By the end of 2020, about 9 million Americans said they had attended homeschool at some point in their lives.
Homeschooling has become trendy again, it seems as if the more people I meet the more are opting for homeschooling for their children. Today I just want to share why I am a homeschool mom, and what that looks like for my family.
Despite this increasing trend, there are so many stigmas associated with homeschool. I’d like to address the stigma, and applaud the public school teachers, as well as the mom’s who are at home teaching their little human beings.
I’ve heard a lot of rude comments from non-homeschooling parents, on the flipside I’ve also heard some down right rude comments from homeschooling moms as well. The glove doesn’t fit the same for each family.
Similar to everything else in the world, everything is highly polarized, schooling being one of them.
I sent my two children to public school for a year and a half. Well my oldest spent all of kindergarten and half of 1st grade in public school. My youngest spent half of kindergarten in public school. Then along came covid.
Covid was a blessing in disguise for my family, it opened my eyes to the fact that I love learning alongside my children, and I only have them home for a short time so why not spend it teaching them?
I remember dropping my youngest off at kindergarten and feeling an emptiness, not because I can’t be alone, trust me I love and I mean love being alone. I just felt like something wasn’t right, the puzzle pieces weren’t lining up, you know when you just know deep down in your soul something isn’t how it should be? Once we decided to homeschool it’s like that puzzle piece was put in the right place, and all felt good again.
We didn’t quit public school because the public school setting was terrible, in fact I’ll forever be grateful for my children’s teachers, teaching them the basics of the alphabet, math, and reading. They were wonderful and I applaud them for taking on a classroom of 30 plus unruly little ones, and some not so nice parents.
Homeschooling seems to be such a touchy subject, recently I met a mom who advised me I should be sending them off to private school or else they might be socially awkward.
Another woman at church complimented my children’s social skills considering that they are homeschooled and all.
Eeek.
But Homeschooled Kids are Socially Awkward
I am a product of public school, and I have to try really hard to tone down my social awkwardness, I blame my introverted ways for this. So the idea that homeschooled kids are socially awkward is false. People are socially awkward.
Does one really think that sending a child into a group of 30 plus kids of the same age is the only way to socialize them? My children are around neighbors, all well over 60 and they adore them. My kids also attend Jiu Jitsu training 3 times a week where they, gasp! Spend time with kids of all ages. They spend a majority of their time with my husband and I who are both in our 30’s. They spend time in nature, surrounded by farm animals and farm life.
I do not lock them inside all day, they do go out into the world. Interact with people from all walks of life.
Socialization comes in all forms, not just in a classroom. Socialization comes from communicating with one’s children and exposing them to people of all ages and backgrounds.
My children know how to listen to others in a position of authority, because my husband and I have raised them to respect their elders. They know how to communicate with children, because well, they are children.
My eldest is a reserved character, quiet upon meeting, preferring small group settings to large. He is a lover of math, and science.
My youngest is a social butterfly, talking to anyone she can. She doesn’t love large settings either, but she adores people of all ages. She is my free-spirited child, creative, lover of books and genuinely kind.
In fact both my children are really kind, and I’m not just saying that because they are my kids. They love on people even though I struggle to love on them, I could learn a thing or two from them. They are accepting of those around them, at the same time standing on their own two feet without the influence of others.
These are their character traits, not because they are homeschooled. Homeschooling doesn’t really have anything to do with their personalities, homeschooling just means that they are schooled at home.
It was the primary source of education for the longest time, so I’m always a bit taken aback when I hear such uneducated comments regarding my decision to homeschool. I am educated, yet my own education has nothing to do with how I educate them.
Why Do I Homeschool?
My primary focus with my children is to in fact harbor a love of knowledge. Wouldn’t we all be better off if we encourage kids to love learning rather than force them to memorize just enough to complete a weekly test? I don’t doubt this is a sentiment of many public school teachers own desires, but the enormous class sizes they are faced with makes this challenging.
My classroom is my kitchen table, my whiteboard is in the middle of my dining room, and our bookshelves are overflowing with books on all sorts of topics. We do not have a specific routine, we study math, art, literature, history and science. They learn life skills like reading recipes, how to cook, how to manage their time and their allowance.
With my kids around me all day I have ample opportunities to teach them in a non structured setting. We may learn math through baking, we may study history if the mood strikes us, with having the children at home all the time with me it isn’t a burden, so much as it is an opportunity to educate them on so many different pieces of life throughout our days together.
Text slang is my nemesis, we focus highly on spelling, by God they are going to know how to spell thanks, and okay, and because! Our math is practical, hard work is encouraged, failure is accepted and used as a learning opportunity.
I do not have a must have curriculum each year. Each year it has changed just like my children’s knowledge and interest. I’ve wasted a lot of money on different curriculums only to realize that half way through I’ve found something that works better for each child. I currently use the Bob Jones curriculum loosely, but I’ve tried The Good and The Beautiful, Master Books, and Abeka. All have had really great pieces to them, and some not so great.
I am not an unschooling parent, nor a rigid one.
My children read above their education level, not because I’m an allstar parent or because they are highly intelligent, but because I’ve shared my love of reading and encouraged them to love reading as well from a young age.
Homeschool to me isn’t about hiding my kids from public school, or believing that they are superior because they are homeschooled. Homeschooling them is an opportunity for me to do life right alongside them, and prepare to send them out into the world when they become adults.
Homeschooling for me is cherishing this time with my children, learning alongside them, encouraging them to find their own love for learning, and doing life with them.
I have them here with me for 18 short years. I begged God, and shed a lot of tears for these two humans, and feel I’ve been given the opportunity to teach them at home, so teaching them at home is exactly what I’m doing.
My curriculum doesn’t look like a public school teachers curriculum, because I am not a public school teacher. It doesn’t look like my friend’s curriculum because those are not my children.
Homeschooling has been one of my greatest adventures. I truly feel I am blessed to be able to stay home with them and learn alongside them.
If you are considering homeschooling, I’d really sit down and imagine how you want your children to grow up. Not what they will be when they grow up but how they will grow up.
Do you want them to be confident?
Educated?
An asset to the world?
Debt free?
It really comes down to leading our children to be successful adults, and by successful I don’t mean a 6 figure job.
By successful, I’m referring to a contributing human to society, paying taxes, earning a living, following the law, respecting nature, and speaking truth even when it’s uncomfortable.
When my children are grown and no longer home with me learning, I hope they go out into the world with an insatiable desire to learn, be kind, and give back to the world.
Are you wondering about homeschooling? Are you feeling intimidated?
I assure you it isn’t the easiest endeavor but it’s been well worth it. I don’t look at each day with dread, I just live it. The good days, the bad days, I’m living, doing life with my two children in tow right alongside me. And one day when they go off on their own I will look back at this precious time and wonder how did it go by so quickly?
I realize homeschooling isn’t for everyone, but I also know if you are on the fence, and some unknown tug is pulling you to at least consider homeschooling I hope you find some comfort in my homeschooling ramblings.
Children aren’t gifted to us to set aside, or seen as an exhausting endeavor each day. They are small human beings, on their way to adulthood needing the gentle, firm guidance of a confident parent, or teacher.
Tell me do you homeschool?
Do you send your kids off to public school or private school?
My last little tidbit is the appreciation we should bestow upon the teachers in our children’s lives, they are absolutely necessary. I know I am forever grateful for the teachers my children had in public school all while battling low budgets, and large class sizes. They were the ones who taught my children to read and write, and I will forever be grateful for that.
Happy Schooling whatever that may look like for you!
Danielle
Bravo you! It appears you have found a fit and rhythm that works best for your family. That is what is most important. My daughter was in my classroom at one point (poor dear), but I never homeschooled her. You mentioned your children spending time outside and learning from the natural environment. There are so many benefits to this! Children in public schools spend too much time sitting inside in rows. I was fortunate enough to have parents who enjoyed fishing and camping. I didn’t enjoy it then, but I sure am grateful for the lessons! Great article!
Michele what do you teach and what sort of school setting? I can’t imagine having a full classroom of kids and my own in a class! Your daughter survived so it couldn’t be too bad! 😂 I served as a teachers aid for both my kids classes in public school and I was a zombie by the end of the day it must be such hard work to be a teacher of a large class trying to meet the needs of the differing learning styles and personalities. My kids both went to a Waldorf style preschool and I just loved how much they focused on freedom and nature which led me to where we are at. I know my parents were always out fishing and outside too thankfully. I’m blown away by so many kids face deep in their phones at such a young age after being in school all day. One day my kids might be annoyed at my minimalist outdoorsy ways but for now they have no other choice 😏I think there’s a balance I’ve had to learn. Structure isn’t my strongpoint 😬
I currently assist with online writing workshops for adults. It can be described as Narrative Therapy (writing to heal). I’ve been doing that since the beginning of 2020. Prior to, I taught high school English and 101/102 through the community college. At the secondary level, I have taught all grades (7th-12th) but the last several years I taught juniors and seniors – my favorite age and content to teach.
I began teaching in 2002. I planned on leaving when my daughter graduated HS in 2011, but I kept on until 2019. I love the profession, but it was time. 😌 For all the reasons you read and hear about, including the endless grading! Kids get annoyed with parents, no matter what, keep following your heart, they will learn and grow through all of it. 💞 Structure… I get it! 😆 I was structured to the point of snapping when I taught; it’s nice now, living life more naturally. Discipline wasn’t my strong point, in the classroom. Sadly, most school environments call for that. 😞 Best to you! 🤗 I look forward to featuring your blog tomorrow!
Oh that’s awesome narrative therapy, I hadn’t heard of that before but what an awesome way to in fact heal! I can see that it would be time to move on from teaching after a career of it and all the demands. Sounds like you have found an excellent fit, less structure, more natural all the while helping others to heal. Lovely! Thanks for featuring my blog, hope you are having a blessed week!
Just finished up a workshop. Rewarding work. 💞 Thank you for this beautiful comment, Danielle. I cherish it. Finding and maintaining balance is a lifelong goal/challenge for all of us, but your description of my current routine feels fitting. A blessing. Thank you – it was an honor to feature your blog. I reposted it on Monday with added photos. 😁 I planted some of your seeds on Sunday – will keep you updated. Have a wonderful week!
Your post was so touchy and address the same concerns I’m having. I’ve always wanted to homeschool my kids. In the summer, I make unit studies for them and I realize that they are so happy learning that way. They social skills improve as well because they ask a tone of questions which leads to our next lessons and research. We get to engage in activities and try to even sell products. Your post was very refreshing and leading towards the homeschooling route.
Please check out my post of homeschooling: https://andreablossom.wordpress.com/
Thank you! I find my kids desire to learn is so much more than when they were in public school. They do ask a lot more questions, and I think that cultivates a desire to learn even more. I will say if you are wanting to homeschool your kids and it’s something you have the time to do I would encourage you to consider it. We love it, and I do love learning alongside them, being able to physically take them places to learn about as well is always awesome. Thank you for your kind comments and for reading!
we homeschool our son, he is eleven. He went to to kindergarten for a month or so and it was an awful experience. I pulled him out and have enjoyed learning with him since. Love your blog.
I’m sorry it was such an awful experience. I feel fortunate my kids had two really great teachers. What sort of curriculum do you find you like best? Or do you switch it up each year? Thank you for reading and following along ❤️
We don’t really follow any particular curriculum. Though we keep the requirements of cbse curriculum in mind we don’t strictly follow it though.
That sounds like how we do things around here too.
thank you for sharing your journey! I can really relate! I, too, found the ease and love for homeschooling due to covid. It was literally the best thing to happen to my family and for both of my sons! We never went back to public schools. My older son is 16 this year and my younger one is turning 9 this month… so since 2020 I’ve now taught 1st into the 3rd grade and 8th through 10th! what a miraculous journey we’ve had! my older son was bordering on social/peer pressure issues back in public school in the 7th grade.. getting into trouble, etc. because he was always bright and a quick learner the public schools really dimmed this love for learning and classified him as a class clown, disruption kid and he was always negatively highlighted for finishing work early, asking for other things to do and stuff…it was really sad for us but, back B.C. (before corona) I never thought I could homeschool, I was stuck in the framing that I had to work a regular corp. 9-5 and sending my sons to school all day, afterschool programs until 6pm so I could “work”. But I’ve realized my true work is being a mother! and once my husband and I saw we could make a whole new lifestyle for ourselves, and it could work out for us.. we went for it and never looked back! Now both my sons are excelling and my 16yr old is on track to graduate early and he’s taking electives that suit his affinities and talents so he’s prepared to go chase his dreams in a few years! Congrats to you and your beautiful family! so happy to hear others have seen this whole turn of events as a blessing, too! AND BTW, isn’t the good and the beautiful curriculum just amazing?? we LOVE them! especially the multiplication musical math!
Thank you for reading and your sweet words! I am so glad to find another that found covid to be a blessing for raising our kids it was like a veil was peeled off my sleepy eyes in regards to the education system! Have you read the book The Way Home Beyond Feminism Back To Reality? Not a popular way of thinking now, but it just validated everything I felt about raising my kids and staying home with them. I too was about work and my education until a shift happened in my perspective. Staying home raising my kids is a big blessing that I wish more women were encouraged to do and were financially able to do! I do love the Good & The Beautiful it has so many useful learning techniques! Thank you for sharing your story about your own homeschool journey with your family it sounds like your kids are excelling! Peer pressure is so real and so out of control nowadays that I can’t even begin to fathom raising kids in high school in public school. Hope you have a blessed week!
thank you! and I had not heard of that book but I will be checking it out, sounds right up my alley 🙂 I used to enjoy debating ‘feminists’ but now I live and let live… I still see it for what it was though, a way to push mothers into the workforce and gain a whole new population of tax payers, all the while destroying the American home/family unit. Hopefully we teach through doing and show our local communities/families that it is possible and enjoyable! Words cannot express the gratitude I have for the way everything played out and totally shielded my older son from the public high school experience.. it is a little sad that the “classic American highschool” dream burst before he got to live it relatively normally.. but I do think this way is better in the long run and my younger son – he’s got a slight hearing issue in one ear plus he’s a boys boy kinda child.. public schooling would have broken his flighty, spirited and energetic personality.. I’m sure he’d be dreading going there if I had sent him.. he did half of the 2019/2020 school year in kindergarten and he cried every single morning.. broke my husband’s heart since he was the one doing morning drop off’s lol these days he’s reading at about the 5th grade level and mastering math basics, the alligator tears only turn on when it’s time for writing hahah why do most boys have a natural aversion to handwriting?
Oh my gosh you sound like you already read it, speaking the same sentiments of my own feelings. If you read it let me know your thoughts! I loved the entire book and it really opened my eyes even more to the toxicity of our culture on the family and women. My son too has an aversion to writing, but he has the most beautiful handwriting it always confuses me as to why he gets so flustered. That was my feelings with the kids as well I didn’t want to crush their spirits, we want them to grow into themselves before they are thrown into our really bizarre world.
So wonderful to hear a like-minded mother out there! It calms my heart knowing there are others who see things the way I do and raise their children similarly. I will definitely add a reply here when I read the book 🙂 thank you again for that