Recently I have talked about Values, Morals, and Prayer in schools, and how we as parents can take time to sit with our children and talk about Bullying. I think most, if not all of us, want to protect our children with all of our being. I can't imagine my life without my kids. I just don't think I would be able to function. I can't even begin to imagine how the parents, friends, co-workers, family members are feeling to those that have been killed in CT a week ago. When does that pain go away? I just can't fathom the thought.
I will start by saying that my children went to an absolute amazing elementary school. The teachers were kind, they were caring and had an amazing way that they dealt with the children. I volunteered as much as I could, and was the PTA president at one time. I loved the school! Then my son went to Middle School, oh those wonderful years of raging hormones, popularity contests, and more work, and no play. Where do I fit in? Who am I and who am I SUPPOSED to be to feel a part of the group? The questions that I am sure most new middle schoolers have roaming their brains. When that school year came around my son was excited about new ventures, new friends, doing a good job, and growing up. Like I have said before, he expected school to be that fun place, like he just left the year before, but it wasn't. It was a more serious place that made you feel like you were in the middle of a tornado and not knowing which way to turn.
Although my son was in all Honor's classes, and his teachers seemed very nice, there was more to school now than just those things. There was bullying, competition, figure out who are your "friends," and so on. What made you popular, what was in, what was not, what should I wear, were all questions that consumed the mind of most middle school kids. My son was a little bit more mature than most and he went to school to learn. He didn't care if he wasn't wearing the most expensive clothes, he knew he dressed nice. He didn't care if he had the latest name brand sneaker, he wore the knockoff just as proud. He didn't care if he wasn't on his second girlfriend, much less his first. He didn't care if he was popular....he just wanted to be nice, the person that he always was and he couldn't understand why his so called "friends" were all changing into people he knew they were not. It was sad to see the disappointment as the year continued.
My son got good grades, he worked hard, but the school time just wasn't the same. He was overwhelmed with back to back projects, reports, tests, and the over reiteration of subject material was getting boring. He usually picked up thing quickly and wanted to move on. School started to become boring, and yet homework was just too much, even in my opinion.
One day my son came to me and said, "Mom, I want to be home schooled." I laughed. Straight up laughed and thought, you have got to be kidding me. I answered, "NO way." He brought me computer print off's of statistics of children that have been home schooled, and how they progressed more rapidly than public school students. Student's home schooled attended college and most of the time graduated to of their class. That they got really good jobs and were productive citizens in their communities. What could I say? I looked at the paper's my son brought to be and I still wondered if "I" could teach my son what he really needed to know to survive in the world. What about socialization, would he be able to function in the "real" world? Questions swirled my brain.
After some research, I decided that I would indeed home school my son. Well, I had a daughter as well who was still attending the elementary school. I didn't even consider home schooling her as well, she was in a great school, with great teachers, why would I take her out? One day after hearing discussions on home schooling our son, my daughter said, "What about me?" I said, "Well, you will still go to the school you like and I will be here just like every other time." She said, "Can I be home schooled too?" At first, I didn't want to home school my daughter simply because I thought it was important for her to get those basics that are taught at that level, then I thought why not, if I am home schooling one, I sure can do both, BUT my daughter had to give me a good reason to be home schooled just as my son did. So she said to me, "I want to be home schooled so I can learn more, so no one can pick on me, so I am not called fat by________ on the playground, so I can be home with you."
I then proceeded to look up curriculum's for both children. I found one that I thought was on the level that they would be learning in public schools. I found a challenging and well organized set of books that would get us started on this new way of schooling. The first year I had to "unschool," this basically means that I had to learn and teach myself that the way my children were learning was NOT like the public schools and I needed to stop thinking that they had to do project, reports, research, have one hour long classes, short breaks, etc. I needed to be laid back in the way they learned things. With that I saw such great absorption of information. My daughter taught herself cursive handwriting and it's beautiful. She is an amazing speller and although she had just turned 9 she is reading books like "Little Women," "Harry Potter," and much more. She knows how to do simple Algebra equations and knows easily how to multiply and divide. She knows her states, and working diligently on her capitols. My son had just turned 13 and is learning about Roman Emperor's, about other countries cultures, Civics and Algebra/Geometry. I compare their learning by talking with other parents and I must say that my children have been learning so much more with that one on one it is just remarkable. In that first year I have seen my son's bright eyes again, his humor, his dedication, and his want for learning!
Home schooling has been by far the best decision that I have made for my children. They are still social in activities such as Boy/Girl Scouts, Guitar/Voice lessons, Shooting practice, and much more. A lot of people ask me about the socialization and don't I think it will effect them as they get older. I simply say, "In the schools systems today, children are so protected by right and rules and act as though they are in charge. The have moral issues, and don't hesitate to hate and have anger....I don't want my kids to know that type of socialization." My children are doing great where they are at this moment in their lives.They are even jumping up to the next grade so, my 9 year old will be in 5th grade now, and my 13 year old will be starting 9th grade. It doesn't matter they are young, it matters that they grasp, understand and learn the information provided to them.
I have happy, healthy, protected children and I am so glad that I am schooling them. I am their mom, their teacher, their protector and about 100 other things as well, but that is the way it's supposed to be. I don't have to worry about some crazed maniac entering their schools and shooting, I don't have to worry about bomb threats, I don't have to worry about them feeling insecure because someone else made them feel like they don't fit in, I don't have to worry about bullying anymore, and I don't have to worry that my children are taught the wrong information. I don't have to worry......and that makes me happy too.
Is home schooling right for you? There are tons of informational websites, books, and forums that you can look into. I use Alpha and Omega Curriculum for my children. There are many other curriculum's out there that you can put together to suit your child's learning style. If you are not happy with the way your child is behaving or feeling, if you see him/her being dark and quiet, please talk to them. IF there is a will there is a way to home school. It's not for everyone and that is ok, but if you are interested at all, I hope you look into it, it is very rewarding in itself, and to see my children now compared to when in public school, what a difference!
Good Luck and God Bless!
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