Home Schooling has provided the most wonderful educational and social experience for our entire family. Sometimes I feel like it is a "best kept secret". I seldom meet a home schooler who does not feel the same. I'm curious about your experience -
This is our 11th year in & my kids have learned soo much. I'm sure more than in public school, and it has been a joy doing so.
There was never any other option in our home. We felt homeschooling our ds was a calling from God. He honored us by allowing us to be the parents of a very special autistic child. And He has supplied us with the strength and ability to do all of ds teaching and therapy at home without outside (our church family isn't considered outside) assistance or support. Believe me, we got the third degree from family and friends because of our choice not to take outside assistance, financial or otherwise. It's not the choice for everyone but it was the choice for us. And I wouldn't change a thing for all the money in the world. Homeschooling ds is that much of a joy! Marty
I choose that it exceeds my expectations because of Grace. I think it is wonderful for her. She has never been in ps and knows no other way. However I honestly believe my dd13 needs to be in public school. She thrives there! She does so wonderfully acedemically and socially. I feel so privleged to be able to homeschool my Gracie and at the age of 6 she is a sponge! I don't want her to leave home ever!
I find that now with one child who's out for this year at a school that I'm appreciating homeschooling much more! It's definitely better than I expected and I think that I'm now more confident in myself because of it (now that I've seen firsthand with my own child what a School is like)
wow our journey has had ups and downs but has been amazing, we have loved every minute of it, and i feel i have got to know my children in a totally different way compared to my friends whos children are in school!
Ours is full of ups and downs too, but I love the way it has helped us to get closer and that my ds and dd are best friends.
for my kids I think it is the best thing, that's why I do it. For ME, no. It was much better for me when I put them on the big yellow bus and waved 'bye'. Have to be honest I really miss my LIFE!
My 10 year old and I were working on Grammar yesterday and all of the sudden she looked up and said, "You know, Mom. Public school was horrible!". Then she went on to tell me about how she wouldn't have enough time to eat in the cafeteria and she would have to hide food in her backpack so she could eat it in line. They would also have to miss recess if the cafeteria got too loud. Then she reminded me of the times she got in trouble when she wanted to swing and a little girl wanted her to play with her, but she didn't. She also said that she would have to sit in the classroom while her teacher read to the class with a voice that said she hated her job and didn't want to be there. Now that last one surprised me, because her last year of public school was when she was 8. It's amazing how much little kids can pick up on. Anyways... I LOVE having my girls at home. We wouldn't have it any other way.
What is coming out to me is when my dd is now in her only year out after homeschooling for k-11 and I am seeing her study habits and the vocabulary skills of my kids are exceeding those of even kids who have spend thier years in private schools! I am shocked at some of the kids lack of skills in the private school that I teach drama at, they have to ask me words that my 12 yr old knows, what does that mean? I have found that my dd is not afraid to look for the answer if she does not see it. She is my perfect example of homeschooling working!
Homeschooling has been wonderful for our family. This is why we are in our seventh year. It works! The list of reasons is too long to post but homeschooling has opened so many doors that couldn't possibly been opened in the public system.
As I look back on ten plus years of homeschooling I can definitely say that by God's grace our experience has by far exceeded our expectations. But isn't that always how God works? When we are obedient, he blesses us far beyond what we could have dreamed.
I have twin boy's in K and daughter in 1st. Homeschooling has been such a blessing for us. I can't imagine missing out on this special time in their young lives if they had started school and been away from me all day. They have ALWAYS been home with me and I have loved ALMOST every minute of it. :lol: I can not believe the things I have been able to teach them, and being able to watch them grow and become such sweet little individuals has been a tremendous joy. :love:
We have a lot of ups and downs. One reason is because my son is so imaginative that he doesn't concentrate too well, unless it is his interest. The other reason is that I think so structured that I don't have much of an imagination. So, our styles are completely different. I also get frustrated when I think I find something good and it works horribly. The first two years of homeschool were really bad. I wanted school-at-home and we butted heads a lot. I am trying to change and I have a lot, but it is not easy for me. All in all, it is better for him. I don't think he would thrive in the public school. I just need to think of ways to balance the discipline and freedom necessary to have better homeschool days. It has gotten MUCH better this year. I am not making him write everything down. In fact, I tell him (when he doesn't want to review with me) "I can have you write this all down." That usually does the trick.
Lol- True dat! I can't go to the gym, because there's no child care at the time I could go. Even if there was, Jeannie is too old. Her dad and her brother won't help so I can go, so here I am.:roll: This makes me the maddest, because we have a 50.00 per month Y membership. Since Jeannie is here 24/7/365, it's hard to make certain phone calls with any privacy. I don't want her to hear me calling the gyn or the urologist to make an appointment, kwim? So, I'm with peanutsweet, I miss my life.
Oh wow, for us it's been a blessing. At first DS didn't want to have anything to do with it, but as we got into it he came around. Now he says he has no plans on returning to Public School or Private School. I always give him the choice. Sometimes I do miss my private time but thank God for DH. He's home now too, so he helps out a lot. He handles Math and some of the house chores like preparing lunch while we are schooling, he also has been a saint taking DS off my hands if I just want to go hang out at the craft store or have some me time. Having DH home has been great because now DS has the best of both worlds and there is always time for a family trip! So I would say it has more than exceeded my expectation. It is the best decision I have ever made in my life.
It has been a blessing in ways I didn't expect. I did it because I felt God wanted me to and my husband wanted me to- not because I wanted to. I knew educationally it was superior but I wasn't so sure I could handle being with my eldest all day long everyday! My eldest and I would constantly butt heads- she wanted to rule the roost and I wouldn't let her. Her and her sister hardly ever played together. And my eldest has never been in a public or private school. This year has been such a transformation. My eldest and I are much closer and rarely have a battle of the wills. She is also more willing to play with her sister and they are more loving to each other. If I would have sent her to school, I don't think this would have happened- I think the differences would have become worse!
I am in the middle about all of it. Like Tiffany, my oldest thrives in ps and hsling just was not for him. Also my youngest has never known ps. Now our life differs here, my ds has authority issues. He believes he has the last say and that is that. He is very very bull headed and makes our days hard, frustrating, overwhelming and long. Then there are the days things go so smoothly, but those are so far and few between. I am waiting trying to install in my child the love I have for homeschooling. Now like Becky and Peanutsweet I do miss my time. I don't get any of it anymore. It is hard and trying on me a lot. The freedom of homeschooling has been the blessing to us.
