10 Good Reasons to Homeschool (and 3 reasons not to!)

In my 'Welcome' post I shared our personal reasons for Homeschooling our 2 kids. This process was pretty therapeudic for me. Even though in my heart I know my reasons sometimes it is hard to convey it to people who ask me about it. Most of my family and friends have been really great, but some...when I start to explain it to them glaze over or start to look away, as if I have personally insulted them.

What I'd like to say is... "My decision to homeschool in no way means that I disagree with your decision to take the 'in school' option for you kids. It does not mean that I think you are a bad mother and it does not mean that I am some super hero all knowing Mum, it's just an option that I think may help my kids. I think all Mums are doing the best they can with the deal that have been handed."

Bear in mind I am part of the 'in school' option. I am a Teacher Aide - I love my job, the staff and the kids, I enjoy seeing the kids eyes light up when they learn something new. Kids are in good hands at school.

I also want to make another point, there are so many reasons not to homeschool and I think the top two for most families is:

1. Financial - obviously to homeschool you (or hubby) has to be there to teach them, and many families are two income. Fair enough!

2. I'm not smart enough - I'd really hate this to be the only thing holding back a family from homeschooling especially if in every other way it would improve their situation. It's really typical for Mothers to underestimate their abilities - I'm no genius I only passed my HSC because I got 98% in 3 unit textiles (yes I will teach that to them:-)). I have discovered that there are so many awesome resources, not to mention Distance Education which is basically that they have a Teacher teach them over the internet and you supervise and keep them on track.

There is also a 3rd reason...
3. I think we would end up driving each other crazy!? It's funny but I have found the more time my husband and I spend with the kids the more amazing I find them. However there are conditions...I need to pay them my full attention when they are learning, if I am cooking or cleaning or chatting on the phone, they keep interrrupting and yes that does drive me crazy - so learning time is dedicated to that and the kids are starting to understand that I need time to work on the house, our business and to just be Chandra (not Mum or Teacher). I think they are cherishing their free time too (Don't bother Mum or she will make us help her clean the house - see I have my ways ;-))

Now getting back on track I recently found this great article 10 Good Reasons to Homeschool it helped to solidify my reasons for homeschooling (I don't agree with all of it), which has only strengthened my resolve. Have a look it is an interesting read.

Chandra

Welcome

Welcome to our new blog "Home Sweet Homeschool". It is my wish that this blog will document our unique journey into the world of homeschooling and by sharing our experiences we may be able to help people considering homeschooling and help parents with children in school with fun resources and information.

We are a family of 4 Mum - Chandra, Dad - Brett, Son - Jake, Daughter - Mali, yes the typical family, except we aren't very typical, earlier this year we decided to unplug from our lives and travel around Australia in a caravan. We put our family home on the market and started to plan the kids education. Well the house is still on the market but the kids officially start homeschool 9 July.

I'm sure you are wondering why take them out of school before we sell and go for our trip? Well as I was planning their curriculum and they were attending school I started to notice the wheels falling off!

Jake has always been very academically smart, outgoing and nothing really phased him. Until the end of last year, he became bored with school and he decided it wasn't cool to be smart, basically he stopped trying. He noticed that the kids that played up in class were yelled at but the smart kids got nothing but a tick and maybe a smiley face. On top of his academic problems he was also separated from his friends at the start of 2012 and piled into a class of kids he didn't really know. It was then he befriended the 'jokers' of the class, that was ok until he became the joke, he began to withdraw, I noticed it, his Dad noticed it and so did his Grandparents. Basically that was it for me, I know people are concerned that my kids will suffer socially if they are homeschooled - well here is my answer to that - socially my Son is suffering at school, he sees these kids 5 days a week and basically has more one on one time with them, than he does with me - THEY are not raising the son I want him to be! I only get one chance with him and I choose to raise him with love, kindness and support.

Then there's Mali, she has only been at school for 18months and in general it suits her style. She enjoys the class environment and her 2 fabulous Teachers. However she had a pretty slow start with some not so positive influences during her Prep year, this has left her behind in year 1, but that doesn't bother Mali she knows she is awesome! However again in the playground she has had some friendship problems that mirror alot of my issues from Primary School which in fact have shaped my life - Mum helped me as best as she could but I still had to face it every day at school. Thankfully for Mali I have other choices and again my choice is to raise her in a supportive environment away from the 'I'm not your friend today!' girls. Mali also needs individual attention to get her back on track which I am honoured to provide.

So here we are on the edge of an amazing exciting journey. I know there will be some days when it all seems too much, but I look forward to the days when the sun is shining and we are out in the park looking at ants under a microscope, so bring it on!