My dh is entirely supportive of hsing, but is totally uninvolved in any of it. I choose all the curriculum, do all the teaching, keep all the records, and handle all the discipline (I am blessed with wonderful boys who hardly ever give me any trouble at all). He doesn't know what subjects the boys study or even look at any of their work. Granted, he only spends about 4 hours with us through the week. I'm not whining, that's just the way it is. So I'm wondering, how involved are other homeschool dads? I realize that this is not a women's only forum, and I'm not trying to be rude, but I'm wondering why Josh is the only man I see posting regularly here? It just makes me curious as to what role homeschool dads take in the whole endeavor.
In our home I make all the curriculum selections and set the expectations for the most part. I keep track of the lesson plans and any other organizational needs. As for instruction, I'd have to say it is split about 70/30 between me and hubby respectively. I work part-time, so when I'm at work hubby does the teaching. He has my lesson plans out (which really only consist of the page numbers to find the work) and I set out any other materials they may need (manipulatives, teacher's manuals, dvd's, etc.). He has greater expectations than I do and the kids usually do more work for him than I had in my planner for them to do. I did have to go back and reteach a misunderstood concept (poor hubby didn't have the advantage of thoroughly reading the material before he presented it that day), but that could just have easily been my poor planning. He is a unique father in that he is always present and interacting with the kids. He has never been the type to assign me the "mother" duties--other than nursing . He loved it when he could give dd a bottle, even though thawing out breastmilk is a much bigger pain than any other means of feeding an infant. Diapers were not a problem either. He has always been right beside me and I can't imagine life without a spouse like that. Not that everything has always been peachy between he and I, but his relationship with his kids has never suffered.
My husband and I discuss our overall short-term and long-term plans, but I'm responsible for the day to day planning. He is also available if I need someone to bounce ideas off of. In terms of hands-on instruction, he probably handles about 20% of it, mostly in long-term projects, especially whenever they are building anything. We also have great discussions around the dinner table, so I guess he does more than I thought! Carol
I'd say 95% of the homeschooling falls on me. He is very supportive and feels we are absoluletly "right" in what we do. He is certified to teach higher math, but is NOT willing to teach at home. This is because he teaches all day long, and doesn't want to do more of it when we get home. I had been making all curriculum decisions, but have learned that if I ask HIS opinion on a particular book, etc., he'll give it to me. (!!!) So he's been more involved in that way. Since Rachael is starting in Algebra and math isn't my "strong" area, he is helping me by sitting down and helping me decide what assignments, etc. to give her.
My dh is very invovled with our homeschooling. I gave him some of the curriculum choices that I liked and he made the final decision on which to use. We studied ocean animals this spring and he decided to take the kids to see a traveling shark exhibit. They loved it! He steps in with fun stuff for them to do. Zoo trips, operas, eqypt exhibit general fun stuff.
My dh is not too involved. But, I make him/encourage him to get involved when I feel him slipping. He does look at their work when I show it to him (he never asks to see actual work though). He discusses things with me about hsing but it's usually behavior. He does take us on trips and goes with us on various hs adventures. He also is in charge of teaching our kids golf. I also have put him in charge of sharing his knowledge of business (he own his own business) and his knowledge of nature (hunting/fishing/camping) with the kids. I realize that there are dads that can spend more time teaching their kids, but my dh is busy with his business. On weekends, he competes in golf tournaments and sometimes will go fishing. He spends his time relaxing with us and preparing for another "work week" ahead. I don't mind it that way. I feel the teaching is my job and he's more like the principal.
I do 99.9% of the teaching and my honey is the supporter and my cheering team and the President of my Homeschool Mom Fan Club and the principal He administers the stand. tests because I do not have a degree and a degree is required in order to be a cert. tester. He gives 100% support. He has tried to help, but to be honest, his teaching style is not what the boys respond to. My honey gets from point A to point B by going around too many things rather than getting to the point. My boys-our boys want a quick and to the point explanation. When my honey does it I can tell he is losing the boys as his audience when their eyes glaze over and they look like deer looking into the lights of an on-coming truck.
My husband is very supportive of our homeschooling, but most of the actual teaching respoonsibility is mine. He is very interested in our schooling and if he calls from work during the day, he always takes the time to listen to the girls tell stories of what we're learning, and you can tell he really cares. He went with me to the homeschooling convention in May. He didn't want to go, but I know he ended up having alot of fun. Even though I had pretty much decided what I wanted, or at least what I wanted to look at, he was right there with me checking things out and giving opinions. He loves doing the field trips and things like that, and he's really involved in Ashley's sports and such. He's a great dad- like Brooke's hubby, he's always been very involved in raising both of the girls (even though Gracie is very resistant!)
My dh is involved mostly in the finacial aspect. Now he does look at their work and make sure that they have done everything that was assigned. But, for teaching it he doesn't really help on that aspect. Unless it is that darned algebra. I have a hard time with that. But, other than that he works to much and when he comes home, I like for him to relax and spend time with us.
My children are little but dh is very supportive, and he is really wanting to be very involved. I know I will be doing a majority of it since I am home. I work very part time. He works alot. I am homeschooling a 17 yo in Biology (friends daughter) and he got up, fed, bathed, clothed both the 1 & 3 yo and took them out for the day all by himself. The girl I was working with said, " My-- I dont even think my dad knows where our clothes are!" LOL so I guess it is pretty typical, but my dh is more of a hands on dad I think b/c I had worked full time till a few months ago when God allowed me to be home with my children so he got used to being Mr Mom when I wasnt there. So I am going to HOPEFULLY keep this going -- as the help is wonderful. I know certain subjects he would be better to teach them and vice versa, so I think we will just work together.
Dad here sometimes plays the devils advocate for home schooling - some days he's awesome about it, other days he thinks they should be back in public school (those are the days, I'd like to kick him in the pants). I was working a fair amount of nights when I first started home schooling (I still do actually) and thought "Oh my! how am I going to do this and teach?" Dad was awesome about picking up the slack for me. All I had to do for him was to have everything laid out for him to do (books, page numbers, etc). He was awesome about it. When I woke up, I picked up wherever he left off. He struggled more on days when Andrew would be in a defiant mode not wanting to work thinking he should go back to school, but then when he did go back (temporarily) he saw for him self the rewards of our teaching him at home. He suggested the other day Andrew going back to ps - I DON'T THINK SO! I cried my eyes out over that one - I can't do it again and WILL NOT subject him to the torture again. Because we haven't really been doing much in the form of teaching over the summer, it's been hard on him and with us about to open a business, he doesn't understand how we could still do it... hang on to your pants - WATCH ME (when I was looking for retail space, I looked for something with an extra room that would allow a place to work away while the business was opened). I'm not worried about it - Dad is often supportive but other days he isn't...
Whew! A sigh of relief knowing that I am not alone. :grin: It seems like my dh is not unusual then. And he does provide all the financial support so I can stay home with the kiddos. Big blessing!
