As some of you know I will be new to homeschooling this year. We just feel that it is in the best interest of our eight year old son. Noah has always been a very compassionate individual. He still is really. But he has this new found attitude. It's been going on for about a year now. He just doesn't seem happy. I feel that it's because of the negative influences in his school compounded with the fact that he is seemingly miserable there. Has anyone noticed a huge shift in their child's overall attitude since beginning homeschool after traditional school?
I can't answer personally--we've always homeschooled. But we run a support group and most of hte parent there pull their kids out and that is ALWAYS the first thing they list as a benefit of homeschooling. The second thing is family closeness. . .and the third is improved academics.
Oh my yes!!!! My younger daughter who is so shy, has started to gain confidence and actually stood up in front of our church on Children's Sunday and read the scripture. Our older daughter who has always been in resource classes and felt dumb, is now beginning to see that she doesn't have to be a follower. She always did whatever she had to do in order to make friends. She even let a "friend" talk her into writing on the walls in school and of course they got in trouble for it. She has now learned she can say no to stupid ideas and stand up for herself and what she knows is right. She is far from where she needs to be for a ninth grader but she has made such progress. She is kinder and more age appropriate we think. Not so much "boy talk". We have a better handle on what she hears now and even though I didn't ban her from her wilder friends, she has left them behind for her best friend who goes to our church. That friend is very smart and usually wasn't in class with our daughter. Now when they spend time together it is more fun. They get to be silly and Crystal doesn't have to think about things that happened at school. They spend the night with each other a lot now and it is just turning out to be so good for both of them. They meet each others needs. I told Crystal this is "their" summer. They are older now and can do more things together. Sara can come over and swim during the day and except for being afraid of my dogs she is right at home here. Homeschooling has made my girls closer with each other like they used to be. They were so close when they were younger and I had missed that. Now it is strange seeing one without the other. Even though my boys are still in public school, homeschooling has helped them too. I am not so stressed now and neither is Freddy. School was always hard for Crystal and we would spend hours on homework. Now evenings are fun and we all have more time together. Okay I got carried away. Sorry. I just thought of one more thing. Crystal is not the sullen, moody kid she was her last year in public school and I praise God for that! Beth
Oh I am so glad if it helped you in any way. One thing that happened this year that made my heart sing was the day some one asked Crystal why her mother wanted to homeschool her. I was not around but my sister was close by and heard her say, "because she wants me to grown up to be a Godly person." Wow I still tear up over that. She gets it! She really, really gets it!!
Well the first couple months were really hard because she is so strongwilled. But yes, I've noticed a significant change in her. She's happier, less whiney, less demanding, and not nearly as bossy with other kids as she was.
I have noticed that my son's attitude has changed dramatically since we took him out of PS, this last Feb.. Just the other day my neighbor mentioned that she noticed my son smiling more and seems to be a lot more talkative. I seems like he is finally comfortable with letting himself out instead of trying to impress all of the kids around him everyday. I have also noticed he doesn't talk back as much as he did when he was going to PS.
That's exactly what happened to us!!! My ds especially is so different, he is like a different kid. Everyone who kew him before comments on it
Like Kim said, it didn't happen over night. depending on you and you child, it may take some time. I know that for ds, who was extremely distressed and not coping with life, it took several months. for dd, when i told her she didn't have to go back, the change was instant. It was like a weight had been lifter from her. So even if you don't see it straight away, don't despair...the change will come.
Aussie Mum you just put my thoughts into words. The change with Samantha was instant. She hated ps and cried all the time. The change was instant.
Before my daughter went to public school last year, she was outgoing. By the time I pulled her out last November she was shy. She is starting to be her oldself again. She is nicer to her brother and sister. Other moms have noticed this and that makes me feel good. She is more helpful around the house. We still have our issues but she's changed for the better.
I noticed a big change in my son when I pulled him out. He was 9 and having a really hard time with his self esteme. He has gained so much self worth since we started hsing. We still have our issues now and then. But he know longer thinks he is stupid, even though he still thinks some the the work is not the greatest. The smiles do come back and it is great to see their lovey face again.
