WHY DO I HOMESCHOOL?

Today marked the end of an era for my family. At exactly 10:15 today my youngest child left her first grade class for the last time and I cried. I went around and said my goodbyes to some of the office staff, and I cried. I looked for the first grade teacher before school and she was not there, yet. It was probably a good thing though because as I blubbered my thanks to the office staff I looked down to see my 7-year-old looking very confused and distressed. I figured loosing it in front of her or her class might not be the best idea. I cannot go without mentioning that this lady is the best first grade teacher I have ever met.

After picking her up from her last day of school I came home and cried some more. The reason that this is hitting me so hard is that these ladies (both the office staff and teacher) have been with me and seen me through some of my most difficult adult days and decisions. I will be forever changed because of some of the timely words spoken from these important people. And now I have said my last goodbyes. Sure I can go say “HI” occasionally but they will not play the same role that they have.

As I cried at home, all of a sudden a peace started settling over me as I started to turn my attention to activities that I have been putting off for lack of time. Then I remembered, it is this peace that is one of my big reasons for homeschooling. I have very carefully planned the next years schedule to allow for as little stress as possible. No early morning enrichment classes, leisurely breakfasts if that is what we want. In addition to the amazing curriculum that I have chosen to teach, I have complete control over the level of intensity and stress that we will experience.

When I was young, even a young adult, I had an idea of how things were supposed to be “when you grow up.” Now that I am half way through my third decade I am beginning to realize that much of what I thought was wrong. At least it was wrong for me. And maybe wrong for my children. You do not have to go to work for someone else for eight hours a day to make pennies just to come home and have a few hours off before doing it again. If you function in one way, you do not have to force yourself to function in another way. You may have to find creative ways to function your way in a world that functions in it’s own way but you do not have to force yourself to be something you are not.

I spent a long time hating my inabilities and not realizing that in trying to be one thing, I was actually stifling who I am. I am homeschooling so that I can help my kids be who they are. So that I can know they are getting the best education possible in the best learning environment for them. I am homeschooling so I can raise them to be the best adults they can be.