Why Homeschool?

Schooling your child can be as controversial as politics. Like politics, it is a personal choice. One that works with and for your lifestyle.

I am a product of the public school system. There is nothing majorly wrong with it. But a lot has changed in the twenty-plus years since I graduated high school. My mother was a high school teacher starting the day I began kindergarten until the year my daughter turned two.

Needless to say, I grew up learning every facet of our county’s school district. My cousin even became a kindergarten teacher to boot!

It has always been a goal of mine to stay home with my children at least until they started school. Then I became single during my pregnancy. As it turned out, instead of having a horde of children as I had always dreamt, with a husband, I now was most likely to have the one – on my own. Plans change.

I still wanted to stay home with my daughter until she began school. So I worked from home. As school age crept closer, I began to doubt the expected school route. I looked at charter schools, private schools, Catholic schools, and every type that my county offered.  Turns out, I wasn’t completely comfortable with any one of them.

I looked into homeschooling. Our state’s laws and requirements. Also, what resources were available to us locally and through the internet. What I found was really encouraging. Our state laws are not as strict as other states. Children that are homeschooled are not required to take standardized state tests. Nor are we required to ‘check-in’ yearly or even periodically.

Of course, this has some downsides and a lot of room for neglecting a child’s education when left to the discretion of inadequate parenting.

For us, everything worked in our favor.

Especially the fact my cousin is a kindergarten teacher. He was able to give me some very useful curriculum supplements from his fellow teachers.

The biggest factor in deciding to homeschool my daughter was time.

Like I said, I went to public school from kindergarten to the day I graduated high school. I come from a single parent household. My mother was a high school teacher. Even though we mostly had the same schedule, we didn’t see each other much. After school, I would do homework and watch some TV. By the time my mother got home it was time to cook dinner, eat, and get ready for bed. Just to do it all over again. And then there were my extracurricular activities. I was a gymnast from the age of two to twenty. The higher I progressed, the longer the hours. Around third grade I joined choir. Which I pursued through college. Choir led to musical theater. Gymnastics led to cheerleading, diving, and even swim team for one season.

No, I do not regret doing so many activities. I loved them all! When it came to my daughter, I wanted time. This is the time her and I have together. I can’t rely on our relationship being magnetic enough that she will stay close and heavily involve me in her adult life. I wanted us to experience life together. Thus far, it has paid off tremendously!

Beginning in middle school, I had thought I wanted to pursue a career in education. Even joined the Future Educators of America in high school. It was great! As much as I loved teaching, I never saw myself in a classroom setting and being happy. Little did I know, all that preparation would lead me to my classroom of one.

Of course, you do not need ANY training to teach your child. Just a desire to. And patience. A lot of patience at times.

Our classroom gets to change locations. Parks, the backyard, anywhere in nature, the library. . .

There will always be arguments for and against homeschooling. This style of education is working wonderful for our little family.  What works for us may not work for anybody else.