Monday, November 8, 2010

day 5

Something you hope to DO in your life

I hope to do so many things the list is endless. There is a list of 100 things though right here

But one thing I really hope to do is home school my children. My mom home schooled us for a few years when I was in high school and I can totally see the benefits. The first reaction I get to this is

 "WHAT are you crazy?"
my answer: No I am not crazy, I am very sane thank you. I dont think wanting to spend time with your kids and teach them about life is a crazy thing at all.

"You know they will be weird and have no friends"
me: Honestly, bring on the weirdness! If it means that they wont be exposed to drugs, alcohol, promiscuity, foul language, bullying, and other possible harm I dont care how weird they are. I will love them anyway. I want to know the people they spend time with and know the parents of the people they spend time with. I'd rather them not be friends with the mean, bullying kids that arent raised with the same values and then have to struggle with whats right and wrong. We all have to deal with that enough as adults.
AND they will have tons and tons of friends, which brings me to my next statement.

"So what you just sit at home all day and never get out into the real world"
me: No way Jose! we will go to the zoo, museums, science center, cultural centers and so on. We will belong to a co-op. They will be in piano lessons, band, choir, soccer, gymnastics, wrestling, and every other extra curricular activity their little hearts desire. They will be able to do all those things because they wont be in school for 8 hours then have another 8 hours of homework every night like I see happen far too often now.

I look forward to teaching my kids in a way that works for them, not a 30 to 1 ratio where if you're slow you get left behind. I dont want to worry if this is the day that a 10 yr old brings a gun to school and shoots my son. I dont want to worry if the only kids at school who befriend them are the kids that I dont want them anywhere near. I want to make sure they are getting everything out of their education that they can. I want to watch them thrive and seize the world for all the good that is out there.
It will be a huge undertaking and it makes me nervous but I have some incredible women to look up to and hopefully the support and understanding of my friends.
If I raised my children 10 years ago I probably wouldnt be choosing this route but times have changed and I am not a big fan of the way things are going.


9 comments:

Mandy@ a sorta fairytale said...

Good for you!!! I don't think I could ever homeschool my kids, but I really admire those that do!

Miss Mouse and Me said...

I think we are the same person! I have been thinking about homeschooling too but sean doesn't like the idea. There are so many pros and cons for both types of schooling so I am still doing my research but I don't like where public school is headed. I am also thinking about private christian school too but that is expensive. I will just have to see what happens in the next few years and where we will be living. We have to move before she starts school cuz this district sucks just in case I decide not to homeschool. Way to go for not worrying about what everyone else says about how you raise your child!

Lindy Leigh said...

Hear, Hear!

I'll never go back :) It's the best decision we've ever made! No fear! (You forgot sleeping in as an added bonus)

JencyJo said...

My mom pulled Molly & Chris out of school when they were like 1st and 2nd grade. Eric & I were homeschooled up until Jr. High where we then went 1/2 & 1/2. Christi & Jared homeschooled until Jr. High then went full time. Molly & Chris ended up being head and shoulders above us at being better students, friends, siblings, spouses and are awesome parents. Eric was similar but I can tell he struggled when he was in school and after. Me, well you know how long it took me to straiten out after school and it also left me confused about how to act in high school & college and how to be a good student because I was thrown into school at 14 yrs old. Christi, great student/person but had to work her ever living butt off to stay above the crap she was exposed to. Jared, hates high school, has been exposed to things I didn't even think he would be to at this age, deals with bullies and being a bully himself...

Basically, if I could change it all I would have rather either been in school since kindergarten or been homeschooled all the way til college. So, 1st advice. Don't start homeschooling up until you have teenagers and THEN throw them into school.

And I will tell you my mom had it rough. Homeschooling 6 kids wore her out. She was depressed a lot because, well you know how 10-17 yr olds are. She had to fight and fight to get us to do our work. They couldn't afford to have us do tons of activities. We got to do maybe one or two (Mine: Soccer & Dance). She physically couldn't take us all on "field trips". Our "Physical Ed" consisted off playing outside and our couple extra curricular activities. It's hard but I think (especially in a big town or city) it's the best choice you can make, homeschooling your children. Just make sure you know EXACTLY what you are doing before you start it. Because the last thing you want to do is confuse/upset your kids by starting it and not finishing it or becoming your kids "mean teacher/mom who forces me to do schoolwork". Get LOTS of advice and feedback from other homeschooling moms and used-to-be-homeschooling-moms. Get awesome schedules made and STICK BY THEM. I mean you know how it works and/or doesn't work out, you've been through it too.

Anyway, I feel like I've gone on and on about this but it is something I am trying to figure out too and I don't even have kids yet. Pray about it, study up on it, if it feels "right" do it but COMMIT to your decision. I love my momma but I wish she would have chosen a better education path for me from the beginning.

Love ya, and I know you'll make the right choices ;) Duh, you're Ryan's Super Mom
(Hope this helps even a little bit)

Kelsey said...

Dare I enter into a debate with an alternative view? Of course.

It's not something I feel super crazy strong about, but I do think that the pros outweigh the cons of the public school system.

I can understand your deep and overwhelming desire to protect your children from all of the nastiness out there, but unfortunately, they cannot live within the walls of your protection forever. Eventually, they will grow up, desire post secondary education or a career of their own. Without the experience dealing, coping, ignoring, confronting and drop kicking this nastiness... Well, that would scare me.

We have family friends that have home schooled their children. They are the most loving, generous and simply amazing people, completely defining what FAMILY really is. Their children have played hockey, soccer, baseball etc. etc., but have never really connected with the children on their teams, because they lack that common dynamic. Their school. The memories, experiences and struggles the rest of them share. Because of this, these four children have become more connected with one another, isolating them from others. Two of them have graduated, but have chosen not to go into post secondary education or pursue a trade or career. They're taking classes at home online, and I wonder if this is because they fear a change they're so unprepared for.

I asked them what they want to do with their lives, and it seems to me that the thought of separating from their family is something they can't even imagine or consider.

Public school builds on children's independence and confidence. Yes, there are some bullying cases where it does the exact opposite, and only a child's parent knows what is the best option for the child, but overall? A little nastiness may be healthy.

Side note: I visited a homeschooling blog a little while ago, promoting breast feeding until children are 5. If you go this route, please don't breast feed your teenagers, ok?

Kelsey said...

Dare I enter into a debate with an alternative view? Of course.

It's not something I feel super crazy strong about, but I do think that the pros outweigh the cons of the public school system.

I can understand your deep and overwhelming desire to protect your children from all of the nastiness out there, but unfortunately, they cannot live within the walls of your protection forever. Eventually, they will grow up, desire post secondary education or a career of their own. Without the experience dealing, coping, ignoring, confronting and drop kicking this nastiness... Well, that would scare me.

We have family friends that have home schooled their children. They are the most loving, generous and simply amazing people, completely defining what FAMILY really is. Their children have played hockey, soccer, baseball etc. etc., but have never really connected with the children on their teams, because they lack that common dynamic. Their school. The memories, experiences and struggles the rest of them share. Because of this, these four children have become more connected with one another, isolating them from others. Two of them have graduated, but have chosen not to go into post secondary education or pursue a trade or career. They're taking classes at home online, and I wonder if this is because they fear a change they're so unprepared for.

I asked them what they want to do with their lives, and it seems to me that the thought of separating from their family is something they can't even imagine or consider.

Public school builds on children's independence and confidence. Yes, there are some bullying cases where it does the exact opposite, and only a child's parent knows what is the best option for the child, but overall? A little nastiness may be healthy.

Side note: I visited a homeschooling blog a little while ago, promoting breast feeding until children are 5. If you go this route, please don't breast feed your teenagers, ok?

Anonymous said...

My kids will go to public schools because I don't have the passion or education that I think is needed to be a teacher. But I think homeschooling CERTAINLY has its benefits and I applaud you for taking on the challenge.
Good luck!

Tiffany said...

I don't think I could home-school my children, and so far for Maddie, I really don't think that would be the right thing for her. BUT, Brooklynn has been talking to a lot of people about homeschooling her kids. I really do think homeschooling has come a long way. My husband has an aunt who has homeschooled all of her kids in Southern California and her kids are seriously the best, most well-behaved, responsible kids I know. They are not "weird" at all. They are all very social, get up for 6am seminary every day, very active in church, as well as schooling. I think they are part of some sort of homeschooling network so they get together with other families and go on field trips with other kids as well, which I think definitely helps with the social aspect of it. They all have lots of friends and are very "normal" kids. I'm sure she'd be more than willing to talk with you if you ever wanted to email her. She's been doing it for a long, long time now! Good luck! :)

Kayli Sue said...

The problem I have is public school isn't what t used to be. It has changed so much in even the last 5 years since I was there. Personally I did good in public school. But my siblings just don't, so my parents decided to do what's best for them and really it makes a difference. They both have friends and are both social. I really believe it depends on the child and what is best for their needs.

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