Another reason we chose to homeschool, and this is going to make me all Jesus Freak and I don't care, is: there was a constant stirring in my life that I was not doing enough to bring forth how I wanted my girls to be raised: emphasis--providing them with wisdom. Growing up, I never really knew what I wanted to be, someone would ask and I'd say something ambitious, but I never felt it deep within. All I knew is that I wanted to be a momma. As I went through the motions of college, I was going to school to teach and I'm glad I did, however the stirring of "just be a momma" was screaming inside me. I did not know SAHM life was acceptable in today's time as most families life-styles call for 2 incomes. I ignored the stirring and truly believe I neglected my own two children at the expense of my sanity. I needed depression meds and sleeping meds until the Good Lord forced me (by a change in Chris's career) to be at home. Thus the beginning of a year of family centered success and true joy presented itself... The prayers for my own wisdom and what role God would give me in this life continued and Chris and I found out about this entirely new concept: homeschooling! What the hizzle is homeschooling we pondered... We would briefly lift up this idea to God and hope for revelation...
Another reason we chose to homeschool is: it came to our attention that WE had a choice in how we wanted our kids to spend upwards of 8 hours a day. Call us 'rebels' if you will, lol, but once you breathe in that you are not FORCED to send your babies to school, it really starts opening up your mind to the endless amounts of alternate learning styles available. In our journey so far we've met all kinds of homeschooling families, lots of single Mommas' out there homeschooling away and loving every minute! Just something about having choices in how we use our time that makes us all warm and fuzzy inside!
The third reason we chose to homeschool is and this is a good one: We've found that around 4 hours a day of "school" gets our "job" done, and then we are free to explore outdoors, sometimes we do this before our lessons when it's beautiful out! No daydreaming from our table about getting in the sun, we just start the day out in it instead!! And, NO evenings spent at the table using precious free-time to complete the already very very long school day! I wish school had been like that for me, instead I was daydreaming out the tiny window in our classrooms and then lying to my mom that I had no homework, so I could actually be free from school in the evenings:/ sorry mom, yes, I lied daily. no fear though, I copied off friends in first 30 sec of each class to keep those grades up and make you proud, lol-terrible-I know!!!
Reason #4 that homeschooling suits us: extracurricular activities aren't burdensome anymore, they are truly extra and quite a delight!! We look forward to these outings... For me, when we were in school for 8 hours then I had to rush to get a child to gymnastics, then rush the next day to ballet, then rush to ball practice, I was unable to enjoy watching my girls grow up right before me. Actually, I dreaded tackling the week and was so stressed from all the rushing around that it was very difficult to turn off those emotions and soak up the cartwheel achievement or the pirouette accomplishment... Life was so hurried that I was not enjoying my kids. Not anymore my friends, WE HAVE TIME to prepare!! This is a big deal for me, I did not know I had the capacity to run a home. There is now time to actually feel on top of things and operate peacefully (mostly) and my kids can read it when they look out and see they have my attention and I'm all smiles!! Totally new concept, this not being rushed thing!
Homeschool is right for us #5:
I do not want my girls to feel pressured on a daily basis to look perfect. Speaking from experience as the girl who took hours to get dressed, that constant "is there anything on my face" crap is tiresome! And, it's "way more important" than diagramming sentences or understanding Pythagorean theorem! NOT! Lol, I'm not saying they won't feel pressure to be beautiful, but day in and day out it won't be the 1st focus of the morning, they will be free from the stress and just able to learn!
This is my biggie, it's based on MY experiences, you may not feel the same: Another reason we homeschool is because little girls are pressured TOOOOO early to become big girls. Speaking as a student and a teacher, it is dadgum freaking terrifying what you find in notes between 4th graders. I can't, I won't put my girls right into path of it, if I don't have to!
From the beginning in school, I had a "boyfriend." Ridiculously, in my circle from very early on-you were not acceptable if you did not a boyfriend. It was all the rage on the playground to play kiss chase, then it was totally cool to mosey back to kissing corner, come 6th grade. And by 9th grade, if your virginity was still in existence, it was not looked at as admirable. The sooner you could get rid of that "burden" the sooner you could be part of the crowd. And see, as a "pretty little American girl" there were certain unspoken rules. Long term boyfriend + sex equals totally justifiable ----after all, you just might marry this one. As long as the relationship was 6 months or longer-slut, whore, easy---those words would not apply to you in the locker-room. So of course, that made it all okay. For myself and most of the girls I grew up with, virginity was gone before we ever knew it something to be treasured, something beautiful. Now, I AM NOT saying that homeschooling will prevent my kids from making bad choices or being influenced negatively by culture, but it does buy me valuable valuable time. I get to daily pursue placing wisdom in these girls. Wisdom was so far from me growing up. Going to church does NOT impart wisdom. Yes, it gives foundation, but wisdom is a daily work in progress. I need my girls to be able to clearly know Scripture for all situations: ain't nothing more tempting than a brown eyed boy with his hand on your leg to make ya melt like butta! I HAVE to know that I did everything I could do to prepare them. I HAVE to know that I did not encourage them to intrinsically think sexually by oooohing and aaahing over the "Justin Beibers." I HAVE to know when they come to me with a bad choice that it was just that: a choice-not a lack of understanding. Finally, I HAVE to know that I'm living out teaching them God's expectations, not culture in the morning, when we walk by the wayside, when we eat, and when we lay down... At least for as long as I have the opportunity, especially if I don't want them to have big regrets at such a young age as I.
HSing Moms have extremely difficult days too, here is an encouragement text from me to a friend of mine who was struggling:
#1- we can NEVER get this time back
#2-we get to share our faith throughout the day, instead of when a tough circumstance arises and the child needs direction
#3- the day is YOURS to do with as you wish! We had no school today-we cleaned out 12 bags of stuff to take to Salv Army and we are doing school tonight!
#4 no child should be instructed for 7 1/2 hours a day. It is not fair, nor should they have homework. My friends 1st grader from Troy has 2 hrs of homework a night:(
#5 you essentially choose who your child is surrounded with instead of forced association-which may not be beneficial in the long run
#6 our kids get enough rest, my Mady was so so exhausted and so so hungry EVERY day.
#7 education is a chance to look for the truth in history---School can be indoctrination of false ideas, celebrating Columbus for example, NO WAY!
With all that being said, if the Lord or Chris ever guide me to put them back in school, I will cry myself into oblivion, self-medicate, and obey:/
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