So I’ll be totally honest. I really have no idea what I’m doing. Not sure if anyone else is in this boat does as well. I’m not even sure it’s a boat that is going to float or not yet…
And if you had told me a year ago that I was going to be homeschooling this year I would have totally laughed. And not believed you. And I probably still wouldn’t believe you if you told me it today (except that I know that I now have a classroom upstairs filled with books and curriculum and even a fancy calendar and letters hung on the wall so I might believe you a little more…but maybe just a little). Good thing we have a few more weeks until kick off on August 18th.
It’s not that I was against homeschooling by any means. I knew a number of friends that homeschooled. I had a number of friends in college that were homeschooled either part or all of their schooling. And most of them seemed normal. I just never thought it would be the path I would choose. I went to public school. My husband attended public school. And we’re both pretty normal too.
And I honestly don’t know what it was that started me thinking. Probably a few conversations here and there with people. Some middle of the night reading during a slow shift in the ER (those rare and unusual events that occasionally happen). Lots of thinking. Lots or prayers. Lots of talking.
It’s not like we live in a bad neighborhood. We have a great neighborhood school and one of the best school districts in the state. And my husband was working/teaching at the amazing charter school in town and so we had a pretty good chance of Leighton getting in there.
I had lots of doubts. Where was I going to draw the line between being my kids’ teacher and being their mommy? The “free time” that I was going to get with them being in school was no longer going to be an option because they were going to be here. ALL. THE. TIME. And honestly, while I know a number of “normal” people who were homeschooled, what if my kids ended up like those weird kids and weird adults, that are just awkward and when if finally comes out that they were homeschooled everyone nods their heads in understanding as if to say “ahhh, that explains it all…”
And then I started to realize that as their mom, I am their first teacher and this gave me the opportunity to not only teach but learn along side of them and experience their joy and excitement over discoveries and knowledge and success. And also to sweat and shed tears with them over the frustrating and hard times. And that “free time”…. I only get 18 years with them in my house, and that time is already going extra fast. Why not spend it as a family learning and growing together. And while yes, we are going to have to be creative and get involved in things outside of our house and outside our usual little circle, I won’t feel that each activity that we sign up for is taking away time from us any more but rather a little outlet that we all need.
And then the dreaded issue-what if my kids grow up being weird. I mean like really weird? They might. But aren’t we all a little strange in our own way? We are all quirky. And most of us call it normal. Let’s be honest, Leighton walked out of the house the other day wearing his swim shorts, a hooded t-shirt with binoculars drawn on it, his cape, his swim goggles and carrying his nerf gun in one hand and a teddy bear in the other. And we all considered that fairly normal for a 5 year old boy. 🙂 Do I worry that my kids will be unable to function socially? Actually I think in the long run with the way society is addicted to technology and quickly loosing the human and interpersonal connection, I think my kids may end up light years ahead of where others are now.
So do I have any idea what I’m doing? Nope not really. But I’m ready to jump on this crazy adventure. I don’t know where it will lead and I’m ok with that right now. Besides, I still have just under 4 weeks till I start…
Hiking Mommy 