Homeschooling

I first started thinking about homeschooling shortly after my third child was born. That was around the time my firstborn was reaching school age. I knew someone who homeschooled and loved the philosophy behind it. I just didn’t believe I could do it myself.  I admired her confidence and patience.  I contemplated the idea but shortly after put it aside. I wanted to have more children and if I questioned my ability to do it when I only had three, I surely wouldn’t be able to handle when I had more. I felt I had to make a decision to either homeschool or have more children. So... to school went my little guinea pig. I went on to have another baby and by the time my third was also starting school  I was totally fed up with the school system and hated the life-style we got caught up in living. This is why in the spur of the moment, while my husband was in Brazil for work, I pulled all three kids out of school. Just like that! When he came back from his trip, and the next school day the kids simply stayed at home, I very matter of fact told him that our kids were now homeschooled. This was 9 years ago. I went on to have another baby and continued to homeschool. I turned  out I didn't have to choose. Homeschooling became a life-style and not a choice of venue or teacher for my kids. Our homeschooling journey has ups and downs and it’s never the ideal I envisioned when I first started. My style of homeschooling has changed a lot over the years as I gained experience, got to know my children better and our family dynamics changed. We were always able to adapt to life events and challenges and make learning fit into our life and not the other way around. I’m more confident and relaxed now, especially as my older two children decided to join school again for high school and I was able to witness how well they were able to adapt; both academically and socially. We have also welcomed a friend of my son to our family who had been unschooled all his life. He also decided to attend school and though it has been a little tougher on him academically, the life skills necessary to make this transition were there. This ability to adapt and a true understanding of life can be more valuable than any skill schools can give you. So, as we continue on our life journey, we adapt as necessary and try to live life the way we believe is going to teach us the most.  And what better way to learn and grow, than to learn to love and respect at home?

Happy Homeschooling!!