I feel like I have misrepresented myself and homeschooling on facebook. I'm really sorry for doing this, as there are a few families out there who would be great homeschooling candidates but say things like, "I can't do crafts like you," and other such nonsense. :) Homeschooling is not about doing crafts, and there are plenty of homeschooling families out there who never do crafts. Homeschooling looks different for every family, and every family has different reasons for choosing to homeschool.
One reason homeschooling will work well for us is because it offers a flexible schedule. John is very busy at work on holidays/school vacations and sometimes works all weekend. Often, his days off are Tuesday and Wednesday. With homeschooling, our kids will get to see John a lot more often. Many families in ministry and other jobs with odd schedules choose homeschooling partly because of schedules.
Some moms choose really in-depth, intense curriculums that mimic traditional schools. These families might use the same textbooks many schools do (McGraw-Hill, Harcourt Brace, etc.). One reason I am choosing not to follow that route is because I know from being a teacher, I rarely used my curriculums and enjoyed going off on tangents as my students' interests led. For some homeschool parents, this is actually scary for them and they at least like to have a framework or guide, even in kindergarten.
When I did follow the school curriculums closely, the kids and I both enjoyed it. They learned from it, too. So, following a curriculum is not worse or better, it's just a choice I have in homeschooling. There are some great homeschool curriculums out there, too.
Another reason we're choosing to homeschool is because Maryn really likes crafts and art. She loves to explore and ask questions. I think the best learning takes place when we are curious and search out answers. I think Maryn learns best through exploring, drawing, and creating. She will sit still and learn more if her hands are moving, her eyes are looking, her brain is working, all at the same time. I notice how she can study all the details of an animal if she is drawing the animal. She won't notice the details of an animal by just looking at it. I feel homeschooling is best for her because 1.) I know these things about my daughter. 2.) I love her more than any teacher ever could and want her to thrive more than any teacher ever could. 3.) We can follow her interests and curiosities instead of following a curriculum or what the rest of the class is doing.
Another reason we're choosing to homeschool is because, so far, what I know about Josiah and probably Owen, is that they need to be outside as much as possible. Maryn needs this too, but Josiah really has to be outside a lot. Josiah learns best when learning involves lots of action. Basically, just being free to make these decisions for my kids is a great reason to homeschool.
What about socialization?
What I have observed with Maryn so far is that, with children her age, she is a leader. With children a little older than her, she will take direction and work in a team. With children younger than her, she will gently guide and direct them patiently (except Josiah, whom she hits and yells at :)). I'd like my kids to have these experiences with their friends and with each other. In school, this just doesn't happen often enough. When I worked in groups in school, I usually ended up being the "leader" and didn't learn how to work in a team very well. What I learned from group work was that if I wanted to get anything done, I had to do it myself or micromanage every aspect of the project. These control issues have not been great in the workplace, in ministry, and especially in marriage! :) I hope I can train my kids to be leaders, but I also want them to be able to work in a team. I think homeschooling does this better than is possible in schools.
My children receive more than enough socialization, and it's often with kids of many ages. If they were in school, we probably wouldn't have time to be in such large multi-age groups.
Also, we have recently done some reading on people such as Abraham Lincoln and Laura Ingalls Wilder. Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote in her book Little House in the Big Woods, that she had not left the Big Woods or seen another person besides her Pa, Ma, and sisters, in an entire year. And you know, she turned out all right. Abraham Lincoln was an excellent speaker, story teller, and was actually known to be very humorous, and he did most of his learning by simply reading and experiencing a lot of quiet time.
I'm not thinking about living in a one room log cabin, but my point is, I believe the emphasis on socialization in small children is over-emphasized.
Family Bonding
I know many homeschooling families now, and they are quite different than the rest of the world. Years ago, homeschoolers seemed to be kind of nerdy and weird. But I see the teenage boys who have been homeschooled, and they are close to their mothers--meaning, they are so respectful towards them (most of the time). One boy in our church I see on Sundays often has his arm around the back of his mom's seat during the sermon. The girls seem so well bonded towards both parents as well, and they just generally have more time with their fathers (and usually LOTS more time with mom).
Homeschooled siblings seem to get along better and respect each other more. There's not as much of a peer influence from school, and the kids rely on siblings for companionship. Which if you think about it, makes a lot more sense. How many friends do you still hang out with from elementary, middle, or high school? Siblings usually become your lifelong friends, even long after your parents are gone.
Sports and Music
I know many people get really concerned about this part of homeschooling. Not only are there options now to join school organized sports, but I see homeschooling as providing a way to do more activities if we wish. For example, I can decide to have Maryn take more intensive ballet classes. Or our kids can run 5Ks or half marathons all over the country (maybe even with Dad!). We'll have time and freedom to do those things, which are more likely to carry over into adulthood.
Important Note to Family and Close Friends:
I am going to be putting most of our homeschooling projects and such on this blog to share with those who really know us and care what we're working on. I feel that putting up our cute crafts and whatnot on facebook has been a discouragement to many people. While that may be "their own problem," I don't want to misrepresent our family and make people think "we are so perfect." I wouldn't ever put on facebook every time I freak out on my kids or put things in my status things like, "I let my kids watch 6 hours of television today," because if I did that every time I was guilty of those things, someone would call CPS or my mom would come down here and stage an intervention. :)
If you're still reading this long, rambling blog, thank you for hearing me out. I'm sure I'll come up with more reasons why we homeschool, but these are some of the reasons I think most of our close family and friends would agree with. Thank you all for your love and support. Keep up with us on this blog for more school updates and cute crafts :)
