Homeschool. Why I do it?

Some people think it's weird and that my kids will turn out weird. Others think I am crazy because it requires time and work.

I was one of those people who thought that homeschooling is weird and NOT for me. Get them on the bus with a lunch box and go learn. I'll see you later. I still do most days.

My kids were in public schools until 3 years ago.The girls started to ask to be home schooled after I pulled Alex for a semester to get him caught up in reading and them put him back in.

Alex, the first child, entered kindergarten knowing how to read They told me he could read at the first grade level. He could also add (I know, like I said first child) In second grade, I was told that he was "reading at a first grade level and seriously struggled in math." I found that to be odd as we did homework, so we put him in the extra help for reading program.

In third grade, I was told again that he was at "first grade level and struggles with math." I gave their ideas a valiant try with no results. I started asking what the heck they had been doing for three yrs. I mean he came in to school at the same reading level?!!!

Now the teacher was sure he had ADD and we had to go through testing and we were encouraged to try meds. We did the "scientific tests" and did a blind study of meds,and found nothing.

It was clear that something drastic had to happen. I pulled him out the first part of 4 grade ( Sept- Dec) , worked at reading and math and put him back in. I was scared because I had no idea what I was doing or so I thought. I prayed and researched, found out his learning type and interests, researched more and more, then did my best. We relaxed about the stress of it all, caught our breath and did it. Alex hated it, so he was motivated and upon entry she tested at "above grade level." He struggled with Math until last year when we found an excellent tutor that made things "click." He is now reading at a "post secondary education level." I am no genius.

Sarah and Hannah started asking if they cold be home schooled. I said no. I as starting to get overwhelmed with being the Room Helper and Fieldtrip Mom, going to PTA etc, having my kids come home after 7 or so hours with home work that required more learning and time. My kids were gone all day, I still had little ones at home- so I wasn't getting a break while they were all gone off to school. I was in the classrooms, then teaching them at night. Nights were suppose to be family time, plus we had :
Monday FHE
Tuesday Scouts, YM/YW
Wed-
Thurs
Friday Date night
Sat get ready for Church.

There were times I worked at RIT, we had sport practice,tutoring....
The schedule was crazy and not working for peace in our home.

I looked at the education my children were getting at the nice suburban school, and was not impressed. Why would they be gone for 7 hours and then need another hour or two of Mom and Dad assisted homework?

One way or they other it was work. For some reason gone are the days where kids get on the school bus and come home -educated well enough to play in the neighborhood 'til dinner.

I told those who wanted to be home schooled we'd try it. We started over the summer ( in case I messed up I could send them back) and we loved it.

We had a social network at a Co-op we belong to until yesterday. We enjoyed it and have friendships that will continue. We started the YMCA home school program at Camp Arrowhead and they LOVED it. Well, except for the few kids in the older class that were the DND fan club.
Camp Arrowhead's program
The girls do Spanish, and get to go to a college for Science that involves real labs and topics. The kids do Art, Music..... I feel ok because national standardized testes say that they are in the upper 80-90% percentile for education.

That is part of it.

The real great part is watching Hannah make a scavenger hunt of adjectives for Emma, or letters for Andrew,

or being cozy in bed watching the light bulb finally come on for Seth in long division,

feeling the Spirit as we learn about the Revolutionary War -being able to learn the entire history of the American Continent ,

and watching Sarah work independently on he schedule so that all her school work is done, but that she has time to do research on her latest interest....movie making.

My kids are home schooled because they want to. I do it ,because most of the time it is easier on me. We control the schedule. We get to have a family life with our children.

We get to be a family.