My answers to questions regarding homeschooling

An old friend recently sent me some questions about homeschooling, here is my response:

I like these questions, so don’t worry about asking so many!  

I started Jonny with a K curriculum when he was 4 1/2.  We spread it out over two years.  This year we’re doing 1st grade work with him and pre-K/K work with Aveline.  I do enjoy it, especially when my head’s in the right place and the house is somewhat in order.  

I decided to do it because after raising Jonny attachment-style since his birth I did not want to put him into someone else’s care for so many hours of our lives.  I would miss him so much!  K would have been alright due to the shorter hours, but I didn’t want to send him then, only to bring him home for 1st grade when the hours lengthen.  

As far as seeing benefits outweigh the sacrifice, I don’t know because I can’t imagine what my life would be like if Jonny did attend school ( I cannot imagine that it would be any “better” though it might be slightly easier to get the housework done).  I do love that his sister is his BFF and they can play together for so much of the day.  I love that I’m always near when they want or need anything.  I love that our lessons happen through all types of experiences, not just sitting down in a classroom.  I love that we discuss everything that comes into their little minds, that I’m the mediator rather than a teacher or their peers.  I love that we encounter ALL types of people in our weekly activities and that he’s learning to understand and socialize with all those types.  I love that we can go on vacations and take school with us and/or incorporate the places we visit into lessons.  I hope to later on enjoy the same type of amazing relationships I see homeschool parents share with their teenage children, with my own.  I love that even though Jonny’s reading is not up to par with typical 1st graders he doesn’t have to feel bad about it or inferior, I can explain to him that his brain is not ready to make certain connections and I can assure him, based on my minimal, yet reliable research, that it will click, and it will not be too late and we’ll move at his pace until then.  I love that when he shows interest in something, it can be elaborated on on the spot so that his intellectual curiosity is nurtured.  And that we can take it as far as his mind wants to.  I love that he can participate in classes during the week with his homeschooled cousins, one of which is taught by his qualified grandmother!

That said, it is very much work.  It is challenging on every level imaginable and some levels that I never imagined!  The littler children do make it trickier, and if Jonny was away some of the time, I could really focus on those little tricky ones and nurture our attachments.  For these reasons I am actively looking for options.  I am praying that the lastest one works out, it’s a charter school (free!) and they offer two full classroom days per week for the enrichment courses, taught by dynamic teachers.  The other three days of the week the parent teaches math and english at home.  This sounds just like what I’ve always wanted, but I’ll have to wait and see if the location is near enough, the curriculum suitable, etc.

So, I hope that helps.  And I would like to add that someone else’s choice might be just right for their family, but that doesn’t mean, necessarily, that it’s right for you.  And the Lord has all of these children in His hand and His plans for them will be carried out if we are faithful to OUR OWN calling and the choices we make from there.

Please read my comment, too.