A Question for Moms Who Homeschool Their Kids

Great Post!
I was a homeschooled kid before homeschooling was 'cool'. LOL
I plan on homeschooling but have another couple of years before I officially start homeschooling. But I have 'school work' time each morning for my 3 yr old, and he loves to sit at his desk and do his school work while mommy is at her desk doing her work.
I love being at home with my boys and raising them, which includes teaching them.

Yes, we're homeschooling. I like the freedom of homeschooling. I like the ability to take full advantage of all the educational resources (Aquarium, Zoo, Science Center) in the off-hours, when things are not crowded. It's very cool to have a marine biologist be able to spend half an hour answering your kid's questions about biolumininescence. I like the ability to individualize the education to the child. This is especially important for my son, who has a lot of unusual sensory and learning challenges. I also like the ability to teach my kids to *think*, rather than just perform.

In general, homeschooling is pretty mainstream in Seattle and everyone is pretty supportive.

I started homeschooling my first 3 children in 1993. Eventually, they all went to public schools and graduated highschool. They did fine. But each one of them messed up a little more in their lives the longer they were in school. They all started the same year. So my 3rd daughter spent the longest in a public school. My oldest was the most obedient and has been super responsible as an adult. She's going to be 27 in December. The 2nd one is my smartest daughter. Only I think she's turning into a career college student since she's been in school 6 years and is not done yet. LOL

Anyway, fast forward and now we have an 11 year old that just started the 5th grade in homeschool. No one questions our decision anymore. Well, family and friend wise. My older daughters think she should go and they feel she lacks manners etc. Of course, she doesn't do or say anything that they didn't! But that's another subject, the things 20 somethings think and say and how much they think they know just about everything.

I also love the freedom you talk about. One thing I like is being able to require some kind of schooling year round. We rarely take an entire day off. I like to do it that way because then I don't have to be concerned with a certain calendar and when we do want to take a day off or goof off and only do a little, we can.

Why???? I don't know really. I just love being with my kids. I find it to be difficult enough to rear them at home without having them constantly exposed to the bad attitudes of others. Kids have a way of coming up with all kinds of naughty things to think and say and do and then when they get together with their friends, they exchange ideas. They rub off on each other. I like being able to pick and choose their friends in the first part of their lives.

I also love learning. I have attempted to learn a lot right a long side them. I go through periods where I don't and then through intense periods where I do.

We live in a very scary world. When my kids were young and I was considering a public school, Columbine happened. Then I started researching and realized how often some school shooting does happen. Fights happen all the time too and kids are molested sometimes and bullied. I just avoid the risks for as long as possible.

There's no easy answer. My 2nd daughter went to school, came back home for awhile, and then went back again. I know homeschool students that want to go to school and public school students that want to come home.

We homeschool.
Mine are in 5th and 8th this year.
The older two I did not homeschool.

I pulled my daughter out in 5th becasue of her severe anxieties. She was scared of math and hated science. She would throw up every day and wet her pants routinely.
After a year at home she was working above grade level in all subjects, even math. This will be her 4th year.
I pulled my son because he begged me to homeschool him. Plus I knew the 3rd grade teacher and was not happy about him getting her, Daddy was deployed for the 2nd time after only being home for 4 months, we were to move after the deployment. This will be his 3rd year.

I do have to defend my decision with my husband's friends. They come in and quiz my children on things that they know, or that their high school kids know and when mine can't answer them I get a lecture. "Just what are you teaching them?" etc

I am so torn . This will be our last year homeschooling. My husband was never really onboard and wants them back in school. So my daughter will go to the piblic high school and my son will go to 6th grade. If the middle school does not place my son correctly, he is advanced in math and English, and already has had 1 year of Latin, I plan to keep him out until 9th. We'll see.

I've been homeschooling for 12 years. My two oldest are graduating this year. I belong to two homeschool groups and have a lot of support and activities for them. A couple of my family members have homeschooled but my husband's family are all public school teachers. They're pretty supportive but occasionally will get comments or interrogated or they'll quiz my kids to make sure they're okay. But all in all, I think we've proven ourselves well. My kids are smart, confident and very sweet and funny. I homeschool because I feel that the environment, curriculum and teachers are better at home. =D I have 5 kids. Two graduating, a 3rd grader, 6th grader and a baby.

We've been homeschooling for 5 years now. :) We, too, went to the park with friends the day our district started. My kids are now 16 and 12.

My older kids went through public schools, but we became SO unhappy with the way schools are run now that we just had to opt out. I've stopped trying to explain the decision to people who say things like, "Why didn't you just transfer to our school? We love our school," or, "Why don't you do a virtual school? That way a professional has prepared and graded the lessons." I believe one size does not fit all; there should be MANY choices in education.

My relatives are fairly supportive; my husband's, not so much. ;) Most of our friends are either supportive or at least not negative.

We belong to 2 co-ops and several other homeschool groups, and we LOVE them!

It's nice to hear from another homeschool family! :)

I just started Homeschooling my 5 year old. My husband and all his siblings were homeschooled. My mother tried to with my brother and I but it was a failure. Having my MIL and husband as resources has helped so much. It's even helped us get back into a church.

We decided to homeschool for right now because we wanted to 100% sure that she could at least read and write before ever sending her to school. That way, no matter what, she could always read and teach herself.

I love being able to sit her down whenever she's ready. I like working with her, knowing just how long she can sit still and focus.

I have been officially homeschooling for 2 days now. Lol.
Though today is not going as well as yesterday. :(
I have a little giver-upper. And a toddler who is not helping either.

I attended private Christian school until I was in the 7th grade. High school was a nightmare (I went to 4 different ones).
My DH was educated through PACES-which means he barely got an education at all.
We cannot afford private school.
And I don't want the government to educate my child.

I actually enjoy teaching her...until she gives up. (Been teaching her in reality for a long while now.)

I don't have a ton of support. DH is worried about a outcome like his own experience. But we have already proven ourselves in that regard, IMO.
My mom homeschooled my younger brothers for several years. She is supportive, but not in the way I need/want her to be. Right now she is just being annoying!
Despite her own choices, my MIL looks at me like I have flowers growing out of my ears. Her DD chose public school for her child.
I don't think she has much faith in me.

Even though we just started, I do like the flexibility of it. I like watching my child grow in her knowledge and understanding. I like that I don't have to worry about whether she is behaving or not, too. ;)

Thanks for posting this!