I have been asked by many friends , family and strangers why we have lost our minds...I mean why we are homeschooling. Im going to try and answer it the best I know how to...which might not be very articulate, thought provoking or interesting at all. Feel free at any moment to go back to your US Weekly....( I know, so sad about Zooey and Ben) .
First and foremost we want to do what is best for OUR kids...hence OUR. I didn't say yours. =) Isn't it fun being a parent? We get to choose what is best for OUR kids, not everyone else's...though some of us have blurred the lines a bit on this one. =) As I attempt this explanation/conviction know fully I am in no way shape or form anti public school or private. Teachers are my friend. God Bless all who pour their lives into children and do it with Joy! The children are our future you know...=) As I share our vision it isn't saying these cant be done other ways....believe me, if i have said it once to my "maticulous" husband , I have said it 1,000 times....there is more than one way to do something, skin the cat...however you want to put it...options! thank goodness.
hmmmm. where to start:
We didnt love our public school in our neighborhood. We werent in a financial position this year to send Kai back to the private school she was at last year which we LOVED! and....we wanted to. For real. I fought it for awhile. no way. I dont do that. Thats not me. I will dumb her way down, way down. I cant read, how will she? jk. I will crap her up eternally, forever and ever....irreversible brain damage to her ....i will lose my mind, we cant spend all day together, i need a break. yup. all that. still go through it too. Im no saint. but it kept coming back and kept coming back....sneaky thing, that homeschooling. Too long for a blog entry but we came full circle about three times on it and finally decided to just do it....and here, finally, is why:
First and foremost when Im honest, really really honest: we want our kids to be kids longer. we dont want to put them in a "flock" to follow and do as society tells us. we want a looser schedule that allows us to go, do and learn as we please. ...we enjoy our children and desire to be with them...life is short and we want to make it interesting for them....school doesnt own learning...we sometimes feel it took 12 years of freedom by standards...it doesnt have to take our kids if we dont want it to...we want to provide a rich education full of art, literature and adventure....we want to bond as a family and develop deeper relationships with our children...it provides more opportunities to pass on morals, values, and beliefs that arent challenged by peers at a YOUNG age. Believe us, we know the world and certainly dont think our kids wont be apart of it, we want them to be, full force, but we dont want them exposed to the ugliness of it at a time in their devleopement that they are not able to process and understand. We want full steering of their influences, experiences, and knowledge at the ripe old age of 6. Meer babes. We definately want to promote and encourage an atmoshpere of creativity and adventure but coupled with a deep desire to grow into loving, kind and compassionate people....we believe ultimately our children are not ours...they are God's. Loved by Him. We want them to understand what that means and what it looks like in society, culture, world, etc...can all this be done a dozen different ways?? Of course it can!! do we think others are doing it wrong? no way. We are just doing what made sense for US and OURS. Will this last?? maybe, maybe not but it is right for right now....and that feels good. It is hard. Really hard some days. Other days we are filled with the joy our decision brings...these days make the others tolerable. =) Do we "do school" every day. Nope. We have been on "hiatus" the last 6 weeks due to travels and listing a home and just reconvened. We are not Congress, but we are in session as casual as it may be. We are just a family following an urge and conviction to try something different and off the beaten trail....though some days the beaten trail looks like Disney World and the choice to Homeschool feels like The Trail of tears...we continue...at least for now. That is what we love...that we have options! Beautiful, creative, wonderful options for unique children we are so fortunate to call ours....arent we all doing the best we know how to do based on our own experiences and life circumstances? I choose this for now and support 100% those who dont....heck...we may choose something totally different next year...because we can...What a blessing to have the freedom to choose for our children. AMEN.
Below are some pictures from trips we have been able to take with the kids this Fall....a good example of embracing the loose schedule!! ( I'm super good at that...A + )
California , September 2011
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| Laguna beach also Science class |
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| Learning about cultural celebrations; like Pop's Birthday! |
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| Pretend Play |
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| Pops treated us to a wonderful trip filled with lots of memories! |
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| P.E. (they skipped) |
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| Recess/Snack |
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| Jet in a rocket...hes only a preschooler |
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| Teachers of the year....ha. |
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| lab |
October 2011 trip to Virginia with Chickie and Paul
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| case study on family and how long they can be in the same house and get along.... |
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| Chickie with kai and jet...lots of love. |
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| school pics |
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| Playground bully |
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| Haydn told me I looked like Wilson/Phillips in this hat...it did not hold on for one more day... |
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| PTA members with students |
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| the science guy |
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| My parents....thanks for taking us on another wonderful trip ...memories made. |
Off to sleep....Tomorrow I look forward to not being rushed in the morning, packing lunches, missing the bus, waiting in carpool line and probably eating my words in 10 months once September 2012 rolls around...=)
sincere and a lot sarcastic,
