired! :-)
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