Before my kids were born, I was an elementary
school teacher. I absolutely loved teaching. I felt that
school was a magical, fun place to be.
Had I been asked about homeschooling while still
teaching, I would have said that only people who want to isolate their
kids would homeschool and that it would ruin the kids socially. I
felt that “school” was a must for learning the ways of the world, how to
get along with others and how to problem-solve.
I quit teaching the day my first child was born in
order to be a stay-at-home mom.
We didn’t do preschool. My husband and I felt
that was a waste of time, money and family life. I was a member of
a local Moms Club and we did plenty socializing through play dates, park
days, swimming days, and numerous, numerous outings and I could teach
him anything he needed to know.
I was so excited when my oldest started
Kindergarten. We’d be back in the fun school setting. He had
fun in Kindergarten but our family life began to suffer. We were
tied to the school’s schedule. We could only go on outings on the
weekends when the rest of the world went. Places we wanted to go
were overly crowded and outings became more stressful than relaxing and
fun.
First grade was worse. It was all day. My son was
gone 7 hours a day. Our mornings were rush, rush, rush.
Instead of enjoyable evenings as a family, we now had to contend with
homework and getting the kids to bed early so we could start all over
again tomorrow. I hated how school had taken control of our
lives.
My son began picking up behaviors from school that
we did not approve of. He began thinking of his little sister as
someone he isn’t supposed to like because she’s younger and is his
sister not a “real” friend. Peers became his mentors instead of
adults.
I found that my natural joy for teaching the kids
stuff changed. Time with my preschool-aged children was magical.
We found interest in nearly everything we came in contact with – bugs,
puddles, trees, mud, stars, etc. When it came time for public
school, I found myself not delving into things as we once did for fear
of teaching my kids too much and then they being bored with school
whenever it was finally taught in school or would become a nuisance to
the teacher for knowing too much. I thought I was helping them out
by not teaching them too much but now I see it as “dumbing them down”
(not expanding on things that were interesting to them at the time and
waiting for the teacher to do it when it is “time” to learn it in school
which might not have been when my child was interested in it).
About that time, I joined a Yahoo group which
happened to have a lot of homeschoolers in it. I began asking
questions and researching on the Internet. I discovered that
homeschooling wasn’t what I has imagined it to be all these years.
Sure, there are those who do isolate their kids but from my research it
appeared that there were lots and lots and lots who didn’t. I was
so surprised to find that anyone can do it. I didn’t know that I
had the option. I thought it was only allowed for those with
religious reasons.
I found that many homeschool parents were people
like me, who loved learning, going places and spending time as a family.
Homeschooling was the answer I was looking for. This was the
lifestyle I was after.
Most everyone I spoke to thought I was crazy.
They asked, “What about socialization?” The only answer I had at
the time was based on our life before the kids were in school. We
did lots of outings and played a lot with friends. We weren’t
lacking anything then so why would that be different now? I’d join
local homeschooling groups and we could make new friends there.
It was a very scary decision. What if I was
wrong and messed the kids’ whole lives up? What if I couldn’t do
it?
It turned out to be the best decision ever!
Life is filled with excitement again. Learning is alive! We
participate daily in the real world and enjoy it. We can do things
spur of the moment and follow whatever our interest is that day.
Socialization is not a problem. Our life without school has made
our lives much more our lives. We chose what we want to do and
have the time to do it. We are not told what to do and how to do
it anymore.
We are not stressed or rushed. We enjoy each
other’s company. We do what we want when we want. The kids are
best friends. We get plenty of sleep and we have quality family time
again! It’s the family lifestyle we always dreamed of but didn’t
know it was possible with school aged children. We’re so glad we
discovered it!
Life without school has given us back FAMILY,
FREEDOM, TIME and FUN.
Although this video
isn't about homeschooling, I think it says exactly what I feel about
homeschooling...free to be what you are, not what you aren't.
