Right off the bat, I have to say that I had always said I would NEVER (yes, absolutely in all caps), NEVER (yep, another one in all caps!) EVER homeschool my kids. Which seems like reason enough right there for it to happen, and for me actually to like it.
I also said I would NEVER drive a minivan (not anymore, but yep, I loved it when I did) NEVER move away from Colorado (that was right before we moved to California and loved it), NEVER move to Arizona (which we promptly did), NEVER be a runner (which I have come to be).
Well.
Here I am. Homeschooling my kids. And here are a few reasons why I love it:
1. Lots and lots and lots of out loud reading. I love to read out loud. And we read really good books.
2. Time to stop and talk about what we're interested in. Hmm...I don't know. Let's take a minute and find out.
3. If we want to, we can have school in our jammies.
4. I don't pack lunches. Instead, the girls make their own and clean up afterward.
5. No carpool line.
6. The paper pile. We don't have one.
7. Not being exposed to every cold and flu germ on the planet.
8. I get to learn along with the girls.
9. Quiet time every day after lunch.
10. Someday it's going to snow, and we're going to sit in our jammies by the fire, sipping cocoa, and reading something great. And it will be school. How amazing is that?!
P.S. I will NEVER win the lottery. Just for the record.
Joanne, you make me smile! I am not having a great start to my homeschool year, and what a sweet encouragement it is to be reminded of the delights we do get to enjoy! I love you, have a wonderful day!
Posted by: Tiffany Morse | September 21, 2010 at 12:14 PM
Amen and Amen sister! I will never win the lotto or be a published author by the way!
Posted by: wendy | September 21, 2010 at 12:37 PM
Just watched that movie last week... LOVED it. I haven't tried tapioca pudding... never had the chance, so I'm not sure if I like it. We do, however, LOVE soup... it a once-a-week meal at our home... would love for you to share your secret!
Posted by: angela | September 21, 2010 at 12:39 PM
I love homeschooling for many of the same reasons you do. However, if I were to get down to the nitty-gritty and name ALL of them, I'm afraid I'd create some sort of uprising. =)
Love tapioca. Love soup.
Posted by: Leah in Iowa | September 21, 2010 at 12:47 PM
I love intimately know where they are academically more then a grade (my kids don't even have a concept of this since they have alway been home) then I can see the progress great or small.
Having never had my kids in a school...I must admit I do get jealous of having 7-3 free everyday..oh what I could get done!
@TIffany we had a bad school year two years ago from may very personal reasons...hang in there.
Kimberly
Posted by: Kimberly | September 21, 2010 at 12:57 PM
I LOVED homeschooling. 13 years! I too loved the read-alouds (as did my hubby and children). This is my first year of no schooling. The baby has gone to college and my oldest is a junior in college. We did not use an accredited program and BOTH kids got scholarships! I would do it all again and so would my kids. One piece of advice - when they get to high school look into dual enrollment at the community college - no need to take high school english AND then repeat it for college (as well as other classes required in college) AND this gives your child exposure to classrooms, professors, tests and such. Both of my kids entered university with sophmore standing and many classes already checked off of their lists.
Enjoy every minute, the time will fly by.
P.S. when my kids looked out and saw snow they headed to the ski mountain! We did the reading later. ;)
Posted by: CJJ | September 21, 2010 at 03:13 PM
My youngest (4yrs old in Kindergarten) was looking out the window today as one of the neighborhood school busses dropped off some of the kids. She said, "Look Mommy...all the little children are finally coming home from public school. How sad...they have been away from their Mommies ALLLLLL day long" I almost cried.
Posted by: Shelley | September 21, 2010 at 10:32 PM
I am so excited for you and so in prayer for our family to be in a season of home schooling by Middle School. In the meantime, we're having such a rough start to public school this year that we're using a lot of home school resources to supplement. I have to keep telling myself it's God's timing and I'm simply along for the ride!
Posted by: Kim Feth | September 22, 2010 at 03:24 PM
I'm curious about why you said you would never home school and what it was that turned the tide for you in doing it. Just curious. I enjoy hearing the details of how folks started their home school journey. Also, how long do you think you will continue homeschooling? You've already been doing it much longer than you thought -- ha!HA! So who knows, right? Anyways...but perhaps you do have a thought about it.
Posted by: Kathleen Jaeger | September 23, 2010 at 07:56 AM
Love your post, love your heart! Keep pouring into those girls! :)
Posted by: Nikki | September 24, 2010 at 06:00 AM