Mom groups irritate me, mostly because I consider myself a Rock Star Mom and I'm so different from the norm. I don't get "outraged" over breastfeeding or circumcision, we make a choice based on what's good for us and our beliefs and that's the end. I'm not gonna waste time falling down and convulsing because someone else circumcised their kid. I do want to get a group going of people in our church just for social reasons. I want my DSD to play with kids of similar beliefs—hence the whole reason for pulling her out of PS. But as far as HS goes, I like being on this chatboard and getting ideas and then putting my own Rock Star Spin on them!
This year I'm joining a local group. Some of the families are familiar to Jeanne and I, and I hope it goes well. I'll just play it by ear. That's all you can do, because to go in with an attitude of what you THINK might happen casts negativity all over it from the get-go.
I don't feel that I "need" to but we are a member of a small co-op at our church. I sought out a small group like this because my girls have previously attended a Dept of Defense school in KY and missed the "school" friends. Since we were new to the area, this was a good place to meet other homeschool friends with similar beliefs. We didn't jump into the group. We actually started at another church in the area for a few months before discovering this church and co-op....which was such a blessing because the other church (while a good place with good people) was NOT a good family fit. There are some HUGE groups in our area. I definitely don't feel a need to be in a large group. Rhonda C.
I don't belong to one not even sure if there is one any where close to me. I like to do thing my way in my own time.
Freespirit, I wanna be a rockstar mom! How do I join THAT group. (as my dd would say, just wanting to join, makes you ineligable. sigh)
I lead a homeschool group through my church. It is a church ministry. Not all groups are "strict" or "require" people to do as they are told. Our group is all about ministering to other homeschool families as well as giving homeschool support. I didn't start the group because I needed a friend. The Lord has blessed me with many. But I have met many homeschool families who do not know Christ or do not have a church home. So I decided this would be an awesome way to witness as well as support other homeschool families. I was once part of a strict group. Not because I "couldn't" do it on my own but rather I liked the idea that Ems was able to participate in the PE and other classes if she wanted to. The one thing I try to remember is, I am homeschooling Ems for the best of Ems, not for the best of me. If she wants to be in a group so she can play or take a class she really likes, then I will put her in if it is affordable. Even if I do not "feel" that I need the help. I have been blessed and inspired by people on this site as well as people I have met in the previous group we were part of as well as the group I am now leading.
I am one of the ones that recommend people to join a homeschool group when they are first entering Homeschooling for the first time...so don't throw anything at me hehehe.. Some are so lost if they didnt do their research and especially coming from a public school to a HS can be a social shock at first and some feel alone. If they didn’t do their research when they join a group then they find out about the laws, about dealing with certain situations with the schools, about finding things to do with their kids in their local area, different approaches to HS, getting a look at someone else’s HS books, book trades, co-op classes, science fairs, holiday parties, meetings for moms on HS discusions...it goes on the support you can get. Now there is NOTHING wrong with not being a part of one later on or ever because everyone does their own thing..thats the great thing about Homeschooling. Personally I made some really good women friends being in a HS group while other women I wished I could have smacked however I feel they were put in my path for a purpose to work on my patience My own daughter has a best friend that she found at HS park day and they have been best friends for 9yrs now. I have never regretted joining a HS group I have even at one time been a part of two. Some people just need a little more support than others Last year we had a women take her kids out of school and right away they started to harass her and tell her she had to show them her curriculum, meet with the kids individually etc..she was so frightened. We told her about the two Homeschool Legal Associations and we rallied around her. The school district backed down, they know the rules on HS but they tend to go after the newbie HS I noticed to see if they can intimidate them. Sam
This is why I wanted to join, so the kids could participate in other classes, so far though it seems I am ending up doubling our learning on classes to join in and let them have a "class" to go to. The kids love the interaction from different teacher moms though too. But mostly they like that they can say "my friend from the Homeschool group....." when talking with kids at church dd says! lol
LOL! I started the term back before I met my DH and his DD and I was playing in a rock band. All my friends had kids and had given up their fun times for diapers and minivans. They asked me if I was going to give up my rock band when I got married and had kids and I said "no way, I'm going to be a rock star mom! A mom by day and a rock star by night!" They laughed and were all "yeah right!" Well, my DH is a songwriter and a guitar player and we are in a band together called Mildly Famous. Our biggest fan is his daughter. She sings our songs in the car and she tells her friends "my daddy and stepmommy are Rock Stars!" To me a Rock Star Mom is any mom who cares for her family and ALSO follows her own dreams. I have a friend who was inspired to write a novel and she just finished it. She has two adorable kids. She's a Rock Star Mom! So, anyone can be a Rock Star Mom! Welcome to the club!
With the group we were in, one of the classes was any subject we wanted it to be. So if a student had trouble with math, or any subject, they would take it at the private school. So they wouldn't have to cover it at home still. This way there wasn't doubling up on a subject. We usually participated in the art classes. Ems loves art and they made a lot of neat crafts. The classes we took met once a month instead of everyday like the other subjects. The one thing I didn't like about the group was that we had a lot of paperwork to submit and accountability meetings. We could do without these. Especially since it is so much easier to homeschool in Cali with out the paperwork. If I am still around and homeschooling, Ems will be put back in the group for her senior year. Ems likes the idea of going to prom and walking with a class. Who knows! By the time she gets to this point, she may not want to anymore.
We dont have any paperwork other than the rules and stuff like that we have to sign a paper saying we will folllow the rules Lol I do think we should be responsible for our kids but that should go with out saying ya knwo?? Also I plan my kids year out, but the classes dont cover enough for the level of learning my kids are in... or their learnin types, I want more learning thats why I do what I know they need, then the groups are for fun for them.
That is great. Our current group doesn't have anything to sign because it is a ministry of the church. None of our other ministries have anything to sign so we do not have one here either. I honestly thought of making something up to sign but then I really thought about it and we meet different homeschoolers from many walks of life and it may not be suitable. So far so good. We will see.
Since ours is a Christian group we do have people sign a statement of faith. It is very basic Christian belief as to not put off any denomination.
We do make sure that people who join or are interested know what we believe and that we are a Christ centered ministry. But even though we are Christians, we welcome everybody since it is a ministry or more of an outreach ministry.
