Today I realized I'm 4 years behind on our family albums. That may seem inconsequential to many, but if I don't write it down & bring the photos together, it's almost as if it never existed. I skimmed through our most recent book & it helped hearing how I described my then 1 yo in such a way that I can better relate to my now 7 yo. It's important for me to remember my journey so that I see the big picture & stay the course God has set. Otherwise, it just seems like I'm wandering.
To at least catch us up in the present, I just have two kids at home during the day! My bookends. L joined a homeschool charter program & then there is M. I wanted to do a specific post on L's schedule 1. People are curious why my 7th grader chose to homeschool this year and 2. Make sure we understand what & why we chose this. My reasons are fairly short because luckily, we don't feel forced due to adverse influences. I'm not against a public education even with its downfalls & limitations; anything CAN be good when you're seeking it (as she does):
1. Mr Smith & I agreed awhile ago that we would make the sacrifice for me to be home with the kids & I received my personal witness that it was the path for me to take even when it came to homeschooling.
2. 7th & 8th grade years are ok years to miss if you care about your emotional well-being. One must survive the hormonal adjustments & immature distractions & judgments despite it & why not make it easier if we can.
3. Lexi asked to homeschool 7th halfway through 6th - on repeat. She even made a 12-slide PowerPoint presentation on it. (And I got to see how far PPT has come since I last used it. Her computer & art were the most appreciated - perhaps only - 6th grade classes). This is the same girl that started 6th grade saying she would never homeschool again (She was ready to spread her wings. She loves a good adventure)
4. I appreciate 1-1 time with any of my kids & helping them focus on their goals. I would rather guide her at this stage in her life than her peers. I love being able to stay connected to the homeschool world & learn new things alongside her. I'm not ready to find myself outside this role yet. I love the idea of spending winter by the fire just reading together.
Her reasons consist of 1. Sleeping in 2. Adding in more music lessons 3. Choosing her to-do list 4. Getting charter money to support her to-do list 5. 1-1 time with mom 6. More reading (books she wants to read) 7. Less noise / distractions 8. Freedom of movement 9. The promise of still seeing friends 10. More creative art & writing time.
But I thought I'd touch on a few less obvious reasons why one might not homeschool as well:
1. You're not called to do it. It definitely requires this sort of "surrender to God's will" moment where you know you and your child will be for the better & you're not just flying off a cliff for fun or because someone pushed you (like many felt with COVID). Not everyone is meant to be mom AND educator & some years just aren't the year. If you're seeking God's will and homeschool is it, your heart will soften and you will know.
2. There is a weight on homeschoolers to perform "better" because they're getting that 1-1 attention or because that's why we chose it. Everyone wants to test your child to see if they're getting better or "keeping up" or justify it when they notice. It's not always desired attention in either direction. We aren't seeking the approval of others.
3. Moms can feel the pressure to give their child this beautiful, natural education, but it's not always tea parties & read alouds. While you might hear "you know best for your child" we can justifiably doubt ourselves & our choices especially when tension arises. It's much easier to rely on a system to pick up any slack or to be blamed for the slack. It's harder to take ownership of your child's education.
4. You're giving up A LOT of time to plan out their days and weeks. This means there is less time for all the other mom tasks & goals lists. Where there is a will, there is a way, and the journey can actually be REALLY fun, but still - there is a sacrifice & one that you can't put on your child to always appreciate.
5. They miss friends or have this slight FOMO. It's in everything we don't choose. No one wants to feel like they're socially missing out. Because my kids are social, we have to be more intentional with meet-ups & extracurriculars. Those who assume homeschoolers aren't social are misguided, altho not everyone makes the effort. However, the socialization at school is what should be more questioned.
Onto what homeschool looks like... We are the DREAM Team
(each kid's first initial makes up the word)
And I created a general "flow" that has evolved through time and still varies depending on the day, but it's a guide. I will add it below. Compared to the younger days, she can stay pretty busy & outside of music lessons, many things are affordable even with charter funds or even free. We aren't doing it all (I've been amazed how much our small town does offer her age group), but we are doing a lot. The schedule doesn't even include charter zoom clubs & events. Our goal is to do it all with purpose.
I review her ELA & we go over mistakes. If she comes to me saying something is a waste of time, we discuss & skip over if agreed. We do additional writing projects because that's her strength. I help come up with those & what we read aloud & I'll have her respond to prompts as we go. Her math is online & sometimes I need to help if it's a new concept. We are not good at PE & just hope to get together with friends at the jump place when volleyball season is over. I'm not "teaching" her but rather guiding her to opportunities & helping her own her education by keeping her accountable (the charter helps with this too).
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